Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the expression of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) in uveal melanoma (UM) to evaluate its potential utility as a therapeutic target. Materials and Methods: A total of 80 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded enucleated eyes of UM patients, as well as 11 eyes and 11 pulmonary metastases from a rabbit model of human UM, were collected. All samples were stained for ALK using a fully automated immunohistochemical procedure. Human UM cases were classified according to cell type in spindle or epithelioid. Differences in ALK positivity according to cell type were determined using Pearson's Chi-square test. Results: In human UM specimens, ALK was positive in 2 of 39 spindle cell type cases (2.5%) and in 13 of 41 (16.25%) epithelioid cell type cases. The difference in ALK expression between cell types was statistically significant (P = 0.002). In the animal model of human UM cells, all cases (100%) were positive for ALK in both ocular and pulmonary lesions. Conclusion: ALK is expressed in a small proportion of UM, with statistically significant more expression in the more aggressive epithelioid cell type. Furthermore, when ocular tumors and corresponding lung metastasis from a highly metastatic animal model of UM were examined, ALK was positive in all samples. Collectively, our data suggest that ALK expression may be associated with more aggressive tumors. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the potential of ALK as a therapeutic target in human UM, particularly in aggressive tumors.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the epidemiological profile and prescription of optical, nonoptical, and electronic devices in the elderly aged 80 years or older, in a low-vision rehabilitation center in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Methods: This is a retrospective, observational, descriptive study held in a low-vision rehabilitation center in Belo Horizonte, from 1992 to 2016. A total of 448 medical records were analyzed and 375 (83.7%) were included. Age, gender, occupation, diagnosis, ocular and systemic diseases associated, best-corrected visual acuity, refractive error, goal to be achieved, optical, nonoptical, and electronic devices, and visual hallucination were considered. Results: Of the 375 medical record evaluated, 310 (82.6%) cases were of patients aged 80–89 years old, 218 cases (58.1%) were female and 262 cases (69.8%) were of retired patients. The age-related macular degeneration was the most prevalent disease, 296 (78.9%), followed by glaucoma in 31 patients (8.2%) and diabetic retinopathy in 9 (2.4%). Low myopia was the most prevalent refractive error, present in 148 (39.4%). A severe visual loss occurred in 145 patients (38.6%) while reading was the main goal, with 339 cases (90.4%). Optical and/or electronic devices were prescribed to 361 patients (96.2%), in a total of 418 optical and 66 electronic devices. Among the electronic devices, video magnifiers (CCTV) were indicated for 37 patients (9.8%) and handheld electronic magnifiers for 29 patients (7.7%). Visual hallucinations were reported in 11 cases (2.9%). Conclusions: This study shows that vision rehabilitation is possible in the elderly.