PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGICAL SIGNATURES IN THE RETINA IN SCHIZOPHRENIA AND BIPOLAR DISORDER: AN OPTIC COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY STUDY

Background: Retina is considered as a window to the brain due to the similarities in terms of development and pathologies. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) can perform quantitative examinations in the retina. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of drugs used in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (BD) on retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and macular thickness. Subjects and methods: The study included schizophrenia (n=35) and euthymic BD (n=46) patients on various medications, and age, gender matched healthy control group (n=31). For retinal evaluation, measurements of RNFL and macula were performed with Optovue RTVue Premier OCT. Results: In the schizophrenia group, chlorpromazine equivalent dose of antipsychotics was a statistically significant negative predictor of left RNFL nasal superior region thickness. In the BD group, serum valproate level was a significant positive predictor of thickness in the right macular inferior outer, left macular nasal outer region, right RNFL inferotemporal, left temporal and inferotemporal regions. Conclusion: Since the retina consists of neurons, morphological or functional examination of retina may be beneficial for the evaluation of the effects of psychopharmalogical treatments in schizophrenia and BD. The outcome of this study implies that valproate has neuroprotective effects on the optic nerve and macula, and this finding is consistent with the literature implying neurotrophic effects of valproate

Value of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester Pretreatment in Experimental Sepsis Model in Rats

Background and Aim. The aim of this study was to determine the actions of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on the changes of endothelin-1 (ET-1) level, tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) alpha, and oxidative stress parameters such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in experimental sepsis model in rats. Materials and Methods. Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into three experimental groups: sham (group 1), sepsis (group 2), and sepsis + CAPE (group 3), n = 8 each. CAPE was administered (10 mu mol/kg) intraperitoneally to group 3 before sepsis induction. Serum ET-1, serum TNF-alpha, tissue SOD activity, and tissue MDA levels were measured in all groups. Results. Pretreatment with CAPE decreased ET-1, TNFalpha, and MDA levels in sepsis induced rats. Additionally SOD activities were higher in rats pretreated with CAPE after sepsis induction. Conclusion. Our results demonstrate that CAPE may have a beneficial effect on ET and TNF-alpha levels and oxidative stress parameters induced by sepsis in experimental rat models. Therefore treatment with CAPE can be used to avoid devastating effects of sepsis

Öğretmenlerin İş Yaşam Kalitesi Düzeyleri

Öğretmenlerin iş yaşam kalite düzeylerinin araştırıldığı bu çalışma tarama modelinde yapılmıştır. 2022-2023 eğitim yılında Denizli metropol ilçelerinde çalışan öğretmenlerden 297 öğretmene kolay ulaşılabilir örneklem ile ulaşılmıştır. Araştırmada veriler çevrim içi olarak toplanmıştır. Veriler normal dağılım gösterdiğinden dolayı analizlerde parametrik testler yapılmıştır. Öğretmenlerin iş yaşam kalite düzeyleri ile ilgili olarak en yüksek düzey “Çok yüksek” düzeyinde “İşimi yapabilmem için belirli amaç ve hedeflerim var.” maddesinde iken en düşük düzey ise “Orta” düzeyinde “İşimdeki kariyer olanakları beni tatmin ediyor.” maddesindedir. Öğretmenlerin iş yaşam kalite düzeyler alt boyutları düzeyleri bütün boyutlarda “Yüksek” düzeyindedir. Bununla birlikte en yüksek düzey iş-kariyer memnuniyeti boyutunda iken en düşük düzey ise genel iyilik hali boyutundadır. Öğretmenlerin genel iş yaşam kaliteleri yüksek düzeydedir. Bulgulara göre öğretmenlerin iş yaşam kalite düzeylerinin bütün boyutlarda ve genel olarak yüksek düzeyde ölçülmüştür. Öğretmenlerin iş yaşam kalite düzeylerinin demografik özelliklerine göre cinsiyet, öğrenim düzeyi, kariyer durumu ve okuldaki öğretmen sayılarına göre farklılık göstermemiş ancak iş yaşam kalite değerlendirmesi, medeni durum, İşinden memnuniyet derecesi değişkenlerine göre farklılık göstermiştir. Öğretmenlerin iş yaşam kalite düzeyleri iş yaşam kalite değerlendirmesine göre bütün boyutlarda ve genel iş yaşam kalitesinde iş yaşam kalite değerlendirmesini ortanın üzeri olarak görenlerle çok düşük olarak görenler arasında ve ortanın üzerinde olarak görenler lehine, orta olarak değerlendirenlerle çok düşük olarak değerlendirenler arasında ve orta olarak değerlendirenler lehine yüksek çıkmıştır. Öğretmenlerin iş yaşam kalite düzeylerinin medeni durumlarına göre genel iyilik hali, çalışma koşulları, genel iş yaşam kalitesinde evli öğretmenler lehine daha yüksektir. Öğretmenlerin iş yaşam kalite düzeylerinin iş yaşam kalitelerinden memnuniyet düzeyine göre iş yaşam kalitelerinden memnuniyet düzeylerine göre bütün boyutlarda ve genel olarak iş yaşam kalitelerinden memnuniyet düzeyi yükseklik düzeyine göre iş yaşam kalitelerinin de yüksek olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Öğretmenlerin iş yaşam kalitelerini arttıracak çalışmaların yapılması önerilmiştir

