[Prognostic factors for visual outcome after intravitreal drug therapy for chronic diabetic macular oedema]. / Prognostische Faktoren beim chronisch-diabetischen Makulaödem nach intravitrealer Therapie.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, intravitreal bevacizumab and triamcinolone acetonide (TA) have been widely used to treat diabetic macular oedema (DMO). However, the indication criteria are not clear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors which are decisive for long-term visual outcome after intravitreal drug treatment for eyes with DMO. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty eyes (37 patients) treated with intravitreal bevacizumab, TA, or sequentially with both for DMO with a minimum follow-up period of 6 months were analysed retrospectively. The eyes with an increase of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at the last visit were classified as gainers, and eyes with stable or decreased BCVA as non-gainers. Clinical and imaging findings were evaluated. RESULTS: BCVA significantly increased in 22 eyes and decreased in 28 eyes after a mean follow-up period of 14.6 ± 6 months after initial intravitreal intervention. Unfavourable for the long-term visual outcome was the presence of cystoid macular oedema (CMO, p < 0.001), whereas an early response at 5 weeks into therapy indicated a positive outcome (p = 0.016). The initial central macular thickness measured by OCT, the type of agent used in monotherapy, age and gender were without influence on long-term visual acuity. CONCLUSIONS: An initial CMO is unfavourable for the prognosis of long-term visual outcome of DMO. Hence, benefit from intravitreal treatment with bevacizumab and/or TA is more likely in the early stages of chronic DMO before CMO has evolved. In eyes without CMO even a low number of injections is beneficial. An early response following intravitreal bevacizumab or TA is a predictor of long-term benefit.

[The effects of premature deciduous molar loss on the succeeding premolars]. / Auswirkungen eines vorzeitigen Milchmolarenverlustes auf die nachfolgenden Prämolaren.

By means of panoramic radiographs of 76 patients we investigated the development and eruption of lower premolars following premature loss of their deciduous predecessor. Following extraction of deciduous molars the mineralization of the bicuspids was accelerated. The eruption of the respective bicuspids took place earlier than expected. During eruption root length was shorter than usual for that stage of development. Although the bicuspids reached occlusion earlier than normal, root mineralization continued to normal length.

[Bioelectrode jellies for long-term monitoring (author's transl)]. / Bewertung von Kontaktvermittlern für Bioelektroden bei Langzeituntersuchungen.

The properties of 18 electrode jellies were investigated: electrical conductivity, ionic content, pH, skin irritation, and skin impedance reduction with different skin preparations, motion artifact, electrochemical noise with different electrode material, susceptibility to drying, ease of handling, and cost. There were significant differences of performance. Skin compatibility after 8 h ranged from "no irritation" to "severely irritating". A skin irritation most likely occurred with decornifying skin preparation. The specific skin impedance 24 min after the application ranged from 15 k omega . cm2 to 125 k omega . cm2. The motion artifacts differed up to 250%. All jellies produced negligible noise with Ag/AgCl and stainless steel electrodes. However, with gold and silver electrodes the noise amounted to 19 and 23 mu V. The NaCl content was correlated to the skin irritation and the impedance reduction. The impedance reduction correlated inversely to the skin compatibility and the motion artifact. Guidelines for the selection of an appropriate jelly in ergonomic long-term monitoring are given.