Evaluation of Choroidal Thickness and Choroidal Vascularity Index in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the choroidal vascularity index and choroidal thickness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. METHOD: This study is a case control study. Our study consists of a total of two groups, with 32 individuals diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 32 healthy volunteers. The thickness of the subfoveal choroid was measured from the 500 micron (µm), 1000 µm, 1500 µm nasal aspect of the fovea, and 500µm, 1000µm, 1500 µm temporal and subfoveal thickness of the fovea. ImageJ version 1.53i (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA) from open access was used for choroidal vascular index calculation. RESULTS: The mean age (p = 0.064) and gender distribution (p = 0.522) were not statistically different between these two groups. There was no difference between the groups in terms of visual acuity (p = 0.060), intraocular pressures (p=0.056), refractive errors (p = 0.418), and axial lengths (p = 0.280). Temporal 500 µm CT (p = 0.038), temporal 1000 µm CT (p = 0.010), and temporal 1500 µm CT (p = 0.005) differed significantly between the groups. The luminal area was significantly different between the RA group (842.71 ± 192.77) and the control group (957.78 ± 230.83) (p = 0.034). The choroidal vascularity index showed a significant difference between the RA group (64.99 ± 4.71) and the control group (67.34 ± 3.40) (p = 0.026). A significant difference was observed between the seronegative RA and the control group with temporal 1500 µm CT (p = 0.030), temporal 1000 µm CT (p = 0.023), and luminal area (p = 0.034). CONCLUSION: We demonstrated thinning in CT and decreased CVI for the first time in RA patients by comparing it with the control group.

Clinical outcomes of the Myval transcatheter heart valve system in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis: a two-year follow-up observational study.

Introduction: Limited data exist on long-term follow-up of severe aortic stenosis (SAS) patients who have undergone transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) with a new generation, balloon expandable Myval transcatheter heart valve (THV). Thus, we sought to investigate the performance and 2-year clinical outcome of the Myval THV system based on Valve Academic Research Consortium-3 (VARC-3) criteria. Material and methods: A multi-centre, registry-based, observational study was conducted, which included 207 consecutive degenerative SAS patients, from Turkey (n = 128), Italy (n = 58), and Greece (n = 21) (mean [standard deviation] 81 (7) years, 94 [45%] men; 73% NYHA III or IV; EuroSCORE II 5.2% [2.4%]); all patients underwent TAVI with Myval. Patients were followed up at 1 year and 2 years after implantation. Clinical and procedural outcomes were defined according to VARC-3 criteria. Results: Technical success was observed in 204 (99%), device success was observed in 189 (91%), early safety was observed in 161 (78%), and clinical efficacy was observed in 163 (79%) patients. The 30-day death rate was 7.7%; of these, 3.4% were due to cardiovascular reasons. All-cause and cardiovascular mortality rates were 9.7% and 4.3% at 1-year follow-up, and 17.4% and 9.7% at 2-year follow-up, respectively. Incidence of ≥ moderate paravalvular leak (PVL) at 30 days, 1 year and 2 years of follow-up were 3.4%, 4.3% and 4.8%. A total of 11.1% of patients required a permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) at 30 days after implantation, while the cumulative rate of PPI at 2 years was 12.1%. Conclusions: In this cohort of patients with SAS, the Myval was found to be safe and effective in up to 2 years of follow-up.

Evaluation of the non-alcoholic fatty liver fibrosis score in predicting short-term outcomes and severe coronary artery disease in patients undergoing coronary computed tomography angiography.

