Biocompatibility and bone regeneration with elastin-like recombinamer-based catalyst-free click gels.

Large bone defects are a significant health problem today with various origins, including extensive trauma, tumours, or congenital musculoskeletal disorders. Tissue engineering, and in particular bone tissue engineering, aims to respond to this demand. As such, we propose a specific model based on Elastin-Like Recombinamers-based click-chemistry hydrogels given their high biocompatibility and their potent on bone regeneration effect conferred by different bioactive sequences.

Boron neutron capture synovectomy (BNCS) as a potential therapy for rheumatoid arthritis: radiobiological studies at RA-1 Nuclear Reactor in a model of antigen-induced arthritis in rabbits.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune pathology characterized by the proliferation and inflammation of the synovium. Boron neutron capture synovectomy (BNCS), a binary treatment modality that combines the preferential incorporation of boron carriers to target tissue and neutron irradiation, was proposed to treat the pathological synovium in arthritis. In a previous biodistribution study, we showed the incorporation of therapeutically useful boron concentrations to the pathological synovium in a model of antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) in rabbits, employing two boron compounds approved for their use in humans, i.

[Diagnosis, therapy and follow up of diabetic eye disease].

Diabetes mellitus causes diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, optic neuropathy, cataract or dysfunction of the eye muscles. The incidence of these defects correlates with disease duration and quality of the metabolic control. The recommendations of the Austrian Diabetes Association for the diagnosis, the therapeutic procedures and requirements for adequate follow up depending on the stages of the different forms of diabetic eye disease are summarized.

Long-term monitoring of age-related macular degeneration with preferential hyperacuity perimetry.

Background And Objective: To estimate the efficacy and usability of preferential hyper-acuity perimetry (PHP) for monitoring patients with high-risk intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Patients And Methods: A long-term, observational, prospective case series of patients with intermediate AMD who underwent fluorescein angiography at recruitment. Eyes were examined every 3 months with PHP, visual acuity, and biomicroscopy.

The effect of laser unit on photodynamic therapy spot size.

Background: To determine the effect of the laser unit on photodynamic therapy (PDT) spot size.

Methods: A calibrated Gullstrand-type model eye was used for this study. The axial length of the model eye was set to different values ranging from 22.

Choroidal blood flow and progression of age-related macular degeneration in the fellow eye in patients with unilateral choroidal neovascularization.

Purpose: Cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, and atherosclerosis seem to play an important role in the development of choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Recent studies have also provided evidence suggesting that choroidal and retinal blood flow is decreased in patients with AMD. On the basis of these results, the hypothesis for this study was that lower choroidal blood flow is associated with an increased risk of CNV in patients with AMD.

Ocular haemodynamic changes after single treatment with photodynamic therapy assessed with non-invasive techniques.

Purpose: To investigate in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) the changes in ocular perfusion caused by single treatment with photodynamic therapy (PDT) by different non-invasive methods; to evaluate correlations between relative changes of ocular haemodynamic parameters after PDT among each other and compared to morphological parameters; and to assess this in relation to early changes of visual acuity.

Study Population: 17 consecutive patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) caused by ARMD scheduled for PDT without previous PDT treatment (four patients with predominantly classic CNV and 13 patients with occult CNV).

Observation Procedures: best-corrected visual acuity (before PDT, 6 and 8 weeks after PDT), fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, haemodynamic measurements with laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), laser interferometry and ocular blood flow (OBF) tonometry (baseline and 1, 2, 6 and 8 weeks after treatment).

Ocular photodynamic therapy--standard applications and new indications. Part 2. Review of the literature and personal experience.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has become a well-established treatment for vascular forms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The implementation of evidence-based medicine principles into the treatment regimen of AMD seems to be immensly important, since AMD continues to be the most frequent cause of blindness among patients older than 65 years in industrialized countries. Numerous randomized prospective studies demonstrated high levels of evidence for the efficacy of various treatment approaches such as laser photocoagulation, PDT, subretinal surgery or novel anti-angiogenic drugs [Arch Ophthalmol 2006;124:597-599].

Ultrahigh resolution optical coherence tomography of macular holes.

Purpose: To evaluate ultrahigh resolution optical coherence tomography (UHR OCT) for visualization of intraretinal layers, especially the photoreceptor inner segment and outer segment layers, in eyes with macular holes and after surgical intervention.

Methods: An UHR OCT system based on a titanium:sapphire laser was used, enabling in vivo cross-sectional retinal imaging with 3-micro m axial resolution. Typical, representative tomograms of 5 of 48 eyes from 36 patients demonstrated the potential of UHR OCT to detect morphologic changes in different stages of full-thickness macular holes and changes induced by surgical intervention.

Magnification-corrected photodynamic therapy.

Background: To present a method for performing photodynamic therapy (PDT) with a constant predictable light fluence based on actual laser spot magnification.

Methods: A calibrated Gullstrand-type model eye with a scale of half circles in the centre of the artificial fundus was used for this study. The axial length of the model eye was set to different values ranging from 20 to 31 mm, and the actual laser spot magnification of four indirect condensing laser lenses were determined using a PDT laser unit.

Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin and intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To examine the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin and intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Design: Retrospective, interventional case series.

