Evaluation of Choroidal Thickness in Patients with Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome and Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma

Purpose. To compare the macular and peripapillary choroidal thickness in eyes with pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome and PEX glaucoma with the normal eyes of healthy controls. Materials and Methods. In this prospective study, 30 eyes of 30 patients with PEX syndrome, 28 eyes of 28 patients with PEX glaucoma, and 30 eyes of 30 age-matched healthy subjects were enrolled. Choroidal thicknesses in the macular and peripapillary areas were measured by using spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Results. Gender, age, and axial length did not significantly differ between the groups (all, p>0.05). The mean values of choroidal thickness in the macular and peripapillary areas (except the superior quadrant) in the patients with PEX syndrome and PEX glaucoma were lower compared with controls (all p<0.05). The mean values of the macular and peripapillary choroidal thickness in the PEX glaucoma group were lower compared with PEX syndrome group; however this difference was not significant. Conclusions. The findings of this study revealed that macular and peripapillary choroidal thicknesses were decreased in PEX syndrome and PEX glaucoma cases. The role of choroid in the development of glaucomatous damage in patients with PEX syndrome remains unclear

Comparison of CT and integrated PET-CT based radiation therapy planning in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>When combined with adequate tumoricidal doses, accurate target volume delineation remains to be the one of the most important predictive factors for radiotherapy (RT) success in locally advanced or medically inoperable malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) patients. Recently, 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) has demonstrated significant improvements in diagnosis and accurate staging of MPM. However, role of additional PET data has not been studied in RT planning (RTP) of patients with inoperable MPM or in those who refuse surgery. Therefore, we planned to compare CT with co-registered PET-CT as the basis for delineating target volumes in these patients group.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Retrospectively, the CT and co-registered PET-CT data of 13 patients with histologically proven MPM were utilized to delineate target volumes separately. For each patient, target volumes (gross tumor volume [GTV], clinical target volume [CTV], and planning target volume [PTV]) were defined using the CT and PET-CT fusion data sets. The PTV was measured in two ways: PTV1 was CTV plus a 1-cm margin, and PTV2 was GTV plus a 1-cm margin. We analyzed differences in target volumes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In 12 of 13 patients, compared to CT-based delineation, PET-CT-based delineation resulted in a statistically significant decrease in the mean GTV, CTV, PTV1, and PTV2. In these 12 patients, mean GTV decreased by 47.1% ± 28.4%, mean CTV decreased by 38.7% ± 24.7%, mean PTV1 decreased by 31.1% ± 23.1%, and mean PTV2 decreased by 40.0% ± 24.0%. In 4 of 13 patients, hilar lymph nodes were identified by PET-CT that was not identified by CT alone, changing the nodal status of tumor staging in those patients.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study demonstrated the usefulness of PET-CT-based target volume delineation in patients with MPM. Co-registration of PET and CT information reduces the likelihood of geographic misses, and additionally, significant reductions observed in target volumes may potentially allow escalation of RT dose beyond conventional limits potential clinical benefits in tumor control rates, which needs to be tested in future studies.</p

Palladium N-heterocyclic-carbene-catalyzed ortho-arylation of benzaldehyde derivatives

WOS: 000259280600004New, sterically demanding 1,3-dialkylbenzimidazolium salts (2a-c) as N-heterocyclic-carbene precursors have been synthesized and characterized. The ortho position of aromatic aldehydes was directly and selectively arylated with aryl chlorides in the presence of a catalytic system prepared in situ from Pd(OAc)(2), 1,3-dialkylbenzimidazolium chlorides (2a-c), and Cs(2)CO(3). (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Palladium(II)-NHC complexes containing benzimidazole ligand as a catalyst for C-N bond formation

WOS: 000287164100001The reaction of 2-(2-bromoethyl)-1,3-dioxane with 1-alkylbenzimidazole derivatives results in the formation of the new benzimidazoliumsalts (1). The reaction of Pd(OAc)(2) with1,3-dialkylbenzimidazoliumsalts(1a-c) yields palladium N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes (2a-c). All synthesized compounds were characterized by (HNMR)-H-1, (CNMR)-C-13, IR and elemental analysis techniques which support the proposed structures. As catalysts, these new palladium complexes offer a simple and efficient methodology for the synthesis of triarylamines and secondary amines from anilines and amines and in a single step with potassium tertiary butoxide as a base. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Technological and Scientific Research Council of Turkey TUBITAK-CNRS (France)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [TBAG-U/181 (106T716)]; Inonu UniversityInonu University [IU BAP: 2009/10]This work was financially supported by the Technological and Scientific Research Council of Turkey TUBITAK-CNRS (France) [TBAG-U/181 (106T716)] and Inonu University Research Fund (IU BAP: 2009/10)

Synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity of novel N-heterocyclic carbene-palladium complexes

