Asymmetric intracorneal ring segments in the treatment of snowman phenotype keratoconus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate refractive, aberrometric, topographic, and topometric outcomes of asymmetric intracorneal ring segment (ICRS) implantation in snowman phenotype (asymmetric bow-tie) keratoconus. METHODS: This retrospective, interventional study included eyes with snowman phenotype keratoconus. Two asymmetric ICRSs (Keraring AS) were implanted after femtosecond laser-assisted tunnel formation. Visual, refractive, aberrometric, topographic, and topometric changes after asymmetric ICRS implantation were evaluated with a mean follow-up of 11 months (6-24 months). MAIN RESULTS: Seventy-one eyes were analyzed in the study. Keraring AS implantation corrected refractive errors significantly. The mean spherical error decreased from -5.06±4.23 D to -1.62±3.45 D (P=0.001), and the mean cylindrical error decreased from -5.43±2.48 D to -2.44±1.49 D (P=0.001). Uncorrected distance visual acuity improved from 0.98±0.80 to 0.46±0.46 Log MAR (P=0.001), and corrected distance visual acuity improved from 0.58±0.56 to 0.17±0.39 Log MAR (P=0.001). Keratometry (K) maximum, K1, K2, K mean, astigmatism, and corneal asphericity (Q-value) showed a significant decrease (P=0.001). Vertical coma aberration decreased significantly from -3.31±2.12µm to -2.56±1.94µm (P=0.001). All topometric indices of corneal irregularities were significantly reduced postoperatively (P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Keraring AS implantation in snowman phenotype keratoconus demonstrated good efficacy and safety. Clinical, topographic, topometric, and aberrometric parameters improved significantly after Keraring AS implantation.

Changes of ocular biometry in eyes with posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens implantation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate changes in biometric variables and intraocular lens (IOL) calculation results after posterior chamber phakic IOL (PCPIOL) implantation. METHODS: This retrospective, observational study included 65 eyes of 38 patients who underwent PCPIOL (EVO Visian ICL) implantation for correction of myopia. Prior to and a minimum of one year (mean 14.9 months) after EVO Visian ICL implantation, biometric variables and IOL calculation results were compared. Optical biometry, including anterior chamber depth, axial length, flat, steep, and mean keratometry values and IOL calculation results for the Holladay 2, Hoffer Q, Haigis, and SRK/T formulas were measured using the IOLMaster 700 SWEPT Source OCT biometer. MAIN RESULTS: The mean anterior chamber depth decreased from 3.70±0.22mm to 3.34±0.39mm, the mean axial length increased from 26.61±1.61mm to 26.71±1.66mm, and the mean flat keratometry changed from 42.82±1.86 D to 42.73±1.83 D. These changes were statistically significant. The mean IOL power calculation also revealed a statistically significant decrease with all four formulas (ranging from 0.19 D to 0.30 D) after PCPIOL implantation. CONCLUSIONS: Biometric variables and IOL calculation results showed statistically significant changes one year after EVO Visian ICL implantations. However, IOL power calculations yielded a decrease of less than 0.50 D, inducing much less refractive deviation in the spectacle plane; and the change was primarily related to an increase in AL measurements. IOL power calculations in eyes with EVO Visian ICL in situ provided satisfactory and reliable results.

Cost-effective usage of membrane oxygenators in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in infants.

Although the poly-methylpentene (PMP) oxygenators have significant advantages in ECMO implementation, their usage may be limited in some situations, which may be related to economic constraints. In this report, we aimed to emphasize our cost-effective usage of a membrane oxygenator at the ECMO setup. We implemented ECMO with eight Capiox® FX05 or Baby RX05 hollow-fiber membrane oxygenators in five neonatal patients. The average ECMO duration was 121 hours (ranging from 41 to 272 hours). Following the termination of the ECMO, the system was broken down into its components for macroscopic analysis. Neither gross blood clots nor plasma leakage were observed in any of the components. The integration of a centrifugal pump and a separate hollow-fiber oxygenator may provide a cost-effective ECMO implementation setup with no adverse effects which may be an encouraging alternative for the low cost usage of ECMO in neonates.

