Choroidal thickness, ganglion cell layer and retinal nerve fiber layer: An evaluation in vitiligo patients

Aim: To evaluate the choroidal and retinal structures in vitiligo patients without periocular involvement. Methods: Choroidal and retinal images of 30 vitiligo patients and 31 healthy individuals were taken using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT), in this study. The choroidal thickness (CT) was measured at the fovea and at two points 1500 μm nasal and temporal positions to the fovea in a horizontal section. Results: Subfoveal CT values were significantly lower in vitiligo patients (P = 0.037). The differences between the groups in terms of superior quadrant retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and average macular ganglion cell–inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) values (P = 0.035 and P = 0.004, respectively) were statistically significant. Vitiligo area severity index (VASI) negatively correlated only with nasal RNFL values (r = −0.370). There was no significant correlation between other OCT parameters and VASI values (P > 0.05). Conclusion: CT and mGCIPL were found to be thinner in vitiligo patients. Progressive damage to the melanocytes in vitiligo, which play a protective role in the ocular structure, may result in these findings

Prognostic impact of CD4-positive T cell subsets in early breast cancer : a study based on the FinHer trial patient population

Background: The clinical importance of tumor-infiltrating cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) T cells is incompletely understood in early breast cancer. We investigated the clinical significance of CD4, forkhead box P3 (FOXP3), and B cell attracting chemokine leukocyte chemoattractant-ligand (C-X-C motif) 13 (CXCL13) in early breast cancer. Methods: The study is based on the patient population of the randomized FinHer trial, where 1010 patients with early breast cancer were randomly allocated to adjuvant chemotherapy containing either docetaxel or vinorelbine, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive patients were also allocated to trastuzumab or no trastuzumab. Breast cancer CD4, FOXP3, and CXCL13 contents were evaluated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and their influence on distant disease-free survival (DDFS) was examined using univariable and multivariable Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier estimates in the entire cohort and in selected molecular subgroups. Interactions between variables were analyzed using Cox regression. The triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subset of the HE10/97 randomized trial was used for confirmation. Results: High CXCL13 was associated with favorable DDFS in univariable analysis, and independently in multivariable analysis (HR 0.44, 95% CI 0.29-0.67, P Conclusions: The results provide a high level of evidence that humoral immunity influences the survival outcomes of patients with early breast cancer, in particular of those with TNBC.Peer reviewe

Assessment of reliability and quality of YouTube videos as an information source in Retinopathy of Prematurity treatment

To assess the reliability and quality of YouTube videos as an information source in Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) treatment. A YouTube search with the keyword "ROP treatment" was conducted. First 200 videos listed in the first 10 pages were evaluated. The upload sources, video length, days on YouTube, number of total views, likes, dislikes and comments were recorded. View ratio (VR), like ratio (LR) and video power index (VPI) were analyzed. Two ophthalmologists scored all videos using the DISCERN scoring system, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) criteria, and Global Quality Score (GQS). Seventy-three videos were included in the study. The mean VR, LR, and VPI were 4.92±10.11, 83.88±33.98, and 4.55±9.25, respectively. The main upload sources were universities/non-profit professional organizations (36.99%) and physicians (31.51%). The 18 of the 55 videos on treatment procedures contained information on all treatment procedures, 37 videos contained information about at least one of treatment options. The mean DISCERN score, JAMA score and GQS were 42.32±17.51, 2.81±1.03, and 3.12±1.48, respectively. The category of all videos according to the mean DISCERN score was "fair". The overall quality of YouTube videos on ROP treatment was intermediate. Although one third of videos were classified as good quality, most YouTube videos provided poor quality information. Competent authorities and experts should upload carefully recorded videos with reliable and quality content on YouTube to educate and increase the awareness of parents, especially in ROP requiring treatment. [Med-Science 2022; 11(4.000): 1613-8

GEOCHEMISTRY OF VERCENIK MOUNTAIN (RIZE) GRANITOIDS IN EASTERN PONTIDE IGNEOUS TERRANE, TURKEY: CONSTRAINS ON I-TYPE, HYBRIDE MAGMATISM

The outcropping granitoids in the Eastern Pontides, ranging from upper Cretaceous to Eocene in age, consisting of various intrusive rock units, have been defined as the composite Kackar Batholith. These rock units showing a high variety from granites through syenite and even to gabbros in composition are the plutonic equivalents of the Eastern Pontide Magmatism. This variety in both of the composition and age accompanies with a wide spectrum in genesis, from arc through collision and even to post-collisional within plate magmatism. The subunits of granitoids, The Ortakoy quartz monzonite, Kumlagolu monzogranite and Legenderesi micro granite, outcropping in the southern parts of the Kackar Batholith, the north of Vercenik Mountain, are the products of a K-rich calcalkaline, mostly metaluminous characterized, excessively continental crust contaminated, I-typed, and hybrid magma source's differentiation. According to some the HFSE, LILE and REE geochemistry data, such a single and hybrid magma is asserted to have a post-collisional genesis related to certain processes, like fractional crystallization and magma mixing. Late and post magmatic stages were dominated by strong hydrothermal activity. Granitoids of the studied area may be related to the igneous activity of the extensional regime in Eocene, after the collision of Anatolide - Pontide platforms, during a term of the well-known arc magmatism

