Focal Infections Accompanying Urticaria, a Common Skin Disease

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the most common focal infections in patients with acute and chronic urticaria, and their relationships with age and gender

Factors Affecting Contrast Sensitivity in Healthy Individuals: A Pilot Study

WOS: 000397191000005PubMed ID: 28405481Objectives: To determine the demographic and ocular features affecting contrast sensitivity levels in healthy individuals. Materials and Methods: Seventy-four eyes of 37 subjects ( 7-65 years old) with refractive errors less than 1.0 diopter, no history of ocular surgery, and 20/20 visual acuity were included in the study. The participants were divided by age into three groups: group 1, 7-19 years, n= 11; group 2, 20-49 years, n= 15; and group 3, 50-65 years, n= 11. All subjects underwent anterior and posterior segment evaluation, intraocular pressure measurements, refraction measurements, and clinical evaluation for strabismus. Contrast static test was performed using Metrovision MonPack 3 vision monitor system after measuring pupil diameter. Photopic and mesopic measurements were taken sequentially from right eyes, left eyes, and both eyes together. Results: Contrast sensitivity at intermediate and high spatial frequencies was lower with increasing age. Binocular measurements were better than monocular, and mesopic measurements were better than photopic measurements at all spatial frequencies. Contrast sensitivity at higher spatial frequency was lower with hyperopic refraction values. Conclusion: Increasing age, small pupil diameter, hyperopia, and photopic conditions were associated with lower contrast sensitivity in healthy individuals. Binocular contrast sensitivity measurements were better than monocular contrast sensitivity measurements in all conditions and spatial frequencies

Factors influencing stereoacuity in refractive accommodative esotropia

WOS: 000249190800013PubMed ID: 17641704Background: We aimed to investigate factors that promote binocular sensory function in patients with refractive accommodative esotropia (RAE) who have successful optical alignment. Methods: Charts of 64 patients with RAE were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical factors examined included onset age of RAE, duration of misalignment, history of misalignment in family members, amblyopia, amblyopia treatment, refractive error, anisometropia, ocular movement disorders, visual acuity level, and the presence of intermittent or constant misalignment after optical correction of the hyperopic refractive error. Results: Thirty-two patients (50%) were able to see test figures on any plates of TNO test and were considered to have stereoscopic vision. Intermittent or constant misalignment detected at any visit was found to affect stereoacuity adversely in patients with RAE

Central nervous system aspergillosis in an immunocompetent patient

Aspergillus sp. is a fungus that is very common in nature and may cause invasive disease with high mortality, especially in immunosuppressed patients. Here we present a case of central nervous system (CNS) aspergillosis in a previously healthy immunocompetent patient. A 23-year-old female was admitted to hospital with the complaints of headache, blurred vision, and double vision. In her cranial magnetic resonance imaging, abscess and paranchymal edema were observed in the left frontal lobe, and biopsy was performed with endoscopic nasal operation. The pathology result was consistent with aspergillus infection. It should be remembered that although CNS aspergillosis generally occurs in immunosuppressed patients, it may also rarely be diagnosed in immunocompetent individuals

Virological responses of pegylated interferon alpha-2a treatment in hemodialysis patients infected with hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is the most frequently encountered hepatic disease in dialysis patients. Data related to pegylated interferon alfa-2a (Peg-IFN-alpha-2a) use in hemodialysis patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Peg-IFN-alpha-2a among these patients

Long-term Results in Pediatric Developmental Cataract Surgery with Primary Intraocular Lens Implantation

WOS: 000429421300002PubMed ID: 29576890Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of pediatric developmental cataract surgery with primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Materials and Methods: Patients between 2 and 16 years old who underwent cataract surgery with primary IOL implantation were retrospectively evaluated. Age at time of surgery, pre-and postoperative best corrected visual acuities, postoperative ocular complications, and any accompanying ocular pathologies were obtained from the patients' charts. Mean refractive changes and degree of myopic shift were analyzed according to the age groups. Operated eyes were also compared with the fellow eyes in unilateral cases. Results: A total of 101 eyes of 65 patients were included. The average age at time of surgery was 76 +/- 40 months and the average follow-up period was 44 +/- 30 months. Among the 78 eyes that could be assessed for visual acuity improvement, 66 (84.6%) of them showed >= 2 lines of improvement. The difference in the mean refractive change between the 2-5 years old and 8-16 years old age groups was found to be statistically significant. However, the mean refractive change per year was not found to be significant between the same age groups. In unilateral cases, the operated eyes showed a greater myopic change than the fellow eyes, with no statistically significant difference. The most common postoperative complication was visual axis opacity. Conclusion: Good visual outcomes can be achieved following pediatric cataract surgery with primary IOL implantation. Optic axis opacities were the most common postoperative complications. Overall, refractive changes following surgery are inevitable, and more prominent in younger age groups

The Role of the Basal Core Promoter (BCP) and Precore Codon 28 Mutations in the Treatment Response to the Pegylated Interferon

Objective: Pegylated interferon has an important place in chronic hepatitis treatment and there are many factors affecting treatment response. Among these factors, studies on viral genomic mutations increase recently. In this study we aimed to determine the effects of precore and basal core promoter (BCP) mutations on the response to peg-interferon treatment treatment in patients received interferon treatment with the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B

Case report on the development of a brucellosis-related epidural abscess

Brucellosis is an endemic disease in developing countries. The most commonly observed complications include bone-joint involvement, particularly sacroiliitis and spondylitis. Epidural abscesses caused by brucellosis are a rare complication. We describe the case of a 33-year-old man presenting with high fever, back pain, and weakness. At physical examination, the patient was found to be paraparetic. At thoracic MRI, spondylodiscitis and epidural abscess with significant cord compression were observed. In laboratory examinations, Rose Bengal and tube agglutination tests were positive in patient's serum for brucellosis, and specific antibiotherapy was initiated. Total laminectomy was performed and the abscess was aspirated. The biopsy sample was consistent with chronic non-specific inflammation in acute abscess. No growth was detected in the abscess or blood cultures. Following surgery, medical treatment was initiated and, at six weeks' follow-up, clinical and MRI findings indicated that he had recovered. The diagnosis of spinal epidural abscess due to brucellosis should be considered among differential diagnoses in endemic regions. Early diagnosis and specific treatment are important to prevent later complications

The impact of prism adaptation test on surgical outcomes in patients with primary exotropia

WOS: 000354400400006PubMed ID: 25476463BackgroundWe aimed to determine the impact of the preoperative prism adaptation test (PAT) on surgical outcomes in patients with primary exotropia. MethodsThirty-eight consecutive patients with primary exotropia were enrolled. Pre-operative PAT was performed in 18 randomly selected patients (Group 1). Surgery was based on the angle of deviation at distance measured after PAT. The remaining 20 patients in whom PAT was not performed comprised Group 2. Surgery was based on the angle of deviation at distance in these patients. Surgical success was defined as ocular alignment within eight prism dioptres (PD) of orthophoria. ResultsSatisfactory motor alignment ( 8 PD) was achieved in 16 Group 1 patients (88.9 per cent) and 16 Group 2 patients (80 per cent) one year after surgery (p = 0.6; chi-square test). There were no statistically significant differences in demographic parameters, pre-operative and post-operative angle of deviation between the two groups (p > 0.05; Mann-Whitney U and chi-square tests). Nine patients in Group 1 (50 per cent) and two patients in Group 2 (10 per cent) had increased binocular vision one year post-operatively. A statistically significant difference was determined in terms of change in binocular single vision between the two groups (p = 0.01; chi-square test). ConclusionAlthough the prism adaptation test did not lead to a significant increment in motor success, it may be helpful in achieving a more favourable functional surgical outcome in patients with primary exotropia