Risk Factors for Giant Retinal Tears

Purpose: To evaluate the risk factors associated with giant retinal tears. Methods: This retrospective study was performed on medical records of 150 patients who had undergone retinal detachment surgery. Age, sex, history of trauma, lens status (phakic, pseudophakic, or aphakic), and high myopia were evaluated in association with giant retinal tears. Results: Of 150 patients with retinal detachments, 99 subjects (66%) were older than 30 years while 51 (34%) were 30 years of age or younger. Overall, 26 (17.3%) patients had giant retinal tears. Controlling for all variables, only age had a significant correlation with giant retinal tears. Each year of advancing age was associated with a 6% decrease in the incidence of giant retinal tears. Conclusion: Young age is a significant risk factor for development of giant retinal tears

Vitamin D Level and Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms in Iranian Azeri Turkish Patients With Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases

The Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) are among the most common endocrine disorders. Vitamin D as an immunomodulator and Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms may be effective in AITDs pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the vitamin D level and VDR BsmI and TaqI polymorphisms in Iranian Azeri Turkish patients with AITDs. This case-control study included 121 adults with AITDs and 117 non-AITDs controls. Serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D was measured by electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunoassay. BsmI and TaqI polymorphisms were assessed by polymerase chain reaction fragment length polymorphism technique. The serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in AITDs patients were lower than controls (P=0.03). The frequencies of TT, TC, CC, T and C genotypes/alleles at TaqI (rs731236) marker were 52.1%, 34.7%, 13.2% , 69.4% and 30.6% in AITDs and 44.4%, 41.9%, 13.7%, 65.4% and 34.6% in controls, respectively. The frequencies of AA, AG, GG, A and G genotypes/alleles at BsmI (rs1544410) marker were 14%, 64.5%, 21.5% , 46.3% and 53.7% in AITDs and 26.5%, 58.1%, 15.4%, 55.6% and 44.4% in controls, respectively. BsmI (rs1544410) GG+AG genotypes and G allele were more frequent among patients with Hashimoto compared with control group (86.6% vs. 73.5% (OR: 2.34, 95% CI: 1.16-4.70, P = 0.014) and 54.29% vs. 44.44% (OR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.02-2.15, P = 0.038), respectively). Vitamin D status can be related to AITDs pathogenesis. BsmI (rs1544410) GG+AG genotypes and G allele may play an important role in the predisposition to Hashimoto.

Electrosprayed Nanoparticles Containing Hydroalcoholic Extract of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench Stimulates Immune System by Increasing Inflammatory Factors in Male Wistar Rats

Purpose: Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench is a member of the Asteraceae family and is traditionally used mainly due to its immunostimulatory properties. Various compounds including alkylamides and chicoric acid were reported as active ingredients of E. purpurea. Here, we aimed to prepare electrosprayed nanoparticles (NPs) containing hydroalcoholic extract of E. purpurea using Eudragit RS100 (EP-Eudragit RS100 NPs) to improve the immunomodulatory effects of the extract. Methods: The EP-Eudragit RS100 NPs with the different extract:polymer ratios and solution concentrations were prepared using the electrospray technique. The size and morphology of the NPs were evaluated using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). To evaluate the immune responses, male Wistar rats were administrated with the prepared EP-Eudragit RS100 NPs and plain extract in the final dose of 30 or 100 mg/kg. The blood samples of the animals were collected and the inflammatory factors and complete blood count (CBC) were investigated. Results: In vivo studies indicated that the plain extract and EP-Eudragit RS100 NPs (100 mg/kg) significantly increased the serum level of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 1-β (IL1-β) whereas the EP-Eudragit RS100 NPs (30 mg/kg) significantly increased the number of white blood cells (WBCs) compared to the control group. Lymphocytes’ count in all groups was increased significantly compared to the control group (P<0.05) whereas other CBC parameters remained unchanged. Conclusion: The prepared EP-Eudragit RS100 NPs by electrospray technique caused significant reinforcement in the immunostimulatory effects of the extract of E. purpurea

The relationship between lexical fluency, temporal fluency, and language proficiency in Iranian EFL context

Lexical Fluency Units (LFUs) are strings of words that act like single items in language users’ mental lexicon. Recently, there has been a resurgence of interest in analyzing them in learners’ speech and classifying them into different types (Ushigusa 2008, Wood 2012). The literature in this particular field of study stated that the higher use of lexical fluency units might lead to the higher score on tests of oral English proficiency; therefore, the present study investigated the relationship between lexical fluency, temporal fluency (TF), and proficiency. To conduct the study, forty Iranian EFL teachers with TOEFL scores above 570 were chosen. To ensure that they have acquired competency in communication by which they can be employed as an instructor in the real context, they took an Oral English Proficiency Test (OEPT). Then, the sounds recorded from OEPT were analysed by PRRAT and Transcriber software and the transcripts of their responses were also analysed for detection of lexical fluency units (LFUs). Results indicated that teachers who incorporated more LFUs in their speech had higher TF ratio and consequently higher proficiency score. The interpretations and implementations are also discussed

Retinoblastoma in Adolescence: Report of an Unusual Presentation

Herein, we report the clinical, pathologic and photographic findings of a 16year-old girl who presented with gradual enlargement of a vascularized, hemorrhagicperipapillary mass that eventually led to vitreous hemorrhage and rubeosis iridis.Histopathological findings after enucleation were positive for retinoblastoma. Thepatient did not have any metastasis during her 20 months of follow up

Visual field defect as a presenting sign for hemorrhagic stroke caused by sildenafil

Herein, we describe the presenting symptoms, history, ophthalmic examination, visual fields and brain magnetic resonance imaging of a patient who developed left homonymous hemianopia due to right occipital lobe hemorrhage after ingestion of sildenafil citrate (Novagra Forte). To the best of our knowledge, association of homonymous hemianopia with sildenafil usage has not been reported before

Clinical significance of retinal emboli during diagnostic and therapeutic cardiac catheterization in patients with coronary artery disease

Abstract Background Cardiac catheterization may cause retinal embolization, a risk factor for cerebrovascular emboli and stroke. We describe the incidence of clinically silent and apparent retinal emboli following diagnostic and interventional coronary catheterization and associated risk factors. Methods Three hundred selected patients attending a tertiary referral center for diagnostic and therapeutic cardiac catheterization were studied. Retinal examination and examination of the visual field and acuity were done before and after catheterization by a retinal specialist. Results There were 5 case of retinal embolus before catheterization, and 19 patients (incidence 6.3%) developed new retinal arteriolar emboli after catheterization. Only 1 patient developed clinically apparent changes in vision. Two conventional risk factors (age and hypertension) were significantly associated with new retinal emboli. The risk of retinal emboli was also significantly associated with operator expertise. Conclusions Retinal embolism was found after coronary catheterization in 6.3% of our patients. This finding indicates that the retinal, and possibly the cerebral circulation, may be compromised more frequently than is clinically apparent as a complication of coronary catheterization. Age and hypertension are independent predictors of retinal embolism. Trial Registration NCT01157338</p

Visual field defect as a presenting sign for hemorrhagic stroke caused by sildenafil

Herein, we describe the presenting symptoms, history, ophthalmic examination, visual fields and brain magnetic resonance imaging of a patient who developed left homonymous hemianopia due to right occipital lobe hemorrhage after ingestion of sildenafil citrate (Novagra Forte). To the best of our knowledge, association of homonymous hemianopia with sildenafil usage has not been reported before