Investigation of social appearance anxiety and self-esteem in individuals planned for aesthetic rhinoplasty.

OBJECTIVE: Recently, aesthetic rhinoplasty surgeries performed to change the external appearance have become increasingly common, especially among young people. This study examined the frequency of social appearance anxiety, self-esteem, and social media use in people with rhinoplasty surgeries for aesthetic concerns. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 76 people, including 27 healthy controls and 49 aesthetic rhinoplasty planned cases, were included in the study. All participants were administered the sociodemographic data form, Social Appearance Anxiety Scale (SAAS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE), and Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BMSAS). RESULTS: The RSE score of the case group was significantly lower than the control group (p<0.001), and the SAAS (p=0.004) and BSMAS (p=0.005) scores were significantly higher. A significant negative correlation was observed between the RSE scale score, SAAS, and BMSAS. There was a significant positive relationship between SAAS and BSMAS. Cut-off values were determined using the ROC analysis. When the value of 1.41 was taken as the cut-off for RSE, 81.6% sensitivity and 74.1% specificity were found and were good predictors. When the value of 21 was taken as the cut-off for SAAS, 83.7% sensitivity and 51.9% specificity were found, and it was found to be a good predictor. When the value of 19 was taken as the cut-off for BSMAS, 42.9% sensitivity, and 88.9% specificity were found, and it was found to be a good predictor. CONCLUSIONS: People who undergo aesthetic rhinoplasty have high social appearance anxiety and self-esteem and frequent use of social media. More extensive sample studies are needed to examine the effects of this situation on rhinoplasty.

Phylogeography and phenotypic wing shape variation in a damselfly across populations in Europe.

BACKGROUND: Describing geographical variation in morphology of organisms in combination with data on genetic differentiation and biogeography can provide important information on how natural selection shapes such variation. Here we study genetic structure using ddRAD seq and wing shape variation using geometric morphometrics in 14 populations of the damselfly Lestes sponsa along its latitudinal range in Europe. RESULTS: The genetic analysis showed a significant, yet relatively weak population structure with high genetic heterozygosity and low inbreeding coefficients, indicating that neutral processes contributed very little to the observed wing shape differences. The genetic analysis also showed that some regions of the genome (about 10%) are putatively shaped by selection. The phylogenetic analysis showed that the Spanish and French populations were the ancestral ones with northern Swedish and Finnish populations being the most derived ones. We found that wing shape differed significantly among populations and showed a significant quadratic (but weak) relationship with latitude. This latitudinal relationship was largely attributed to allometric effects of wing size, but non-allometric variation also explained a portion of this relationship. However, wing shape showed no phylogenetic signal suggesting that lineage-specific variation did not contribute to the variation along the latitudinal gradient. In contrast, wing size, which is correlated with body size in L. sponsa, had a strong negative correlation with latitude. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest a relatively weak population structure among the sampled populations across Europe, but a clear differentiation between south and north populations. The observed geographic phenotypic variation in wing shape may have been affected by different local selection pressures or environmental effects.

Nasal obstruction in adults: how it affects psychological status?

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the psychological status of patients with unilateral or bilateral complete nasal obstruction. METHOD: The study included 49 consecutive cases of unilateral or bilateral complete nasal obstruction. In order to assess participants' personality traits, both groups completed the Personality Belief Questionnaire, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory form, Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory. RESULTS: The groups were similar in terms of demographic characteristics. Patients with unilateral or bilateral complete nasal obstruction had higher scores on all the psychological assessments compared with the healthy controls, except for the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Although all personality assessment scores were higher in patients, the only differences that were statistically significant were in the dependent, antisocial and avoidant personality trait scores. CONCLUSION: The psychological conditions of patients with structural deformities that cause nasal obstruction may be affected, and appropriate treatment should be provided to improve their symptoms and quality of life.

Biofilm formation, antibiotic resistance and genotyping of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli isolated from retail chicken meats.

