LONG-TERM OUTCOMES OF HEMICENTRAL RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION

Amaç: Hemi-Santral Retinal Ven Tıkanıklığı (HSRVT) tanısıyla izlenen olguların uzun dönem takiplerinde görme sonuçlarını ve komplikasyonları değerlendirmek. Yöntemler: Ocak 1992-Ocak 2001 tarihleri arasında optik koherens tomografi öncesi döneme ait HSRVT tanısı konulan, 2 yıl ve üzeri düzenli takibi olan 25 hastanın 25 gözü retrospektif dosyaları taranarak incelendi. Dosya incelemelerinde hastaların yaşı, cinsiyeti, sistemik risk faktörleri, hangi gözün etkilendiği, tam oftalmolojik muayeneleri ve gelişen komplikasyonlar kaydedildi. İlk başvuda çekilen Fundus Fluoresein Anjiografi (FA) sonuçları incelendi. Hastalar FA bulgularına (noniskemik veya iskemik form) ve üst ya da alt retinal yarı etkilenmesine göre sınıflandırıldı. Bulgular: Hastaların ortalama yaşı 67,0 ± 11,0 yıl (41-90 yıl) ve ortalama takip süresi 6,4 ± 5,5 yıl (2-19 yıl) idi. Olguların 17'sinde (%68) sistemik bir hastalık mevcut olup, en büyük çoğunluğu hipertansiyon hastaları (%48) oluşturmaktaydı. Gözlerin 13'ünde (%52) alt hemisferik kadran ve 12'sinde (%48) üst hemisferik kadranda etkilenme olduğu saptandı. Hastalarımızın tanı esnasında görme keskinliği tüm gözlerde ortalama 1,08 ± 0,4 logMAR iken, son muayenede ortalama 0,89 ± 0,5 logMAR olarak saptandı (p>0,05). FA bulgularına göre tanı esnasında 10 gözde iskemi ve takiplerde noniskemik olguların 3'ünde iskemik forma dönüşüm tespit edildi. On disk alanından daha geniş iskemik alanlara retinal laser fotokoagülasyon uygulandı. HSRVT'ye bağlı 12 gözde makula ödemi, 3 gözde intravitreal hemoraji, 3 gözde epiretinal membran formasyonu, 3 gözde neovasküler glokom, 2 gözde optik atrofi ve 1 gözde yırtıklı retina dekolmanı geliştiği gözlendi. Perfüze makula ödemi tedavisinde grid laser fotokoagülasyon uygulandı. Sonuç: Hastaların uzun dönem takipte görme prognozu, başlangıç görme keskinliği ve komplikasyon gelişimi ile ilişkili bulundu. Hastaların uzun dönem takiplerinde rölatif görme artışı sağlansa bile, bu artış istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bulunmadı Objective: To assess the visual outcomes and the complications in patients with Hemicentral Retinal Vein Occlusion (HCRVO) in the long-term. Methods: The medical records of 25 eyes of 25 patients, having regular follow-up for ≥2 years, diagnosed as HCRVO before Optical Cohorence Tomography (OCT) era between January 1992 and January 2001 were reviewed. During the survey, gender,age, affected side, complete ophthalmologic evaluations, systemic risk factors and complications were recorded. The images of Fundus Fluorescein Angiography (FA) at baseline were evaluated. The patients were classified according to the findings of the FA (non-ischemic or ischemic form) and the involvement of superior or inferior halves of the retina. Results: The mean age of the patients was 67.0 ± 11.0 years (range, 41-90 years) and the mean duration of follow-up was 6.4 ± 5.5 years (range, 2-19 years). Seventeen patients (68%) had a systemic disease and most of them were of hypertensive cases (48%). In 13 of the eyes (52%) inferior hemispheric quadrant and in 12 eyes (48%) superior hemispheric quadrant was found to be affected. The visual acuity at baseline was 1.08 ± 0.4 logMAR and it was 0.89 ± 0.5 logMAR at last visit (p>0.05). According to the findings of FA, ischemic form was detected in 10 eyes at the time of diagnosis, and conversion to ischemic form occured in 3 cases during the follow-up. Laser photocoagulation was performed on ischemic lesions that were more than 10 disc areas. The complications due to HCRVO were as follows; macular edema in 12 eyes, intravitreal hemorrhage in 3 eyes, epiretinal membrane formation in 3 eyes, neovascular glaucoma in 3 eyes, optic atrophy in 2 eyes and regmatogenous retinal detachment in 1 eye. Macular grid laser for perfused macular edema was performed. Conclusion: The visual prognosis of the patients in the long-run was found to be associated with the presenting visual acuity and the development of a complication. Even a relative increase in the visual acuity after the follow-up was achieved, the increase was not statistically significan

