Was bringt die prophylaktische YAG-Iridotomie beim Pigmentdispersionssyndrom?

Despite theoretical considerations concerning the advantage of iridotomy in eyes with pigment dispersion syndrome or early pigment glaucoma, there is a lack of clinical evidence that this procedure has a long-term effect in preventing glaucoma damage under these circumstances. However, several factors may contribute to this lack of evidence, e.g. the statistical problem of a low conversion rate from pigment dispersion syndrome to pigment glaucoma or the inclusion criteria in the studies treating patients older than 40 years or genetic dispositions in pigment glaucoma that are not yet fully clear. On the basis of current data the decision for YAG iridotomy should only be taken in patients younger than 40 years, if the midperipheral iris shows an inverse bowing and the intraocular pressure is normal or slightly increased with no progressive signs of optic nerve damage. In cases of insufficient intraocular pressure and visual defects due to glaucomatous optic nerve damage, incisional glaucoma surgery is usually necessary especially in younger patients with a long life expectancy.     

Combined Early and Late [68Ga]PSMA-HBED-CC PET Scans Improve Lesion Detectability in Biochemical Recurrence of Prostate Cancer with Low PSA Levels

Molecular Imaging and Biology - Our aim was to evaluate the benefit of early (1 h post-injection (p.i.)) and late (3 h p.i.) [68Ga]PSMA-HBED-CC positron emission tomography...     

Microendoscopic trabecular surgery in glaucoma management

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of trabecular surgery under microendoscopic control in the management of advanced chronic open-angle glaucoma when the presence of corneal opacification obscures adequate visualization of the anterior segment. STUDY DESIGN: Comparative interventional case series. PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTION: Fifteen eyes of 15 patients with medically uncontrolled open-angle glaucoma and moderate-to-severe corneal opacification underwent trabecular surgery under microendoscopic control. Seven eyes were treated by photoablative laser goniopuncture and eight eyes by goniocurettage. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The intraocular pressure (IOP) and number of medications before and after surgery were measured. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were analyzed. RESULTS: The ophthalmic microendoscope was successfully used in visualizing and identifying the anterior chamber angle structures and in controlling the trabecular surgical procedures in all eyes. The IOP dropped from 34.5 +/- 6.9 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) (range, 27-46 mmHg) under maximal-tolerated medical therapy before surgery to 18.5 +/- 3.0 mmHg (range, 15-23 mmHg) at 21 months after surgery. Medication averaged 2.3 +/- 0.6 before surgery and dropped to 1.0 +/- 0.7 at last follow-up. No difference was observed in the surgical outcome between the laser-treated eyes and those receiving goniocurettage. No severe intraoperative or postoperative complications relating to either the trabecular surgery or to the use of the microendoscope were observed. CONCLUSION: The ophthalmic microendoscope appears to be safe and effective in simultaneously providing illumination, video recording, and clear endoscopic view of the fine details of the anterior chamber angle structures. Microendoscopy enables various trabecular surgical procedures, such as goniocurettage or photoablative laser goniopuncture, which can be performed in the presence of corneal opacification that might otherwise preclude adequate visualization and treatment. It thus appears that microendoscopic trabecular surgery may in the future be considered as an alternative choice of surgical treatment in some cases of open-angle glaucoma.     

Monitoring reversible and irreversible EGFR inhibition with erlotinib and afatinib in a patient with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using sequential [(18)F]fluorothymidine (FLT-)PET

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with activating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations benefit from treatment with EGFR-targeted therapy. While first-generation ("reversible") EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are well established in the treatment of these patients, the remarkably lower efficacy of second-generation ("irreversible") EGFR-TKIs after failure of reversible EGFR inhibition is far less understood. Here we describe an EGFR-mutated patient treated sequentially with both reversible (erlotinib) and irreversible (afatinib) EGFR-TKIs monitored by sequential [(18)F]fluorothymidine (FLT-)PET. Our observations confirm the value of molecular imaging for assessment of pharmacodynamics and early prediction of response and relapse in these patients.     

