Long-term results of Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation with/without intravitreal anti-VEGF injection in neovascular glaucoma patients.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation with or without anti-VEGF injections in neovascular glaucoma patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single-center retrospective study assessed NVG patients who underwent AGV implantation with or without anti-VEGF injections. Demographic and clinical data, including ocular findings, intraocular pressure (IOP), visual acuity, and glaucoma medication count, were recorded preoperatively and postoperatively at one day, one month, and one year. The study included 35 patients. Group 1 consisted of 23 patients who received anti-VEGF injections before AGV surgery. Group 2, with 12 patients, had no anti-VEGF injections prior to surgery. Successful surgery was defined as IOP values between 6 and 21mmHg. The primary outcome was a 30% or more reduction in IOP. RESULTS: The groups displayed no significant difference in their demographic or clinical profiles (P>0.05). The visual acuity before and one year after surgery did not differ significantly between the groups. However, IOP values significantly decreased by the end of the one-year follow-up for both groups. No significant differences were found between the groups regarding visual acuity, IOP, or the number of medications during the one-year follow-up (P>0.05). Success rates were 95.7% for Group 1 and 91.7% for Group 2. No significant difference in complications between the groups was observed (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Anti-VEGF injections prior to AGV implantation did not significantly impact visual acuity, IOP values, or medication count during the one-year follow-up.

Prevalence of HLA B27 in Patients Diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) in Diyarbakir, Southeastern Region of Turkey.

AIM: The research to be conducted on human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 in patients diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in Diyarbakir between 2019-2021 is to contribute to the understanding of the prevalence and effect of this genetic marker in the local population. As a researcher working on HLA-B27 and AS, our focus is to research the following. HLA-B27 Prevalence: To determine the prevalence of HLA-B27 in patients diagnosed with AS during the specified period in Diyarbakir. This information can provide insight into the genetic factors associated with the disease in the local population. Disease Severity: Investigate the relationship between HLA-B27 positivity and severity of AS symptoms. To examine factors such as disease progression, pain levels, functional impairment, and quality of life in HLA-B27 positive patients compared to HLA-B27 negative patients. By Genetic Associations: To enable the discovery of potential genetic relationships between HLA-B27 and other genetic markers known to be associated with AS. To investigate whether there are any specific genetic variants associated with HLA-B27 that contribute to disease susceptibility or severity. Researchers: We recommend considering the following approaches to generate knowledge on this topic globally: Literature Review: Conducting a comprehensive review of the available scientific literature on HLA-B27 and AS. It is to describe relevant studies conducted globally and summarize their findings to provide a broader understanding of the subject. Collaboration and Data Sharing: To encourage cooperation with researchers from other regions or countries doing similar studies on HLA-B27 and ASs. By sharing our data and collaborating on analysis, we can improve the global perspective and generalizability of your findings. International Conferences and Journals: Presenting our research findings at international conferences focusing on rheumatology, genetics or related fields. To disseminate our findings globally is to submit your research articles to reputable journals specializing in AS or genetic studies. Online Platforms: Using online platforms such as Researchgate.net, academia.edu or social media networks to share our research findings, connect with other researchers in the field and participate in discussions on a global scale. By using these fields, it is possible to contribute to the global knowledge and understanding of the relationship between HLA-B27 and AS. It is also to obtain insights from studies carried out in other regions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 198 (104 male and 94 female) patients who applied to Dicle University Faculty of Medicine Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Clinic with AS symptoms between 2019-2021 and were referred to Dicle University Medical Biology and Genetics Department for evaluation. HLA-B27 positivity was included in our study as a case group. As the control group, 50 people (25 males, 25 females) were selected among the unrelated people who applied to our laboratory to be a bone marrow donor. In both groups, DNA isolation was performed from peripheral blood using the salt precipitation method. Rotar Gene Q device was used for real-time PCR analysis. As a statistical method in analysis; The prevalences of the variables of interest were calculated. The lower and upper limits of 95% were determined as the confidence interval. According to the presence of HLA 27 positivity, the mean of ESR, CRP, and age variables were compared. Mann-Whitney U test was used due to the small number of subjects. Also, correlations between ESR and CRP were calculated. Spearman rho correlation statistics were used as a statistical method. Analyzed. RESULT: Radiological examinations and laboratory tests were performed on 198 patients with suspicion AS and 50 healthy control group of 248 subjects. The prevalence of those with a definite diagnosis of AS was calculated as statistical analysis recalculated 20.16 (95% CI: 0.76-0.9552). The prevalence of HLA-B27 in 50 patients diagnosed with AS as a result of radiological examinations and laboratory tests was calculated as 92%. CONCLUSION: Our study is the first study covering the province of Diyarbakir in the Southeastern Anatolia Region, which we think will contribute to the literature in the evaluation of HLA-B27 positivity in AS patients. The prevalence of HLA-B27 in our region is higher than the prevalence in Turkey.