Karyological research on Six Different Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Miller) Population

Bu çalışmada, altı farklı rezene popülasyonu (Foeniculum vulgare Miller) karyolojik özellikleri bakımından araştırılmıştır. Rezene popülasyonlarından dört tanesi Tokat Orta Karadeniz Geçit Kuşağı Tarımsal Araştırma Enstitüsü’nden diğer iki tanesi de Burdur ve Konya illerindeki yerel üreticilerden temin edilmiştir. Bu popülasyonlar; Tokat I, II, III, Urfa, Burdur ve Konya olarak isimlendirilmiştir. Popülasyonların kromozom sayısı, total kromozom uzunluğu, nispi boyu, kol oranı, sentromer indeksi ve sentromer durumları ve karyotip asimetri değerleri belirlenmiştir. Araştırmanın sonuçlarına göre bütün popülasyonlar (2n=2x=22) aynı kromozom sayısına sahiptir. Tokat I, II ve Urfa popülasyonlarının karyotip formülleri aynı 9m+2sm, Tokat III ve Konya popülasyonlarının karyotip formülleri birbiri ile 10m+1sm fakat Burdur popülasyonunun karyotip formülünün 6m+5sm bunlardan farklı olduğu görülmüştür. Bu popülasyonlarda toplam kromozom uzunluğu 30.09- 38.85 μm arasında, sentromerik indeks 27.44- 47.91 μm arasında ve nispi boy 6.52- 11.53 μm arasında değişmektedir.In this study, six different fennel populations (Foeniculum vulgare Miller) were examined in terms of karyological features. Four of the fennel populations were taken from the Tokat Middle Black Sea Transition Zone Agricultural Research Institute, while Burdur and Konya populations were obtained from local producers. These populations; Tokat I, II, III, Urfa, Burdur and Konya are named. Chromosome number, total chromosome length, relative length, arm ratio, centromere index, centromere status and karyotype asymmetry values were determined in these populations. According to the results of the study all populations have the same chromosomes number (2n=2x=22). The karyotype formulas of Tokat I, II and Urfa populations are the same 9m+2sm, the karyotype formulas of Tokat III and Konya populations are the same 10m+1sm, but the karyotype formula of the Burdur population is different 6m+5sm. In these populations the total chromosome length ranged from 30.09 to 38.85 m and the centromeric index ranged from 27.44 to 47.91 μm and the relative size ranged from 6.52 to 11.53 m

“The Lolelaplap (Marshall Islands) in Us: Sailing West to East (Ralik→Ratak) to These Our Atolls (Aelon Kein Ad) Ad Jolet Jen Anij (Our Blessed Inheritance from God)”

This paper discusses the expansion of Oceania through a Marshallese indigenous lens as a focal point. It explains that decolonizing methodologies allows reclaiming of space for mental liberation and reassurement of constitutional rights. It highlights similar occurrences of decolonization practices meeting resistance in the 21st century all while strengthening the human right argument that no human deserves any less than their fellow human brothers and sisters. It argues that an indigenous imagery can only be viewed through an indigenous lens where the researches’ level of purity is retained and unfiltered. It nevertheless argues that Marshallese ethnolinguistics reveal the same cultural practices in America, Judeo-Christianity, and Oceania thus dictating the reality that “we are the same not withstanding one stays here and one there (Bedbedjin Bedbedjen, Bedbedjinma wot Kwe)”. It further explains the importance in these similarities and how Marshallese spirituality predates introduced American Judeo-Christianity despite the latter attempting to marginalize the former. It concludes by stating that Marshallese contributions on the global stage are rooted in that culture of love (IaKwe) which is echoed by the custom(s) revealing the significance of Marshallese validation academically, spiritually, economically, & socially to prevent institutionalized discrimination. This paper ends stating that the agency to know one’s self and how one should fit in the world, is a human right in itself and Marshallese are entitled to this sense of self worth through knowing thy self by thy self where real thinking takes place in one’s own mind as we all live our own lives

Elevated gamma glutamyl transferase levels are associated with the location of acute pulmonary embolism. Cross-sectional evaluation in hospital setting