Localization of 131I-labelled monoclonal antibody ERIC1 in a subcutaneous xenograft model of neuroblastoma in SCID mice

PURPOSE: To evaluate a novel strategy of immunolocalization of human neuroblastoma by targeting the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), which is over-expressed on neuroblastoma. METHODS: NCAM expression on the cell surface of established neuroblastoma cells was shown by flow cytometry. A SCID mouse model using IMR5-75 neuroblastoma cells to induce subcutaneous tumour growth was established. 131I was used to label monoclonal NCAM specific ERIC1 antibodies generating the 131I-ERIC1 antibody, which showed a high affinity to NCAM also after labelling (KD=9 x 10(-8) mol . l(-1)). RESULTS: Measurement of organ-specific radioactivity showed low organ-specific uptake (5.33%ID/g (percent of injected dose per gram of tissue) after 72 h), which continuously decreased over the 96 h investigation period, demonstrating clearance of radioactivity. In contrast, tumours accumulated radioactivity continuously up to a peak of 42.07%ID/g at the 96 h time point (31.07%ID/g at 72 h). This specific uptake could be blocked by application of unlabelled ERIC1 antibodies. Measurement of blood specific radioactivity revealed a characteristic clearance over the first 72 h. With 37 Gy, tumour-specific radioactivity reached therapeutic doses after 96 h. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that 131I-labelled ERIC1 has the ability to probe NCAM-expressing tumour cells in vivo with high efficiency and is a promising reagent for the diagnosis and treatment of NCAM-positive human tumours, especially for neuroblastoma.     

Modern concepts in antiglaucomatous implant surgery

Background  Antiglaucomatous implant surgery is a continously evolving field in glaucoma treatment. Methods  A literature search with the terms “glaucoma implant surgery”, “aqueous shunts” and “glaucoma drainage devices” was carried out, especially giving prominence to innovative surgical developments in glaucoma implant surgery and to recently established clinical evidence on traditional shunt surgery. Results  Episcleral glaucoma drainage devices have recently proven their efficacy in large studies. Longterm data about their clinical efficacy and their risk/safety profile are sufficiently available. New antiglaucomatous devices try to target alternative drainage routes, for example trabecular or uveoscleral outflow. Valid longterm data from prospective randomized clinical trials are not available for these devices as yet. Conclusions  Although valid data on clinical application of the new glaucoma implants are not available as yet, profound knowledge about their theoretical concept and their practical management is obligatory for all glaucoma clinicians.     

Surgical revision in a case of iris incarceration after trabeculectomy in congenital glaucoma

BACKGROUND: Incarceration of the iris is a potential complication following trabeculectomy in primary congenital glaucoma. Although this complication is mentioned in the literature, nothing is reported about the technique of surgical revision. PATIENT: In a patient with primary congenital glaucoma we had to perform surgical revision of the anterior chamber, because progressive pupil peaking had developed after trabeculectomy and the optical axis had been obstructed. Simple resolving of uveal tissue from the incarceration site was not possible; the iris incarceration had to be cut under gonioscopic control. CONCLUSION: Surgical revision of an incarceration of the iris can be safely performed by means of gonioscopy. The outcome of intraocular pressure is not necessarily influenced.     

Primary trabeculectomy in young adults: long-term clinical results and factors influencing the outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the long-term clinical outcome of primary trabeculectomy in young adults, and evaluate potential risk factors contributing to failure of filtering surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective review was carried out of the charts of all glaucomatous patients between the age of 15 to 45 years. These patients had no history of previous extra- or intraocular surgery and had undergone primary trabeculectomy without the use of antimetabolites from January 1988 to January 1995 at the University Eye Hospital of Cologne. A total of 51 eyes of 45 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. There were no drop-outs from follow-up. Mean follow-up was 5.2 years (range, 2.5 to 9.5 years). Outcome was defined as a success when postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) was 21 mm Hg or lower. If further glaucoma medication was required the outcome was described as a qualified success, and when the patient was free of medication the outcome was considered a complete success. RESULTS: Using the Kaplan-Meier survival curve, cumulative life-table success rates were 88% at 1 year (n = 51), 82% at 3 years (n = 47), 76% at 5 years (n = 26), and 70% at 7 years (n = 22). At final visit 71% (n = 36) were classified as successes, with 54% (n=30) being successful without adjunct medication. Seventeen percent (n = 6) required additional topical medication. Previous laser trabeculoplasty and an IOP greater than 40 mm Hg during the course of the disease was found to adversely affect the outcome. Eyes with iridocorneal epithelialopathy (ICE) syndrome, Rieger's anomaly, and uveitic glaucoma failed more frequently than those with juvenile, pigmentary, and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Younger age (< 30 years) was not associated with a lower success rate after controlling for glaucoma category. CONCLUSION: The success rate of the uncomplicated group compares favorably with the 75% to 90% success rates of trabeculectomy commonly cited for primary glaucomas in older adults. Primary trabeculectomy in young patients may have a favorable outcome even without antimetabolite therapy.