Effect of time sequences in scanning algorithms on the surface temperature during corneal laser surgery with high-repetition-rate excimer laser.

Purpose: To investigate the influence of temporal and spatial spot sequences on the ocular surface temperature increase during corneal laser surgery with a high-repetition-rate excimer laser.

Setting: Institute for Refractive and Ophthalmic Surgery, Zurich, Switzerland, and WaveLight AG, Erlangen, Germany.

Methods: An argon-fluoride excimer laser system working at a repetition rate of 1050 Hz was used to photoablate bovine corneas with various myopic, hyperopic, and phototherapeutic ablation profiles.

Influence of spatial and temporal spot distribution on the ocular surface quality and maximum ablation depth after photoablation with a 1050 Hz excimer laser system.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of temporal and spatial distributions of laser spots (scan sequences) on the corneal surface quality after ablation and the maximum ablation of a given refractive correction after photoablation with a high-repetition-rate scanning-spot laser.

Setting: IROC AG, Zurich, Switzerland, and WaveLight AG, Erlangen, Germany.

Methods: Bovine corneas and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) plates were photoablated using a 1050 Hz excimer laser prototype for corneal laser surgery.

Chemotherapy with praziquantel has the potential to reduce the prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis in wild foxes (Vulpes vulpes).

In order to evaluate the applicability of anthelminthic treatment of wild foxes (Vulpes vulpes) to limit their infection with Echinococcus multilocularis, bait pellets, each containing 50 mg praziquantel, were repeatedly distributed in an area of 566 km2 where many foxes are infected, in southern Germany. After six baiting campaigns (15-20 baits/km2) over a period of 14 months, the prevalence of the cestode in foxes, initially 32%, had fallen to 4%. The effect was most pronounced in the central part of the treated area, where no positive fox was found in the 2 months before the end of the trial.

Seroprevalence of hantavirus antibodies in Germany as determined by a new recombinant enzyme immunoassay.

In order to elucidate the epidemiological importance of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Germany, the prevalence of antibodies against hantaviruses was determined in 13,358 sera from residents of various geographic regions, 1,284 sera from occupational risk groups and 287 sera from chronic hemodialysis patients. Serological investigations were performed using a highly specific transferable solid phase enzyme immunoassay based on the recombinant nucleocapsid proteins of a Hantaan and a Puumala serotype strain. The overall antibody prevalence was found to be 1.

[Current problems of echinococcosis (Echinococcus multilocularis)].

Alveolar echinococcosis is by far the most dangerous human parasitosis in Central Europe. For the one part this is due to the fact that the parasite is localised in the liver, and for the second part it is due to the infiltrative growth of the larval cestode tissue. The life cycle of echinococcus multilocularis takes place primarily between the fox as final host and mice as intermediate hosts.