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In der Arztpraxis sind Beschwerden des Ruckens haufig. Daher ist es wichtig, den spezifischen vom viel haufigeren unspezifischen Ruckenschmerz abgrenzen zu konnen. Rheumatische Wirbelsaulenerkrankungen sind spezifische Ursachen fur Ruckenschmerzen und treten bevorzugt bei Menschen unter 40 Jahren auf. Bereits vor mehr als vier Jahrzehnten wurde das Leitsymptom des entzundlichen Ruckenschmerzes definiert. Es weist eine diagnostische Sensibilitat von 95 % und eine Spezifizitat von 85 % auf, wenn beim Patienten 4 der 5 Kriterien festgestellt werden konnen: 1) schleichender Krankheitsbeginn vor dem 40. Lebensjahr, 2) betonte Steifigkeit der Wirbelsaule am Morgen uber 60 min, 3) Ruckenschmerzen seit mehr als 3 Monaten, 4) fruhmorgendliches Schmerzmaximum und 5) Besserung bei Bewegung. Dieses Leitsymptom ist ein ausgezeichnetes Hilfsmittel, um klinisch den Verdacht auf eine rheumatische Wirbelsaulenerkrankung mit einfachen Mitteln rasch zu begrunden.

Diabetes mellitus can cause diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, optic neuropathy, cataract or dysfunction of the eye muscles. The incidence of these defects correlates with disease duration and quality of metabolic control. Recommendations of the Austrian Diabetes Association for diagnosis, therapeutic procedures and requirements for adequate follow-up depending on stage of diabetic eye disease are summarized.

Purpose To analyse the effect of intravitreal aflibercept injections on systemic angiopoietin‐2 (Ang2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)‐A levels in patients with neovascular age‐related macular degeneration (nAMD). Methods In a prospective, randomized study, aflibercept (2.0 mg/50 µl) or ranibizumab (0.5 mg/50 µl) was administered intravitreally to 38 treatment‐naive patients. Blood samples were taken before, 7 days after, and 28 days after the first intravitreal therapy. Cytokine levels were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Twenty‐two age‐ and sex‐matched individuals served as controls. Results At baseline, there were no significant differences of systemic Ang2 and VEGF‐A levels among the treatment and control groups. After intravitreal aflibercept administration, median (interquartile range: IQR) systemic Ang2 was significantly upregulated from 1819 pg/ml (1262–3099) to 2123 pg/ml (1441–3769; p = 0.011) 7 days after the drug injection and remained non‐significantly elevated at 1944 pg/ml (1431–2546 pg/ml; p = 0.653) 28 days after the drug injection. Median (IQR) systemic VEGF‐A levels were significantly reduced from 43 pg/ml (30–57) to 8 pg/ml (8–8; p

Diabetes mellitus can cause diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, optic neuropathy, cataract or dysfunction of the eye muscles. The incidence of these defects correlates with disease duration and quality of metabolic control. Recommendations of the Austrian Diabetes Association for diagnosis, therapeutic procedures and requirements for adequate follow-up depending on stage of diabetic eye disease are summarized.

Diabetes mellitus can cause diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, optic neuropathy, cataract or dysfunction of the eye muscles. The incidence of these defects correlates with disease duration and quality of metabolic control. Recommendations of the Austrian Diabetes Association for diagnosis, therapeutic procedures and requirements for adequate follow up depending on stage of diabetic eye disease are summarized.

Hintergrund Die Inzidenz der akuten postoperativen Endophthalmitis konnte durch verbesserte Operationstechniken und perioperative Regime in den letzten Jahrzehnten deutlich reduziert werden, dennoch stellt die Erkrankung nach wie vor eine das Sehvermogen massiv bedrohende postoperative Komplikation dar. Die derzeit – Evidenz basiert – optimalen perioperativen und therapeutischen Regime werden erlautert.

PURPOSE To evaluate the effect of patients' clinical information on experts' diagnoses of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and decisions to treat. METHODS Seven experts assessed wide-field fundus photographs of eyes of 52 premature infants of ≤30 weeks' gestational age or ≤1,500 g birthweight (BW) for ROP diagnosis (stage, plus disease, and aggressive posterior ROP) and the necessity for treatment for 2 days. On Day 1, they were masked to all patient data. On Day 2, they were given information on gestational age and BW. RESULTS A significant shift in the experts' ratings toward a less aggressive ROP grading stage (P = 0.006) and less frequent decision for intervention (P = 0.021) was observed after receipt of patients' clinical information. This was truer for heavier/less premature infants (gestational age ≥ 28 0/7 weeks or BW ≥ 900 g) than those with very low BWs/high prematurity (gestational age < 24 0/7 weeks or BW < 600 g) (ROP stage P = 0.009 vs. P = 0.399, treatment decision P = 0.022 vs. P = 0.648). CONCLUSION These results suggest knowledge of patients' clinical information influences the grading of ROP disease and decision for treatment. Retinopathy of prematurity staging seemed to be set at a lower level and the decision for treatment at a higher threshold for heavier/less premature babies. Our findings may have implications for further refinements in ROP assessment.

