The effect of iron deficiency anaemia treatment on mean platelet volume.

AIM: To determine the relationship between mean platelet volume (MPV) and treatment response of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) with normal platelet count. Study further aimed to determine changing of platelet parameters treatment response of IDA. METHODS: IDA patients (n = 124) and the control group (CG) (n = 124) who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were compared for MPV and platelet parameters. Patients with IDA were divided into two groups as partial and complete response. The partial response to treatment group (PRG) was accepted as haemoglobin level between 10 and 12 g/dL, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) below 80 fL, and ferritin below 15 ng/ml (n = 60). Complete response to treatment group (CRG) was the patients whose haemoglobin was above 12 g/dL, MCV is above 80 fL, and ferritin is above 15 ng/ml (n = 64). RESULTS: The MPV levels of CG (8.81 ± 0.99), PRG (8.80 ± 1.09), and CRG (8.96 ± 0.96) were similar at the beginning of the study. In addition, MPV levels of PRG (8.84 ± 1.08) and CRG (8.96 ± 1.11) with IDA therapy were similar at the end of the study (p > 0.05). When IDA was treated, there was a decrease in plateletcrit, platelet distribution width (PDW), and platelet count from platelet parameters. There was a correlation between MPV level and platelet count in both PRG and CRG (r = - 0.506; p < 0.001), (r = - 0.499; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: There is no change in MPV levels before and after treatment when normal platelet count IDA is treated, but there is a decrease in platelet count and an increase in PDW.

The Effect of Low-Dose Aspirin on Dry Eye Parameters and Ocular Surface Disease Index Questionnaire.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) on tear film parameters and dry eye disease. METHODS: Fifty-seven patients using low-dose aspirin regularly for antiaggregant purposes as well as 49 controls, who required antiaggregant treatment but who had not yet started, were included in the study. Tear osmolarity, tear break-up time (TBUT), Schirmer and Oxford grading of ocular surface staining were performed on all patients and dry eye symptomatology was assessed using the ocular surface disease index questionnaire (OSDI). RESULTS: The mean osmolarity was 302.11 ± 16.22 mOsm/L in the aspirin group and 313.88 ± 19.57 mOsm/L in the control group (P < 0.01). The mean Schirmer's score was 24.16 ± 10.52 mm and 21.94 ± 10.11 mm (P = 0.232), TBUT was 13.61 ± 3.31 s and 10.39 ± 4.46 s (P < 0.01), OSDI score was 5.15 ± 5.98 and 16.94 ± 14.17 (P < 0.01), and Oxford score was 0.12 ± 0.33 and 0.12 ± 0.44 in aspirin and control groups, respectively (P = 0.99). Dry eye diagnosis was lower in the aspirin group, but statistical significance was present only in TBUT and osmolarity-based dry eye diagnosis (P ≤ 0.01). In terms of symptom-based dry eye diagnosis with the threshold of OSDI ≥23, none of the aspirin group had dry eye diagnosis, whereas 32.6% of the control group had the diagnosis (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The use of low-dose aspirin might be great option for treatment of ocular surface inflammatory disease through increasing TBUT and decreasing tear osmolarity with a resultant symptomatic satisfaction.

Note: Coaxial-heater hollow cathode.

The design and tests of a LaB6 hollow cathode with a novel heater are presented. In the new design, the heater wire is completely encapsulated around the cathode tube and a coaxial return electrode, thereby eliminating hot spots on the heater wire due to the free hanging regions. Since the new heater confines the Joule heating to the region of interest, where the LaB6 emitter is placed, the heater terminals are further secured from overheating. The cathode with the presented heater design has been successfully tested and is able to deliver currents in the 0.5-15 A range.

A potential Cu/V-organophosphonate platform for tailored void spaces via terpyridine mold casting.

The reaction of appropriate copper and vanadium salts with tetratopic methane tetra-p-phenylphosphonic acid (MTPPA) in the presence of 2,2':6':2''-terpyridine (terpy) yielded the three-dimensional bimetallic copper vanadium phosphonate framework [{Cu(terpy)}4Cu(VO2)4(MTPPA-H)2]·4H2O (1). Terpy has no net contribution to the three-dimensional structure providing a potential platform for void space formation via mold-casting. The structure was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Magnetic measurements were performed using a SQUID magnetometer. The crystal structure of the methanol solvate of the free ligand, MTPPA·MeOH, was analysed using Hirshfeld surfaces and fingerprint plots.