WOS: 000269288700027PubMed ID: 20449152The reaction of Pd(OAc)(2) with 1-(benzhydryl)-3-(alkyl) benzimidazolium salts 1a-d yields trans-bis[1-(benzhydryl)-3-(alkyl)benzimidazolin-2-ylidene]dibromopalladium(II) complexes (2a-d) which were characterized by elemental analysis, NMR spectroscopy and the molecular structures of 2b, and 2d were determined by X-ray crystallography. The catalytic activity of PdBr(2)bis(benzimidazolin-2- ylidene) complexes 2a-d was evaluated in the direct arylation reaction of benzothiazole with bromobenzene derivatives.Technological and Scientific Research Council of Turkey TUBITAK-CNRS (France)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [TBAG-U/181 (106T716)]; Inonu University Research FundInonu University [2009/13]; Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Ondokuz Mayis University, TurkeyOndokuz Mayis University [F279]This work was financially supported by the Technological and Scientific Research Council of Turkey TUBITAK-CNRS (France) [TBAG-U/181 (106T716)], Inonu University Research Fund (I.U.B.A.P: 2009/13) and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Ondokuz Mayis University, Turkey, for the use of the Stoe IPDS-II diffractometer (purchased from grant no. F279 of the University Research Fund)

Temporal variations of VOC concentrations in Bursa atmosphere

The levels and sources of VOCs in the atmosphere of Bursa have been investigated by measuring C-2 - C-12 VOCs which include alkanes, alkenes, alkines, aromatics and halogenated hydrocarbons in two different campaigns. The first campaign was carried out between September 14 and November 6, 2005, and the second one between March 17 and May 10, 2006. The concentrations of 112 VOCs were detected in the collected samples. The median total concentrations of VOCs were 115 and 86 mu g m(-3) for the first and second campaigns, respectively. Alkanes (x(-) = 51.50 mu g m(-3) ) are the most abundant group in the Bursa airshed, which is followed by aromatics (x(-) = 49.38 mu g m(-3) ), alkenes (x(-) = 36.86 mu g m(-3) ) and halogenated compounds (x(-) = 13.07 mu g m(-3) ). In the present study, the VOCs showed well defined diurnal, weekday/weekend and seasonal variations. Diurnal variation of most of the measured organic compounds followed traffic rush-hours. On the other hand, some VOCs such as 1-octene, 1-nonene, 1-undecene, nnonane, n-decane, 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene, undecane and dodecane have displayed unusual profiles that do not follow the traffic pattern during the first campaign due to asphalting operations. Moreover, the average T/B ratio obtained in the first campaign was found to be significantly higher than the second one. This relatively high difference between T/B ratios is an indication of the availability of different sources rather than the traffic. Therefore, it can be suggested that there were additional VOC sources than traffic in Bursa city center. (C) 2018 Turkish National Committee for Air Pollution Research and Control. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

ADHD and its associations with pregnancy, birth, developmental and medical-related characteristics

This study aimed to examine possible associations between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and pregnancy-related, birth-related, developmental, medical, and surgical history characteristics. The sample was derived from a non-referred community sample aged 6 to 14. 91 cases with ADHD and 264 without any psychopathology were compared in terms of psychological and physical problems in pregnancy, mode of delivery, birth complications, developmental stages, injuries, medical and surgical diseases. A semi-structured clinical interview was applied to diagnose the children. ADHD Rating Scale-IV (ADHD-RS-IV) was completed by the parents. Male gender, delay in talking time, and physical injury history predicted increased risks for ADHD. Although having any surgery, and in particular, tonsillectomy did not predict ADHD, inguinal hernia surgery alone predicted an increased risk for ADHD even when controlled for gender. Psychological problems during pregnancy were associated with elevated inattention (IN) and hyperactivity-impulsivity (HI) scores, but not associated with ADHD as a diagnosis. Elevated IN scores but not HI scores were associated with a physical injury history. Although the mode of delivery and physical disease history were not associated with ADHD, asthma increased the likelihood for higher HI scores. The findings have crucial clinical implications that address several points. The findings suggest ADHD may have associations with some negative neurodevelopmental, medical, and surgical history characteristics. The predictivity of inguinal hernia surgery for ADHD might depend on the exposure to general anesthesia at younger ages. Hence, children who had these features should carefully be screened for ADHD

KRAS codon 12 and 13 mutations may guide the selection of irinotecan or oxaliplatin in first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer

Background: In this study, we aimed to investigate the frequency, prognostic effect of codon, and amino acid-specific KRAS mutations in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and their predictive effect on irinotecan and oxaliplatin during first-line treatment. Methods: The data of 304 mCRC patients were retrospectively evaluated between 2010 and 2018. Patients were categorized according to the most prominent codon and amino acid mutation and their prognostic features were analyzed. Results: In total, 274 patients were included in the study and 128 patients (47%) revealed KRAS mutation. Median follow-up time was 19.8 months (range; 1.6-96). The median overall survival rates for patients with codons 12 and 13 mutations were 25.4 and 22.2 months, respectively (p = 0.4). Moreover, the median overall survival for the codon 12 mutant patients who received irinotecan-based chemotherapy in the first-line treatment was 42.7 months, whereas for the codon 13 mutant and KRAS wild-type patients, it was 18.3 and 23.9 months, respectively (codon 12 vs. codon 13; HR: 0.31, p = 0.03, codon 12 vs. wild-type; HR: 0.45, p = 0.03). Conclusion: The significant survival advantage was observed in patients with codon 12 mutations who received irinotecan-based chemotherapy as a first-line treatment