Diagnostic ability of retinal ganglion cell complex, retinal nerve fiber layer, and optic nerve head measurements by Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic ability of Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) measurements in glaucoma patients, patients with ocular hypertension, and normal subjects.

Methods: Ninety-three participants with open-angle glaucoma (OAG), 58 patients with ocular hypertension (OHT), and 60 healthy control subjects were included in the study. All study participants underwent FD-OCT imaging.

Clozapine plasma level monitoring for prediction of rehospitalization schizophrenic outpatients.

Introduction: The aim of this naturalistic exploratory study was to examine whether blood antipsychotic drug concentrations can predict rehospitalizations in chronically medicated patients.

Methods: The study included schizophrenic outpatients under clozapine (CLZ) maintenance treatment, supervised by therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). Patients were observed for a period of 21 months.

Hearing results after hypotympanotomy for glomus tympanicum tumors.

Objective: We postulate, that glomus tympanicum tumors (GTTs) may be safely removed without interference with the ossicular chain via a hypotympanotomy approach.

Study Design: Prospective, nonrandomized anatomic and clinical study.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Gentamicin alters nitric oxide production in semicircular canals and otolith organs.

Objectives/hypothesis: Intratympanic application of gentamicin is an important therapeutic option to control vertigo spells in Ménière's disease. Low doses eliminate the function of semicircular canal ampullae (SCCA) and saccule in most patients, although utricular function is maintained in many cases. Local alteration in free radical production might be responsible for these differences.

Four color-measuring devices compared with a spectrophotometric reference system.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare the L*C*h° color coordinates of dental color-measuring devices with those of a spectrophotometric reference system.

Methods: The International Commission on Illumination (CIE) L*C*h° color coordinates of ceramic samples, matching the colors of the VITA Linearguide, were recorded using four color-measuring devices (VITA Easyshade (A), VITA Easyshade compact (B), Degudent Shadepilot (C), X-Rite Shadevision (D)) and a spectrophotometric reference system under standardized test conditions. The intraclass correlation coefficients, regression lines with coefficients of determination, and mean deviations of the dental color-measuring devices from the spectrophotometric reference system were calculated.

Expression analysis suggests a potential cytoprotective role of Birc5 in the inner ear.

Hearing impairment is a worldwide health problem. Employing semi-quantitative immunological detection methods, we found that the apoptosis inhibitor protein Birc5 is expressed in cell types critical for hearing perception. In the guinea pig model, moderate noise exposure causing only a temporary mean hearing impairment of 33dB significantly enhanced Birc5 expression in the spiral ligament, nerve fibers and the organ of Corti.

Does expression of receptor tyrosine kinases in gastric adenocarcinoma correlate with clinicopathological parameters?

Background/aims: This study was initiated in order to define the (co-)expression patterns of target receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) in human gastric adenocarcinoma and to correlate them with clinicopathological parameters.

Methodology: The (co-)expression pattern of VEGFR1, VEGFR2, VEGFR3, PDGFRalpha, PDGFRbeta and EGFR1 was analyzed in 56 samples of human gastric adenocarcinoma and correlated with staging and survival.

Results: VEGFR1, VEGFR2, VEGFR3, PDGFRalpha, PDGFRbeta and EGFR1 were expressed at relevant levels in 79%, 50%, 50%, 63%, 55% and 30%, respectively.

Evaluation of the McGrath Series 5 videolaryngoscope after failed direct laryngoscopy.

Unanticipated difficulties during tracheal intubation and failure to intubate are among the leading causes of anaesthesia-related morbidity and mortality. Using the technique of video laryngoscopy, the alignment of the oral and pharyngeal axes to facilitate tracheal intubation is unnecessary. In this study we evaluated the McGrath Series 5 videolaryngoscope for tracheal intubation in 61 patients who exhibited Cormack and Lehane grade 3 or 4 laryngoscopies with a Macintosh laryngoscope.

Central corneal thickness in mucopolysaccharidosis II and VI.

