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C Erb

Publications and source records attributed to C Erb.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

[Threshold-oriented suprathreshold perimetry and threshold value perimetry with the Tübigen CC Automated Perimeter. A comparative study].

BACKGROUND: We compared the standard suprathreshold strategy to the so-called threshold splitting strategy with 5 and 2 dB steps. The aim of the study was to establish whether the threshold splitting strategy had advantages over the suprathreshold strategy that has been used to date. METHOD: We examined the 30 degrees visual field in 49 volunteers using suprathreshold perimetry and on the same day threshold splitting perimetry on the Tübinger Automatic Perimeter CC. A total of 191 test points were examined in suprathreshold strategy. Using the threshold splitting strategy, 67 test points were examined, with a test-point design similar to other perimeters with the threshold splitting strategy. The criteria for inclusion in the study were central light sensitivity differences greater than 25 dB, fixation better than 80% and an illumination class density < 2. RESULTS/DISCUSSION: The average duration of the examination using the suprathreshold strategy was 2-3 min quicker than the threshold splitting strategy in normal visual fields or small scotomas, but it took up to 15 min longer if large scotomas were presents. Interpretation of the scotoma configuration showed subjective differences: the smaller the scotoma, the greater the differences because of the fact that threshold splitting perimetry utilizes test points that are farther apart than those used in suprathreshold perimetry.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Argon laser therapy of benign tumors of the eyelid.

PURPOSE: To report the therapy of benign eyelid tumors with an argon laser as an alternative to surgery. METHODS: Forty-one patients with 47 benign tumors of the eyelid were included in this study. In all patients, the eyelid tumor was eliminated by argon laser. In 24 cases the lower eyelid and in 23 cases the upper eyelid was involved, including the lid margin in 17 cases. Laser spot size ranged from 150 to 500 microm. Argon laser power density varied between 4.1 and 61.1 W/mm2. Spots were counted between 40 and 1204. Twenty-seven of 41 patients treated were followed up; the mean follow-up period was 5.8 months (range, 3 to 24 months). Postoperatively, histologic confirmation was obtained in 42 cases of the 47 treated tumors. RESULTS: All patients were satisfied regarding the laser therapy and the cosmetic result. Remarkably, the wounds were dry after argon laser therapy. No infections of the wounds occurred; wounds were epithelialized after 2 to 3 weeks by a normal-appearing epithelium. The area of argon laser treatment was less pigmented than the surrounding skin and showed no obvious remarkable notches. As a complication, one patient developed a viral conjunctivitis. No relapses occurred during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Argon laser therapy of benign eyelid tumors may result in very satisfactory wound healing. Taking the short follow-up and the limited number of cases into account, it seems to be a useful alternative to traditional surgery, especially for tumors positioned close to the lacrimal papillae.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Colour vision in normal subjects tested by the colour arrangement test 'Roth 28-hue desaturated'.

The aim of the study was to obtain normal values for the colour-arrangement test, Roth 28-hue desaturated. In 146 healthy non-smokers colour vision was tested monocularly. The subjects were divided into four age groups: 0-19, 20-39, 40-59, and 60-79 years. The overall error score for all groups was 54 +/- 24 (median +/- mean absolute deviation). The values for the 20-39 year group were significantly lower than those for the other groups (Kruskal-Wallis: P < 0.0001 with subsequent multiple Mann-Whitney test). An increasing predominance of errors along the blue-yellow-axis was observed with increasing age. The error scores of normal subjects tested by the Roth 28-hue desaturated were comparable with those on the well-known Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue (FM-100). Because the Roth 28-hue desaturated is shorter and simpler to administer, it is an alternative to the FM-100 in situations that need to assess colour discrimination and error axis quantitatively and quickly.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Latanoprost--a new prostaglandin F2 alpha analog in therapy of glaucoma--an overview].

An ideal glaucoma drug reduces intraocular pressure profoundly and long-lastingly without known major side effects. Latanoprost, a new prostaglandin F2 alpha-analogue, indeed has these properties. However, we need long-term experience to exclude major, clinically relevant side effects. The influence of latanoprost on ocular circulation also needs further evaluation. Nevertheless, the clinician does have a new and very potent drug to reduce intraocular pressure. Literature search by Medline.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[Effect of mental and physical stress on intraocular pressure--a pilot study].

