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Biomedical subjects

R Augsten

Publications and source records attributed to R Augsten.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Selenium and cataract--risk factor or useful dietary supplement?].

BACKGROUND: The exact role of selenium in cataract development is still unclear. Both protective and toxic effects and mechanisms have been postulated in the past. Accordingly, the selenium contents in human lenses and blood sera in different forms of cataract were investigated. METHODS: 123 patients (76 female and 37 male) with a mean age of 69.8 years (range: 17 to 91 years) were enrolled in this study. Overall, 84 lenses (after ECCE) and 110 blood serum samples were investigated by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Interpretation of data was accompanied by exact preoperative investigations including Scheimpflug techniques. RESULTS: A significant increase of selenium content of the lenses was found with increasing lens opacification and colouration. Lenses with a mature cataract showed the highest selenium contents in the lens compared to other cataract forms. Opposite results were detected in blood serum. Lenses of diabetics showed already at a younger age changes in selenium content. Smokers showed both decreased selenium contents in the lens and decreased selenium concentration in blood serum. CONCLUSIONS: An obvious correlation between the type of cataract and selenium content of the lens seems to exist. The question by which mechanism selenium acts directly or by selenium-dependent enzymes acts lens opacification remains speculative up to now.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

[Histological and immunohistological investigations in human epiretinal membranes].

BACKGROUND: The exact mechanisms involved in the development of epiretinal membranes are still poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate human epiretinal membranes with the help of different histological and immunohistological methods in order to find new concepts for the development of these membranes. METHODS: 79 epiretinal membranes of patients (28 male, 51 female) undergoing a pars plana vitrectomy were included in this study. The mean age of the patients was 67.3 +/- 12.1 years. Preoperative diagnosis was diabetic retinopathy (n = 57), panuveitis (n = 4), PVR-ablatio (n = 16) and Coats disease (n = 2). All epiretinal membranes were histological and immunohistological investigated (aquaporin and with smooth muscle actin [SMA]). RESULTS: Within the investigated membranes very different cell and tissue structures were found. They varied from extracellular matrix-rich membranes to membranes with high cell density and proliferative activity (fibroblasts). In immunohistological studies highly differentiated vessel structures were identified (aquaporin-endothelial cells). A typical characterisation and comparison to clinical findings is demonstrated with the help of selected samples. CONCLUSIONS: Human epiretinal membranes vary in their histological structure according to their underlying disease. Histological and immunohistological investigations may help to characterise these membranes and to understand the complex origin mechanism of these structures. This provides the basis for further studies with potential antiangiogenic drugs.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

[Advanced glycation end products and pseudoexfoliation--correlation between clinical outcome and histological findings].

BACKGROUND: Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PXS) as a stress-induced microfibrillopathy often shows a prolonged postoperative course. Formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) might be also associated with an increased oxidative stress. This study investigated for the first time immunohistochemically lens capsules of PXS patients for the AGE carboxymethylysine (CML) and correlated the findings with the clinical outcome of the patients. METHODS: 55 patients (22 male, 33 female; mean age 73.9 +/- 14.1 years) with PXS and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXG) after cataract extraction were included. All lens capsules could be investigated immunohistochemically for the AGE CML. Both preoperative biometric data as well as intra- and postoperative courses were included in the investigations, followed by a correlation analysis of the immunohistochemical findings. RESULTS: 29 PXS and 26 PXG patients with a mean axial length of 23.1 +/- 1.1 mm were explored. Both groups showed a postoperative decrease of intraocular pressure and a moderate increase of visual acuity. Intraoperatively, 6 zonulolyses occurred and postoperatively 11 patients showed problems like increases of intraocular pressure. Immunohistochemically, CML could be detected in most of the epithelial cells of the lens capsules but only in a small part of the pseudoexfoliation (PEX) fibrils. A correlation between positive CML immunoreaction and the clinical course was not detectable. CONCLUSIONS: Cataract extraction in patients with PEX glaucoma shows different specialities and risks. The AGE CML was detectable in human lens capsules. A direct correlation between clinical course and immunohistochemical reaction of the PEX fibrils could not be found. Overall, CML seems not to be a valuable predictive factor for the clinical course in patients with PXS and PXG.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

[Surgical treatment of cyclodialysis].

PURPOSE: Cyclodialysis is a rare complication following blunt traumatic bulb injuries or surgical interventions. When treatment with cycloplegics or steroids is ineffective in attaching the ciliary body, cyclodialysis should be surgically treated. However, for reliable diagnosis and surgical therapy, an exact identification (size and extent) of the cyclodialysis cleft is imperative. Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) provides the appropriate information. CASE REPORT: Four patients (19 to 65 years old, mean 45 years) with a detached ciliary body are described. Three patients had suffered an injury, and one patient presented with a prior trabeculotomy. The diagnosis was established with UBM. The location of the cyclodialysis cleft ranged between 2 and 3 o'clock (mean 2.4 o'clock). In spite of an intense treatment with cycloplegics and steroids no reattachment of the cyclodialysis took place. Therefore, a surgical intervention was performed. The span between the injury and trabeculotomy, respectively, and the cyclodialysis operation ranged from 3 to 30 months (mean 12 months). On average, visual acuity was increased from 0.3 preoperatively to 0.6 postoperatively, and the intraocular pressure was 6 mm Hg before and 15 mm Hg after operation. Symptoms preoperatively found without exception (choroidal detachment, papilledema "e vacuo", macular edema) had a complete recovery after operation. CONCLUSION: In cases where drug therapies are unsuccessful in attaching the ciliary body, an operative fixation is recommended. UBM is a very useful tool for making an exact diagnosis and defining the location of cyclodialysis as well as for follow-up of surgical treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

[Listeria monocytogenes endophthalmitis].

