Development of In Vivo Model of Intraocular Retinoblastoma.

Here we describe creation of a model of intraocular retinoblastoma on 4 mature immunodeficient BALB/c nude mice of both sexes. A suspension of the primary retinoblastoma culture was injected into each of the 8 eyes of the test animals. The injections were performed under the control of an operating microscope using insulin syringes with a diameter of 29G transsclerally into the subretinal space in a volume of 0.3 ml at a rate of 10,000 cells in 25 µl physiological saline. The culture of Rb10 cells derived from a patient with retinoblastoma passed 12 passages at the time of the experiments. After 9-week follow-up, a clinical (ophthalmoscopy) and instrumental (ultrasound) study was performed with visualization of the tumor mass on the fundus. After enucleation, a morphological study was performed. The retinoblastoma tumor nodes were identified in two eyes. The proposed model can be used for further research and for testing new chemotherapeutic drugs and treatment regimens for retinoblastoma.

Approach to quantitative spectroscopy of atomic vapor in optical nanocells.

We present a method for recovery of narrow homogeneous spectral features out of a broad inhomogeneous overlapped profile based on second-derivative processing of the absorption spectra of alkali metal atomic vapor nanocells. The method is shown to preserve the frequency positions and amplitudes of spectral transitions, thus being applicable for quantitative spectroscopy. The proposed technique was successfully applied and tested for measurements of hyperfine splitting and atomic transition probabilities, development of an atomic frequency reference, determination of isotopic abundance, study of atom-surface interaction, and determination of magnetic-field-induced modification of atomic transition frequency and probability. The obtained experimental results are fully consistent with theoretical modeling.

[Unilateral multifocal uveal melanoma (a clinical and genetic study)]. / Monolateral'naia mul'tifokal'naia uveal'naia melanoma (kliniko-geneticheskoe issledovanie).

The study presents clinical and genetic analysis of a case of unilateral multifocal uveal choroidal melanoma in a patient of 67 years. Results of ophthalmoscopy, echography, fluorescent angiography, optical coherence tomography are described. Molecular genetic testing of peripheral blood samples was performed, including detection of the occurrences of CC genotype in C3435T polymorphism of the gene ABCB1/MDR1 associated with unfavorable vital prognosis. Analysis of the genes GNAQ and GNA11 revealed two mutually exclusive mutations in the genes GNAQG183A and GNAQA209C showing genetic heterogeneity of the two tumor lesions. Organ preservation treatment of unilateral multifocal uveal melanoma was proven possible with brachytherapy method. Uveal melanoma with multicentric growth is of interest to ophthalmologists because it requires differential diagnostics from a variety of diseases including metastases in the choroid, such as metastases of uveal melanoma and skin melanoma, as well as other intraocular neoplasms.

[. Role of molecular and genetic factors in survival from uveal melanoma]. / Vyzhivaemost' pri uveal'noi melanome: rol' molekulyarno-geneticheskikh faktorov.

AIM: to analyze survival rates in uveal melanoma (UM) patients and establish correlations with chromosome 3 monosomy, chromosome 1p deletion, and RASSF1A methylation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Methylation-specific PCR analysis was performed in 104 patients with histologically verified UM. RESULTS: A statistically significant correlation has been found between chromosome 3 monosomy, on the one hand, and mixed/epithelioid cell melanomas and ciliary body involvement, on the other. As for chromosome 1p deletion, it has demonstrated association with extrabulbar tumor growth. We have also calculated 5-year survival and mortality rates in «large¼ UMs and their relationship with chromosome 3 monosomy, chromosome 1p deletion, and RASSF1A methylation. CONCLUSION: Chromosome 3 monosomy is associated with lower survival rates, while RASSF1A methylation - with a better prognosis. A combination of molecular and genetic changes (particularly, chromosome 3 monosomy and chromosome 1p deletion) also leads to reduced survival in UM patients.

[Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (a case of simultaneous ocular and orbital involvement)].

The paper presents an integrated analysis of clinical, instrumental, and morphological data on a very rare pathological condition-- simultaneous ocular and orbital involvement in a lymphoproliferative disorder.

[Plaque radiotherapy for anterior uveal melanomas].

AIM: To determine the effectiveness of plaque radiation therapy for anterior uveal melanomas and to evaluate the risk and frequency of complications at different time intervals after the treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During 2010-2013 a total of 30 patients (10 male, 20 female) aged 11-73 (50 years on the average) with iris or iridociliary melanomas were treated with Ru-106 and Sr-90 ophthalmic plaques. In 8 patients the brachytherapy was preceded by local tumor excision. Morphological diagnosis was verified in 10 patients (8 iridectomies, 2 enucleations), of them 8 cases turned out to be spindle cell melanomas and the other 2--mixed cell melanomas. Follow-up period ranged from 1 to 54 months with the median of 13,5 months. RESULTS: Tumor regression was achieved in all cases. Enucleation had to be performed in 2 patients due to cornea and sclera necrosis. In the early post-brachytherapy period (up to 1 month) the most frequent radiation-related complications were keratopathy and uveitis (8 and 6 patients correspondingly). In patients observed for up to 3 months (28 patients) these were keratopathy and cataract (8 and 5 patients correspondingly). In the long-term (over 6 months) cataract predominated (17 patients). At the end of the study all patients were alive. Metastatic disease was diagnosed in one patient 30 months after the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present clinical study confirm the effectiveness of brachytherapy for iris and iridociliary melanomas, which implies that tumor is well locally controlled and radiation-related complications are moderate and curable. This method of local tumor destruction can be another alternative to enucleation in cases when local tumor excision cannot be performed.

[Prognostic factors for uveal melanoma].

Uveal melanoma is a malignant intraocular tumor associated with poor vital prognosis, process generalization, and death from metastatic disease. A number of factors are considered undesirable in the presence of a tumor. This paper provides a review of the literature on major prognostic factors for uveal melanoma development and their contribution to vital prognosis.