1. The Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a hazardous zoonotic agent for chicken meat consumers. This study determined the serogroups and evaluated the virulence genes, antibiotic resistance, biofilm-forming profiles and genetic relationships of STEC isolates in chicken meat.2. A total of 100 samples belonging to dressed-whole chicken and different parts of the chicken (wing, breast, thigh, drumstick) were collected between September and November 2019 from different retail markets in Kayseri, Türkiye.3. Phenotypic (identification, disc diffusion test, Congo red agar and microtitre plate tests) and molecular tests (identification, serogrouping, virulence factors, biofilm, antibiotic susceptibility, 16S rRNA sequencing and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-PCR for typing of the isolates) were carried out.4. E. coli was isolated from 35% of the samples and 35% of the samples harboured at least one STEC. Among 35 STEC isolates, 3 (8.5%), 6 (17.1%), 2 (5.7%) and 3 (8.5%) were found to be positive for fliCH2, fliCH8, fliCH11, fliCH19 genes, respectively. Out of 35 STEC positive isolates, 4 (11.4%) were identified as E. coli O157, from which 2 (5.7%) were E. coli O157:H7. E. coli O157 was detected in two (10%), one (5%), one (5%) of the thigh, drumstick and whole chicken samples, respectively.5. Biofilm-forming ability was reported in 33 (94.2%) of 35 E. coli isolates, whilst the biofilm-associated genes detected among 35 STEC isolates included csgA (88.5%), fimH (88.5%), bcsA (85.7%), agn43 (14.2%) and papC (8.5%). The STEC strains showed resistance against ampicillin (88.5%) and erythromycin (88.5%), followed by tetracycline (74.2%) and gentamicin (25.7%). However, the distribution of isolates harbouring blaCMY, ere(A), tet(A) and aac(3)-IV antibiotic resistance genes was found to be 17.1%, 11.4%, 85.7% and 5.7%, respectively.6. ERIC-PCR showed that E. coli strains obtained from different parts and whole of chicken samples had genetic diversities. ERIC-PCR patterns grouped strains of 35 STEC into eight clusters designated A-H, with 73% similarity. Proper hygiene measures and staff training are essential for public health during poultry processing and in retail stores to control STEC.

Magnetic-field-synchronized wireless modulation of neural activity by magnetoelectric nanoparticles.

The in vitro study demonstrates wirelessly controlled modulation of neural activity using magnetoelectric nanoparticles (MENPs), synchronized to magnetic field application with a sub-25-msec temporal response. Herein, MENPs are sub-30-nm CoFe2O4@BaTiO3 core-shell nanostructures. MENPs were added to E18 rat hippocampal cell cultures (0.5 µg of MENPs per 100,000 neurons) tagged with fluorescent Ca2+ sensitive indicator cal520. MENPs were shown to wirelessly induce calcium transients which were synchronized with application of 1200-Oe bipolar 25-msec magnetic pulses at a rate of 20 pulses/sec. The observed calcium transients were similar, in shape and magnitude, to those generated through the control electric field stimulation with a 50-µA current, and they were inhibited by the sodium channel blocker tetrodotoxin. The observed MENP-based magnetic excitation of neural activity is in agreement with the non-linear M - H hysteresis loop of the MENPs, wherein the MENPs' coercivity value sets the threshold for the externally applied magnetic field.

Explantation of phakic intraocular lenses: causes and outcomes.

PURPOSE: To describe reasons for explantation of anterior and posterior chamber phakic intraocular lenses (pIOLs), as well as outcomes of the surgery. METHODS: The medical files of patients who underwent pIOL explantation due to complications were reviewed. All patients were divided into three groups based on the type of explanted pIOL: anterior chamber angle-supported (AS pIOL), anterior chamber iris-fixated (IF pIOL), and posterior chamber (PC pIOL). RESULTS: Sixty-two eyes of 41 patients were evaluated. There were 26 (41.9%), 16 (25.8%), and 20 (32.2%) eyes in the AS pIOL, IF pIOL, and PC pIOL groups, respectively. The mean interval between the implantation and removal of the pIOL (i.e., survival time) was 13.6 ± 8.1 years (range 0.01-21.22 years). The mean follow-up after the explantation was 22.5 ± 4.0 months (range 11.3-28.7 months). The main causes of explantation were cataract in the PC pIOL group (60%) and chronic endothelial cell loss in the AS pIOL group (53.8%) and IF pIOL group (56.2%). Overall, the procedure most often combined with pIOL explantation was phacoemulsification and implantation of a posterior chamber IOL (40.3%), followed by keratoplasty (9.6%). Intraoperative complications were significantly more common in the AS pIOL group than the other groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Explantation of anterior chamber pIOLs due to severe endothelial cell loss and the proportion of keratoplasty was more common in patients with a relatively long survival time. Therefore, patients with pIOL implantation should be monitored regularly after surgery.

