The effect of trifocal and extended-depth-of-focus intraocular lenses on optical coherence tomography parameters.

PURPOSE: Optical properties of commonly used multifocal and extended-depth-of-focus (EDOF) intraocular lenses (IOLs) can induce artifacts or changes in optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements. Our purpose was to investigate the possible effects of different IOLs on peripapillary and macular OCT parameters. METHODS: The preoperative and postoperative third-month peripapillary OCT and ganglion cell analysis (GCA) parameters of patients having monofocal (Alcon IQ), multifocal (PanOptix), or EDOF (Vivity) IOL implanted during cataract surgery were compared. RESULTS: Sixty-four eyes of 64 patients were included (21 monofocal, 24 multifocal, and 19 EDOF). Although all OCT image qualities increased postoperatively, only GCA image quality changes in the monofocal and multifocal groups reached statistical significance. Most peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and GCA parameters were similar preoperatively and postoperatively. The superior RNFL thickness in the monofocal group and the temporal RNFL thickness in the EDOF group were higher postoperatively ( P = 0.04 and P = 0.02, respectively). Most GCA and RNFL value changes between preoperative and postoperative measurements were similar between groups. In the parameters that changed, postoperative values were higher in the monofocal group ( P = 0.02 for minimum ganglion cell layer and inner plexiform layer, P = 0.04 for average RNFL). CONCLUSION: Trifocal and EDOF IOLs do not seem to have a negative effect on OCT parameters.

Peripapillary and macular vascular densities in healthy, ocular hypertensive, and different stages of glaucomatous eyes.

AIM: To investigate vascular changes in different stages of glaucoma and to evaluate the role of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in the early diagnosis of glaucoma. METHODS: Glaucoma patients and healthy controls (n=29 eyes) were investigated in this cross-sectional comparative study. Glaucoma patients were grouped as ocular hypertension (n=44 eyes), preperimetric glaucoma (PPG; n=32 eyes), early glaucoma (EG; n=35 eyes), moderate stage glaucoma (MG; n=36 eyes), and advanced glaucoma (AG; n=35 eyes). Peripapillary and macular vascular densities (VDs) of all participants were compared and correlations of VDs and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT), ganglion cell analysis (GCA), and visual field (VF) tests were evaluated. Area under the receiver operation characteristic curves (AUC) of the peripapillary and macular VD parameters were obtained. RESULTS: VD values decreased with the progression of glaucoma. Most peripapillary and macular VD parameters of PPG and EG groups were lower than healthy controls (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in RNFLT between the PPG and EG groups, but most peripapillary and macular VDs were found to be lower in EG group than in PPG group (P<0.05). In most disease group, VDs were significantly correlated with OCT parameters (P<0.001) and VF index (P<0.05). There were no significant correlations between VF and RNFLT indices in the AG group, but significant correlations were found between VF and VD values (P<0.05). AUC for discriminating between healthy and glaucomatous eyes were highest in whole image peripapillary VD (AUC: 0.865, 0.929, and 0.986, respectively in EG, MG, and AG groups). CONCLUSION: OCTA can be used in the early diagnosis of glaucoma and can be useful in follow-up of the advanced disease. In cases where limitations or suspicions in structural and functional tests are present, OCTA can be used as a supportive diagnostic test, both in EG and AG.

Effects of attachment styles, childhood traumas, and alexithymia in Turkish patients with epilepsy and functional seizures.

INTRODUCTION: In this cross-sectional study, we used self-report scales to compare childhood traumas, attachment styles, and alexithymia among patients with functional seizures (FS) to patients with epilepsy and healthy controls. We also investigated risk factors associated with FS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 44 patients with epilepsy, 14 patients with FS, and 25 healthy controls were included. All participants were over the age of 18 and were referred to the Baskent University Adana Epilepsy and Video-EEG Center. The patients underwent neurological examinations, brain MRIs, and video-EEG evaluations. Epileptic seizures were classified based on video EEG. The control group consisted of healthy individuals without neurological or psychiatric illness and a history of epileptic seizures or syncope. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Adult Attachment Scale (AAS), and Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20) were applied to all participants. RESULTS: Patients with FS had lower educational levels, higher rates of unemployment and single-marital status. The FS group had higher depression, childhood trauma, and alexithymia scores than the other groups. Furthermore, FS patients had a higher prevalence of avoidant attachment. The alexithymia and childhood trauma scores were both correlated with depression. Through the logistic regression analysis, childhood trauma scores and alexithymia were significant risk factors for FS. CONCLUSION: The use of video-EEG for diagnosing FS can reduce the risk of misdiagnosis and inappropriate antiepileptic treatment. Psychiatric comorbidities, childhood traumas, and alexithymia are prevalent in patients with FS. Therefore, implementing a multidisciplinary treatment approach that addresses the psychological, medical, and social aspects of FS can significantly improve outcomes.