Introduction: The correlation between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiovascular disease is well established. Aim: The objective of this study was to assess the short-term associations of the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score (NFS) with various outcomes, including mortality, severe coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and the need for coronary angiography, among patients who underwent coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA). Material and methods: In this study, we assessed 499 patients who underwent 640-slice CCTA and evaluated their liver fibrosis using the NFS. The NFS takes into account factors such as age, body mass index, impaired fasting glycemia or diabetes mellitus, aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio, platelets, and albumin. Our primary focus was myocardial infarction, the need for coronary angiography, and death. Additionally, we examined the association between NFS and severe coronary artery disease. Results: Patients with a higher NFS had a greater number of coronary angiography procedures and higher Agatston score (p < 0.001), with NFS and Agatston score emerging as independent predictors of severe coronary artery disease and the primary endpoint. An NFS value above -0.92 could predict the primary endpoint with 61% sensitivity and 63% specificity, while an NFS value above -0.88 could predict severe coronary artery disease with 62% sensitivity and 65% specificity. To analyze primary endpoints, the Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis, with NFS groups compared using the log-rank test. During the follow-up period, patients with higher NFS were exposed to primary outcomes at an earlier period (p = 0.009). Conclusions: NFS is an effective predictor of major cardiovascular events such as death, myocardial infarction, severe coronary artery disease, and the need for coronary angiography. These findings underscore the importance of NFS as a valuable tool for risk assessment and early intervention in patients with suspected or confirmed coronary artery disease.

The Importance of Spinopelvic Parameters in Recurrent Lumbar Disk Herniation.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate preoperative spinopelvic mismatch as a risk factor for recurrent lumbar disk herniation (RLDH) in patients undergoing lumbar disk herniation (LDH) surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Spinopelvic parameters have been associated with lumbar degenerative diseases, particularly LDH. However, the relationship between these parameters and RLDH has yet to be studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of 1453 patients aged ≥18 who underwent single-level, unilateral fenestration microdiscectomy for the first time in our hospital between 2013 and 2019 were reviewed. The study group comprised 88 patients who underwent surgery for RLDH. The control group comprised 101 randomly selected patients who underwent surgery for LDH but not RLDH. Age, sex, body mass index, occupational activity level, operative level, Roussouly classification type, and time to recurrence were recorded. Moreover, pelvic incidence, lumbar lordosis (LL), interverteberal disk height (IDH), segmental lordosis, sacral slope (SS), pelvic tilt (PT), and sacral table angle (ST) were measured for each patient. Pelvic mismatch was calculated. RESULTS: Mean age was 46.5±11.4 y (range, 20-70). Both groups were similar concerning age, sex, body mass index, occupational activity level, and level of surgery. The mean time to recurrence was 167.3±36.6 d (range, 62-363). Measurements in the RLDH group were as follows: IDH=7.6±1.5 mm, pelvic incidence =54.4°±10.1°, LL=47.3°±13°, segmental lordosis =9.3°±5°, SS=35.1°±9.9°, and PT=19.3°±7.3°. Mean IDH was significantly lower in the RLDH group ( P =0.02). Less LL and lower PT at L3-4 level and increased SS at L5-S1 level were considered risk factors for RLDH. CONCLUSION: This study showed that preoperative low IDH is at higher risk for RLDH in patients undergoing LDH surgery. LL, PT, and SS may be risk factors for specific levels.

Comparison of the effects of resistance, aerobic and mixed exercise on athlete's heart.

BACKGROUND: There are various changes in cardiac physiology in athletes compared to the normal population. These physiological changes may differ according to the exercise content. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of different exercise methods on the heart. METHODS: A total of 122 male athletes from various sports were evaluated. Depending on the sorts of sports, these participants were split into aerobic, mixed, and resistance groups. Each athlete had to meet the inclusion criteria of having participated in the present sport for at least a year and having trained for at least 600 minutes per week over the previous three months. Transthoracic echocardiography was used to investigate the effects of different exercise types. RESULTS: The aerobic group's heart rate and ejection fraction were found to be lower than those of the resistance and mixed groups (F(2.105)=23.487, P=0.001). The end-diastolic thicknesses of the interventricular septum (8.7 SD 0.8 vs. 10.0 SD 0.7), interventricular septum (11.3 SD 0.9 vs. 13.0 SD 0.9), left ventricular posterior wall (8.6 SD 0.7 vs. 9.9 SD 0.8), and interventricular septum (11.1 SD 0.9 vs. 13.3 SD 0.9) were all found to be lower in the aerobic group than in the resistance group (P=0.0001). The effect of resistance exercise on heart rate was not observed as clearly as other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Resistance exercise has a more dominant effect on ventricular thickness than aerobic exercise. In mixed exercise groups, this increase in thickness is similar to resistance exercise. The content of the training should be considered in the evaluation of the athlete's heart. Identifying the subgroups of the athlete's heart will be useful in the differentiation of pathologies and also in the follow-up of the athletes.

