[Acute diagnostics of central retinal artery occlusion and biomarkers of ischemia : Diagnostics with consequences?].

Background: Acute central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) represents an ophthalmological emergency with neurological implications, which must be immediately investigated and treated. Intravenous thrombolysis could improve the prognosis only within the first 4.5 h due to limited retinal tolerance to ischemia.

[Immunotherapy of uveal melanoma: vaccination against cancer. Multicenter adjuvant phase 3 vaccination study using dendritic cells laden with tumor RNA for large newly diagnosed uveal melanoma].

Uveal melanomas are the most common malignant tumors of the eye. With modern molecular biological diagnostic methods, such as chromosome 3 typing and gene expression analysis, these tumors can be categorized into highly aggressive (monosomy 3, class II) and less aggressive forms. This molecular biological stratification is primarily important for determining the risk of these tumors as no therapy is currently available that is able to prevent or delay metastases.

[Intraocular epithelial downgrowth - report on 14 cases from 1986 to 2000].

Background: Diffuse and cystic epithelial downgrowth occur rarely, but they represent a mostly preventable potential cause of blindness as sequels to trauma and surgery. The aim of this study is to report on the etiology and course of disease in patients with histologically verified epithelial downgrowth.

Patients And Methods: From 1986 until 2000 the ophthalmopathological laboratory of the University Eye Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf received 13 (4 external) referrals.

[Incidence of ocular manifestations in patients with histologically confirmed systemic sarcoidosis].

Background: Intraocular findings in sarcoidosis were described by US studies with 35 % anterior uveitis, 25 % posterior uveitis and 20 - 30 % for late complications in case of first presentation. We report on the spectrum and diagnostic possibilities in 38 German patients.

Patients And Methods: 38 patients (68 eyes) aged 11 - 58 years (average 42.

[Correlation of 55 samples of contact lens fluid and direct swabbings of the eye surface of symptomatic wearers of contact lenses].

Background: The microbiological examination of contact lens storage solutions may reveal the etiological organisms responsible for keratitis and additionally harbour environmental contaminants.

Patients And Methods: From 1995 to 1998, conjunctival and corneal smears and scrapes, as well as the storage solutions of 55 soft contact lens wearers were examined microbiologically in a prospective non-randomised cohort study involving 53x unilateral and 2x bilateral cases of keraitis.

Results: In 42 of the in-use contact lens storage solutions, the following organisms were found: 8x Bacillus sp.

[Combined pars-plana-vitrectomy and tectonic keratoplasty; indications for and results from 15 patients].

Background: Acute endophthalmitis requires a vitrectomy. Vitrectomy and autokeratoplasty has been reported, if the infection originates from a stromal keratitis in an aphakic eye. This retrospective non-randomized cohort study points out the requirements, indications and results of combined keratoplasty and vitrectomy in keratitis and endophthalmitis compared with noninfectious corneal and vitreoretinal problems.

[Detection of human papillomavirus types in tumors and inflammations of the eye].

Background: Infections by the human papillomavirus occur in the skin and in the mucosa. They may play a significant role in the neoplastic transformation of cells. At least half of all the epithelial tumours of the ocular surface and the lacrimal drainage system have been shown to be HPV associated.

[Severe ocular injuries caused by fishing equipment].

Background: Severe ocular injuries due to fishing equipment are rare, almost exclusively involve the anterior segments of men, and bear a bad prognosis. We report on two men and one woman with different etiologies of accidents.

Patients: In two men (53 and 39 yrs.

[Recurrent pterygium over 15 years: epibulbar cartilaginous findings].

Background: Epibulbar and extraocular cartilage bearing tumors in adults are extremely rare.

Patient: A nasally located pterygium in a 24-year-old patient was excised and recurred over the ensuing 15 years six times requiring local excisions, and each time a histological diagnosis of pterygium was made. Only a curative excision including a biopsy of the insertion of the m.

[Intraocular inflammation 1993 (endophthalmitis)].

Despite several recently published optimistic reports on successful therapeutic regimens of postoperative endophthalmitis caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci this intraocular disease still represents a preeminent danger for ocular vision and the integrity of the globe. In this survey critical analyses of studies concerning infectious as well as the non-infectious intraocular inflammations have been reviewed. The demand for an initiation of "metastudies" seems appropriate in order to evaluate the many controversial data collections concerning the incidence, diagnosis and results of therapeutic interventions of postoperative endophthalmitis.