Macular Imaging Characteristics in Children with Myelinated Retinal Nerve Fiber and High Myopia Syndrome.

Objectives: To investigate the macular imaging features in patients with unilateral myelinated retinal nerve fiber (MRNF) and high myopia syndrome. Materials and Methods: Six patients with unilateral MRNF and high myopia syndrome and 13 myopic controls were enrolled in this study. Spectral domain (SD) optical coherence tomography (OCT), SD enhanced depth imaging OCT, and OCT angiography (OCTA) imaging results of MRNF-affected eyes were compared with the fellow eyes and myopic controls. Results: All patients had abnormal foveal reflex and/or ectopia. No significant difference in retinal thickness parameters were noted between the groups. In OCT scans, posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) was observed in 4 out of the 6 MRNF-affected eyes. Regarding OCTA parameters, only a significant increase in acircularity index was noted in myelinated eyes (p=0.01). Conclusion: All patients demonstrated normal foveal contours, macular structure, and OCTA features except for a higher acircularity index. The incidence of PVD was notably increased in the myelinated eyes.

Macular and Peripapillary Vascular Densities in Non-Glaucomatous Eyes of Patients with Unilateral Glaucoma.

Objectives: Our purpose was to investigate vascular alterations in the non-glaucomatous eyes of patients with unilateral primary open angle glaucoma using optical coherence tomography angiography and to evaluate the role of vascular damage in glaucoma pathogenesis. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 60 eyes of 30 patients with unilateral glaucoma (63.4±8.8 years) and 30 eyes of 30 healthy subjects (65.6±9.1 years). Three groups were formed: group A, affected eyes of unilateral glaucoma patients; Group B, non-glaucomatous eyes of unilateral glaucoma patients; and group C, healthy controls. Results: When group A was compared with groups B and C, significant differences were detected in rim area, cup volume, mean cup/disc ratio, and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness parameters (p<0.001 for all). No significant difference was detected between groups B and C (p>0.05 for all). In peripapillary and macular vessel density (VD) comparisons, all parameters except intradisc VD were found to be lower in group A (p<0.0167 for all). No statistically significant difference was detected between groups B and C (p>0.05 for all). Conclusion: The VD values in eyes with glaucoma were found to be lower than in the other two groups. However, no difference was observed between the non-glaucomatous eyes of glaucoma patients and those of healthy individuals. Thus, the results did not support our hypothesis that VD alterations would be observed in the fellow eyes of patients with unilateral glaucoma if the vascular pathway were responsible in the pathogenesis of glaucoma.

Long-term effect of eplerenone treatment in children with chronic allograft nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Literature supports the protective role of mineralocorticoid antagonist (MRA) against the renal injury induced by aldosterone in kidney transplant recipients. However, there is limited data available regarding the safety and efficacy of MRAs in pediatric renal transplant patients. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of long-term eplerenone administration in children with chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN). METHODS: Twenty-six renal transplant children with biopsy-proven CAN, an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR ) > 40 mL/min per 1.73 m2 and with a significant proteinuria were included. Selected patients were randomly divided into two groups as follows; Group 1 (n = 10) patients received 25 mg/day eplerenone and Group 2 (n = 16) patients did not receive eplerenone for 36 months. Patients were examined in the renal transplant outpatient clinic biweekly for the first month and once a month thereafter. The primary outcome of the patients was compared. RESULTS: Mean eGFR stayed stable in group 1 patients, but significantly decreased in group 2 at 36 months (57.53 ± 7.53 vs. 44.94 ± 8.04 mL/min per 1.73 m2 , p = .001). Similarly, spot protein-creatinine ratio was significantly lower in group 1 compared to group 2 patients at 36 months (1.02 ± 7.53 vs. 3.61 ± 0.53, p < .001). Eplerenone associated hyperkalemia was not observed in group 1 patients (4.6 ± 0.2 vs. 4.56 ± 0.3, p = .713). CONCLUSION: The long-term eplerenone administration blunted the chronic allograft nephropathy by maintaining a stable eGFR levels and decreasing urine protein-creatinine ratio. Eplerenone associated hyperkalemia was not observed in our study.

