The Use of a Self-Assembling Peptide Gel for Stricture Prevention in the Esophagus after Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection: A U.S. Multicenter Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Post-operative stricture is serious common adverse event following extensive endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in the esophagus. The self-assembling peptide (SA) gel has been shown to promote tissue healing and re-epithelialization. We aimed to evaluate the effect of the SAP gel for esophageal stricture prevention after ESD. METHODS: Multicenter prospective study of patients who underwent esophageal ESD followed by SAP gel application between March 2022 to December 2023. Patients were included if ESD mucosal defect involved ≥ 50% of the circumference of the esophagus. High-risk cases were defined as mucosal defects ≥75% of the circumference. Stricture was defined as the inability to pass an endoscope ≥8.9 mm in diameter or a narrow-caliber lumen in a patient with symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 43 patients (median age 71 years; 81.4% men) underwent ESD (median resected specimen size 50 mm) during the study period. SAP gel (median 3 mL) was successfully applied in all cases (median time 4 minutes). In aggregate, stricture occurred in 20.9% (9/43) of the cases. Stricture developed in 30.8% of the high-risk cases: 80% (4/5) after circumferential ESD and 19% (4/21) in those with defects ≥75% but <100% of the circumference. All cases of stricture resolved with endoscopic treatment. Three cases (6.9%) of postoperative bleeding occurred and were adequately managed endoscopically. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate that SAP gel application was easy, quick, and associated with a relatively low stricture rate comparable to other prophylactic methods. Additional comparative studies are needed to corroborate these preliminary findings.

Increase in the length of superficial temporal artery biopsy over 14 years.

BACKGROUND: Giant cell arteritis is a systemic inflammatory vasculitis of large-sized and medium-sized arteries. Superficial temporal artery biopsy of at least 20 mm has traditionally been the standard length for histopathology to accurately diagnose giant cell arteritis. Recent studies suggest than a post-fixation superficial temporal artery biopsy length of 7 to 10 mm is adequate for diagnosing giant cell arteritis. DESIGN: This is a retrospective observational study. PARTICIPANTS OR SAMPLES: The participants were all patients who underwent superficial temporal artery biopsy at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, a large tertiary teaching hospital in Sydney, Australia, from 2008 to 2014. METHODS: Patients were identified using computerized hospital databases. Superficial temporal artery biopsy lengths were obtained from the histopathology reports. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We aimed to compare the superficial temporal artery biopsy lengths performed at a large tertiary hospital over the past 7 years, to those performed from 2000 to 2005, and to determine the frequency of diagnosis of giant cell arteritis over the two time periods. RESULTS: There was a total of 96 superficial temporal artery biopsies performed from 2008 to 2014. The superficial temporal artery biopsy mean (standard deviation) length was 16.0(7.3) mm. This represented a significant (P = 0.015) increase in mean superficial temporal artery biopsy length when compared with a previous audit performed from 2000 to 2005 where the mean (standard deviation) superficial temporal artery biopsy was 11.7(6.2) mm. Of the 96 TABs, 20 (20.8%) were positive for giant cell arteritis, compared with a giant cell arteritis positivity rate of 20.4% for the previous audit period from 2000 to 2005. CONCLUSION: There has been a significant improvement in the length of superficial temporal artery biopsy performed at a tertiary hospital. Despite the increase in superficial temporal artery biopsy lengths, the giant cell arteritis positivity rate has remained stable.

A painful red eye.

A man, 75 years of age, presents with a red, painful, watery right eye of 1 week duration. He describes photophobia but says his vision is not reduced or blurry. He was seen at another clinic after 2 days of symptoms and was prescribed topical chloramphenicol antibiotic eye drops. Despite using the eye drops for 5 days, there has been no improvement in his symptoms. The man has no significant ocular past history.

Laser corneal biofilm disruption for infectious crystalline keratopathy.

Crystalline keratopathy can be successfully treated by the Nd:YAG laser. We present two cases of crystalline keratopathy managed this way. A 36-year-old female contact lens wearer presented with crystalline keratopathy following recent treatment with topical steroids and antibiotics for a corneal abscess. In this case crystalline keratopathy developed despite the intensive topical antibiotic treatment. A 55-year-old man with a history of acne rosacea, chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia, asthma and Crohn's disease presented with crystalline keratopathy following an episode of infectious keratitis. Treatment with the Nd:YAG laser to the area of involvement was instituted in both cases. Noticeable resolution occurred within days, with subsequent full recovery. No side-effects from the use of the Nd:YAG laser were noted. There have been only two cases previously reported using this treatment modality.

Pharmacological mydriasis secondary to ipratropium bromide: a cause of unilateral dilated pupil.

Ipratropium bromide is a commonly used bronchodilator which has been rarely reported to cause pharmacological mydriasis. We report a 22-year-old woman using 6-hourly nebulised ipratropium from a multi-dose preparation, who presented with a unilateral dilated pupil which resolved spontaneously over 24h after discontinuation of her ill-fitting nebuliser mask which had been directing the drug toward that eye. No alternative cause was found despite extensive investigations. Greater recognition of this iatrogenic cause of reversible pupillary dilatation may avoid the need for unnecessary investigations.

Corneal perforation and intraocular lens prolapse in Serratia marcescens endophthalmitis.

A 72-year-old lady was referred with bacterial endophthalmitis secondary to complicated left cataract extraction. The organism was identified as Serratia marcescens. Despite aggressive treatment the eye continued to deteriorate with corneal perforation and prolapse of the intraocular contents.