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.

Validity of ocular trauma score in open globe injury patients from Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of ocular trauma score (OTS) in determining the prognosis in patients with open globe injury who admitted to our clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of patients with open globe injury who were admitted to our clinic between 2014 and 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. The OTS raw score of each patient was determined and translated into OTS categories according to OTS study. Prognostic results of OTS study and current study was compared with chi square analysis. RESULTS: In our study, 101 eyes of 101 patients were examined. The mean age of the patients was 27.08±15.36 years. The mean follow-up period was 12.84±9.04 months. In total, 86 of the cases were male (85.1%). In our study, the mean initial visual acuity of the patients was 0.10±0.23. In 64.3% of the cases, IVA was at hand movement level or lower. IVA was found to be≥20/40 in 10.9%. The mean FVA was 0.38±0.37. In total, 41.6% of the cases had a FVA≥20/40. In 28.7% of these cases, FVA was at hand movement level or lower. While no significant difference was found in patients with OTS3, OTS 4 and OTS 5 (P>0.05), prognosis of patients with OTS 1 and OTS 2 was better than OTS study (P<0.001) CONCLUSION: Although OTS can be effective and safe data in terms of prognosis, it can be improved with more comprehensive studies.

Short and long term outcomes after small-incision lenticule extraction: A tertiary referral centre experience.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study is to evaluate the preoperative and short- and long-term postoperative results in terms of visual acuity, refractive error, and corneal wavefront aberrations in patients with myopia and myopic astigmatism undergoing small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE). METHODS: Seventy-nine eyes of 52 myopes with or without astigmatism (41 right and 38 left) were enrolled in this retrospective study. The measurements included uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), spherical equivalent (SE) and wavefront aberrations. All the measurements before and after SMILE surgery were systematically recorded. RESULTS: Mean preoperative UDVA was 1.19±0.24 logMAR and improved to 0.06±0.17 logMAR at the 3-year postoperative follow-up. At the conclusion of the 3-year follow-up, UDVA was better than or equal to 20/20 and 20/25 in 73% and 84% of eyes, respectively. At 1 month postoperatively, CDVA was 0.05±0.23 logMAR and significantly lower than the preoperative CDVA, 0.02±0.04 log MAR (P>0.05). However, at 1 year and 3 years after surgery, CDVA showed a significant increase compared to preoperative CDVA. At the conclusion of the 3-year follow-up, SE was -0.47 D, and 69.6% and 83.5% of the eyes were within±0.50 D and±1.00 D, respectively, of the intended correction. HOA's, coma, and spherical aberration increased significantly. No significant change in trefoil was detected. CONCLUSION: This study showed that SMILE produces a stable, safe outcome for surgical treatment of myopia and myopic astigmatism.

Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty techniques; predescemetic versus big bubble: Anterior segment optical coherence tomography study.

PURPOSE: To compare the visual and refractive outcomes and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) findings of 2 different deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) techniques in the treatment of advanced keratoconus with and without successful big bubble formation. METHODS: In this retrospective comparative case series, data from 79 consecutive eyes of 69 patients who underwent either big bubble (group 1, n: 62) or manual DALK (group 2, n: 17) were analyzed. The visual and refractive results, keratometric values and residual stromal thickness were assessed. Patients were seen at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after the procedure and 1 month after complete suture removal. RESULTS: A big bubble was successfully obtained in 62 eyes (78.5%; group 1) and manual dissection was performed in the 17 remaining eyes (21.5%; group 2). The final best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) was 0.38 logMAR and 0.55 logMAR in Group 1 and 2, respectively (P<0.05). At the final visit, BSCVA≤0.30 logMAR was achieved in 80% and 60.8% of eyes in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (P<0.001). Groups 1 and 2 were comparable in terms of mean keratometry: 47.80D±2.81D (range, 41.30D to 54.2D) versus 45.90D±3.62D (range, 41.10D to 53.8 D), respectively; (P=0.56) and keratometric astigmatism: 3.81D± 2.1D (range, 1.0D to 6.20D) versus 3.56D±1.92D (range 1.2D to 6.85D), respectively; (P=0.40) at the final follow-up. The mean residual stromal thickness was 36.90±17.80µm in group 2. CONCLUSION: The presence of residual posterior corneal stroma when big bubble formation is not successfully achieved in DALK is correlated with lower postoperative visual acuity.

