Updates On

AAO/MEACO Joint Meeting
Chicago, Oct 16-19, 2010
MEACO Programs at the Joint Meeting

The 2010 AAO/MEACO Joint Meeting in Chicago includes 14 MEACO courses and five symposia sessions focusing on practicing ophthalmology in the Middle East and Africa . There will also be three joint sessions with AAO. View the MEACO program highlights here. You can view all AAO programs online here.

Remember that the Early Registration deadline is August 4^th.

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News

Research Grants for Middle East and African countries

The U.S. Civilian Research & Development Foundation has announced a research grant for some Middle East and African countries. The grant is for research in ophthalmology and it is worth $25,000. Deadline for applying is 30 August 2010. Please find details here.

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Upcoming Meetings

Palestinian Ophthalmological Society (Jerusalem) Conference
Jenin, Palestine, August 4 - 6, 2010

The Palestinian Ophthalmological Society is holding its 9^th scientific conference on August 4 - 6, 2010 in the Arab American University, Jenin. The conference will use video conferencing to ensure wider participation from across the world. For more information on the conference, please contact Dr. Samer Al-Assi at: samerassi@gmail.com.

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Ophthalmological Society of Eastern Africa (OSEA) Meeting
Dar Es Salam, Tanzania, August 19-20, 2010

The Ophthalmological Society of Eastern Africa (OSEA) is holding its 39th Annual Conference in the Golden Tulip Hotel, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. To know more about the meeting, click here.

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Scientific Articles from MEAJO

Molecular pathology of retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma (RB) is an embryonic neoplasm of retinal origin. For many years, scientists have sought the fundamental origins of tumorigenesis, with the ultimate hope of discovering a cure. Indeed, these efforts have led to a significant understanding that multiple molecular and genetic aberrations, such as uncontrolled proliferation and the inhibition of apoptosis that contribute to the canonical characteristics of tumor biology. Despite these advances, a thorough understanding, such as the precise cells, which are the targets of neoplastic transformation, especially in solid tumors, is currently lacking. The focus of this review is to emphasize the molecular defects involved in the RB tumor progression and mechanisms associated with inhibition of tumor cell apoptotic processes. This review also discusses the importance of target molecules characterization and their potential therapeutic or prognostic use in RB disease.

Kandalam M, Mitra M, Subramanian K, Biswas J. Molecular pathology of retinoblastoma. Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol 2010;17:217-23

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Early experience with intravitreal bevacizumab combined with laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity

Objective: This study was designed to present our early experience with intravitreal bevacizumab combined with laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) at a single institution over a 13-month-period.

Methods: A retrospective case series of eight children with ROP who received intravitreal bevacizumab combined with laser treatment between June 2007 and July 2008 were reported. A chart review was conducted to evaluate if stability of the ROP lesion had been achieved. Main information collected included data on demographics , gestational age, birth weight, length of stay in neonatal intensive care unit, and stage of ROP.

Results: Fifteen eyes of eight subjects were treated. One eye did not receive any treatment due to complete retinal detachment. The median age at treatment was 8 weeks (range, 6 weeks to 1 year). The most common stage of ROP was 3+. All eyes remained stable at 1 year or later after treatment.

Conclusion: : Intravitreal bevacizumab in conjunction with laser treatment had promising results at our institution. We recommend prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trials to compare the effect of laser treatment alone, of bevacizumab treatment alone (at different doses), and of combined bevacizumab and laser treatment.

Ahmed AE, Channa R, Durrani J, Ali A, Ahmad K. Early experience with intravitreal bevacizumab combined with laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity. Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol 2010;17:264-7

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