[Conspicuous papillomatous conjunctival and mucosal proliferation. Acanthosis nigricans maligna as paraneoplastic syndrome in urothelial carcinoma].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to G K Krieglstein.
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AIMS: To examine whether the early postoperative morphology at the site of sclerectomy, as visualised by ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM), is an indicator of the mechanisms that lower intraocular pressure (IOP) and/or predictors of the long term outcome of viscocanalostomy. METHODS: 15 eyes of 14 patients with medically uncontrolled open angle glaucoma and no history of surgery underwent viscocanalostomy according to Stegmann's technique. Ultrasound biomicroscopy was performed during the first month after surgery. The following parameters were assessed: dimensions of the intrascleral "lake," presence of a filtering bleb, presence of a subconjunctival cavity or a suprachoroidal hypoechoic area, and the thickness of the residual trabeculocorneal membrane. A complete ophthalmological examination was performed the day before and the day after surgery. Follow up visits were scheduled 1 week, 4 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: At 1 year successful control of IOP (<20 mm Hg) was achieved without further manipulation or medication in six of 15 eyes. The size of the intrascleral "lake" (average 0.62 mm(3)) did not correlate with later IOP; however, a visible route under the scleral flap and accidental perforation of the trabeculocorneal membrane were associated with long term lowering of IOP. Normal thickness of the trabeculocorneal membrane (0.10-0.15 mm) was indicative of IOP control with and without medication. When UBM showed an early collapse of the intrascleral cavity, control of IOP was not achieved. Other UBM findings did not predict long term function. CONCLUSION: In accordance with previous studies, the authors found that UBM examination is a useful method to evaluate outflow mechanisms after glaucoma surgery. This study shows that UBM imaging of external filtration during the early postoperative period can be used to predict the success of viscocanalostomy. However, to establish conclusively what parameters of UBM predict successful viscocanalostomy a larger number of patients must be studied.
BACKGROUND: Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is still one of the major complications following modern cataract surgery. Several attempts have been made to find an appropriate therapeutic concept to significantly lower the rate of PCO. Here, we wanted to focus on the antimetabolic strategy, reducing PCO by using mitomycin C, further characterizing the pathway of apoptosis in human lens epithelial cells (hLECs). METHODS: Human lens epithelial cells were obtained from anterior lens capsules during cataract surgery. The expression of Fas, TRAMP, TRAIL-R1-R4, Apo-3L and TRAIL mRNA was investigated by means of RT-PCR using specific primers. For investigations on bcl-2, bax, p53 and the active form of caspase 3, cell cultures of hLECs were pretreated with mitomycin C and processed for immunocytochemistry thereafter. RESULTS: We detected the expression of the receptors Fas, TRAMP, TRAIL-R2 and TRAIL-R3 in hLECs. We further obtained evidence of the upregulation of the intracellular apoptotic signalling cascade, represented by bcl-2 and bax, the transcription factor p53 and the active form of caspase 3, after pretreatment with mitomycin C. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated the presence of the apoptosis-receptor system in hLECs. Furthermore, we demonstrated the possibility of the induction of key proteins of the apoptotic signalling cascade in these cells by the antimetabolic drug mitomycin C. This could have important implications on the strategies regarding both the prevention and the treatment of PCO after cataract surgery.
PURPOSE: To determine the course of the intraocular pressure in eyes in which cataract surgery was performed after trabeculectomy. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of consecutive patients who were scheduled for routine cataract surgery. The patients had previously undergone glaucoma filtering surgery. Pre- and postoperative data were evaluated. Both the status of glaucoma and the increase in visual acuity were monitored. RESULTS: Patients operated on over a six-year period were enrolled. The mean interval between glaucoma surgery and cataract surgery was 58.1 months. The mean duration of follow-up after cataract surgery was 31.4 months, with a minimum of 12 months. The mean central visual acuity increased by 4 lines. Before cataract surgery, 53% of the eyes had complete success (group 1), while 28% had qualified success (group 2) and the remaining 19% were failures (group 3). From group 1, 61% remained a complete success until the last visit. No eye of group 1 developed a failure. In group 2, 23% were a complete success at the final follow-up, while 4% failed. In group 3, only 35% were failures while the remaining 65% were a complete or qualified success. CONCLUSIONS: Eyes with a well-controlled intraocular pressure following trabeculectomy seem to have a favorable prognosis after subsequent cataract surgery. Eyes with qualified success or failure before cataract surgery have a slight chance of improvement in intraocular pressure control. Cataract surgery had no markedly negative effect on the intraocular pressure overall. Performing trabeculectomy and cataract surgery at different times may still be a feasible option as opposed to combined procedures.
