The effect of COVID-19 infection on retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell complex layer thicknesses

Aim:  To evaluate the possible effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell complex layer (GC-IPL) thicknesses. Method: Patients who had been infected by SARS-CoV-2 and hospitalized because of severe pneumonia were found out from the database of COVID-19 pandemic hospital and formed the patient group. The control group was composed of non-COVID-19 age-matched subjects. The mean and fragmented RNFL and GC-IPL thicknesses were measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT), and compared between two groups, statistically. Results: Patient group 34 eyes of 34 subjects (18 male, 16 female) and 31 eyes of 31 subjects (14 male, 17 female) in the control group were enrolled. The mean age and gender were not statistically different between groups (p:0.56, 0,57, respectively).A statistically significant difference was not found between groups in terms of mean, superior, inferior, temporal, nasal RNFL thicknesses and mean superior, inferior, temporal, and nasal GC-IPL thicknesses. Conclusion: The mean and fragmented RNFL and GC-IPL thicknesses measured by OCT were not statistically different in patients who had moderate disease course and recovered from COVID-19 infection

Corneal topography, anterior segment and high-order aberration assessments in children with >= 2 diopter astigmatism

Purpose To assess topographic findings, anterior segment parameters and high-order aberrations (HOAs) by using corneal tomography in children with 2 diopters (dp) or more astigmatism. Methods Children with 2 dp or more astigmatism (study group) and children with astigmatism less than 1 dp (control group) were recruited. Corneal astigmatism, mean, steep, flat keratometry (K) findings, anterior and posterior K results and anterior segment parameters including anterior chamber depth, kappa distance, horizontal corneal diameter, mean, central, middle, peripheral corneal thicknesses (CT), white-to-white (WTW) distance and pupil diameter were measured by Galilei G4 Dual Scheimpflug corneal tomography. HOAs were also assessed and compared between groups. Results Fifty-eight eyes of 37 children in the study group and 37 eyes of 37 children in the control group were enrolled. The mean ages of groups were 9.7 +/- 2.4 years and 9.3 +/- 1.6 years in study and control groups, respectively. The mean astigmatism was 3.3 +/- 1.1 dp and 0.5 +/- 0.3 dp in study and control groups, respectively (p < 0.05). Total corneal astigmatism was 3.3 +/- 0.84 dp and 1.14 +/- 0.47 dp in study and control groups, respectively (p < 0.05). There was a significant difference between groups in terms of posterior steep K and posterior astigmatism values. Among anterior segment parameters, mean CT and WTW values were statistically different between groups. HOAs were found to be statistically different between groups. Conclusion Higher posterior corneal astigmatism, thinner mean CT and lower WTW distance were found in children with 2 dp or more astigmatism. Besides, HOAs were much more in these astigmatic children

Central corneal epithelial thickness changes after half-moon supracapsular nucleofractis phacoemulsification technique

PurposeTo find out the effect of half-moon supracapsular nucleofractis technique on central corneal epithelial thickness (CET) measured by spectral domain anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT).Materials and methodsPatients who underwent uneventful cataract surgery by the same surgeon with the same technique were recruited in this study. The effective phaco time (EPT) was recorded in each surgery. Central CET was measured by AS-OCT 1day before and 1, 3, 7days after surgery. CET was measured without precorneal tear film layer, and non-epithelial central corneal thickness was also calculated manually. Preoperative and postoperative values were compared by statistical analysis.ResultsThirty-one eyes of 31 patients were included in this study. The mean age of patients was 65.0311.47years. On the first day of surgery, increase in mean CET was statistically significant, but on the 3rd and 7th day after surgery, this increase was declined (p=0.001, p=0.367, p=1, respectively). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between mean EPT and mean CET on the first postoperative day (p=0.013, r=0.470). On the 3rd and 7th day, this correlation was not statistically significant (p=0.055, p=0.454, respectively).Conclusion Mean central CET was statistically thicker and positive correlated with EPT on the first postoperative day. But on the 7th day, it declined to preoperative values

