Blazed photon sieve for the correction of presbyopia.

What we believe to be a new type of transparent photon sieve is presented with application for presbyopia correction. Inspired by blazed gratings, we propose to design an intracorneal implant with slanted holes. The slopes introduce a new degree of freedom, breaking the symmetry of energy distribution along the optical axis and allowing to balance the energy between near and far vision. This new implant design is presented together with the simulation, manufacturing and validation methods. The first experimental results obtained with an implant manufactured in a biocompatible material are presented confirming the potential of the approach.

[Rash, fever, eosinophilia and elevated liver enzymes. DRESS syndrome (drug reaction or rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms)]. / Exanthem, Fieber, Eosinophilie und erhöhte Leberwerte. DRESS syndrome (drug reaction or rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms).

We report on a patient with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia who developed fever, rash, eosinophilia and hepatitis 10 days after initiation of a therapy with sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. A DRESS syndrome was diagnosed and the therapy was changed successfully to pyrimethamine and dapsone. We describe the clinical picture, causative drugs, pathogenesis, differential diagnoses and therapy of this life-threatening disease to acquaint the general practitioner with it.

[Solid or cystic renal mass]. / Solider oder zystischer Nierentumor?

In a patient with a bacterial nephritis and renal stones an incidental finding of a complicated renal cyst on the opposite side was made on CT scan. In contrast to the CT findings, on ultrasound examination the lesion appeared to be a solid mass. The injection of ultrasound contrast material confirmed this by showing an enhancement of the whole lesion. Finally, the histological finding after nephrectomy results in a renal cell carcinoma pT1a. In this situation contrast enhanced ultrasound seems to be more sensitive than CT scan in detecting the perfusion of a renal mass.

[Infection with fasciola hepatica - a case series]. / Fasciola-hepatica-Infektionen in der Schweiz - eine Fallserie.

AIM: Described are the clinical and, especially, the contrast-enhanced ultrasonographic presentation and recovery of four cases of fascioliasis occurring between December 2008 and February 2009. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A detailed history, clinical examination and laboratory investigation were followed by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography of the liver and serological evidence for the presence of antibodies. A final contrast-enhanced ultrasound was performed 6 weeks after treatment with triclabendazole. RESULTS: The patients displayed a variety of symptoms ranging from vasospastic myocardial infarction diagnosed via coronary angiography and a first-time occurrence of migraine as a result of hypereosinophilia to fever with weight loss and tumor-like liver lesions. The contrast-enhanced ultrasonographic hepatic changes in fascioliasis are characterized by segmental arterial hyperemia with emphasis on the liver periphery and subcapsular canalicular sparing corresponding to parenchymal necrosis and hemorrhage. In the later phases areas with inflammatory changes were unmasked due to phlebitis of the small portal vessels and granulomatous parenchymal changes. All four patients were successfully treated with triclabendazole without experiencing any serious side effects. CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography is well suited for the diagnosis and monitoring of hepatic fascioliasis.

[Seizure and non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema after intoxication]. / 35-jährige Patientin mit generalisiertem Krampfanfall und nicht-kardiogenem Lungenödem nach Intoxikation.

We report a case of severe intoxication with extended-release verapamil. In addition to cardiovascular toxicities with hypotension, atrioventricular block and bradycardia, the patient suffered from grand-mal seizure and pulmonary edema 13 and 48 hours respectively, after ingestion of 4.8 g of extended-release verapamil. Adverse reactions after intoxications with extended-release tablets appear delayed with prolonged manifestation of symptoms. Early and repetitive administration of activated charcoal and antegrade whole bowel lavage are crucial, even in primary asymptomatic patients.

[Drug-induced toxic hepatitis]. / Medikamentös-toxische Hepatitis.

A 55-year-old male patient was hospitalized with severe nausea, vomiting and icterus. Laboratory testing showed hepatocellular damage. After exhaustive testing, the exclusion diagnosis of a toxic hepatitis was reached. There was a strong temporal correlation with the ingestion of Hong Hua 29, a preparation from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This medication had been started twelve days prior to the first appearance of symptoms. The existing drug regimen included gabapentin (Neurontin), esomeprazole (Nexium) and prednisone (Prednison Streuli) for the therapy of an acute sensory and motor neuropathy of unknown aetiology. After cessation of Hong Hua 29, gabapentin and esomeprazole, transaminase levels started to declined and normalized within three months. According to the Swissmedic criteria of imputability, a causal correlation between the observed symptoms and the administration of Hong Hua 29 is possible.

[Zoledronate-associated end stage renal failure and hypocalcaemia]. / Zoledronat-assoziierte terminale Niereninsuffizienz und Hypokalzämie.

