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Anecortave acetate 15 mg for depot suspension is clinically efficacious compared to placebo for treatment of subfoveal exudative ARMD lesions when administered at 6-month intervals as a posterior juxtascleral depot.

ABSTRACT.Purpose: To identify characteristic morphological changes of the retina over time and the association with visual function after combined photodynamic therapy (PDT) and intravitreal triamcinolone (IVTA). Methods: In this retrospective study, 40 patients (40 eyes) were treated with PDT and same-day IVTA. Optical coherence tomography (OCT), fluorescein angiography (FA) and evaluation of distance visual acuity (VA) were performed. The anatomical changes within intra-and subretinal compartments and their detailed analysis and grading were the main outcome measures. Results: Intraretinal fluid (IRF) and subretinal fluid (SRF) by OCT decreased until 3 months (p < 0.01). At month 3, intraretinal cystoid spaces (ICS) had resolved or decreased in 84% of eyes, SRF in 58% and pigment epithelial detachment (PED) in 50%. Mean best-corrected VA (BCVA) improved significantly at month 1 (p < 0.01). Mean central retinal thickness (CRT) increased from 334 lm at baseline to 439 lm at day 1 (p = 0.03) before decreasing to 286 lm at day 7 (p = 0.06), 233 lm at month 1 (p = 0.001) and 255 lm at month 3 (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Combined verteporfin ⁄ IVTA therapy induces distinct time-related effects on the retina within the different intra-and subretinal compartments.

After the recent diphtheria epidemics in Eastern Europe in the early 1990s, we re-evaluated the diphtheria and tetanus immunity of 321 German blood donors (192 men and 129 women). The mean antitoxin levels of all blood donors in this study, measured by commercial ELISA, revealed a questionable protection (0.1-1.0 IU/ml) against diphtheria. In 1994, 66.4% were without immunity against diphtheria (55.0% in 1997/ 98), 32.1% (41.5% in 1997/98) showed questionable protection and only 1.5% (3.5% in 1997/98) had protective antitoxin levels. The evaluation of tetanus immunity revealed only 0.5% (1.1% in 1997/98) of the subjects with no protection and 9.1% (8.5% in 1997/98) with questionable protection. For this reason, we conclude that the diphtheria epidemics only lead to an insufficient improvement of the immunization status in a healthy German population.

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Aufgrund zunehmenderTherapieoptionen fir unterschiedliche Makulapathologien besteht ein zunehmendes Interesse an einer verldsslichen Bestimmung der Funktionsfdhigkeit der Makula. Das Mikroperimeter 1 (MP 1, Nidek) ermoglicht eine fundusorientierte, zentrale Funktionsanalyse and verfiigt zudem uber eine automatische Schwellenbestimmung and eine automatische Fixationskorrektur (,,Eye Tracking").Material and Methode: Es wurden prospektiv standardisierte Untersuchungen mittels makularer Funktionsanalyse (Nidek MP 1) and optischer Koharenztomographie (Stratus OCT) bei Patienten mit Makulaforamen and bei Patienten mit altersbedingter Makuladegeneration (AMD) sowie bei gesunden Probanden durchgefiihrt. Die anatomischen and funktionellen Befunde wurden korreliert.Wir verwendeten fir unsere Untersuchungen mit dem MP 1 Goldmann-III-Stimuli, eine 4-2-1-Strategie and eine unterschiedliche Anzahl von Stimuli (41-61).Ergebnisse: Alle Patienten mit durchgreifendem Makulaforamen mit einem Durchmesser > 300 gm zeigten absolute Zentralskotome (ZS). InAugen mit durchgreifendem Makulaforamen mit einem Durchmesser < 300 gm hatten 71,4% kein absolutes ZS. Alle durchgreifenden Makulaforamen wurden von einem relativen ZS umgeben. Eine beeintrachtigte Makulafunktion war bei Patienten mit AREDS IV-AMD feststellbar and es bestand eine Korrelation zwischen Unregelmaf3igkeiten des retinalen Pigmentepithels and beeintrachtigter Makulafunktion. Bei einem Fri hstadium einer choroidalen Neovaskularisation mit einem intakten Visus war bereits eine Beeintrachtigung der Funktion der Makula nachweisbar.Schlussfolgerung: Die makulare Funktionsprufung mittels dem automatisierten MP 1 bietet eine prazise Bestimmung des Funktionsverlustes der Makula bei unterschiedlichen Krankheitsbildern. Schlusselworter: Funktionsanalyse, Makula, Mikroperimeter, OCT. Role of functional macular mapping for determination of macular function of characteristic macular pathologies Summary. Background: An increasing interest exists for a reliable determination of macular function. Determination of macular function provides an additional possibility for diagnostic and therapeutical process. Microperimeter 1 (MP1,Nidek) enables a fundus-orientated, central perimetry and has an automated system to control eye movements named "Eye Tracking".Material and methods: Prospective standardised examinations with Nidek MP 1 functional macular mapping and high resolution radial scans using Stratus OCT were performed in patients with macular holes and in patients with age-related macular degeneration as well as in healthy participants.Functional macular mapping was done using Goldmann III Stimuli, a 4-2-1 strategy and a different number of stimuli (41-61).Results: All eyes with macular holes > 300 gm diameter showed a central absolute scotoma. In eyes with macular holes < 300 gm diameter 71.4% showed no central absolute scotoma. Eyes with a full-thickness macular hole were associated with a relative scotoma.In patients with AMD AREDS IV we found a diminished ...