Penny McKelvie

Mitochondrial respiratory chain activity in the human brain as a function of age.

Age-associated changes in mitochondrial respiratory chain activity were investigated in human brain tissue collected at autopsy. Four brain regions, the frontal cortex, superior temporal cortex, cerebellum and putamen, were studied to map any regional variation. A significant decrease in cytochrome c oxidase activity was seen in all regions studied with increasing age (P<0.05). Although a small decrease in succinate dehydrogenase-cytochrome c oxidoreductase and NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase activities was observed, this was not statistically significant. This study has shown that the age-related fall in cytochrome c oxidase activity affects the frontal cortex, superior temporal cortex, cerebellum and putamen. The variation in the extent of age-related oxidative phosphorylation decline was striking. We hypothesize that individuals with more severe age-related decline may be predisposed to neuronal dysfunction, whereas individuals with well preserved oxidative phosphorylation may enjoy some degree of neuronal protection.

Irregular distribution of cytochrome c oxidase protein subunits in aging and Alzheimer's disease.

This study aims to investigate the cellular distribution of human cytochrome c oxidase (COX) subunit II (CII) and COX subunit IV (CIV) in Alzheimers disease relative to control brains. The levels of CIV and CII proteins in the cerebellar Purkinje cells were reduced in age‐matched controls relative to young controls and in the Alzheimers disease group relative to both age‐matched and young controls. Results suggest that these age‐associated changes are more marked in Alzheimers disease.

IgG4-Related Ophthalmic Disease. Part II: Clinical Aspects.

Purpose: To review the current state of knowledge of IgG4-related ophthalmic disease (IgG4-ROD). Methods: A review of the literature and personal experience of the authors. Results: IgG4-related disease is a recently recognized fibroinflammatory disorder that may affect 1 or more organs. It is characterized by lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates with large numbers of IgG4 positive plasma cells, storiform fibrosis, obliterative phlebitis, and eosinophil infiltration as well as peripheral eosinophilia, and in some cases, elevated serum levels of IgG4. These features are not always seen, and the diagnosis should be made by integrating clinical, imaging, and histopathological data, with reference to recently defined diagnostic criteria. IgG4-ROD forms a significant proportion of what has previously been labeled “idiopathic orbital inflammation” or reactive lymphoid hyperplasia. Orbital disease may occur alone, at the same time as disease elsewhere, or metachronously with systemic disease. Although almost any ocular adnexal tissue may be affected, there are several commoner recognizable patterns of IgG4-ROD: (1) sclerosing dacryoadenitis; 2) enlargement of orbital nerves (most commonly the infraorbital nerve) associated with orbital myositis and lacrimal gland disease, often in combination with paranasal sinus disease, eosinophilia, and systemic involvement; and 3) sclerosing orbital inflammation. Patients with IgG4-ROD should be investigated and monitored for other organ involvement. Some patients with IgG4-related disease may develop lymphoma, usually marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type. Treatment of IgG4-ROD includes the use of corticosteroids and other immunosuppressants. Rituximab has been shown to be very effective. Longer term studies on the natural course and treatment of IgG4-ROD are needed. Conclusions: Patients presenting with orbital inflammatory lesions should have biopsies obtained whenever possible. The examining pathologist should routinely look for features of IgG4-ROD, and if found, the patient should be investigated for other organ involvement. Early treatment may prevent destructive changes in affected tissues.

IgG4-related ophthalmic disease. Part I: background and pathology.

