Rational design of a new fluorescent ‘ON/OFF’ xanthene dye for phosphate detection in live cells

A new fluorescein derivative with ON/OFF features, 9-[1-(4-tert-butyl-2-methoxyphenyl)]-6-hydroxy-3H-xanthen-3-one (Granada Green, GG), was designed and synthesised.

Single fiber electromyography of extraocular muscles: a sensitive method for the diagnosis of ocular myasthenia gravis

We performed single fiber electromyography (SFEMG) in the superior rectus and levator palpebralis (SR-LP) muscles of 17 patients with pure ocular myasthenia gravis (MG) and 9 controls. Thirteen patients were also assessed with SFEMG in the orbicularis oculi (OO) muscle. All the MG patients but none of the control subjects showed abnormal SFEMG jitter in the SR-LP muscles. On the other hand, only 62% of the MG patients had abnormal SFEMG jitter in the OO muscle. The procedure was well tolerated by the patients, and complications were minor. We conclude that SFEMG of the SR-LP muscles is a safe and highly sensitive technique for the diagnosis of ocular MG.

Vertical ocular motor apraxia

We report a case of vertical ocular motor apraxia in a 4-year old boy whom we have followed for 2 years. The patient had no upward and downward voluntary movements of the eyes since birth, but horizontal movements were normal. He achieved gaze changes in the vertical plane by combined blinks and head movements. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated bilateral lesions at the mesencephalic-diencephalic junction.

Hydatid cysts of the orbit. A review of 35 cases

The authors reviewed 35 cases of orbital hydatid cysts, which represented 5% of orbital surgical cases seen from 1944 to 1985. The average age was 16 years (range, 2-57 years). Slowly progressive unilateral exophthalmos, with or without pain, was the most frequent clinical manifestation. Computed tomography (CT) of the orbit demonstrated a well-circumscribed mass. Ultrasonography showed an anechoic cystic mass. The parasitic membrane and contents were surgically removed through an orbital approach. Hydatid cysts should be included in the differential diagnosis of unilateral exophthalmos in patients from countries where echinococcosis is endemic. Preoperative recognition is important for planning an appropriate surgical treatment in avoiding complications.

Angle closure glaucoma as initial manifestation of melanocytoma of the optic disc

A 44-year-old man had progressive visual loss and pain due to angle-closure glaucoma associated with a papillary pigmented lesion. The eye was enucleated because of intractable pain and the suspicion of a malignant tumor. Histologic and electron microscopic examination of the enucleated eye revealed a partially necrotic melanocytoma of the optic nerve. There was histologic evidence of vaso-occlusive disease within the optic nerve that resulted in ischemic necrosis of the tumor, hypoxic retinopathy and neovascular glaucoma. This report emphasizes that significant complications may occur in otherwise typical intraocular nevi.