DNA methylation variations between mono - and dizygotic twins

Monozygotic twins (MZ) who have a common genotype may show phenotypic discordance. One of the possible explanations is the existence of epigenetic changes which occur as DNA methylation alterations. DNA methylation changes were studied in 16 MZ twin pairs and 8 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs using CRED-RA technique. The most suitable primer (5'-GATGACCGCC-3') was selected out of 20, random, decamer primers. Significant DNA methylation changes were observed in either MZ or DZ twins. Each MZ twin pair share common RAPD profile, however some of them have their own methylation profile regardless their backgrounds. Environmental conditions alone should not be accounted for phenotypic discordance between MZ twins, although external factors may influence genetic and epigenetic nature and also the phenotype. Our results might be also useful for the identification of MZ twins. To our knowledge, tins is the first study to use CRED-RA in human genetics

Role of Hematological Parameters in the Diagnosis of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis in Children with Arthritis

Early diagnosis and treatment of arthritis are essential for the prognosis of the disease. Especially during the active phase of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), a prompt diagnosis is necessary to manage the disease properly. New inflammation markers such as neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet distribution width (PDW) have been investigated in various inflammatory disorders. This study aimed at the diagnostic value of NLR, MLR, MPV, and PDW in differentiating JIA in children with arthritis. Patients and Method: Case-control study with 324 children with arthritis (case group) and 324 healthy children (control group). Additionally, children with arthritis were grouped into JIA and non-JIA. Medical records of children aged 0-18 were retrospectively reviewed. Hematological parameters at the time of diagnosis were recorded. NLR, MLR, MPV, and PDW were analyzed in the study groups. Results: In the case group, 52.8% were boys, and 47.2% were girls; the mean age was 7.7 +/- 4.0 years. The NLR in the case group was significantly higher than the control one (p = 0.001). The mean MPV was lower in the case group than the control group (p = 0.001). There were no differences in NLR and MPV between JIA and non-JIA groups (p = 0.062, p = 0.689). The JIA group's mean PDW was lower than the non-JIA group (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The increase in NLR may indicate inflammation but has no superiority in distinguishing JIA from other arthritis causes. Platelet distribution width was lower in JIA patients, but its clinical utility is limited

Effects of tapes with double-sided delta-winglets on heat and vortex characteristics

An experimental study was carried out for tapes with double-sided delta-winglets under different geometrical and flow parameters, including angles of attack (90°, 60° and 30°), winglet heights (8, 12 and 16 mm), pitch arrangements (25, 50 and 75 mm) and Reynolds numbers (3690, 10493 and 16906). By using the Taguchi experimental-design method, the optimum parameters of the turbulator were determined by obtaining the Nusselt number, friction factor, amplitude of fluctuation pressure of the vortices and the vortex-shedding frequency. First of all, each goal was optimized, separately. Then, all the goals were optimized together, considering the priority of the goals, and the optimum results were obtained at a Reynolds number of 16906, 25 mm pitch, 8 mm height of winglet and 30° angle of attack, so that vortex-shedding frequencies are maximised. For lower frequencies, optimum conditions occurred at a Reynolds number of 16906 for 75 mm pitch, 8 mm height of winglet and 60° angle of attack.Heat-transfer enhancement Delta-winglet Taguchi method Flow-induced vibration

Effects of epirubicin on barley seedlings

Epirubicin (EPI) is one of the anthracycline antibiotics, which is used in cancer chemotherapy. It inhibits DNA and RNA synthesis and causes cell death by DNA cleavage and production of free radicals. In this study, phytotoxicity of EPI was investigated on root and shoot growth, antioxidant enzymes and retrotransposons' movements in 10- and 20-day-old barley seedlings. Mature embryos of barley were germinated on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 250 and 500 mu g/ml EPI. Our results showed that EPI treatment significantly inhibited shoot and root growth when compared with control group. Treatment with 250 and 500 mu g/ml of EPI reduced shoot length in the 10-day-old plants by approximately 1.5- and 2-fold, respectively; the same treatments reduced total root length by 2- and 4-folds, respectively. However, the shoot and root lengths of 20-day-old plants were observed to be more affected by EPI-treatment. A 500-mu g/ml concentration decreased total protein levels and peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.11) activity and increased superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) and catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) activities. To investigate the effect of EPI on the movements of BARE-1, SUKKULA and BAGY2 retrotransposons, inter-retrotransposon amplified polymorphism technique was performed. While some polymorphic polymerase chain reaction bands were observed for BARE-1, no polymorphism was identified in SUKKULA and BAGY2 movements. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing phytotoxic effects of EPI on plant germination and retrotransposons' movements