Factors influencing stereopsis in patients with both refractive accommodative esotropia and amblyopia

PurposePotential factors influencing stereopsis were investigated in patients with both refractive accommodative esotropia (RAE) and amblyopia.Materials and methodsA retrospective chart review was performed to find out all patients with the diagnosis of both RAE and amblyopia. Patients are classified into two groups: group 1 (with stereopsis) and group 2 (without stereopsis). Onset age of RAE, history of strabismus in family members, time of amblyopia treatment, mean spherical equivalent, anisometropia, ocular movement disorders, especially, overaction of inferior oblique (IO) muscle, visual acuity difference (VAD) between eyes, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) levels of amblyopic and normal eyes and the presence of alternation of fixation (AOF) were investigated as possible factors. These factors were compared statistically between groups.ResultsGroups 1 and 2 consisted of 21 and 26 patients, respectively. There was no statistical significant difference in terms of onset age of RAE, family history, amblyopia treatment, BCVA of normal eyes and anisometropia. IO overaction and higher VAD were found to be statistically different between groups (p: 0.019, p: 0.022, respectively). Besides, there was significant difference in terms of AOF and better BCVA in amblyopic eyes (p: 0.000, p: 0.009, respectively).ConclusionIO overaction, BCVA in amblyopic eyes, VAD and AOF were found to be potential risk factors for the development of stereopsis in patients with both RAE and amblyopia

The Anxiety, Depression and Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Patients Before and After Treatment: The Results of One Year Prospective Study

Objective: Assessment of psychological reactions, psychiatric morbidity and quality of life of breast cancer patients gains importance because of the increase in breast cancer incidence and survival rate. The aim of this study was to examine anxiety, depression and quality of life in breast cancer patients during early and late postsurgical periods compared with presurgical period

Ocular findings in patients with psoriasis

Background Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting skin, nails, and joints. Although there are not many reports in the literature, ocular findings occur in approximately 10% of patients, in mostly those who have psoriatic arthritis. In this study, we aimed to evaluate eye involvement in psoriasis patients. Methods This study was performed on a total of 100 psoriasis patients and a group of 100 healthy individuals. History was taken from all study and control subjects, and dermatological, systemic, and ophthalmological examinations were performed and Schirmer and BUT values were measured. Constant variables were compared using the t-test, and categorical variables were compared using chi-square test. Relationship between ocular findings and sex, age, duration of psoriasis, PASI score, presence of psoriatic plaques on the eyelid, nail involvement, and psoriatic arthritis was evaluated using logistic regression analysis. Statistical analyses were performed individually for both right and left eyes. Results The number of ocular findings in both eyes in the patient group was found to be statistically higher than that in the control group. Schirmer and BUT values were statistically lower in the patient group than those in the control group. Conclusions Although results of our study support the necessity of routine ophthalmological examination of psoriasis patients for early diagnosis and treatment, we believe that further studies are required on the etiopathogenesis of ocular involvement in psoriasis patients

Evaluation of fundus autofluorescence imaging of diabetic patients without retinopathy

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of fundus autofluorescence imaging of diabetic patients without retinopathy to investigate early retinal damage. Methods: Fundus autofluorescence images of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus without retinopathy (diabetic group) and age-sex matched healthy patients (control group) were recorded with a CX-1 digital mydriatic retinal camera after detailed ophthalmologic examinations. MATLAB 2013a software was used to measure the average pixel intensity and average curve width of the macula and fovea. Results: Fifty-six eyes of 28 patients, as the diabetic group, and 54 eyes of 27 healthy patients, as the control group, were included in this study. The mean aggregation index was 168.32 +/- 37.18 grayscale units (gsu) in the diabetic group and 152.27 +/- 30.39 gsu in the control group (p=0.014). The mean average pixel intensity value of the fovea was 150.87 +/- 35.83 gsu the in diabetic group and as 141.51 +/- 31.10 gsu in the control group (p=0.060). The average curve width value was statistically higher in the diabetic group than in the control group (71.7 +/- 9.2 vs. 59.4 +/- 8.6 gsu, respectively, p=0.03). Conclusion: Fundus autofluorescence imaging analysis revealed that diabetic patients without retinopathy have significant fluorescence alterations. Therefore, a noninvasive imaging technique, such as fundus autofluorescence, may be valuable for evaluation of the retina of diabetic patients without retinopathy

