Revision of the Subgenus Frogs from Madagascar (Amphibia: Mantellidae) with the Description of Four Species and Resurrection of and .

The subgenus is an obligate forest and stream-dwelling group of mantellid frogs, endemic to Madagascar, with six species currently recognized. However, this group suffers from ongoing taxonomic confusion due to low numbers of examined specimens, and failure to consider morphological variation from development and sexual dimorphism. Here, we examined the morphology of 637 sexed adult specimens collected by us in the field and from other museum collections.

Dispersal, not vicariance, explains the biogeographic origin of iguanas on Madagascar.

Lizards of the clade Iguanidae (sensu lato) are primarily a New World group. Thus, the remarkable presence of an endemic lineage of iguanas (family Opluridae) on the isolated Indian Ocean island of Madagascar has long been considered a biogeographic anomaly. Previous work attributed this disjunct extant distribution to: (1) vicariance at about 140-165 Ma, caused by the breakup of Gondwana and the separation of South America, Africa, and Madagascar (with subsequent extinction of iguanas on Africa, and potentially other Gondwanan landmasses), (2) vicariance at about 80-90 Ma, caused by the sundering of hypothesized land-bridge connections between South America, Antarctica, India, and Madagascar, or (3) long-distance overwater dispersal from South America to Madagascar.

Specificity and biologic activities of novel anti-membrane IgM antibodies.

The concept that the B-cell Receptor (BCR) initiates a driver pathway in lymphoma-leukemia has been clinically validated. Previously described unique BCR Ig-class-specific sequences (proximal domains (PDs)), are not expressed in serum Ig (sIg). As a consequence of sequence and structural differences in the membrane IgM (mIgM) µ-Constant Domain 4, additional epitopes distinguish mIgM from sIgM.

Analysis of population genetic structure and gene flow in an annual plant before and after a rapid evolutionary response to drought.

The impact of environmental change on population structure is not well understood. This study aimed to examine the effect of a climate change event on gene flow over space and time in two populations of Brassica rapa that evolved more synchronous flowering times over 5 years of drought in southern California. Using plants grown from seeds collected before and after the drought, we estimated genetic parameters within and between populations and across generations.

Trastuzumab and lapatinib modulation of HER2 tyrosine/threonine phosphorylation and cell signaling.

Cell surface transmembrane signaling receptors EGFR, HER3, and HER4 are activated by ligand-binding-mediated dimerization and phosphorylation. In contrast, HER2 amplification promotes signaling by increasing homo/heterodimerization and ligand binding. Trastuzumab or lapatinib therapy of HER2 amplicon-positive breast cancer cells induces growth inhibition and intracellular growth pathway signaling modulation.

Effect of Healon5 and 4 other viscoelastic substances on intraocular pressure and endothelium after cataract surgery.

Purpose: To compare the ophthalmic viscoelastic device (OVD) Healon5 (sodium hyaluronate 2.3%) with 4 other commonly used OVDs during phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation in terms of influence on intraocular pressure (IOP) postoperatively and endothelial cells preoperatively and postoperatively.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, Germany.

[Morphology of the Meibomian lipid film. Results of Brewster angle microscopy].

Meibomian lipid layers were studied in the anterior mirror area by reflecting microscopy and interference microscopy. Using these techniques, it was not possible to correlate the biophysical and morphological data. Brewster angle microscopy provides direct observation of the spread Meibomian lipid layer with simultaneous registration of the surface pressure.

Biophysical behaviour of the infant Meibomian lipid layer.

Infants have been known occasionally to stare without blinking for almost a minute. This puts great demands on the stability of their tear-film. To verify the stability of infant tears, we performed biophysical experiments on Meibomian gland secretion, which forms the outermost layer of the tear-film.

Biophysical characteristics of the Meibomian lipid layer under in vitro conditions.

The biophysical behaviour of the Meibomian gland secretion was tested under in vitro conditions. Thereby, simultaneous recording of surface pressure and surface potential was performed. The Meibomian lipid layer was compared with other surface-active components like polyvinylalcohol and polyvinylpyrrolidone.

[Pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials and electroretinography in the early diagnosis of chronic simple glaucoma].

