Prevalence, incidence and future projection of diabetic eye disease in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

To examine the prevalence and incidence of diabetic eye disease (DED) among individuals with diabetes in Europe, a systematic review to identify all published European prevalence and incidence studies of DED in individuals with diabetes managed in primary health care was performed according to the MOOSE and PRISMA guidelines. The databases Medline, Embase and Web of Science were searched to 2 September 2017. Meta-analyses and meta-regressions were performed.

Prevalence of Retinal Vein Occlusion in Europe: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and incidence of retinal vein occlusions (RVO) in Europe.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence and incidence of RVO in Europe according to the Meta-Analyses of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines was performed in the databases PubMed, Embase and Web of Science. Based on Eurostat data, the total number of affected individuals in the EU was calculated and projected to the year 2050.

The development of human gallbladder stones shown in X-ray pictures and its importance for the therapy.

Prophylactic treatment of patients with gallbladder stones today is obsolete. After secured diagnosis the patients and their physicians are waiting for the development of painful symptoms, mostly for years. Follow-up studies of gallbladder stones over decades show that there is no stability: especially the cholesterol stones change their size, shape, composition, and number during the waiting period for surgery.

Solitary versus multiple cholesterol gallbladder stones. Mechanisms of formation and growth.

The development and growth pattern of solitary and multiple cholesterol gallbladder stones was defined using cholecystography in a prospective study of 48 patients whose initial cholecystograms indicated a stone-free gallbladder and who developed gallstones within the subsequent 5 years. Radiological observations performed over 365 patient-years were complemented by macroscopic examination, radiograms, scanning electron microscopy, and chemical analysis of gallstones from these and other patients obtained at cholecystectomy. Solitary gallstones were found to develop after a precursor phase of over 2 years during which free-floating crystal laminae of cholesterol formed.

[Gallbladder polyps and gallbladder stones].

Over a period of 32 years 689 patients with upper abdominal symptoms were examined radiologically at least twice for gall-bladder polyps and stones. All were without evidence of stones initially, but 181 had gall-bladder polyps on first examination. During a mean observation period of 9 1/2 years gall-bladder stones occurred in 18% (pigment stones in about 24%, solitary cholesterol stones in 30% and multiple ones in 46%), regardless of the presence or absence of gall-bladder polyps.

[Solitary black pigment stones].

Solitary pigment stones of the gallbladder are rare (1.7%). 82.

[Changes in silent gallbladder stones. Roentgen-diagnostic and symptomatologic observations over 30 years].

Between 1950 and 1980, a total of 145 patients with pain-free gallstones in the gallbladder and open cystic duct were followed for a mean observation period of 13.5 years. Pigment stones made up 25.

[Cholelitholysis--gallbladder sediments and pigment stones].

Dissolution of cholesterol stones in the gallbladder can give rise to insoluble sediment and pigment stones. Thus can lead to a change of the type of gallstones. We have observed such a development during a period of 4 years in 23.

[Cholelitholysis and gallbladder diverticula].

Fifty patients with cholesterol stones in their gallbladder, with few symptoms were treated with the bile acids cheno- or ursodeoxycholic acid. 38 had a "normal" gallbladder, 12 had diverticula of the gallbladder. After the complete dissolution of the stones the bile acid treatment was stopped.

[Importance of cholegraphy for indicating litholysis].

Today patients with gallstones are treated surgically, by means of drugs, or by endoscopy. However, only cholesterol stones can be dissolved with bile acids. Besides the cholesterol stones in the gallbladder, insoluble pigment stones or insoluble stones with a high inorganic calcium content will be found.

[Radiolucent pigment gallstones (author's transl)].

Pigment gallstones may be subdivided into three different types: radiolucent and radioopaque stones in the gallbladder and radiolucent stones in the common bile duct. 35 of our patients had radiolucent pigment stones in the gallbladder; 21 of these were followed for years by repeated X-ray examination. There is only little enlargement of these stones as time passes by, however the number of these stones increases continuously.

[Calcium palmitate and cholesterol gallstones].

Ca-palmitate is an abundant secondary constituent of cholesterol gallstones, especially of "multiple facet" and "barrel" stones. 60% of the 146 stones obtained by operation or autopsy contained crystalline Ca-palmitate. From these 70% were multiple and 11% solitary stones.

[Selection of patients with gallstones for litholysis (author's transl)].

Drug therapy of cholelithiasis with chenodeoxycloic acid (CDC) will yield better results, if patients with new cholesterol stones are selected for therapy, since these stones dissolve quickly and completely. X-ray diagnosis of the different types of stones is discussed; radiolucent bilirubin stones with or without cholesterol covering and with low calcium content do present the most difficult diagnostic problems. Old cholesterol stones do not disolve completely.