Stability studies of β-Amino- and β-Hydroxy difluoromethyl ketones in rat serum and rat liver microsomes.

Although difluoromethyl ketones are used as tools in chemical biology and leads in drug discovery, the metabolic stability of these compounds is generally uncharacterized and must be inferred from in vivo pharmacological assays. In order to address this gap which impedes their wider use, we have synthesized and performed metabolic stability studies for thirty-nine β-amino and β-hydroxy difluoromethyl ketones. These investigations provide structure-stability relationships of the difluoromethyl ketones following incubation with rodent serum and liver microsomes.

[Treatment modalities for conjunctival melanoma].

Background: Because of high local recurrence rates after excision of conjunctival melanoma adjuvant local chemotherapy employing mitomycin C (MMC) or irradiation is recommended. Brachytherapy is possible with ruthenium-106-plaques ((106)Ru) or with the strontium-90-plaques ((90)Sr).

Patients And Methods: Fifty-six patients received an excision and adjuvant radiotherapy of conjunctival melanoma between 1992 and 2007.

[Family screening in patients with retinal angiomatosis].

Background: The aim of this study was to characterise the results of a screening for von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL), angiomatosis retinae (AR) and further VHL lesions in at-risk relatives of ophthalmological VHL index patients.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 20 VHL index patients identified by the presence of angiomatosis retinae and a mutation of the VHL gene was carried out. A molecular genetic test for a VHL mutation and funduscopy was offered to all available at-risk relative.

[Recurrence rate following adjuvant strontium-90 brachytherapy after excision of conjunctival melanoma].

Background: Because of the high local recurrence rates after excision of conjunctival melanomas, adjuvant local chemotherapy or irradiation is recommended. Strontium-90 brachytherapy is one radiotherapeutic option due to its low penetration depth.

Methods: 15 patients with conjunctival melanoma were treated with adjuvant strontium-90 brachytherapy after tumour excision.

Incidence and clinical characteristics of symptomatic choroidal metastasis from lung cancer.

Purpose: To determine the clinical characteristics of symptomatic choroidal metastasis (CM) resulting from metastatic lung cancer.

Methods: Twenty-two consecutive patients with symptomatic CM resulting from lung cancer were retrospectively reviewed for ocular findings, medical history and systemic disease. All patients underwent a complete screening for further organ metastasis by computed tomography (CT) and bone scintigraphy.

Incidence and clinical characteristics of symptomatic choroidal metastasis from breast cancer.

Purpose: To determine the clinical incidence and characteristics of symptomatic choroidal metastasis (CM) in breast cancer.

Methods: Forty-six consecutive patients with CM from breast cancer were retrospectively reviewed in respect of ocular findings, medical history and systemic disease. Clinical incidence of CM was determined and compared with the incidence predicted from prevalence data obtained in ocular screening studies.

Solitary juxtapapillary capillary retinal angioma and von Hippel-Lindau disease.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate patients with solitary juxtapapillary capillary retinal angioma for the presence of von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL).

Methods: A retrospective case series of 11 patients, each presenting with a solitary juxtapapillary capillary retinal angioma, was examined. Patients were evaluated for type of angioma, presence of other VHL lesions, and mutations of the VHL gene.

[Capillary hemangioma of the retina in cases of von Hippel-Lindau syndrome. New therapeutic directions].

Thermal photocoagulation of small peripheral angiomas is the treatment of choice for capillary hemangiomas in patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease. Larger peripheral angiomas are better treated with beta-ray brachytherapy resulting in improved results in terms of local tumor control and the side effects of treatment. Photodynamic treatment is an alternative option in the management of capillary hemangiomas of the retina.

[Juxtapapillary capillary retinal angioma with epiretinal membrane of the macula in familial Von-Hippel-Lindau-Syndrome].

A case of juxtapapillary capillary retinal angioma associated with a vascularized epiretinal membrane of the macula in a 6-year-old girl is presented. Von-Hippel-Lindau-Syndrome was revealed by molecular genetic methods, and further family members were identified as gene carriers. The retinal angioma embedded in an epiretinal membrane was removed completely with the membrane by pars plana vitrectomy with a good functional result.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ophthalmological manifestations in VHL and NF 1: pathological and diagnostic implications.

Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) and neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF 1) are hereditary multitumor syndromes that show associated ocular manifestations. Capillary retinal angioma, a benign vascular tumor, is the classical ocular lesion in VHL. It often appears as the first manifestation of the disease and may thus lead to the diagnosis of VHL.

Is a diagnostic CT of the brain indicated in patients with choroidal metastases before radiotherapy?

Background And Purpose: There is no evidence in the literature about the incidence of synchronous brain metastases in patients with choroidal metastases. This is of major importance, because the radiation fields of choroidal metastases and, later on, brain metastases, if treated consecutively, are partly overlapping, thus potentially increasing the rate of late side effects such as brain necrosis. The goal of this study was to determine the frequency of synchronous brain metastases.

Proton therapy of uveal melanomas in Berlin. 5 years of experience at the Hahn-Meitner Institute.

Background And Purpose: In June 1998, proton-beam therapy of ocular tumors started at the Hahn-Meitner Institute Berlin, Germany. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate treatment outcome for uveal melanomas.

Patients And Methods: 245 consecutive patients with primary melanoma of the uvea were treated from June 1998 to April 2003 with a 68-MeV proton beam.

[Endoresection following proton beam irradiation of large uveal melanomas].

Purpose: Large uveal melanomas located close to the optic nerve and/ or to the fovea have an unfavourable prognosis with regard to visual preservation and eye retention, due to the high incidence of radiation and tumour necrosis induced complications. Endoresection of the tumour after proton beam irradiation, is an alternative approach, aiming to reduce the incidence of ocular morbidity caused by tumour necrosis after sole radiotherapy.

Patients And Methods: 32 patients with large uveal melanomas (mean tumour thickness: 9.

[Clinical characteristics of choroidal metastasis].

Background: Choroidal metastasis (CM) is the most common malignant intraocular tumor. The aim of this study was the characterization of the ophthalmoscopic aspect, the underlying tumor disease and differential diagnosis of this entity.

Study Design: Retrospective observational case series.

Estimating domain orientation of two human antibody IgG4 chimeras by crystallohydrodynamics.

A modified crystallohydrodynamic approach introduced in 2001 is applied to two human IgG4 constructs from mouse IgG1. The constructs were point mutants of the chimeric antibody molecule cB72.3(gamma4): cB72.

[Indocyanine green angiography in choroid metastases].

Background: Up to now the diagnosis of choroidal tumors was mainly based on ophthalmoscopy and ultrasound examination. Indocyanine green angiography allows the identification of vascular patterns in these tumors, which could be helpful in the differential diagnosis. The aim of the study was to characterize the staining patterns of choroidal metastases.

External beam radiotherapy of choroidal metastases--final results of a prospective study of the German Cancer Society (ARO 95-08).

Purpose: In 1994 a prospective study of the 'Arbeitsgemeinschaft Radiologische Onkologie' of the German Cancer Society was initiated to examine the results of a standardized radiation therapy for choroidal metastases with 40 Gy. Recommendations in the literature vary from 21 to 50 Gy of total dose and from 2 to 5 Gy per single fraction. To date, no larger series treated with both a standardized technique and dose has been reported.

Choroidal metastasis in disseminated lung cancer: frequency and risk factors.

Purpose: To determine frequency, risk factors, and benefit of a prospective screening for intraocular metastasis in patients with metastatic lung cancer.

Design: Consecutive observational case series.

Methods: An ophthalmologic screening was performed on 84 consecutive patients suffering from metastatic lung cancer.