Evaluation of the Long-Term Clinical Results of 3 Patients Implanted with the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis

This study presents the long-term clinical results of Argus II retinal prosthesis implantation in eyes with light perception and projection in 3 patients with end-stage retinitis pigmentosa. No conjunctival erosion, hypotony, or implant displacement was observed during postoperative follow-up. The electrical threshold values were lower in the macular region and higher close to the tack fixation region and peripherally. Optical coherence tomography scans showed fibrosis and retinoschisis formation at the retina-implant interface in two cases. This was attributed to mechanical and electrical effects on the tissue due to the active daily use of the system and the electrodes’ proximity to the retina. The patients were able to integrate the system into their daily lives and perform activities that they could not do before. Studies on retinal prostheses for the rehabilitation of hereditary retinal diseases are ongoing, so both social and clinical observations and experiences related to the implant are valuable

Jerky seesaw nystagmus with internuclear ophthalmoplegia as the presenting finding in systemic lupus erythematosus

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Analysing the Progression Rates of Macular Lesions with Autofluorescence Imaging Modes in Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Objectives: In this study we aimed to compare the sensitivity of blue-light fundus autofluorescence (FAF) and near-infrared autofluorescence (NI-AF) imaging for determining the progression rates of macular lesions in dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Materials and Methods: The study was designed retrospectively and included patients diagnosed with intermediate and advanced stage dry AMD. Best corrected visual acuities and FAF and NI-AF images were recorded in 46 eyes of 33 patients. Lesion borders were drawn manually on the images using Heidelberg Eye Explorer software and lesion areas were calculated by using Microsoft Excel software. BCVA and lesion areas were compared with each other. Results: Patients’ mean follow-up time was 30.98±13.30 months. The lesion area progression rates were 0.85±0.93 mm2/y in FAF and 0.93±1.01 mm2/y in NI-AF, showing statistically significant correlation with each other (r=0.883; p<0.01). Both imaging methods are moderately correlated with visual acuity impairment (r=0.362; p<0.05 and r=0.311; p<0.05, respectively). In addition, larger lesions showed higher progression rates than smaller ones in both imaging methods. Conclusion: NI-AF imaging is as important and effective as FAF imaging for follow-up of dry AMD patients

Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Findings in Carotid Artery Disease

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of carotid artery disease on retinal morphology by means of spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Materials and Methods: We examined 23 eyes with internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis and 24 age- and gender-matched healthy eyes as a control group in this prospective, case-control study. Compherensive ophthalmic examination and SD-OCT scan were performed to all the patients. The average RNFL and macular thicknesses (MT) in the nine macular ETDRS areas were the major OCT measurements for our study. Results: Although all of the average RNFL and MT measurements were lower in the ICA stenosis group, only the total MT and outer ETDRS area (temporal/superior/nasal/inferior outer macula) values were found to be significantly thinner compared to the control group (p=0.004, p=0.009, p<0.001, p=0.002, and p=0.001, respectively). Conclusion: In addition to our knowledge about the effects of ICA stenosis on the retino-choroidal circulation, we found that OCT measurements may be beneficial in the early detection of ocular damage due to ICA stenosis

Characteristic evaluation on spray-deposited WFTO thin films as a function of W doping ratio

Turgut, Guven/0000-0002-5724-516X; Dogan, Seydi/0000-0001-9785-4990; SONMEZ, ERDAL/0000-0002-6241-6314WOS: 000340392200011In this work, F and F + W simultaneously doped SnO2 highly transparent conducting thin films were deposited on glass substrates at (500 +/- A 5) A degrees C temperature by the spray pyrolysis method. Microstructural, morphological, electrical and optical properties of FTO films were investigated as a function of tungsten (W) doping, in the range from 0 to 5 at%. X-ray diffraction patterns show that the films exhibit a tetragonal cassiterite structure and (200) preferential orientation of FTO film, and the relative strength of these peaks changes with altering the W doping ratio. the preferred growth of (211) changed to (200) plane with 2 at% W doping level and 3 at% W-doped film had (200) orientation and with further doping, this changed to (110) orientation. the scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy images of the films indicate that the films are made up of dense small particles of a pyramidal shape and have a smooth surface. It was observed that the surface morphology of the films did not change much when the W element was inserted to the FTO structure. It was found that the sheet resistance values of the films varied with W doping ratio, and 2 at% W-doped FTO thin film exhibited the lowest values of sheet resistance (1.12 a"broken vertical bar). Also, the highest figure of merit, infrared reflectivity and optical band gap values were calculated for 2 at% W-doped FTO film as 50.9 x 10(-2) a"broken vertical bar(-1), 98.82 % and 4.13 eV, respectively. These results make the films an effective candidate for usage in many optoelectronic applications and photo-thermal conversion of solar energy