A successful endovascular treatment of a patient with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase positive Escherichia coli related emphysematous distal abdominal aortitis rapidly progressing to a saccular aneursym.

Infectious aortitis is a rare disease and associated with adverse clinical outcomes. A 66-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department with abdominal and lower back pain, fever, chills, and anorexia continuing for a week. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen showed multiple periaortic enlarged lymphatic nodes, mural wall thickening, and gas collections in the infrarenal aorta and proximal segment of right common iliac artery. The patient was hospitalized with the diagnosis of acute emphysematous aortitis. During hospitalization, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-positive Escherichia coli was grown in all blood and urine cultures. Despite sensitive antibiotherapy, abdominal and back pain, inflammation biomarkers, and fever of the patient were not improved. Control CT demonstrated a newly developed mycotic aneurysm, increased intramural gas collection, and periaortic soft-tissue thickening. Urgent vascular surgery was recommended to the patient by the heart team, but the patient rejected surgery due to the high perioperative risk. Alternatively, an endovascular rifampin-impregnated stent-graft was successfully implanted and antibiotics were completed at 8 weeks. After procedure, inflammatory indicators were normalized and clinical symptoms of the patient were resolved. No microorganism grew on control blood and urine cultures. The patient was discharged with a good health. Learning objective: Aortitis should be suspected in patients who present with fever, abdominal and back pain, especially in the presence of predisposing risk factors. Infectious aortitis (IA) accounts for a small part of all aortitis cases and the most common causative microorganism is Salmonella. The mainstay treatment of IA is sensitive antibiotherapy. Surgery may be required in patients who are unresponsive to antibiotics or develop aneurysm. Alternatively, endovascular treatment can be performed in selected cases.

Bicuspid aortic valve caused subaortic stenosis with bulging of valve calcification through subaortic area in a young patient.

Bicuspid aortic valve is the most common congenital cause for the development of aortic valve calcification and stenosis. Calcification cause valvular stenosis or valvular insufficiency due to coaptation failure. We report a unique case of calcification of bicuspid valve was extending to left ventricular outflow tract and attached to interventricular septum which caused subvalvular stenosis.

Effect of percutaneous closure on atrium and appendage functions in patients with secundum atrial septal defects.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to assess the impact of percutaneous transcatheter atrial septal defect (ASD) closure on atrium and atrial appandage functions among patients with ostium secundum ASDs. METHODS: A total of 101 patients (34,7% male, 65,3% female, 37,6 ± 12) with the diagnosis of ostium secundum type ASD underwent transthorasic (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) before and six months after percutaneous transcatheter ASD closure. Pulmonary venous flow and atrial appendage flow velocities were obtained from the TEE recordings. The offline evaluation of the global and segmental atrial appendage strains were evaluated with speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) via EchoPac 6,3 (GE Vingmed, Horten, Norway). RESULTS: Mean values of pulmonary artery pressure, right ventricular, left atrium, left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters were significantly decreased 6 months after ASD closure. Statistically significant changes were documented in pulmonary venous and left atrial appendage flow velocities after ASD closure. Both left and right atrial appendage flow velocities and global strains of atrial appandages were improved after ASD closure. The mean left atrial appendage global strain value was - 11.45 ± 4.13% before the procedure, this value was - 16.82 ± 3.78% sixth months after the procedure (P < 0.001).The mean right atrial appendage global strain was - 13.31 ± 4.84% before the procedure and - 18.53 ± 4.69% sixth months after the procedure (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Left and right atrial appendage flow velocities and global strains of left and right atrial appandage can be improved after transcatheter ASD closure. Percutaneous transcatheter closure of ASDs not only improves atrial and left ventricular dimensions but also have a positive impact on left and right atrial appandage functions.

The Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index May Predict the Coronary Slow Flow Better Than High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein in Patients Undergoing Elective Coronary Angiography.