For differential, therapeutic, and prognostic reasons the recognition of early lesions in glaucoma chronicum simplex is very important. Besides sophisticated ophthalmological investigations optic nerve and retinal functions can be tested by flash and pattern-reversal evoked visual potentials and electroretinograms. 38 glaucomatous eyes were investigated by VEP and ERG applying single and flicker flashes as well as transient pattern-reversal stimuli of different check sizes.

[Preoperative microbiologic diagnosis before elective intraocular interventions and prevention of infection with tobramycin eyedrops. Results of a multicenter study].

Preoperative conjunctival smears of 313 asymptomatic patients before cataract surgery were evaluated in an open multi-center study in 10 German surgical eye care centers from May to August 1987. 230 evaluable isolates of 198 patients (= 61.1%) on agar plates with a 48 h incubation period revealed 190 gram-positive (most frequent isolates: 62.

[Glare test and bright light vision in cataract patients].

Cataract patients and healthy subjects have been examined with the Miller-Nadler Glare-Tester to prove if the results of the glare test show any correlation between the glare disability score and the outdoor visual acuity facing sun. The outdoor vision of cataract patients with a high glare disability score was clearly impaired compared with their indoor vision. Healthy eyes with a normal glare disability score did not show any impairment of visual acuity facing sun.

[Retinal detachment following extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber lens implantation].

Among 866 patients who had undergone extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) with implantation of a posterior chamber lens (Simcoe type), 4 cases of retinal detachment were found 1 to 3 years after an uneventful operation. This retinal detachment rate of 0.5% is significantly lower than the rate of 3.

[Eye and skin manifestations of endogenous oxalosis of the protracted type (follow-up)].

The present paper reports the authors' observations in a rare case of primary hereditary oxalosis (adult type). Four years after renal function loss, calcium oxylate deposits were found in the skin and in both retinae. In spite of hemodialysis and a special diet, the deposits increased considerably during an observation period of 19 months.

[Corneal endothelium variants in the area of corneal changes].

Contact specular microscopy of the corneal endothelium and subsequent image analysis permit investigations of corneal endothelium reactions after circumscribed corneal damage. The extent and development of an endothelial process can thus be estimated.

[Surface morphology relations between corneal endothelial cells of various sizes].

Investigations of polymorphous corneal endothelium layers with the semi-automatic image analysis system "Videoplan" show that the perimeters of the large cells are more nearly circular than those of the neighboring small cells. The consequences of these observations are discussed with regard to the functional reserves of cells of different sizes and to the decompensation of the corneal endothelium after severe damage.

[Inflammatory and regressive changes of the posterior surface of the cornea].

A 52-year-old woman contracted a serious influenza; three weeks later a dropshaped patch, whitish-yellow in color and deeply vascularized, was seen on the posterior upper surface of the cornea of one eye. It was accompanied by an anterior uveitis. The Tyndall phenomenon was positive.

[Experiences with different artificial lenses].

Since 1977 intraocular lenses of 4 different types have been implanted in a total of 963 eyes at Frankfurt University Eye Clinic: the 4-loop lens (Binkhorst), the 2-loop lens (Binkhorst) and the posterior chamber lenses designed by Shearing and Simcoe. Implantation of a posterior chamber lens after extracapsular cataract extraction produced very good results with no severe complications.

[Size, shape and behavior of lens particles during phacoemulsification (author's transl)].

Investigations of lens particle which originate during phacoemulsification furnish information concerning their size, form and consistency. Their behavior in the eye and in the instructions is of significance with regard to postoperative results.

[Lamellar keratoplasty, ipsilateral rotation-autokeratoplasty and contralateral autokeratoplasty (author's transl)].

During the years 1967--1977, there were performed about 500 mostly perforating keratoplasties. Among these there were special groups: 50 lamellar keratoplasties (43 central, 7 marginal), 5 perforating ipsilateral rotation-autokeratoplasties 2 perforating contralateral autokeratoplasties. The results encourage to use these special keratoplasties more often instead of the usual perforating keratoplasty.

[Electro-ophthalmological observations on the course of unilateral tapetoretinal degenerations (author's transl)].

A 32-year-old female patient suffering from a unilateral tapetoretinal degeneration for at least 7 years was investigated. The affected eye exhibits a typical fundus, concentric reduction of visual field, and a monophasic course of dark adaptation. The electroretinogram of the affected eye is extinguished; the electrooculogram does not show a light peak.