Purpose: To review the current state of knowledge of IgG4-related ophthalmic disease (IgG4-ROD). Methods: A review of the literature and personal experience of the authors. Results: IgG4-related disease is a recently recognized fibroinflammatory disorder that may affect 1 or more organs. It is characterized by lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates with large numbers of IgG4 positive plasma cells, storiform fibrosis, obliterative phlebitis, and eosinophil infiltration as well as peripheral eosinophilia, and in some cases, elevated serum levels of IgG4. These features are not always seen, and the diagnosis should be made by integrating clinical, imaging, and histopathological data, with reference to recently defined diagnostic criteria. IgG4-ROD forms a significant proportion of what has previously been labeled “idiopathic orbital inflammation” or reactive lymphoid hyperplasia. Orbital disease may occur alone, at the same time as disease elsewhere, or metachronously with systemic disease. Although almost any ocular adnexal tissue may be affected, there are several more common recognizable patterns of IgG4-ROD: 1) sclerosing dacryoadenitis; 2) enlargement of orbital nerves (most commonly the infraorbital nerve) associated with orbital myositis and lacrimal gland disease, often in combination with paranasal sinus disease, eosinophilia, and systemic involvement; and 3) sclerosing orbital inflammation. Conclusions: Patients presenting with orbital inflammatory lesions should have biopsies obtained whenever possible. The examining pathologist should routinely look for features of IgG4-ROD, and if found, the patient should be investigated for other organ involvement. Early treatment may prevent destructive changes in affected tissues.

Immunohistochemistry with the anti-BRAF V600E (VE1) antibody: impact of pre-analytical conditions and concordance with DNA sequencing in colorectal and papillary thyroid carcinoma

Summary The most common of all activating BRAF mutations (T1799A) leads to a substitution of valine (V) to glutamic acid (E) at the position 600 of the amino acid sequence. The major goal of this study was to compare detection of the BRAF V600E mutation by DNA sequencing with immunohistochemistry (IHC) using the anti-BRAF V600E (VE1) antibody. Archival formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissues from 352 patients with colon adenocarcinoma (n = 279) and papillary thyroid carcinoma (n = 73) were evaluated for the BRAF V600E mutation by sequencing and IHC. The discordant cases were re-evaluated by repeat IHC, SNaPshot and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Furthermore, the effect of pre-analytical variables on the utility of this antibody was evaluated in two xenograft mouse models. After resolving 15 initially discordant cases, 212 cases were negative for the BRAF V600E mutation by IHC. Of these, 210 cases (99.1%) were also negative by sequencing and two cases (0.9%) remained discordant. Of the 140 cases that were IHC positive for BRAF V600E, 138 cases were confirmed by sequencing (98.6%) and two cases remained discordant (1.4%). Overall, the negative predictive value was 99.1%, positive predictive value 98.6%, sensitivity 98.6%, specificity 99.1% and overall percentage agreement 98.9% (348/352 cases). Tissue fixation studies indicated that tissues should be fixed for 12–24 h within 2 h of tissue collection with 10% neutral buffered formalin.

Ocular Adnexal Follicular Lymphoma: A Multicenter International Study

IMPORTANCE The clinical features of the follicular subtype of ocular adnexal lymphoma (OAL) have not been previously evaluated in a large cohort. OBJECTIVE To characterize the clinical features of follicular OAL. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS We performed a retrospective multicenter study that involved 6 eye cancer centers from January 1, 1980, through December 31, 2010. A total of 105 patients with follicular OAL were identified, of which 7 patients were excluded because of missing clinical data. The median follow-up time was 52 months (range, 13-118 months). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Overall survival, disease-specific, and progression-free survivals were the primary end points. RESULTS Ninety-eight eligible patients with follicular OAL were included; 60 (61%) were women. The median patient age was 63 years (range, 32-96 years). Sixty-nine patients (70%) had primary OAL, 19 (19%) had OAL in conjunction with a concurrent systemic lymphoma, and 10 (10%) presented with an ocular adnexal relapse. The lacrimal gland (28%), conjunctiva (28%), and orbit (28%) were the most frequently involved sites. Of the 69 patients with primary follicular lymphoma, 38 (55%) presented with Ann Arbor stage IE lymphoma, and 31 (45%) had stage IIE lymphoma. Patients with disseminated lymphoma had stage IIIE (9 of 19 [47%]) and stage IV (10 of 19 [53%]) disease, whereas patients with a relapse of systemic lymphoma presented with stage IE (8 of 10 [80%]), stage IIE (1 of 10 [10%]), and stage IIIE (1 of 10 [10%]) disease. Patients with primary follicular lymphoma (n = 69) and those with isolated ocular relapse (n = 9) were treated with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) (35 of 78 [45%]) or EBRT plus chemotherapy (22 of 78 [28%]). Patients presenting with stage IIIE-IV follicular lymphoma (n = 20) most frequently received chemotherapy (9 of 20 [45%]) or EBRT plus chemotherapy (4 of 20 [20%]). The 10-year overall survival for the entire study cohort was 60%. Primary patients treated with EBRT had a better disease-specific survival compared with patients receiving ERBT plus chemotherapy (10-year disease-specific survival, 94% vs 40%; P = .02 by log-rank test). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Follicular OAL was more commonly found in elderly female patients. These tumors were equally noted to involve the conjunctiva, lacrimal gland, and orbit. Patients with ocular adnexal follicular lymphoma primarily treated with EBRT had a more favorable long-term disease-specific survival.