PURPOSE: Listeria monocytogenes is a rare cause of endogenous endophthalmitis. Controversy exists concerning clinical progress and prognosis in this bacterial infection. However, only a few reports about the clinical features have been previously published in the literature. CASE REPORT: The case of a 24-year-old woman is reported. She developed an endogenous endophthalmitis within 3 weeks. The patient received a pars-plana vitrectomy showing Listeria monocytogenes in the vitreous body. An intensive antibiotic therapy was initiated (local, subconjunctival, intravitreal and systemic). Visual acuity was increased from hand motion to 0.5 by the end of the clinical attendance and to 1.0 three months later. There were no hints concerning systemic manifestation of listeriosis or granuloma formation. CONCLUSION: Frequently, endogenous endophthalmitis has a very poor prognosis. However, the presented case report describes a very prosperous progress of endogenous endophthalmitis caused by an infection with Listeria monocytogenes.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Prognosis of postoperative endophthalmitis].

BACKGROUND: The outcome of 20 patients is summarized in a retrospective study to identify clinical findings that influence the long-term prognosis of postoperative endophthalmitis. PATIENTS: Between 1991 and 1997 a total of 20 patients with postoperative endophthalmitis were admitted. Median age was 80 years (range: 9-95), 11 patients were male, 9 female. Sixteen pars-plana vitrectomies, 2 anterior vitrectomies and 2 rinsings of the anterior chamber without vitrectomy were performed. Furthermore, all patients received intraocular and systemic antibiotic treatment. For microbiological investigation, specimens from vitreous, anterior chamber and conjunctiva were sent in. Long-term outcome was controlled for an average of 14 months after treatment of the endophthalmitis (range: 4-36 months). RESULTS: At the end of treatment, 40% of patients had a visual acuity of 0.4 or better, 80% had 1/20 or better. Patients with a preoperative visual acuity of at least hand movement had a better postoperative visual outcome than patients with only light perception. Visual acuity was better in patients with chronic endophthalmitis than in patients with acute or subacute endophthalmitis. In patients with chronic or subacute endophthalmitis, improvement of visual acuity was found some months after the operation more often than in patients with acute endophthalmitis. However, in 40% of cases with an acute onset, no improvement or even worsening of the visual acuity was documented. Best postoperative results were found after infection with Staphylococcus epidermidis and Propionibacterium acnes. CONCLUSION: Important prognostic factors of postoperative endophthalmitis are visual acuity, the onset of the endophthalmitis (acute, subacute or chronic) and the microbiological findings. At the time of surgery and antibiotic treatment, visual acuity should be at least hand motion to expect an improvement in the visual outcome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Bilateral endogenous endophthalmitis].

BACKGROUND: The endogenous endophthalmitis is a septic-metastatic late complication of a generalized bacterial or fungal infection or an asymptomatic fungaemia. Aspergillus organisms are a rare cause of endophthalmitis. Aspergillus ocular manifestations have been mostly reported in connection with immunosuppression, severe diseases or drug abuse. PATIENT AND METHODS: A 51-year-old man underwent a kidney transplantation, an immunosuppressive therapy, and, in addition, treatments for some other generalized diseases. Endogenous endophthalmitis was diagnosed in both eyes at an interval of about eight weeks. The treatment included pars-plana-vitrectomy on both eyes. RESULTS: At first, an endogenous endophthalmitis was found in the right eye which was assumed to be induced by bacteria. About eight weeks later, however, an endogenous endophthalmitis was diagnosed in the left eye, also, which was caused by Aspergillus. The patient received an intensive medical care including operative, antibacterial and antimycotic treatments. The bacterial endophthalmitis in the right eye was healed, and the state of the left eye was found to be post-operatively stabilized. Unfortunately, the patient died of a septic shock in systemic Aspergillus infection. CONCLUSION: Endogenous endophthalmitis has a very poor prognosis. To our knowledge, the described medical history seems to be the first reported case of an endophthalmitis on both sides, apparently caused by bacteria in one eye and by fungi in the other one.

Aspergillosis↗
PubMed1998

Nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy-reflection spectra of the macula before and after laser photocoagulation.

This study examines the influence of diabetic and laser photocoagulation on the reflection spectra of the macula. In the investigation 43 patients with type II diabetes mellitus and 33 normals were included. It was shown that the optical density in diabetics is increased compared to normals. After laser photocoagulation the reflection spectra have changed, suggesting a decrease in optical density. It is proposed that the therapeutic effect of photocoagulation in diabetic retinopathy is related to an alteration in blood flow in the choroid.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Endogenous endophthalmitis in severe generalized diseases].