Two patients, both with bilateral uveitis, had synechiolysis, continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC), phacoemulsification, and in-the-bag implantation of a foldable single-piece plate-haptic silicone intraocular lens (IOL) in 1 eye. Several weeks postoperatively, massive anterior capsule shrinkage with obstruction of the visual axis occurred in both patients. Surgical revision was performed in both eyes. Both patients had CCC and phacoemulsification and confirmed in-the-bag acrylic IOL implantation in the second eye months after surgery in the first eye. Follow-up examinations showed no significant shrinkage of the anterior capsule opening in any eye. In patients with uveitis, intraoperative lens epithelial cell removal, creation of a large CCC, and careful selection of IOL style and material may prevent occlusion of the anterior capsule opening.
BACKGROUND: Non-perforating glaucoma surgery preserves the integrity of the trabecular meshwork in order to avoid postoperative hypotony. The purpose of our study was to investigate whether the morphologic variability of the excised deep scleral flap influences the postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) after viscocanalostomy. METHODS: Light-microscopy of the deep scleral flap was performed in 17 patients who had undergone viscocanalstomy. Morphologic parameters (thickness and dissection level of the deep scleral flap) were correlated with the postoperative IOP. RESULTS: The mean thickness of the deep scleral flap was 309 +/- 95 microns; the dissection level was too deep in 5 cases (trabecular tissue excised) and too high in 6 cases (no signs of Schlemm's canal). The max. preop. IOP was 36.2 +/- 8.5 mmHg and came down to 10.6 +/- 5.7 mmHg at day 1 postop. and 12.4 +/- 4.9 mmHg at day 3/4 postop. At a median follow-up of 6 months IOP was 21.7 +/- 5.5 mmHg. A significant correlation between postop. IOP and the morphology of the deep scleral flap could not be demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: Variations of the thickness and depth of the deep scleral flap showed little influence on the initial IOP level following viscocanalostomy. Other factors, f.e. the suturing of the external flap or invisible microruptures of the trabecular meshwork, could be of importance for the early postoperative IOP.
BACKGROUND: Acanthamoeba keratitis is a severe, painful corneal infection found in contact lens wearers. The entity can easily be confused with herpetic or fungal keratitis, especially if no ocular pain is reported. HISTORY AND SIGNS: A 32-year old myopic female presented a unilateral keratitis of unknown etiology since 3 weeks. Administration of topical antiviral substances and corticosteroids led only to temporary improvement of the condition. The patient complained of photophobia but not of ocular pain. The affected eye showed corneal edema, central stromal thickening, descemet's striae as well as fibrin deposits on the corneal endothelium and in the anterior chamber. DIAGNOSIS: An aqueous specimen was negative for a viral infection. A culture for bacteria was negative. Staphylococci were cultured from corneal scrapings and Enterococci from the contact lens solution. Another corneal scraping revealed Acanthamoeba class II (6 weeks after the onset of symptoms). CLINICAL COURSE: Under treatment with propamidine, polymyxin b, neomycin, gramicidin and polyhexidine (topical) as well as fluconazole/ketoconazole (systemic) the diameter of the annular infiltrate, which had developed decreased, but the infiltrate persisted. In the further course, the infiltrate persisted while the amount of fibrin in the anterior chamber increased. Penetrating keratoplasty was performed. Histologic examination of the host corneal tissue revealed massive infiltration with Acanthamoeba. CONCLUSIONS: Severe pain and history of wearing contact lenses are features suggestive of Acanthamoeba keratitis. The patient presented here had a history of contact lens wear, but no ocular pain was reported. The characteristic annular infiltrate had a late onset. Bacterial superinfection could not be ruled out. Therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty had to be performed as the condition deteriorated inspite of intensive chemotherapy. With penetrating keratoplasty a good visual acuity could be regained.