Objective: To describe the ultrasonographically detected central corneal thickness (CCT) in patients with Type II and VI mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) and its impact on applanation tonometry and glaucoma detection.

Methods: Twenty-eight patients with MPS (19 MPS II, nine MPS VI) underwent pachymetric investigation of CCT. Additionally, ultrasound measurements of axial length of the globe, slit-lamp evaluation with semiquantitative grading of corneal clouding, applanation tonometry, and assessment of refractive error were performed.

Transpulmonary cardiac output measurement in a rat model of cardiac arrest and CPR: impact of vascular access.

Objective: The present study investigated the impact of the vascular access site for cardiac output (CO) measurement by thermodilution on survival and neurohistopathological injury in a rat model of cardiac arrest (CA) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Secondary the influence of the vascular access site on cardiac output measurements was examined.

Methods: Rats underwent asphyxial CA and CPR.

K-ras mutation status correlates with the expression of VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and PDGFRalpha in colorectal cancer.

Aim: We initiated this study in order to analyze whether the expression level of targeted receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) is associated with the K-ras mutation status.

Methods: The expression pattern of VEGFR1, VEGFR2, VEGFR3, PDGFRalpha, PDGFRbeta, and EGFR1 was analyzed in 93 samples of human colorectal carcinoma samples and correlated with the K-ras mutation status as identified by PCR-RFLP.

Results: VEGFR1, VEGFR2, VEGFR3, PDGFRalpha, PDGFRbeta, and EGFR1 were expressed at relevant levels in 95%, 46%, 46%, 85%, 62%, and 82%, respectively.

Noise exposure alters cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) expression in the guinea pig cochlea.

Conclusion: Changes in the metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA) might be part of a noise-induced compensatory mechanism with regional specificity.

Objectives: The released imbalance of prostaglandins and leukotrienes, both AA metabolites, might result in altered blood flow regulation in the inner ear and probably contributes to noise-induced hearing loss. The aim of this study was to gain further information about noise-dependent changes in AA metabolism in the mammalian cochlea.

How do cancer registries in europe estimate completeness of registration?

Objectives: Several methods for estimating completeness in cancer registries have been proposed. Little is known about their relative merits. Before embarking on a systematic comparison of methods we wanted to know which indicators were currently in use and whether there had been comparative investigations of estimation methods.

[Comparison of ICD coding between mortality statistics and study-intern retrospective re-coding].

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess agreement between study-intern nosologist death certificate coding and official mortality statistics ICD codes.

Methods: During the follow-up of a historical cohort study conducted in Germany, original death certificates were obtained for deceased cohort members and ICD coded by a study-intern nosologist. Additionally, ICD codes for these study subjects were obtained from a state statistical office responsible for mortality statistics.

[Protection of the cochlea by ascorbic acid in noise trauma].

Background: The protective effect of ascorbic acid against noise-induced hearing loss and increased nitric oxide (NO) formation after noise exposure have already been demonstrated in animal models. However, the influence of ascorbic acid on noise-induced NO production within the cochlea is still unclear.

Methods: Guinea pigs (n=48) were fed for 7 days with low [25 mg/kg bodyweight (bw)/day] and high (525 mg/kg bw/day) doses of ascorbic acid.

Estimating completeness in cancer registries--comparing capture-recapture methods in a simulation study.

Completeness of registration is one of the quality indicators usually reported by cancer registries. This allows researchers to assess how useful and representative the data is. Several methods have been suggested to estimate completeness.

Choice of reference area in studies of Alzheimer's disease using positron emission tomography with fluorodeoxyglucose-F18.

At present, there is still no consensus on the choice of the reference area in positron emission tomography (PET) studies of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, PET scans with fluorodeoxyglucose-F18 were carried out in the following groups of subjects: 47 patients with probable AD, 8 patients with mild cognitive impairment, and 15 age-similar healthy subjects. Scans normalized to the cerebral global mean (CGM), cerebellum (CBL), and the primary sensorimotor cortex (SMC).

