Imaging endpoints for clinical trials in MacTel type 2.

Introduction: Macular Telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel) is a bilateral neurodegenerative disease associated with dysfunction in the serine and lipid metabolism resulting in loss of Muller cells and photoreceptors. Typical structural changes include vascular abnormalities, loss of retinal transparency, redistribution of macular pigment and thinning of the central retina with photoreceptor loss. The presence and extent of photoreceptor loss, as visible on Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) ("disease severity scale"), correlate with functional loss and the limitation of photoreceptor loss appears to be the most promising therapeutic approach.

Observational outcomes in proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients following treatment with ranibizumab, panretinal laser photocoagulation or combination therapy - The non-interventional second year follow-up to the PRIDE study.

Purpose: Ranibizumab monotherapy showed stronger effects on area of retinal neovascularization (NV) reduction while offering better visual acuity (VA) results than panretinal laser photocoagulation (PRP) monotherapy during the first 12 months of the PRIDE study. The second year of PRIDE was an observational, non-interventional follow-up, performed to evaluate long-term anatomical and functional outcomes in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) patients under real-life conditions, prior to the approval of ranibizumab for PDR.

Methods: Seventy-three PDR patients (28 from the ranibizumab group; 20 from the PRP group; 25 from the combination group) were included in the observational follow-up phase and treated at the investigators discretion.

Non-infectious uveitis affecting the posterior segment treated with fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant: 3-year fellow eye analysis.

Background: Prevention of non-infectious uveitis of the posterior segment (NIU-PS) recurrence using 0.2 μg/day fluocinolone acetonide implant (FAi) was assessed over 3 years (NCT01694186). Outcomes for FAi-treated and fellow eyes with NIU-PS were compared, to evaluate FAi versus conventional treatment strategies.

Periprosthetic fracture fixation in Vancouver B1 femoral shaft fractures: A biomechanical study comparing two plate systems.

Introduction: Periprosthetic fractures of the femur are an increasing problem in today's trauma and orthopaedic surgery. Owing to the hip stem, implant anchorage is very difficult in the proximal femur. This study compares two plate systems regarding their biomechanical properties and the handling in periprosthetic fracture fixation of the proximal femur.

Measurement Reliability for Keratitis Morphology.

Purpose: To evaluate the reliability of manual annotation when quantifying cornea anatomical and microbial keratitis (MK) morphological features on slit-lamp photography (SLP) images.

Methods: Prospectively enrolled patients with MK underwent SLP at initial encounter at 2 academic eye hospitals. Patients who presented with an epithelial defect (ED) were eligible for analysis.

Machine Learning to Detect Alzheimer's Disease from Circulating Non-coding RNAs.

Blood-borne small non-coding (sncRNAs) are among the prominent candidates for blood-based diagnostic tests. Often, high-throughput approaches are applied to discover biomarker signatures. These have to be validated in larger cohorts and evaluated by adequate statistical learning approaches.

Efficacy and safety of ranibizumab with or without panretinal laser photocoagulation versus laser photocoagulation alone in proliferative diabetic retinopathy - the PRIDE study.

Purpose: Panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) is the current standard of care in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). However, treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents might offer better patient outcomes with fewer side-effects. The PRIDE study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of ranibizumab with or without PRP compared with PRP alone in patients with PDR.

Influence of Inflammation in Uveitis on Confocal Scanning Laser Tomography and Optical Coherence Tomography Measurements.

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of active inflammation in uveitis on confocal scanning laser tomography (CSLT) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements.

Methods: Prospective enrollment of patients (64 eyes) with non-infectious uveitis. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), rim-area and -volume for CSLT and Bruch's-membrane-opening minimum-rim-width (BMO-MRW) and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL-O) for OCT were recorded.

Target-Specific Imaging of Cathepsin and S100A8/A9 Reflects Specific Features of Malignancy and Enables Estimation of Tumor Malignancy.

Purpose: Tumor development and metastasis are dependent on tumor infiltrating immune cells which form a characteristic tumor microenvironment (TME). Activated monocytes secrete the protein heterodimer S100A8/A9 promoting TME formation. Monocyte-dependent proteases facilitate local tumor cell invasion by degradation of the extracellular matrix.

Influence of uveitis on Bruch's membrane opening minimum rim width and retinal nerve fibre layer thickness measurements.

Background/aims: To assess the impact of papillary leakage and active inflammation on optical coherence tomography (OCT)-based retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (RNFLT) and Bruch's membrane opening minimum rim width (BMO-MRW) measurements in uveitic eyes with and without secondary glaucoma.

Methods: Prospective, single-centre analysis of patients with uveitis. All patients included received a fluorescein angiography examination and an OCT scan measuring the BMO-MRW and the RNFLT in three concentric peripapillary ring scans.

Prehabilitation is better than cure.

Purpose Of Review: With a continuously growing number of older patients undergoing major surgical procedures, reliable parameters practicable in perioperative routine revealing those patients at risk are urgently needed. Recently, the concept of 'prehabilitation' with its key elements exercise, nutrition and psychological stress reduction especially in frail patients is attracting increasing attention.

Recent Findings: Literature search revealed a huge amount of publications in particular within the last 12 months.

Increased Circulating Proinflammatory T Lymphocytes in Children with Different Forms of Anterior Uveitis: Results from a Pilot Study.