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PURPOSE: Long-term medical treatment of glaucoma has an effect on the conjunctiva, possibly affecting the outcome of subsequent filtering surgery. The type and extent of these tissue changes caused by frequently used medications is important. An animal study using rabbits was performed to assess the tissue changes caused by timolol, latanoprost, and a combination of both substances. METHODS: Rabbits were treated with timolol, latanoprost, or a combination of these drugs for 18 months. Conjunctival specimens were examined by light microscopy, quantitative transmission electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry with antibodies against matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-2. RESULTS: By electron microscopy, the area of subepithelial collagen was significantly larger (P: < 0.03; Mann-Whitney test) in timolol-treated eyes (71.6%) than in control (52.7%) and latanoprost-treated eyes (57.7%). An increase of amorphous material was present in timolol-treated eyes (25.6% versus 7.6% in the controls) as well as a smaller area of empty spaces (2.5% versus 39.4% in control eyes). Latanoprost-treated eyes had no significant increase of empty spaces but showed a marked staining for MMP-3 in the conjunctiva. This staining was not present in control or timolol-treated eyes. Morphologically, degenerative changes of fibrocytes were seen in timolol-treated eyes only. CONCLUSIONS: A significant increase of subepithelial collagen density was present in timolol-treated eyes, whereas this finding was not apparent in latanoprost-treated eyes. Latanoprost-treated eyes showed an upregulation of MMP-3, which may be the reason for reduced extracellular matrix accumulation in such eyes. The morphologic feature of increased subepithelial collagen density and extracellular matrix changes may relate to failure of filtering blebs.
BACKGROUND: Persistent hypotony is a severe complication following trabeculectomy with intraoperative application of mitomycin. OBJECTIVE: To reduce this rate of hypotony by using a lower concentration of mitomycin and applying the mitomycin only topically to the filtering bleb following surgery. METHODS: Patients were enrolled on a consecutive basis and prospectively followed up. Standard trabeculectomies were performed and mitomycin applied postoperatively on the 3 days following surgery (group 1). For comparison, data from previous studies were used for control eyes with intraoperative mitomycin application (group 2) and no mitomycin application (group 3). Preoperative and postoperative data, complications, and the need for further surgical procedures were evaluated. RESULTS: The study group (group 1) consisted of 22 cases. The mean follow-up was 13.4 and 13.5 months for groups 1 and 2, respectively. Average intraocular pressure values decreased from 33. 6 and 31.0 mm Hg (P =.32; t test) to 16.0 and 12.5 mm Hg in the 2 groups (P =.03; t test). The average number of medications decreased from 2.5 and 2.5 to 0.6 and 0.4 (P =.35; t test) in groups 1 and 2, respectively, at the last visit. Hypotony lasting for more than 3 months occurred only in eyes with intraoperative mitomycin application (14/22). Choroidal detachment (3/22) and hypotony maculopathy (2/22) also were only noted in eyes from group 2. In group 3, success rates were much lower. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first clinical study, to our knowledge, to evaluate the efficacy of this new technique of mitomycin application. From the results, it appears that the postoperative application of mitomycin following trabeculectomy is associated with a lower risk of severe and long-standing hypotony. This technique may be promising in eyes at low risk for failure.
PURPOSE: Infrared pupillography was performed to investigate the effect of one week topical treatment with the prostaglandin analogue Latanoprost 0.005% on pupillary reflex to light stimuli in glaucomatous human eyes. METHODS: Infrared pupillography using the compact integrated pupillograph was performed in 20 glaucomatous eyes of 11 patients. After 10 minutes dark adaptation one pupil was stimulated with a blue, yellow and white diode light of 100 ms duration. Measurements of pupil diameter, constriction latency, constriction amplitude and relative constriction amplitude were taken twice for each light source in a time interval of 15 seconds. After a 2 week wash-out period the measurements were performed from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. before and one week after topical treatment with Latanoprost 0.005% applied as single dose once in the evening. RESULTS: The measurements after 1 week treatment with Latanoprost showed a significantly smaller pupil diameter for blue (p = 0.044) and white stimulus (p = 0.039) and the latency was significantly reduced (p = 0.029) as well. CONCLUSIONS: Although the statistical analysis shows some small significant differences in pupil diameter and constriction latency there were no clinical signs of changes in pupillary response due to Latanoprost. The system turned out as easy to use and showed reliable measurements during the study. How far latanoprost may lead to miosis and a decrease of constriction latency has to be investigated in further studies with larger study populations. Other topics concerning drug influence, diurnal rhythm and glaucomatous damage in pupillary light reaction will be investigated in the near future.
OBJECTIVE: This study was set up to establish the relative safety and effectiveness of trabecular aspiration in combination with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation (phacoaspiration) for decreasing intraocular pressure (IOP), and to compare the outcome of this method of treatment with that of standard filtering glaucoma triple procedure (phaco-trab). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized study. PARTICIPANTS: The study consisted of 40 eyes of 40 patients with uncontrolled exfoliation glaucoma without a history of previous intra- or extraocular surgery and in need of cataract surgery. INTERVENTION: Temporal clear corneal phacoemulsification and foldable IOL implantation was performed in all eyes. In the phaco-aspiration group, trabecular aspiration was performed with a suction force of 100-200 mmHg under light tissue-instrument contact using a modified intraocular aspiration probe. A modified Cairns-type trabeculectomy without adjunctive antimetabolites was performed superiorly in the phaco-trab eyes after IOL implantation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The surgical outcome was assessed in terms of IOP change, need for adjunctive glaucoma medication, visual acuity outcome, and incidence of complications. RESULTS: At 1 year after combined surgery, mean (+/-SD) IOP and number of glaucoma medi- cation were 19.5+/-2.7 mmHg and 0.6+/-0.5 in the phaco-aspiration group, compared with 17.5+/-2.4 mmHg and 0.3+/-0.4 in the phaco-trab group. Hyphema (38%) and ocular hypotony (14%) were observed in the phaco-trab group only, whereas blood reflux (52%) and descemetolyses (23%) were seen exclusively in the phaco-aspiration group. CONCLUSION: In exfoliative eyes, trabecular aspiration in combination with phacoemulsification and IOL implantation is less effective in reducing postoperative IOP and number of glaucoma medications than the standard filtering glaucoma triple procedure. The risk profile, however, appears to be more favorable in the phaco-aspiration-treated eyes than in the phaco-trab group. Trabecular aspiration in glaucoma triple procedure could serve as a possible treatment of choice for exfoliative eyes with coexisting cataract and glaucoma.
BACKGROUND: Multidrug resistance (MDR) describes the phenomenon of cross-resistance between different cytostatic agents which are structurally and functionally dissimilar. Two recently discovered proteins, lung resistance protein (LRP) and the multidrug resistance-related protein (MRP) have been implicated in the development of MDR. Since resistance to chemotherapeutic agents is a common problem in filtration surgery, especially in cases of complicated glaucoma, we decided to investigate the presence of MRP and LRP in surgically removed Tenon specimens from glaucoma patients. METHODS: The presence of MRP and LRP in surgically removed Tenon tissue (n=15) was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The expression by cultured Tenon fibroblasts was assessed by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and fluorocytometry. RESULTS: LRP expression was detected in 8 of 10 Tenon specimens. Positive staining for MRP was obtained in 5 of 10 specimens. Negative controls with non-immune mouse IgG did not display any specific staining. RT-PCR and fluorocytometry revealed constitutive expression of MRP and LRP, at the RNA and protein level respectively, that was unaltered by pretreatment of the cells with mitomycin C or 5-fluorouracil. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate, that besides P-glycoprotein, other components of the MDR-system are present in conjunctival fibroblasts. Future developments in the use of chemotherapeutic agents in association with of filtration surgery need to take account of the presence of these counteracting mechanisms.
BACKGROUND: Ganciclovir, administered systemically or intraocularly, is effective in controlling cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in immunocompromised patients. The efficacy of therapy with this antiviral substance was investigated in an immunocompetent patient with CMV uveitis causing secondary glaucoma. METHODS: To identify the presence of an intraocular viral infection, anterior chamber taps to detect the intraocular synthesis of IgG antibodies and PCR testing were carried out. Clinically, the degree of intraocular inflammation and the intraocular pressure (IOP) values were monitored. During this time, the patient was treated systemically with ganciclovir administered orally and intravenously. RESULTS: The intraocular synthesis of IgG antibodies specific for CMV was found in two samples of aqueous humor, but negative for other viruses. PCR testing was negative for HSV, VZV and CMV at each time. During this time, the patient was treated systemically with ganciclovir administered either intravenously or orally. As a response to therapy with ganciclovir, the elevated IOP values decreased to normal and the intraocular inflammation declined. After cessation of ganciclovir administration, the inflammation and secondary glaucoma recurred. CONCLUSION: In this case of anterior uveitis presumably caused by CMV inducing secondary glaucoma, treatment with ganciclovir led to a decrease of the inflammation and normalization of IOP. It appears that continuous administration may be required to control the infection in an immunocompetent patient.