In an 81-year-old patient with a history of long-standing stable chronic renal failure a diagnosis of multiple myeloma was made. After an initial chemotherapy, a therapy with intravenous pamidronate, 90 mg monthly, was initiated. After four years of well tolerated therapy, pamidronate was stopped and zoledronate, 4 mg intravenously every four weeks, was started. After approximately one year, an elevated plasma creatinine was noted for the'first time, progressing to end stage renal failure within the next months. At admission, besides end-stage renal failure, severe asymptomatic hypocalcemia was noted. Renal biopsy findings included severe tubulointerstitial damage compatible with drug-induced tubular injury. Prerenal and postrenal failure could be excluded as well as myeloma kidney. The diagnosis of zoledronate-associated end-stage renal failure was made and treatment with hemodialysis was started. Hypocalcemia was treated with calcium and vitamin D3 supplements. After two years of follow up, the patient still required hemodialysis.

Influence of secondary infection on amputation in chronic critical limb ischemia.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the influence of secondary infection on major amputation in chronic critical leg ischemia (CLI). DESIGN: Prospective, controlled observational study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-seven patients with CLI and ischemic lesions participated in the study. Presence of infection was defined by clinical, laboratory and radiological criteria. Patients were categorized as having no local infection, soft tissue infection or osteomyelitis treated without antibiotics, amoxicillin/clavulanacid for 1 month or ciprofloxacin and clindamycin for 3 months, respectively. Clinical outcome was assessed at 2, 6 and 12 months. Study endpoints were major amputation and mortality. Analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Forty-seven of 67 patients had a local infection. Major amputation was lower in patients with successful revascularization as compared to patients unsuitable for or with failed (without) revascularization (0% vs 26%, p<0.01). In patients with successful revascularization the probability of complete healing was lower with secondary infection (23% vs 71%, p=0.03). In patients without revascularization complete healing was rare (<10%), but secondary infection did not influenced major amputation, mortality or serious adverse events. CONCLUSION: Secondary infection reduces the likelihood of successful healing following revascularisation of CLI.

Outpatient chemotherapy with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin in patients with biliary tract cancer.

This phase II study was conducted to determine the efficacy and toxicity of a gemcitabine (GEM) and oxaliplatin (OX) chemotherapy protocol in patients with unresectable biliary tract cancer (BTC). Patients were treated with GEM 1000 mg m-2 (30 min infusion) on days 1, 8, 15, and OX 100 mg m-2 (2 h infusion) on days 1 and 15 (gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (GEMOX-3 protocol), repeated every 28 days. The data were collected according to the Simon 2-stage design for a single centre phase II study (alpha=0.05; beta=0.2). Primary end point was response rate; secondary end points were time-to-progression (TTP), median survival, and safety profile. Thirty-one patients were enrolled in the study between July 2002 and April 2005. Therapeutic responses were as follows: partial response in eight patients (26%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 14-44), stable disease in 14 patients (45%, 95%CI 29-62), resulting in a disease control rate of 71%. Nine patients (29%, 95%CI 16-47) had progressive disease. Median TTP was 6.5 months. Median overall survival was 11 months. Common Toxicity Criteria (CTC) Grade 3-4 toxicities were transient thrombocytopenia (23%), peripheral sensory neuropathy (19%), leucopenia (16%), and anaemia (10%). In conclusion the GEMOX-3 protocol is active and well tolerated in patients with advanced BTC. It can be applied in an outpatient setting with three visits per month only.

Does infection affect amputation rate in chronic critical leg ischemia?

BACKGROUND: Aim was to analyze the association between local infection and amputation rate in patients with chronic critical limb ischemia (CLI) with or without successful revascularization. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 56 consecutive patients with 57 critically ischemic legs seen at the University Hospital Bern. Patients with CLI were selected if ischemic lesions and follow-up of more than 2 months were documented. Infection was suggested when 2 of the following criterion were present: temperature > 37 degrees C, C-reactive protein > 50 mg/L, leukocytes > 10 x 10(3)/microliter ("2 of 3" criterion), or a putrid secretion was documented ("secretion" criterion). RESULTS: In patients with successful revascularization (n = 39), there was a significant shift from 10.3% major to 33.3% minor amputations (Chi Square p value = 0.014) as compared to patients without or with failed revascularization (n = 18) with 44.4% and 11.1% (Chi Square p value = 0.008), respectively. An infection was suggested in 22 of 53 limbs (41.5%) according to the "2 of 3" criterion, and 30 of 57 limbs (52.6%) satisfying the "secretion" criterion. Both criteria, were significantly more common in patients undergoing amputation as compared to patients without amputation (p = 0.001). Multiple lesions were more common in patients with major amputations (p = 0.026). CONCLUSION: Successful revascularization effectively reduces major amputations and leads to healing of ischemic ulcers. Secondary foot infections are frequent. Infections are associated with a significantly higher rate of minor and major amputations, also in patients with successful revascularization, and should be treated adequately as well as in time with antibiotics.