[Ten years of endovenous ablation - achievements, failures and future]. / Deset let endovenózní ablace varixu, úspechy, neúspechy a budoucnost.

Endovenous ablation of varicose veins is a very frequent treatment method which has more or less replaced the classic stripping method. It has its limitations, advantages as well as disadvantages. The authors present a summarizing article and their own experience with these methods. Histology examinations performed prove differences in the reaction of the endothelium to the individual types of endovenous therapy. Causes of varicose veins treatment failures are discussed.

[Transmissing electron microscopy of the vitreo-macular border in clinically significant diabetic macular edema]. / Transmisní elektronová mikroskopie vitreomakulárniho rozhraní u klinicky signifikantního diabetického makulárního edému.

The authors examined samples of the epimacular tissue in clinically significant macular edema by means of the transmissing electron microscopy. They did not found morphological differences between samples from patients already treated by means of laser photocoagulation before the pars plana vitrectomy and those without the laser treatment. Findings may be divided into three groups: (1) the inner limiting membrane (ILM) covered with collagen vitreous fibers, (2) cells' elements of the fibroblasts category, and (3) fibrous astrocytes in the vitreous cortex constituting one- or multilayer cellular membranes.

Laser-tissue interaction in endovenous laser treatment.

The authors present the results of recorded changes in the endothelium in rabbit's veins following photocoagulation by laser diode. This study concentrates mainly on the detailed description of individual changes in the rabbit's venous system in the area of pelvis following laser therapy. The aim of our experiments was to reach the obliteration of rabbits' lateral saphenous vein using 980 nm laser diode with 200 micron fibre. The intensity of discharge was 3, 5, 6 and 7 watts. We examined the relationship between changes and the amount of joules that affect the endothelium of the rabbit's veins. The operation was conducted under general anaesthesia. All animals survived treatment and were returned to breeders. Within the time span of one, three, six and eight weeks the laser treated veins were removed. They were fixed in formaldehyde and sent for microscopic examination. We were interested in how long it will take for fibrous changes to occur in the endothelium of the vein and thus also the subsequent occlusion of the vein depending on the amount of joules applied per one centimetre of the vein (Tab. 1, Fig. 4, Ref 6).

[Transmission electronic microscopy of the inner limiting membrane and epiretinal tissue in idiopathic macular hole]. / Transmisní elektronová mikroskopie vnitrní limitující membrány a epiretinální tkáne u idiopatické makulární díry.

The authors examined samples of epimacular tissue obtained during the surgeries of the idiopathic macular hole in different stages of the disease by means of transmission electronic microscopy. In the early stages of the disease only the inner limiting membrane with isolated cells on the vitreous side was present, in later ones of the disease the connective tissue membrane was attached. In rare cases of the later stages of the disease they found the presence of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). They suppose the RPE plays an important role in the regeneration of the defects of the retina.

[Ultrastructure of the iris pigmentary epithelium]. / Ultrastruktura duhovkového pigmentového epitelu.

The iris pigmentary epithelium has identical structure as the retinal epithelium has. The peripheral iridectomy makes it possible to obtain sufficient amount of tissue to be used for the multiplication of the pigmentary epithelium cells in tissue culture, or, for direct implantation into the subretinal space. The technique of the peripheral iridectomy is regardful enough; in none of the specimens mechanically damaged cells were found.

[Transmission electron microscopy of the pupillary membranes in neovascular glaucoma and chronic hemophthalmos]. / Transmisní elektronová mikroskopie pupilární membrány u neovaskulárního glaukomu a chronického hemoftalmu.

The authors examined using transmission electron microscopy the pupillary membrane in neovascular glaucoma. The membrane was formed by connective tissue where fibroblasts, pigment cells and collagen fibres predominated. The high cell content suggested a high metabolic and growth activity.

[Transmisssion electron microscopy of a submacular membrane imitating an intraocular tumor]. / Transmisní elektronová mikroskopie submakulární membrány, imitující nitroocní nádor.

The authors examined by transmission electron mycroscopy (TEM) a large submacular neovascular membrane which imitated clinically an intraocular tumour. TEM revealed in the sample fibroblast, pigmented retinal cells, parts of light-sensitive cells, a haematoma and connective tissue.

[Ultrastructure of the lens capsule in pseudoexfoliation syndrome]. / Ultrastruktura cockového pouzdra u pseudoexfoliacního syndromu.

The authors examined, using transmission electron microscopy, the lenticular capsule obtained during phacoemulsification by circular capsulorrhexy in pseudoexfoliation syndrome. The assembled findings indicate degenerative changes of the lenticular capsule, manifested by destruction of the surface layer.

[Transmission electron microscopy of the surface of an intraocular lens removed from the eye]. / Transmisní elektronová mikroskopie povrchu nitroocní cocky vyjmuté z oka.

The authors examined by transmission electron microscopy the surface of an intraocular posterior chamber lens explanted from the eye of a female patient on account of secondary glaucoma. They found a fibrous reaction in particular at the site of contact of the supporting haptic with the sulcus of the ciliary body which was the cause of failure of conservative treatment.

[Ultrastructural changes in the vitreous body in diabetic retinopathy]. / Ultrastrukturální zmeny sklivce pri diabetické retinopatii.

The authors investigated by transmission electron microscopy bioptic specimens obtained during pars plana vitrectomy. In the findings phagocytozing cells predominate. Due to cell damage accurate typing is difficult. The authors discuss the causes and extent of cellular damage. From morphological findings the conclusion can be drawn that in the histological picture macrophages, hyalocytes and damaged collagen fibrils predominate.