Methods: Sixty eyes of 56 patients with neovascular AMD were treated with PDT with verteporfin followed by an intravitreal injection of 4 mg triamcinolone acetonide.

Effect of calcium dobesilate on progression of early diabetic retinopathy: a randomised double-blind study.

Background: The study was carried out to confirm the effect of calcium dobesilate (CaD) compared to placebo (PLA) on the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) permeability in early diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods: Adults with type II diabetes and early diabetic retinopathy (below level 47 of ETDRS grading and PVPR between 20 and 50x10(-6)/ min, plasma-free fluorescein) were included in this double-blind placebo-controlled study. Treatment was 2 g daily for 24 months.

The effect of axial length on photodynamic therapy.

Purpose: To determine the effect of the axial length of the eye on photodynamic therapy (PDT) light fluence.

Design: Laboratory investigation.

Methods: A calibrated Gullstrand-type model eye was used for this study.

Treatment frequency and visual outcome in subfoveal choroidal neovascularization related to pathologic myopia treated with photodynamic therapy.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of treatment frequency on visual acuity of patients with PDT treatment for subfoveal predominantly classic CNV related to pathological myopia.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Methods: Thirty-seven patients with subfoveal predominantly classic CNV caused by pathologic myopia and treated with PDT were included.

Digital area measurement of fundus landmarks.

Purpose: To present and validate an image analysis technique for the calculation of the true projection area of fundus landmarks from a digital fundus image. The authors present the description, technical details and results of the study.

Methods: Experimental study using a calibrated Gullstrand-type model eye with a scale of half circles in the centre of the artificial fundus.

Ultrahigh resolution optical coherence tomography in macular dystrophy.

Purpose: To visualize and investigate intraretinal changes in macular dystrophies with ultrahigh resolution optical coherence tomography (UHR OCT).

Design: Prospective observational case series.

Methods: setting: Department of Ophthalmology and Center for Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Christian Doppler Laboratory, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Choroidal hemodynamic changes during isometric exercise in patients with inactive central serous chorioretinopathy.

Purpose: Imaging studies suggest that the choroidal vasculature may be altered in central serous chorioretinopathy. Little is known, however, about the regulation of ocular blood flow in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). The hypothesis for the present study was that choroidal blood flow changes during an increase in ocular perfusion pressure induced by isometric exercise may be altered in CSC.

Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide in patients with macular oedema due to branch retinal vein occlusion: a pilot study.

Purpose: To evaluate treatment of macular oedema due to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) with intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide.

Methods: In a prospective case series, nine patients with macular oedema due to BRVO received an intravitreal injection of 4 mg triamcinolone acetonide. Examination included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) for distance and reading, intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement, fluorescein angiography and high resolution imaging by optical coherence tomography, preoperatively and at 1 week, 1 month, 3 and 6 months postoperatively.

The effect of digital measurement software on photodynamic therapy.

Background: To investigate the effect of refraction-corrected digital measurement software on photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatment spot size.

Methods: Experimental study using a calibrated Gullstrand-type model eye. The axial length of the model eye was set to different values, ranging from 20 to 31 mm, and the PDT treatment spot sizes obtained from refraction-corrected digital measurement software and manual measurement with a fixed-magnification factor, as well as four different indirect contact laser lenses, were calculated and compared for a treatment spot with a diameter of 4 mm.

Preferential Hyperacuity Perimeter (PreView PHP) for detecting choroidal neovascularization study.

Purpose: To assess the ability of the Preferential Hyperacuity Perimeter (PreView PHP; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA) to detect recent-onset choroidal neovascularization (CNV) resulting from age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to differentiate it from an intermediate stage of AMD.

Design: Prospective, comparative, concurrent, nonrandomized, multicenter study.

Participants: Eligible participants' study eyes had a corrected visual acuity of 20/160 or better and either untreated CNV from AMD diagnosed within the last 60 days or an intermediate stage of AMD.

Differences in reading performance of patients with Drusen maculopathy and subretinal fibrosis after CNV.

Purpose: To evaluate differences in reading performance and contrast sensitivity on patients with drusen maculopathy and subretinal fibrosis after CNV (choroidal neovascularisation).

Methods: 136 patients (60 with drusen (D), 76 with fibrosis (F)) were studied. Patients were classified according to type of maculopathy and best-corrected visual acuity into groups D1 and F1 (LogMAR 0.

Quality of life in patients with age-related macular degeneration: impact of the condition and benefits of treatment.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a chronic, progressive, degenerative disease of the macula and is the leading cause of central vision loss among elderly people in the western world. Traditionally, clinical studies of AMD have described the impact of AMD, and treatments for AMD, in terms of the patient's visual acuity. However, visual acuity alone does not provide information about a patient's perception of his or her quality of life.

Prevalence of patients presenting with neovascular age-related macular degeneration in an urban population.

Purpose: To determine the number and type of new cases of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) present in a defined urban population and to establish the proportion that would be recommended for treatment with verteporfin or laser photocoagulation.

Methods: Patients referred to an ophthalmic center in Vienna during a 10-week period because of recent deterioration in vision caused by newly diagnosed neovascular AMD were included.

Results: Neovascular AMD was diagnosed in 168 eyes in 153 patients.