Evaluation of Ring Amplitude and Factors Affecting Ring Amplitude in Multifocal Electroretinography in Diabetic Eyes

Purpose The aim of this paper was to evaluate the ring amplitudes in diabetic patients and to evaluate the effect of the risk factors for diabetic retinopathy on the ring amplitudes. We also aimed to investigate the success of ring amplitudes in classifying diabetic retinopathy. Methods The study included 32 eyes of 32 diabetic patients without retinopathy (DM), 34 eyes of 34 patients with mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) without macular edema, and 62 eyes of 62 age- and sex-matched controls (CG). All subjects were evaluated using mfERG. The relationship between age, diabetes duration, HbA1c and ring amplitudes and the effect of diabetes and hypertension on ring amplitudes were evaluated. Three-way ROC analysis was performed to evaluate the discrimination power of the ring amplitudes. Results In the comparison of the ring amplitudes, the amplitudes of the DM and NPDR groups were statistically significantly decreased compared to the CG (p < .05). A moderate to strong correlation was found between the duration of diabetes, HbA1c and ring amplitudes (p < .05). The effect of diabetes decreased towards the peripheral rings and hypertension did not affect ring amplitudes. Volume under the ROC surface of R1 = 0.65 had p < .05 and 95% CI [0.50-0.72], and the best cut-off point pair to differentiate the three classes was found to be c(1) = 217.3, c(2) = 151.2 in three-way ROC analysis. Conclusion In conclusion, the effects of diabetes are unevenly distributed on the retina topographically. Diabetes affects the central rings more than peripheral rings in multifocal ERG. Both ring densities and ring ratios are effective ways to identify early changes in retinal function

Optic nerve head vessel density in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome/glaucoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Exfoliative material has been shown to accumulate in ocular and systemic tissues. We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the current literature evaluating optic nerve head vessel density (VD) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in patients with XFS and XFG.Methods: Studies were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Studies comparing patients with XFS and/or XFG patients to healthy controls, using the optic nerve head-centred 4.5 x 4.5 mm square OCTA scan protocol were included. Pooled results are presented as standardised mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Meta-regression analysis was performed between mean difference in circumpapillary VD between XFG and controls and mean pRNFL thickness in patients with XFG.Results: Fifteen studies with 1475 eyes were included in this review. Whole image VD and circumpapillary VD (cpVD) were significantly decreased in patients with XFS [-0.78(95% Cl:-1.08,-0.47);-0.55(95% Cl:-0.80, -0.30); respectively] and XFG [-1.85(95% CI:-2.33,-1.36);-1.84 (95% CI:-2.30,-1.39); respectively] compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, pRNFL thickness decreased in patients with XFS [-0.55(95% Cl: -0.72,-0.35)] and XFG [-1.78(95% Cl:-2.21,-1.36)] compared to healthy controls. Meta-regression showed that pRNFL thickness decreased with increasing mean cpVD difference in XFG patients compared to healthy controls.Conclusions: OCTA provides non-invasive, objective and reproducible assessment of peripapillary VD and is important for the detection of vasculopathy in patients with XFS or XFG. This study provides strong evidence for decreased cpVD in the eyes of patients with XFS and XFG

A Comparison of Breast Milk and Sucrose in Reducing Neonatal Pain During Eye Exam for Retinopathy of Prematurity

Background: This double-blind randomized controlled experimental study aimed to determine the effects of breast milk and sucrose in reducing pain in preterm infants during retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) examination

A RETROSPECTIVE RECORDS-BASED COHORT OF 1,082 PEDIATRIC FORENSIC CASES PRESENTING TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

Introduction: This study was conducted to determine the pediatric forensic case type and demographic characteristics of patients presenting to the emergency department

A case of facial lentiginous lichen planus pigmentosus associated with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and diabetes mellitus

Lichen planus pigmentosus (LPP) is an autoimmune, chronic and rare variant of lichen planus of unknown etiology that progresses with pigmentation. The condition is rarely observed concurrently with autoimmune diseases. In this case report, a diabetic male patient with speckled lentiginous lesions on the face, also diagnosed with concurrent autoimmune thyroiditis is presented due to the rarity of the condition and the morphological character of the lesions

The effect of thermo-mechanical fatigue on the retentive force and dimensional changes in polyetheretherketone clasps with different thickness and undercut