Methods: A total of 197 patients (102 patients with CSF; 95 patients with normal coronary flow) were included in this retrospective study. Clinical and angiographic characteristics of patients were obtained from hospital records. Results: Patients with CSF had higher SII, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte (PLR), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels compared with the control group. Body mass index (p=0.022, OR 1.151, 95% CI 1.121-1.299), low-density lipoprotein (p=0.018, OR 1.028, 95% CI 1.005-1.052), hsCRP (p=0.044, OR 1.161, 95% CI 1.004-1.343), and SII (p < 0.001, OR 1.015, 95% CI 1.003-1.026) were independent predictors of CSF in the multivariable analysis. The optimal cutoff value of SII in predicting CSF was >877 in ROC curve analysis (p < 0.001, AUC = 0.892, 95% CI 0.848-0.936). This cutoff value of SII predicted the CSF with a sensitivity of 71.5% and specificity of 92.4%. Spearman correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the mean TFC value and PLR, NLR, hsCRP, and SII. Conclusions: SII may be used as a better indicator for the prediction of CSF than hsCRP.

Choroidal Thickness in Emmetropia: An Enhanced Depth Imaging Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography-Based Study.

Objectives: To investigate and determine the choroidal thickness (CT) in healthy emmetropic Turkish subjects aged between 20 and 40 years using Enhanced Depth Imaging Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (EDI-OCT). Methods: This study included 194 eyes of 194 healthy emmetropic subjects. All participants underwent a detailed ophthalmologic examination. Axial length (AL) was measured with optical biometry. CT measurements were performed at subfoveal, 1.0 mm temporal, and 1.0 mm nasal using the EDI-OCT. Central macular thickness (CMT) measurements were also performed at the same time. Participants were divided into two groups; Group 1 (age between 20 and 30 years) and Group 2 (age between 31 and 40 years). CT and CMT were compared among two groups. Results: The mean age of all the subjects was 26.61±6.08 years, the mean AL was 23.44±0.72 mm, and the mean spherical equivalent was -0.11±0.28 Diopter. The mean subfoveal, nasal, and temporal CT was 389.27±86.61 µm, 354.54±86.86 µm, and 368.25±78.69 µm, respectively. Subfoveal and nasal CT of female participants were found thinner than male participants (p=0.013 and p=0.008, respectively). CT and CMT were found similar between Group 1 and Group 2. Conclusion: This study showed that mean subfoveal CT and CMT was 389.27±86.61µm and 268.17±18.76 µm, respectively, among healthy emmetropic Turkish subjects. Females had thinner CT in subfoveal and nasal quadrants. In addition, age did not affect CT between 20 and 40 years.

How does anisometropia affect the choroidal vascularity index?

Purpose: To investigate the choroidal vascularity index (CVI) and morphological features of the choroid in anisometropic amblyopia. Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study, 39 patients with unilateral anisometropic amblyopic patients and 33 eyes of 33 healthy control participants were involved. These participants were examined in terms of axial length (AL), spherical equivalent (SE), central macular thickness (CMT), choroidal thickness (CT), total choroidal area (TCA), luminal area (LA), stromal area (SA), LA/SA ratio, and CVI. All parameters were compared between amblyopic eyes, healthy fellow eyes, and healthy control eyes. The Shapiro-Wilk tests, Chi-square test, the paired t-test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Pearson/Spearman correlation tests were used. Results: In the hyperopic patients; SE, subfoveal CT, nasal CT, temporal CT, TCA, LA, SA, and CMT were greater in amblyopic eyes than in healthy fellow eyes and control eyes (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively), and CVI, LA/SA ratio, and AL were smaller in amblyopic eyes than in healthy fellow eyes and control eyes ([P < 0.001, P = 0.006], P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively). In the myopic patients, subfoveal CT, nasal CT, temporal CT, TCA, LA, SA values were statistically smaller in amblyopic eyes than in healthy eyes and control eyes ([P < 0.001, P = 0.002), [P = 0.004, P = 0.012], [P = 0.012, P = 0.032], [P < 0.001, P = 0.013], [P < 0.001, P = 0.024], and [P < 0.001, P = 0.047], respectively). The differences in the AL and choroidal parameters were due to myopia and hyperopia. Conclusion: The choroidal structural parameters of the amblyopic eyes were different from that of the healthy eyes.

Disc-fovea distance and choroidal thickness: is there a relationship?

Background: The distance between the optic disc center and the fovea is a biometric parameter; however, it is unclear whether DFD (disc-fovea distance) affects the choroidal thickness. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the association between DFD and choroidal thickness. Design: This is a prospective, and cross-sectional study. Methods: Two hundred fifty eyes of 250 healthy participants were examined in terms of DFD, age, axial length, spherical equivalent, and choroidal thickness. Inclusion criteria included aged between 20-40 years, no posterior segment disorders, and participants with best-corrected visual acuity (10/10 according to Snellen's chart). Participants with high hypermetropia (>4 diopter) or myopia (>6 diopter) or any systemic disease likely to affect choroidal thickness were excluded. Choroidal thickness measurements were performed at subfoveal, 1.0 mm temporal, and 1.0 mm nasal using the enhanced-depth imaging optical coherence tomography. Results: The mean age of all the participants was 26.21 ± 5.73 years, mean DFD was 4634.29 ± 274.70 µm, mean axial length was 23.62 ± 0.83 mm, and mean spherical equivalent was -0.61 ± 1.06 diopter. The mean subfoveal, nasal, and temporal choroidal thicknesses were 388.73 ± 90.15 µm, 351.26 ± 88.09 µm, and 366.50 ± 79.56 µm, respectively. A negative correlation was found between subfoveal, nasal, and temporal choroidal thicknesses and axial length (r = -0.157, p = 0.013; r = -0.168, p = 0.008; r = -0.174, p = 0.006, respectively). Insignificant correlation was found between choroidal thicknesses and spherical equivalent (p > 0.05). There was not a statistically significant correlation between DFD and subfoveal, nasal, and temporal choroidal thicknesses (r = -0.028, p = 0.655; r = 0.030, p = 0.641; r = -0.025, p = 0.699, respectively). In addition, there was not a statistically significant correlation between age and choroidal thickness. Conclusion: This study shows that DFD and spherical equivalent do not affect choroidal thickness; axial length negatively affects choroidal thickness. In addition, age does not affect choroidal thickness between 20 and 40 years.

Choroidal thickness in patients with alopecia areata: Is it a sign for poor prognosis?

INTRODUCTION: Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease which causes non-scarring type hair loss considered to target the pigmentary system. The hair follicle may not be the only site for involvement of the disease. Iris, the ciliary body, choroid and epithelium of the retinal pigment may also be affected. The aim of the present study was to compare retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and choroidal thicknesses between patients with AA and healthy controls. METHODS: The study included 44 patients with alopecia areata, and 44 healthy individuals with similar age and gender distribution. RPE and choroidal thickness measurements were performed through Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) (Heidelberg Spectralis® OCT). RESULTS: There was not any significant difference between patients with AA and healthy individuals for RPE and choroidal thickness (p = 0.751, p = 0.725, respectively). However, the choroidal thickness (422 ± 79 µm) was significantly thinner in patients with poor prognostic criteria than other patients (371 ± 75 µm; p = 0.039). CONCLUSION: Monitoring of choroidal thicknesses through optic coherence tomography (OCT) may provide an insight for the disease prognosis in patients with AA.

Does Rosacea, a localized skin disease, affect the choroidal thickness?

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to compare the choroidal thickness (CT) of patients with rosacea with healthy individuals. METHODS: This study was conducted with 42 patients with Papulopustular Rosacea (PPR), 38 patients with Erythematotelangiectatic Rosacea (ETR), and gender and age-matched 37 healthy individuals in the control group. CT measurements were done using the spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: Choroidal thickness means were measured as 352 ± 78 µm, 331 ± 67 µm, and 346 ± 83 µm at the subfoveal region; 323 ± 72.3 µm, 303.5 ± 68.4 µm, and 314 ± 80.3 µm at 1000 µm nasal; and 325.2 ± 71 µm, 304.4 ± 52.2 µm, and 309 ± 67 µm at 1000 µm temporal in the PPR, ETR, and control groups, respectively (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Although rosacea is a common chronic skin disease that could have systemic findings, CT is not affected by this disease.