Comparative evaluation of re-use or replacement of dislocated 3-piece intraocular lenses with a scleral fixation technique.

PURPOSE: To compare the surgical outcomes of refixation and exchange in cases with 3-piece intraocular lens (IOL) dislocation which underwent scleral fixation. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Between 2014 and 2017, 65 eyes of 65 patients diagnosed with 3-piece IOL dislocation were treated with scleral fixation, and their records were retrospectively evaluated. Our patients were divided into two groups based on the treatment - exchange (Group 1) and refixation (Group 2). Dislocated IOL removal and new IOL insertion was performed with scleral fixation in group 1, and in group 2, scleral fixation of the dislocated intraocular lens performed without removal. Visual results, intraoperative and postoperative complications and lens induced astigmatism secondary to scleral fixation were compared between two groups. RESULTS: Patients in both groups were followed for an average of 13.62±3.4 months. Twenty-six patients were in group 1 and 39 patients were in group 2. All of the scleral fixation lenses were 3-pieced. Increased visual acuity was observed in both groups, and no difference was detected between the two groups (P˂0.01). Intraocular lens-induced astigmatism was similar in both groups (P=0.68). Intraocular hemorrhage as an intraoperative complication was seen in two patients in group 1 and one patient in group 2. Redislocation in three patients in group 2 and cystoid macular edema in one patient in each groups were observed. CONCLUSION: Refixation and exchange are both effective in IOL dislocation, and no significant difference between the methods was detected in terms of the results obtained.

Effects of entecavir, tenofovir and telbivudine treatment on renal functions in chronic hepatitis B patients.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The aim of this study was to enlighten the controversy about the renal safety of entecavir, tenofovir, and telbivudine treatments in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients by comparing these treatments in real-world conditions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 104 treatment-naive patients with CHB monoinfection into our study. Patients were treated with entecavir monotherapy (n=38), tenofovir monotherapy (n=35), or telbivudine monotherapy (n=31). We then compared and statistically analyzed the effects of these drugs on the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) over a 24-month follow-up period. RESULTS: In the entecavir group, time-dependent change in eGFR was not statistically significant (p = 0.357). There was a statistically significant increase in eGFR in the telbivudine group at 12 months (p<0.001) and at 24 months (p<0.001) and, in contrast, a statistically significant decrease in the tenofovir group at 12 months (p<0.001) and at 24 months (p<0.001). There was no significant relationship between entecavir and eGFR change (p = 0.763). We found that tenofovir and telbivudine were independent predictors of eGFR change (decrease in eGFR, p<0.001 and increase in eGFR, p = 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: We recommend close follow-up of renal functions, especially for patients treated with tenofovir. Telbivudine was superior to the other drugs in terms of renal function. We conclude that an individualized therapy program considering treatment efficacy and side effects is the best option for patients.

The effects of complicated cataract surgery on iris structure and anterior chamber angle.