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of phasic stressors on intraocular pressure (IOP). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We exposed 15 ophthalmologically and systemically healthy non-smoking subjects (m:f = 8:7; mean age 25.4 years) to both bicycle ergometry physical stress and a computer-game psychological stress. IOP, blood pressure, and subjective stress were measured. To adjust for between-subject variance, we calculated intra-subject z-scores based on IOP values. Because of the habituation occurring during repeated tonometric measurements, we tested the significance of the difference between the observed and expected IOP z-values for each of the stressors. The expected IOP value was the mean of the pre- and post-stress relaxation-period values. Student's t-tests were used to assess the impact of the stressors on blood pressure. RESULTS: Both stressors increased the systolic blood pressure, but only under mental stress was the intraocular-pressure increase statistically significant (p = 0.048). DISCUSSION: The selective increase in intraocular pressure during mental stress by similar reaction of blood pressure to both stressors is a hint for possible different regulation circuits in the autonomic nerve system for intraocular- and blood pressure, respectively. Additionally, it was possible to demonstrate that mental stress could lead to a rise in intraocular pressure.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

The psychology of the glaucoma patient.

Under physiological conditions, intraocular pressure (IOP) is controlled by the autonomic and central nervous systems. Correspondingly, nerve fibers and neurotransmitters are present in ciliary body and trabecular meshwork. IOP responds to physical as well as psychological stimuli in healthy individuals. In patients with dysregulated IOP, e.g., in those with primary open-angle glaucoma, emotional instability without a specific personality pattern could be found. Whereas the statistical association between emotional changes and glaucoma is obvious, the causal relationship remains to be clarified. It is at least plausible that psychic stress may have an influence on IOP. However, the sequence of the events is unknown (emotional disturbance can be the result of the disease or it can be a primary sign of a nervous dysfunction). Therefore, it seems meaningful--in addition to standard glaucoma therapy--to try to improve the patient's emotional condition, both for treatment of the glaucoma and for the patient's general quality of life.

Exercise↗
PubMed1997

Modulation of hippocampal acetylcholine release after fimbria-fornix lesions and septal transplantation in rats.

Female Long-Evans rats sustained electrolytic lesions of the fimbria and the dorsal fornix causing a partial lesion of the septohippocampal pathway. Two weeks later, the rats received intra-hippocampal grafts of fetal septal cell suspensions. Nine to twelve months later, the release of acetylcholine (ACh) in the hippocampus of sham-operated, lesion-only and grafted rats was measured by microdialysis. The extent of cholinergic (re)innervation was determined by acetylcholinesterase (AChE) staining and densitometry. In both lesion-only and grafted rats, the ratio of ACh release to AChE staining intensity was increased as compared to sham-operated rats, indicating a loss of endogenous inhibitory mechanisms. Scopolamine (0.5 mg/kg i.p.), a muscarinic antagonist, increased ACh release in all treatment groups. 8-OH-DPAT (0.5 mg/kg s.c.), an agonist at serotonergic 5HT1A-receptors, induced an increase of hippocampal ACh release in sham-operated rats. This effect was lost in lesion-only rats, but was fully restored by neuronal grafting. As 8-OH-DPAT influences hippocampal ACh release by a postsynaptic action, this finding indicates that the host brain exerts a serotonergic influence on the grafted cholinergic neurons.

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin↗
PubMed1997

Action mechanism of retinoid-synergistic dibenzodiazepines.

4-[5H-2,3-(2,5-Dimethyl-2,5-hexano)-5-methyldibenzo[b,e][1,4 ]diazepin-11-yl]benzoic acid (HX600), as well as its oxa- (HX620) and thia- (HX630) analogs, enhanced the activity of retinoic acid and a receptor alpha (RAR alpha)-selective agonist Am80 in HL-60 cell differentiation assays. HX600 synergizes with Am80 by binding to, and transactivating through, the RXR subunit of the RXR-RAR heterodimer. HX600 exhibited RXR pan-agonist activity in transient transfections with a DR1-based reporter gene and synergized with RA-bound RAR alpha and RAR beta in inducing transcription from a DR5-based reporter. In addition, all three compounds at high concentrations acted as RAR pan-antagonists in stably transfected RAR "reporter cells." These efficient synergists bind only weakly with RXRs in vitro, suggesting that they are RXR-RAR heterodimer-selective activators. These HX retinoids exhibited dual functionality, since they affected signalling through both retinoid receptor families (RARs and RXRs).

Benzoates↗
PubMed1997

[Autoantibody pattern in scleritis and episcleritis].