Ocular Adnexal Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma: A Multicenter International Study

IMPORTANCE The clinical features of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) subtype of ocular adnexal lymphoma have not previously been evaluated in a large cohort to our knowledge. OBJECTIVE To investigate the clinical features of ocular adnexal DLBCL (OA-DLBCL). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective international cooperative study involved 6 eye cancer centers. During 30 years, 106 patients with OA-DLBCL were identified, and 6 were excluded from the study. The median follow-up period was 52 months. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Overall survival, disease-specific survival (DSS), and progression-free survival were the primary end points. RESULTS One hundred patients with OA-DLBCL were included in the study (median age, 70 years), of whom 54 (54.0%) were female. The following 3 groups of patients with lymphoma could be identified: primary OA-DLBCL (57.0%), OA-DLBCL and concurrent systemic lymphoma (29.0%), and ocular adnexal lymphoma relapse of previous systemic lymphoma (14.0%). Of 57 patients with primary OA-DLBCL, 53 (93.0%) had Ann Arbor stage IE disease, and 4 (7.0%) had Ann Arbor stage IIE disease. According to the TNM staging system, 43 of 57 (75.4%) had T2 tumors. Among all patients, the most frequent treatments were external beam radiation therapy with or without surgery (31.0%) and rituximab-cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin, vincristine sulfate, prednisone (CHOP) or rituximab-CHOP-like chemotherapy with or without external beam radiation therapy (21.0%). The 5-year overall survival among the entire cohort was 36.0% (median, 3.5 years; 95% CI, 2.5-4.5 years). Relapse occurred in 43.9% (25 of 57) of patients with primary OA-DLBCL. Increasing T category of the TNM staging system was predictive of DSS (P = .04) in primary OA-DLBCL, whereas the Ann Arbor staging system was not. However, when taking all 100 patients into account, Ann Arbor stage was able to predict DSS (P = .01). Women had a longer median DSS than men (9.8 years; 95% CI, 1.9-17.7 years vs 3.3 years; 95% CI, 1.6-5.0; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Most patients with primary OA-DLBCL were seen with Ann Arbor stage IE and TNM T2 disease. The 5-year overall survival was between 2.5 and 4.5 years, which is the 95% CI around the median of 3.5 years in this cohort. Increasing T category appears to be associated with decreased DSS among patients with primary OA-DLBCL. When taking all patients into account, sex and Ann Arbor stage also seem to be DSS predictors.

Ocular–central nervous system lymphoma mimicking posterior scleritis with exudative retinal detachment

