Promoter hypermethylation of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">SFRP2</Emphasis> gene is a high-frequent alteration and tumor-specific epigenetic marker in human breast cancer

Background  

We have previously reported that expression of the Wnt antagonist genes SFRP1 and SFRP5 is frequently silenced by promoter hypermethylation in breast cancer. SFRP2 is a further Wnt inhibitor whose expression was recently found being downregulated in various malignancies. Here we investigated whether SFRP2 is also implicated in human breast cancer, and if so whether SFRP2 promoter methylation might serve as a potential tumor biomarker.     

Status of plasmapheresis and cyclosporin A in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus

We report the history of 2 teenagers suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus for more than 5 years. Both of them were treated with total plasma exchange (TPE) and Ciclosporin A. They responded well to this therapy and achieved remissions. Especially the 2nd patient showed a dramatic clinical improvement after a relapse caused by sun exposure. Both treatment modalities are discussed and the following conclusions are drawn: TPE is an important therapeutic element in treating patients with SLE, whereas Ciclosporin A is not recommended for therapy of first choice. Further prospective and controlled studies have to show, if there is a benefit of this therapy, especially in childhood.     

Anisometropia and degree of optic nerve damage in chronic open-angle glaucoma

PURPOSE: To address the question of whether the refractive error plays a role in the amount of optic nerve damage in glaucoma, we intraindividually compared inter-eye differences in refractive error with inter-eye differences in parameters indicating the degree of glaucomatous optic nerve damage, and we interindividually correlated refractive error with neuroretinal rim area and visual field loss.DESIGN: Comparative clinical observational study.METHODS: This comparative clinical observational study was conducted in a university eye hospital. The study included 1,444 eyes of 876 patients with primary or secondary chronic open-angle glaucoma. Patients with a highly myopic refractive error (> or = -8 diopters) were excluded, owing to differences in the anatomy of the optic nerve head. Color stereo optic disk photographs were taken and morphometrically evaluated. The main outcome measures were refractive error, neuroretinal rim area, horizontal and vertical cup/disk diameter ratios, and visual field loss.RESULTS: In an interindividual statistical analysis, area of neuroretinal rim, horizontal and vertical cup/disk diameter ratios, and mean visual field loss were not significantly (P >.10) correlated with refractive error. In an intraindividual comparison, inter-eye differences in refractive error were not significantly (P >.05) correlated with inter-eye differences in neuroretinal rim area and mean visual field defect. The eye with the more myopic refractive error and the contralateral eye with the less myopic refractive error did not vary significantly in neuroretinal rim area and mean visual field defect.CONCLUSIONS: For nonhighly myopic (< -8 diopters) patients with primary or secondary chronic open-angle glaucoma, the refractive error may not play a major role for the amount of glaucomatous optic neuropathy. For nonhighly myopic (< -8 diopters) patients with primary or secondary chronic open-angle glaucoma, myopia may not be an important risk factor for glaucoma.     

Drug interactions in the treatment of Parkinson's disease

In recent years, the antiparkinsonian drug regime has become increasingly complicated. A wide range of antiparkinson agents is meanwhile available. Combination therapies may unfortunately induce interactions up to the point of life-threatening events. The potential of drug-drug interactions must be taken into account before starting a patient on combination treatment. Moreover, the frequent multimorbidity of patients with Parkinson's disease necessitates the application of additional drugs. A general overview is difficult to maintain because of the countless number of possible interactions. Cautious proceeding is certainly indicated in particular cases. The most common interactions will be discussed below. We should bear in mind that many of the interactions related to drug combinations are unknown yet.     

FK506 promotes functional recovery in crushed rat sciatic nerve

In this study we examine whether the systemic administration of FK506 or Cyclosporin A (CsA) expedited functional recovery following an axonotmetic nerve injury, and compared their effects in a rat model. Seventy-five adult Buffalo rats received a crush injury to the right posterior tibial nerve and subsequently underwent either no treatment (group I), daily injections of FK506 (group II), or daily injections of CsA (group III). Walking track analysis demonstrated return of hindlimb function by 20 days postoperatively in group I, 14 days in group II, and 18 days in group III. The blood-nerve barrier (BNB) was reconstituted by postoperative day (POD) 7 in both FK506- and CsA-treated animals and by POD 13 in control animals. These results suggest that recovery of function is more rapid with daily administration of FK506 than with CsA or no treatment, perhaps because of earlier restoration of the blood-nerve barrier. Agents that facilitate nerve regeneration have the potential to limit the extent of motor endplate loss and muscle atrophy seen with prolonged denervation, thereby limiting permanent functional loss.     