A variation of foveal morphology in a group of children with hypermetropia.

PURPOSE: During routine eye examinations, we noticed widened and flattened foveal pits with loss of normal V-shaped foveal profile and a pseudohole-like appearance in some otherwise healthy hypermetropic children. Our purpose was to describe clinical significance and multimodal imaging features of this incidental finding. METHODS: Prospectively, 25 eyes of 13 hypermetropic children with these foveal changes and 36 eyes of 19 hypermetropic children with normal foveal appearance were enrolled. The macular thickness measurements and foveal parameters including pit diameter, depth, base, and area obtained by optical coherence tomography (OCT) (Heidelberg Spectralis, Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany), macular superficial and deep vessel density (VD) and foveal avascular zone values obtained by optical coherence tomography angiography (Avanti RTVue­XR; Optovue, Fremont, CA, USA) were noted. The correlations of these parameters with visual function were evaluated. RESULTS: In the study group, significantly widened and flattened pit contours with decreased central foveal thickness (p = 0.01), and increased distance between foveal edges (p < 0.001) were observed. While the whole image superficial macular VD was similar between the groups (p = 0.74), a significant decrease in deep macular VD was observed in the study group (p = 0.01). None of these changes were correlated with visual acuity. CONCLUSION: Wider and flattened foveal pits described here represent a newly defined variation in healthy hypermetropic children. Although a correlation with visual acuity was not evident, these changes in foveal profile are shown to be related with macular microvascular changes in deep capillary plexus. Awareness of these morphologic changes will help clinicians in the differential diagnosis of macular pseudohole.

Quantitative Evaluation of Macular Vessel Density Measurement by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Patients with Inactive Ocular Sarcoidosis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the macular vessel density (VD) in inactive ocular sarcoidosis (OS) and investigate the relationship between VD and both disease duration and visual acuity (VA). METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed at a tertiary hospital. The macular VDs of patients with OS were obtained using optical coherence tomography angiography and compared with healthy subjects. RESULTS: Deep whole image macular VD (WI-MVD), parafoveal, and perifoveal VDs were lower in OS group (p = .01, p = .01, p = .02, respectively). Negative correlation between disease duration and both superficial and deep WI-MVD, parafoveal, and perifoveal VDs was obtained (for all p < .05). There was a positive correlation between VA and superficial VD (p < .001, r = 0.848 for WI-MVD). CONCLUSION: OS affects deep VD significantly. Changes in superficial VD affect VA more. Disease duration is an important factor affecting macular VD.

Evaluation of Inflammation-Based Prognostic Risk Scores in Predicting in-Hospital Mortality Risk in COVID-19 Patients: A Cross-Sectional Retrospective Study.

Objective: Systemic inflammatory parameters are predictors of poor prognosis in COVID-19 patients. This study evaluated whether the prognostic nutritional index, which was also related to nutrition risk and other inflammation-based prognostic scores, was predictive of in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional single-center study. Based on the exclusion criteria, 151 patients over 18 years old diagnosed with COVID-19 and hospitalized in the intensive care unit between March 2020 and December 2020 were eligible for this study. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the predictive value of the Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), Prognostic Index (PI), Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), and Systemic Inflammatory Index (SII). Results: In the univariate analyses, age, diabetes mellitus (DM), chronic kidney disease, acute kidney injury, hypothyroidism, hospitalization stay, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), D-dimer, ferritin, C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, hemoglobin level, platelet count, urea, creatinine level, PNI, GPS were significantly associated with mortality. However, in the multivariable logistic regression analysis of the inflammation-based prognostic scores, only PNI was statistically significant in predicting in-hospital mortality (OR=0.83; [95% CI=0.71-0.97]; p =0.019). Conclusion: PNI is a more useful and powerful tool among these inflammation-based prognostic risk scores in predicting in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients.