: To characterize peripheral blood T cells in juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis (JIAU). : Blood samples were taken from children with JIAU (n = 18), JIA without ocular involvement (n = 11), idiopathic anterior uveitis (IAU, n = 12), and healthy controls (n = 11). Cells were stained for T cell surface markers, and intracellular cytokine staining was performed after cell stimulation and analyzed by flow cytometry.

Georg Schmorl Prize of the German Spine Society (DWG) 2017: correction of spino-pelvic alignment with relordosing mono- and bisegmental TLIF spondylodesis.

Introduction: A balanced ratio of the main parameters of lumbar lordosis (LL) and pelvic incidence (PI) has high clinical relevance. A postoperative mismatch of LL and PI has been described in the literature to be associated with an inferior clinical outcome and higher postoperative revision rates. The aim of this retrospective, radiological study is to evaluate the magnitude of relordosing in mono-/bisegmental TLIF spondylodesis affecting the spino-pelvic alignment and the main contributing factors.

Intra- versus postoperative initiation of pain control via a thoracic epidural catheter for lumbar spinal fusion surgery.

Background: Thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) is one of the pillars of perioperative pain care. Particularly for spine surgery which causes significant postoperative pain TEA seems like an appealing option. However, beneficial effects of a TEA are questionable when the catheter is not used intraoperatively, a decision that is usually based on the surgeon's wish to perform immediate neurological examination postoperatively.

Peripheral blood monocytes reveal an activated phenotype in pediatric uveitis.

Objective: To characterize peripheral blood monocytes in uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIAU).

Methods: Peripheral blood monocytes from children with JIA (either with (n = 18) or without uveitis (n = 11)), idiopathic anterior uveitis (IAU; n = 12) and healthy controls (n = 11) were analyzed by flow cytometry.

Results: Percentage of CD14 + CD86+ monocytes and CD86 expression on single cell level were significantly higher in all patient groups than in controls, whereas no major differences existed between patient groups.

Vaccine development to prevent Staphylococcus aureus surgical-site infections.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus surgical-site infections (SSIs) are a major cause of poor health outcomes, including mortality, across surgical specialties. Despite current advances as a result of preventive interventions, the disease burden of S. aureus SSI remains high, and increasing antibiotic resistance continues to be a concern.

Importance of Early Aortic Surveillance after Endovascular Treatment of Type B Aortic Dissection with Malperfusion Syndrome.

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the incidence and timing of adverse events and complications occurring after endovascular treatment of type B aortic dissection (TBAD) complicated with malperfusion syndrome (MPS).

Methods: Twenty-eight patients with TBAD and MPS treated endovascularly at our center from January 2006 to January 2015 were evaluated through a retrospective scrutiny of the medical records. The primary end point of the study was aorta-related reintervention.

Changes in Inflammatory Activity after Glaucoma Filtration Surgery in Children with Chronic Anterior Uveitis.

Purpose: To evaluate changes in inflammatory activity over time in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-associated anterior uveitis after two different types of glaucoma surgery.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of 32 patients with JIA who had trabeculectomy (TE, 21 eyes) or Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation (AGV, 11 eyes). Inflammatory activity and use of anti-inflammatory medication were evaluated 1 year prior to surgery and in the first, third, and fifth years after surgery.

Influence of optic disc leakage on objective optic nerve head assessment in patients with uveitis.

Purpose: Secondary glaucoma is a common complication in patients with uveitis. Heidelberg Retina Tomography (HRT) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness on optical coherence tomography (OCT) are widely used for examining optic nerve head changes. We evaluated these parameters in patients with uveitis and secondary glaucoma and with inflammatory papillary leakage on fluorescein angiography.

Laparoscopic splenectomy for medically refractory immune thrombocytopenia (ITP): a retrospective cohort study on longtime response predicting factors based on consensus criteria.

Background: Laparoscopic splenectomy has been proposed to be the standard therapy for adult patients with medically refractory immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). However, due to inconsistent definitions of response, variable rates of long term response have been reported. Furthermore, new medical treatment options are currently challenging the role of splenectomy.

Size does matter--age-related weight estimation in "tall n' thin" and "tiny n' thick" children and a new habitus-adapted alternative to the EPLS-formula.

Aim Of The Study: Weight in kilograms is a required parameter in the emergency medical care of children. In emergent situations, obtaining an accurate weight is often not possible. In such situations, weight can be estimated by using an age-dependent formula such as the EPLS-formula (age in years+4)×2.

Optimizing the bioavailability of small molecular optical imaging probes by conjugation to an albumin affinity tag.

Small molecular imaging probes are often found to be rapidly cleared from the circulation. In order to improve signal to noise ratio (SNR) by high probe accumulation in the target tissue we intended to prolong the presence of the probes in the circulation by exploiting inherent transport mechanisms. Human serum albumin (HSA) is playing an increasingly important role as a drug carrier in clinical settings and drugs directly bound to albumin or attached to albumin binding moieties have been successfully developed for treatment approaches.

Intermediate uveitis in children and young adults: differences in clinical course, associations and visual outcome.

Aim: Intermediate uveitis (IU) is considered to carry a considerable risk for complications and visual loss. This study compares juvenile and adult onset IU with regard to visual loss and complications.

Methods: Single-centre retrospective analysis of 110 consecutive children with onset of IU at the age of ≤16 years compared with 107 consecutive adult patients (17-35 years).