Topical bimatoprost in the treatment of eyelash loss in alopecia totalis and universalis: A prospective, open-label study.

Bimatoprost is a synthetic prostaglandin structural analogue used among other indications to increase eyelash growth. The aim of this prospective, open-label study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of topical bimatoprost in the treatment of eyelash loss in alopecia areata totalis (AT) and universalis (AU). Study subjects applied ophthalmic bimatoprost (0.3 mg/ml) solution to the eyelid margins once nightly for at least 12 weeks (mean treatment period was 30.6 weeks). A total of 16 out of 17 subjects completed the study. Only the subjects with eyelashes present at baseline experienced an increase in eyelash length and thickness. No new eyelash regrowth was induced. In patients with AT and AU topical bimatoprost affected existing eyelashes, but failed to induce regrowth of new eyelashes.

The Measurement of Intraocular Biomarkers in Various Stages of Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Using Multiplex xMAP Technology.

Purpose. To determine the intraocular levels of growth factors and cytokines in patients with various degrees of severity of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) using multiplex xMAP technology. Methods. A prospective cohort study of 61 eyes from 56 patients who were divided into 3 groups based on the severity of PDR. Patients in group number 1 are those who presented PDR with no need of repeated surgical intervention; patients in group number 2 had repeated vitreous bleeding; and patients in group number 3 had refractory neovascular glaucoma. The concentrations of proangiogenic, antiangiogenic, inflammatory, and neurotrophic factors were measured in intraocular fluid. The results were also compared with levels of factors measured in 50 eyes from 50 patients prior to senile cataract surgery (control group). Results. Patients with refractory neovascular glaucoma (the highest clinical severity group) had higher levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) (median1 37.19; median3 384.74; P = .00096), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFß-1) (median1 49.00; median3 414.40; P = .0017), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (median1 211.62; median3 352.82; P = .0454) compared with other PDR patients. Conclusions. Results of our study imply that levels of IL-6, TGFß-1, and VEGF correlate with the severity of PDR.

Defining the seriousness of proliferative vitreoretinopathy by aspiration of cytokines from the anterior chamber.

AIM: Proliferative vitreoretinopathy is the major cause of retinal detachment surgery failure. Our prospective cohort study of 27 eyes aimed to determine intraocular levels of growth factors and cytokines in patients with retinal detachment with various degrees of severity of proliferative vitreoretinopathy using multiplex xMAP(®) Technology. PATIENTS & METHODS: The concentrations of 12 proangiogenic, antiangiogenic, inflammatory and neurotrophic factors were measured from 0.05-ml samples of intraocular fluid using multiplex xMAP Technology. The results were compared with levels of various factors, which were measured in samples from the control group of 31 eyes prior to senile cataract surgery. RESULTS: The concentration of the MCP-1 cytokine was found to be higher in eyes with retinal detachment compared with the control group. The concentration of VEGF was found to be higher in eyes with retinal detachment complicated with proliferative vitreoretinopathy compared with the uncomplicated retinal detachment group and the control group. CONCLUSION: MCP-1 and VEGF may participate in pathogenesis of retinal detachment and proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Biomarkers in disease detection and management have become important tools in modern clinical medicine, and their application to retinal disease should be no exception.

Hybrid peripheral nerve sheath tumors, including a malignant variant in type 1 neurofibromatosis.

The authors report a small case series of hybrid nerve sheath tumors occurring in the setting of type 1 neurofibromatosis. Four lesions were benign and consisted of plexiform neurofibromas with considerable areas of perineuriomatous differentiation in patients with type 1 neurofibromatosis. In these lesions, biphasic (Schwannian and perineuriomatous) differentiation was apparent on immunohistochemistry, with the perineuriomatous areas staining for epithelial membrane antigen, glut-1, and claudin-1 and being negative for S-100 protein. Three patients were members of a single family, with a history of various malignant neoplasms. Included in the series is 1 hybrid lesion in which neurofibromatous and perineuriomatous areas were clearly visible on hematoxylin- and eosin-stained slides. The lesion was unique in that it manifested malignant change in the S-100 protein-positive component, which was classified as malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. The malignant component showed areas with an epithelioid cell morphology.

Apocrine secretion in lacrimal gland cysts (dacryops): a common but underrecognized phenomenon.

We present six cases (five females, one male; aged 26-81 years) of dacryops, also known as lacrimal gland cyst, all of which occurred at the outer canthal area below the upper eyelid. All presented clinically as a painless cystic lesion that was white to blue in color. Microscopically, in addition to typical features of dacryops, which is characterized by a partially cystic proliferation that includes a double layer of columnar to cuboidal epithelial cells associated with lobules of lacrimal gland tissue, we identified evidence of apocrine secretion (i.e. apical snouts projecting into the lumen), either in the cystic component of the proliferation or in contiguous lacrimal duct, in all cases. One example was unusual. It manifested, in addition to typical cyst formation, with areas of ductal and probably acinar hyperplasia. We conclude that apocrine secretion in dacryops is a common and underrecognized phenomenon. Dacryops should be distinguished from apocrine hidrocystoma, a lesion commonly encountered in the periorbital area in the practice of dermatopathology.

TSC2/PKD1 contiguous gene syndrome: a report of 2 cases with emphasis on dermatopathologic findings.

The association of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), termed TSC2/PKD1 contiguous gene syndrome, is a result of molecular defect demonstrating by deletion disrupting TSC2 and PKD1. Dermatopathology of this syndrome has never been addressed. We report 2 sporadic cases form of TSC2/PKD1 contiguous gene syndrome, with emphasis on dermatopathologic findings. Both patients presented with a typical phenotype of TSC and early-onset renal polycystic requiring kidney transplantation in one of the patients. Of a total of 13 cutaneous lesions studied, there were 7 facial angiofibromas, 2 shagreen patches, 1 periungual fibroma, 1 hypopigmented macule, 1 epidermoid cyst, and 1 intradermal melanocytic nevus. The histological features were basically similar to those occurring in TSC, but some unusual features were identified. In both patients, deletions in the region of TSC2 and PKD1 were revealed performing by multiplex ligation probe amplification test. It is concluded that the histopathological features of skin lesions in this syndrome are similar to those encountered in TSC. Clinical awareness and appropriate molecular investigation of TSC2/PKD1 contiguous gene syndrome is necessary in all patients with a typical phenotype of TSC in infancy, adolescence, or adult age, because of severity of the renal alterations.