A retrospective case series review was conducted to determine the pre-operative role and safety of pre-operative adjunctive anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti- VEGF) agent ranibizumab “LUCENTISTM” in patients with diabetic retinopathy requiring vitrectomy. The study involved twenty consecutive eyes of sixteen patients (age range: 46-72 years; mean 57.5 years) which received intravitreal injection of 0.5 - 1 mg of ranibizumab 3 to 8 days (mean 4.4 days) prior to vitrectomy for diabetic retinopathy. There were no local or systemic post-injection complications. Indications for vitrectomy were retinal detachment (RD) [n=11; 3 combined tractional (TRD) - rhegmatogenous RD (RRD), 8 TRD], TRD with vitreous haemorrhage (VH) (n=3) ,VH (n=8) and vitreomacular traction syndrome (n=1). Inclusion criteria include all consecutive eyes of diabetic patients requiring vitrectomy receiving a first pre-operative injection of anti- VEGF. Pre-operative visual acuity (VA) ranged from 6/36 to light perception. All eyes had minimal to moderate intraoperative bleeding. Post-operative VH in eyes without tamponade or gas tamponade was nil (n=1), mild (n=13) or moderate (n=1). Silicone filled eyes had nil (n=1), moderate (n=3) or severe haemorrhages (n=1). Post-operative VA was unchanged (n=2) (10%), improved (n = 14) (70%) or worsened (n=4). VA was 2/60 or better (n=15) to no light perception (n=1). Two eyes achieved 6/12 or better vision (10%). Ten eyes (50%) had 6/36 or better vision. In conclusion, pre-operative intravitreal ranibizumab is safe and useful in diabetic vitrectomy and appears to help with perioperative bleeding leading to improvement in vision.

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a rare tumour, accounting for approximately 3% of adult non-Hodgkin lymphomas.1 Primary systemic ALCL frequently involves both lymph nodes and extranodal sites. A 44-year-old woman presented with a firm, mobile mass in the left iliac fossa region. Ultrasound findings showed a well defined inhomogenous soft tissue mass, measuring 4x4x2.6cm in the deep subcutaneous region. Histopathological examination revealed that the mass was infiltrated by large lymphoid cells with marked nuclear atypia including kidney-shaped nuclei. These neoplastic cells expressed anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) (both nuclear & cytoplasmic staining), CD30 and EMA but not for T-cell (CD45RO and CD3), and B-cell (CD20 & CD79α) markers. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis showed a t(2;5)(p23;q35) chromosomal translocation. Subsequently the patient developed shortness of the breath and a thoracic computed tomography (CT) scan showed a mass encasing the right upper lobe bronchus. She also had bilateral axillary lymph nodes, measuring 1 cm in diameter (biopsy was not done). The mediastinum and endobronchial region did not show any abnormalities. She received 6 cycles of CHOP chemotherapy and remained disease free 2 years after diagnosis. ALCL, rarely present as a soft tissue tumour and this disease should be included as a differential diagnosis of any soft tissue mass.

Most poultry farms in Malaysia preferred rearing chickens either for eggs or/and meat than turkeys. This is due to several challenges such as parasitic load and heat stress in rearing turkey. Blastocystis is one of the most common protozoan parasites infecting poultry. As no study was conducted on Blastocystis infection in turkey in Malaysia, this study aims to determine the current status, the morphological characteristics and subtyping of Blastocystis from turkey reared either in closed house or free-range system in Penang, Malaysia. It was found that the prevalence of Blastocystis sp. infection in turkeys were moderately high with 41.6% (25/60) in the closed house and 45.0% (45/100) in free-range system as infection was higher in the female turkeys with no gastrointestinal signs and symptoms. Vacuolar form was the most common form found in the in vitro culture ranged between 5 to 20 μm in diameter with a rough surface coat and undulating cell surface viewed under the scanning electron microscope. Meanwhile, the ultrastructure of the cells from turkey isolates were varies with partially expanded electron-opaque vacuoles to electron-dense in fully distended vacuoles. Interestingly, sequence analysis for 30 positive Blastocystis isolates from turkeys revealed one subtypes with three alleles namely, ST7 allele 99 (73.4%, n=22), ST7 allele 100 (23.3%, n=7) and ST7 allele 101 (3.3%, n=1). Findings from this study added to our understanding on Blastocystis infection in turkey production.