Violence and bullying at school: 10-year data from the Forensic Medicine Department of a University Hospital in Türkiye.

BACKGROUND: Violence at school is broadly defined as a range of acts including physical, psychological, and sexual violence, as well as bullying. These can occur at school, in the school environment, on the way to school, or in any school-related environment. Considering the school environment as the place where a child spends most of their daily life, its impact on the child's life cannot be underestimated. This study aims to contribute to the literature by sharing characteristics of school violence and bullying cases with forensic reports prepared in our department, and by presenting solution suggestions for detecting and preventing these issues. METHODS: Between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2022, a total of 14,330 forensic reports issued by the Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine, were analyzed. It was found that 125 cases involved school violence. Five cases involving non-students were excluded, leaving 120 student cases for inclusion in the study. Sociodemographic data, type of violence, incident location, educational stage, injury origin, and psychiatric assessment results were assessed. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using the SPSS 29.0 package. RESULTS: Of the 120 cases analyzed, 90 (75%) were male, and 30 (25%) were female. The cases were most frequently subjected to violence at the secondary education stage (n=73, 60.8%) and, secondarily, at the primary education stage (n=36, 30%). When the type of violence was analyzed, it was found that physical violence was the most common (n=96, 80%), followed by sexual violence (n=21, 17.5%). Among these, 91.1% (n=82) of males and 43.3% (n=13) of females were exposed to physical and sexual violence, respectively. A statistically significant relationship was found between the type of violence and gender (p<0.001). Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was the most common diagnosis among those who underwent psychiatric assessments after experiencing violence (n=15, 45.5%). CONCLUSION: To effectively combat violence and bullying, we believe that strategies based on analyzing the causes of bullying in schools across different cultures, planning and implementing appropriate interventions tailored to the problem area, and preventing recurrence by disseminating the results will yield more effective outcomes.

The Inflammatory and Cytological Effect of Repeated Povidone-Iodine Application in Patients Receiving Intravitreal Injections.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of repeated povidone-iodine (PVI) application on the ocular surface parameters of patients who received intravitreal injections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, 52 eyes of 52 patients with age-related macular degeneration who underwent unilateral intravitreal injection at least three times in the last 1 year (intravitreal injection [IVI] group), 52 fellow eyes with no previous intravitreal injection (NIVI group), and 51 eyes of 51 healthy subjects (control) were included. Tear break-up time (TBUT), the Schirmer test, the Oxford staining score, the Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire, conjunctival impression cytology, and tear inflammatory cytokine levels (interleukin [IL]-1ß and IL-6) were analyzed in all participants. RESULTS: The IVI group had lower TBUT and higher Oxford staining score than the NIVI and control groups ( P <0.05). No significant difference was found between the groups in the Schirmer test ( P =0.161). Conjunctival impression cytology analysis revealed that the IVI group had a significantly lower goblet cell count and significantly higher Nelson staging result than the NIVI and control groups ( P <0.05). As a result of tear cytokine analysis, although IVI and NIVI groups had higher IL-1ß and IL-6 levels than the control group ( P <0.05), there was no difference between NIVI and IVI groups ( P ≥0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Repeated PVI application caused cytotoxic injury to the ocular surface, resulting in goblet cell loss and squamous metaplasia of epithelial cells. As a result, the stability of the tear film layer was found to be impaired and ocular surface-related symptoms developed in patients.

Clinical and biological correlates of optical coherence tomography findings in schizophrenia.

