Comparison of post-mortem vitreous fluid and blood glucose levels in diabetes-induced rabbit models.

Background: Diabetes is a common systemic disease in the world. Acute complications of diabetes may cause sudden unexpected deaths. Analysis done in vitreous fluid which is more protected and less contaminated by bacteria comparing to blood will produce more accurate results. Aim: Thus, we aimed to diagnose diabetes by comparing glucose levels of post mortem blood and vitreous fluid in death cases. Materials and Methods: A total of 17 New Zealand-type rabbits were divided into hyperglycemia (8), hypoglycemia (8), and control group (1). Rabbits were monitored for 5 days after experimental diabetes induction, and samples were taken at the point of death. Later rabbits were left in their environment, and samples were taken again at the post mortem first day. Mean blood glucose levels of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia group were in diabetic range. Results: Blood glucose levels of hyperglycemic rabbits were measured as 512 ± 52,1 mg/dl, while vitreous glucose levels were 518,3 ± 76,8 mg/dl at the point of death. After one day, levels were measured as 433,9 ± 59,3 mg/dl and 329,8 ± 86,6 mg/dl. Blood glucose levels of hypoglycemic rabbits were measured as 39 ± 3,8 mg/dl, while vitreous glucose levels were 53,4 ± 13,9 mg/dl at the point of death. After one day, levels were measured as 36 ± 4,2 mg/dl and 1,6 ± 0,6 mg/dl. After analysis, there was a statistically significant difference between day 0 and 1 vitreous levels of hypoglycemia group. Conclusion: It can be clearly seen that vitreous fluid samples should be taken in judicial cases with sudden unexpected deaths like diabetes. This will contribute to identification cause of death.

Child deaths due to firearm-related Injuries in Adana, Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Death by firearm is unacceptable for children who need to be under the protection of the state and the family, wherever and however. Firearm-related fatality is common among all ages. One of the causes of this high rate is likely the easy access to firearms. AIM: This study aims to discuss the characteristics of deaths attributable to childhood firearm injuries in Adana, Turkey and to compare them with similar studies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, the records of 448 (1.97%) cases under 18 years of age who died due to firearm-related injuries among a total of 22,668 cases whose autopsies were performed by the Morgue Department, Council of Forensic Medicine Adana Group Administration between January 1, 2004 and December 12, 2017 were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: Age ranged from 45 days to 18 years; 285 cases were male and 163 cases were female, and male/female ratio was 1.7. The majority of cases were between 13 and 18 years of age (n: 340, 76.0%). According to the manner of death, the leading cause was homicide (n: 212, 47.4%) and the most frequently used type of firearm were shotguns (n: 226). Single firearm wound was present in 82.8% of the cases. The location of entrance wounds revealed that 185 wounds were located in the head-neck. Although homicide was the leading manner of death among the overall cases, it was determined that suicide was the leading cause among the 13-18 age group (n: 149). Firearm-related injuries and deaths in children should bring child neglect to the agenda. CONCLUSION: Presence of firearms at home and easy access are the causes of increased firearm injuries and death in children. Easily accessible weapons in homes are often involved in suicides and homicides, as well as accidents, which are more common in young children and adolescents. We believe that the use of firearms outside of the security forces should be prohibited and that strict laws should be enforced on the handling and use of firearms.

Effect of keratorefractive surgery on choroidal thickness in anisometropic amblyopia.

PURPOSE: To evaluate postoperative change in choroidal thickness (CT) in patients with anisometropic amblyopia undergoing keratorefractive surgery. METHODS: Anisometropic amblyopic patients and nonamblyopic patients who underwent keratorefractive surgery were included in the study. The eyes were divided into three groups. Group 1 consisted of eyes with anisometropic amblyopia, group 2 were the nonamblyopic fellow eyes, and group 3 (control group) were nonamblyopic eyes which had undergone keratorefractive surgery. At the third postoperative month, the CT of these eyes were measured by Enhanced Depth Imaging OCT (EDI-OCT). The choroidal thickness (CT) was measured in the subfoveal area and at 500 micron intervals nasally and temporally. RESULTS: Twenty-three anisometropic amblyopia patients with amblyopic and fellow eyes and 23 control eyes were enrolled. The mean subfoveal choroidal thickness (CT) was 387.3±168.8µm in group 1, 412.2±88.8µm in group 2 and 337.3±99µm in group 3 (P: 0.019). Group 1 and group 2 showed higher choroidal thickness (CT) in the nasal and temporal quadrants than group 3 (P: 0.03, P: 0.04). At the third postoperative month, central foveal choroidal thickness was 356.6±115.5µm in group 1, 375.1±112.5µm in group 2 and 284.4±98.9µm in group 3 (P: 0.071). Choroidal thickness (CT) in the nasal and temporal quadrants at the third postoperative month was also similar (P: 0.210, P: 0.103). CONCLUSIONS: The macular choroid is thicker in amblyopic eyes and non-amblyopic fellow eyes than in the nonamblyopic controls. Improved fixation after refractive surgery may normalize CT.

Mitochondrial DNA copy number alterations in familial mediterranean fever patients.