Anterior chamber changes assessment by Scheimpflug analysis after intravitreal dexamethasone implantation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate structural changes in the anterior chamber and intraocular pressure (IOP) changes following intravitreal dexamethasone implantation. METHODS: Forty-two eyes of 42 patients that received intravitreal dexamethasone implant for the management of macular edema secondary to diabetic retinopathy or branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) were included in the study. IOP was measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry. Anterior chamber depth (ACD) and iridocorneal angle (ICA) was measured by a Scheimflug camera (Sirius, CSO, Italy) the day before the injection of the dexamethasone implant and on postoperative day 1, first week, and first month. RESULTS: Mean IOP was 15.14 ± 2.77 mmHg before the procedure and, 15.67 ± 3.70 mmHg, 15.86 ± 3.11 mmHg, 16.21 ± 2.75 mmHg on day 1, first week, and first month following intravitreal dexamethasone implantation, respectively. Mean ICA and ACD were significantly higher in pseudophakic eyes compared to phakic eyes. However, there was no statistically significant change in ICA before and after the procedure (on postoperative day 1, first week, and first month) among both phakic and pseudophakic patients (p = 0.783). Similarly, ACD remained unchanged after the procedure (on postoperative day 1, first week, and first month) compared to the initial measurement (p = 0.802). CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that there was an increase in IOP. However, these changes were not accompanied with a change in ACD or ICA.

Usefulness of Peritoneal Ultrafiltration in Patients with Diuretic Resistant Heart Failure without End-Stage Renal Disease.

AIM: This study aimed to explore the role of peritoneal ultrafiltration (UF) in cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) patients for fluid and metabolic control. BACKGROUND: Peritoneal UF is safely and efficiently used for the management of CRS. It has been shown to provide efficient UF in hypervolemic patients. METHODS: Thirty (20 males and 10 females) CRS patients were treated by peritoneal dialysis (PD) and UF. The baseline data of the patients (demographics, causes of heart failure, the presence of pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, the need for extracorporeal UF or paracentesis or thoracentesis, comorbidity, drugs, left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] and pulmonary artery systolic pressure [PAPs], pericardial effusion, physical examination, body weight, NYHA class, dialysis regime, urine output, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP] level, hemoglobin, estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR], and other routine biochemical determinations) were recorded at the onset, every 6 months, and then annually. Echocardiograms were performed at baseline and after 6 and 12 months. The time points of complications associated with PD, the need for hemodialysis, the day of death, and causes of death were documented. RESULTS: Mean age was 69 ± 8 years (range 49-84 years). The average PD duration was 18.25 ± 14.87 months. According to the CKD-EPI, initial mean GFR was 34.34 ± 11.9 mL/min/1.73 m2 (range 16.57-59.0), and this increased to 45.48 ± 26.04, 45.10 ± 28.58, and 41.10 ± 25.68 mL/min/1.73 m2 in the third, sixth, and twelfth months, respectively. There was a significant increase in the first 3 months and a significant decrease between the third and twelfth months (respectively, p = 0.018 and p = 0.043). There was no difference in eGFR levels between baseline and the end of the first year (p = 0.217). In the first 3 months, there was a significant decline in urea levels to 79.38 ± 36.65 from 109.92 ± 42.44 mg/dL and this was maintained until the end of the first year of PD therapy (after 3 months, p = 0.002; after 1 year, p = 0.024). However, there was no significant change in creatinine levels within the first year (p = 0.312). There was a significant increase in hemoglobin level up to the end of the first year of PD (after 3 months, p = 0.000; after 12 months, p = 0.013). There was a marked decrease in NT-proBNP levels in the first 6 months (p = 0.011). Functional capacity (according to NYHA classification) improved in all patients by the third month of PD treatment (p < 0.001). This early improvement was maintained in many patients during the following 12 months (p < 0.001). There was a marked decrease in NT-proBNP levels in the first 6 months (p = 0.011). At the end of the first year, there was an approximate 15% reduction in NT-proBNP levels (p = 0.647). Hospitalizations decreased to 6 ± 15 days/patient-year (range 18-122 days) from 62 ± 24 days/patient-year (p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: Peritoneal UF is a treatment method that maintains renal function and electrolyte balance, improves cardiac function, and reduces hospitalizations in CRS patients. We observed that this treatment significantly increased functional capacity and quality of life and significantly reduced hospital admissions.

Does anisometropia affect the ciliary muscle thickness? An ultrasound biomicroscopy study.