Cross-sectional analysis of tobacco addiction in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has become an important health issue with consequences for special populations since 2019. Tobacco use is an important public health issue and tobacco users are a risk group for lung infections. Materials and Methods: The aim of this study is to obtain information about disease prevalence and severity, laboratory parameters, and changes in radiological findings between smokers and non-smokers who were hospitalized, followed up, and treated for COVID-19, and to find answers to critical questions regarding the response to antiviral and supportive therapy. Two hundred eighty-six patients who were hospitalized and treated between March 2020-February 2021 in the COVID-19 Isolation Ward of Baskent University Hospital were included in the study. The patients were grouped as current smokers, non-smokers, and ex-smokers. The groups were compared in terms of symptoms, laboratory findings, radiological findings, and treatment response. Result: The median age of the patients included in the study was 59 (IQR= 32). Of the patients, 40.6% were female and 59.4% were male. In our study, we discovered that there were fewer female smokers (p<0.001). When the current smokers (n= 56), non-smokers (n= 159), and ex-smokers (n= 71) were compared based on their findings, it was found that dyspnea was more common in current smokers (p= 0.009). Lung involvement was found to be more common (p= 0.002) and multifocal in the current smokers group (p= 0.038). The levels of oxygen saturation at the times of admission and discharge were lower in current smokers (p= 0.002 and p= 0.038). The need for nasal oxygen and noninvasive mechanical ventilation was also found to be higher in current smokers (p= 0.008 and p= 0.039). Systemic steroid requirement was higher in current smokers (p= 0.013). There was no statistically significant difference in terms of mortality between current smokers, ex-smokers, and non-smokers (p= 0.662). Conclusions: The analysis of the findings of the patients hospitalized in the COVID-19 isolation ward indicated that COVID-19 leads to a more serious course in patients with a history of smoking.

A retrospective analysis of benign paediatric jaw lesions according to new World Health Organization classification.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the benign paediatric jaw lesions based on the 2017 World Health Organization (WHO) classification. Demographic data, symptoms, radiographic findings, location, size, histopathologic diagnosis, treatment modalities, and outcomes were analysed retrospectively. Recurrence incidence, time to recur, and follow-up time were also evaluated. One hundred seven lesions were diagnosed in 100 patients (44 female, 56 male). The mean follow-up time was 56.6 ± 45.7 months. The mean age was 12. 9 ± 3.9 years and the majority of lesions were found in the permanent dentition group (p = 0.045). There were 73 patients with odontogenic cysts, followed by 16 patients with odontogenic tumors, and 11 patients with non-odontogenic tumors. Eighty seven lesions (81%) were radiolucent and 93 lesions (86%) were well-circumscribed. The majority of the patients (n = 96) were treated by enucleation. Recurrence was seen in 3 patients. The most notable difference between the results of the present study and the results of the study conducted in medical institutions was the distributions of jaw lesions. Within the limitations of the study it seems that a conservative treatment of benign jaw lesions should be preferred in the paediatric population because this treatment yields acceptable results.

Differences in Antibody Responses Between an Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine and the BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccine in Solid-Organ Transplant Recipients.

OBJECTIVES: Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 may reduce COVID-19 mortality and complications in solidorgan transplant recipients, and we evaluated the associated antibody responses and adverse effects in this high-risk population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective observational study (April-June 2021) included 10 liver and 38 kidney transplant recipients who received 2 vaccine doses (Sinovac, n = 31; or BioNTech, n = 17) and 56 healthy adults (Sinovac), all of whom provided 3 blood samples (prevaccination, 4 weeks after first dose, and 4-6 weeks after second dose) for quantitative tests (Abbott Quant assay forimmunoglobulin G antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein). Type I error was α = .05 in all statistical analyses (SPSS, version 25). RESULTS: We analyzed demographic data, antibody responses, and adverse events after 2 doses of SARSCoV-2 vaccine, comparedimmune responses from solidorgan transplant recipients (median age, 36.5 years) versus healthy patients (median age, 37.5 years), and observed significantly higher seropositivity in healthy versus transplant patients after Sinovac vaccination (100% vs 67.5%; P = .001). However, we observed no significant seropositive differences for Sinovac versus BioNTech second doses in transplantrecipients. Median SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G level after second dose was significantly higher in BioNTech (1388.6 AU/mL) versus Sinovac patients (136.6 AU/mL) (P = .012). The seropositivity difference between the 2 vaccines was significant in participants 24 to 44 years old (P = .040). The rate of at least 1 side effect was 82.4% (n = 14) for BioNTech vaccine and 32.3% (n = 10) for Sinovac vaccine, and the difference was statistically significant.The most common side effect was arm pain (significantly higher in BioNTech group). CONCLUSIONS: Solid-organ transplant recipients demonstrated inadequate vaccine responses (higher risk of complications and mortality) versus healthy patients. Furthermore, immune responses may differ between vaccines. Therefore, additional vaccine doses and strict control measures remain crucial.

