The effect of intravitreal administration of bevacizumab on macular edema and visual acuity in age-related macular degeneration with subfoveolar choroidal neovascularisation

Background/Aim. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of the loss of central visual acuity in population older than 70 years. We can distinguish wet and dry form of AMD. The aim of the study was to present our early results in treatment of the wet (neovascular) form of AMD with intravitreal administration of bevacizumab. Methods. The study included 39 patients. Each patient underwent a complete ophthalmological examination, fluorescein angiography (FA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). All the patients received 1.25 mg of intravitreal bevacizumab (0.05 mL of commercial phial of Avastin®). The total of three doses was given with a one-month interval between doses. Results. Among 39 patients, 24 were women and 15 men. The average best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was improved from 0.09 before the therapy to 0.24 after the administration of all the three doses of bevacizumab (p < 0.001). The average central macular thickness (CMT) measured by OCT was improved from 474 μm in the beginning to 341 μm after the administration of all the three doses of the drug (p < 0.001). There were no side effects. Conclusions. Our short-term experience indicates that intravitreal administration of three doses of bevacizumab in one-month intervals between the doses leads to a significant reduction of macular edema and improvement of BCVA in patients with neovascular AMD

Licheniocin 50.2 and Bacteriocins from Lactococcus lactis subsp lactis biovar. diacetylactis BGBU1-4 Inhibit Biofilms of Coagulase Negative Staphylococci and Listeria monocytogenes Clinical Isolates

Background Coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) and Listeria monocytogenes have important roles in pathogenesis of various genital tract infections and fatal foetomaternal infections, respectively. The aim of our study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of two novel bacteriocins on biofilms of CoNS and L. monocytogenes genital isolates. Methods The effects of licheniocin 50.2 from Bacillus licheniformis VPS50.2 and crude extract of bacteriocins produced by Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis BGBU1-4 (BGBU1-4 crude extract) were evaluated on biofilm formation and formed biofilms of eight CoNS (four S. epidermidis, two S. hominis, one S. lugdunensis and one S. haemolyticus) and 12 L. monocytogenes genital isolates. Results Licheniocin 50.2 and BGBU1-4 crude extract inhibited the growth of both CoNS and L. monocytogenes isolates, with MIC values in the range between 200-400 AU/ml for licheniocin 50.2 and 400-3200 AU/ml for BGBU1-4 crude extract. Subinhibitory concentrations (1/2 x and 1/4 x MIC) of licheniocin 50.2 inhibited biofilm formation by all CoNS isolates (p lt 0.05, respectively), while BGBU1-4 crude extract inhibited biofilm formation by all L. monocytogenes isolates (p lt 0.01 and p lt 0.05, respectively). Both bacteriocins in concentrations of 100 AU/mL and 200 AU/mL reduced the amount of 24 h old CoNS and L. monocytogenes biofilms (p lt 0.05, p lt 0.01, p lt 0.001). Conclusions This study suggests that novel bacteriocins have potential to be used for genital application, to prevent biofilm formation and/or to eradicate formed biofilms, and consequently reduce genital and neonatal infections by CoNS and L. monocytogenes

Licheniocin 50.2 and Bacteriocins from Lactococcus lactis subsp lactis biovar. diacetylactis BGBU1-4 Inhibit Biofilms of Coagulase Negative Staphylococci and Listeria monocytogenes Clinical Isolates