Virchow's node metastasis: an unusual presentation of ovarian cancer.

Ovarian primaries of supraclavicular metastases are extremely rare. The present study reports the case of a 64-year-old female with a left supraclavicular mass without any other symptoms. After performing a fine needle aspiration biopsy for pathological examination and positron emission imaging, she was diagnosed with FIGO Stage IV high-grade serous epithelial ovarian carcinoma. After three cycles of chemotherapy with paxlitaxel and carboplatin, complete response was achieved. There are only a few reports in literature that address patients with the initial symptom of left supraclavicular mass and final diagnosis of ovarian cancer. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report to describe the successful use of PET/CT to determine the primary site.

Comparison of sedation method in pediatrics cardiac catheterization.

OBJECTIVE: Purpose of this study is to compare the effects of various anaesthetic combinations on hemodynamics, sedation level, recovery period and complications in the patients which undergo pediatric cardiac catheterization. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four groups of anaesthetic combinations was created. The groups are classified as propofol-ketamine (group 1), propofol-dexmedetomidine (group 2), dexmedetomidine-ketamine (group 3), midazolam-ketamine (group 4) (for each group n=20). Baseline heart rate (HR), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), respiratory rate (RR), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) were recorded. This parameters values were recorded at 0., 5., 10., 15., 20., 25., 30. minutes; and the groups were compared according to these measurements data. RESULTS: For heart rate, Group 2 and 3 reduce the HR more than the drugs of Group 1 and 4 (p < 0.05). The SpO2 values of Group 1 were measured to have 5% further reduction compared to the Group 2 and 3; and Group 4 has the same SpO2 recordings compared to the Group 3 (p < 0.05). Comparing the recovery times; Group 4 was found to have the highest recovery time compared to the other drug groups. It is found that additional doses are needed for recovery in Group 4 (p < 0.008). Side effects were lowest for Group 3 and highest for Group 4. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the complication rates, it is concluded that Group 3 is spotted as the better sedation method among the other groups. In terms of additional propofol dose, Group 1 would be the better choice. Thus, the clinician should choose the suitable methods for the patient.

High body-mass index is not associated with worse clinicopathological characteristics in predominantly obese breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among women. A high body-mass index (BMI) is related to increased incidence of BC with poorer prognosis. AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association in patients with BC between BMI at the time of diagnosis and biological characteristics, according to the menopausal status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study comprised a total of 318 women with BC. Clinicopathological differences between normal, overweight and obese patients according to menopausal status were evaluated. RESULTS: Premenopausal women had a significantly lower BMI than postmenopausal patients (28.7 vs. 31.5, respectively; p = 0.00001). No statistically significant association was determined between BMI and clinicopathological characteristics in either the premenopausal or the postmenopausal group (all p values are > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There are many conflicting results in literature on this relationship. The results of this study showed that a high BMI is not associated with worse clinicopathological characteristics in a predominantly obese population. In current medical oncology practice, BC should be evaluated on an individual patient basis and the impact of obesity on BC prognosis seems to be difficult to estimate especially in an obese population.

Primary testicular lymphoma: a single centre experience.