Diabetes mellitus can cause diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, optic neuropathy, cataract or dysfunction of the eye muscles. The incidence of these defects correlates with disease duration and quality of metabolic control. Recommendations of the Austrian Diabetes Association for diagnosis, therapeutic procedures and requirements for adequate follow up depending on stage of diabetic eye disease are summarized.

BACKGROUND: Familial retinal arteriolar tortuosity (fRAT) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by marked tortuosity of second- and third-order retinal arteries with normal first-order arteries and venous system. In most reported cases of this rare disease no other vascular malformations or associated systemic diseases have been found. It can be complicated by retinal hemorrhages after minor stress or trauma, but prognosis is usually excellent. MATERIAL AND METHODS: To assess function of retinal vessels in this disorder we performed a complete ophthalmological examination including fluorescein and indocyanin green angiography in a patient with fRAT. For static and dynamic retinal vessel analysis we used the Dynamic Vessel Analyzer both in the patient with fRAT and in an age-matched control group of 10 healthy male subjects. RESULTS: Ophthalmologic examination showed an extremely corkscrew-shaped tortuosity of small second- and third-order arterioles on both eyes and a small preretinal hemorrhage in the left eye. In the patient with fRAT, the arteriolar-to-venular ratio was similar to that of the control group and flicker-induced change of vessel diameter did not differ from the controls in both retinal arterioles and venules. CONCLUSIONS: Results from retinal vessel analysis suggest that patients with fRAT have normal endothelial function and regulation of vessel diameter.

Purpose: To determine whether different complement factor H (CFH) genotypes play a role in treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with intravitreal bevacizumab. Methods: In this prospective study, we included 197 patients with exudative AMD and treated with 1.25 mg intravitreal bevacizumab at 6-week intervals until choroidal neovascularization (CNV) was no longer active. In all patients, ophthalmological examinations, visual acuity, optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundus photography and fluorescein angiography were performed. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping was performed using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products. Results: Age, gender and baseline mean visual acuity were similar among the three CFH genotypes. There was no significant difference in underlying lesion type of CNV, lesion size, number of injections or macula thickness. When examining the effect of genotype on post-treatment visual acuities, we observed a significant worse outcome for distance and reading visual acuity in the CFH 402HH genotype group. The number of patients who lost 3 or more lines in distance and reading visual acuity testing was significantly higher in the CFH 402HH (41%, 46%) genotype group than in patients with the CFH 402YY (28%, 26%) and CFH 402YH (26%, 24%) genotype. Conclusions: In addition to the higher risk for exudative AMD in patients with the CFH 402HH genotype that was found in previous studies, our results show that the CFH 402HH genotype also correlates with lower visual acuity outcome after treatment with bevacizumab, suggesting that pharmacogenetics of CFH plays a role in response to treatment of wet AMD.

Purpose To evaluate inter-expert and intra-expert agreement on the diagnosis and treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Design Prospective intra- and inter-rater reliability analysis. Methods In this multicenter study, 260 wide-field digital photographs of 52 patients were presented to 7 recognized ROP experts on 2 consecutive assessment days 8 weeks apart. Experts were asked to assess the patients for ROP stage, presence of plus disease, presence of aggressive posterior ROP, necessity for treatment, and suggested treatment. Agreement levels were measured with Fleiss' kappa and Cohen's kappa. Results Inter-expert agreement was fair for the ROP stage (κ = 0.24), plus disease (κ = 0.32), and aggressive posterior ROP (κ = 0.35); moderate for the necessity for treatment (κ = 0.41); and fair for the kind of treatment (κ = 0.38). Perfect inter-expert agreement was found in 9.6% of all patients for ROP stage 0–5, 45.1% for ≥ stage 2 ROP, 17.3% for plus disease, 57.7% for aggressive posterior ROP, and 25% for the necessity for treatment. Intra-expert agreement was higher than inter-expert agreement and was moderate for the ROP stage (κ = 0.56) and plus disease (κ = 0.51), moderate to substantial for aggressive posterior ROP (κ = 0.60), moderate for the necessity for treatment (κ = 0.47), and substantial for the kind of treatment (κ = 0.63). Conclusions ROP diagnosis and treatment decisions differ between experts and by 1 expert made on different days, indicating that the grading process is subjective and there is an observer bias when diagnosing ROP. These results could influence current practice in ROP assessment and training, and prompt further refinement of international ROP guidelines.

Diabetes mellitus verursacht diabetische Retinopathie, diabetisches Makulaodem, optische Neuropathie, Katarakt und Fehlfunktionen der ausseren Augenmuskeln. Die Inzidenz dieser Spatschaden korreliert mit der Dauer des Diabetes und mit dem Grad der metabolischen Kontrolle. Die Empfehlungen der Osterreichischen Diabetesgesellschaft fur Diagnose, Therapie und Nachkontrolle werden ubersichtsweise und bezogen auf die jeweiligen Stadien der diabetischen Augenerkrankung prasentiert.