[Pathogenesis of disorders of transparency of the optic medium of the eye. V. Ultrastructure of lens in chalcosis using scanning electron microscopy]. / Patogeneze poruch transparence optického prostredí oka. V. Ultrastruktura chalkózy cocky rastrovací elektronovou mikroskopií.

The authors investigated ultrastructural changes of the rabbit lens after experimentally induced chalcosis. From the results it may be concluded that the toxic actions of copper are mainly in the lenticular capsule and epithelium, although they are also apparent in the lenticular fibres.

[Pathogenesis of disorders of transparency of the optic media of the eye. VI. Transmission electron microscopy in chalcosis of the lens]. / Patogeneze poruch transparence optického prostredí oka. VI. Transmisní elektronová mikroskopie u chalkózy cocky.

By means of transmission electron microscopy in the chalcotic lens ultrastructural changes were probed which can be divided into specific and non-specific ones. Specific findings include proliferation of vacuoles in the cytoplasm, development of oedema of lenticular fibres and dilatation of intercellular spaces. For specific findings intercellular chalcosomes in the shape of copper crystals are typical. Copper crystals are dispersed also in the cytoplasm in formations lined by the membrane. Non-specific changes in the chalcotic lens can be classified as degenerative changes in the lenticular capsule, which is divided into segments.

The capsule structure of Pacinian corpuscles from the cat mesentery.

Using the electronograms of Pacinian corpuscle capsule of the cat mesentery the authors have studied in details the structure of its layers and lamellae. The thickness of the capsule lamellae ranged between 30 nm-320 nm, the mean width being 150 nm. On the surface they are overlaid by means of lamina basalis. The capsule is formed by circular layers composed, most often, by 1-2 lamellae, less frequently, by larger number of lamellae. The width of the space between the layers of lamellae is 150-820 nm. A number of lamellae is provided with longer or shorter processes. They are directed more often to the adjacent lamella with which they can be also connected by means of membrane specialization. However, they are also directed into the space between individual layers of the capsule. The importance of these processes has not been known. Furthermore, the authors have studied the reciprocal link-up of the lamellae within one layer. The lamellae are connected either side-to-side, by inserting the end of one lamella into the infolding of the other, end-to-side or end-to-end. Rich pinocytotic activity (rich occurrence of caveolae) was observed in the lamellae of the capsule. Therefore the authors are of the opinion that the capsule and its lamellae have not only mechanical significance or the function of the transfer system and filter, but they form an important component (subsystem) of the whole metabolic system in the sensory corpuscle.

[Pathogenesis of transparency disorders of the optical environment of the eye. IV. Electron microscopy study of the vitreous body in chalcosis]. / Patogeneze poruch transparence optického prostredí oka. IV. Elektronove mikroskopická studie sklivce u chalkózy.

The authors proved, based on electron microscopic analysis that the vitreous body of the rabbit creates under physiological conditions a regular network of collagenous fibrils with a different cell population. The cells can be divided into three basic types: 1. Large cells with a lobular nucleus and well differentiated cytoplasm and multiple organelles which ensure a high metabolic activity. 2. The second type are cells of an elongated shape with an oval nucleus surrounded by a thin layer of cytoplasm with a small amount of organelles. 3. The third type are large globular cells with a homogeneous structureless mass. The basic cytoplasm with the nucleus and a negligible amount of organelles is pushed to the cell surface and thus forms a thin layer beneath the plasmalemma. Contrary to the pathologically altered vitreous body, the authors did not detect on the sound vitreous body any phagocytosing cells. On the other hand, the long-term effect of copper in experimental chalcosis markedly alters the cytological character of the structure of the vitreous body. Cell types typical for a sound vitreous body were not found in the affected eye in chalcosis. In addition to rare destroyed cells containing autophagosomes of varying size with incomplete plasmalemma at some sites there is the important finding of two different forms of phagocytes in the pathological vitreous body: 1. Neutrophil granulocytes and 2. Macrophages containing large phagosomes in the cytoplasm. Their function is to eliminate destroyed tissues and engulfing of copper particles.

Ultrastructure of the vitreous body of the rabbit.

Examination in the scanning and the transmission electron microscope showed three morphologically and structurally different types of cells in the vitreous body of the healthy rabbit eye: 1. cells with numerous cytoplasm processes, whose high metabolic activity is represented by the presence of a large number of organelles and which are capable of synthesizing fibrillar material; 2. elongate cells with a flattened nucleus, with long, narrow cytoplasm processes arising from both their poles and with only a few organelles in their cytoplasm; 3. large spherical cells with structureless contents, whose nucleus and few organelles are situated below the cell membrane. The organized component of the intercellular matter of the rabbit vitreous body is composed of collagen fibrils with a very variable diameter (24-180 nm), The collagen fibrils form the basis of the three-dimensional skeleton of the intercellular matter of the vitreous body.

M. flexor digitorum longus accessorius in the lower limb of man.

An atypical m. flexor digitorum longus accessorius was observed on the shin of the left pelvic limb. The muscle originates with 2 heads from the middle third of the tibia and from the deep leaf of the shin fascia. Its tendon descends to the planta pedis (passing through a separate tendon sheath in the region of the medial ankle). In the planta pedis it joins the tendons of the long flexor for the 2nd to 4th toes and takes in the strong tendon link of the m. flexor hallucis longus. A similar case was observed on the shin of the right pelvic limb. The muscle originates from the dorsal surface of the tibia, its tendon running below the retinaculum flexorum in a separate tendon sheath, and in the planta pedis it merges with the tendon of the m. flexor digitorum longus. Besides the accessory long flexors of the toes, there was described a muscle link between the heads of the m. flexor digitorum longus and m. flexor hallucis longus. The presence of the accessory toe flexor is, together with the existence of muscle links between the flexors in the region of the shin, evidence of regressive varieties.