Antithrombotic and antiplatelet effects of plant-derived compounds: a great utility potential for primary, secondary, and tertiary care in the framework of 3P medicine.

Thromboembolism is the third leading vascular disease, with a high annual incidence of 1 to 2 cases per 1000 individuals within the general population. The broader term venous thromboembolism generally refers to deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and/or a combination of both. Therefore, thromboembolism can affect both - the central and peripheral veins.

Abscopal Effects in Metastatic Cancer: Is a Predictive Approach Possible to Improve Individual Outcomes?

Patients with metastatic cancers often require radiotherapy (RT) as a palliative therapy for cancer pain. RT can, however, also induce systemic antitumor effects outside of the irradiated field (abscopal effects) in various cancer entities. The occurrence of the abscopal effect is associated with a specific immunological activation in response to RT-induced cell death, which is mainly seen under concomitant immune checkpoint blockade.

Endothelin-1 axes in the framework of predictive, preventive and personalised (3P) medicine.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is involved in the regulation of a myriad of processes highly relevant for physical and mental well-being; female and male health; in the modulation of senses, pain, stress reactions and drug sensitivity as well as healing processes, amongst others. Shifted ET-1 homeostasis may influence and predict the development and progression of suboptimal health conditions, metabolic impairments with cascading complications, ageing and related pathologies, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative pathologies, aggressive malignancies, modulating, therefore, individual outcomes of both non-communicable and infectious diseases such as COVID-19. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the involvement of ET-1 and related regulatory pathways in physiological and pathophysiological processes and estimates its capacity as a predictor of ageing and related pathologies,a sensor of lifestyle quality and progression of suboptimal health conditions to diseases for their targeted preventionand as a potent target for cost-effective treatments tailored to the person.

Targeting the Post-Irradiation Tumor Microenvironment in Glioblastoma via Inhibition of CXCL12.

Radiotherapy is a mainstay in glioblastoma therapy as it not only directly targets tumor cells but also depletes the tumor microvasculature. The resulting intra-tumoral hypoxia initiates a chain of events that ultimately leads to re-vascularization, immunosuppression and, ultimately, tumor-regrowth. The key component of this cascade is overexpression of the CXC-motive chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12), formerly known as stromal-cell derived factor 1 (SDF-1).

High-throughput monitoring of integration site clonality in preclinical and clinical gene therapy studies.

Gene transfer to hematopoietic stem cells with integrating vectors not only allows sustained correction of monogenic diseases but also tracking of individual clones in vivo. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) has been shown to be an accurate method to quantify individual stem cell clones, yet due to frequently limited amounts of target material (especially in clinical studies), it is not useful for large-scale analyses. To explore whether vector integration site (IS) recovery techniques may be suitable to describe clonal contributions if combined with next-generation sequencing techniques, we designed artificial ISs of different sizes which were mixed to simulate defined clonal situations in clinical settings.

Spectral characteristics of the PhNR in the full-field flash electroretinogram of normals and glaucoma patients.

Flash electroretinogram responses were measured in normal subjects to different chromatic combinations of flashes and backgrounds. The amplitudes of the flash response components were measured at different flash strengths and could be described by a generalized Naka-Rushton function. The measurements were repeated at different background luminances to study adaptation effects.

Solid corneal dermoids and subconjunctival lipodermoids: impact of differentiated surgical therapy on the functional long-term outcome.

Purpose: The functional long-term outcome after differentiated surgical therapy of solid corneal dermoids and subconjunctival lipodermoids with special regard to determinants for amblyopia will be assessed.

Methods: Forty-six consecutive patients undergoing surgery for solid epibulbar dermoids, subconjunctival lipodermoids, or both were included. Visual acuity, refraction, keratometry, and degree of amblyopia were determined.

Electroretinographic responses that may reflect activity of parvo- and magnocellular post-receptoral visual pathways.

The electroretinogram (ERG) is a complex retinal response to visual stimuli that contains receptoral and post-receptoral components. Here, data are presented using stimuli that isolate the responses of L (long wavelength sensitive)- or M (middle wavelength sensitive)-cones or that stimulate the two simultaneously. The data show that at a temporal frequency of 12 Hz, ERG responses are L- to M-cone opponent with little inter-individual variability.

Rod and S-cone driven ERG signals at high retinal illuminances.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether L- and M-cone driven responses can be influenced by concomitant modulation in the rods or the S-cones. In addition, it was studied whether a change in the state of adaptation in L- or M-cones can have a different influence on ERG data when simultaneously the mean number of photoisomerizations in either rods or S-cones is altered. It was found that rods and/or S-cones cannot be neglected when measuring L- or M-cone driven ERGs.

Carcinoma-associated retinopathy-an electrophysiological and immunohistochemical correlation.

Purpose: To correlate the clinical, electrophysiological, and immunohistochemical findings in patients suffering from carcinoma-associated retinopathy.

Methods: Four patients with visual loss were included in this retrospective, observational consecutive case series. Electrophysiology and immunohistochemical analysis were performed to confirm the diagnosis of carcinoma-associated retinopathy.

Accidental focal laser injury--a correlation of electrophysiology, perimetry and clinical findings.

Background: Laser injuries to the eyes occasionally occur in occupational accidents or during free-time activities. The aim of this study was to compare clinical and functional findings.

Methods: We describe a 34-year-old male complaining about reduced visual acuity after an accidental laser injury.

Long-term reproducibility of screening for glaucoma with FDT-perimetry.

Purpose: Aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term reproducibility of frequency doubling technology (FDT) screening procedures.

Methods: Longitudinal data of 433 eyes of 294 patients with no progression of glaucomatous optic disc atrophy were retrospectively analyzed: 62 control eyes, 184 ocular hypertensive eyes, 104 preperimetric, and 83 perimetric open-angle glaucoma eyes. All subjects had annual tests with the FDT perimeter and a standardized ophthalmologic examination (ie, conventional perimetry, optic disc inspection, tonometry, lens opacity measurement for exclusion of cataract).

Pupillographic measurements with pattern stimulation: the pupil's response in normal subjects and first measurements in glaucoma patients.

Purpose: This study was undertaken to characterize the influence of contrast, luminance, and spatial frequency of a pattern stimulus on the pupil reaction of healthy subjects. First measurements with this technique in patients with glaucoma were compared with those in a control group.

Method: Grating patterns were presented using a Maxwellian-view system to study series of contrast, luminance, and spatial frequency in three healthy subjects.

Measurement of autofluorescence in the parapapillary atrophic zone in patients with ocular hypertension.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate area and intensity of parapapillary autofluorescence in patients with ocular hypertension and controls.

Patients And Methods: Forty-two consecutive patients with ocular hypertension and 25 controls were investigated in a controlled prospective cross-sectional trial. All patients and controls were members of the Erlangen Glaucoma registry and received complete ophthalmologic examination and detailed standardized glaucoma examination, including 24-h IOP measurement, perimetrie (G1, three phases) and 15 degrees stereographic slides of the optic disc.

Pattern reversal ERG with LED-stimulation using cyclic summation technique.

Purpose: Multifocal pattern reversal stimulation can be used to detect inner retinal dysfunction. Commonly, the stimulus is generated on a monitor using m-sequence technique. We describe a pattern reversal ERG evoked by LED arrays using cyclic summation (CS).

Pattern reversal ERG and VEP--comparison of stimulation by LED, monitor and a Maxwellian-view system.

Purpose: Pattern stimulation is widely used to detect inner retinal dysfunction. In this work we describe a pattern stimulation technique with LEDs and compare the results with conventional methods.

Methods: PERG and VEP were derived from three normal subjects.

Salzmann's nodular degeneration of the cornea: a review and case series.

Salzmann's nodular degeneration is a rare, noninflammatory, slowly progressive, degenerative condition. Bluish-white nodules raised above the surface of the cornea characterize it. It has usually developed in corneas with a history of phlyctenulosis, trachoma, vernal keratoconjunctivitis, measles, scarlet fever, and various other viral diseases.

Long-term outcome of excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy for treatment of Salzmann's nodular degeneration.

Purpose: To describe the technique and evaluate the long-term success of excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) for treatment of Salzmann's nodular degeneration.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.

Methods: This retrospective study comprised 22 eyes of 14 patients who consecutively had PTK for superficial corneal opacities in Salzmann's nodular degeneration between January 1990 and November 2003.