Alkylphenols in sediments of the Atlantic Rainforest south-west of São Paulo, Brazil.

Concentrations of technical 4-nonylphenol, 4-n-octylphenol, and 4-tert-octylphenol were investigated in surface water and sediment samples of four reservoirs southwest of São Paulo. Three of them (Takimoto 1, Takimoto 2, Pedro) were established in intensively cropped landscapes, one (Morro Grande) was surrounded by dense forests. Total alkylphenol concentrations in sediments generally ranged between 1 and 10 microgkg-1dw with 4-tert-octylphenol being the dominant alkylphenol.

Proton therapy of uveal melanomas: intercomparison of MRI-based and conventional treatment planning.

Background And Purpose: Proton therapy for uveal melanoma provides high-conformal dose application to the target volume and, thus, an optimal saving of the organs at risk nearby. Treatment planning is done with the model-based treatment-planning system EYEPLAN. Tumor reconstruction is based only on a fundus composite, which often leads to an overestimation of the clinical target volume (CTV).

[Ocular manifestations and surgical results in patients with Marfan syndrome].

Aim: This retrospective study should examine and judge the surgical indications and the therapeutic possibilities as well as their complications in patients with ocular manifestations of Marfan syndrome (MFS) diagnosed according to the criteria of the Ghent nosology.

Patients And Methods: The study included 17 patients. Operative indications were increasing subluxation of the lens, retinal detachments and secondary glaucoma.

Development and evaluation of phantom for verification of section thickness at thin-section MR imaging.

The purpose of this study was to construct and evaluate a phantom for measurement of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging sections with thicknesses of 0.3-0.6 mm.

Retinal angiomatosis in von Hippel-Lindau disease: a longitudinal ophthalmologic study.

Objective: To characterize the clinical course of retinal angiomatosis (RA) in von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease.

Design: Retrospective observational case series from a tertiary referral center.

Participants: Fifty-seven consecutive VHL disease patients with RA with a mean follow-up of 7.

Combined brachytherapy and transpupillary thermotherapy for large choroidal melanoma: tumor regression and early complications.

Background: To determine the effectiveness and risk profile of combined ruthenium- (Ru)-106-brachytherapy and transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) of the tumour apex for the treatment of large choroidal melanoma.

Methods: A consecutive series of 31 large choroidal melanoma treated by Ru-106-brachytherapy and adjuvant TTT was studied. TTT was performed 1 day prior to plaque removal and up to 3 times (mean: 1.

Retinoblastoma - MR appearance using a surface coil in comparison with histopathological results.

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to evaluate the characteristic appearance of untreated retinoblastoma on a large sample in comparison to the histological findings after therapeutical enucleation.

Materials And Methods: In a prospective clinical trial 46 children with retinoblastoma in 63 affected untreated eyes were examined under general anesthesia on MRI using a 1.5-T system.

Dysfunction of transmission in the inner retina: incidence and clinical causes of negative electroretinogram.

Background: Only limited data exist on the incidence of negative electroretinograms (ERG) in clinical practice. The purpose of this study is therefore to determine the incidence and clinical causes of a negative ERG in a tertiary care centre focused on inherited and acquired retinal degenerations.

Methods: All ERGs recorded (in accordance with ISCEV standards) in our electrophysiological laboratory from 1992 to 2004 were retrospectively reviewed.

Recording of both VEP and multifocal ERG for evaluation of unexplained visual loss electrophysiology in unexplained visual loss.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the relevance of both visual-evoked potentials (VEP) and multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) to evaluate unexplained visual loss. Seventy-two consecutive patients (1996-2002) with visual disturbances of unknown origin underwent both VEP and mfERG (ISCEV standard). The mean age was 42.

Pars plana vitrectomy for juxtapapillary capillary retinal angioma.

Purpose: To describe the treatment of juxtapapillary capillary angioma by pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and tumor excision.

Design: Interventional case report.

Methods: A 6-year-old girl with symptomatic juxtapapillary capillary retinal angioma with associated epiretinal membrane (ERM) underwent PPV and extraction of the tumor and ERM.

Immunopathogenesis of dilated cardiomyopathy. Evidence for the role of TH2-type CD4+T lymphocytes and association with myocardial HLA-DR expression.

Background: An immunological pathogenesis underlying dilated cardiomyopathy and myocarditis has been suggested on the basis of the subtype of lymphocyte infiltrates and the degree of HLA expression in cardiac tissue. In the present study, we investigated the relation between the peripheral CD4+T-cell subset and the degree of HLA expression in the heart.

Methods: Fifty-four patients with heart insufficiency included in the study were biopsied after coronary heart disease had been excluded.

Proton or stereotactic photon irradiation for posterior uveal melanoma? A planning intercomparison.

Background And Purpose: Proton and stereotactic radiotherapy with photons (SRT) are both used to treat choroidal melanomas in proximity to optic disk and fovea centralis, a situation where plaque therapy is prone to complications. A comparative treatment- planning study was done to assess the capability of both modalities to preserve vision.

Patients And Methods: In ten patients treated with 68-MeV protons, SRT with 6-MV photons was planned.

Cis-9,trans-11-CLA exerts anti-inflammatory effects in human bronchial epithelial cells and eosinophils: comparison to trans-10,cis-12-CLA and to linoleic acid.