There is a growing body of evidence indicating retinal layer thinning in schizophrenia. However, neuropathological processes underlying these retinal structural changes and its clinical correlates are yet to be known. Here, we aim to investigate the clinical and biological correlates of OCT findings in schizophrenia. 50 schizophrenia patients and 40 healthy controls were recruited. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), and macular and choroidal thicknesses were recorded. A comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests was applied. Fasting glucose, triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol levels, TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6 levels were measured. Right IPL was significantly thinner in patients than the controls after controlling for various confounders (F = 5.42, p = .02). Higher IL-6, IL-1ß, and TNF-α levels were associated with decreased left macular thickness (r = - 0.26, p = .027, r = - 0.30, p = 0.012, and r = - 0.24, p = .046, respectively) and higher IL-6 was associated with thinning of right IPL (r = - 0.27, p = 0.023) and left choroid (r = - 0.23, p = .044) in the overall sample. Thinning of right IPL and left macula were also associated with worse executive functioning (r = 0.37, p = 0.004 and r = 0.33, p = 0.009) and attention (r = 0.31, p = 0.018 and r = 0.30, p = 0.025). In patients with schizophrenia, IPL thinning was associated with increased BMI (r = - 0.44, p = 0.009) and decreased HDL levels (r = 0.43, p = 0.021). Decreased TNF-α level was related to IPL thinning, especially in the left eye (r = 0.40, p = 0.022). These findings support the hypothesis that OCT might provide the opportunity to establish an accessible and non-invasive probe of brain pathology in schizophrenia and related disorders. However, future studies investigating retinal structural changes as a biological marker for schizophrenia should also consider the metabolic state of the subjects.

The relation of optical coherence tomography findings with oxidative stress parameters in patients with bipolar disorder and unaffected first-degree relatives.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate the optical coherence tomography(OCT) findings and oxidative stress parameters in patients with bipolar disorder(BD) and their unaffected first-degree relatives(FDRs) and to explore OCT findings and oxidative stress parameters as potential endophenotype candidates. METHODS: Fifty patients with BD, 40 FDRs of BD, and 50 healthy controls(HCs) were included. OCT was performed to measure peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer(RNFL), ganglion cell layer(GCL), inner plexiform layer(IPL), central macular, and minimum foveal thicknesses(CMT and MFT), choroidal thickness(ChT). 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal(HNE), total thiol(TT), native thiol(NT), total oxidant status(TOS), total antioxidant status(TAS), disulfide(DIS) and oxidative stress index(OSI) were measured from serum samples. RESULTS: TOS was higher patients with BD and FDRs than HCs (p < .001 and p = .012, respectively). OSI, DIS, HNE levels were higher patients with BD and FDRs than HCs (p < .001). TAS, TT, NT levels were lower patients and FDRs than HCs (p < .001). MFT of patients was thinner than HCs (p = .001). CMT of patients was thinner than HCs (p = .006); the same trend was observed in FDRs but did not reach the statistical significance level (p = .07). The groups did not differ on RNFL and choroidal thickness or GCL and IPL volume. LIMITATIONS: Evaluation of only a few retinal layers. CONCLUSIONS: TOS, TAS, OSI, TT, NT, DIS, HNE can be useful endophenotype biomarkers in BD. Among the OCT findings, CMT was determined as the closest parameter to being an endophenotype biomarker. Our study corroborates that oxidative stress parameters are more effective than OCT findings in endophenotype studies.

An investigation of retinal layer thicknesses in unaffected first-degree relatives of schizophrenia patients.

INTRODUCTION: A large number of studies using different neuroimaging methods showed various structural changes both in patients and their unaffected first-degree relatives (FDRs) over the past years. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a relatively new, non-invasive imaging method used to obtain high-resolution cross-sectional images of the retina. A growing body of evidence reports thinning of retinal layers in patients with schizophrenia which is considered as a proxy for CNS alterations. We hypothesized that retinal layer changes would be observed in FDRs, in parallel with those seen in patients, as a potential endophenotype candidate. METHODS: Thirty-eight schizophrenia patients, 38 FDRs of schizophrenia and 38 age and gender-matched healthy subjects with no family history (HCs) were recruited to this study. OCT measurements were performed and peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner plexiform layer (IPL) and macular thicknesses were measured. RESULTS: The groups did not differ on RNFL, macular or GCL thickness. However, IPL thickness was significantly lower in both patients and FDRs than HCs (p = .025 and p = .041, respectively). The difference between groups remained significant after controlling for confounders such as age, gender, smoking status, comorbid medical diseases and BMI (p = .016 patients vs HCs and p = .014 FDRs vs HCs). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that IPL thinning may hold promise as a useful endophenotype for genetic and early detection studies. The evaluation of this area could provide an important avenue for elucidating some of the neurodevelopmental aberrations in the disorder.

Regression of Serous Macular Detachment After Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant in Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema.