ABSTRACT CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: The location of embolism is associated with clinical findings and disease severity in cases of acute pulmonary embolism. The level of gamma-glutamyl transferase increases under oxidative stress-related conditions. In this study, we investigated whether gamma-glutamyl transferase levels could predict the location of pulmonary embolism. DESIGN AND SETTING: Hospital-based cross-sectional study at Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey. METHODS : 120 patients who were diagnosed with acute pulmonary embolism through computed tomography-assisted pulmonary angiography were evaluated. They were divided into two main groups (proximally and distally located), and subsequently into subgroups according to thrombus localization as follows: first group (thrombus in main pulmonary artery; n = 9); second group (thrombus in main pulmonary artery branches; n = 71); third group (thrombus in pulmonary artery segmental branches; n = 34); and fourth group (thrombus in pulmonary artery subsegmental branches; n = 8). RESULTS : Gamma-glutamyl transferase levels on admission, heart rate, oxygen saturation, right ventricular dilatation/hypokinesia, pulmonary artery systolic pressure and cardiopulmonary resuscitation requirement showed prognostic significance in univariate analysis. The multivariate logistic regression model showed that gamma-glutamyl transferase level on admission (odds ratio, OR = 1.044; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.011-1.079; P = 0.009) and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (OR = 1.063; 95% CI: 1.005-1.124; P = 0.033) remained independently associated with proximally localized thrombus in pulmonary artery. CONCLUSIONS : The findings revealed a significant association between increased existing embolism load in the pulmonary artery and increased serum gamma-glutamyl transferase levels

Recent Advances in Health Biotechnology During Pandemic

The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which emerged in 2019, cut the epoch that will make profound fluctuates in the history of the world in social, economic, and scientific fields. Urgent needs in public health have brought with them innovative approaches, including diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. To exceed the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, various scientific authorities in the world have procreated advances in real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) based diagnostic tests, rapid diagnostic kits, the development of vaccines for immunization, and the purposing pharmaceuticals for treatment. Diagnosis, treatment, and immunization approaches put for- ward by scientific communities are cross-fed from the accrued knowledge of multidisciplinary sciences in health biotechnology. So much so that the pandemic, urgently prioritized in the world, is not only viral infections but also has been the pulsion in the development of novel approaches in many fields such as diagnosis, treatment, translational medicine, virology, mi- crobiology, immunology, functional nano- and bio-materials, bioinformatics, molecular biol- ogy, genetics, tissue engineering, biomedical devices, and artificial intelligence technologies. In this review, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the development of various scientific areas of health biotechnology are discussed

Burnout among surgeons before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an international survey

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had many significant impacts within the surgical realm, and surgeons have been obligated to reconsider almost every aspect of daily clinical practice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reported in compliance with the CHERRIES guidelines and conducted through an online platform from June 14th to July 15th, 2020. The primary outcome was the burden of burnout during the pandemic indicated by the validated Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure. Results: Nine hundred fifty-four surgeons completed the survey. The median length of practice was 10 years; 78.2% included were male with a median age of 37 years old, 39.5% were consultants, 68.9% were general surgeons, and 55.7% were affiliated with an academic institution. Overall, there was a significant increase in the mean burnout score during the pandemic; longer years of practice and older age were significantly associated with less burnout. There were significant reductions in the median number of outpatient visits, operated cases, on-call hours, emergency visits, and research work, so, 48.2% of respondents felt that the training resources were insufficient. The majority (81.3%) of respondents reported that their hospitals were included in the management of COVID-19, 66.5% felt their roles had been minimized; 41% were asked to assist in non-surgical medical practices, and 37.6% of respondents were included in COVID-19 management. Conclusions: There was a significant burnout among trainees. Almost all aspects of clinical and research activities were affected with a significant reduction in the volume of research, outpatient clinic visits, surgical procedures, on-call hours, and emergency cases hindering the training. Trial registration: The study was registered on clicaltrials.gov "NCT04433286" on 16/06/2020

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

CMS physics technical design report : Addendum on high density QCD with heavy ions

Peer reviewe

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Background: Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. // Methods: We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung's disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. // Findings: We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung's disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middle-income countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in low-income countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. // Interpretation: Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Outcomes from elective colorectal cancer surgery during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

This study aimed to describe the change in surgical practice and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on mortality after surgical resection of colorectal cancer during the initial phases of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic