Defects in the outer blood-retinal barrier have significant impact on the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy and macular edema. However, the detailed mechanisms involved remain largely unknown. This is, in part, attributed to the lack of suitable animal and cell culture models, including those of mouse origin. We recently reported a method for the culture of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells from wild-type and transgenic mice. The RPE cells are responsible for maintaining the integrity of the outer blood-retinal barrier whose dysfunction during diabetes has a significant impact on vision. Here we determined the impact of high glucose on the function of RPE cells. We showed that high glucose conditions resulted in enhanced migration and increased the level of oxidative stress in RPE cells, but minimally impacted their rate of proliferation and apoptosis. High glucose also minimally affected the cell-matrix and cell-cell interactions of RPE cells. However, the expression of integrins and extracellular matrix proteins including pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) were altered under high glucose conditions. Incubation of RPE cells with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine under high glucose conditions restored normal migration and PEDF expression. These cells also exhibited increased nuclear localization of the antioxidant transcription factor Nrf2 and ZO-1, reduced levels of β-catenin and phagocytic activity, and minimal effect on production of vascular endothelial growth factor, inflammatory cytokines, and Akt, MAPK, and Src signaling pathways. Thus high glucose conditions promote RPE cell migration through increased oxidative stress and expression of PEDF without a significant effect on the rate of proliferation and apoptosis.

Objectives To measure growth-related changes in orbital volume from childhood to the late teenage years using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. Methods This retrospective cohort study involved 65 (24 male, 41 female) healthy Caucasian children (ages 6–18 years) with existing serial craniofacial CBCT scans. CBCT scans were available for 292 orbits. Each orbit was transformed into a closed space with well-defined boundaries, and orbital volume was measured using manual segmentation. A novel statistical analysis was applied to extract the maximum amount of longitudinal information from the data. Intra- and inter-operator correlation coefficients were calculated from replications performed on a random subset of 10% of the sample. Results Orbital volume increased at a rate of 1–2% annually until the late teenage years. Intra- and inter-operator agreement between repeated measurements were >90%. Conclusions Orbital volume increases by 1–2% per year throughout childhood continuing until the late teenage years. This annual increase is large enough to be clinically relevant as it may lead to less-than-optimal long term surgical outcomes when reconstructive surgery for the pediatric anophthalmic socket is required.

A 4-year-old girl with a history of Pearson marrow-pancreas syndrome presenting with severe, progressive photophobia was found to have bilateral, diffuse corneal thickening and peripheral pigmentary retinopathy. She underwent Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) surgery in both eyes using a modified suture pull-through technique. Postoperatively there was no evidence of cataract formation or graft detachment; her corneas thinned, and her photophobia improved dramatically.

Purpose: To review clinical presentations of periocular sebaceous carcinoma (SC) and introduce standardized nomenclature for multicentric and multifocal disease presentation. Methods: A comprehensive PubMed/Medline search was conducted to identify all articles reporting periocular multicentric or multifocal SC presentations. The authors also highlight an additional case of SC presenting with 2 clinically distinct tumor foci and complete secondary invasion of the lacrimal gland. Results: This review summarizes clinical presentations of periocular SC exhibiting discrete foci of microinvasion reported in the literature. Discrete microinvasion was associated with high rates of misdiagnosis (80%), simultaneous involvement of both upper and lower eyelids (80%), pagetoid spread (80%), multinodular growth (33%), local tumor spread (60%), previous eyelid manipulation (40%), and local recurrence (40%). Eyelid multifocality with clinically discrete nodules (42%) was associated with more advanced disease including orbital extension and regional invasion (80%). Conclusions: Despite previous reported associations with poorer outcomes, there is no consensus in the definition or nomenclature for discrete microinvasive or clinical disease presentations in periocular SC. The authors recommend defining multicentric disease as discrete foci of microinvasive tumor with basement membrane disruption and multifocal disease as discrete clinically evident nodules involving both the upper and lower eyelids. Differentiating between discrete microinvasive (multicentric) and clinically nodular (multifocal) disease may improve risk stratification to most accurately identify patients who require more aggressive management and surveillance.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) requires a prompt diagnosis to avoid significant morbidity among the elderly. An accurate diagnosis is also paramount given the side effect profile of long-term corticosteroid treatment. Temporal artery biopsy (TAB) has long remained the gold standard for the diagnosis of GCA but requires an invasive procedure that is not without risk. This article discusses the argument for and against the use of noninvasive imaging including ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography scanning for the diagnosis of GCA. It also provides a suggested diagnostic algorithm for when to consider noninvasive imaging versus TAB.