Ein modernes suchtmedizinisches Versorgungssystem muss den Anspruchen des komplexen Problems der Drogenabhangigkeit angemessen sein. Dabei sind die Kriterien der sog. niederschwelligen Versorgung, der Behandlungsstandards im Umgang mit Betaubungsmitteln, der Entzugsbehandlung, der Rehabilitationsprozesse und der Abstinenz erhaltenden Behandlungsstrategien darzustellen. Die Qualitat eines Versorgungssystems fur Drogenabhangige kann definiert werden uber Erreichungsquote, Haltequote, Vermittlungsrate und Vermittlungsgeschwindigkeit zwischen den jeweiligen Behandlungsformen, Ausstiegsraten Legalitatsbewahrung, Folgeerkrankungen und Mortalitat. Die Qualitat des Versorgungssystems hangt vom Grad seiner Regionalisierung und der Breite des Behandlungsspektrums ab. Schlieslich sind die Kosten behandelter und unbehandelter Drogenabhangigkeit zu diskutieren.

This case study illustrates a methodology adopted by an operator to reveal the dominating mechanism behind dramatic watering-out sequence, prevailing production from a mature gas condensate field in Eastern Europe. A production restoration project was triggered to understand and remedy the adverse effect of water. Finally, its source could be solely verified with the help of numerical simulation. Many attempts to isolate or handle excessive water production fail, because remediation activities are deployed in the trial- and-error manner, without prior water source identification. Possible reasons that operators simplify their approach by reverting to the best practices/analogs, not accounting for individuality of the problem. Furthermore, ineffective water shutoff jobs are not always analyzed for their pitfalls and consequently fed to the next well. Thereby, the process lacks true insight of the nature of water appearance and, in turn, the right remediation strategy from start, if it exists. The field development showed that, after water breakthrough, the gas rate dropped by a factor of 4 or 5, thus leading to huge production losses. First, water production occurred in the crest of the structure followed by a sequence of wells being watered-out. The past experience to isolate the invading zone accompanied with extensive logging and misleading choking-back, revealed the necessity of thorough water diagnostics. The well-known categories of problems were analyzed tying them to subsurface uncertainties and vast reservoir information. Simple types were gradually replaced by complex processes, or even by the combination of the following: faulting, multilayered channeling, system of fractures etc. The formed concepts were reviewed in the simulation model honoring available buildup/per-interval pressures, casedhole production/saturation logs and repeated openhole logs to obtain the historical water/gas ratio (WGR) evolution. Finally, the strategy was refined giving ideas for deepening of the wells and downdip sidetracking in the less invaded zones.

The report on the frequency and extension of intraocular hemorrhage in patiens with and without anticoagulant medication treated with PDT.

(1999). Educational Drama in Austria. Research in Drama Education: The Journal of Applied Theatre and Performance: Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 94-100.

BACKGROUND: A new surgical method of intravitreal tamponade with silicone oil suspended with acetylsalicylic acid (AS) was investigated for safety and efficiency in the treatment of proliferative vitreoretinopathie. The study was designed as a prospective randomized, controlled double-blind Multicentre Study. METHODS: A standard three-port pars plana vitrectomy was performed in 29 eyes of 29 patients. In case a natural lens was present simultaneous phacoemulsification was obligatory. The control group received standard therapy vitreous tamponade with pure 5000centistoke silicone oil while the silicone oil was suspended with AS to a concentration of 0.2 mg/ml in the study group. After 6 months follow up the tamponade was removed in all eyes. RESULTS: The safety of AS SiO could be demonstrated: the AS SiO was well tolerated and stayed clear during the study period of 6 months. The clinical examination revealed no signs of local or systemic adverse effects in the study eyes. The visual acuities were well matched before inclusion into the study and there was no evidence of significant differences during the follow up period and in final visual outcome between the two groups. The rate of redetachments defined as the primary outcome parameter was the same for both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Acetylsalicylic acid delivery by intravitreal silicone oil in the human eye was shown a safe method that may offer a delivery route for other antiproliferative agents into the posterior pole.

Background Various authors report that the glaucomatous loss of function is due to a chronic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, being caused by a disturbed relationship between intraocular pressure and perfusion pressure in the posterior short ciliary arteries, which possibly leads to increased resistance in the ciliary vascular system. The authors attempt to test this hypothesis by measuring the vascular resistance (Resistance Index) in the ciliary vessel system by means of color Doppler sonography. Patients and Methods 35 eyes of 35 patients, suffering from open angle glaucoma (OAG), with a mean age of 65,3 years, were examined as well as 35 eyes of 35 patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG), whose mean age was 65,8 years. Both glaucoma groups were compared to an age- and sex-matched control group of healthy volunteers. The color-Doppler measurements were performed with an Acuson 128 XP/10, which allows imaging of all retrobulbar arteries, the ophthalmic artery, the central retinal artery and the short posterior ciliary arteries, and also guarantees the precise calculation of blood flow velocity and resistive index (RI). The RI was statistically evaluated. Results The resistance index of all retrobulbar arteries showed a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) according to Wilcoxon's test in the OAG group as well as the NTG group. Conclusions Increased vascular resistance was found in all retrobulbar arteries in OAG and in NTG. These findings point out the pathognomonic importance of perfusion disturbance in glaucoma.

Ziel der vorliegenden Studie ist der Versuch, durch farbdopplersonographische Ermittlung der Widerstandsindices (RI, PI) in den Arterien des Auges (A. ophthalmica, A. centralis retinae, Aa. ciliares post. breves) Hinweise uber das okulare Endstromgebiet bei Patienten mit Amaurosis fugax Beschwerden zu erlangen. Untersucht wurden 32 Patienten (32 Augen) mit Amaurosis fugax (AF) im beschwerdefreien Intervall. Das Durchschnittsalter der Patientengruppe betrug 60,1 Jahre. Diese Gruppe wurde mit einem alters- und geschlechtsangepasten Kollektiv von 32 freiwilligen gesunden Probanden (32 Augen) mit einem Durchschnittsalter von 60,0 Jahren verglichen. Den farbdopplersonographischen Untersuchungen diente ein Acuson 128 XP/10. Mit diesem Gerat sind A. ophthalmica, A. centralis retinae und A. ciliaris post. brevis einwandfrei darzustellen und Kalkulationen betreffend Blutflusgeschwindigkeit und Gefaswiderstand durchzufuhren. Zur Beurteilung des Gefaswiderstandes wurde der Resistance-Index (RI) nach Pourcelot und Pulsatility-Index (PI) nach Gosling verwendet. Im Gruppenvergleich der Amaurosis fugax-Patienten mit dem Normalkollektiv zeigte sich in keinem der untersuchten Gefase ein statistisch signifikanter Unterschied des Resistance-Index oder Pulsatility-Index. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen, das in den meisten Fallen von Amaurosis fugax im beschwerdefreien Intervall keine lokale Durchblutungsstorung vorliegt. Erhohte Gefaswiderstande sind jedoch in einigen Fallen der AF (Riesenzellarteriitis, Gefasanomalien, intraorbitale Raumforderungen) zu erwarten. Hier kann die Farbdopplersonographie nicht nur Hinweise uber das Ausmas der Beeintrachtigung der Durchblutung sondern, insbesondere durch das B-Bild, Hinweise auf die Genese geben. Therapieerfolge konnen mit Hilfe der Farbdopplersonographie eindeutig verifiziert werden. The aim of the study is to determine blood flow and resistance parameters (Resistance Index — RI, Pulsatility Index — PI) in the retroorbital arteries of patients suffering from amaurosis fugax. Color Doppler imaging was used to measure blood flow velocity and vascular resistance in the ophthalmic artery, central retinal artery and lateral short posterior ciliary artery of 32 involved eyes in their symptom-free intervall. The patients’ mean age was 60.1 years. The age- and sexmatched control group comprised 32 healthy volunteers (32 eyes). There was no significant difference neither in RI nor in PI of amaurosis fugax-patients compared to the control group. We conclude that in most cases of amaurosis fugax there is no local disturbance of blood flow in the afflictless intervall. However, increased vessel resistance is to be expected in some cases of amaurosis fugax: giant cell arteritis, vascular anomalies, intraorbital tumors. In these cases Color Doppler imaging is not only able to give indications of the extent of blood flow disorder but, in particular, by the B-mode, indications of the etiology. Furthermore, therapeutical success can easily be evaluated by Color Doppler imaging.

15 Augen mit intraokularem Fremdkorper und vergleichbaren Aufschlagverletzungen der Netzhaut wurden untersucht. Bei allen Augen erfolgten in gleicher Weise Pars Plana-Vitrektomie und Pinzettenextraktion des Fremdkorpers. Bei 8 Patienten wurde die hintere Glaskorpergrenzschicht in situ belassen (Gruppe A), bei den restlichen 7 Augen wurde die Vitrektomie mit einer artefiziellen hinteren Glaskorperabhebung kombiniert (Gruppe B). Bei allen Patienten der Gruppe A loste sich die hintere Grenzschicht innerhalb von 4 Monaten spontan ohne weitere Folgen ab. Bei 3 (der 8) Patienten der Gruppe A und bei 3 (der 7) Patienten der Gruppe B blieb die Macula bei vollem Visus morphologisch intakt. Bei den 5 ubrigen Augen der Gruppe A fand sich eine epiretinale Fibrose (pucker) im Maculabereich. Der Visus in dieser Gruppe betrug 0,7–1,0 (Mittelwert 0,89). Bei jedem der ubrigen 4 Augen der Gruppe B zeigte sich ebenso eine masige epiretinale Verdichtung (pucker). Der Visus in dieser Gruppe betrug 0,8–1,0 (Mittelwert 0,93).