PURPOSE: To evaluate iris structure in aphakic eyes scheduled for placement of a secondary intraocular lens. METHODS: Twenty-eight aphakic eyes of 28 patients who were scheduled for secondary intraocular lens implantation between January 2012 and January 2017 at Beyoglu Eye Training and Research Hospital after a complicated cataract surgery were recruited in this study. The phakic fellow eyes of the patients were defined as a control group. Iris thickness was assessed using anterior segment optical coherence tomography at 750µm (IT750) and 2000µm (IT2000) from the scleral spur. Moreover, maximum iris thickness (ITM) and anterior chamber angle parameters such as trabecular iris surface area at 500 and 750µm (TISA500, TISA750), angle opening distances at 500 and 750µm (AOD500, AOD750) and anterior chamber depth (ACD) were also evaluated. RESULTS: Mean IT750, IT2000 and ITM readings and were significantly lower in the aphakic eyes compared to the healthy eyes (P=0.04, P=0.01, P=0.01 respectively). Anterior chamber parameters (TISA500, TISA750, AOD500 and AOD750) and ACD were significantly increased in aphakic eyes following complicated cataract surgery compared to healthy fellow eyes (all P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Complicated cataract surgery leading to aphakia results in decreased iris thickness and increased anterior chamber depth. These findings might be helpful in the selection of the type of surgery for placement of a secondary IOL.

Melatonin deficiency at tissue level: a possible aetiological factor in nasal polyposis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine whether melatonin is involved in the pathogenesis of nasal polyposis. METHOD: This study included 29 patients with nasal polyposis and undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery. As a control group, 26 patients who had been operated on for a deviated nasal septum and concha bullosa were enrolled. Samples were taken from the nasal polyp tissue and from the resected middle concha bullosa mucosa of the control group. Serum samples were taken from all patients. RESULTS: It was found that the tissue and serum melatonin levels in the nasal polyp group were significantly lower compared with the tissue and serum melatonin levels in the control group. CONCLUSION: In nasal polyposis, the melatonin level in the serum and tissue is lower than in individuals without polyposis. This deficiency may play a role in the pathogenesis of nasal polyposis.

Long-term assessment of visual and refractive outcomes of laser in situ keratomileusis for hyperopia using the AMARIS® 750S Excimer laser.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of hyperopic laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) using the AMARIS® 750S (Schwind, Eye-tech-solutions, GmbH) excimer laser. METHODS: The medical records of one hundred eleven eyes of 62 patients who underwent LASIK for hyperopia using the AMARIS® 750S excimer laser were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were divided into three groups based on preoperative spherical equivalent (SE) refraction: low hyperopia (less than +2.50 diopters [D]), moderate hyperopia (+2.75D to +4.00D), and high hyperopia (over +4.00D). Uncorrected and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), long-term stability of refraction, and complications were evaluated. RESULTS: Of the entire sample, the mean preoperative SE was +3.64D±1.22D. The mean age was 37.4±11.2 years (20-59). The mean follow-up for all eyes was 51 months. At the last visit, the mean SE was +0.85D±0.34D (SD) in the low hyperopia group, +1.09D±0.43D in the moderate hyperopia group, and +1.63D±0.47D in the high hyperopia group. (+1.15D±0.49D overall). Preoperative uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was 0.52±0.34 logMAR and increased to 0.18±0.15 logMAR at 4 years follow-up (P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative BCVA. The UCVA was 0.30 logMAR or better in 100% of eyes in the low hyperopia group, 93.7% in the moderate hyperopia group, and 69.9% in the high hyperopia group (%89.2 overall). CONCLUSIONS: LASIK is safe and effective for correcting hyperopia in the short term; however, the efficacy of the procedure is limited in the patients with high hyperopia and longer follow-up.

An investigation of the effects of the mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, platelet/lymphocyte ratio, and platelet counts on mortality in patents with sepsis who applied to the emergency department.

AIM: The aim of this study is to examine the role of the mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and platelet values for predicting mortality in patients with sepsis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study, involving patients 18 years and above who were diagnosed with sepsis. Blood samples were analyzed for platelets characteristics (counts, MPV, PDW, and PLR). The patients were separated into two groups namely the survivors and deceased. The two groups' MPV, PDW, PLR, and platelet counts which were considered to have an effect on mortality, were compared. RESULTS: Three hundred and thirty patients who were diagnosed with sepsis in our emergency department and complying with the study participation criteria were studied retrospectively. Comparison of the MPV, PDW, PLR, and platelet counts of the deceased and survivors showed that the MPV, PDW, and PLR were higher in the deceased while the platelet counts were higher in the survivors. CONCLUSION: The low number of platelets in patients with sepsis at the moment of application and the high PDW and PLR values are valuable for predicting a high mortality.