BACKGROUND: Episcleritis and scleritis can be caused by various systemic disorders, which can be triggered by infectious diseases. We studied the autoantibody pattern against various organ-specific and non-organ-specific antigens in episcleritis and scleritis patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sera from 46 patients (episcleritis n = 28, scleritis n = 18) were studied for antibodies against nuclei, smooth muscle cells, mitochondria, endothelial cells, sarcolemma, liver cells, heart muscle fibrils, parietal cells and thyroid cells by immunofluorescence testing. Titers of antibodies against thyroglobulin, laminin, keratin and microsomes were evaluated by ELISA. RESULTS: In patients with episcleritis the pattern of autoantibodies found was different from that in scleritis patients. Thus, in episcleritis the levels of antibodies against sarcolemma (32%), parietal cells (25%), laminin (38%), keratin (58%) and microsomes (28%) were elevated, while scleritis patients, besides keratin antibodies (50%), demonstrated anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) in 28% of cases. These differences were not significant. Approximately 5% of normal control patients show these antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: Previous studies have shown that episcleritis rarely develops into scleritis. Our results suggest that this may be due to different underlying diseases. While 28% of scleritis patients had ANA, which may suggest an autoimmune disposition related to collagenosis, episcleritis patients had a different autoantibody pattern such as has been found in various infectious diseases and diseases for which triggering by infectious organisms seems possible, such as anterior uveitis, ankylosing spondylitis and Behçet disease. Investigations in larger groups of patients are needed to check the statistical significance of these differences.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Pericorneal vascular changes as an expression of systemic vascular processes].

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the extent of morphological changes of the perilimbal vessels of the conjunctiva in patients with general vascular disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: With a questionnaire systemic vessel diseases were investigated in 285 patients (m:f = 145:140; mean age = 54 +/- 19 years) with pericorneal vessel alterations. Persons without any morphological alteration of the perilimbal vessels served as control group (n = 58; m:w = 44:14; mean age 26 +/- 13 years). RESULTS: In the patient group we found the following pericorneal vessel alterations: vessel ectasia in 79%, vessel aneurysm in 41%, vessel interruptions in 37% and avascular regions in 12%. The distribution of the three most frequent systemic vascular processes in the patient/control group was: peripheral vascular spasm (cold hands and/or feet) in 57%/19%, migraine in 39%/14% and arterial hypertension in 33%/3%. CONCLUSION: Alterations in perilimbal vessels seem to be correlated with systemic vascular disorders. In case of perilimbal vascular anomalies an internal medical examination should be considered.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease via a corneal transplant.

A 45 year old woman is reported who initially presented with a cerebellar syndrome, severe ataxia, and dysarthria. She rapidly deteriorated to coma vigile with bilateral myoclonic jerks, flexion rigidity, and immobility necessitating complete nursing. Her EEG showed generalised slow activity and periodic biphasic and triphasic waves. The CSF concentration of neuron specific enolase was very high. Consequently the diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease was established. Eight months later she died of respiratory complications. Thirty years earlier the patient had undergone corneal transplantation for keratoconus. Review of the organ donor's hospital records showed that death was caused by intercurrent pneumonia subsequent to subacute spongiform encephalopathy confirmed by necropsy. In view of two previous case reports in the literature it is presumed that the cadaveric cornea was the source of transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in this patient.

Corneal Transplantation↗
PubMed1997

Acetylcholine release and choline availability in rat hippocampus: effects of exogenous choline and nicotinamide.

The influence of choline availability on acetylcholine (ACh) release in the hippocampus of the awake rat was investigated using the microdialysis procedure. Three treatments enhancing choline availability for basal and atropine-evoked ACh release were evaluated: acute administration of choline chloride (20 mg/kg i.p.); pretreatment of animals with nicotinamide (10 mmol/kg s.c.) 2 hr before atropine injection and dietary choline supplementation (5-fold increase of choline intake for 15-18 days). Although acute choline administration led to a short-lasting (15 min) increase of basal choline efflux by 25% and nicotinamide caused a long-lasting (5 hr) increase by 105%, neither one affected basal ACh release. However, basal release of choline (1.38 pmol/min) and of ACh (114 fmol/min) in the hippocampus was slightly increased in choline-supplemented animals (choline: 1.92 pmol/min; ACh: 140 fmol/min). In untreated animals, atropine administration caused a 3-fold increase of ACh efflux that lasted approximately 2.5 hr. All treatments, acute or chronic choline and nicotinamide, led to significant increases of the maximum and duration of atropine-evoked ACh release. Total atropine-evoked ACh efflux (area under the curve) was increased 2- to 3-fold, with the largest effect evoked by the combination of nicotinamide and choline. The results clearly demonstrate that, under stimulated conditions, hippocampal ACh release could be facilitated when the availability of choline for ACh synthesis was enhanced by dietary or pharmacological means. Under certain conditions, significant effects of increased choline availability on ACh release can be revealed in the absence of an overall increase of extracellular choline.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1996

