Metastable Cd4Sb3: a complex structured intermetallic compound with semiconductor properties.

The metastable binary intermetallic compound Cd4Sb3 was obtained as polycrystalline ingot by quenching stoichiometric Cd-Sb melts and as mm-sized crystals by employing Bi or Sn fluxes. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group Pn with a = 11.4975(5) A, b = 26.

Management of acute optic neuritis: a survey of neurologists and ophthalmologists in Australia and New Zealand.

Recent studies suggest that evidence-based medicine is not well translated into everyday practice. Studies of optic neuritis (ON) have generated clear treatment guidelines. Therefore, a survey was mailed to all Australian and New Zealand neurologists and ophthalmologists to evaluate the impact of recent studies on clinical practice.

Management of optic neuritis and impact of clinical trials: an international survey.

Objective: 1) To evaluate the management of acute isolated optic neuritis (ON) by ophthalmologists and neurologists; 2) to evaluate the impact of clinical trials; 3) to compare these practices among 7 countries.

Methods: A survey on diagnosis and treatment of acute isolated ON was sent to 5,443 neurologists and 6,099 ophthalmologists in the southeast-USA, Canada, Australia/New Zealand, Denmark, France, and Thailand. USA data were compared to those of other countries.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension in men.

Objective: To compare the characteristics of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) in men vs women in a multicenter study.

Methods: Medical records of all consecutive patients with definite IIH seen at three university hospitals were reviewed. Demographics, associated factors, and visual function at presentation and follow-up were collected.

The treatment of giant cell arteritis.

Although giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a well-known vasculitis sensitive to corticosteroid-mediated immunosuppression, numerous issues of long-term therapeutic management remain unresolved. Because GCA encompasses a broad spectrum of clinical subtypes, ranging from devastating visual loss and neurological deficits to isolated systemic symptoms, the treatment of GCA must be adjusted to each case, and recommendations vary widely in the literature. This article systematically reviews the treatment options for patients with neuro-ophthalmic and neurological complications of GCA, as well as the evidence for possible adjuvant therapies for patients with GCA.

Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in autosomal dominant optic atrophy.

Background: Autosomal dominant optic atrophy (ADOA), a form of progressive bilateral blindness due to loss of retinal ganglion cells and optic nerve deterioration, arises predominantly from mutations in the nuclear gene for the mitochondrial GTPase, OPA1. OPA1 localizes to mitochondrial cristae in the inner membrane where electron transport chain complexes are enriched. While OPA1 has been characterized for its role in mitochondrial cristae structure and organelle fusion, possible effects of OPA1 on mitochondrial function have not been determined.

Comfort level of pediatricians and family medicine physicians diagnosing and treating child and adolescent psychiatric disorders.

Context: Twelve to twenty-one percent of children and adolescents have psychiatric disorders with at least mild functional impairment. Pediatricians and family medicine physicians prescribe 85% of psychotropic medications taken by children. However, little is known about the comfort level of these physicians with the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders in children.

A patient with headache and increased intracranial pressure.

These 2 cases presented with acutely raised intracranial pressure and had characteristic CT and MRI changes.

Post-traumatic visual loss.

Visual loss following head trauma is common, and the diagnosis can be challenging for the neurologist called to perform an emergency room assessment. The approach to the patient with post-traumatic visual loss is complicated by a wide range of potential ocular and brain injuries with varying pathophysiology. In addition to direct injuries of the eye and orbit, traumatic optic neuropathies, carotid cavernous fistulas, and damage to the intracranial visual pathways are classic causes of visual loss after head trauma.

Management of optic neuritis in Canada: survey of ophthalmologists and neurologists.

Background: Acute isolated optic neuritis is often the first manifestation of multiple sclerosis (MS), and its management remains controversial. Over the past decade, with the advent of new disease-modifying agents, management of isolated optic neuritis has become more complicated.

Objectives: To evaluate the current practice patterns of Canadian ophthalmologists and neurologists in the management of acute optic neuritis, and to evaluate the impact of recently published randomized clinical trials.

A rapid two dot filter assay for the detection of E. coli O157 in water samples.

E. coli O157:H7 is an enterohemorrhagic bacteria that cause deadly water-borne infections implicated in outbreaks of a wide spectrum of human gastrointestinal diseases. It is therefore important to have a rapid convenient, simple and sensitive range of detection of E.

[Management of isolated optic neuritis in France: survey of neurologists and ophthalmologists].

Background: Acute isolated optic neuritis is often the first manifestation of multiple sclerosis (MS). Despite the results of several clinical trials its management remains controversial. With the advent of new disease-modifying agents for the treatment of MS, management of isolated optic neuritis has become more complicated.

Perioperative visual loss after nonocular surgeries.

Purpose: To review the current knowledge of persistent visual loss after nonocular surgeries under general anesthesia.

Design: Perspective.

Methods: Literature review.

Racial differences in idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

Objective: To evaluate racial differences in idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH).

Methods: Medical records of all consecutive patients with definite IIH seen between 1989 and 2006 were reviewed. Demographics, associated factors, and visual function at presentation and follow-up were collected.

Intussusception in children in Southern Israel: disparity between 2 populations.

Background: Intussusception has been associated with 1 rotavirus vaccine. Our objective was to determine intussusception rates in children in southern Israel during a 15-year period before the introduction of new rotavirus vaccines.

Methods: All children born at the Soroka Medical Center are hospitalized in that center, enabling population-based studies.

Visual function in anterior ischemic optic neuropathy: effect of Vision Restoration Therapy--a pilot study.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of Vision Restoration Therapy (VRT) on the visual function of patients with anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.

Design: Randomized controlled double-blind pilot trial.

Patients: 10 patients with stable anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION).

The "sunglasses sign" predicts nonorganic visual loss in neuro-ophthalmologic practice.

Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate whether wearing sunglasses (the "sunglasses sign") can be used by neuro-ophthalmologists to predict nonorganic visual loss (NOVL) in their patients.

Methods: We prospectively collected information on all new patients seen by us over 13 months. We included all patients who ultimately received a diagnosis of NOVL, and all patients wearing sunglasses in our clinic.

MRI findings in isolated spontaneous thrombosis of the superior ophthalmic vein.

We report the case of a 40-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus who presented with spontaneous thrombosis of the superior ophthalmic vein resulting in permanent vision loss. The diagnosis was established by noncontrast CT scanning, gadolinium-enhanced MRI, and conventional catheter angiography.

The diagnosis of giant cell arteritis.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common primary vasculitis in adults older than 50 years. The potential of GCA to cause bilateral, sequential vision loss makes it often a true neuro-ophthalmic emergency. Approximately one fifth of patients with GCA will present with ophthalmic complaints alone.

Thrombolysis for central retinal artery occlusion.

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) frequently causes severe and irreversible visual loss. For many years, various conservative treatments have been proposed for acute CRAO, but their efficacy remains unproven. Over the past 20 years, CRAO has also been treated with thrombolytic agents administered intravenously or intra-arterially.