Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Aim. To compare the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness between women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and healthy women. Materials and Methods. The study included 88 eyes of 44 women (group 1) with PCOS and 84 eyes of 42 healthy women (group 2). In all subjects, the RNFL and ganglion cell complex (GCC) thicknesses were measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT). In addition, visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure (IOP), refractive errors, central macular thickness (CMT), central corneal thickness (CCT), and excavation of optic disc were evaluated in all subjects. Results. Mean values of GCC, IOP, VA, CMT, CCT, and refractive errors were similar between the 2 groups. The average RNFL, superior average RNFL, and inferior average RNFL thicknesses were higher in subjects with PCOS than in healthy subjects (P=0.003, P=0.012, and P=0.009), respectively. Conclusion. The average RNFL, superior average RNFL, and inferior average RNFL thicknesses in women with PCOS were significantly higher than in healthy women

Adolescents with unexplained chest pain reported depression and impaired emotional and social functioning

AimChest pain is common in adolescence, but there are no established criteria for managing this problem, which is rarely associated with cardiac disease. This study addressed the gaps in the literature by evaluating psychosocial factors that could be associated with medically unexplained chest pain.MethodsWe consecutively selected 100 patients (68% girls) aged 13‐18 who were diagnosed with unexplained chest pain when they presented to the cardiology outpatient clinics of Tepecik Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey, between 30 September 2015 and 30 June 2018. The controls were 76 age‐ and sex‐matched adolescents (69% girls) aged 13‐18 who were undergoing routine cardiology assessments before joining sports clubs. We assessed their health‐related quality of life and any depression and physical symptoms.ResultsRegression analysis showed some adolescents were a number of times more likely to report chest pain. These included those who reported boredom (4.1 times), felt stressed or anxious (2.2) and those who experienced sleep disturbance (2.6), co‐morbid headaches (2.0), back pain (3.1) and impaired social functioning (1.2).ConclusionThe results indicated a significant association between unexplained chest pain and physical symptoms, depression and impaired emotional and social functioning. These factors warrant further evaluation.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/156129/2/apa15144.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/156129/1/apa15144_am.pd

Clinical, Radiological, Microbiological, and Histopathological Aspects of Acquired Dacryocystoceles

Purpose. The aim of this study is to investigate the etiology and the clinical, microbiological, histopathological, and radiological findings of acquired dacryocystoceles. Methods. In this retrospective study, we reviewed the clinical records of 10 eyes of 8 patients with dacryocystoceles who underwent external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) surgery. Etiology, presenting symptoms and radiological findings as well as microbiological and histopathological assessment results and outcome were analyzed. Results. The records of 8 patients with dacryocystoceles were included in this study. In the histopathological evaluations of the samples collected from the lacrimal sac wall, chronic inflammation was found in all biopsied samples and fibrosis was observed in two histopathological evaluations. Computerized tomography (CT) imaging showed fluid collection separated from adjacent tissues by a thin rim, corresponding to dacryocystoceles in the sac. In the microbiological culture examination of samples collected from the fluid within the cyst, no bacterial growth in 5 eyes, gram-negative bacillus growth in 3 eyes, and gram-positive cocci growth in 2 eyes were found. Conclusions. Acquired dacryocystoceles were observed extremely rarely and a definite pathogenic agent could not be identified in any of the cases, either microbiologically or histologically, whereas chronic inflammation was detected in all cases in our study

Comparison of Medpor Coated Tear Drainage Tube versus Silicon Tear Drainage Tube in Conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy: Problems and Solutions

Purpose. This study aims at comparing two different types of drainage tubes in conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy, which are used for upper lacrimal system obstruction or damage, with respect to their respective postoperative problems and solutions. Methods. Nineteen eyes of 17 patients who underwent conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy (CDCR) or conjunctivorhinostomy (CR) surgery with a Medpor coated tear drainage tube or silicon tube placement between October, 2010, and February, 2014, were included in this retrospective comparative study. Results. In the initial surgery, Medpor coated tear drainage tubes were used in 11 eyes by CDCR, whereas silicon tear drainage tubes were implanted into 2 eyes by CR and 6 eyes by CDCR. In group 1, proximal and distal obstructions developed postoperatively in 4 eyes, while 1 eye showed tube malposition and 3 eyes developed luminal obstruction by debris 3 times. In group 2, tube extrusion developed in 4 eyes, whereas tube malposition developed in 6 eyes and luminal obstruction by debris developed in 6 eyes at different times, for a total of 20 times. Conclusions. In our study, the most significant complication we observed in the use of silicon tear drainage tubes was tube extrusion,whereas the leading complication related to the use of Medpor coated tear drainage tubes was tube obstruction