Aim The current accepted standard treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) consists of antivascular endothelial growth factor agents including ranibizumab and bevacizumab. The aim of the study was to examine whether bevacizumab is inferior to ranibizumab with respect to maintaining/improving visual acuity. Methods In this prospective randomised parallel group multicentre trial patients aged more than 50 years with treatment naive nAMD were included at 10 Austrian centres. Patients were randomised to treatment either with 0.5 mg ranibizumab or 1.25 mg bevacizumab. Both groups received three initial monthly injections and thereafter monthly evaluation of visual acuity and the activity of the lesion. Re-treatment was scheduled as needed. Outcome measures were early treatment of diabetic retinopathy visual acuity, retinal thickness, lesion size and safety evaluation. Results A total of 321 patients were recruited of which four had to be excluded due to different reasons. Of the 317 remaining patients 154 were randomised into the bevacizumab group and 163 into the ranibizumab group. At month 12, there was a mean increase of early treatment of diabetic retinopathy visual acuity of 4.9 letters in the bevacizumab and 4.1 letters in the ranibizumab group (p=0.78). Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the decrease of retinal thickness, change of lesion size and number of adverse events between the groups. Conclusions Bevacizumab was equivalent to ranibizumab for visual acuity at all time points over 1 year. There was no significant difference of decrease of retinal thickness or number of adverse events.

Nach Hayreh beruht der glaukomatose Funktionsverlust auf der chronischen Entwicklung einer anterioren ischamischen Optikusneuropathie (AION), die durch eine Storung der Relation zwischen dem intraokularen Druck und dem Perfusionsdruck in den hinteren kurzen Ziliararterien zustande kommt, was sich in einer Zunahme des Widerstandes im ziliaren Gefassystem ausern kann. Ziel der vorliegenden Studie ist der Versuch, durch farbdopplersonographische Messung des Widerstandes (RI) in den Aa. ciliares post. breves diese Hypothese zu prufen. Untersucht wurden 30 Patienten (59 Augen) mit Offenwinkelglaukom (OWG) mit einem Durchschnittsalter von 67,6 Jahren sowie 15 Personen (28 Augen) mit Normaldruckglaukom (NDG), deren Durchschnittsalter 75 Jahre betrug. Diese beiden Gruppen wurden mit einem Kollektiv von normalen, gesunden Probanden verglichen (52 Personen = 103 Augen, Durchschnittsalter 45,4 Jahre). Den farbdopplersonographischen Untersuchungen diente ein Acuson 128 XP/10. Mit diesem Gerat sind A. ophthalmica, A. centr. ret. und Aa. cil. post. breves einwandfrei darzustellen, Winkelkorrekturen vorzunehmen und Kalkulationen betreffend Blutflusgeschwindigkeit und Gefaswiderstand (Resistance Index) durchzufuhren. Besonderer Wert wurde wegen seiner hamodynamischen Relevanz auf den Resistance Index (RI) gelegt. Bei den Patienten mit OWG war der RI in der A. ciliaris post. lat. signifikant erhoht (Student’s T-Test: p = 0,009); die NDG-Gruppe wies sowohl in der A. ciliaris post. lat. (p = 0,047) als auch in der A. ophthalmica (p = 0,003) signifikant erhohte RI-Werte auf. Erhohter Gefaswiderstand in den hinteren Ziliararterien bedeutet einen erheblichen Risikofaktor fur die Prognose des Glaukoms. Die Farbdopplersonographie hat sich als brauchbare Methode fur seine exakte und reproduzierbare Ermittlung erwiesen.

In einer retrospektiven Studie wurden die Ergebnisse der Silikonolentfernung und die damit verbundenen Komplikationen analysiert. Unter Anwendung definierter Selektionskriterien (anliegende Netzhaut fur mindestens 4 Wochen, Fehlen von aktiven Reproliferationen und Traktionen, Visus von mindestens 1/60) wurde das Ol aus 64 von 185 Augen entfernt, was einer Entfernungsrate von 34,6% entspricht. 59 Augen konnten nachkontrolliert werden. Das mittlere postoperative Sehvermogen des Gesamtkollektivs zeigte bis zum 6. Monat einen deutlichen Anstieg, um dann langfristig relativ konstant zu bleiben. Der hochste durchschnittliche Wert betrug 0,25, der Wert bei der letzten Kontrolluntersuchung 0,23. Insgesamt kam es bei 28 Augen (47,5%) zu einer Verbesserung des Sehvermogens, bei 16 Augen (27,1%) blieb das Sehvermogen gleich. Als haufigste Ursache einer postoperativen Sehverschlechterung zeigte sich die Ablatio retinae, aufgetreten bei 12/59 Augen (20,3%). Reproliferationen konnten bei 26 Augen (44,1%) registriert werden. Drucksteigerungen traten bei 14 Augen (23,7%) auf, Linsentrubungen bei 7 von 21 postoperativ noch phaken Augen (33,3%). Bei 5 Augen (8,5%) kam es zu hohergradigen Keratopathien, bei 1 Auge muste eine Keratoplastik durchgefuhrt werden. Der Schlussel zu einer weiteren Verbesserung der Resultate scheint in der Beherrschung der Reproliferationen sowie einer genauen Risiko-Nutzen-Abwagung der Silikonolentfernung bei jedem einzelnen Auge zu liegen.