PURPOSE. Esthetic expectations have increased the use of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) clasps as alternatives to Cr-Co in removable partial dentures (RPDs). The objective of this study was to evaluate the retentive force and dimensional change of clasps with different thickness and undercut made from PEEK by the thermo-mechanical fatigue. MATERIALS AND METHODS. PEEK clasps (N = 48) with thicknesses of 1 or 1.50 mm and 48 premolar monolithic zirconia crowns with undercuts of 0.25 mm or 0.50 mm were fabricated. Samples are divided into four groups (C1-C4) and were subjected to 7200 thermal aging cycles (at 5 55 degrees C). The changes in the retentive force and dimensions of the clasps were measured by micro-stress testing and micro-CT devices from five measurement points (M1 - M5). One-way ANOVA, paired t-test, two-way repeated ANOVA, and post-hoc tests were used to analyze the data (P < .05). RESULTS. The retentive forces of C1, C2, C3, and C4 groups in initial and final test were found to be 4.389-3.388 N, 4.67 3.396 N, 5.161 4.096 N, 5.459 4.141 N, respectively. The effects of retentive force of all PEEK clasps groups were significant decreased. Thermo-mechanical cycles caused significant dimensional changes at points with M2, M4, and M5, and abraded the clasp corners and increased the distance between the ends of the clasp, resulting in reduced retentive forces (P* = .016, P* = .042, P < .001, respectively). CONCLUSION. Thermo-mechanical aging decreases the retentive forces in PEEK clasps. Increasing the thickness and undercut amount of clasps decreases the amount of dimensional change. The values measured after aging are within the clinically acceptable limits

Efficacy and Safety of Adalimumab in Patients with Behçet Uveitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

To examine the long-term efficacy and safety of adalimumab (ADA) in patients with Behçet uveitis (BU). A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies was performed. Pooled results are presented as mean difference or standardized mean difference (std diff) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Visual acuity (VA), intraocular inflammation grade, central macular thickness, corticosteroid (CS) sparing effect and adverse events were evaluated. Ten studies were included finally for quantitative and qualitative synthesis. ADA therapy resulted in 0.124 (95%CI: 0.084, 0.165) logMAR improvement in VA. In addition, ADA therapy resulted in decreased grade of intraocular inflammation [std diff, −1.187 (95%CI: -1.508, -0.866)] and macular thickness [std diff, −0.564 (95%CI: -0.843, -0.286)] and caused a decrease in CS dosage [std diff, −1.809 (95%CI: -2.420, -1.198)]. The pooled rate of overall adverse events for ADA in 301 patients was 8.5% (95%CI: 0.039, 0.177). ADA is an efficient therapy that improves VA and controls intraocular inflammation, macular edema and retinal vasculitis. As the disease exposure time increased, improvement in VA was less. The safety and CS-sparing effect of ADA were demonstrated with few adverse effects. The results provided evidence that ADA can be used safely and efficiently as the first-line drug in patients with BU.</p

Optic nerve head vessel density using OCTA in patients with primary angle closure disease: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

PurposeElevated intraocular presure secondary to angle closure in angle closure glaucoma is considered the primary mechanism in the development of optic nerve damage. There is evidence that vascular mechanisms may play a role in the pathogenesis of primary angle closure disease (PACD). We aimed to evaluate optic nerve head vessel density in PACD.MethodsPubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched. Observational investigations were included. A frequentist network meta-analysis was performed. The primary outcome was circumpapillary vessel density (cpVD), and the secondary outcome was peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness.ResultsOne thousand twenty four eyes from eleven studies were included in the study. There was no difference in cpVD between the primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) and acute primary angle closure (APAC) group however, there was a significant decreasing in pRNFL thickness in the PACG group compared to APAC group. In the PACG and APAC group, cpVD and pRNFL thickness were decreased compared to primary angle closure (PAC), primary angle closure suspect (PACS), and control group. There was no difference in cpVD and pRNFL thickness between PAC, PACS and control group.ConclusionThis study has shown that the elevated intraocular pressure is an important factor affecting optical nerve perfusion in PACD. The decreasing in cpVD and RNFL thickness was more severe in the PACG and APAC group.</div

Major biological activities and protein profiles of skin secretions of Lissotriton vulgaris and Triturus ivanbureschi

WOS: 000450015000005Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the total protein amounts, protein profiles, in vitro cytotoxicities, antimicrobial activities and hemolytic effects of skin secretions of the Lissotriton vulgaris and Triturus ivanbureschi. Methods: Skin secretions were obtained, clarified, supernatants snap-frozen then lyophilized. Total protein amounts were determined by BCA assay kit. Protein profiles were revealed by the SDS-PAGE. The cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity were determined by using MTT assay and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method. Hemolytic effects were measured on rabbit red blood cells. Results: Lissotriton vulgaris and T. ivanbureschi skin secretions have totally 18 and 20 protein fractions. IC50 values were detected between 1.40 and 40.28 mu g/mL. The MIC results were found between 7.8 and 250 mu g/mL. Lissotriton vulgaris skin secretion showed low hemolytic effect while T. ivanbureschi skin secretion showed high hemolytic effect. Conclusion: This study is the first report showing the potential of L. vulgaris and T. ivanbureschi skin secretions for cytotoxicity, antimicrobial and hemolytic activity as an alternative therapeutic approach for traditional uses. Further studies need to focus on purification of the active components from these skin secretions and mode of action on cancer cell lines and microorganisms as anti-agents.Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [114Z599, 10.13039/501100004410]; Ege University Scientific Research Project CommissionEge University [2015-FEN-004]This work was partly supported by the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) under Grant 114Z599 (Funder Id: 10.13039/501100004410) and Ege University Scientific Research Project Commission (Project no: 2015-FEN-004). We would like to express our gratitude to AREL (Research and Education Laboratory, Ege University School of Medicine) for their support laboratory facilities during the study