Approximately 40% of patients presenting with idiopathic AAU have undiagnosed SpA. A simple to apply algorithm is described with excellent sensitivity and specificity.

AU affects physical aspects of quality of life more than is appreciated by clinical variables, especially in those with pre-existing, undiagnosed SpA. This study is unique in examining the effect of SpA on patients prior to diagnosis. These results highlight the role of the ophthalmologist in identifying patients with SpA who present with AU using the DUET algorithm.

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AimsUveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults, and 40% develop fatal metastatic disease. Overexpression of thioredoxin-dependent peroxidase reductase (PRDX3) has been implicated in several cancers, including prostate, breast, colorectal and lung cancer. The aim of this study was to compare the immunohistochemical expression of PRDX3 in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) primary UM tissues of patients who did and did not develop metastatic disease.MethodsImmunohistochemical staining of PRDX3 was performed on FFPE tissue microarray samples of 92 primary UM tumours from patients who did and did not develop metastatic disease. The immunohistochemical staining was assessed by two observers who were blinded to all clinicopathological and cytogenetic details including metastatic/non-metastatic information. Based on a scoring system, expression of PRDX3 was graded as high or low.ResultsThere were 55 tumours (59.8%) from patients who developed metastatic disease, while 37 (40.2%) were from patients who did not develop metastasis. A statistically significant difference in PRDX3 expression was observed in patients who did and did not develop metastasis (p=0.001). A significant positive correlation between high PRDX3 expression and metastasis was observed (p=0.001). A significant negative correlation between PRDX3 expression and survival was found (p=0.005). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a statistically significant difference in overall survival between tumours that demonstrated low and high expression of PRDX3 (67.61 vs 130.64 months, respectively, p=0.013).ConclusionsHigh immunohistochemical expression of PRDX3 in primary UM tissue is associated with metastasis and poor survival.

BACKGROUNDMost dermatological diseases generally occur elsewhere and also involve the genitalia. If the lesion is present exclusively on genitalia, it is a difficult task for the treating doctor to differentiate non venereal from venereal genital lesions.Aim is to study the clinical pattern and prevalence of non-venereal genital dermatoses. MATERIALS AND METHODSIt is a descriptive study of adult new cases with genital lesions attending Skin and STD Outpatient Clinic of Coimbatore Medical College Hospital for a period of one year from August 2013 to July 2014. Clearance was obtained from Ethical Committee. RESULTSA total of 150 cases (114 males, 36 females) with non-venereal genital dermatoses were encountered in our study. Prevalence of the non-venereal genital dermatoses in the study was 2.6 per 1000 cases. Male-to-Female ratio of patients in our study was 3.16:1. Majority of the patients were found in the age group of 33 to 42 years [42 (28%)]. Commonest non-venereal genital dermatosis was found to be scabies occurring in 19 (12.6%) patients. Pearly penile papule was found to be more common [10 (6.6%)] among benign conditions and normal variants. Among inflammatory conditions and miscellaneous groups, contact dermatitis and vitiligo were the commonest conditions respectively. One case of verrucous carcinoma of penis was seen. CONCLUSIONAll lesions occurring over genitalia are not sexually transmitted. Scabies was the most common non-venereal genital dermatosis in our study. Identifying the common non-venereal genital conditions will also remove venereophobia.

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Purpose The association between anterior uveitis (AU) and spondyloarthritis (SpA) is well established. However, no algorithm exists to advise the ophthalmologist of which patients with AU should be referred to the rheumatolgist as a suspect SpA. Early diagnosis in SpA is key as disease severity and morbidity is related to disease duration. This study firstly establishes the incidence of SpA in an Irish cohort of patients attending eye casualty with previously unknown SpA. It also establishes a highly effective predictive algorithm to advise which patients should be referred to a rheumatologist as potential SpA. Methods 104 consecutive patients with non‐infectious AU were recruited prospectively and subsequently screened by a rheumatologist for SpA. The most statically significant features were used to generate a predictive algorithm which was subsequently validated in a further cohort of 80 patients. Results The incidence of SpA is 41.5% with average duration of backache 9.36 years. Multiple regression analysis with detailed step wise post‐hoc analysis identified that patients <45 years, with backache >3 months should have HLA‐B27 checked. If positive, a referral is appropriate. If negative, a history of psoriasis should be ascertained and if present, the patient should be referred. This algorithm has sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 98%. Validation of this algorithm in a second cohort had comparable sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion The ophthalmologist has a necessary role in identifying SpA. Close collaboration between ophthalmologists and rheumatologists utilizing our algorithm will result in earlier treatment intervention to improve disease outcome.

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> To compare visual outcomes and complication rates of giant retinal tear-associated retinal detachment (GRT-RD) cases treated with short-term perfluorodecalin (PFD) tamponade versus silicone oil (SiO). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Database analysis of patients with GRT-RD operated on in the period from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2019. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Forty-five patients were operated for GRT-RD using PFD or SiO during this period. Two children, 7 patients receiving gas tamponade, and 2 lost to follow-up were excluded. Eighteen eyes (40%) received PFD and 27 (60%) received SiO. There were 15/18 (83%) macula-sparing cases in the PFD group and 18/27 (67%) in the SiO group (<i>p</i> = 0.13). The mean duration of oil tamponade was 91 days for SiO and 7.6 days for PFD (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.0001). The mean length of follow-up was 274.5 days for PFD and 668.9 days for SiO. The mean BCVA was 6/18 (63.4 ± 26.0 ETDRS letters) for SiO and 6/12 (72.9 ± 12.7 ETDRS letters) for PFD (<i>p</i> = 0.42). Analysing macula-sparing pseudophakic eyes, the BCVA was 6/12 (67.4 ± 25.9 letters, <i>n</i> = 18) for SiO eyes and 6/9 (76.8 ± 9.9 letters, <i>n</i> = 11) for PFD eyes (<i>p</i> = 0.54). The recurrence rate was 22% (6/27) for SiO and 6% (1/18) for PFD (<i>p</i> = 0.12). The rate of cystoid macular oedema (CMO) was 22% for SiO and 22% for PFD. Epiretinal membrane (ERM) was found in 26% of SiO cases and 22% of PFD cases. Loss of vision after oil removal was not observed. Seven eyes (26%) receiving SiO and none receiving PFD developed chronic ocular hypertension (OHT) (<i>p</i> = 0.02). <b><i>Conclusions</i></b>: Short-term tamponade with PFD for GRT-RD appears similar to tamponade with SiO in terms of the visual outcomes and complication rates.