Predictive ability of Guy's stone score in pediatric patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

BACKGROUND: Several authors have evaluated, in a number of external validation and predominantly adult studies, Guy's stone score (GSS) as a predictive tool for the assessment of stone clearance after percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). However, there are limited and conflicting data investigating whether GSS could be a potential independent factor associated with residual stone rates and complications of PCNL for children. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the ability of GSS, as an independent factor, to predict residual stone rates and complications in pediatric patients undergoing PCNL. STUDY DESIGN: The records of the pediatric patients who had undergone PCNL for stone disease at the current department were retrospectively reviewed. Variables included patient, stone, and treatment parameters. The GSS was used for assessment of stone complexity. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate factors associated with residual stone rates and complications of pediatric PCNL. RESULTS: The study group consisted of 114 children (63 boys and 51 girls) with a median (interquartile range) age of 6 (3-11) years and who had undergone 122 PCNLs (eight bilateral). Multivariate logistic regression analysis (Summary Table) demonstrated that the independent risk factors for increased residual stone rate following pediatric PCNL monotherapy were GSS (OR 3.14, 95% CI 1.31-7.49, P = 0.01) and number of calyces involved (OR 4.02, 95% CI 1.11-14.53, P = 0.033). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the independent risk factors for complications following pediatric PCNL were surgical experience (OR 2.72, 95% CI 1.09-6.82, P = 0.032), and operation time (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.03, P = 0.040). DISCUSSION: A prediction model is needed to pre-operatively counsel patients and evaluate outcomes for measuring treatment success of PCNL. The GSS provides a simple, reliable and reproducible tool for describing the complexity of PCNL while predicting postoperative stone-free status, despite its limitations. However, little research has been conducted on the applicability of GSS in pediatric patients undergoing PCNL. In addition, conflicting results have been reported about its association with complications of pediatric PCNL. CONCLUSIONS: The current study found that although GSS had a significant predictive ability for residual stone rates after pediatric PCNL revealed by multivariate logistic regression, the results did not conclude that complexity of GSS was directly proportional to complications of pediatric PCNL. The factors, including calyceal involvement and surgeon experience, may need to be incorporated in GSS to further improve its ability to predict outcomes of pediatric PCNL. IRB APPROVED PROTOCOL NUMBER: 1422.

Microbiological quality of pastrami and associated surfaces at the point of sale in Kayseri, Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to trace the possible relations between the hygienic status of slicing utensils and the microbiological quality of pastrami. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 75 pastrami retail markets were visited in Kayseri, Turkey, where the pastrami (a ready-to-eat meat product) is commonly produced and consumed. Sliced pastrami, the cutting board and knife surface swabs were collected from each pastrami retail point to trace possible sources of contamination. METHODS: Samples were analysed for the presence of total viable counts (TVC), total coliforms, Escherichia coli, members of Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria spp. In addition, pastrami samples were analysed for sulphite-reducing Clostridium spp. and Toxoplasma gondii. RESULTS: When compared with the target values of related literatures, a total of 6 (8%) pastrami samples were found unsatisfactory as a result of TVC (5.3%), Enterobacteriaceae (5.3%), E. coli (2.6%), S. aureus (2.6%), Listeria spp. (2.6%) and Listeria monocytogenes (1.3%) contaminations. No T. gondii positivity was observed among the pastrami samples. None of the cutting board and knife surface swabs were found to harbour TVC level >103 cfu/cm2, E. coli and L. monocytogenes. For the total coliforms, 7 (9.3%) and 5 (6.6%) of cutting board and knife surface swabs were found to exceed the target value (<2.5 cfu/cm2), respectively. No statistically significant correlation was detected between the organisms on pastrami and slicing utensils indicating that pastrami were not cross-contaminated by the contact surfaces. CONCLUSION: More emphasis needs to be placed for training of food handlers and to apply good hygienic practices at the point of pastrami sale. The conditions at retail points must be monitored and inspections should be tightened to protect public health.