[Management of corneal neovascularization prior to corneal transplantation: Report of 112 cases]. / La prise en charge des néovaisseaux cornéens avant greffe de cornée : à propos de 112 cas.

INTRODUCTION: The avascular nature of the cornea results from a balance between angiogenic factors and anti-angiogenic factors. Under pathological conditions, this homeostasis can be disturbed, resulting in the onset of corneal neovascularization. The purpose of our study was to report our experience in the management of corneal neovascularization prior to keratoplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective study of 112 patients with corneal neovascularization and candidates for possible corneal transplant. RESULTS: The average age of patients was 38 years, ranging from 15 to 72 years. The etiologies of neovascularization were dominated by ocular trauma (26.8 %). In total, 48.33 % of patients had superficial neovascularization, 18.52 % moderately deep and 33.2 % deep neovascularization. All patients received topical corticosteroids, 29.4 % received subconjunctival injections of bevacizumab, and 22.32 % intrastromal bevacizumab injections. Clinical course was marked by a decrease in the percentage of corneal neovascularization compared to the total corneal surface area, from 45 % (between 16 and 82 %) to 28 % (between 0 and 69 %) at Day 120. There was no statistically significant improvement in visual acuity. DISCUSSION: Corneal neovascularization is a major risk factor for graft rejection; its management is crucial prior to every keratoplasty. CONCLUSION: Corneal neovascularization can lead to increased risk of graft rejection. Proper management increases the success rate of penetrating keratoplasty.

An unusual localization of rhabdomyosarcoma: about a case report.

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a malignant mesenchymal tumor of childhood. The eyelid localization is unusual. We report the case of a 7-year-old child with upper palpebral rhabdomyosarcoma revealed by an isolated blepharoptosis. The CT-scan revealed a well delimited enhancing soft tissue mass involving the upper eyelid. The tumor was excised totally by an upper eyelid incision under general anesthesia. It was limited in preseptal eyelid without extension to the orbit. Histopathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of embryonic rhabdomyosarcoma. Postoperatively, the upper eyelid regained its motility. The visual axis was cleared. After surgery, three cures of chemotherapy including ifosfamide, vincristine, and actinomycin were administered. After a 4 months follow up period, there was no sign of tumor recurrence.

[Choroidal tuberculosis: reports of 3 cases]. / La tuberculose choroïdienne: à propos de 3 cas.

Tuberculosis is a chronic infection with a high incidence in Morocco. Ocular involvement is rare. We report three cases of choroidal tuberculosis. Case no 1: A 24-year-old female with tuberculous meningitis, multifocal choroiditis in the right eye and choroidal granuloma in the left eye. Case no 2: A 22-year-old female with multifocal tuberculosis. The ocular examination showed a choroidal granuloma. Case no 3: A 25-year-old male with HIV infection and miliary tuberculosis. Ocular involvement consisted in a choroidal granuloma. Ocular involvement in tuberculosis is uncommon. Choroidal granuloma is a characteristic manifestation.

[Iris metastasis from lung cancer]. / Métastases iriennes d'un adénocarcinome bronchique.

A 47-year-old man with a history of lung adenocarcinoma presented a red and painful right eye with loss of visual acuity after the 5th course of chemotherapy. The ophthalmologic exam showed visual acuity at 3/10 and diffuse iris nodular lesions in the same eye. The fundus was not visible. The controlateral eye was normal. The ocular scan showed iris tumors without choroidal metastasis. Systemic medical evaluation demonstrated no other metastases. The patient died 1 year later.

[Two cases of Wolfram syndrome]. / Syndrome de Wolfram. A propos de deux cas.

Wolfram syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease; it is characterized by the appearance of diabetes mellitus in childhood associated with bilateral optic atrophy that often leads to blindness. Insipid diabetes, deafness, psychiatric disorders, anosmia, anomalies of the urinary tract, nystagmus, ataxia, and myoclonias are less frequent. We report two cases of Wolfram syndrome, diagnosed in a 12-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy. In each case, there was a history of diabetes mellitus; they consulted for a progressive loss of vision. Ophthalmologic examination objectified that visual acuity was reduced to finger counting in both eyes as well as isolated bilateral optic atrophy and constriction of the peripheral visual field. Through these two cases and a review of the literature, we propose to study the genetic and clinical aspects of Wolfram syndrome.

[A recent case of palpebral anthrax]. / Charbon palpébral: à propos d'un cas.

Anthrax disease is an acute infection caused by Bacillus anthracis. It appears in three forms: pulmonary, intestinal, and cutaneous, whose palpebral location is rare but serious. The authors report the case of a 38-year-old patient who presented 3 weeks after the appearance of an upper and lower palpebral tumefaction. Questioning revealed that he was a cattle breeder. The ophthalmologic examination of the right eye brought out serosanguineous blisters, an edema, and necrotic scabs involving the upper and lower eyelids, preventing any clinical examination of the ocular bulb. The bacteriological sample was negative. The patient progressed well when treated with G penicillin, but retained a cicatricial ectropion. Anthrax is receiving increasing interest given how difficult it is to diagnose, the severe prognosis, and the possibility of its dissemination in bacteriological warfare or bioterrorism.

Synthesis and antiviral evaluation of pyrazinones substituted with acyclic chains.

The synthesis of a series of pyrazine analogues of the anti-herpes compound, acyclovir is described. These syntheses were accomplished by various methods: in the presence of a Lewis acid or NaH for hydroxyethoxymethyl and hydroxybutyl groups or by sequential oxidation/reduction of 1-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)-2-pyrazinones for 2',3'-acyclonucleosides. Antiviral (HSV-1, CMV, Cox B4, HIV-1) properties of these compounds were determined.

Potential antiviral agents. Part II. Synthesis and antiviral evaluation of pyrazinones substituted with acyclic chains.

The synthesis of a series of 4'-substituted hydroxybutyl pyrazine analogues of the anti-herpes compound, acyclovir, is described. The compounds were characterized with 1H and 13C nmr, mass and IR spectroscopy. Antiviral (HSV-1, CMV, Cox B4, HIV-1) properties of these compounds were examined. None of these compounds were active against these viruses.