BACKGROUND: In spite of modern antibacterial, antimycotic and operative therapies, endogenous endophthalmitis connected with other severe diseases and an impaired state of health is an eye complication with a very poor prognosis. PATIENTS: The study presents observations about the progress of the endogenous endophthalmitis in five eyes of four patients. The age of the patients ranged from 58 to 71 years. The span between the appearance of the first eye symptoms and hospital treatment amounted to 1 week and 3 months. The general diseases have been diagnosed as endometrium cancer, colon cancer, corpus uteri cancer (with intestinal fistula) and pancreatic insufficiency (with subclavian catheter) as well as diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: In regard to the infections we analyzed (Candida albicans in 3 eyes, bacteria in 2 eyes), very intensive medical treatment was initiated, including antibacterial or antimycotic therapy (local, subconjunctival, intraocular and systemic) as well as pars plana vitrectomy and/or vitreous puncture. Nevertheless, by the end of the clinical attendance, the following statements were established: one-eye enucleation, one-eye evisceration, two eyes perception of light, one eye visual acuity 0.2. CONCLUSION: The patients should be immediately admitted to a hospital with a department for vitreous surgery. Only with this option is it possible to initiate adequate therapy.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Influence of laser coagulation therapy on untreated fellow-eyes in severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy-spectrometric results.

PURPOSE: The aim was to examine the influence of laser treatment on untreated fellow-eyes. METHODS: The effectiveness of the laser photocoagulation was investigated in 24 patients with type II diabetes mellitus and severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy. Using a spectrometric technique, the measurements in the macula were performed one day before laser coagulation and on the day directly following laser treatment. Further investigations took place 14 days and 6 weeks later. RESULTS: One day after coagulation, the reflection of the untreated fellow-eyes was found to be significantly increased between 530 and 600 nm, compared to the same eyes before coagulation. However, 14 days and 6 weeks after laser treatment alterations in the untreated eyes were no longer detectable. CONCLUSION: The choroidal blood volume seems to be decreased not only in coagulated eyes, but also in untreated fellow-eyes, and, presumedly, the choroidal blood flow is improved. Considering the short duration of these effects, a therapeutic consequence is not supposed.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Substance analytic studies of the effectiveness of laser coagulation in diabetic retinopathy].

An order to optimize photocoagulation in diabetic retinopathy, it is necessary to have objective criteria concerning substance-specific fundus changes like blood, melanin, xanthophyl, cytochrome aa3, and light scattering. By means of fundus reflectometry macular reflectance spectra can be measured and are different in normals and in diabetics before or after treatment. If logarithmic difference spectra are used only pathological alterations or changes caused by the coagulation are demonstrable. These difference spectra can be approximated by a linear model function containing the extinction spectra of the substances mentioned above and a term for light scattering. Spectra deconvolution delivers coefficients, describing differences in the substance concentrations between diabetics before and after treatment and age-matched normals. When we examined these coefficients, we found that neither their behavior in diabetic retinopathy nor their reaction to photocoagulation is unique. Thus, it might be possible to obtain references to patient-specific adapted coagulation by deconvolution of the macular reflectance spectra measured before treatment. Classification of the patients in specific types of reaction, according to the shape of the logarithmic difference spectra or the results of the spectra deconvolution, could be a step in deciding on the success of the therapy on a case-to-case basis.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Surgical approach in terson syndrome: vitreous and retinal findings.

PURPOSE: To report some interesting findings in patients with bilateral Terson syndrome. METHODS: We describe six eyes from three patients with Terson syndrome. Pars plana vitrectomy was performed in one eye twelve weeks, and in four eyes six months after the acute event. In one eye blood was suddenly spontaneously absorbed after four months. RESULTS: The four eyes operated six months after injury showed severe complications and final visual acuity was between light perception and 0.6. The eye with surgical attendance twelve weeks after the acute injury had an uneventful course, and final visual acuity was 0.7. CONCLUSIONS: Because of severe ocular complications and with a view to early rehabilitation, vitrectomy has been recommended for eyes with bilateral Terson syndrome, without spontaneous blood resorption. Surgery should be performed in at least one eye not later than four to eight weeks after the acute injury.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Multisubstance analysis of reflection spectra before and after laser photocoagulation for proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to provide new data that add to the understanding of diabetic retinopathy and its treatment by photocoagulation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using a spectrometric method, the reflection spectra of the macula in six type II diabetics with proliferative diabetic retinopathy were measured before and after laser photocoagulation and compared with normals. The investigations were done one day before laser photocoagulation and again the day after. Further measurements were made 14 days, 6 weeks and 4 months after coagulation. The reflection spectra were assessed by multisubstance analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The contents of xanthophyll, melanin and choroidal oxyhemoglobin and the intensity of scattered light were significantly altered after laser coagulation. For example, in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy the content of oxyhemoglobin in the choroid was lower than normal, but it rose after laser treatment. This suggests an improved oxygen supply of the choroid after laser coagulation, implying reduced retinal hypoxia.

Adult↗