Comparison of visual performance with blue light-filtering and ultraviolet light-filtering intraocular lenses.

Purpose: To compare the contrast sensitivity, glare, color perception, and visual acuity at different light intensities with yellow-tinted and clear intraocular lenses (IOLs) by different manufacturers.

Setting: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Retinology and Biomicroscopic Laser-Surgery, Department of Ophthalmology, Rudolf Foundation Clinic, Vienna, Austria.

Design: Comparative case series.

Association of low-grade inflammation with nephropathy in type 2 diabetic patients: role of elevated CRP-levels and 2 different gene-polymorphisms of proinflammatory cytokines.

Background: Chronic inflammatory processes are thought to play a key role in the development of micro- and macrovascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus. An association between low -grade inflammation and type 2 diabetes has been described in some studies. We assayed the association of two frequent polymorphisms in proinflammatory cytokines: the interleukin 6 G(-174)C promoter polymorphism [IL-6G(-174)C], the exon 2 interleukin receptor antagonist insertion deletion polymorphism [IL1RA]) and serum CRP levels with the prevalence of diabetic nephropathy in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus.

PAI-1 4G/5G insertion/deletion promoter polymorphism and microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) plays an important role in the regulation of fibrinolysis and extracellular matrix turnover. PAI-1 4G/5G insertion/deletion polymorphism in the PAI-1 promoter region has been shown to modulate PAI-1 plasma levels. We investigated the relationship between this polymorphism and the prevalence of diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes in the Austrian population.

Transfer of knowledge from the specialist to the generalist by videoconferencing: effect on diabetes care.

We conducted a 12-month prospective interventional study of videoconferencing between primary and secondary care. A treatment network consisting of a diabetes specialist and four general practitioners was established. The communications medium was PC-based videoconferencing via ISDN at 128 kbit/s.