Is gaze-dependent tonometry a useful tool in the differential diagnosis of Graves' ophthalmopathy?

Background: A rise in intraocular pressure (IOP) in upgaze is regarded as a diagnostic sign in Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). However, the question of erroneous IOP measurement due to applanation carried out on the peripheral cornea has never been addressed.

Methods: In 22 healthy volunteers, as well as in 51 GO patients, applanation tonometry was performed in the primary position of gaze and at 20 degrees of upgaze.

SPM-based count normalization provides excellent discrimination of mild Alzheimer's disease and amnestic mild cognitive impairment from healthy aging.

Statistical comparisons of [(18)F]FDG PET scans between healthy subjects and patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) usually require normalization of regional tracer uptake via ROIs defined using additional software. Here, we validate a simple SPM-based method for count normalization. FDG PET scans of 21 mild, 15 very mild AD, 11 aMCI patients and 15 age-matched controls were analyzed.

The role of tumor vascularisation in benign and malignant cardiovascular neoplasms: a comparison of cardiac myxoma and sarcomas of the pulmonary artery.

Neoangiogenesis is involved in the development and progression of malignant tumors. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors have been designated a central part in this process. Since the significance of the assessment of angiogenesis in soft tissue tumors is still a matter of debate, we investigated the vascularisation of cardiac myxomas and compared it with pulmonary artery sarcomas (PAS).

Cancer risk among residents of Rhineland-Palatinate winegrowing communities: a cancer-registry based ecological study.

Aim: To investigate the cancer risk among residents of Rhineland-Palatinate winegrowing communities in an ecological study.

Methods: On the basis of the Rhineland-Palatinate cancer-registry, we calculated age-adjusted incidence rate ratios for communities with a medium area under wine cultivation (>5 to 20 percent) and a large area under wine cultivation (>20 percent) in comparison with communities with a small area under wine cultivation (>0 to 5 percent). In a side analysis, standardized cancer incidence ratios (SIR) were computed separately for winegrowing communities with small, medium and large area under wine cultivation using estimated German incidence rates as reference.

Gentamicin increases nitric oxide production and induces hearing loss in guinea pigs.

Objectives/hypothesis: Gentamicin application is an important therapeutic option for Ménière's disease. However, even if given at intervals, a destruction of the cochlea was often observed in various animal models together with an increased content of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species. The present study was undertaken to identify the correlation between hearing threshold alteration and the NO production in the lateral wall and organ of Corti of the guinea pig in response to gentamicin application.

Influence of cell proportions and proliferation rates on FDG uptake in squamous-cell esophageal carcinoma: a PET study.

Purpose: We investigated the influence of cell proportions and proliferation activities on tumor maximum standard uptake value (SUV(max)) in patients with squamous-cell esophageal cancer (SCEC).

Methods: Sixteen (16) patients with untreated SCEC were examined with (18)F-flourodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET). The tumor SUV(max) were calculated.

Ascorbic acid reduces noise-induced nitric oxide production in the guinea pig ear.

Objectives: Noise-induced hearing loss can be caused, among other causes, by increased nitric oxide (NO) production in the inner ear leading to nitroactive stress and cell destruction. Some studies in the literature suggest that the degree of hearing loss (HL) could be reduced in an animal model through ascorbic acid supplementation. To identify the effect of ascorbic acid on tissue-dependent NO content in the inner ear of the guinea pig, we determined the local NO production in the organ of Corti and the lateral wall separately 6 hours after noise exposure.

[Malignant melanoma of the skin as evidenced by epidemiological cancer registries in Germany -- incidence, clinical parameters, variations in recording].

Purpose: To exclude bias of registration evidenced by relevant differences among German cancer registries in the incidence of malignant melanoma (melanocarcinoma).

Methods: Cancer registries in the Federal German states of Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Bremen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, the Munich District and the County of Münster featured registration data of malignant melanoma diagnosed in 2000 A. D.