Effects of moderate smoking on the central visual field

Purpose: To investigate whether moderate cigarette smoking has any effects on the central visual field. Methods: This study included 30 healthy, moderate cigarette smokers (10-20 cigarettes per day for at least the past 5 years) and 22 healthy non-smokers. After two training test sessions, all individuals underwent computerized visual field examinations (Humphrey 30-2 Full Threshold Test) with both white-on-white (W-W) perimetry and blue-on-yellow (B-Y) perimetry. One eye of each subject with reliable visual field test results was evaluated. The foveal threshold, mean deviation (MD), pattern standard deviation (PSD), short-term fluctuation (SF), corrected pattern standard deviation (CPSD), glaucoma hemifield test (GHT) and number of significantly depressed points deviating at p 0.55). The number of depressed points deviating at p 0.05). The number of significantly depressed points deviating at p 0.05). No significant difference in GHT was determined with either perimetry for the smokers compared with the non-smokers (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This study suggests that moderate cigarette smoking is associated with both diffuse and localized reductions in retinal sensitivity with W-W perimetry. Only reduction in the foveal threshold was observed with B-Y perimetry, with no hints of diffuse and localized reductions

Stimulation of Na⁺/H⁺ Exchanger Isoform 1 Promotes Microglial Migration

Regulation of microglial migration is not well understood. In this study, we proposed that Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 (NHE-1) is important in microglial migration. NHE-1 protein was co-localized with cytoskeletal protein ezrin in lamellipodia of microglia and maintained its more alkaline intracellular pH (pHi). Chemoattractant bradykinin (BK) stimulated microglial migration by increasing lamellipodial area and protrusion rate, but reducing lamellipodial persistence time. Interestingly, blocking NHE-1 activity with its potent inhibitor HOE 642 not only acidified microglia, abolished the BK-triggered dynamic changes of lamellipodia, but also reduced microglial motility and microchemotaxis in response to BK. In addition, NHE-1 activation resulted in intracellular Na+ loading as well as intracellular Ca2+ elevation mediated by stimulating reverse mode operation of Na+/Ca2+ exchange (NCXrev). Taken together, our study shows that NHE-1 protein is abundantly expressed in microglial lamellipodia and maintains alkaline pHi in response to BK stimulation. In addition, NHE-1 and NCXrev play a concerted role in BK-induced microglial migration via Na+ and Ca2+ signaling. © 2013 Shi et al

Impacts of major complications seen after ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm repair surgery over mortality

Amaç: Rüptüre abdominal aort anevrizması (RAAA) tanısı alarak açık cerrahi uygulanan hastalarda uyguladığımız tedavi yaklaşımlarının, karşılaşılan komplikasyonlar ve mortalite ile ilişkili risk faktörlerinin sunulmasıdır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Ekim 2010 ile Ağustos 2015 tarihleri arasında RAAA tanısı ile açık cerrahi uygulanan 39 hastanın verileri retrospektif olarak tarandı. Çalışma grubu ikiye ayrıldı; Grup-1 (n=14), cerrahi sonrası ilk 30 gün içerisinde kaybedilen olgulardan oluşurken, Grup-2 (n=25), halen hayatta olanlardan oluşmaktaydı. Mortalite ile ilişkili pre, intra ve postoperatif faktörler kaydedilerek istatistiksel olarak analiz edildi. Bulgular: Ortalama yaşı 68.9±9.5 yıl olan toplam 39 olgunun 37’si (%94.9) erkekti. Oniki hasta (%30.8) hipovolemik şokta iken ameliyata alındı. Tüm olguların %56.4’ünde anevrizma infrarenal yerleşimliydi. Takip döneminde, çalışma olgularının %69.2’sinde en az bir komplikasyon saptanırken, %38.5’inde iki veya daha fazla komplikasyon gözlendi. İki olgu (%5.1) intraoperatif olarak, 12 hasta (%30.8) ise operasyon sonrası ilk 30 gün içinde kaybedildi. İntraoperatif aortik kross-klemp süresi 40 dakikanın üzerinde olması, kardiyak komplikasyonların ya da akut renal yetmezliğin gelişmesi ve sepsis varlığı, mortalite ile ilgili bağımsız risk faktörleri olarak bulundu. Sonuç: Çalışmamızın sonuçları, preoperatif hemodinamik regulasyon, aortik kros-klemp süresinin kısaltılması ve sterilizasyon kılavuzlarına kesin uyum sağlanmasının tamir cerrahisi uygulanan RAAA hastalarında morbidite ve mortalite oranlarının düşürdüğünü göstermiştir.Aim: To present our management approach, complications, and mortality-related risk factors in patients diagnosed with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA) who underwent open surgery. Materials and Methods: The charts of 39 patients with RAAA who underwent open surgery between September 2010 and August 2015 were reviewed retrospectively. Study population was divided into two groups; Group-1 (n=14) consisted of cases who died within 30 days after surgery and Group-2 (n=25) consisted of the survivors. Pre-, intra-, and postoperative factors related to mortality and morbidity were noted and statistically analyzed. Results: Of the 39 patients with a mean age of 68.9±9.5 years, 37 (94.9%) were males. Twelve patients with hypovolemic shock (30.8%) were taken into operation; and 56.4% of all study participants had infrarenal aneurysms. A total of 69.2% of the patients developed at least one complication, while 38.5% developed two or more complications. Two patients (5.1%) died in the intraoperative period, whereas 12 (30.8%) died within 30 days after the operation. Intraoperative aortic cross-clamp time being over than 40 minutes, development of cardiac complications or acute renal failure, and sepsis were found to be independent risk factors related with mortality. Conclusion: Our study results showed that preoperative hemodynamic regulation, shortening of aortic cross-clamp time and strict adherence to sterilization guidelines can reduce morbidity and mortality rates in cases with RAAA underwent repair surgery