Purpose: To assess the effect of intravitreal dexamethasone (Ozurdex®) implant in eyes with serous macular detachment (SMD) secondary to diabetic retinopathy (DRP) with diabetic macular edema (DME). Methods: Twenty-four eyes of 24 patients (12 men and 12 women) with clinically significant macular edema and SMD due to DRP were included in this study. Twenty-four eyes of 24 patients (12 men and 12 women) with clinically significant macular edema and SMD due to DRP, which was documented by optical coherence tomography, were included in this study. Intravitreal dexamethasone implantation was performed for treatment to all eyes. Main outcome measures included changes in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central neuroretinal thickness (CRT), and height of SMD. After intravitreal dexamethasone implantation, functional and anatomic responses were observed. Results: From the data at 3 months follow-up, we found that the Ozurdex implant was effective in treating SMD with DME, no eyes had lost vision from baseline, 22 eyes (92%) had improved visual acuity, and 22 eyes (92%) had presented SMD regression. Only two eyes had needed dexamethasone implant retreatment. Data at 6-months follow-up, no eyes had lost vision from baseline, 20 eyes (83%) had improved visual acuity, and all eyes had presented SMD regression. Also, after injections and at the end of the follow-up, mean CRT and BCVA were statistically different from the baseline. Conclusions: Intravitreal Ozurdex implantation increases BCVA and reduces SMD and CRT, in patients with SMD. In this context, intravitreal dexamethasone implantation is an effective treatment for SMD in patients with DME.

A Pilot Study Investigating the Impact of Topical Nasal Steroid Spray in Allergic Rhinitis Patients with Dry Eye.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to demonstrate the effect of nasal steroid treatment on intraocular pressure and dry eye in allergic rhinitis patients with dry eye. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis and dry eye were included. Symptoms and findings of patients before and after nasal steroid therapy were compared. RESULT: Ocular Surface Disease Index scores for dry eye symptoms showed significant improvement after nasal steroid treatment (p = 0.003). In the Schirmer test, no significant change was observed in the right or left eye (p = 0.167 and p = 0.489). For the tear film break-up time, no significant change was observed in the right or left eye (p = 0.076 and (p = 0.170). No significant change was observed in the right eye or the left eye in an intraocular pressure test (p = 0.893 and p = 0.495). CONCLUSION: In our study, symptoms of dry eye with allergic rhinitis were significantly improved with nasal steroid therapy, without affecting the intraocular pressure.

The effect of allergic rhinitis with positive skin prick test on choroidal thickness.

Allergic rhinitis is an inflammatory disease that develops through immunoglobulin E in the rhino-ocular mucosa due to allergy. The main symptoms are runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing and itchy nose. This study was designed to investigate the effect of allergic rhinitis on choroidal thickness. This study was planned as a case-control study. This study performed in a tertiary referral center. The study included 61 patients with allergic rhinitis and 35 healthy subjects. Patients in both groups underwent skin prick test. In allergic rhinitis patients and healthy persons; subfoveal, temporal and nasal choroidal thickness measurement was performed. The choroidal thicknesses were measured without pupil dilation using the Spectralis Optical Coherence Tomography. In the subfoveal and temporal region, choroidal tissue was followed up significantly thicker in allergic rhinitis patients statistically compared to healthy persons (p = 0.031, p = 0.049). However, no significant difference was followed up between the nasal choroidal thickness measurements statistically (p = 0.54). Runny nose (67.2%), sneeze (65.5%), stuffiness (62.2%), itching of the nose (40.9%), and nasal discharge (21.3%) complaints were observed significantly higher in the group having allergic rhinitis. The effect of allergic rhinitis on choroidal thickness were assessed and compared with the control group. Our study revealed that there was significant association between increased choroidal thickness and allergic rhinitis. Allergic sensitivity may play an important role in increased choroidal thickness.

The Choroid and Optical Coherence Tomography.

The choroid is the most vascular tissue in the eye and it plays an important role in the pathophysiology of various common chorioretinal diseases such as central serous retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and degenerative myopia. Quantitative assessment of the choroid has been quite challenging with traditional imaging modalities such as indocyanine green angiography and ultrasonography due to limited resolution and repeatability. With the advent of optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology, detailed visualization of the choroid in vivo is now possible. Measurements of choroidal thickness have also enabled new directions in research to study normal and pathological processes within the choroid. The aim of the present study is to review the current literature on choroidal imaging using OCT.