ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To assess the feasibility of conjugation of verteporfin (Visudyne, Parkedale Pharmaceuticals, Rochester, Minnesota, USA) to antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor. DESIGN: Experimental study. METHODS: Rabbit antimouse vascular endothelial growth factor polyclonal antibody was conjugated to verteporfin. Fluorescence excitation-emission spectra of verteporfin and conjugate were examined. Vascular endothelial growth factor-expressing murine endothelial cells were incubated with saline, verteporfin, or conjugate, followed by laser exposure or no laser exposure. Cell viability at 1 and 24 hours was assessed via trypan blue exclusion. Results were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance with replication and the Bonferroni multiple comparison test. RESULTS: The fluorescence excitation-emission spectrum of the conjugate was similar to that of verteporfin. After laser exposure, cell viability in conjugate-treated cells was reduced to 6% at 1 hour (P <.0001) and to 4% at 24 hours (P <.0001), compared with approximately 40% in nonlaser-exposed, conjugate-treated cells. The cytotoxicity in the conjugate-treated cells was higher than in verteporfin-treated cells exposed to laser, although the difference did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The conjugation of verteporfin to polyclonal antibody is possible without the loss of its photosensitizing properties. Conjugated verteporfin destroys cellular targets at least as effectively as verteporfin alone.
Subject(s)
Endothelium, Vascular/drug effects , Immunoconjugates/pharmacology , Photochemotherapy , Photosensitizing Agents/pharmacology , Porphyrins/pharmacology , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/immunology , Animals , Antibodies , Cell Survival , Endothelium, Vascular/metabolism , Mice , Microscopy, Confocal , Rabbits , VerteporfinABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the presence and accessibility of ophthalmology graduate medical education (GME) programs on the internet and the degree to which web-based resources are currently being utilized by American Ophthalmology training programs. DESIGN: Prospective sampling of internet postings of ophthalmology GME programs. METHODS: Ophthalmology residency programs listed in the American Medical Association Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database (FREIDA) online website (http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2997. html) were evaluated. Departmental websites were accessed either directly from the FREIDA website or from one of eight search engines or four metacrawlers utilized in the study. Each site was evaluated for the presence, extent, and type of postings in the following categories: residency, medical student resources, faculty, patient care, video utilization, and links. RESULTS: Departments with websites numbered 102 (83%). Specific posting rates were residency 84%; medical student resource 12%; faculty 72%; patient care 69%; video 2%; links 70%. CONCLUSIONS: Most departments have websites, but only a small number have postings in all categories.
Subject(s)
Education, Medical, Graduate/organization & administration , Information Services/statistics & numerical data , Internet/statistics & numerical data , Internship and Residency/organization & administration , Ophthalmology/education , Humans , Information Storage and Retrieval/statistics & numerical data , Sampling Studies , School Admission Criteria , United States , WorkforceSubject(s)
Eye Foreign Bodies/complications , Eye Injuries, Penetrating/complications , Foreign-Body Reaction/etiology , Orbit/injuries , Wood , Adult , Eye Foreign Bodies/diagnosis , Eye Injuries, Penetrating/diagnosis , Foreign-Body Reaction/diagnosis , Humans , Male , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To report bilateral optic disk edema and blindness as the unusual initial presentation of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in an adult. METHODS: A 19-year-old man presented with a history of headaches, back pain, and 10 days of worsening vision that progressed to blindness. Ocular examination revealed light perception acuity in the right eye and no light perception in the left eye. Fundus examination revealed bilateral profound optic disk edema, tortuous vessels, and retinal hemorrhages. Acute lymphocytic leukemia was diagnosed with complete blood count and bone marrow biopsy. Head computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, were normal. Lumbar puncture revealed normal opening pressure. Ocular ultrasonography showed bilateral optic nerve enlargement. DESIGN: Interventional case report and literature review. RESULTS: The presumptive diagnosis of leukemic infiltration of the optic nerves was made, and urgent radiotherapy, intrathecal methotrexate, and intravenous daunorubicin were instituted. Visual acuity improved to hand motions in the right eye. CONCLUSIONS: Acute lymphocytic leukemia can rarely present in adults as visual changes due to leukemic optic nerve infiltration. Radiation treatment should be considered as an urgent treatment modality for this rare condition.