Value of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester Pretreatment in Experimental Sepsis Model in Rats

Background and Aim. The aim of this study was to determine the actions of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on the changes of endothelin-1 (ET-1) level, tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) alpha, and oxidative stress parameters such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in experimental sepsis model in rats. Materials and Methods. Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into three experimental groups: sham (group 1), sepsis (group 2), and sepsis + CAPE (group 3), n = 8 each. CAPE was administered (10 µmol/kg) intraperitoneally to group 3 before sepsis induction. Serum ET-1, serum TNF-alpha, tissue SOD activity, and tissue MDA levels were measured in all groups. Results. Pretreatment with CAPE decreased ET-1, TNF-alpha, and MDA levels in sepsis induced rats. Additionally SOD activities were higher in rats pretreated with CAPE after sepsis induction. Conclusion. Our results demonstrate that CAPE may have a beneficial effect on ET and TNF-alpha levels and oxidative stress parameters induced by sepsis in experimental rat models. Therefore treatment with CAPE can be used to avoid devastating effects of sepsis

Conjunctival Impression Cytology and Tear Film Changes in Sarcoidosis: A Subjective and Objective Diagnosis Study

Objectives:To evaluate sarcoidosis-induced tear film changes using subjective and objective diagnostic tests, particularly conjunctival impression cytology (IC), and to compare the results with healthy individuals.Materials and Methods:This study evaluated clinical data collected between January 2019 and January 2021 from 57 right eyes of 57 sarcoidosis patients without ocular involvement (Group 1) and 33 right eyes of 33 healthy individuals with similar demographic characteristics (Group 2). The Schirmer I test, tear break-up time (TBUT), fluorescein staining, and conjunctival IC were all performed as part of the conjunctival and corneal examinations following a thorough ophthalmological examination. The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) was used to assess subjective ocular symptoms.Results:The mean ages in Groups 1 and 2 were 49.26±3.18 and 51.91±2.89 years, respectively (p=0.720). The mean Schirmer I test, TBUT, and OSDI scores differed significantly (p<0.05 for all), with Group 1 having a significantly higher percentage of dry eyes than Group 2. Group 1 had significantly higher Nelson’s grading system grades than Group 2 based on conjunctival IC analysis (p=0.001). There were no significant differences in visual acuity (p=0.17) or intraocular pressure (p=0.14) between groups.Conclusion:Sarcoidosis patients had significantly higher Nelson grades in conjunctival IC, as well as significantly higher percentages of dry eye as determined by the Schirmer I test, TBUT, and OSDI. Reduced tear quantity and quality may destabilize the tear film layer, resulting in a variety of ocular symptoms

Arenaria microcalyx (Caryophyllaceae), a new species from Turkey

Arenaria microcalyx M. Koc & Hamzaoglu (Caryophyllaceae) is described as a new species of subgen. Arenaria L. in Turkey. The specimens were collected from Kas (Antalya). The new species is related to Arenaria leptoclados (Rchb.) Guss. and is an endemic species that has a distribution in the Mediterranean region. The differences between the species are discussed. Description, distribution, illustration, and conservation status of the new species are given. Seeds structures were examined by scanning electron microscopy