Corneal transplantation in children.

The main purpose of the study was to describe the surgical success rate and visual results of penetrating keratoplasty in children. This retrospective study included children that underwent corneal transplantation at the Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital "Sveti Duh", in the period 1994-1999. Patients' age ranged from 6 to 16 years. Twenty-five corneal transplants were performed in 24 eyes. Corneal pathologies were corneal leucoma, congenital dystrophy, corneal combustion, corneal scar after perforating injury, keratoconus, corneal melting, hematocornea and rekeratoplasty. The follow-up period was at least 6 months. The rate of graft survival was 1 year in 75% of eyes with congenital dystrophy and keratoconus. Hematocornea and rekeratoplasty ended with graft failure. Postoperative visual acuity improvement was recorded in 14 out of 25 eyes. Penetrating keratoplasty in children showed very good surgical success. The final visual outcome was affected by irreversible amblyopia.

Multilayer vs. monolayer amniotic membrane transplantation for deep corneal ulcer treatment.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of multilayer amniotic transplantation (AMT) for reconstruction of corneal stroma and epithelium. Corneal ulcer (28) was a consequence of a previous infectious or neurotrophic keratitis. In the first group (17) ulcer was covered with monolayer AM, while in the other group (11) there were two or more layers of AM situated in the ulcer and the whole cornea was covered with AM sheet. Monolayer AMT was successful in 64% while the multilayer AMT success rate was 72%. AM gradually dissolved within 3-6 postoperative weeks. AM transplantation facilitates rapid healing of corneal epithelium, reduces inflammation and stimulates epithelial cell regrowth. In eyes with deep corneal ulcer multilayer technique proved to be better then monolayer procedure.

[Histochemical investigations on sialic acid containing compounds in the CNS of teleosts (author's transl)]. / Histochemischer Nachweis Sialinsäure-haltiger Verbindungen im ZNS von Teleosteern

By means of histochemical experiments the qualitative (microphotographs) and quantitative (cytophotometry) distribution of sialic acid containing compounds was investigated in the mesencephalon and cerebellum of Carassius carassius. 1. The perikarya of nerve cells are especially stained by means of Azur A. 2. Nerve fibres, on the other hand, showed positive reactions with colloidal ironhydroxyd (CIH). 3. In different structures of the CNS the intensity of CIH-staining is decreased up to about 55% following treatment with neuraminidase. 4. There are no differences in the reactions of 7 degrees C as compared to 20 degrees C adapted animals.