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Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is a rare complication associated with coloboma of the choroid. We describe three cases of coloboma choroid where there was loss of vision due to CNV development at the edge of the coloboma. One was managed by photodynamic therapy alone and two were managed by a combination of reduced fluence PDT and intravitreal bevacizumab. Significantly we noted that one treatment session was sufficient to achieve regression of the CNV and improvement in visual acuity.

Purpose: Analysis of outcomes of macular hole (MH) surgery using 12% C3F8, 16% C2F6, or 18% SF6 as randomized gas tamponading agent. Methods: This is a prospective, randomized, interventional study of 159 eyes with idiopathic MH undergoing 23/25G pars-plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling and gas tamponade. Eyes were stratified into two groups: Group I (MH < 800 µ) and group II (MH > 800 µ) according to MH apical diameter. Eyes in group I were randomized to receive either 18% SF6, 16% C2F6, or 12% C3F8. Eyes in group II were randomized to either 16% C2F6 or 12% C3F8. Clinical details, MH parameters on optical coherence tomography, surgical details and complications were analyzed. Outcome measures were type of hole closure (I/II), best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and cataract progression. Results: In Group I (n = 139), type 1 closure was achieved in 107 (77%) eyes. Type 1 closure rates in group I per gas tamponade were as follows: SF6 (70%), C2F6 (80%), C3F8 (78%) (p = 0.503, chi-square test for independence). There was no statistical difference in MH closure rates between SF6 and C2F6 (p = 0.134), SF6 and C3F8 (p = 0.186), and C2F6 and C3F8 (p = 0.373). In Group II (n = 20), type 1 closure was achieved in 12 (60%) eyes. Type 1 closure rates in group II per gas tamponade were as follows: C2F6 (75%), C3F8 (50%) (p = 0.132, Two proportion Z test). Mean follow-up after surgery was 2.66 ± 2.74 months. Conclusion: Given the similar outcomes of using 18% SF6, 16% C2F6, or 12% C3F8 in idiopathic macular hole surgery, the advantage of using a shorter acting tamponade translates into earlier recovery and rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 28-year-old female came to us one month after retinal detachment surgery with a sudden painless drop in vision. The condition gradually worsened with ongoing treatment so she was taken up for lensectomy with silicone oil removal and intravitreal antibiotics and steroids. The microbiological analysis of silicone oil revealed Mycobacterium complex and gene sequencing isolated Mycobacterium abscessus, which showed antibiotic sensitivity to only piperacillin-tazobactam. Repeated intravitreal injections of the same led to the resolution of infection. This case report highlights the impact of sparsely used piperacillin-tazobactam in cases of Mycobacterium positive endophthalmitis, and the role of gene sequencing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To estimate the arylesterase activity of serum paraoxonase-1 (PON1-ARE), which is reported to have an antioxidant and antiatherogenic potential and to correlate with plasma homocysteine (Hcys) and plasma TBARS in young adult central retinal venous occlusion (CRVO) patients. Methods: A case–control prospective study carried out in 10 CRVO patients (mean age 27±5 years; 7 males, 3 females) and 20 healthy controls (mean age 29±5 years; 15 males, 5 females). Results: The CRVO patients showed a significantly lowered serum PON1-ARE activity (P=0.009) along with a significant increase in the levels of plasma Hcys (P=0.018) when compared to the control subjects. There was a negative correlation between serum PON1-ARE and plasma Hcys levels (P=0.058) as well as between PON1-ARE and plasma TBARS levels (P=0.001) in the CRVO patients. Conclusion: This is the first report of lowered serum PON1-ARE level as a risk factor for CRVO (OR= 1.108, CI=0.914, 1.314; P=0.296), which is found to correlate with oxidative stress. Eye (2008) 22, 969–974; doi:10.1038/sj.eye.6703062; published online 14 December 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retinoblastoma (RB) is a pediatric intraocular tumor caused by mutations in retinoblastoma (RB1) gene. We have generated induced pluripotent stem cell line VRFi001-A from a bilateral retinoblastoma patient with heterozygous RB1 gene deletion. The iPSC line VRFi001-A retained the mutation and expressed pluripotency markers, had a normal karyotype and was capable of trilineage differentiation., (Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The co-ordinated regulation of oncogenes along with miRNAs play crucial role in carcinogenesis. In retinoblastoma (RB), several miRNAs are known to be differentially expressed. Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) gene is involved in many epithelial cancers including, retinoblastoma (RB) tumorigenesis. EpCAM silencing effectively reduces the oncogenic miR-17-92 cluster. In order to investigate whether EpCAM has wider effect as an inducer or silencer of miRNAs, we performed a global microRNA expression profile in EpCAM siRNA knockdown Y79 cells. MicroRNA profiling in EpCAM silenced Y79 cells showed seventy-three significantly up regulated and thirty-six down regulated miRNAs. A subset of these miRNAs was also validated in tumors. Functional studies on Y79 and WERI-Rb-1 cells transfected with antagomirs against two miRNAs of miR-181c and miR-130b showed striking changes in tumor cell properties in RB cells. Treatment with anti-miR-181c and miR-130b showed significant decrease in cell viability and cell invasion. Increase in caspase-3 level was noticed in antagomir transfected cell lines indicating the induction of apoptosis. Possible genes altered by EpCAM influenced microRNAs were predicted by bioinformatic tools. Many of these belong to pathways implicated in cancer. The study shows significant influence of EpCAM on global microRNA expression. EpCAM regulated miR-181c and miR-130b may play significant roles in RB progression. EpCAM based targeted therapies may reduce carcinogenesis through several miRNAs and target genes.

Objectives: High levels of plasma homocysteine have been reported to be toxic to the vascular endothelium, thereby creating an environment of hypercoagulability and occlusion. Elevated homocysteine has been reported as a risk factor for young adult central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) cases. This study aimed to see if oxidative stress is an independent risk factor or is homocysteine dependent., Methods: 23 young adult CRVO patients and 54 age and sex-matched controls were included in the study. Oxidative stress markers thiobarbituric acid-reacting substance (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total thiols, glutathione peroxidase and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were estimated. The effect of homocysteine (25-200 μM) on cultured bovine retinal endothelial cells (BREC) on oxidative stress parameter TBARS was measured., Results: There was a significant increase in the plasma TBARS in CRVO cases compared with controls (p=0.000). SOD and TAC were significantly lower in CRVO cases than controls (p=0.000, p=0.022). There was a significant negative correlation between TAC and TBARS (p=0.00) and a significant positive correlation between homocysteine and TBARS (p=0.029). Nominal regression analysis showed that TAC and homocysteine influence TBARS significantly. The in-vitro study in BREC cells revealed that homocysteine increased the TBARS dose and time dependently., Conclusion: TBARS and homocysteine are known to be independent risk factors for CRVO. TBARS can be influenced by both homocysteine and TAC, thereby contributing to the aetiopathology of CRVO by increasing oxidative stress.