Background Coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) and Listeria monocytogenes have important roles in pathogenesis of various genital tract infections and fatal foetomaternal infections, respectively. The aim of our study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of two novel bacteriocins on biofilms of CoNS and L. monocytogenes genital isolates. Methods The effects of licheniocin 50.2 from Bacillus licheniformis VPS50.2 and crude extract of bacteriocins produced by Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis BGBU1-4 (BGBU1-4 crude extract) were evaluated on biofilm formation and formed biofilms of eight CoNS (four S. epidermidis, two S. hominis, one S. lugdunensis and one S. haemolyticus) and 12 L. monocytogenes genital isolates. Results Licheniocin 50.2 and BGBU1-4 crude extract inhibited the growth of both CoNS and L. monocytogenes isolates, with MIC values in the range between 200-400 AU/ml for licheniocin 50.2 and 400-3200 AU/ml for BGBU1-4 crude extract. Subinhibitory concentrations (1/2 x and 1/4 x MIC) of licheniocin 50.2 inhibited biofilm formation by all CoNS isolates (p lt 0.05, respectively), while BGBU1-4 crude extract inhibited biofilm formation by all L. monocytogenes isolates (p lt 0.01 and p lt 0.05, respectively). Both bacteriocins in concentrations of 100 AU/mL and 200 AU/mL reduced the amount of 24 h old CoNS and L. monocytogenes biofilms (p lt 0.05, p lt 0.01, p lt 0.001). Conclusions This study suggests that novel bacteriocins have potential to be used for genital application, to prevent biofilm formation and/or to eradicate formed biofilms, and consequently reduce genital and neonatal infections by CoNS and L. monocytogenes

Optical coherence tomography in late solar retinopathy

Introduction. Solar retinopathy refers to retinal injury induced by direct or indirect solar viewing. Case report. We presented a patient who had observed partial solar eclipse 51 year before. He had bilaterally decreased vision and scar of the macular region at the time of presentation. The basic diagnostic tool applied in the presented patient, optical coherence tomography, showed hyporeflexivity of the outer retina in the segment of retinal pigment epithelialphotoreceptors complex with atrophy and thinning of the foveolar region. Conclusion. Optical coherence tomography is a powerful, non-invasive diagnostic tool which can ease the diagnosis and estimate the level and nature of the macular region damage

MIVOC method at the mVINIS ion source

Based on the metal-ions-from-volatile-compounds (MIVOC) method with the mVINIS ion source, we have produced multiply charged ion beams from solid substances. Highly in tense, stable multiply charged ion beams of several solid substances with high melting points were extracted by using this method. The spectrum of multiply charged ion beams obtained from the element hafnium is presented here. For the first time ever, hafnium ion beam spectra were recorded at an electron cyclotron resonance ion source. Multiply charged ion beams from solid substances were used to irradiate the polymer, fullerene and glassy carbon samples at the channel for the modification of materials

Strukturne modifikacije tankih slojeva fulerena pri bombardovanju višestruko naelektrisanim jonima gvožđa

In this paper, the results of structural modification of fullerene thin films bombarded by highly charged iron ions (Fe6+) have been presented. The properties of as-deposited and irradiated fullerene thin films have been investigated by Raman spectroscopy, UV/Vis spectrophotometry and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Results of Raman spectroscopy have indicated structural changes of irradiated thin films depending on fluences. It was found that iron doped fullerene films are dominated by sp3 rather than sp2 bonds after bombardment which might be due to formation of nano-diamond structures. AFM analysis showed that ion beam had destroyed the surface ordering. The optical band gap was found to be in the range of 0.6 to 1.4 eV for irradiated films by Fe6+ ions at the highest fluences.U radu su prikazani rezultati strukturne modifikacije tankih slojeva fulerena koji su bombardovani višestruko naelektrisanim jonima gvožđa (Fe6+). Osobine deponovanih i bombardovanih tankih slojeva fulerena su ispitivane Ramanovom spektroskopijom, mikroskopom atomske sile (AFM), kao i UV/Vis spektrometrijom. Na osnovu rezultata dobijenih Ramanovom analizom može se zaključiti da dolazi do strukturnih promena u bombardovanim fulerenskim slojevima u zavisnosti od doze zračenja. Utvrđeno je da u tankim slojevima koji su bombardovani višestruko naelektrisanim jonima gvožđa dominiraju sp3 veze u odnosu na broj sp2 veza. Dominantno prisustvo sp3 veza u bombardovanim slojevima ukazuje na moguće formiranje dijamantu slične strukture. AFM analiza je pokazala da je promenjena morfologija bombardovanih uzoraka. Utvrđeno je da je energetski procep ozračenih slojeva u opsegu od 0.6 do 1.4 eV u zavisnosti od primenjene doze zračenja