Surgical removal of idiopathic epiretinal membrane with or without the assistance of indocyanine green: a randomised controlled clinical trial

Purpose To carry out a prospective investigation of the functional and morphological outcome of idiopathic epiretinal membrane (IEM) surgery with or without the assistance of indocyanine green (ICG) in a randomised controlled clinical trial. Methods Sixty patients who underwent vitrectomy with removal of IEM combined with cataract surgery were randomly allocated to two groups: 27 patients were operated on with ICG 0.1% in glucose 5%, 33 patients without ICG. Functional outcome was assessed 3-4 months postoperatively with improvement of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), Amsler grid test, and automated and kinetic perimetry. Postoperative residual or recurrent IEM was assessed with bio-microscopy, and macular oedema with optical coherence tomography (OCT). Improvement in BCVA was the main outcome measure. Results BCVA improved in 49 patients, remained unchanged in five and decreased in five. Improvement in BCVA and reduction of macular oedema were statistically significant within both groups (P < 0.01). Improvement in BCVA was not statistically significantly different whether ICG was used or not [0.17 (logarithm of minimum angle of resolution; logMAR) with ICG and 0.24 (logMAR) without ICG] (P = 0.59). There was no statistically significant difference in preoperative or postoperative BCVA, reduction of macular oedema, postoperative Amsler grid test, or incidence of residual or recurrent IEM between the two groups. Visual field defects were detected in two patients operated on with ICG. Conclusions Removal of IEM with or without the assistance of ICG equally improved visual function and macular morphology. This study has been registered with , no.: NCT00376857. Presented in part at the 15th Meeting of Societas Ophthalmologica Europaea (SOE), Berlin, Germany, 25–29 September 2005, and at the Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, 30 April–4 May 2006.     

Correlation between optical coherence tomography and autofluorescence in acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy

Purpose To report a case of bilateral acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (APMPPE) evaluated by optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundus autofluorescence (AF) and microperimetry, both in the acute phase and after resolution of symptoms.Methods Complete ophthalmological evaluation, including fluorescein angiography, OCT, AF, and microperimetry upon presentation and 1 month later, after lesions have subsided. An attempt to correlate the findings on presentation and changes after resolution is performed using the results of these new investigational techniques.Results APMPPE showed hyperreflectance in OCT at the level of the outer retinal layers, without increase in retinal thickness. AF revealed early decreased fluorescence due to a masking effect, and later reveals increased fluorescence after resolution of OCT findings. Function is disturbed at the lesion sites, as shown by microperimetry, and later returns to near normal values on microperimetry.Conclusion APMPPE shows outer retinal layers changes on OCT, which resolve totally after subsidence of the acute phase. AF shows areas of increased fluorescence after resolution, with near normal return of function on microperimetry.     

Frequency of under-corrected refractive errors in elderly Chinese in Beijing

Purpose The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of under-corrected refractive error among elderly Chinese in the Beijing area.Methods The population-based, cross-sectional, cohort study comprised 4,439 subjects out of 5,324 subjects asked to participate (response rate 83.4%) with an age of 40+ years. It was divided into a rural part [1,973 (44.4%) subjects] and an urban part [2,466 (55.6%) subjects]. Habitual and best-corrected visual acuity was measured. Under-corrected refractive error was defined as an improvement in visual acuity of the better eye of at least two lines with best possible refractive correction.Results The rate of under-corrected refractive error was 19.4% (95% confidence interval, 18.2, 20.6). In a multiple regression analysis, prevalence and size of under-corrected refractive error in the better eye was significantly associated with lower level of education (P<0.001), female gender (P<0.001), and age (P=0.001).Conclusions Under-correction of refractive error is relatively common among elderly Chinese in the Beijing area when compared with data from other populations.