Conversion to laparotomy in bening gynecologic laparoscopic surgery; Can surgical experience be protective

Laparoscopy is a surgical technique that is frequently used in the treatment of benign cases, but the conversion to open surgery (CTOS) complication is higher than laparotomy. In some cases, a conversion from laparoscopic surgery to open surgery is necessary to prevent or treat difficulties. In this study, the effect of surgical expertise on CTOS was evaluated on patients who had undergone laparoscopic surgery for benign indications. A total of 305 patients were included during the study period. These patients were divided into two groups: CTOS group (7 patients) and successful laparoscopy group (298 patients). Benign gynecological laparoscopy operation was converted to open surgery in 7 of 305 patients (2.29%) included in this study. Open surgery significantly prolonged hospital stays in patients compared to laparoscopic surgery. While wound infection was observed in 3 patients who underwent open surgery, no infection was observed in laparoscopic surgery group. Obtained results demonstrated that age, body mass index, sufficient surgical expertise, history of previous abdominal surgery and endometriosis, obstetrical status, abdomino-pelvic adhesions, and frozen pelvis did not create risk factor for CTOS in the treatment of benign cases with laparoscopic surgery. It was concluded that the conversion to open surgery is connected with technical problems instead of complication management or surgical complexity. [Med-Science 2023; 12(2.000): 368-73

Ultrasonic pretreatment and subsequent anaerobic digestion under different operational conditions

In this study ultrasonic pretreatment was investigated in order to improve anaerobic digestion. First, the most effective sonication time was selected during the preliminary studies conducted on waste activated sludge samples. Then the optimal time selected was confirmed running batch anaerobic reactors. In the last part of the experiments, the effect of sonication was investigated for different operational conditions of semi-continuous digesters. Preliminary studies showed 15 min of sonication increased 50 mg/L initial soluble COD concentration up to a value of 2500 mg/L. Batch anaerobic digester results indicated that the increased soluble substrate improved anaerobic biodegradability concurrently, again with the maximal improvement observed for 15 min of sonication. Results from semi-continuous reactors indicated that at SRT of 15 days and OLR of 0.5 kg/m(3) d, ultrasonic pretreatment improved the daily biogas production, methane production and volatile solids reduction significantly when compared to control system. During the operation of reactors at 7.5 days of SRT, pretreatment helped to keep the reactors working. A simple economical analysis of the system was performed using the data obtained during the laboratory study

Decontamination of autogenous bone grafts collected during dental implant site preparation: A pilot study

Dental implant site preparation produces bone particles that can be used as autogenous bone graft material for the reconstruction of alveolar bone defects; however, collected bone particles are contaminated with oral microorganisms that may cause augmentation failure due to complications associated with infection. The stringent aspiration protocol, preoperative oral chlorhexidine rinsing, and antibiotic prophylaxis were implemented before collecting bone particles. Nonetheless, collected bone particles were still contaminated with bacteria, and, therefore, decontamination of the collected bone particles with chlorhexidine or clindamycin was considered. The aims of this study were to quantitatively determine the degree of bacterial contamination of collected bone particles and to quantitatively evaluate the efficacy of treating collected bone particles with clindamycin or chlorhexidine solutions. Both of the agents effectively decontaminated the collected bone particles. Comparison between these antimicrobials in further studies could be useful in determining which is most effective. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2009;107:656-660

Clinical Study Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Aim. To compare the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness between women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and healthy women. Materials and Methods. The study included 88 eyes of 44 women (group 1) with PCOS and 84 eyes of 42 healthy women (group 2). In all subjects, the RNFL and ganglion cell complex (GCC) thicknesses were measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT). In addition, visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure (IOP), refractive errors, central macular thickness (CMT), central corneal thickness (CCT), and excavation of optic disc were evaluated in all subjects. Results. Mean values of GCC, IOP, VA, CMT, CCT, and refractive errors were similar between the 2 groups. The average RNFL, superior average RNFL, and inferior average RNFL thicknesses were higher in subjects with PCOS than in healthy subjects ( = 0.003, = 0.012, and = 0.009), respectively. Conclusion. The average RNFL, superior average RNFL, and inferior average RNFL thicknesses in women with PCOS were significantly higher than in healthy women