OBJECTIVE We describe an unusual ocular presentation of ocular-central nervous system lymphoma in a young patient. DESIGN Interventional case report and literature review. METHODS A previously well 24-year-old white woman presented with left eye pain and reduced vision. Episcleral injection, globe tenderness, an afferent pupil defect, and exudative retinal detachment were present. Computed tomographic scan of the head and orbits demonstrated scleral thickening, retinal detachment, and no other abnormality. A provisional diagnosis of posterior scleritis with exudative retinal detachment was made. Investigation for underlying connective tissue diseases was negative. There was an initial prompt response to corticosteroid therapy. The patients symptoms and signs then recurred, and a left third cranial nerve palsy developed. Systemic investigations including lumbar puncture ultimately led to the diagnosis of primary T-cell central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma. Serologic tests for human immunodeficiency virus were negative. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES AND RESULTS The patient underwent orbital and cranial irradiation and intrathecal and systemic chemotherapy. Despite an initial response to treatment, she returned with a recurrence of the lymphoma in the anterior segment of the left eye. Her systemic disease progressed rapidly, and she died shortly thereafter. CONCLUSIONS This patients young age and initial presentation mimicking posterior scleritis with unilateral exudative retinal detachment, without evidence of vitreous involvement, are highly unusual for ocular involvement in primary CNS lymphoma. A review of the literature highlights the atypical nature of this presentation.

Conjunctival Lymphoma—An International Multicenter Retrospective Study

IMPORTANCE To date, the clinical features of the various subtypes of conjunctival lymphoma (CL) have not been previously evaluated in a large cohort. OBJECTIVE To characterize subtype-specific clinical features of CL and their effect on patient outcome. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A retrospective multicenter study was performed. Patient data were collected from January 1, 1980, through December 31, 2010. The dates of the analysis were May 15, 2015, to August 20, 2015. The median follow-up period was 43 months. Seven eye cancer centers were involved in the study. In total, 268 patients with CL were identified, 5 of whom were excluded because of missing clinical data. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Overall survival, disease-specific survival, and progression-free survival were the primary end points. RESULTS Two hundred sixty-three patients with CL were included in the study. Their mean age was 61.3 years, and 55.1% (145 of 263) were female. All lymphomas were of B-cell type. The most frequent subtype was extranodal marginal zone lymphoma (EMZL) (68.4% [180 of 263]), followed by follicular lymphoma (FL) (16.3% [43 of 263]), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) (6.8% [18 of 263]), and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (4.6% [12 of 263). Conjunctival lymphoma commonly manifested in elderly individuals (age range, 60-70 years old), with EMZL having a female predilection (57.8% [104 of 180]) and MCL having a marked male predominance (77.8% [14 of 18]). Unlike EMZL and FL, DLBCL and MCL were frequently secondary diseases (41.7% [5 of 12] and 88.9% [16 of 18], respectively), with MCL showing a frequent occurrence of stage IVE lymphoma (61.1% [11 of 18]) and bilateral manifestation (77.8% [14 of 18]). Localized disease (stage IE or IIE) was commonly treated with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) with or without chemotherapy, while widespread lymphoma (stage IIIE or IVE) and MCL of any stage were managed with chemotherapy with or without EBRT. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and MCL had a poor prognosis, with 5-year disease-specific survival of 55.0% and 9.0%, respectively, in contrast to EMZL (97.0%) and FL (82.0%). Further survival predictors included age (EMZL), sex (FL), and Ann Arbor staging classification (EMZL and FL). The American Joint Committee on Cancer TNM staging showed limited prognostic usefulness, only being able to predict survival for patients with DLBCL. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Conjunctival lymphoma consists of mainly 4 subtypes of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma: EMZL, FL, MCL, and DLBCL. Mantle cell lymphoma is characterized by a particularly high frequency of secondary disease of stage IVE and bilateral manifestation. The histological subtype is the main outcome predictor, with MCL and DLBCL having a markedly poorer prognosis than EMZL and FL.

Trauma as a precipitant of haemorrhage in synovial cysts.

Synovial cysts have been well reported as a cause of sciatica, with a sudden acute exacerbation being attributed to haemorrhage and subsequent enlargement of the cyst. Cyst formation is attributed to facet joint degeneration associated with a defect or rupture of the joint capsule. The mechanisms of haemorrhage have not been well described previously. Two cases of haemorrhagic synovial cysts causing acute exacerbation of sciatica are described. Both cases were directly attributable to manipulation of degenerate spines. The MRI and histopathological findings are discussed and we propose a mechanism whereby excessive stress on a degenerate revascularized synovium leads to haemorrhage within synovial cysts.