AIM: Primary testicular lymphoma (PTL) is an uncommon and aggressive form of extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). We aimed to analyse the clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes of our PTL cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review was made of the medical records of 339 NHL patients who were treated in the Medical Oncology Department between January 2005 and December 2013. RESULTS: 8 PTL patients were identified from the 339 NHL patients. The average age of the patients was 67.7 ± 7.9 years (range 53-79 years). The mean follow-up time was 24.8 months (range 7-98 months). Inguinal orchiectomy was performed as a diagnostic and initial therapy and all the patients underwent 4-6 cycles of chemoimmunotherapy consisting of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone plus rituximab. 4 of 8 patients received intrathecal prophylactic chemotherapy and 6 of 8 patients continued contralateral testis irradiation. Relapse occured in only 1 patient in central nervous system after 6 months who had not received intrathecal prophylaxis. No contralateral testis relapse was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Primary testicular NHL is an uncommon entity and we evaluated 8 patients; with one relapse in central nervous system and no relapse in the contralateral testis.

Single dose regorafenib-induced hypertensive crisis.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are uncommon tumors of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Regorafenib is a new multikinase inhibitor and is approved for the treatment of GISTs in patients who develop resistance to imatinib and sunitinib. The most common drug-related adverse events with regorafenib are hypertension, hand-foot skin reactions, and diarrhea. Grade IV hypertensive side effect has never been reported after a single dose. In this report, we present a case of Grade IV hypertensive side effect (hypertensive crisis and seizure) after a single dose of regorafenib. A 54-year-old male normotensive GIST patient was admitted to the emergency department with seizure and encephalopathy after the first dosage of regorafenib. His blood pressure was 240/140 mmHg upon admission. After intensive treatment with nitrate and nitroprusside, his blood pressure returned to normal levels in five days. Regorafenib was discontinued, and he did not experience hypertension again. This paper reports the first case of Grade IV hypertension after the first dosage of regorafenib. We can suggest that hypertension is an idiosyncratic side effect unrelated to the dosage.

Mean platelet volume could be a useful biomarker for monitoring epithelial ovarian cancer.

New studies show that inflammatory markers and blood cells may be related to epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). We aimed to examine whether mean platelet volume would be a useful marker for EOC patients to predict tumour burden and prognosis, and investigate the difference in MPV values between EOC patients and healthy controls. We retrospectively investigated 113 ovarian cancer patients who underwent surgery between January 2008 and July 2012 and 90 healthy subjects. MPV levels were significantly higher in preoperative EOC patients compared with healthy subjects (8.26 fl vs 7.71 fl; p = 0.004). Also NLR and PLR values were significantly higher in EOC patients (NLR, 3.48 vs 2.37; p = 0.000; PLR, 241 vs 148; p = 0.000). Surgical tumour resection resulted in a significant decrease in MPV levels (8.26 fl vs 7.61 fl; p = 0.001). NLR values also decreased after tumour resection significantly similar to CA125 (NLR, 3.48 vs 2.49; p = 0.000). Our data suggests that MPV could be a promising and easily available biomarker for monitoring EOC patients.

The prognostic value of thrombocytosis in newly diagnosed lung cancer patients: a retrospective analysis.

PURPOSE: The importance of thrombocyte count as a prognostic factor has not been adequately investigated in patients with lung cancer. We retrospectively examined the value of thrombocytosis as a prognostic factor and investigated its relationship with other clinicopathologic factors and survival. METHODS: The medical records of 260 patients with lung cancer were reviewed. Pretreatment thrombocyte count, histopathological diagnosis, disease stage, gender, age, performance status (PS), thrombotic episodes, weight loss and paraneoplastic syndromes were recorded. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were evaluated in all patient subgroups. Thrombocytosis was defined as platelet count >400,000/µl. We assessed statistically the possible correlation between thrombocytosis, other clinicopathologic factors and survival parameters. A two-sided p value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between histological subgroups (small cell/SCLC and non-small cell/NSCLC) according to age, disease stage and gender. Sixty-six (25.38%) patients had thrombocytosis before starting treatment. We found no relationship between thrombocytosis and disease stage, gender, age, PS and thrombotic episodes. Thrombocytosis was significantly correlated only with weight loss (p=0.011) and paraneoplastic syndromes (p=0.027). OS was shorter in the thrombocytosis group, but without statistical significance. PFS and DFS did not differ between thrombocytemic and non-thrombocytemic patients. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment thrombocytosis is not an independent prognostic factor of survival in lung cancer patients and is related with paraneoplastic syndromes.

