A New Side Effect of Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant (Ozurdex®)

Dexamethasone implant, 0,7 mg (Ozurdex, Allergan, Inc., Irvine, CA, USA), is drug mostly used in the treatment of the diabetic macular edema and edema related to retinal vein occlusion. By reporting this case we aimed to report a new side effect of 0.7 mg intravitreal dexamethasone implant that has not been reported in the literature before

Soluble CD40 Ligand Levels in Otherwise Healthy Subjects With Impaired Fasting Glucose

Unlike diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance, it is not clear whether the subjects with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) are at increased risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. The CD40-CD40 ligand interaction is involved in the mechanism of atherosclerosis. We investigated whether soluble CD40L (sCD40L) as well as high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels are increased in subjects with IFG having no confounding factors for inflammation or atherosclerosis. Twenty four IFG subjects with no additional disorders and 40 appropriate healthy controls were studied. sCD40L and hsCRP levels in the IFG and control groups were similar. Blood pressures, total and LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were also similar, whereas HDL-cholesterol was lower and HOMA-IR indexes were higher in the IFG group. Though the sample size was small, the present data show that sCD40L seems not to alter in subjects with IFG suggesting that it might not be an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis

The effect of the American Society of Anesthesiology classification scores on complications associated with percutaneous nephrolithotomy

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the effect of American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) classification scoring and age on complications and surgical outcomes during and after percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) operation. Material and methods: The records of 263 patients, above the age of 18 years, that underwent PCNL surgery between October 2014 and May 2017 were evaluated retrospectively. The patients were divided into three groups based on their ASA risk scores (ASA 1, 2, 3) and into two groups based on their age (younger and older than 65 years). Postoperative complications were assessed according to the ASA groups and age and according to the Clavien classification system. Results: The number of patients in the ASA 1, 2, and 3 groups were 97 (36.8%), 131 (49.8%) and 35 (13.3%), respectively. Four patients in ASA4 were not included in the study. There was no significant difference in ASA 1, 2, 3 groups in terms of changes in Hgb values, mean duration of operation, and mean hospital stay. When ASA1 was compared to ASA3 and ASA2 was compared to ASA3, there was no significant difference in the incidence of all complication rates. There were 159 (60.4%) patients in the young group and 104 (39.5%) patients in the elderly group. Postoperative PCNL complications of these 2 groups were compared according to Clavien classification system and no significant difference was found in incidence of complications. Conclusions: We believe that PCNL operation can be performed effectively and safely in both ASA3 patients and patients above the age of 65 years

Trends in distance education research: A content analysis of journals 2009-2013

This study intends to explore the current trends in the field of distance education research during the period of 2009-2013. The trends were identified by an extensive review of seven peer reviewed scholarly journals: The American Journal of Distance Education (AJDE), Distance Education (DE), The European Journal of Open, Distance and e-Learning (EURODL), The Journal of Distance Education (JDE), The Journal of Online Learning and Technology (JOLT), Open Learning: The Journal of Open, Distance and e-Learning (OL) and The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning (IRRODL). A total of 861 research articles was reviewed. Mainly content analysis was employed to be able to analyze the current research. Also, a social network analysis (SNA) was used to interpret the interrelationship between keywords indicated in these articles. Themes were developed and the content of the articles in the selected journals were coded according to categories derived from earlier studies. The results were interpreted using descriptive analysis (frequencies) and social network analysis. The reporting of the results were organized into the following categories: research areas, theoretical and conceptual frameworks, variables, methods, models, strategies, data collection and analysis methods, and the participants. The study also identified the most commonly used keywords, and the most frequently cited authors and studies in distance education. The findings obtained in this study may be useful in the exploration of potential research areas and identification of neglected areas in the field of distance education

First-principles investigation of LaGaO3 and LaInO3 lanthanum perovskite oxides

WOS: 000379262100006Among the class of ABO(3)-type perovskite oxides, LaMO3 (M=Ga and In) compounds are investigated in cubic (Pm-3m), tetragonal (P4mm), hexagonal (P-3m1), rhombohedral (R-3c) and orthorhombic (Pbnm) phases using generalised gradient approximation (GGA) within the density functional theory. On-site Coulomb interaction is also included in the calculations (GGA+U). After the determination of the stable phase, phase transition pressures have also been calculated. Then, their full structural, mechanical, electronic, optical and vibrational properties have been studied in stable orthorhombic (Pbnm) phase. Both compounds are non-magnetic insulators in their ground states. The energy gaps (E-g) of LaGaO3 and LaInO3 compounds have been found as 3.14 and 2.55eV, respectively. The calculated elastic constants and phonon dispersion curves confirm the stability of orthorhombic phase mechanically and dynamically.Ahi Evran University Research Project UnitAhi Evran University [PYO-KMY.4001.15.001]This work was supported by the Ahi Evran University Research Project Unit [project number PYO-KMY.4001.15.001]

Electronic structure and magnetic properties of PbMO3 (M = Fe, Co, Ni) magnetic perovskites: An ab initio study

Gokoglu, Gokhan/0000-0002-2456-6397; Erkisi, Aytac/0000-0001-7995-7590WOS: 000345581400006We present the electronic, magnetic and structural properties of the magnetic transition metal oxides PbMO3 (M= Fe, Co, Ni) in cubic perovskite structure. The calculations are based on the density functional theory (DFT) within plane-wave pseudopotential method and local spin density approximation (LSDA) of the exchange-correlation functional. Onsite Coulomb interaction is also included in calculations (LSDA + U). The systems are considered in ferromagnetic (FM) and G-type antiferromagnetic (G-AFM) order. FM structures are energetically more favored than G-AFM and than non-magnetic states for all the systems studied. The spin-polarized electronic band structures show that all the structures have metallic property in FM order without Hubbard-U interaction (U-eff = 0). However, the inclusion of on-site Coulomb interaction (U-eff = 7 eV) opens a semiconducting gap for majority spin channel of PbFeO3 and of PbNiO3 resulting in a half-metallic character. PbCoO3 system remains as metallic with LSDA + U scheme. Bonding features of all structures are largely determined by the hybridizations between O-p and d-states of transition metal atoms. The partial magnetic moment of Fe atom in PbFeO3 is enhanced by inclusion of Hubbard-U interaction (2.55 mu B double right arrow 3.78 mu B). Total magnetic moments of half-metallic PbFeO3 and of PbNiO3 compounds are very close to integer values.TUBITAK (The Scientific & Technological Research Council of Turkey) through TR-Grid e-Infrastructure ProjectTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK)This research was supported in part by TUBITAK (The Scientific & Technological Research Council of Turkey) through TR-Grid e-Infrastructure Project, part of the calculations have been carried out at ULAKB. I M Computer Center