Treatment of Recurrent Primary Cutaneous Mucinous Carcinoma of the Eyelid with Modified Wide Local Excision.

Primary cutaneous mucinous carcinoma (PCMC) is a rare, low-grade malignant neoplasm of the sweat gland, whose history has been controversial regarding eccrine versus apocrine origin. This case report describes a 53-year-old male who presented to the University of Florida, Gainesville, ophthalmology clinic and was referred to the oculoplastics service with a painless, subcentimeter mass on the lateral right upper eyelid including the canthus, consistent with recurrent primary cutaneous mucinous carcinoma of the eyelid. Four years prior, the patient had undergone excisional biopsy of the lesion in a clinic, which revealed residual tumor, but the patient deferred further surgery at the time. The patient underwent surgical excision of the mass with reconstruction without operative complications and with negative surgical margins. PCMC is difficult to diagnose clinically due to its rarity and requires a histopathological examination for confirmation of the diagnosis. This report presents the first case in the literature of primary cutaneous mucinous carcinoma in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). With this case report, we aim to raise awareness of primary cutaneous mucinous carcinoma as a potential part of the differential diagnosis for malignant eyelid lesions, including those present in patients with HIV.

Tailoring Nanoscale Morphology of Polymer:Fullerene Blends Using Electrostatic Field.

To tailor the nanomorphology in polymer/fullerene blends, we study the effect of electrostatic field (E-field) on the solidification of poly(3-hexylthiophene-2, 5-diyl) (P3HT):[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC60BM) bulk heterojunction (BHJ). In addition to control; wet P3HT:PC60BM thin films were exposed to E-field of Van de Graaff (VDG) generator at three different directions-horizontal (H), tilted (T), and vertical (V)-relative to the plane of the substrate. Surface and bulk characterizations of the field-treated BHJs affirmed that fullerene molecules can easily penetrate the spaghetti-like P3HT and move up and down following the E-field. Using E-field treatment, we achieved favorable morphologies with efficient charge separation, transport, and collection. We improve; (1) the hole mobility values up to 19.4 × 10-4 ± 1.6 × 10-4 cm2 V-1 s-1 and (2) the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of conventional and inverted OPVs up to 2.58 ± 0.02% and 4.1 ± 0.40%, respectively. This E-field approach can serve as a new morphology-tuning technique, which is generally applicable to other polymer-fullerene systems.

A rare cause of blindness.

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) infection remains a serious problem in many underdeveloped countries. TB is largely perceived as a disease affecting the pulmonary system, yet despite declining cases of pulmonary TB in the United States (US), extrapulmonary infections are being reported at an increasing proportion of total TB cases. Moreover, due to the insidious nature of extrapulmonary TB (EPTB), it may not be readily recognized by emergency physicians, as it masquerades as more commonly encountered infectious or inflammatory processes. OBJECTIVES: The incidence of ocular TB infection varies widely by geographic area, but has historically been low in the US. However, a resurgence of TB in developed European nations is cause for concern, as an increasing percentage of these infections have revealed ocular involvement. CASE REPORT: We present a case report of blindness caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and highlight some of the challenges the emergency physician may encounter when diagnosing EPTB. The case includes the patient's treatment course and subsequent follow-up. CONCLUSION: Loss of vision may be a presenting complaint for active tuberculosis infection.

Propranolol for the treatment of orbital infantile hemangiomas.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the treatment of orbital infantile hemangiomas with systemic (oral) propranolol. METHODS: This study was a retrospective observational case series of 5 infants who were diagnosed with orbital infantile hemangiomas between March and July of 2009. RESULTS: The average age at presentation was 3.1 months (3 weeks to 9 months). The patients received oral propranolol, with dosage varying among study centers. The patients were treated for an average of 7.1 months. Treatment of 5 infantile hemangioma patients with oral propranolol produced a significant reduction in the size of the hemangioma in 4 (80%) of the patients and a minimal improvement in one patient. No patient had significant adverse events during the treatment period. CONCLUSION: Oral propranolol may be an effective treatment for orbital infantile hemangiomas.

Blueberry eye: acquired total anterior staphyloma after a fungal corneal ulcer.

PURPOSES: The purposes of this study were to report the presentation and management of an acquired total anterior staphyloma that resulted from a fungal corneal ulcer and to discuss its pathogenesis. METHODS: Observational case report. Clinical observation and surgical intervention of a patient who developed a total anterior staphyloma after a partially treated fungal corneal ulcer. RESULTS: The patient presented with a large traumatic fungal ulcer but was poorly compliant with follow-up and medications. He subsequently presented with a large total anterior staphyloma that resulted from perforation of the ulcer with plugging of the defect with iris and formation of a pseudocornea over the iris. The anterior staphyloma measured 15 x 16 mm and progressed to a stage where the patient was unable to close his eyelids and required a sclerokeratoplasty. Currently, vision is poor from amblyopia and a cloudy graft; however, the eye is intact and comfortable. CONCLUSIONS: Anterior staphylomas usually result from untreated fungal ulcers in developing nations. Poor compliance with medications and follow-up was the cause of our patient's anterior staphyloma. Sclerokeratoplasty can restore the globe structurally but has poor visual prognosis.

Long-term follow-up of free-floating epithelial inclusion cyst after radial keratotomy.

PURPOSE: To report the benign seven year follow-up on a free-floating anterior chamber epithelial inclusion cyst that did not require treatment. DESIGN: Retrospective observational case report. METHODS: Seven years of clinical observation of a patient who had radial keratotomy in 1998. RESULTS: The free-floating cyst showed no growth or untoward effects on the eye and required no treatment during the observation period. CONCLUSIONS: The long clinical course of our patient shows that epithelial inclusion cysts may be managed without treatment for many years with careful and frequent follow-up.