Evaluation of topical ciclosporin 0.05% for prevention of rejection in high-risk corneal grafts.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of combined treatment with commercially available 0.05% topical ciclosporin and topical corticosteroid compared with treatment with topical corticosteroids only after high-risk keratoplasty. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 47 high-risk keratoplasties were randomly divided into two groups based on the postoperative immunosuppression. Twenty-five eyes (group 1) were treated with 0.05% ciclosporin and dexamethasone 0.1%, and 22 eyes (group 2) were treated with dexamethasone only. The clinical outcome of penetrating keratoplasty was evaluated by the rate of rejection-free graft survival and graft survival evaluation by the Kaplan-Meier logrank test. RESULTS: The average length of follow-up was 20.2 (SD 7.1) months in group 1 and 18.5 (6.6) months in group 2 (p = 0.421). Rejection-free graft survival rates were 60.8% in group 1 and 54.5% in group 2 (Kaplan-Meier logrank test, p = 0.474). In group 1, the graft survival rate was 73.9%; in group 2, the graft survival rate was 68.1%. The difference in the graft survival rates between the groups was also not statistically significant (Kaplan-Meier logrank test, p = 0.518). CONCLUSION: In high-risk corneal grafts, the efficacy of 0.05 percent commercially available topical ciclosporin combined with dexamethasone topically was not better than that of dexamethasone alone in preventing rejection.

Subcutaneous effusion resulting from an epidural catheter fragment.

The breakage of an epidural catheter within a patient is uncommon, but troublesome, complication of epidural block, and its cause is rarely discovered. In this case report, our aim was to present an effusion between s.c. tissue and fascia in the lumbar region because of a broken fragment of epidural catheter which was unnoticed during its removal.

Color Doppler imaging of the orbital vessels in Behçet's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate blood flow velocity changes, pulsatility and resistivity index values of orbital vessels in Behçet's disease with or without ocular involvement (groups I and II) and healthy volunteers (group III). METHODS: Twenty-five eyes in the first group, 24 eyes in the second group and 24 eyes in the third group were examined by using color Doppler imaging. Peak systolic and end-diastolic blood flow velocity measurements, pulsatility and resistivity index values were measured in ophthalmic, central retinal, nasal and temporal ciliary arteries and the central retinal vein. RESULTS: The end-diastolic blood flow velocity measurements in all arteries were significantly higher in groups II and III than in group I, but resistivity and pulsatility indexes of all arteries were higher in group I than the other two groups. There was no significant difference in blood flow velocity of the central retinal vein in the three groups. CONCLUSION: Detection of increased vascular resistance of orbital vessels may predict the diagnosis of ocular involvement in Behçet's disease.

Importance of pfkA for rapid growth of Enterobacter cloacae during colonization of crop seeds.

