A next generation setup for pre-fractionation of non-denatured proteins reveals diverse albumin proteoforms each carrying several post-translational modifications.

Proteomic biomarker search requires the greatest analytical reproducibility and detailed information on altered proteoforms. Our protein pre-fractionation applies orthogonal native chromatography and conserves important features of protein variants such as native molecular weight, charge and major glycans. Moreover, we maximized reproducibility of sample pre-fractionation and preparation before mass spectrometry by parallelization and automation.

Structure-Function Relationship between Flicker-Defined Form Perimetry and Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography in Glaucoma Suspects.

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between functional parameters of repeated flicker-defined form perimetry (FDF) and structural parameters of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in glaucoma suspects with normal findings in achromatic standard automated perimetry (SAP).

Methods: Patients with optic nerve heads (ONH) clinically suspicious for glaucoma and normal SAP findings were enrolled in this prospective study. Each participant underwent visual field (VF) testing with FDF perimetry, using the Heidelberg Edge Perimeter (HEP, Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) at two consecutive visits.

Flicker defined form perimetry in glaucoma suspects with normal achromatic visual fields.

Background: To evaluate if repeated flicker-defined form (FDF) perimetry can detect visual field (VF) defects in glaucoma suspects with normal findings in achromatic standard automated perimetry (SAP).

Methods: Patients with optic nerve heads (ONHs) or retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) findings clinically suspicious for glaucoma and normal SAP were enrolled. Patients underwent VF testing with FDF perimetry (Heidelberg Edge Perimetry, HEP) at two consecutive visits (HEP I and HEP II) and confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy with the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT).

The impact of structural and functional parameters in glaucoma patients on patient-reported visual functioning.

Background: To evaluate the impact of structural changes of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and visual field loss, on functional impairment assessed by patient-reported visual functioning in glaucoma.

Methods: Patients with glaucomatous optic nerve damage were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Peripapillary RNFL thickness was obtained with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

Pars plana vitrectomy and internal limiting membrane peeling in epimacular membranes: correlation of function and morphology across the macula.

Purpose: To analyze the correlation between morphological and functional results 12 months after epiretinal membrane (ERM) surgery.

Methods: 31 eyes from 31 consecutive patients with metamorphopsia and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) below 20/32 underwent a transconjunctival 23- gauge vitrectomy with ERM and internal limiting membrane peeling. Preoperatively and 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively, we assessed BCVA, microperimetry (MP-1) and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

Characterization of an O-demethylase of Desulfitobacterium hafniense DCB-2.

Besides acetogenic bacteria, only Desulfitobacterium has been described to utilize and cleave phenyl methyl ethers under anoxic conditions; however, no ether-cleaving O-demethylases from the latter organisms have been identified and investigated so far. In this study, genes of an operon encoding O-demethylase components of Desulfitobacterium hafniense strain DCB-2 were cloned and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. Methyltransferases I and II were characterized.

Reengineering the glaucoma quality of life-15 questionnaire with rasch analysis.

Purpose: To investigate, using Rasch analysis, whether the 15-item Glaucoma Quality of Life-15 (GQL-15) forms a valid scale and to optimize its psychometric properties.

Methods: One hundred eighteen glaucoma patients (mean age, 65.7 years) completed the German-version of the GQL-15.

Propionibacterium acnes in capsular bag distension syndrome.

We report a case of capsular bag distension syndrome that developed 6 years after uneventful phacoemulsification with implantation of a foldable, single-piece acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) (AcrySof MA60BM). Slitlamp microscopy revealed a deep anterior chamber with no flare or cells. The posterior capsular bag was distended by a homogeneous milky substance between the back of the IOL and the capsular bag.