The length of superficial temporal artery biopsies.

BACKGROUND: To compare temporal artery biopsy specimen lengths from a tertiary care and a community hospital in New South Wales to recommended clinical guidelines in suspected giant cell arteritis. DESIGN: A retrospective observational study of all patients who underwent temporal artery biopsy at Bathurst Base Hospital (BBH) and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH) over a 5-year period. METHODS: Patients who underwent temporal artery biopsy during the 5-year period were identified using computerized hospital databases. A retrospective chart review was carried out on all cases. Data were collected regarding patient age, patient sex, length of biopsy specimen, histopathological results and surgical team carrying out the biopsy. RESULTS: During the 5-year period, 157 temporal artery biopsies were carried out at both hospitals, with 38/157(24%) at BBH and 119/157 (76%) at RPAH. There was no significant difference in biopsy length at the two hospitals. The mean specimen length at BBH was 12.1 mm compared with 11.7 mm at RPAH (t=0.35; P=0.73). At RPAH, there was no significant difference in specimen length between the surgical specialties carrying out the biopsy (ANOVA F=1.37; P=0.26). Specimens of length 20 mm or greater were 2.8 times more likely to show features of giant cell arteritis than those less than 20 mm. CONCLUSION: The mean length of temporal artery biopsy specimens at both hospitals was substantially shorter than recommended guidelines of a minimum 20 mm. We recommend all surgeons carrying out temporal artery biopsies ensure a specimen of sufficient length is obtained.

Culture-proven Aspergillus fumigatus infection in a primary hydroxyapatite orbital implant.

Hydroxyapatite orbital implants are widely used in enucleation surgery. Infection in this setting is an uncommon but severe complication. Herein a patient with a 3-year history of chronic socket discharge, orbital discomfort, conjunctival breakdown and implant exposure after enucleation and implantation of a hydroxyapatite sphere 7 years previously is reported. Repeated attempts at covering the exposed implant failed. Eventually the implant was removed, and Aspergillus fumigatus was cultured from the explanted material. This is the second reported case of Aspergillus infection of a hydroxyapatite orbital implant, and the first case where fungal cultures were positive.

Ultraviolet fluorescence photography: patterns in established pterygia.

PURPOSE: To investigate established pterygia using our newly developed ultraviolet fluorescence photography (UVFP) system. DESIGN: Prospective observational case series. METHODS: setting: Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia. study population: Fourteen patients (both eyes) attending the Ophthalmology Clinic at Prince of Wales Hospital for assessment of their established pterygia. There were eight men and six women, with an age range of 26 to 62 years. A total of 15 (75%) of 20 had primary pterygia, and five (25%) of 20 had recurrent pterygia. There were no specific exclusion criteria. observation procedures: Ultraviolet and standard (control) photographs were taken of the nasal and temporal interpalpebral regions bilaterally. main outcome measures: The presence of established pterygia detected by standard photography and the corresponding presence and patterns of areas of fluorescence detected by UVFP. RESULTS: In the 14 patients, 20 established pterygia were identified on standard photography. On UVFP, four patterns of fluorescence of established pterygia were identified. Of the 20 pterygia, six (30%) of 20 demonstrated fluorescence at the leading edge of the pterygium, seven (35%) of 20 demonstrated fluorescence at the limbus, three (15%) of 20 demonstrated fluorescence at both the leading edge and the limbus, and four (20%) of 20 demonstrated no visible fluorescence. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we describe patterns of fluorescence in established pterygia by UVFP. We hypothesize that the areas of fluorescence represent areas of cellular activity within the pterygium. The patterns of fluorescence may be useful to further understand of pterygium growth and pathogenesis.

Ultraviolet fluorescence photography to detect early sun damage in the eyes of school-aged children.

PURPOSE: To develop a method to detect precursors of ocular sun damage using ultraviolet fluorescence photography (UVFP). DESIGN: Observational cross-sectional study METHODS: settings: Preschool, primary, and high school in Sydney, Australia. study population: 71 children ages 3 to 15 years old (both eyes). Inclusion criteria were children attending the schools who gave consent. There were no exclusion criteria. observation procedures: UV and standard (control) photographs were taken of the nasal and temporal interpalpebral regions bilaterally. main outcome measures: Presence of areas of increased fluorescence detected by UVFP, or presence of pinguecula detected by standard photography. RESULTS: Established pingueculae, on standard photography, were seen in seven of 71 (10%) children; all were 13 years of age or older. On UVFP, all of these pingueculae demonstrated fluorescence. In total, 23 of 71 (32%) had increased fluorescence detected on UVFP, including the seven of 23 (30%) with pingueculae. Of the remaining 16 of 23 (70%), the changes were only detectable using UVFP. Fluorescence on UVFP was seen in children ages 9 years and above, with prevalence increasing with age. The presence of fluorescence (in at least one region) was 0 of 15 (0%) for children ages 3 to 5 years, 0 of 12 (0%) of children ages 6 to 8 years, 6 of 23 (26%) for those ages 9 to 11 years, and 17 of 21 (81%) of those ages 12 to 15 years. CONCLUSIONS: We hypothesize that the areas seen to fluoresce on UVFP but not detectable on control photography represent precursors for ophthalmohelioses. Our preliminary data strongly suggests that UVFP is a sensitive method for detecting early ocular sun damage occurring many years before clinical manifestations.