Analysis of Ocular Firework-Related Injuries and Common Eye Traumata: a 5-year Clinical Study.

Background A comparative study of eye injuries related to fireworks or acts of violence around New Year's Eve and the Swiss National Day on August 1st. The two groups were compared with respect to the overall numbers of eye accidents within the period of review. Patients and Methods Retrospective analysis of emergency consultations at the Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich with eye accidents around the Swiss National Day on August 1st and New Year's Eve over the last 5 years. Two subgroups were formed: (1) Firework-related eye traumata, (2) Eye injuries due to acts of violence. The groups were analysed by age, gender, active participant or bystander, eye involved, severity of trauma (from clinical findings), surgical interventions, time of follow-up and visits, visual acuity and outcome. Results The study included 97 patients (100 eyes) with 74 male (76 %) and 23 female (24 %) victims. After filtering out 67 common traumata cases (all unilateral), 17 patients (18 eyes) with firework-related injuries and 13 patients (15 eyes) with damage due to an act of violence remained. Firework injuries accounted for 18 % of cases (65 % men); eye injuries caused by an act of violence accounted for 15 % of cases (92 % men). In the fireworks group, women were significantly older than men (mean age men 32 ± 14 years versus women 38 ± 16 years, p = 0.002). 65 % of cases were bystanders. The two subgroups contained 30 patients (33 eyes) with 22 left eyes (67 %, p < 0.001). The anterior segment was most frequently involved (79 %), significantly more often than the posterior part of the eye (p < 0.001). The posterior segment was injured more often in the fireworks group (28 %), than in the violence group (13 %). 87 % of the victims in the group of common traumata were mild trauma, 10 % moderate and 3 % severe. In the fireworks group the distribution was 53 % mild, 12 % moderate and 35 % severe, in the violence group 46 %, 23 % and 31 % respectively. Severe trauma cases occurred significantly more often around the New Year, with 36 % versus August 1st with 18 % (p = 0.0028). They are more often related to firework injuries than caused by violence (40 % versus 33 %). In summary, 7 victims (23 %) needed 8 interventions, with 3 having additional issues with their intraocular pressure. Full final visual acuity was noted in 88 %, which was alike in the two subgroups. On the contrary common traumata happened significantly more often around August 1st (66 %) than New Year (34 %; p < 0.001). Conclusions The number of injured eyes in the two subgroups of fireworks and violence was twice as high around New Year's Eve than around the Swiss National Day. If the two events were combined, eye injuries were caused by an act of violence in 45 % and by fireworks in 55 % of cases. Injuries from fireworks can be decreased by professional fireworks. Both types of accident can be decreased by public awareness.

A New Glaucoma Severity Score Combining Structural and Functional Defects.

Background In order to assess glaucoma severity and to compare the success of surgical and medical therapy and study outcomes, an objective and independent staging tool is necessary. A combination of information from both structural and functional testing is probably the best approach to stage glaucomatous damage. There has been no universally accepted standard for glaucoma staging. The aim of this study was to develop a Glaucoma Severity Score (GSS) for objective assessment of a patient's glaucoma severity, combining both functional and structural information. Materials and methods The Glaucoma Severity Score includes the following 3 criteria: superior and inferior Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer (RNFL) thickness, perimetric mean defect (MD), and agreement of anatomical and perimetric defects, as assessed by two glaucoma specialists. The specialists defined a staging tool for each of the 3 criteria in a consensus process, assigning specific characteristics to a scale value between 0 and 2 or 0 and 3, respectively. The GSS ranges between 0 and 10 points. In a prospective observational study, the data of 112 glaucoma patients were assessed independently by the two specialists according to this staging tool. Results The GSS was applied to 112 eyes and patients (59.8 % female) with a mean age of 66.3 ± 13.1 years. Mean GSS was 4.73 points. Cohen's kappa coefficient was determined to measure inter-rater agreement between glaucoma specialists for the third criterion. With κ = 0.83, the agreement was very good. Thus, all 3 criteria of the GSS may be regarded as objective. Conclusions The Glaucoma Severity Score is an objective tool, combining both structural and functional characteristics, and permitting comparison of different patients, populations and studies. The Glaucoma Severity Score has proven effective in the objective assessment of 112 glaucoma patients and is relatively user-friendly in clinical practice. A comparative study of the GSS with the results of the FORUM® Glaucoma Workplace (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jena, Germany) will be the next step. If outcomes match, the Glaucoma Severity Score can be accepted as a promising tool to stage glaucoma and monitor changes objectively in patients when comparing glaucoma progression in study analyses.

[Evaluation of correction formulas for tonometry : The Goldmann applanation tonometry in approximation to dynamic contour tonometry]. / Evaluation von Korrekturformeln für die Tonometrie : Die Goldmann-Applanationstonometrie in Annäherung zur dynamischen Contour-Tonometrie.

BACKGROUND: Accurate determination of intraocular pressure (IOP) is essential for correct management of glaucoma. Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT) is the gold standard for measuring IOP despite its limitations due to its dependence on corneal properties. With the aim of improving the accuracy of GAT readings, several correction formulas have been developed. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy and clinical relevance of five correction equations for GAT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective study of 112 glaucoma patients at the University Hospital and Talacker Eye Center, Zurich, Switzerland. The IOP was measured with GAT and dynamic contour tonometry (DCT) in randomized order. The GAT readings were adjusted with five correction equations. The primary study endpoint was the degree of concordance between corrected GAT and DCT readings. A discordance of ≥2 mm Hg was defined as significant. The association between discordant IOP measurements and central corneal thickness (CCT) was the secondary study endpoint. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 66 ± 13 years (60% females and 56% left eyes). The mean IOP was 17.0 mm Hg for GAT and 20.3 mm Hg for DCT, with a discordance of 3.3 mm Hg between GAT und DCT. The discordances between DCT and the corrected values ranged from 2.7 to 5.4 mm Hg. Spearman's rank testing showed a positive correlation between CCT and the discordances of all correction equations and a negative correlation between CCT and the discordance of DCT and GAT. CONCLUSION: The use of GAT correction formulas involves the risk of creating significant error. The correction equations examined showed extensive scatter and resulted in mean IOP values that were lower than the IOP initially measured by GAT. Thus the use of any correction equation may delay diagnosis of glaucoma and should be avoided.

Angioid Streaks in Types I and II Congenital Dyserythropoietic Anaemia (CDA).

Background. Angioid streaks (AS) are visible irregular breaks in Bruch's membrane, extending radially from the optic nerve head and with overlaying atrophic retinal pigment epithelium. In 50 % of patients, AS are associated with Pseudoxanthoma elasticum, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, sickle cell anaemia or Paget's disease. In 50 % of patients, AS are idiopathic. Congenital Dyserythropoietic Anaemia (CDA) is a rare, inherited disorder of ineffective erythropoiesis with morphologically abnormal erythroblasts. CDA was first recognised as a separate entity in 1968 and classified into three main groups. CDA demographics have identified 614 known families and > 700 cases worldwide. A few case reports of AS in CDA I and III have been published, but there is no report of AS in CDA II, the most frequent of the CDAs, as well no follow-up. History and Signs. 8 eyes of 4 CDA patients were examined. The CDA I patients were a 46 year old man and a 52 year old woman. They were first seen in 2009 and followed up for 9 and 11 months, respectively. The 2 female CDA II patients were seen in 2010 and were aged 35 and 42 years at first presentation. Vision, Amsler grid, optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundus pictures and fluorescent angiography were performed. Blood was drawn for neutrophil elastase determination (ELA2). Therapy and Outcome. All patients showed bilateral AS. Mean best corrected visual acuity was 20/20 without metamorphopsia and with normal OCT. During the follow-up period, no progression occurred. No choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) was detected. ELA2 serum levels were normal. Conclusions. This is the first report of AS in CDA II and the first follow-up in CDA I. No evidence of progression was seen within this period of time. Longer follow-up is needed to detect whether AS progresses. All patients with AS should be seen by an ophthalmologist on a regular basis. The risk of CNV is given. Therapy is possible and the outcome is best if the CNV is recognised and treated early.

Lymphoma of the ocular adnexa.

BACKGROUND: Over the last decades, the incidence of ocular adnexal lymphomas has been increasing. Over the last decade advances in the imaging of ocular adnexal lymphomas have enabled precise biopsies of the tumors. Biopsies are necessary for immunophenotyping, correct molecular classification and the immediate start of the appropriate treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a retrospective study, we collected data from 16 patients (19 eyes) treated for lymphoma of the ocular adnexa between 2006 and 2011 with various tumor sites. We evaluated ocular symptoms of the patients in correlation to the tumor localization on imaging and determined the access of biopsy. Follow-up period (13.7 ± 15.4 months) and therapy were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of study patients was 67.4 ± 13.6 years. Seven patients presented with exophthalmos, 6 with upper lid swelling, 5 with double vision, 5 with reduced visual acuity and one patient with retinal detachment. None of the patients complained of pain. In 7 cases the location of the OAL was superior, in 6 retrobulbar, in 4 patients in the lacrimal gland (1 bilaterally affected), one case with lacrimal sac infiltration and another with isolated subconjunctival lymphoma. Patients with retrobulbar tumors complained of visual loss, whereas patients with anterior orbital tumors showed localized nodular swelling. In 11 cases (58%) the diagnosis was marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (MALT), in 5 (26%) follicular lymphoma. 11 patients (69%) received curative and one HIV-positive patient palliative radiation. Three patients were treated with systemic rituximab due to generalized lymphoma and one of them was complemented with CHOP therapy. One patient received chemotherapy alone (CHOP). During the follow-up the HIV-positive patient died. CONCLUSIONS: All our lymphoma patients showed full tumor regression, without side effects from radiotherapy. In this study we emphasize the need to perform a diagnostic biopsy. The risk of biopsy by a trained surgeon is small. Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for proper treatment. In unclear situations repeated biopsies might be necessary.

Ampicillin/sulbactam in elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

PURPOSE: Age-related physiological changes affect body systems, altering pharmacokinetics, which may potentiate or alter the effects of drugs. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of age on the steady-state pharmacokinetics and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters of ampicillin/sulbactam in the population of elderly patients (age ≥65 years) with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The pharmacokinetics and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters of ampicillin/sulbactam were determined at steady state in a total of 13 elderly patients with CAP following the administration of multiple intravenous doses of 2 g ampicillin + 1 g sulbactam (Unacid(®), Pfizer), each over 15 min thrice a day. RESULTS: A reduced C max, AUC0-8 h and total clearance, a prolonged half-life, and an increased steady-state volume of distribution were observed for ampicillin. The mean estimated free C min of 1.8 mg/L for ampicillin was higher than that predicted to be effective against Streptococcus pneumoniae. Based on an MIC90 of 1 mg/L for Streptococcus pneumoniae, the calculated T > MIC and T > 4 × MIC for ampicillin was 75-100 % (median 100 %) and 12.5-100 % (median 50 %), respectively. A T > 4 × MIC of at least 50 % was achieved in 7 of 13 elderly patients with CAP. CONCLUSIONS: Age and, probably, pneumonia did affect the pharmacokinetics of ampicillin and sulbactam. Despite the reduced C max, adequate free C min/MIC90 ratios due to impaired renal function were observed in elderly patients with CAP. In elderly patients without renal impairment and/or in severe infection with less susceptible pathogens, more frequent dosing of ampicillin 2 g/sulbactam 1 g can be necessary to avoid the risk of underdosing in CAP.

Safety and immunogenicity of a trivalent single dose seasonal influenza vaccine containing pandemic A(H1N1) antigen in younger and elderly subjects: a phase III open-label single-arm study.

BACKGROUND: During the pandemic of the 2009 A(H1N1) influenza virus strain, 20-40% of the population in some areas were infected. Infection with A(H1N1) may be mild, with an average case fatality rate below 0.25%, but severe disease is not limited to patients with underlying medical conditions. Since A(H1N1) is expected to continue to circulate it is included in the seasonal influenza vaccines for the 2010-2011 winter season. We investigated the immunogenicity and safety of a preservative-free non-adjuvanted seasonal trivalent influenza vaccine. METHODS: We conducted a single center single-arm study involving 142 subjects (77 adults of 18-60 years and 65 subjects 61 years and above) to test the immunogenicity, safety, and tolerability of a trivalent split influenza vaccine. The vaccine contained 15µg of hemagglutinin of each of the virus strains recommended for the 2010-2011 northern hemisphere winter season (A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like strain; A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like strain; B/Brisbane/60/2008-like strain) in a non-adjuvanted preservative-free formulation. Antibody response to each antigen was measured by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) 21 days after immunization. Subject diary cards and additional telephone interviews were used to assess the safety profile. RESULTS: By day 21 after the vaccination, seroconversion, or a 4-fold antibody increase in HI antibody titers, was detectable against A(H1N1) in 84% and 75% of younger and older adults, against A(H3N2) in 80% and 57%, and against the B influenza strain in 61% and 33%. HI antibody titers of 40 or more were observed against A(H1N1) in 99% and 90% of younger and older adults, against A(H3N2) in 100% and 90%, and against the B influenza strain in 91% and 78%. Pre-vaccination antibody titers were protective against A(H1N1), A(H3N2), and B in 26%, 44% and 33%, respectively of the adults below 61 years and in 27%, 54% and 44% of the subjects of 61 years and above. Local and systemic reactions were more common in younger than in older subjects and the most frequently reported reactions were pain at the injection site (36%), myalgia (24%), and fatigue (15%). Five percent elderly subjects and 1% of younger subjects had mild or moderate unsolicited adverse events such as prolonged ecchymosis or night sweats that resolved within 7 days after vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: This single dose trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine generated protective antibodies to all three viral strains and had an acceptable safety profile in both younger and older adults (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01147081).

[Tick-borne encephalitis virus in humans and ticks in Northeastern Germany]. / Frühsommer-Meningoenzephalitis-Virus bei Menschen und Zecken in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) was known to have occurred in humans in the area of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in Germany, until 1985. Between 1992 and 2004 more than 16,000 ticks were tested and found to be negative for TBE virus in that area of Germany, wich was therefore thought to be free of TBE. But after 19 years three autochthonous cases of human TBE-infections were identified between 2004 and 2006. We subsequently collected ticks from the three areas where the infection had been acquired and tested them for the presence of TBE-virus RNA with a nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Since there is evidence that a blood-meal leads to an increase of FSME-RNA in ticks, we tested both, unfed ticks and ticks after a blood-meal. Three unfed and one fed nymph from the area around Lake Woblitz and one unfed and one fed nymph from Thiessow were positive for TBE-virus RNA. A total of six of 250 (2.4%) ticks tested positive for TBE-virus. The emerging of human TBE infections in three regions in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania shows that the activity of natural TBE virus foci does not cease even after decades, or that TBE-infected ticks could have recolonized these regions.

[Global warming: trailblazer for tropical infections in Germany?]. / Globale Erwärmung: Wegbereiter für tropische Infektionskrankheiten in Deutschland?

Since 1850, the CO (2) content of the atmosphere has increased from 280 to 360 ppm, and the average surface temperature has risen from 14.6 to 15.3 C . A further increase between 1.8 and 4.0 C is expected for the 21st century. Temperate and cold climate zones are affected predominantly, but tropical regions are not spared. At the same time, the world wide climate effects of the "El Niño Southern Oscillation" are amplified. Global warming enhances the growth of tropical pathogens (malarial plasmodia, leishmania, yellow fever virus, dengue virus, West Nile virus, Vibrio cholerae) and vectors (anopheles, aedes, culex, and phlebotomus mosquitos; hard ticks). Global warming may lead to the emergence of diseases which at present are not endemic in Germany, like West Nile fever, Dengue fever, or Leishmaniases, and to enhanced transmission of borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis. Malaria and cholera, in contrast, are influenced more strongly by socioeconomic factors. Improved surveillance and intensified research on the relationship between climate change and infectious diseases is needed.