[Psychosomatic aspects of patients with primary keratoconjunctivitis sicca].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the extent of psychosomatical complaints in patients with primary keratoconjunctivitis sicca (pKCS). METHODS: 20 patients (m:f = 1.19; mean age 49 +/- 7 years) with pKCS were rated according to the von Zerssen Symptom List (psychosomatical discomfort), the Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI)-N (emotional status) and -E (extroverted-introverted) and to Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). 54 subjects (m:f = 35:17; mean age 46 +/- 17 years) without any ocular or general chronic disease were used as control group. RESULTS: In comparison to the control group the patients with pKCS showed significantly (p < 0.0001) more complaints (von Zerssen Symptom List), were more (p < 0.0001) emotionally unstable (MPI-N) and more (p < 0.0001) depressive (BDI). No group differences were found regarding extroversion-introversion (MPI-E). CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that many patients with pKCS showed psychological problems and disturbances. We therefore recommend an additional psychological treatment (e.g. autogenic training) for these patients to stabilize their emotional condition, which may even have a positive effect on their dry eye problems.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Iatrogenic laryngotracheal stenosis. A follow-up of 20 recent cases].

The aim of this study was to analyse the follow-up of patients with a history of endotracheal intubation and/or tracheotomy because of respiratory distress, surgical necessity or long-term resuscitation. Twenty adults were followed up in a ENT facility for laryngeal or tracheal stenosis, of which 7 cases were diagnosed during 1994. This study shows that, in patients with a history of intubation, or intubation followed by tracheotomy, the stenosis developed within two months after resuscitation with a favourable outcome. After tracheotomy only, the stenosis developed later (2 months or more) with more recurrences. The diagnosis of stenosis was made on gradual or acute dyspnea. While respiratory resuscitation methods are essential and often life-saving, they are not without complications. Laryngeal and tracheal stenosis could be largely prevented by more careful techniques of endotracheal intubation and tracheotomy. Periodic endoscopic airway surveillance is useful to detect stenosis even when there is no clinical symptom.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitors in the treatment of glaucoma].

Systemically administered carbonic anhydrase inhibitors have been in clinical use since the 1950's. Their use and side effects have been reviewed extensively. Our review summarizes the development of topically administered carbonic anhydrase inhibitors in patients with glaucoma. Moreover, it documents clinical trials leading to the present choice of dorzolamide (MK-507), which is now being reviewed for worldwide approval for marketing by 1995.

Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors↗
PubMed1996

[Age-adjusted normal values with the Tübingen Automatic Perimeter TAP 2000 CC].

BACKGROUND: Evaluation of perimetric results requires a comparison with age-corrected values for the assessment of discrete light sensitivity changes. This is especially true in recording incipient glaucomatous visual field defects. The aim of the present study was to establish age-corrected normal values with the Tübingen Automatic Perimeter. METHOD: A test group (n = 85) of ophthalmologically and clinically unremarkable subjects 18-70 years of age was examined. The criteria for exclusion from the study were glaucoma or hereditary eye disease in an immediate family relative, diabetes mellitus, unstable or manifest hypertonia, multiple sclerosis, convulsive disorders, a previous stroke, or the use of psychoactive drugs. A brief introductory program was used to familiarize the test person, together with a threshold program for values in the central visual field. In addition, the peripheral visual field was examined. The threshold-splitting program of the Tübingen Automatic Perimeter 2000cc was used for examinations. RESULTS/DISCUSSION. Age-related normal values were calculated both as regression lines and group averages by statistical analysis of the resulted data. Surprisingly, the decrease found in people 20-70 years of age was in the center with 0.5 dB clearly smaller than at the periphery with 4-6.5 dB. Details of the evaluation are described.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Ophthalmologic findings in patients with sudden deafness].

UNLABELLED: The etiology of sudden hearing loss is still not known. Among other pathomechanisms, vascular disorders have been proposed as an underlying cause. We investigated patients with sudden hearing loss for signs of microcirculation disorders. PATIENTS: Thirty-one patients (15 males and 16 females, mean age 37.5 years) were admitted because of sudden hearing loss. In addition, all patients underwent thorough ophthalmologic examination. RESULTS: Refraction, vision, intraocular pressure and excavation of the optic nerve were normal. In 81% of all cases abnormal conjunctival vascular ectasia were detected. The fundus of 53% of the patients was characterized by slight tortuosity of arterial retinal vessels. The first 11 patients received an ocular electrophysiological examination and showed normal ERG, P-VEP and dark adaptation. Standard perimetry (TAP 2000 ct) revealed no abnormalities in 29 patients, 2 glaucoma patients had small arcuate scotomas. However, 90% of all 29 scotoma-free patients were abnormal in the white-noise campimetry (TEC, Oculus). Testing for color vision (Roth 28 HUE, desat.) revealed abnormally high values (right 120, left 131). CONCLUSION: Although patients with sudden hearing loss appeared healthy in the standard eye examination, the more sensitive tests of white-noise campimetry and color vision, together with the conjunctival vascular ectasia and the tortuosity of arterial retinal vessels, indicated a disturbed microcirculation.

Adult↗