Obstacles to Change in Educational Organization and Methods to Overcome these Obstacles: Views of Principals

AbstractThe aim of this research is to reveal the obstacles to change and methods to overcome these obstacles which the administrators encounter in educational organizations. In this research, extreme or deviant sampling a kind of qualitative research method is used. Administrators of school A located in a very low socio-economic neighbourhood called Esenler is chosen for the study. Encountered obstacles emphasized by all of five administrators are as follow; “the lack of economic sources, the pressure of the other neighbour school, heavy bureaucracy, lack of perceptions and agreements between organizations

Intravitreal Prn Ranibizumab Treatment for Macular Edema Due to Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion

Background/aim: To evaluate the effect of intravitreal pro re nata (PRN) ranibizumab treatment from the start on the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and the central retinal thickness (CRT) in macular edema (ME) due to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Materials and methods: Patients with ME secondary to BRVO, who were treated on a PRN basis after a single intravitreal ranibizumab injection, were retrospectively evaluated. The main outcome measures were changes in BCVA and CRT as measured by optical coherence tomography. Results: The number of injections over 6 months was 2.43 +/- 1.16. The mean BCVA of the patients was 0.84 +/- 0.10 logMAR at baseline and 0.41 +/- 0.06 at the 6th month (P < 0.001). Mean BCVA of the ischemic BRVO group was 1.06 +/- 0.68 logMAR at baseline and 0.44 +/- 0.30 logMAR at the 6th month (P < 0.05). Similarly, the mean BCVA of the nonischemic BRVO group was 0.77 +/- 0.53 logMAR at baseline and 0.41 +/- 0.36 logMAR at the 6th month (P < 0.05). Between groups, there was no significant difference in mean BCVA at any examination. Conclusion: Intravitreal ranibizumab is a safe and effective treatment option for ME due to ischemic and nonischemic BRVO using PRN from the start.WoSScopu

Supporting the Diagnosis Process and Processes After Treatment by Using Image Segmentation and Image Simulation Techniques: Keratoconus Example

A supporting application for field experts on diagnosing Keratoconus disease and monitoring the healing stage after treatment by a unified system of image segmentation and image simulation processes of corneal images was developed. For execution of this study, actual 545 two-dimensional corneal images were used. Before 3-D imaging process, affected corneal areas were segmented by using Global Thresholding and Watershed image segmentation methods. The original images and the segmented images were displayed in three-dimensional forms and compared with each other by the help of the developed system. The study aims to retrieve depth information from the recorded images by Scheimpflug camera and Placido disc combination with normalized Diamond-Square method and monitoring the treatment process effectively. This study shows that displaying the disease and the healing process can be improved by using 3-D imaging methods. Also it's forseen that this study will be an important step for future studies on corneal imaging.WoSScopusTr-Dizi

Transscleral Delivery of Bevacizumab-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles

asik, Mehmet/0000-0001-9154-2697;WOS: 000460555500017PubMed: 30841975Purpose: The aim of this study was to synthesize bevacizumab-loaded nanoparticles and evaluate their effects on the treatment of posterior segment diseases via subtenon injections. Methods: Bevacizumab-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (BLCNs) were synthesized by the ionic gelation method, and their physicochemical characteristics and in vitro release profile were studied. The BLCNs were characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM), FTIR spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and scanning electron microscopy. The BLCNs were delivered into rabbits' eyes via posterior subtenon injections. An immunohistochemical evaluation of the ocular tissues was performed, and the vitreous humor and serum bevacizumab levels were measured by ELISA. Results: Bevacizumab-loaded chitosan nanoparticles with a diameter of 80 to 380 nm were prepared and characterized. In vitro studies showed that after the first 5 days of the experiment, a significant increase in the drug release maintained the desired drug dosage for 3 weeks. Immunohistochemical in vivo studies revealed that there were BLCNs penetrating through the sclera. Furthermore, the intravitreal bevacizumab concentration reached a maximum concentration of 18 mu g/ml, and it decreased to 6 mu g/ml after only a week. Conclusion: The results revealed that subtenon injection of BLCNs is a promising alternative to intravitreal injections. In addition to the ELISA studies, immunohistochemical experiments confirmed that BLCNs enable transscleral bevacizumab penetration, and BLCN usage may provide the required bevacizumab levels for the treatment of posterior segment diseases.Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [111 S 292 1002]This research was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) grants 111 S 292 1002 Short Term R&D Funding Program

The Effect of Perioperative Topical Ketorolac 0.5% on Macular Thickness After Uneventful Phacoemulsification

Background To evaluate the effects of topical 0.5% ketorolac treatment combined with topical steroids on macular thickness in cases who had uneventful phacoemulsification surgery. Methods 58 eyes of 58 consecutive cases were included. The mean foveal thickness (MFT), parafoveal thickness (ParaFT), and perifoveal thickness (PeriFT) measurements were performed with optical coherence tomography (RTVue-100, Optovue, Fremont, CA, USA) preoperatively and at postoperative 1 week, 1 month, and 2 months. All cases received topical 0.1% dexamethasone postoperatively. Randomly selected cases additionally received topical 0.5% ketorolac, which started 2 days prior to surgery. Cases who received both topical steroids and ketorolac formed group 1 and subjects who received only topical steroids formed group 2. Results The increase in mean MFT at the 1st week, 1st month, and 2nd months after surgery in group 1 was significantly lower than group 2 (P = 0.008, P ≤ 0.001, and P ≤ 0.001, resp.). In group 1, the increase in mean ParaFT and PeriFT was significantly lower than group 2 at the 1st and 2nd months of the surgery (P < 0.05 for all variables). Conclusions Topical ketorolac combined with steroids is highly efficacious in order to prevent increment in thickness on each part of the macula even after an uneventful phacoemulsification surgery comparing to steroid monotheraphy.PubMedWoSScopu