Macular optical coherence tomography findings and GPR143 mutations in patients with ocular albinism.

The aim of this study was to describe macular findings using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in patients with ocular albinism (OA) and their carrier mothers, and to identify the frequency of GPR143 gene mutations in these patients. The study included five patients with a clinical diagnosis of OA. SD-OCT of the macular area was performed in both patients and their mothers. The anatomical characteristics of the macula and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), patterns of autofluorescence and infrared imaging were analyzed. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of the complete coding sequence of GPR 143 was performed and subsequently analyzed by direct sequencing in patients and their possible carrier mothers. SD-OCT images revealed the presence of inner retinal layers in the fovea, an abnormal disposition of the Henle layer and a lack of thickening in the perifoveal area. We found increased thickness in the RPE to the outer segment and in the outer segment to the outer nuclear layer that is associated with increased visual acuity. Autofluorescence images revealed an absence of normal hipoautofluorescence in the fovea. No changes were observed in the images of their carrier mothers. Mutation screening and sequence analysis of the GPR 143 gene revealed a novel pathological mutation in two patients. Abnormalities in the macula were observed in all patients. SD-OCT is a useful tool for the assessment of patients with OA. No changes were observed in the SD-OCT of carrier mothers. Only two patients had the GPR143 gene mutation.

Perfluorocarbon-perfused vitrectomy: a new method for vitrectomy--a safety and feasibility study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of perfluorocarbon-perfused vitrectomy (PCPV) as a technique during vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). METHODS: In an experimental, prospective, noncomparative and interventional study, 28 eyes of 28 patients were submitted to vitrectomy with the PCPV technique, 18 eyes with PDR and 10 with RRD. In this technique we replaced the traditional balanced saline solution (BSS) in the infusion line (conventional vitrectomy) by perfluorocarbon liquids (PCL). Some patients with PDR were treated with oxygenated PCL. Clinical evaluation, electroretinography (ERG), and endothelial cell count (ECC) were used to assess the safety of this procedure. An arbitrary grading system (grades 0-5) was used to classify the surgery and maneuvers to assess feasibility. RESULTS: No eyes had a significant decrease in ECC, and the patients in whom we could obtain ERG postoperatively showed no significant differences from preoperative ERG. In the PDR group (using oxygenated and nonoxygenated PCL), 77.8% were graded 5/5; in the RRD group 90% were 5/5. PCPV allowed better visualization of vitreous and intraocular structures, rapid retinal reattachment, less blood in the vitreous cavity, subretinal fluid resolution, blood confinement, retinal stabilization, and easier dissection of epiretinal membranes. In all cases at least one surgical step was eliminated. CONCLUSIONS: PCPV in humans is a safe and feasible technique. Probably in selected cases the use of PCL offers several advantages over BSS, because of their properties (gravitational forces, immiscibility with bodily fluids, and ability to transport oxygen). Prospective and comparative studies are necessary to establish formal indications and possible contraindications.

Laboratory screening for zearalenone formation in corn hybrids and inbreds.

Grains from 14 corn inbreds and 4 single cross hybrids were inoculated with 3 isolates of Gibberella zeae to determine their inhibition of zearalenone production. The corn hybrids: Pa762 x A632 (50 mg/kg zearalenone production), A619 x A632 (17 mg/kg zearalenone production), H95 x Mo17 (132 mg/kg zearalenone production), and B73 x MO17 (33 mg/kg zearalenone production) appear to have less resistance than the inbreds to toxin formation. Inbred H95 (64 mg/kg zearalenone production) supported the highest toxin production of all inbreds. The remaining 13 inbreds did not exceed 15 mg/kg zearalenone production. The inbreds A632 (4 mg/kg zearalenone production) and Pa762 (2 mg/kg zearalenone production) demonstrated some resistance; the resulting cross, hybrid Pa762 x A632 (50 mg/kg zearalenone production), does have greater resistance than hybrid H95 x Mo17 (132 mg/kg zearalenone production). Analysis of variance indicated highly significant variation between corn varieties and fungal isolates. The coefficient of variation for 29 fermentations run in duplicate on inoculated control corn to produce zearalenone (212 mg/kg) was 37%, which would include variation in both the fermentation and analysis. Isolate and variety interaction is not significant.