BACKGROUND: Deep sclerectomy and similar procedures including a deroofing of Schlemm's canal are meeting with increasing interest owing to the limited risk profile of non-perforating glaucoma surgery. The aim of our study was to investigate how often the outer wall of Schlemm's canal or parts of the trabecular meshwork were incorporated in the excised tissue on deep scleral flap dissection by an experienced glaucoma surgeon. METHODS: The excised deep scleral flap was prepared for light microscopy after performing deep sclerectomy in 7 children and 22 adult patients suffering from glaucoma. Meridional serial sections were checked for the presence of fragments of trabecular beams and collector channels and parts of the endothelial wall of Schlemm's canal. Morphology was compared with the intraoperative appearance of the operated tissue. RESULTS: In 15 patients (52%) the deep scleral flap contained at least some tissue from the outer wall of Schlemm's canal; in 5 of these 15 patients noticeable remnants of the juxtacanalicular trabecular meshwork were also found, although only in one patient was this obvious during surgery. In 14 patients (48%) no evidence of the deroofing of Schlemm's canal was found within the excised deep scleral flap, although intraoperatively the dissection seemed to have been too superficial in only 5 patients. CONCLUSION: Even when performed by an experienced glaucoma surgeon, deep sclerectomy produces biopsy material of remarkable morphological variability that does not always correspond to the intraoperative appearance of the site of operation. More than in conventional trabeculectomy this variability may be of importance for the outcome of surgery.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to demonstrate specific morphologic patterns in congenital glaucoma after various surgical procedures by means of ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) and to investigate correlations between UBM morphology and the effectiveness of glaucoma surgery in reducing intraocular pressure. DESIGN: Observational case series. PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Thirty four eyes of 18 consecutive patients, not older than 18 years, with congenital glaucoma and with a history of previous antiglaucomatous surgery underwent UBM examination of the anterior chamber angle in the treatment area and in an untreated region. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The morphology of the anterior chamber angle region and the tissue reflectivity were analyzed. RESULTS: Specific UBM patterns of the anterior chamber angle in congenital glaucoma were observed after goniotomy, trabeculotomy, trabeculectomy, deep sclerectomy, and cyclodialysis. In the first months after surgery, a limited correlation was found between morphology and the success of filtering surgery. Adhesions of the iris or the ciliary processes to the trabeculectomy cleft were detected in 19 of 25 eyes after filtering procedures. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of cloudy cornea and unknown previous glaucoma surgery, UBM can be used to identify the type and localization of previous surgery in congenital glaucoma, thus assisting surgical planning for subsequent glaucoma management. The correlation between UBM morphology and the effectiveness of filtering surgery is less convincing than previously demonstrated in adults, possibly underlining the importance of individual nonsurgical factors for prognosis in congenital glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE: Recently, we described a new form of nonfiltering glaucoma surgery-trabecular aspiration-designed to increase trabecular outflow in pseudoexfoliation glaucoma. This study was carried out to investigate whether trabecular aspiration is equally safe and effective in the treatment of pigment dispersion syndrome (PDS) and pigmentary glaucoma (PG). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, nonrandomized comparative trial with historical control. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty eyes of 20 patients with medically uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP) caused by PDS or PG were treated by trabecular aspiration. INTERVENTION: Trabecular pigment particles were cleared with a pressure of 100 to 200 mmHg using a specially designed aspiration probe. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The IOP and number of medications before and after surgery were measured. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were analyzed. Surgical success was defined as IOP < or = 21 mmHg with no more than one topical medication. Results were compared with those previously reported with similar treatment of pseudoexfoliative glaucoma. RESULTS: Mean pretreatment IOP averaged 27.0 (standard deviation [SD], 3.3) mmHg and was significantly reduced to 23.7 (SD, 3.9) mmHg at last follow-up (20.1 +/- 8.6 months). However, the cumulative life-table success rates were only 42% and 15% at 3 and 12 months, respectively. Considering both groups separately, the success rates in the PDS group were 63% and 18% at 3 and 12 months compared with a success rate of 12% in the PG group as early as 1 month after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Eyes with PDS responded better to trabecular aspiration than do those with PG, indicating that PDS and PG are two successive stages of the same disease process. Altogether, trabecular aspiration failed to achieve long-term pressure control in either of the two groups.