[Transplantation of amniotic membrane for reconstruction of the eye surface].

Persistent defects of the ocular surface remain a therapeutic challenge that often requires surgical intervention. Recently, the transplantation of human amniotic membrane has been added to our therapeutic armentarium. This thick basement membrane has distinct biological properties that influence cellular differentiation and proliferation.

[Detection of glaucomatous nerve fiber damage. Laser polarimetry in comparison with equivalent visual field loss].

Patients And Methods: A total of 45 eyes of 45 patients were equally divided into three age-matched groups (controls, glaucoma, suspected glaucoma). All patients were examined using laser polarimetry and automated visual field testing. We compared the agreement of the location of visual field defects with changes in the nerve fiber layer.

Stem cells, wound healing, growth factors, and angiogenesis in the cornea.

The integrity of the corneal epithelium is, among other factors, dependent on the function of corneal stem cells which serve as proliferative reserve. The concept that corneal stem cells are located in the basal limbal epithelium has been further strengthened by experimental evidence. Furthermore, the usefulness of surgical treatment for bilateral stem cell malfunction by means of limbal allograft transplantation has been confirmed.

Scanning laser fundus perimetry before laser photocoagulation of well defined choroidal neovascularisation.

Aim: To assess the centre of fixation before laser photocoagulation of well defined juxtafoveal or extrafoveal choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) secondary to age related macular degeneration (AMD), and to better predict visual function after treatment using scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) fundus perimetry.

Methods: 19 consecutive eyes with juxtafoveal or extrafoveal CNV were examined by fundus perimetry before and after laser treatment with documentation of the fixation point using the SLO. The stability of fixation was defined as standard deviation around the mean fixation point.

[Endogenous porphyrins for photodynamic therapy of cataracts in vitro].

Unlabelled: Photodynamic therapy is based on accumulation of a photosensitizing substance in tissues and excitement by light of a suitable wavelength. Because of high levels of locally absorbed energy this process may also enable the selective destruction of proliferating lens epithelial cells. Delta-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) is a natural precursor of hemoglobin.

[Inhibition of neovascularization of the eye by dietary factors exemplified by isoflavonoids].

Unlabelled: Chronic malignant diseases with neovascularization sometimes seem to improve when an exclusively plant-based diet is followed. In order to identify antiangiogenic substances in such diets, inhibitory factors such as genistein were isolated. We investigated the antiangiogenic substance genistein with regard to the possibility of an inhibitory effect on corneal angiogenesis in vivo.

Comparison between serum-free and fibroblast-cocultured single-cell clonal culture systems: evidence showing that epithelial anti-apoptotic activity is present in 3T3 fibroblast-conditioned media.

Purpose: To compare the supporting mechanism between the serum-free and the fibroblast-cocultured single-cell clonal culture systems.

Methods: Clonal growth, measured by colony forming efficiency (CFE) and size, was compared between rabbit corneal and limbal epithelial cells in a previously-established serum-free MCDB medium supplemented with growth factors, and in a coculture system with a feeder layer of mitomycin C-treated mouse 3T3 fibroblasts grown in the MCDB or DMEM medium plus 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS).

Results: Limbal epithelial cells in the serum-free MCDB medium had a significantly lower CFE than corneal epithelial cells (p < 0.

Fundus-controlled examination of reading in eyes with macular pathology.

The ability to read is an important parameter for the optical rehabilitation of visually handicapped patients. For the choice of the best therapy, more detailed knowledge of the physiology of reading is required. We evaluated reading velocity as well as the number of saccades in and against the direction of reading for reading plates with different character sizes (10 steps from a letter height of 3-0.

Static fundus perimetry using the scanning laser ophthalmoscope with an automated threshold strategy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop software that allows the performance of routine static threshold perimetry using the scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) and the comparison of the results with conventional computerized cupola perimetry. The original software does not allow performance of static threshold perimetry within a reasonable examination time.

Methods: Static perimetry was performed in random order on 50 healthy eyes using our SLO staircase threshold perimetry technique and the Octopus 500 (program 38).

[Comparison between local and systemic administration of cyclosporin A on the effective level in conjunctiva, aqueous humor and serum].

Cyclosporine is an important tool for the therapy of immunological diseases of the cornea and conjunctiva, as well as the treatment of patients with high-risk corneal grafts. However, potentially severe systemic side effects are disadvantageous. The purpose of our study was to determine if topical ocular application leads to about the same concentrations in ocular tissues as systemic application.