Diabetes mellitus causes diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, optic neuropathy, cataract or dysfunction of the eye muscles. The incidence of these defects correlates with disease duration and quality of the metabolic control. The recommendations of the Austrian Diabetes Association for the diagnosis, the therapeutic procedures and requirements for adequate follow up depending on the stages of the different forms of diabetic eye disease are summarized.

The large variety of hybrid carbon nanotube systems synthesized to date (e.g., by encapsulation, wrapping, or stacking) has provided a body of interactions with which to modify the host nanotubes to produce new functionalities and control their behavior. Each, however, has limitations: hybridization can strongly degrade desirable nanotube properties; noncovalent interactions with molecular systems are generally weak; and interlayer interactions in layered nanotubes are strongly dependent upon the precise stacking sequence. Here we show that the electrostatic/polarization interaction provides a generic route to designing unprecedented, sizable and highly modulated (1 eV range), noncovalent on-tube potentials via encapsulation of inorganic partially ionic phases where charge anisotropy is maximized. Focusing on silver iodide (AgI) nanowires inside single-walled carbon nanotubes, we exploit the polymorphism of AgI, which creates a variety of different charge distributions and, consequently, interactions of varying strength and symmetry. Combined ab initio calculations, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy are used to demonstrate symmetry breaking of the nanotube wave functions and novel electronic superstructure formation, which we then correlate with the modulated, noncovalent electrostatic/polarization potentials from the AgI filling. These on-tube potentials are markedly stronger than those due to other noncovalent interactions known in carbon nanotube systems and lead to significant redistribution of the wave function around the nanotube, with implications for conceptually new single-nanotube electronic devices and molecular assembly. Principles derived can translate more broadly to relating graphene systems, for designing/controlling potentials and superstructures.

To cater to the needs of today’s road environment resp. road users, messages presented on roads must be optimized for early visual discrimination/legibility. This would provide more time for understanding and appropriate safe reaction of drivers to prevent accidents. Still, today’s road messages are not made that way– the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals of 1968 was unable to foresee the developments on roads, resulting in much more and much faster cars, fostered by a large number of densely interconnected roads, supporting high speeds. Due to these factors, an increase in long distance travel has manifested, accompanied by unsolved issues of multilinguality. Until recently, these problems were attempted to be tackled by conventional signage, yielding a general increase of signs on the road. Variable message signs (VMS) seem sufficiently flexible to help overcome the narrowing bottleneck of road information we are facing today. As a principle, they are capable of delivering messages only when necessary, probably in several languages. Still, in the near future we will see a mixture of classic road signs and next generation displays, of varying capabilities to properly present road related information. Hence it is crucial to continue to build up improved means of signalisation, employing elements accounted for in terms of visual aspects and understanding, and able to be employed by any technology (from signs to displays), presenting road messages in a consistent way. The following rationale details the aspects of message optimisation, emphasizing the role and need of design-professionals in the process.

The safety and efficacy of a new surgical method of intravitreal tamponade using silicone oil suspended with aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) was investigated for the treatment of proliferative vitreoretinopathy. The study was designed as a prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind multicenter study. A total of 29 patients were included; 15 patients were treated with the silicone oil suspended with aspirin, and 14 patients represented the control group receiving only silicone oil. A standard three-port pars plana vitrectomy was performed in 29 eyes of 29 patients. In cases in which the natural lens was present, simultaneous phacoemulsification was required. The control group received as standard therapy a vitreous tamponade with pure 5000 mPas silicone oil and the treatment group received silicone oil containing 0.2 mg/ml aspirin (AS SiO). At 6 months after surgery, the tamponade was removed from all eyes. The main outcome measure was the incidence of retinal redetachment requiring reoperation. Secondary outcome measures were visual acuity and ophthalmic examination results. The rate of redetachment, defined as the primary outcome parameter, was the same for both groups. The AS SiO was well tolerated and remained clear during the 6-month study period. Clinical examination revealed no signs of local or systemic adverse effects. The visual acuities were well matched before inclusion in the study and there were no significant differences during the follow-up period and in the final visual outcome between the two groups. Aspirin delivery by intravitreal silicone oil in the human eye is safe and also may provide a delivery vehicle for other antiproliferative agents to the posterior pole.