Left atrial thrombus in patients with atrial fibrillation and under oral anticoagulant therapy; 3-D transesophageal echocardiographic study

Ischemic stroke is the major complication of atrial fibrillation (AF) and only proven preventive therapy is oral anticoagulant therapy (OAC). Previous studies reported the presence of thrombus in the left atrium (LA) or left atrial appendage (LAA) despite anticoagulant therapy. We aim to investigate the predictors of LA/LAA thrombus in patients under OAC therapy and long-term clinical impact of thrombus. We prospectively enrolled consecutive patients with permanent AF under OAC therapy. Patients baseline characteristics were recorded. Transesophageal echocardiographic study performed after complete transthoracic echocardiographic study. 3-D evaluation of LAA was made using 3-D zoom mode and thrombus was defined when echo reflecting, mobile mass detected. Patients clinical outcomes were decided according to hospital records or via phone calls. Among 184 patients, 28 LAT were detected. Mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was significantly higher in patients with LAT in comparison to patients without LAT. CHA2DS2-VASc score (p: 0.001), left atrial volume (p: 0.001), left atrial flow velocity (p: 0.006) and left ventricular ejection fraction (p: 0.014) were independently associated with LAT. Among the parameters in CHA2DS2-VASc score, the previous history of stroke and age were independently related to LAT. After 12 months of follow-up, patients with LAT had more ischemic stroke than patients without LAT (7.1% vs 4.4%, p: 0.001 respectively). Although oral anticoagulation is the default treatment strategy for prevention of LAT and thromboembolism in patients with non-valvular AF, LAT still can be detected especially in patients with a high CHA2DS2-VASc score. Furthermore, the presence of LAT is significantly associated with future ischemic stroke

Current antiviral practice and course of Hepatitis B virus infection in inflammatory arthritis: a multicentric observational study (A

WOS: 000365587100005PubMed ID: 27708953Objective: The reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a well-known event in hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg)-positive patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy. The objective of this study was to assess the antiviral practice and course of HBV infection in inflammatory arthritis. Material and Methods: Nineteen rheumatology centers participated in this retrospective study. HbsAg-positive patients who were taking disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and who were being tested for HBV viral load at a minimum of two different time points were included. The case report form (CRF) consisted of demographic data, rheumatic diseases, treatment profiles, transaminase levels, viral hepatitis serological markers, and HBV viral load. The reactivation of HBV was defined as the abrupt rise in HBV replication by an increase in serum HBV DNA levels in a patient with a previously inactive HBV infection. Results: In total, the data of 101 (female 50.5%) patients were included (76 patients with inactive HBV carriers and 25 patients with chronic HBV infection). The mean age of patients was 44 +/- 12 years, and the mean follow-up duration was 31 +/- 22 months. Of the 101 patients, 70 (69.3%) received antiviral treatment. HBV reactivation was detected in 13 of 76 (17.1%) patients with inactive HBV carriers. HBV reactivation was observed less frequently, not although significantly, in those patients receiving antiviral prophylaxis compared with those not receiving prophylaxis [5/41 (12.2%) vs. 8/33 (24.2%), p=0.17]. Forty-two patients (31 patients had inactive HBV carriers) were using anti-tumor necrosis factor agents. HBV reactivation was detected in 6 of the 31 (19.3%) patients. Twenty-five patients had chronic hepatitis, and five (20%) of them had not received antiviral prophylaxis. HBV viral loads were persistently elevated in 7 (28%) of 25 patients (three patients under and four patients not under antiviral treatment). Conclusion: HBV reactivation was observed in approximately 17% of patients under immunosuppressive treatments. HBV reactivation was more frequently observed in those who did not receive antiviral prophylaxis