Ischemia modified albumin is an indicator of oxidative stress in multiple sclerosis

Introduction: Oligodendrocytes need iron in processes of energy generation and myelination. However, excessive levels of iron may exert iron induced oxidative stress and thus lead to tissue degeneration. Monitoring oxidative stress will be of paramount importance in follow-up of patients with many diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this study was to measure total anti-oxidative status (TAS), total oxidative status (TOS) and ischemia modified albumin (IMA) in stable relapse remitting MS (RRMS) patients. Materials and methods: Thirty-five RRMS patients (15 males and 20 females; median age 42 (20-55) years) and thirty-five age-sex matched healthy controls (13 males and 22 females; median age 37 (21-60) years) were included in this study. All patients were diagnosed with MS according to the criteria of McDonald. Results: IMA levels were significantly higher in RRMS patients (P < 0.001), while TAS and TOS did not show any significant difference between groups (P = 0.870 and P = 0.460, respectively). Conclusions: Our results suggest IMA as a more efficient serum marker than TAS and TOS in detecting the oxidative stress in MS patients. Serum oxidative stress markers should be included in future study protocols besides clinical and radiological parameter

Therapeutic and prognostic features in myasthenia gravis patients followed in a tertiary neuromuscular diseases center in Turkey

IntroductionIn this study, we aim to evaluate the treatment responses and prognostic characteristics of Myasthenia Gravis (MG) patients followed in a tertiary neuromuscular diseases center in Turkey.MethodsOne hundred seventy four MG patients (between years 2011 and 2022) in Antalya, Turkey were diagnosed, and evaluated on a classification of MG was based on Myasthenia. Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) clinical classification. Exclusion of other possible diseases in the differential diagnosis and support by beneficial response to treatment with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors were also taken into consideration.ResultsMean age of participants was 54.86 (SD = 14.856; min-max = 22–84). Ninety (51.7%) were female. MG was more common in women under the age of 65 (58%) and in men over the age of 65 (64%). Generalized MG was seen in 75.3% of the patients. Anti-AChR positivities were detected in 52.3%, Anti-MuSK positivity in 4.6%, and seronegativity in 22.4%. Thymoma was detected in nearly 9.8% and thymectomy was performed in 28.7 percent. Most of the patients (57.5%) were using corticosteroids. Azathioprine was used by 39% and mycophenolate mofetil by 10.3% of patients. Mortality was higher and disease was more severe in late-onset (&gt;50 years) MG patients (especially in the COVID-19 pandemic). Eight patients (four women, four men, mean age 75.5 years) died during follow-up. None of them died due to myasthenic worsening, two died due to malignancy and two due to infection. During the COVID pandemic, 16 patients (9.2%) had COVID infection. Four patients died due to COVID-19 infection, these four patients had serious comorbidities, and three of them were elderly (&gt;75 years).ConclusionIn conclusion, MG is more common in women between the ages of 20–40 and in men over the age of 65. The use of corticosteroids was more common under the age of 50, and the use of non-steroidal immunosuppressant agents was more common over the age of 50. Thymectomy is still an important supportive treatment approach in anti-AChR positive and seronegative generalized patients under 50 years of age. IVIG and plasmapheresis are effective treatments during acute exacerbations and bridging periods of treatments. Specific treatments are needed especially for resistant group of patients

LONG-TERM OUTCOMES OF HEMICENTRAL RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION

Amaç: Hemi-Santral Retinal Ven Tıkanıklığı (HSRVT) tanısıyla izlenen olguların uzun dönem takiplerinde görme sonuçlarını ve komplikasyonları değerlendirmek. Yöntemler: Ocak 1992-Ocak 2001 tarihleri arasında optik koherens tomografi öncesi döneme ait HSRVT tanısı konulan, 2 yıl ve üzeri düzenli takibi olan 25 hastanın 25 gözü retrospektif dosyaları taranarak incelendi. Dosya incelemelerinde hastaların yaşı, cinsiyeti, sistemik risk faktörleri, hangi gözün etkilendiği, tam oftalmolojik muayeneleri ve gelişen komplikasyonlar kaydedildi. İlk başvuda çekilen Fundus Fluoresein Anjiografi (FA) sonuçları incelendi. Hastalar FA bulgularına (noniskemik veya iskemik form) ve üst ya da alt retinal yarı etkilenmesine göre sınıflandırıldı. Bulgular: Hastaların ortalama yaşı 67,0 ± 11,0 yıl (41-90 yıl) ve ortalama takip süresi 6,4 ± 5,5 yıl (2-19 yıl) idi. Olguların 17'sinde (%68) sistemik bir hastalık mevcut olup, en büyük çoğunluğu hipertansiyon hastaları (%48) oluşturmaktaydı. Gözlerin 13'ünde (%52) alt hemisferik kadran ve 12'sinde (%48) üst hemisferik kadranda etkilenme olduğu saptandı. Hastalarımızın tanı esnasında görme keskinliği tüm gözlerde ortalama 1,08 ± 0,4 logMAR iken, son muayenede ortalama 0,89 ± 0,5 logMAR olarak saptandı (p&gt;0,05). FA bulgularına göre tanı esnasında 10 gözde iskemi ve takiplerde noniskemik olguların 3'ünde iskemik forma dönüşüm tespit edildi. On disk alanından daha geniş iskemik alanlara retinal laser fotokoagülasyon uygulandı. HSRVT'ye bağlı 12 gözde makula ödemi, 3 gözde intravitreal hemoraji, 3 gözde epiretinal membran formasyonu, 3 gözde neovasküler glokom, 2 gözde optik atrofi ve 1 gözde yırtıklı retina dekolmanı geliştiği gözlendi. Perfüze makula ödemi tedavisinde grid laser fotokoagülasyon uygulandı. Sonuç: Hastaların uzun dönem takipte görme prognozu, başlangıç görme keskinliği ve komplikasyon gelişimi ile ilişkili bulundu. Hastaların uzun dönem takiplerinde rölatif görme artışı sağlansa bile, bu artış istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bulunmadı Objective: To assess the visual outcomes and the complications in patients with Hemicentral Retinal Vein Occlusion (HCRVO) in the long-term. Methods: The medical records of 25 eyes of 25 patients, having regular follow-up for ≥2 years, diagnosed as HCRVO before Optical Cohorence Tomography (OCT) era between January 1992 and January 2001 were reviewed. During the survey, gender,age, affected side, complete ophthalmologic evaluations, systemic risk factors and complications were recorded. The images of Fundus Fluorescein Angiography (FA) at baseline were evaluated. The patients were classified according to the findings of the FA (non-ischemic or ischemic form) and the involvement of superior or inferior halves of the retina. Results: The mean age of the patients was 67.0 ± 11.0 years (range, 41-90 years) and the mean duration of follow-up was 6.4 ± 5.5 years (range, 2-19 years). Seventeen patients (68%) had a systemic disease and most of them were of hypertensive cases (48%). In 13 of the eyes (52%) inferior hemispheric quadrant and in 12 eyes (48%) superior hemispheric quadrant was found to be affected. The visual acuity at baseline was 1.08 ± 0.4 logMAR and it was 0.89 ± 0.5 logMAR at last visit (p&gt;0.05). According to the findings of FA, ischemic form was detected in 10 eyes at the time of diagnosis, and conversion to ischemic form occured in 3 cases during the follow-up. Laser photocoagulation was performed on ischemic lesions that were more than 10 disc areas. The complications due to HCRVO were as follows; macular edema in 12 eyes, intravitreal hemorrhage in 3 eyes, epiretinal membrane formation in 3 eyes, neovascular glaucoma in 3 eyes, optic atrophy in 2 eyes and regmatogenous retinal detachment in 1 eye. Macular grid laser for perfused macular edema was performed. Conclusion: The visual prognosis of the patients in the long-run was found to be associated with the presenting visual acuity and the development of a complication. Even a relative increase in the visual acuity after the follow-up was achieved, the increase was not statistically significan

Choroidal Thickness in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Type Dementia

Aim. To asses both choroidal thickness differences among Alzheimer’s type dementia (ATD) patients, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients, and healthy control (C) subjects and choroidal thickness relationships with cognitive performance. Methods. A total of 246 eyes of 123 people (41 ATD, 38 MCI, and 44 healthy C subjects) were included in this study. Complete ophthalmological and neurological examination was performed in all subjects. Choroidal thicknesses (CT) were measured at seven locations: the fovea, 500-1500-3000 μm temporal and 500-1500-3000 μm nasal to the fovea by enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT). Detailed neurological examination including mini mental state examination (MMSE) test which evaluates the cognitive function was applied to all participants. Results. The ages and genders of all participants were similar in all groups. Compared with healthy C subjects, the CT measurements at all regions were significantly thinner both in patients with ATD and in patients with MCI than in healthy C subjects (p<0.05). The MMSE scores were significantly different among ATD patients, MCI patients, and healthy C subjects. They were 19.3±1.8, 24.8±0.9, and 27.6±1.2 in ATD, MCI, and healthy controls, respectively (p<0.001). There were also significant correlation between MMSE score and choroidal thickness at each location (p<0.05). Conclusions. CT was reduced in ATD patients and MCI patients. Since vascular structures were affected in ATD patients and MCI patients, they had thin CT. Besides CT was correlated with degree of cognitive impairment. Therefore CT may be a new biomarker in diagnosis and follow-up of MCI and ATD patients