Comparison of ocular discomfort after three different epithelial debridement techniques for corneal collagen cross-linking in keratoconus treatment.

PURPOSE: To compare the severity and duration of ocular discomfort after three different epithelial debridement techniques for corneal collagen cross-linking in the treatment of keratoconus. METHODS: Fifty-five patients (65 eyes) known to have keratoconus were enrolled in this retrospective study. The eyes were divided into three groups based on the technique used for epithelial debridement for corneal collagen cross-linking procedure; excimer laser transepithelial phototherapeutic keratectomy was used in group 1 (18 eyes), alcohol-assisted epithelial removal was used in group 2 (27 eyes), and mechanical epithelial debridement was used in group 3 (20 eyes). Preoperative and postoperative (third month) best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) using Snellen chart, objective refraction, and keratometry results were recorded. The results of the questionnaire obtained from the patient's medical records were reviewed regarding their subjective evaluation of postoperative symptoms including foreign body sensation, tearing, photophobia, and burning at the end of the first postoperative week. Paired-samples t test was used to compare preoperative and postoperative clinical findings. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the differences between three independent groups. RESULTS: BCVA improved from 0.51 ± 0.27 to 0.58 ± 0.21 (p = 0.05). Objective mean spherical and cylindrical refraction decreased from -5.08 ± 2.78D to -4.46 ± 2.91D (p = 0.22) and from -3.45 ± 2.73D to -3.03 ± 1.97D (p = 0.25). Mean maximum keratometry reading (K max) decreased from 57.63 ± 4.73D to 56.13 ± 4.47D (p = 0.001). The mean score for foreign body sensation was the highest in group 3 (4.50 ± 0.53) and the lowest in group 1 (2.10 ± 1.85) (p = 0.01). The mean scores for tearing, photophobia, and burning sensation were comparable in three groups (p = 0.84, p = 0.13, and p = 0.61, respectively). The duration of photophobia was the shortest in group 1 (1.50 ± 2.37 days), followed by group 3 (2.00 ± 1.31 days) and group 2 (4.00 ± 1.83 days) (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The severity and duration of adverse subjective symptoms during the first postoperative week after corneal collagen cross-linking appear to be milder with epithelial debridement using excimer laser transepithelial technique compared with -assisted debridement and mechanical debridement.

Interobserver and intermethod variability in data interpretation of breast strain elastography in suspicious breast lesions

Background/aim: Strain elastography has the disadvantage of being operator-dependent. Interobserver variability is observed during image acquisition and interpretation. This study aimed to analyze the interobserver and intermethod variability of strain elastography in image interpretation and evaluate the diagnostic performance combining elasticity score and strain ratio with ultrasonography. Materials and methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 70 breast lesions evaluated with B-mode ultrasonography and strain elastography. B-mode ultrasonography findings, elasticity scores, and strain ratio values were evaluated using static images by two radiologists. BI-RADS assessment of the lesions and the decision of both observers as to whether the biopsy was required using B-mode ultrasonography, and the combined ultrasonography+elasticity score, and the combined ultrasonography+elasticity score+strain ratio were compared with the histopathological results. Also, the interobserver agreement was analyzed for all the combinations. Results: There was very good agreement (weighted κ = 0.865) between the observers for the elasticity scores. Very good agreement was observed between the observers for BI-RADS assessments using the combined ultrasonography+elasticity score and the combined ultrasonography+elasticity score+strain ratio (weighted κ = 0.848, and 0.902, respectively). Area under the curve of B-mode ultrasonography, the combined B-mode ultrasonography+elasticity score, and the combined B-mode ultrasonography+elasticity score+strain ratio, were calculated as 0.859, 0.866, and 0.916 for observer 1, and 0.851, 0.829, and 0.916 for observer 2, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the observers' diagnostic performances in any of the combinations (P = 0.703, 0.067, and 0.972, respectively). Conclusion: In the evaluation and further assessment of breast lesions, semiquantitative strain ratio calculation may help improve diagnostic accuracy by reducing interpretational variety, when used together with B-mode ultrasonography and elasticity scoring, especially for inexperienced individuals.