Enterobacter cloacae A-11 is a prototrophic, glycolytic mutant of strain 501R3 with a single transposon insertion in pfkA. The populations of strain A-11 on cucumber and radish seeds were smaller than the populations of strain 501R3 in natural soil, but the populations of these two strains on pea, soybean, sunflower, and sweet corn seeds were similar (D. P. Roberts, P. D. Dery, I. Yucel, J. Buyer, M. A. Holtman, and D. Y. Kobayashi, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65:2513-2519, 1999). The net effect of the mutation in pfkA in vitro was a shift from rapid growth on certain carbohydrates detected in seed exudates to much slower growth on other carbohydrates, amino acids, and organic acids. The impact of the mutation in pfkA was greatest on the growth rate of E. cloacae on the seeds that released the smallest quantities of fructose, other carbohydrates, and amino acids. Corn, pea, soybean, and sunflower seeds released total amounts of carbohydrates and amino acids at rates that were approximately 10- to 100-fold greater than the rates observed with cucumber and radish seeds for the first 24 h after inhibition began. The growth rate of strain A-11 was significantly less (50% less) than the growth rate of strain 501R3 on radish seeds, and the growth rate of strain A-11 was too low to estimate on cucumber seeds in sterile sand for the first 24 h after inhibition began. The growth rate of strain A-11 was also significantly lower on soybean seeds, but it was only 17% lower than the growth rate of strain 501R3. The growth rates of strains 501R3 and A-11 were similar on pea, sunflower, and corn seeds in sterile sand for the first 30 h after imbibition began. Large reductions in the growth rates of strain A-11 on seeds were correlated with subsequent decreased levels of colonization of seeds compared to the levels of colonization of strain 501R3. The strain A-11 populations were significantly smaller than the strain 501R3 populations only on radish and cucumber seeds. The mutation in pfkA appears to decrease the level of colonization by E. cloacae for seeds that release small quantities of reduced carbon compounds by decreasing the size of the pool of compounds that support rapid growth by this bacterium.

The effect of hydroxyurea on rabbit subconjunctival fibroblast culture and use of hydroxyurea in rabbits after glaucoma filtration surgery.

In an in vitro study, rabbit subconjunctival fibroblasts were cultured and the effects of an antineoplastic drug, hydroxyurea (HU), on fibroblast proliferation and fibroblast attachment was investigated. The effects of HU were compared with those of mitomycin C (MMC). Different concentrations of HU and MMC were added to culture medium. The HU doses which led to 50% of inhibition (ID(50)) and the dose which led to about 90% of inhibition (subtoxic high dose, STHD) were determined to be 8 and 1,000 microg/ml, respectively. ID(50) of MMC and its STHD which led to about 100% inhibition were found to be 0.01 and 1 microg/ml, respectively. Reversibility studies revealed that inhibition disappeared depending on the dose and incubation period of both HU and MMC. In an in vivo study, glaucoma filtration surgery (GFS) was performed in rabbits which were treated with HU (treatment group) and distilled water (control group). Tissue samples were taken from the subconjunctival area treated at 1 h, 1 day, 5 days and 30 days postoperatively. The biopsy specimens were then placed in tissue culture media. Fibroblast outgrowth rates detected in the HU group were found to be significantly lower than those in the control group in the specimens taken at the end of the first hour. The difference was significant on culture days 9-15 in the biopsy specimens taken on day 1 while it was not significant in those taken on days 5 and 30.

Role of pfkA and general carbohydrate catabolism in seed colonization by Enterobacter cloacae.

Enterobacter cloacae A-11 is a transposon mutant of strain 501R3 that was deficient in cucumber spermosphere colonization and in the utilization of certain carbohydrates (D. P. Roberts, C. J. Sheets, and J. S. Hartung, Can. J. Microbiol. 38:1128-1134, 1992). In vitro growth of strain A-11 was reduced or deficient on most carbohydrates that supported growth of strain 501R3 but was unaffected on fructose, glycerol, and all amino acids and organic acids tested. Colonization by strain A-11 was significantly reduced (P

The effect of cyclosporin A on cultured rabbit subconjunctival fibroblast proliferation.

The aim of this study was to examine the possible effects of local application of a potent immunosuppressive drug, cyclosporin A (CsA), on fibroblast proliferation in vitro. Rabbit subconjunctival fibroblasts were cultured and incubated with varying doses of CsA (from 0.5 to 5%). Growth inhibition curves were obtained, and cell attachment and reversibility of drug-induced growth inhibition were studied. None of the doses stimulated fibroblast proliferation. CsA inhibited fibroblast proliferation depending on the dose and duration of application. Also, drug-induced growth inhibition decreased depending on dose and duration of application. While the dosage which led to 50% inhibition was found to be 7.2 mg/ml, 4% and higher doses had toxic effects.