Magnesium Replacement Improves the Metabolic Profile in Obese and Pre-Diabetic Patients with Mild-to-Moderate Chronic Kidney Disease: A 3-Month, Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Magnesium is an essential mineral for many metabolic functions. There is very little information on the effect of magnesium supplementation on metabolic profiles of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of magnesium supplementation on metabolic profiles of pre-diabetic, obese and mild-to-moderate CKD patients with hypomagnesemia. METHODS: A total of 128 hypomagnesemic, pre-diabetic and obese patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate between 90 and 30 ml/min/1.73m2 were enrolled in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Patients in the magnesium group received 365 mg of oral magnesium (n = 57) once daily for 3 months, while patients in the control group received a placebo (n = 61), also once daily for 3 months. Hypomagnesemia is defined by a serum magnesium level <1.8 mg/dl in males and <1.9 mg/dl in females; obesity is defined as a body mass index ≥30 kg/m2; and pre-diabetes is defined as fasting plasma glucose ≥100 but <126 mg/dl. The primary end point of the study was the change in insulin resistance measured by the homeostastic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). RESULTS: At the end of follow-up, insulin resistance (-24.5 vs. -8.2%, P = 0.007), HOMA-IR index (-31.9 vs. -3.3%, P < 0.001), hemoglobin A1c (-6.6 vs. -0.16%, P < 0.001), insulin (-29.6 vs. -2.66%, P < 0.001), waist circumference (-4.8 vs. 0.55%, P < 0.001) and uric acid (-0.8 vs. 2.2%, P = 0.004) were significantly decreased in terms of mean changes; albumin (0.91 vs. -2.91%, P = 0.007) and magnesium (0.21 ± 0.18 vs. -0.04 ± 0.05 mg/dl, P < 0.001) were significantly increased in those taking magnesium compared with a placebo. The decrease in metabolic syndrome (-10.5 vs. -4.9%, P = 0.183), obesity (-15.7 vs. -8.2%, P = 0.131), pre-diabetes (-17.5 vs. -9.8%, P = 0.140), and systolic (-5.0 ± 14.8 vs. 0.22 ± 14.9 mm Hg, P = 0.053) and diastolic (-3.07 ± 9.7 vs. 0.07 ± 9.6 mm Hg, P = 0.071) blood pressure did not achieve to a significant level after study. CONCLUSION: Our data support the argument that magnesium supplementation improves the metabolic status in hypomagnesemic CKD patients with pre-diabetes and obesity.

Fetal kidney length as a useful adjunct parameter for better determination of gestational age.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the validity of fetal kidney length and amniotic fluid index (AFI) in labor dating.  METHODS: This prospective study included 180 pregnant women followed up in the outpatient clinic at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gaziantep University, Turkey, between January 2014 and January 2015. The gestational age (GA) was estimated by early fetal ultrasound measures and last menstrual period. Routine fetal biometric parameters, fetal kidney length, and amniotic fluid index were measured. We studied the correlation between fetal kidney length, amniotic fluid index, and gestational age.  RESULT: The mean gestational age depending on last menstrual period and early ultrasound was 31.98±4.29 (24-39 weeks). The mean kidney length was 35.66±6.61 (19-49 mm). There was a significant correlation between gestational age and fetal kidney length (r=0.947, p=0.001). However, there was a moderate negative correlation between GA and AFI. Adding fetal kidney length to the routine biometrics improved the effectiveness of the model used to estimate GA (R2=0.965 to R2=0.987).  CONCLUSION: Gestational age can be better predicted by adding fetal kidney length to other routine parameters.