Interaction of eosinophils and bronchial epithelial cells plays a pivotal role in maintaining inflammatory airway disease. Since conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) are suggested to exert anti-inflammatory effects, one purpose of this study was to compare cis-9,trans-11-CLA and trans-10,cis-12-CLA with regard to their influence on the stimulus-induced activation of eosinophils. ECP (eosinophil cationic protein) released in co-culture of stimulated and CLA-treated eosinophils with stimulated bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) was measured and cis-9,trans-11-CLA was found to be most potent in inhibiting ECP formation.

Expression of metalloproteinase-7 (matrilysin) in human blood and bronchoalveolar gamma/delta T-lymphocytes. Selective upregulation by the soluble non-peptidic mycobacterial phosphoantigen (isopentenyl pyrophosphate).

Human gammadelta T-lymphocytes are believed to regulate local immune defense and enhance resistance against invading microbes, although their precise function remains unknown. Herein, we addressed the question whether gammadelta T-lymphocytes mediate these processes via synthesis of MMP-7, a protease closely associated with both epithelial repair and mucosal defense. Blood and bronchoalveolar gammadelta T-lymphocytes were cultured in the absence and presence of isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) or TGF-beta1/IL-15 for 24 h, and assessed for the expression and synthesis of MMP-1, MMP-7, and MMP-9.

Interferon-alphacon-1 treatment of three patients with severe glucocorticoid-dependent asthma. Effect on disease control and systemic glucocorticosteroid dose.

We report herein the therapeutic effect of interferon (IFN)-alphacon in three patients with severe persistent asthma and long-term oral glucocorticoid treatment. IFN-alphacon (9 microg) administered subcutaneously thrice a week over a period of more than 24 months led to a substantial clinical improvement with regard to the number of daily asthma attacks, nighttime disturbance, emergency visits and hospitalizations. In addition, lung function and exercise capacity improved.

A two-cohort phase II clinical trial of gemcitabine plus treosulfan in patients with metastatic uveal melanoma.

In-vitro synergy of treosulfan and gemcitabine has been observed in chemotherapy-resistant tumours. This trial investigated the efficacy of gemcitabine plus treosulfan in metastatic uveal melanoma. Patients received 1000 mg/m of gemcitabine and treosulfan at a dose of 2500 or 3000 mg/m2 in cohort 1 and 3500 or 4000 mg/m2 in cohort 2.

Primary vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment: an analysis of 512 cases.

Background: Primary pars plana vitrectomy (PPPV) has gained widespread popularity in the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRD). However, the surgical procedure is still flawed by a significant rate of anatomical and functional failures. The study was conducted to analyse the risk factors for a dissatisfying postoperative outcome.

[Screening for retinopathy of prematurity: results of one centre between 1991 and 2002].

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyse the results of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening, stage of disease and time of treatment from one tertiary care centre.

Patients And Methods: Between 1991 and 2001, 666 infants with a gestational age (GA) < 33 weeks or birth weight (BW) less than < 1501 g were examined. Coagulation treatment was performed in accordance with the Cryo-ROP study, after reaching the threshold.

Pharmacological and functional characterization of endothelin receptors in bovine trabecular meshwork and ciliary muscle.

To clarify the potential role of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the pathogenesis of glaucoma, the endothelin receptors expressed in bovine trabecular meshwork (TM) and ciliary muscle (CM) were identified. TM and CM strips were subjected to ET-1 as well as to specific endothelin receptor antagonists. In both tissues BQ123, a specific ET-A receptor antagonist, substantially inhibited ET-1-induced contraction.

Indocyanine green angiography and fluorescein angiography of malignant choroidal melanomas following proton beam irradiation.

Background: The vascularisation features of intraocular tumours may be characterised by indocyanine green angiography (ICG-A) and fluorescein angiography (FA). Proton beam irradiation is an established method of treating malignant melanoma of the choroid. The aim of this study was to describe the vascularisation features of small choroidal melanomas and to examine the influence of proton beam irradiation on these tumours.

Nordic research in ophthalmology.

Nordic ophthalmologists and vision scientists are active in many fields of eye research. This is most evident at the biannual Nordic Congress of Ophthalmology, most recently held in Malmö in June 2004. The authors here review some of the research in vision and ophthalmology presented at this meeting or published recently by Nordic scientists.

Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for choroidal neovascularization associated with angioid streaks.

Background: Choroidal neovascularizations (CNV) is the major cause of significant visual loss in patients with angioid streaks. We evaluated the functional and morphological outcome of Verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of these patients.

Methods: This was a retrospective study in two tertiary referral centres over a 3-year period.

Phase II trial of cisplatin, gemcitabine and treosulfan in patients with metastatic uveal melanoma.

Gemcitabine plus treosulfan (GeT) is under investigation in metastatic uveal melanoma. In this phase II trial, cisplatin was added to a GeT regimen to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of two alkylating agents in combination with gemcitabine. Patients received 30 or 40 mg/m of cisplatin, 1000 mg/m of gemcitabine and 3000 mg/m of treosulfan on days 1 and 8.

Late onset is common in best macular dystrophy associated with VMD2 gene mutations.

Purpose: To perform a detailed morphologic and functional evaluation of Best macular dystrophy (BMD) associated with mutations in the VMD2 gene.

Design: Retrospective study.

Participants: The records of 16 patients with BMD and heterozygous VMD2 mutations (group 1) and 5 patients with Best-like lesions with no detectable disease-associated alterations in the VMD2 gene (group 2) were evaluated retrospectively.