MANAGEMENT OF CANALICULAR LACERATION

Amaç: Lakrimal drenaj sistemi travması olan hastaların tedavisinde kullanılan cerrahi tekniklerin sonuçlarını değerlendirmek. Gereç ve yöntem: Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Göz Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı'nda kanalikül kesisi nedeni ile tedavi edilen 3 hastanın kayıtları retrospektif olarak incelendi. İki vakada 24 ‘gauge' branül kullanılarak bikanaliküler anüler entübasyon, bir hastada ise bikanaliküler nazal entübasyon, mukozal anastomoz ve kapak rekonstrüksiyonu ile kombine olarak uygulandı. Bulgular: İki hastada üst kanalikül, bir hastada ise alt kanalikül kesisi mevcuttu. Hastaların hepsinde kanalikül kesisi direk travma nedeniyle oluşmuştu. Tüp geri alınma zamanı ortalama 5,3 ay (4-6 ay) idi. Hiçbir hastada epifora veya diğer komplikasyonlar görülmedi. Sonuç: Kanalikül kesilerinin cerrahi tedavisi teknik olarak dikkat gerektiren bir işlemdir. Tecrübeli cerrahlarca dikkatli bir şekilde yapıldığında, polivinil kloridle yapılan bikanaliküler anüler entübasyon ve silikon tüple yapılan bikanaliküler nazal entübasyon ile başarılı sonuçlar elde edilebilir. Objective: To assess the results of surgical technique for the treatment of patients with trauma of the lacrimal drainage system. Material and method: Medical records of three patients treated for canalicular laceration in the Department of Ophthalmology Dokuz Eylul University wereevaluated retrospectively. In two cases bicanalicular annular intubation by using 24 gauge branule, in one case bicanalicular nasal entubation were performed combined with mucosal anastomosis and lid reconstruction. Results: Two patients had inferior canalicular laceration and one had a superior canalicular laceration. lacerations of our patients were caused by direct trauma. The silicone tubes were removed after a mean period of 5.3 months (Range 4 to 6 months) There were no persistent epiphora or other complication. Conclusion: The surgical treatment of canalicular laceration is a technically demanding procedure. Entubation techniques including bicanalicular annular with polyvinyl chloride material and bicanalicular nasal with silicone can achieve successful results, when it is performed carefully by experienced surgeons

Bilateral Severe Sterile Inflammation with Hypopyon after Simultaneous Intravitreal Triamcinolone Acetonide and Aflibercept Injection in a Patient with Bilateral Marked Rubeosis Associated with Ocular Ischemic Syndrome

We report the clinical course of a diabetic patient with bilateral cataract and rubeosis in association with ocular ischemic syndrome and initially treated him with simultaneous intravitreal 2 mg aflibercept and 2 mg triamcinolone acetonide injection at the same setting prior to planned cataract surgery and further photocoagulation. However, sterile anterior segment inflammation characterized by hypopyon occurred four days apart in OU. Right eye developed the sterile inflammation at the third postinjection day and the left eye developed the sterile inflammation at the seventh postinjection day (two days after the uneventful cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation) without any pain or significant redness. Vitreous biopsy taken during the right phacovitrectomy was negative for any microbial contamination. Both eyes were treated successfully with intensive topical prednisolone acetate with a relatively good visual outcome. It is likely that underlying ocular ischemic syndrome might have facilitated the formation of sterile inflammation as blood-aqueous barrier disruption and flare have already been present

A 12-Year-Old Girl with Bilateral Coats Disease and ABCA4 Gene Mutation

A 12-year-old girl with bilateral stage 2B Coats disease was screened meticulously for a possible underlying systemic disease as she was female and the disease was bilateral. Full systemic workout turned out to be unremarkable. However, an ABCA4 gene mutation was found in the genetic analysis. NDP and TINF2 gene mutations were not present. She was successfully treated with a bilateral, single intravitreal injection of dexamethasone implant and a single session of indirect laser photocoagulation with a relatively good anatomic and functional result. To the best of our knowledge, the present case is the only reported case of Coats disease with an ABCA4 gene mutation

Cognitive performance of primary open-angle glaucoma and normal-tension glaucoma patients

ABSTRACT Purpose: To assess cognitive performance differences among primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients, normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) patients, and healthy control (C) subjects. Methods: A total of 60 participants (20 POAG, 20 NTG, and 20 C subjects) were included in this study. A detailed ophthalmologic examination was performed on all participants. A spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) system was used to measure the ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thicknesses. To assess the cognitive performance of all participants, detailed neurological examinations, including the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), were performed by the same neurologist. Results: There were no significant differences among the groups in terms of age (p =0.348) or gender (p =0.935). The mean RNFL thicknesses were significantly different among the groups (85.2 ± 14.7, 76.8 ± 10.3, and 91.4 ± 7.7 µm in the POAG, NTG, and C subjects, respectively; p <0.001). The mean GC-IPL thicknesses were 77.5 ± 9.7 µm in the POAG group, 73.4 ± 7.8 µm in the NTG group, and 78.8 ± 3.8 µm in the C group. Differences among the groups were not statistically significant (p =0.085). MMSE scores were 26.1 ± 1.4, 25.7 ± 2.3, and 28.8 ± 0.9 in the POAG, NTG, and C groups, respectively. There were significant differences among the three groups (p <0.001). Specifically, there were significant differences between the NTG and C groups (p <0.001), and between the POAG and C groups (p =0.001). There was no significant difference between the POAG and NTG groups (p =0.595). Conclusions: There appear to be similar risk factors in glaucoma and neurodegenerative disorders that cause deterioration in cognitive performance. Comparing the low MMSE scores of the POAG and NTG patients with the scores of healthy C participants supports our hypothesis. Consequently, it is recommended that a neurologist should also examine glaucoma patients