[Radial optic neurotomy for ischemic central retinal vein occlusion].

Introduction: Occlusion of the central retinal vein (CRVO) is the second most frequent cause for blindness in the course of pathological changes of the vascular system. Vitreous haemorrhages and neovascular glaucoma are known as serious complications. Clinically accepted guidelines for treating CRVO do not exist up to now.

[Long-term results after pars plana vitrectomy with 25 gauge technique].

Background: The 25-gauge technique of pars plana vitrectomy appears to be a very suitable method, especially for patients with pathological epiretinal alterations of the macula. However, the procedure has been criticized for insufficient impermeability with an increased risk of endophthalmitis and that the flexibility of instruments is too high.

Method: Between 2002 and 2006, 625 eyes from 620 patients were operated on using the 25-gauge technique.

Macular pigment in the human retina: histological evaluation of localization and distribution.

Purpose: Clinical investigations have demonstrated variation in both the peak optical density and the spatial distribution of macular pigment. To confirm these impressions histologically, the present study examined the distribution of macular pigment in the human retina.

Materials And Methods: The macular retina of 11 donor eyes of different ages (28-91 years) were examined histologically on 100 microm vibratome sections directly, without further staining.

[Intraocular application of bevacizumab for the treatment of choroidal neovascularization secondary to angioid streaks].

Angioid streaks are the typical ophthalmological manifestation of the systemic disease pseudoxanthoma elasiticum. Fundoscopy reveals angioid streaks as irregular dark brownish lines radiating from the area around the optic disc. Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is the major cause of severe visual loss in patients with angioid streaks.

Changes in macular pigment optical density and serum concentrations of its constituent carotenoids following supplemental lutein and zeaxanthin: the LUNA study.

Macular pigment (MP), consisting of lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z), is believed to protect the retina from photo-oxidative damage. The current study investigates, in terms of MP optical density (MPOD) and serum concentrations of its constituent carotenoids, response to supplemental L and Z, and co-antioxidants. An intervention (I) group, consisting of 108 subjects (mean [+/-SD] age: 71.

Macular pigment optical density measurement in autofluorescence imaging: comparison of one- and two-wavelength methods.

Background: Measurement of macular pigment (MP) can be performed by analysis of autofluorescence (AF) images. These can be obtained by standard 488-nm argon-imaging alone (one wavelength, 1-Lambda) or with additional digital subtraction of a second image at 514 nm (two wavelengths, 2-Lambda). The analyses are easy to perform, and we present a comparison of both methods and investigate their reliability and repeatability.

Interferon as a treatment for uveitis associated with multiple sclerosis.

Aim: In addition to optic neuritis (ON), multiple sclerosis (MS) may also involve the eye with a typically bilateral intermediate uveitis. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy of type I interferons (IFN) for the treatment of MS associated uveitis.

Methods: In this non-randomised, retrospective observational case series 13 patients (eight female, five male) with proved MS and associated uveitis from five uveitis centres who were treated with interferon beta1a were included.

Donepezil for dementia in Parkinson's disease: a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled, crossover study.

Objective: To study the safety and efficacy of a cholinesterase inhibitor, donepezil hydrochloride, for the treatment of dementia in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods: This was a randomised double blind, placebo controlled, crossover study in 22 subjects with PD and dementia. Participants were randomised to receive either donepezil followed by identical placebo, or placebo followed by donepezil.

Monozygotic twins discordant for Huntington disease after 7 years.

Background: Huntington disease (HD) has only rarely been identified in identical twins. All described twins have had disease onset within 1 year of each other, suggesting that disease onset is determined solely by genetic influences.

Objective: To describe a unique set of monozygotic twins in whom clinical HD onset is at least 7 years apart.

Rebound psychosis: effect of discontinuation of antipsychotics in Parkinson's disease.

To determine whether psychiatrically stable patients with a history of drug-induced psychosis could be successfully weaned off their antipsychotic drug, we offered consecutive Parkinson disease (PD) patients on quetiapine or clozapine, who were free of any on-going psychosis, to be slowly weaned off their antipsychotic drug. Before the study was aborted 6 PD patients (mean age, 78 years) with an average antipsychotic exposure of 20 months (5 on quetiapine, 1 on clozapine) were enrolled. After the antipsychotic agent was discontinued, psychosis recurred in 5 of 6 patients.