[Fluconazole level in aqueous humor after oral drug administration in humans].

For 2 years fluconazole, a triazole antimycotic, has been available for treatment of systemic mycosis. Compared to amphotericin B fewer severe side effects have been reported. So far, no data have been published as to its penetration into the human eye.

Cooperation between elements of an organ-specific transcriptional enhancer in animals.

The elastase I gene enhancer that specifies high levels of pancreatic transcription comprises three functional elements (A, B, and C). When assayed individually in transgenic mice, homomultimers of A are acinar cell specific, those of B are islet specific, and those of C are inactive. To determine how the elements interact in the elastase I enhancer and to investigate further the role of the C element, we have examined the activity of the three possible combinations of synthetic double elements in transgenic animals.

[Devitalization of lens epithelium cells by dye-enhanced therapy].

Unlabelled: Hitherto secondary cataract has been usually treated by Nd:YAG laser, which results in a dissection of the capsule with possible complications e.g. retinal detachment.

[Possibilities for imaging the retinal nerve fiber layer with the scanning laser ophthalmoscope].

Background: Documentation of the retinal nerve fiber layer using red free light is not established as a routine method. The reasons for this are the difficulties involved in taking the pictures and developing them, especially in glaucoma patients, and the need for maximum pupil dilation. The scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) allows fast and easy documentation of the fundus with the possibility of simultaneous image control during the examination.

Stability of fixation: results of fundus-controlled examination using the scanning laser ophthalmoscope.

We evaluated the stability of fixation in 38 healthy eyes (N), 30 eyes with macular degeneration (AMD) and 20 eyes with juvenile macular dystrophy (JMD) during our newly developed automated full-threshold static perimetry using the scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO). The point of fixation was recorded for each stimulus presentation. After the examination, the mean fixation point (MFP) as well as the standard deviation from the MFP, the examination time, and the reaction time were evaluated.

[Diagnosis and and differentiation of dry eye disorders].

Artificial tears often fail in dry eye patients. Our goal was to establish a diagnostic approach that involves alternatives that are more effective for the treatment. We examined 110 patients with dry eyes not stabilized by artificial tears: medical history, visual acuity, slit lamp examination, rose bengal stains and fluorescein stains, Schirmer test, break-up time (BUT), dye tests, impression cytology, and lid transillumination.

[Transforming growth factors beta 1 and 2 inhibit proliferation of limbus and corneal epithelium].

The role of the various isoforms of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) concerning the regulation of proliferation, differentiation and wound healing of the corneal epithelium is controversial. We investigated various concentrations of TGF-beta 1 and 2 in a serum-free, defined clonal growth assay concerning the proliferation of limbal and peripheral corneal epithelium. Concentrations between 0.

[Coats syndrome in retinitis pigmentosa. Clinical aspects and therapeutic possibilities].

Coats disease itself is a rather rare condition, whereas Coats syndrome has been observed in about 1.2-4.9% of all retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients.

Reproducibility of the optic nerve head topography with a new laser tomographic scanning device.

Background: Laser scanning tomography has been shown to be an accurate and reliable method for the assessment of the three-dimensional optic disc topography. The authors investigate the reliability of morphometric measurements with the Heidelberg retina tomograph, a new instrument which was designed based on this technology, which simplifies handling and is much smaller than the laser tomographic scanner.

Methods: Three independent measurements of the optic disc were performed in 39 eyes of 39 patients which were equally divided into the following three groups: glaucoma, glaucoma suspects, and controls.

Retinoic acid regulates clonal growth and differentiation of cultured limbal and peripheral corneal epithelium.

Purpose: To determine if vitamin A could be one of the factors in serum responsible for the previously observed effect of 20% fetal bovine serum on stimulating clonal growth of an additional subpopulation in limbal cultures, possibly stem cells, but inhibiting that of transient amplifying cells in peripheral corneal cultures.

Methods: A reported serum-free clonal growth assay was used. The mitogenic response was measured by colony-forming efficiency (CFE), colony size, and BrdU labeling index; the differentiation was assessed by colony morphology, AE-5 monoclonal antibody staining, and cornified envelope formation.

[Therapy of dry eye disorders].

Background: The treatment of dry eyes with artificial tears often fails. We differentiated the disturbances of the three layers of the tear film in 90 such patients. This showed that only 11.