The Diagnostic Ability of Ganglion Cell Complex Thickness-to-Total Retinal Thickness Ratio in Glaucoma in a Caucasian Population

Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the macular ganglion cell complex-to-total retinal thickness (G/T) ratio in a Caucasian population. Materials and Methods: A total of 86 patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Patients were divided into 4 groups: healthy; ocular hypertension; preperimetric glaucoma; and early glaucoma. Macular ganglion cell complex (mGCC) thickness, total retinal thickness, and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) in one randomly selected eye of each patient were measured with measured with Heidelberg HD spectral domain optical coherence tomography (Heidelberg Engineering, Inc., Heidelberg, Germany). G/T ratio (%) was calculated as (mGCC thickness / total retinal thickness) x100. The ability of each parameter to diagnose glaucoma was examined by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) analysis and sensitivity evaluation at a fixed level of specificity. Unpaired t test was used to compare the measured values between the healthy subjects and the different patient groups. Results: The study included 9 healthy individuals, 18 patients with ocular hypertension, 28 with preperimetric glaucoma, and 31 with early glaucoma. Total retinal thickness, mGCC thickness, RNFLT, and G/T ratio were highest in the healthy group and decreased progressively in patients with ocular hypertension, preperimetric glaucoma, and early glaucoma. All comparisons between the groups were significant for these parameters (p<0.001 for all). Average RNFLT, average GCC, and total retinal thickness showed consistently higher AUROC than G/T ratio in the differentiation between healthy individuals and patients with ocular hypertension, preperimetric glaucoma, and early glaucoma. Conclusion: G/T ratio does not contribute to separation of ocular hypertension, preperimetric glaucoma, and early glaucoma patients from the healthy population. Compared to the other parameters investigated, G/T had lower diagnostic value.

Importance of Hypomagnesemia on New-Onset Diabetes Mellitus in Pediatric Renal Transplant Patients.

OBJECTIVES: Hypomagnesemia is considered as an independent risk factor for new-onset diabetes mellitus after kidney transplant. New-onset diabetes mellitus is an important comorbidity associated with allograft failure. In this study, our aim was to investigate the correlation between hypomagnesemia and preva-lence of posttransplant diabetes mellitus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 189 pediatric renal transplant recipients who underwent their first renal transplant. A patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus before transplant was excluded from the analysis. Hypomagnesemia was defined as having serum magnesium levels lower than 1.7 mg/dL. Diabetes was defined according to American Diabetes Association criteria. Serum magnesium and glucose levels at month 1 after transplant were recorded. RESULTS: We evaluated the records of 188 patients. New-onset diabetes mellitus was diagnosed in 7 patients (3.7%). Hypomagnesemia was shown in 50% of patients (64/120). Mean glucose levels were higher in those with hypomagnesemia than in patients without hypomagnesemia (119.2 vs 91.56 mg/dL, respectively; P = .01) A significant negative correlation was observed between serum magnesium and glucose levels (r = -0.53; P < .05). Mean serum magnesium level in patients with new-onset diabetes mellitus was lower than in patients without diabetes (1.56 ± 0.21 vs 1.75 ± 0.26 mg/dL; P = .052). CONCLUSIONS: Hypomagnesemia is a common problem in pediatric renal transplant. The relationship between serum magnesium and glucose levels suggests that hypomagnesemia plays a role in the development of new-onset diabetes mellitus after transplant. Compre-hensive studies are needed to support this association.

Evaluation of Inappropriate Medication Use and Compliance in Elderly People.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the potentially inappropriate medication use and medication compliance in elderly patients who buy prescribed drugs from a pharmacy in Ankara. METHODS: In this cross-sectional field study, 200 older people who bought prescribed drugs from a pharmacy which is close to several hospitals in Ankara in April 2016 were chosen as random sample. A questionnaire consisting of questions related to socio-demographic characteristics, health status, drug use of elderly and Morisky Green Levine Medication Adherence Scale (MGLS) was used to collect data. The appropriateness of the drugs prescribed for elderly was determined by the pharmacist according to Beers criteria. The data were evaluated by descriptive statistics and Chi-Square test. RESULTS: 57.4% of the 200 elderly patients in the study are women and the mean age is 72.55 ± 6.34 years; 72.6% of them are below high school. When the medication compliance was examined, 36.3% of them did not comply with the drug treatment according to MGLS. It was determined that having sufficient information about the drug, education level, occupation and polymorbidity affect medication adherence (p <0.05). When the appropriateness evaluated according to Beers Criteria, 41.7% of the subjects were prescribed potentially inappropriate medications (PIM). According to the analysis, the number of drugs prescribed and the type of the chronic disease have effects on the inappropriate prescription (p <0.05). CONCLUSION: According to the study, the prevalence of inappropriate medication use in the elderly is higher than the medication non-adherence.