Measurement of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, Fas ligand, interleukin-1α, and interleukin-1β in the aqueous humor of patients with open angle glaucoma using multiplex bead analysis.

Purpose: Various cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), Fas ligand (FasL), interleukin-1α (IL-1α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), contribute to the pathogenesis of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). The present study was set to measure these cytokines in the aqueous humor of patients with POAG and in control subjects using multiplex bead analysis.

Methods: Twenty-five patients with POAG and 29 control subjects were enrolled in this case-control study.

[Successful implementation of the EFQM management model at the Department of Ophthalmology in Graz].

Background And Objective: In the context of legal requirements and scarcer resources, the implementation of a quality management (QM) model will provide a competitive advantage or a site warranty for a hospital. For 3 years, the Department of Ophthalmology in Graz has been working with the EFQM model and has now accomplished the first level quality award, namely "Committed to Excellence (C2E)". The project work towards achieving this C2E-award is described below.

Multiplex bead analysis of vitreous and serum concentrations of inflammatory and proangiogenic factors in diabetic patients.

Purpose: To investigate the role of inflammatory and angiogenic factors in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy, we determined, in diabetic patients and controls, vitreous and serum concentrations of interferon-induced protein (IP)-10, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha, MIP-1beta, regulated upon activation, normal T-expressed and secreted (RANTES), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Methods: We recruited 36 probands with type 2 diabetes mellitus (15 noninsulin-dependent and 21 insulin-dependent) and 69 normal controls. Using Cytometric Bead Array Technology, we measured vitreous and serum concentrations of IP-10, MCP-1, MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta, RANTES, and VEGF.

Application of multiplex cytometric bead array technology for the measurement of angiogenic factors in the vitreous.

Purpose: This study was carried out to compare cytometric bead array (CBA) technology with conventional enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the measurement of both vitreous and serum concentrations of interleukin-8 (IL-8), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and angiogenin (ANG) in diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

Methods: Measurement of vitreous and serum concentrations of IL-8, VEGF, and ANG using both ELISA and CBA was performed in 26 probands (13 diabetics and 13 non-diabetic control subjects).

Results: Vitreous and serum concentrations of IL-8, VEGF, and ANG determined by CBA showed a strong correlation with those measured by ELISA.

Evaluating an impression cytology grading system (IC score) in patients with dry eye syndrome.

Purpose: To evaluate the IC score, a newly developed grading system for the morphological alterations of the ocular surface as a diagnostic tool in relation to type and severity of dry eye disease.

Methods: Impression cytological specimens of 309 patients with simple dry eye (S-DE), 50 patients with Sjögren's syndrome and dry eye (SS-DE), and 39 patients with connective tissue disease and dry eye (CTD-DE) were examined. In all, 10 different morphological parameters were judged with points (IC subscores) and summarized to the IC score.