OBJECTIVES AND BACKGROUND: Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is characterized by recurrent fever episodes as a result of inflammation of serous membranes. Changes in the number of different mtDNA copy number variations, detected in FMF patients, who developed amyloidosis, might be an important parameter in the understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease. METHODS: Changes in the mtDNA copy number between 50 patients with FMF, who had M694V homozygote mutation and amyloidosis, and 50 healthy controls, who had not any MEFV mutation or FMF clinical finding, were examined. The 22 MEFV mutations were analyzed by Pyromark Q24 system. Quantitative analysis was performed on RT-PCR. The level of mtDNA was calculated using the delta Ct (ΔCt) of average Ct of mtDNA and nDNA (ΔCt = Ct mtDNA-Ct nDNA) in the same well as an exponent of 2 (2ΔCt). RESULTS: A significant decrease in the amount of mtDNA was detected in FMF patients with M694V homozygous mutation carriers, who developed amyloidosis compared to the control group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In this study, mitochondrial dysfunction, which has been identified through changes in the mitochondrial genome in many diseases, was identified by showing that the copy number variations of mtDNA in leukocytes also decreased for FMF disease (Tab. 3, Fig. 1, Ref. 21).

Fluorescent Heterodoped Nanotetrapods as Synergistically Enhancing Positive and Negative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agents.

In this work, we report Mn-Fe heterodoped ZnSe tetrapod nanocrystals (NCs) synthesized to synergistically enhance contrast in both T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The proposed NCs were prepared using a customized heteroarchitecture such that the manganese (Mn) is confined in the core and iron (Fe) in the branches of the tetrapods. The elemental composition and profile of these NCs were studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. Photoluminescence quantum yield of these heterodoped NCs in water is ∼30%. Magnetic measurements reveal the simultaneous presence of superparamagnetic and paramagnetic behavior in these NCs because of the coexistence of Mn(2+) and Fe(2+) dopants. Their potential as simultaneous positive and negative MRI contrast agents was demonstrated by relaxivity measurements and in vivo MRI. From the in vivo studies, we also found that these NCs (with a hydrodynamic diameter of 20 nm) are excreted from the body within 24 h after the injection. Therefore, these heterodoped tetrapods NCs, while being fluorescent and safe, hold great future as a synergistically enhancing dual-modal MRI contrast agent.

Clinical value of 68Ga-DOTATATE-PET/CT compared to stand-alone contrast enhanced CT for the detection of extra-hepatic metastases in patients with neuroendocrine tumours (NET).

PURPOSE: To compare and outline the beneficial skills of combined (68)Ga-DOTATATE positron emission tomography (PET) with concurrent contrast enhanced X-ray computed tomography (ceCT) against stand-alone ceCT in 54 patients with neuroendocrine tumours (NET). METHODS: Patients with histologically confirmed NET and available follow-up of at least 6 months (median 12.6 months; range 6.1-23.2) were included. PET/CT and ceCT images were initially analyzed separately by two blinded nuclear medicine physicians and two radiologists, respectively. In a second step all four physicians reviewed all detected lesions together reaching a consensus-grading for PET/ceCT. The results were then compared to the reference standard consisting of clinical follow-up data. RESULTS: With regard to true positive lesions, PET/ceCT vs. stand alone ceCT detected 139 vs. 48 bone-lesions, 106 vs. 71 lymph node metastases and 26 vs. 26 pulmonary lesions. On a per-patient basis, PET/ceCT achieved a higher sensitivity (100% vs. 47%) and specificity (89% vs. 49%) for bone lesions than ceCT. For lymph nodes the effect was similar (sensitivity 92% vs. 64% and specificity 83% vs. 59%). For the detection of pulmonary lesions the sensitivity was identical (100%) while specificity of PET/ceCT was superior to ceCT-alone (95% vs. 82%). CONCLUSION: In summary, the use of (68)Ga-DOTATATE PET/ceCT leads to an increase in sensitivity and specificity in the detection of extra-hepatic NET metastases compared to stand-alone ceCT. Therefore, (68)Ga-DOTATATE PET/ceCT should be the imaging modality of choice in patients with NET.

Highly monodisperse low-magnetization magnetite nanocubes as simultaneous T(1)-T(2) MRI contrast agents.

We report the first study of highly monodisperse and crystalline iron oxide nanocubes with sub-nm controlled size distribution (9.7 ± 0.5 nm in size) that achieve simultaneous contrast enhancement in both T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Here, we confirmed the magnetite structure of iron oxide nanocubes by X-ray diffraction (XRD), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern, optical absorption and Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR) spectra. These magnetite nanocubes exhibit superparamagnetic and paramagnetic behavior simultaneously by virtue of their finely controlled shape and size. The magnetic measurements reveal that the magnetic moment values are favorably much lower because of the small size and cubic shape of the nanoparticles, which results in an enhanced spin canting effect. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, we showed their potential as dual contrast agents for both T1- and T2-weighted MRI via phantom studies, in vivo imaging and relaxivity measurements. Therefore, these low-magnetization magnetite nanocubes, while being non-toxic and bio-compatible, hold great promise as excellent dual-mode T1 and T2 contrast agents for MRI.