We demonstrate a comprehensive study of self-assembled molecular nanowire, including molecular design, one-dimensional crystal growth, resistivity measurement of individual wire, and application to a field-effect transistor. Appropriate molecular design and control of interfacial interactions lead to single crystalline wire growth with an extensive pi-stacking motif. Resistivity measurements of an individual molecular wire indicate that these structural features are advantageous for electrical transport. Finally, field-effect transistors with single- and double-wire channels were fabricated to give some indication of the potential application of the molecular wires.

We succeeded in integrating individual, pre-existing nanostructures into functional devices using ultrahigh vacuum dynamic nanostenciling and show working devices based on single-walled carbon nanotubes, a benchmark nanomaterial, and porphyrin J-aggregates, a "soft" supramolecular nanomaterial. Nanostructures are first located via atomic force microscopy, while device elements are added step by step, with an achieved positional accuracy of 20 nm, using a shadow mask assembly that moves while being exposed to evaporated material. Electronic transport, potentiometry, and scanning Kelvin probe were used for control at any fabrication stage and were available in situ. Such complex fabrication/characterization capabilities, applicable repeatedly, reliably, and nondestructively, pave the way for dynamic nanostenciling instrumentation to establish itself as a viable tool for easy integration and prototyping of fragile nanostructures synthesized through a wide range of processes.

Modern services for persons with disorders resulting from psychoactive drug abuse must conform to the complexity of their needs. Low threshold access, standards for the prescription of opiates, out-patient, in-patient and day-hospital detoxification, rehabilitation and abstinence oriented strategies are fundamental prerequisites. The quality of services for drug dependent patients is defined by the percentage finding access to the service, the percentage of those continuing in the service, the easy and rapid transition between the different elements of the service, the degree of abstinence, decriminalization, physical comorbidity and mortality. Finally the cost of treated and untreated drug dependence should be considered.

A comprehensive instrument, designed for fabricating nanostructures by evaporation through a dynamic shadow mask in ultrahigh vacuum, is described. The versatility and performance of the instrument is demonstrated through a series of examples, allowing for applications that are impossible to achieve with traditional nanopatterning methods. Clean nanostructures or entire devices made of different materials and on various substrates can be fabricated. The technique is compatible with fundamental surface science and can be easily interfaced with other fabrication and characterization techniques.

Wie durch zahlreiche internationale Studien belegt werden konnte, zahlt die intraoperative Kontamination des Auges zu den grosten Risikofaktoren fur die Entwicklung einer postoperativen Endophthalmitis. Die Inzidenz dieser gefurchteten Komplikation liegt nach Parsplana-Vitrektomien zwischen 0,05 und 0,14%. Der Zweck unserer Studie bestand darin, die Kontamination des Auges wahrend Pars-plana-Vitrektomie am Beginn und Ende der Operation zu erfassen, sowie die Species und das Inokulum der kontaminierenden Keime zu bestimmen. Es wurde bei allen Patienten praoperativ ein Bindehautabstrich abgenommen, sowie intraoperativ — unter sterilen Bedingungen — unmittelbar nach Anlegen der Sklerotomien Glaskorper aspiriert. Am Ende der Operation wurde ein Aspirat der im Auge verbleibenden Spulflussigkeit gewonnen. Von den 21 in die Studie einbezogenen Patienten zeigten 80,9% Keimwachstum im praoperativen Bindehautabstrich, wobei koagulase-negative Staphylokokken (61,8%) die am haufigsten nachgewiesenen Keime darstellten. Der sofort nach Anlegen der Sklerotomien abgenommene Glaskorper war in 76,2% der Falle steril. In den verbleibenden 23,8% wurden aus den angelegten Kulturen koagulase-negative Staphylokokken (14,3%) sowie Staphylococcus aureus (9,5%) isoliert. Die vor Verschlus der Sklerotomien aus dem Auge aspirierte Spulflussigkeit war in 23,8% der Falle kontaminiert, ebenfalls mit koagulase-negativen Staphylokokken (9,5%) und Staphylococcus aureus (14,3%). Die Studie zeigt, das es wahrend Pars-plana-Vitrektomie zu einem Eintritt von Bakterien in den Glaskorper kommt. Im Verlauf der Operation kann es zu einer Anderung der kontaminierenden Keimspecies kommen. Trotz einer Keimbesiedlung der im Auge verbleibenden Spulflussigkeit kam es in keinem Fall zum Auftreten einer postoperativen Endophthalmitis.