A study on characterization of Al/ZnS/p-Si/Al heterojunction diode synthesized by sol-gel technique

Turgut, Guven/0000-0002-5724-516X; Dogan, Seydi/0000-0001-9785-4990; Duman, Songul/0000-0002-3091-3746; SONMEZ, ERDAL/0000-0002-6241-6314WOS: 000320148900031In this paper, we investigated the morphological, optical and electrical properties of sol-gel spin coated ZnS film and device performance of fabricated Al/ZnS/p-Si/Al heterojunction diode. AFM images showed that surface morphology of the film was smooth which had 2.17 nm surface rougness, almost homogenous and dense. the optical band gap value of the ZnS film was found to be 3.83 eV. From electrical studies, it was found that Al/ZnS/p-Si/Al heterojunction diode showed a rectification behavior; and its ideality factor, barrier height and the series resistance values were calculated to be 2.34, 0.77 eV and 12.3-12.5 k Omega respectively. the results show that Al/ZnS/p-Si/Al diode is successfully fabricated using the sol-gel spin coating technique. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

A study on characterization of Al/ZnS/p-Si/Al heterojunction diode synthesized by sol–gel technique

Turgut, Guven/0000-0002-5724-516X; Dogan, Seydi/0000-0001-9785-4990; Duman, Songul/0000-0002-3091-3746; SONMEZ, ERDAL/0000-0002-6241-6314WOS: 000320148900031In this paper, we investigated the morphological, optical and electrical properties of sol-gel spin coated ZnS film and device performance of fabricated Al/ZnS/p-Si/Al heterojunction diode. AFM images showed that surface morphology of the film was smooth which had 2.17 nm surface rougness, almost homogenous and dense. the optical band gap value of the ZnS film was found to be 3.83 eV. From electrical studies, it was found that Al/ZnS/p-Si/Al heterojunction diode showed a rectification behavior; and its ideality factor, barrier height and the series resistance values were calculated to be 2.34, 0.77 eV and 12.3-12.5 k Omega respectively. the results show that Al/ZnS/p-Si/Al diode is successfully fabricated using the sol-gel spin coating technique. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

A Multi-Center Study on the Efficacy of Eltrombopag in Management of Refractory Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of eltrombopag, an oral thrombopoietin receptor agonist, in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Materials and Methods: A total of 285 chronic ITP patients (187 women, 65.6%; 98 men, 34.4%) followed in 55 centers were enrolled in this retrospective cohort. Response to treatment was assessed according to platelet count (/mm3) and defined as complete (platelet count of >100,000/mm3), partial (30,000-100,000/mm3 or doubling of platelet count after treatment), or unresponsive (<30,000/mm3). Clinical findings, descriptive features, response to treatment, and side effects were recorded. Correlations between descriptive, clinical, and hematological parameters were analyzed. Results: The median age at diagnosis was 43.9±20.6 (range: 3-95) years and the duration of follow-up was 18.0±6.4 (range: 6-28.2) months. Overall response rate was 86.7% (n=247). Complete and partial responses were observed in 182 (63.8%) and 65 (22.8%) patients, respectively. Thirty-eight patients (13.4%) did not respond to eltrombopag treatment. For patients above 60 years old (n=68), overall response rate was 89.7% (n=61), and for those above 80 years old (n=12), overall response rate was 83% (n=10). Considering thrombocyte count before treatment, eltrombopag significantly increased platelet count at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 8th weeks of treatment. As the time required for partial or complete response increased, response to treatment was significantly reduced. The time to reach the maximum platelet levels after treatment was quite variable (1-202 weeks). Notably, the higher the maximum platelet count after eltrombopag treatment, the more likely that side effects would occur. The most common side effects were headache (21.6%), weakness (13.7%), hepatotoxicity (11.8%), and thrombosis (5.9%). Conclusion: Results of the current study imply that eltrombopag is an effective therapeutic option even in elderly patients with chronic ITP. However, patients must be closely monitored for response and side effects during treatment. Since both response and side effects may be variable throughout the follow-up period, patients should be evaluated dynamically, especially in terms of thrombotic risk factors.PubMedWoSScopu