PURPOSE: To compare the ciliary muscle thickness (CMT) of the normal fellow eye to that of the amblyopic eye using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in patients with unilateral anisometropic amblyopia. METHODS: Thirty patients with unilateral anisometropic amblyopia were involved. The patients were divided into two groups: 19 hyperopic and 11 myopic. Axial length (AL) was measured with optic biometry and anterior chamber depth (ACD), iris area, and CMT were measured with UBM. RESULTS: The mean age was 34.10 ± 6.61 years. The mean spherical difference between two eyes was 2.59 diopter (D) in hyperopic patients and 3.77D in myopic patients. In the hyperopic patients, nasal CMT1(nCMT), temporal CMT1(tCMT), tCMT2, and tCMT3 values were statistically thinner in amblyopic eyes than healthy eyes (p = 0.036, p = 0.003, p = 0.023, p = 0.005, respectively). ACD values were statistically lower in amblyopic eyes (2.78 ± 0.26 mm) than healthy eyes (2.90 ± 0.21 mm) (p < 0.001). In the myopic patients, nCMT1, nCMT2, nCMT3, tCMT1, tCMT2, and tCMT3 values were statistically thicker in amblyopic eyes than healthy eyes (p = 0.003, p = 0.003, p = 0.005, p = 0.003, p = 0.003, p = 0.019, respectively). ACD values were statistically higher in amblyopic eyes (3.20 ± 0.30 mm) than healthy eyes (3.06 ± 0.29 mm) (p = 0.004). Also, there was no significant difference in the iris area between the amblyopic and normal eyes of the myopic and hyperopic patients (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Amblyopic eyes in patients with unilateral myopic anisometropia have thicker CMT and deeper ACD than healthy eyes. Conversely, amblyopic eyes in patients with unilateral hyperopic anisometropia have thinner CMT and shorter ACD than healthy eyes. There is a positive correlation between AL and CMT.

Evaluation of left and right ventricle by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in systemic sclerosis patients without overt cardiac disease.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The aim was to evaluate the left and right ventricular functions concurrently by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients without overt cardiac disease. METHODS: A total of 47 patients with SSc and 36 age- and sex-matched controls were evaluated cross-sectionally. Two-dimensional STE was used to assess the longitudinal peak systolic strains (PSS) of both ventricles including apical long-axis (APLAX), apical four-chamber (4-CH), apical two-chamber (2-CH), and global longitudinal measurements. Any association of metabolic, cardiac, and inflammatory biomarkers with PSS was investigated. RESULTS: The longitudinal PSS of the left ventricle [APLAX, 4-CH, 2-CH and global] were significantly lower in SSc patients than controls (- 18.2 ± 3.2 vs - 19.8 ± 2.7% p = 0.02; - 17.8 ± 3.5 vs. - 20.3 ± 3.3% p = 0.001; - 18.6 ± 3.1 vs. - 21.8 ± 3% p < 0.001; - 17.5 ± 5.7 vs. - 20.6 ± 2.7% p = 0.003, respectively). No difference was found between the groups for right ventricular strains. The longitudinal PSS-4CH correlated positively with CRP and ESR (r = 0.349, p = 0.016; r = 0.356, p = 0.014, respectively) and negatively with serum Galectin-3 (r = - 0.362, p = 0.012). Global longitudinal PSS-left ventricle (LV) correlated positively with CRP and homocysteine (r = 0.297, p = 0.043; r = 0.313, p = 0.041, respectively) and negatively with serum Galectin-3 (r = -0.314, p = 0.041). After multivariable adjustment, CRP remained the only predictor of longitudinal PSS-4CH (95% CI 0.35, 0.70, p = 0.028) and global longitudinal PSS of left ventricle (95% CI 0.004, 0.22, p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Biventricular evaluation of patients with SSc by two dimensional STE revealed reduced left ventricular longitudinal strains, despite preserved right ventricular strain, and no diastolic dysfunction. In SSc without overt cardiac disease, global cardiac assessment with 2DSTE is a promising method which seems to contribute to the detection of patients without clinical findings. KEY POINTS: • Two dimensional STE revealed reduced left ventricular longitudinal strains, despite preserved right ventricular strain in SSc patients without overt cardiac disease. • CRP was the predictor of decreased longitudinal strains. • Cardiac assessment in SSc should be made globally.