BACKGROUND One reason for complications after silicone oil application is the postoperative entrance of silicone oil into the anterior chamber. In a retrospective study, we tried to define risk factors for oil entrance into the anterior chamber. METHODS 159 Eyes of 148 patients, vitrectomized and filled with silicone oil between 1988 and 1992 were analysed. In 22 eyes (13.8%) silicone oil entered the anterior chamber postoperatively. Eyes with emulsified oil in the anterior chamber and eyes, where the oil entered the anterior chamber during cataract extraction were not included in this group. Diagnoses, postoperative fundus findings and lens status, intraocular pressure, depth of the anterior chamber and time of the oil entrance were analysed. RESULTS Risk factors in the first 10 postoperative days (14 eyes = 63.6%) seem to be aphakia and choroidal effusions, especially if combined with buckling procedures (encircling bands). In the late postoperative period, i.e. up to 6.5 months (8 eyes = 36.4%), proliferative vitreoretinopathy was responsible for the entrance of silicone oil into the anterior chamber in all cases. The decreased production of aqueous humour combined with hypotony seems also to play an important role in this process. CONCLUSIONS It seems that in the early postoperative period the frequency of oil entrance into the anterior chamber can only be lowered by a subtotal oil filling in aphakic eyes with accompanying encircling procedures. It remains open if radical amputation of the vitreous base can avoid peripheral reproliferations.

In a simple experiment, we monitor interference effects for low energy electrons in thin magnetic Co-films as well as in a spin quantum resonator structure consisting of a Cu-film of variable thickness sandwiched between vacuum and a magnetic Co-film. In the case of the Co-film the incident electrons are unpolarized and we observe oscillations with a period of one monolayer as a function of Co-thickness when we measure the intensity of the reflected electron beam. We attribute these oscillations to the changing morphology of the Co film as a function of thickness. In the case of the sandwich structure, spin polarized electrons are injected into the resonator from the vacuum side. The Co-film provides a spin dependent reflector. Varying the resonator thickness results in periodic switching of the spin state of the specularly reflected electrons. We apply spin interferometry to study oscillatory interlayer exchange coupling and find a divergence of the coupling period predicted by theory.

BackgroundOnset and development of the multifactorial disease age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are highly interrelated with mitochondrial functions such as energy production and free radical turnover. Mitochondrial dysfunction and overproduction of reactive oxygen species may contribute to destruction of the retinal pigment epithelium, retinal atrophy and choroidal neovascularization, leading to AMD. Consequently, polymorphisms of the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) are postulated to be susceptibility factors for this disease. Previous studies from Australia and the United States detected associations of mitochondrial haplogroups with AMD. The aim of the present study was to test these associations in Middle European Caucasians.Methodology/principal findingsMitochondrial haplogroups (combinations of mtDNA polymorphisms) and mitochondrial CR polymorphisms were analyzed in 200 patients with wet AMD (choroidal neovascularization, CNV), in 66 patients with dry AMD, and in 385 controls from Austria by means of multiplex primer extension analysis and sequencing, respectively. In patients with CNV, haplogroup H was found to be significantly less frequent compared to controls, and haplogroup J showed a trend toward a higher frequency compared to controls. Five CR polymorphisms were found to differ significantly in the two study populations compared to controls, and all, except one (T152C), are linked to those haplogroups.Conclusions/significanceIt can be concluded that haplogroup J is a risk factor for AMD, whereas haplogroup H seems to be protective for AMD.

We describe a strategy for fabricating devices on perforated silicon nitride membranes that is ideal for systems with modulated structure, in particular for nanotubes with endohedral inorganic compounds or molecules, or nanotubes externally functionalized with soft materials. It uses dynamic nanostenciling and focussed ion beam while avoiding nanotubes’ exposure to chemicals or beams. Physical properties and high resolution transmission electron microscopy are then correlated. Devices with individual single-walled carbon nanotubes partially filled with potassium iodide (KI) showed negative differential resistance (NDR). We attribute the NDR to electrostatic potential modulation on the nanotube due to permanent dipoles in the KI chain.

Editor,—Rickettsiae may cause heterogeneous retinal manifestations, the most characteristic of which are vascular lesions, periphlebitis, retinal haemorrhages and oedema, central retinal thrombosis, and papilloedema.1-5 We present the first case in which rickettsiae led to small retinal white infiltrates. ### CASE REPORT A previously healthy 25 year old woman had a fever up to 40°C of unknown origin during a trip to Queensland, Australia in August. Five days after the onset of fever a generalised maculopapular rash and a black lesion on the forefoot (eschar) were visible, without a known history of a tick bite. The patient was transferred to our hospital with the signs of general illness. Extensive examination for infectious disease including eye examination was initiated. Visual acuity was 20/25 in both eyes. Slit lamp examination revealed bilateral conjunctival hyperaemia. Moderate inflammation of the vitreous in both eyes was visible. Fundus examination disclosed bilateral small white infiltrates within the neurosensory retina, practically without …

For many analyses of the vitreous, it is essential to obtain undiluted vitreous specimens under sterile conditions intraoperatively. In this new technique, a metal device is integrated into the aspiration system. The device fits on standard laboratory plastic containers with integrated caps. Undiluted vitreous accumulates in the container, which is then removed and sent to the laboratory. With a new container in place, vitrectomy can be continued as usual. This technique is simple, safe, effective, and inexpensive.