Alterations of Choroidal Thickness With Diabetic Neuropathy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of diabetic polyneuropathy on choroidal thickness in type 2 diabetes patients. METHODS: Forty-one diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) patients with no or mild retinopathy, 50 non-DPN diabetic patients with no or mild retinopathy, and 42 healthy controls without any retinal complaint were included in the study. All participants underwent detailed ophthalmic examinations. Choroidal thickness (CT) measurements were performed by the same independent technician in the morning between 9 and 11 AM to avoid diurnal variations. Perpendicular CT was measured from the outer edge of the hyperreflective retinal pigment epithelium to the inner sclera at seven locations: the fovea; and 500, 1000, and 1500 µm temporally and nasally to the fovea. RESULTS: The groups were age and sex matched (P > 0.05). The mean subfoveal CT values were significantly different in groups with a thickening trend from control to non-DPN and DPN (P < 0.01). The mean values for subfoveal CT in control, non-DPN, and DPN groups were 241.12 ± 52.71, 279.82 ± 51.42, and 304.71 ± 54.92 µm, respectively. The same thickening trend was also evident in all other six measurement points with statistical significance (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic patients had increased CT compared to healthy controls. The presence of neuropathy in diabetes patients caused additional choroidal thickening, compared to nonneuropathic patients.

The possible efficacy of artichoke in fluconazole related hepatotoxicity.

Although fluconazole related hepatotoxicity (FRH) is rare, mortal acute hepatic necrosis and jaundice were reported in immunocompromised states such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and bone marrow transplant (BMT). We present a case of a patient with multiple sclerosis who developed hepatotoxicity with the use of a single 150 mg fluconazole tablet for fungal vaginitis, 10 days after methylprednisolone pulse treatment. Our patient's alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were decreased, 1200 U/L and 800 U/L, respectively, and bilirubin levels were consistent at 37 mg/dL. Artichoke which has anticholestatic and antioxidant properties was used by our patient. She consumed a 30 mg artichoke leaf extract tea 3 times a day. The bilirubin levels significantly declined at the end of the first week and all liver function tests were normalized within 2 months.

Imaging the electrical conductance of individual carbon nanotubes with photothermal current microscopy.

The one-dimensional structure of carbon nanotubes leads to a variety of remarkable optical and electrical properties that could be used to develop novel devices. Recently, the electrical conductance of nanotubes has been shown to decrease under optically induced heating by an amount proportional to the temperature change. Here, we show that this decrease is also proportional to the initial nanotube conductance, and make use of this effect to develop a new electrical characterization tool for nanotubes. By scanning the focal spot of a laser across the surface of a device through which current is simultaneously measured, we can construct spatially resolved conductance images of both single and arrayed nanotube transistors. We can also directly image the gate control of these devices. Our results establish photothermal current microscopy as an important addition to the existing suite of characterization techniques for carbon nanotubes and other linear nanostructures.

Prognostic value of plasma soluble CD40 ligand in patients with chronic non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

AIMS: We aimed to clarify whether determination of levels of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) could predict subsequent thrombo-embolic events in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty-four consecutive outpatients (mean age: 58 +/- 6 years, 20 male) with chronic NVAF who were not receiving aspirin and had no thrombus or spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) on left atrium (LA) or left atrial appendage (LAA) were included in the study. The patients had no history of an embolic event and were followed up 24 +/- 2 months for thrombo-embolic events. sCD40L was determined at the enrollment. All patients were evaluated by means of SEC and thrombus formation by transoesophageal echocardiography at the end of follow-up period. Twelve (27%) patients had SEC and 2 (5%) patients had thrombus on LAA. Ischaemic stroke occurred in 2 (4.5%) patients and transient ischaemic attack developed in 4 (9%) patients during follow-up. sCD40L was significantly higher in patients with LASEC (0.41 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.16 +/- 0.04 ng/mL, P = 0.02) and embolic events (0.74 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.19 +/- 0.03 ng/mL, P = 0.001) than in those without. sCD40L levels were significantly related to the LASEC grade (R = 0.377, P = 0.02). In multivariable analysis, while independent variables for SEC or thrombus formation were LA diameter, sCD40L levels, and the duration of AF, independent variables for cerebrovascular events were the existence of SEC or thrombus formation on LAA, and sCD40L level. CONCLUSION: Plasma sCD40L may prospectively predict stroke in AF. sCD40L may provide useful marker to identify patients at high thrombo-embolic risk with NVAF.