Sinteza amorfnog bor karbida bombardovanjem tankih slojeva fulerena jonima bora

In this paper, results of structural modification of fullerene thin films by single and multiple charged boron ions (B+, B3+) are presented. The applied ion energies were in the range of 15 to 45 keV. The characterization of as-deposited and irradiated specimens has been performed by atomic force microscopy, Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV/VIS spectrophotometry. The results of Raman analysis have shown the formation of amorphous layer after irradiation of fullerene thin films. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy has confirmed the formation of new B-C bonds in irradiated films at higher fluences (2x1016 cm-2). The morphology of bombarded films has been changed significantly. The optical band gap was found to be reduced from 1.7 to 1.06 eV for irradiated films by B3+ ions and 0.7 eV for irradiated films by B+ ions.U radu su prikazani rezultati strukturne modifikacije tankih slojeva fulerena bombardovanjem jednostruko i višestruko naelektrisanim jonima bora (B+, B3+). Energije korišćenih jona su bile u opsegu od 15 do 45 keV. Osobine deponovanih i ozračenih fulerenskih slojeva su proučavane pomoću mikroskopa atomske snage (AFM), Ramanovom i Furijeovom infracrvenom spektroskopijom (FTIR) i UV/VIS spektrometrijom. Rezultati koji su dobijeni na osnovu Ramanove spektroskopije su pokazali da se posle ozračivanja formirao sloj amorfnog ugljenika na površini uzorka. Furijeova infracrvena spektroskopija je pokazala da su se unutar ozračenog sloja formirale veze bora i ugljenika. Morfologija fulerenskih slojeva se značajno promenila posle bombardovanja jonima bora. Utvrđeno je da se energetski procep ozračenih slojeva smanjio sa 1.7 eV na 1.06 eV za slojeve bombardovane trostruko naelektrisanim jonima bora, i na 0.7 eV za slojeve bombardovane B+ jonima

Sinteza amorfnog bor karbida bombardovanjem tankih slojeva fulerena jonima bora

In this paper, results of structural modification of fullerene thin films by single and multiple charged boron ions (B+, B3+) are presented. The applied ion energies were in the range of 15 to 45 keV. The characterization of as-deposited and irradiated specimens has been performed by atomic force microscopy, Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV/VIS spectrophotometry. The results of Raman analysis have shown the formation of amorphous layer after irradiation of fullerene thin films. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy has confirmed the formation of new B-C bonds in irradiated films at higher fluences (2x1016 cm-2). The morphology of bombarded films has been changed significantly. The optical band gap was found to be reduced from 1.7 to 1.06 eV for irradiated films by B3+ ions and 0.7 eV for irradiated films by B+ ions.U radu su prikazani rezultati strukturne modifikacije tankih slojeva fulerena bombardovanjem jednostruko i višestruko naelektrisanim jonima bora (B+, B3+). Energije korišćenih jona su bile u opsegu od 15 do 45 keV. Osobine deponovanih i ozračenih fulerenskih slojeva su proučavane pomoću mikroskopa atomske snage (AFM), Ramanovom i Furijeovom infracrvenom spektroskopijom (FTIR) i UV/VIS spektrometrijom. Rezultati koji su dobijeni na osnovu Ramanove spektroskopije su pokazali da se posle ozračivanja formirao sloj amorfnog ugljenika na površini uzorka. Furijeova infracrvena spektroskopija je pokazala da su se unutar ozračenog sloja formirale veze bora i ugljenika. Morfologija fulerenskih slojeva se značajno promenila posle bombardovanja jonima bora. Utvrđeno je da se energetski procep ozračenih slojeva smanjio sa 1.7 eV na 1.06 eV za slojeve bombardovane trostruko naelektrisanim jonima bora, i na 0.7 eV za slojeve bombardovane B+ jonima