Botulinum toxin type B for gait freezing in Parkinson's disease.

Background: Freezing of Gait (FOG) can be a serious problem in Parkinson's disease (PD) and is usually refractory to medical treatment. Botulinum toxin (BTX) type A has been reported to relieve FOG in small open label studies.

Material/methods: We performed a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study using BTX-B injections on the soleus-gastrocnemius muscle complex of the predominantly affected leg in freezing.

Aripiprazole for drug-induced psychosis in Parkinson disease: preliminary experience.

Aripiprazole is the newest atypical antipsychotic (AA) drug to be released in the US. It is the only AA that is a partial agonist at the D2 and 5HT1a receptors and an antagonist at 5HT2a receptors. It also has a high 5HT2/D2 ratio and may therefore carry a low risk of extrapyramidal side effects and alleviate psychosis in Parkinson-vulnerable populations.

Parkinsonism in a nursing home: underrecognition.

Parkinsonism is a very common condition in the elderly, particularly the elderly demented. The authors' experience in both the in-and outpatient settings suggested that parkinsonism was generally underdiagnosed in the elderly. They evaluated the residents at a local nursing home to assess for parkinsonian signs.

Macular pigment: quantitative analysis on autofluorescence images.

Background: Macular pigment (MP) reduces oxidative damage in the central retina and can be quantified by flicker-photometric analysis (HFP) of MP optical density. These analyses demonstrate a very good correlation with central absorption by MP on autofluorescence (AF) images. With these techniques different types of MP-distribution have been described.

Treatment of psychosis in Parkinson's disease: safety considerations.

Psychosis only rarely occurs in patients with untreated Parkinson's disease. Much more commonly, psychosis is induced by drug therapy for Parkinson's disease and is the strongest known risk factor for nursing home placement. Delusions are less frequent than hallucinations, but are more concerning as they are often paranoid in nature.

Long-term outcome of quetiapine use for psychosis among Parkinsonian patients.

To evaluate the long-term efficacy and tolerability of quetiapine for psychosis among parkinsonian patients, a retrospective analysis of all parkinsonian patients taking quetiapine for psychosis in a single movement disorders center was carried out. Demographic data, including type and severity of psychosis, presence of dementia, treatment response, before and after Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS)-motor scores and Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) scale were obtained. One hundred six parkinsonian patients with a mean age of 76.

Quetiapine for psychosis in Parkinson's disease versus dementia with Lewy bodies.

Background: Most clinicians perceive psychosis in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) as more difficult to treat than Parkinson's disease, yet there are no reports comparing the antipsychotic response between the 2 disorders.

Method: All charts of Parkinson's disease and DLB patients at our Movement Disorders Center, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, Pawtucket, given quetiapine for psychosis were reviewed. Demographic data, including type and severity of psychosis, before and after Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS)-motor scores, motor worsening, and treatment response (recorded as poor/none, partial, or total), were obtained.

A classic watershed infarct.

A consequence of severe hypotension, watershed infarcts lead to significant morbidity and mortality rates of 10% per year. The best preventive measure is to control systemic hemodynamic factors. Identification of high risk patients may help focus these efforts.

Molecular characterization and organization of porin from Rhodobacter capsulatus strain 37B4.

The primary and atomic structures of the porin protein from Rhodobacter (Rb.) capsulatus strain 37b4 were determined several years ago by peptide sequencing and X-ray crystallography. In this work the gene encoding this porin (named porCa) was cloned and sequenced.

Molecular analysis of the Rhodobacter capsulatus B10 porin (porCa) gene; purification and biochemical characterisation of the porin protein.

The pore-forming outer-membrane protein from Rhodobacter (R.) capsulatus (wild-type B10 strain) was isolated and purified under non-denaturing conditions. The monomer unit of the isolated porin has a molecular mass of about 28 kDa, as judged by SDS-PAGE, whereas the native protein migrates at 75 kDa.

Differences between porin isolated from Rhodobacter capsulatus B10 and 37b4.

Porin was isolated from Rhodobacter (Rb.) capsulatus wild type B10, as well as from Rb. capsulatus 37b4 as a control.