HLA-A, -B, -DRB1 allele and haplotype frequencies and comparison with blood group antigens in dialysis patients in the East Anatolia region of Turkey.

AIM: The first aim of that study was to investigate HLA class I and class II allele and haplotype frequencies in renal dialysis patients who live in East Anatolia in Turkey. Our second aim was to investigate whether there was a relationship between ABO and D blood group antigens and HLA alleles and haplotypes for the study group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HLA class I and II polymorphisms in 408 renal dialysis patients were studied using sequence-specific primers (SSP) and sequence-specific oligonucleotides (SSO). Blood group antigens were detected by agglutination methods on microplates. RESULTS: A total of 16 HLA-A, 34 HLA-B, and 15 HLA-DRB1 alleles were identified. The most frequent HLA-A alleles were HLA-A*02, HLA-A*24, and HLA-A*11. The most frequent HLA-B alleles were HLA-B*35, HLA-B*51, and HLA-B*44. In case of HLA-DRB1; HLA-DRB1*11, HLA-DRB1*04, and HLA-DRB1*13 were first 3 alleles with higher frequency, in order. In the combination of those 3 alleles, the most frequent HLA-A-B-DRB1 haplotypes were HLA-A*02-B*51-DRB1*11, HLA-A*11-B*35-DRB1*11, A*24-B*35-DRB1*11. The frequency of ABO, D blood group antigens were observed as 0.168 for A Rh(+), 0.019 for A Rh(-), 0.057 for B Rh(+), 0.013 for B Rh(-), 0.123 for O Rh(+), 0.014 for O Rh(-), 0.018 for AB Rh(+), and 0.001 for AB Rh(-). While A Rh(+) samples with HLA-A*02 and HLA-DRB1*11 had the highest frequencies (0.067 and 0.088, respectively), O Rh(+) samples with HLA-B*51 had the highest frequency (0.06). CONCLUSION: According to haplotype frequencies HLA-A*02-B*51-DRB1*11 is also found at higher frequencies in Bulgarian and Armenian populations. In case of HLA-associated diseases, the east Anatolian population could be susceptible to myastenia gravis, Behçet's disease, and systemic sclerosis due to the high frequencies of HLA-A*24, HLA-B*51, and HLA-DRB1*11 respectively. We did not observe a correlation between blood group antigens and HLA alleles or haplotypes in renal dialysis patients.

A kidney transplant center's initial experiences in eastern Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: Kidney transplantation is the best treatment method associated with improved quality of life and better survival for patients with end-stage renal disease. We started performing kidney transplantations in November 2010. We have performed 19 kidney transplantations so far. Fourteen of these were from living donors and five from deceased donors. Here, we present our initial experiences with 14 kidney transplant recipients from living donor kidney transplantations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All recipients and their donors underwent detailed clinical history and examination. Recipients and their donors were followed in the transplant clinic during hospitalization. RESULTS: The male-to-female ratio was 11:3 in recipients. The mean age of recipients was 27.8 years (range 4-58 years). The number of the related, emotionally related, and unrelated transplantations were 9, 3, 2, respectively. The mean warm ischemic time was 95.7 seconds (range 52-168 seconds). Urine output started immediately after vascular anastomosis in all. The mean time of discharge from hospital was postoperative day 8 (range 4-18 days). The mean flow up was 125 days (range 18-210 days). Graft survival was 100% in this period, but one patient died from sepsis after 56 days. No kidney was lost from rejection, technical causes, infection, or recurrent disease. CONCLUSION: If transplant centers are as equipped and experienced as ours, kidney transplant programs should be started immediately so that they can reduce the number of the patients in waiting list for kidney transplantation.

Expressions of p53, VEGF C, p21: could they be used in preoperative evaluation of lymph node metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma?

The prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is primarily determined by staging. Although radiological methods have revealed lymph node metastasis preoperatively, these radiological findings cannot be correlated with pathological staging. The aim of this study was to compare the expressions of p53, vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF C) and p21 with lymph node metastasis in preoperative endoscopic biopsy and postoperative resection material. Tissue samples were taken from 40 patients who had undergone endoscopic biopsies and radical esophagectomies. The expressions of p53, VEGF C and p21 proteins in these sections were immunohistochemically examined. The expression of each antibody was characterized as a negative or positive reaction according to the pattern and intensity of semiquantitative immunostaining. The staining pattern of antibodies was divided into three groups: < 10% cancer cells were accepted to be (-), 10-50% were (+), heterogenous and > 50% were (+ +), homogenous. For each antibody, statistical correlation with conventional prognostic parameters such as localization, microscopic grade, stage, pathological lymph node metastasis and survival, were investigated. p53 expression was observed in 65.5% (19/29) of lymph node positive cases, whereas p53 was in 50% (20/40) of cases. VEGF C was in 65% (26/40) and p21 was in 15% (6/40) of cases. p53 has the specificity of 90.9% and sensitivity rate of 65.5% in detecting lymph node metastasis and positive predictive value was 95%. Expression of p53 was significantly correlated with stage and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.02 and P = 0.03, respectively). Prediction of lymph node metastasis by p53 was correlated independently and in coexpression with VEGF C (P < 0.01). There was no relation detected between p21 and other parameters. In esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), p53 and VEGF C expressions were correlated with pathologically positive lymph nodes. When preoperative staging has been insufficient in esophageal carcinoma cases, immunohistochemical analysis of p53 and VEGF C staining in tissues could be an aid to clinicians regarding lymph node metastasis.

Can IL-2R alpha be a valuable marker along with CA 19-9 in the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer?

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer is characterized initially by non-specific abdominal symptoms followed by rapid tumor progression. Although chronic pancreatitis is a benign disorder, it can be one of the causative factors of pancreatic cancer. The level of the tumor marker carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) in pancreatic cancer does not correlate with the stage of the neoplasm. Soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) is a cytokine that shows increased levels during some inflammatory processes and malignant disorders. AIM: Our aim in this study was to investigate whether sIL-2Ralpha levels can be used in association with CA 19-9 in the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis. PATIENTS: Serum samples were obtained from the blood of 21 pancreatic cancer patients without distant metastasis who were deemed inoperable, 16 chronic pancreatitis patients and 20 normal volunteers. RESULTS: We did not find any significant differences in CA 19-9 levels between normal controls and patients with chronic pancreatitis. There was a significant difference in the levels between the control group and the pancreatic cancer group (p = 0.003) and between patients with chronic pancreatitis and those with pancreatic cancer (p = 0.004). Although there was no significant difference in sIL-2Ralpha levels between the control group and the patient groups, we found a slight correlation between sIL-2Ralpha and CA 19-9 levels in the pancreatic cancer group (p = 0.003, r = 0.623) and a more marked correlation in the chronic pancreatitis group (p < 0.01, r = 0.751). CONCLUSION: According to our results, sIL-2Ralpha alone is not a good candidate marker in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer; it can, however, be used in association with CA 19-9 for this purpose.

Noncompaction of the right ventricle following Senning repair.

A three-year-old boy presented with generalized edema, respiratory distress, prominent right ventricular impulse and hepatosplenomegaly. He had undergone Senning repair at one year of age. On his echocardiography, there were numerous prominent trabeculations and deep intertrabecular recesses measuring approximately 5 mm in depth along the free wall and right ventricular apex. Echogenicity of the endocardial surface was increased suggesting a fibrotic process in progress. Intertrabecular recesses were observed to be filling from the ventricle by color Doppler which is consistent with noncompaction. Various semilunar valve obstructions were shown to be responsible for the persistence of deep endomyocardial spaces surrounded by exeggerated hypertrophy of the trabeculae. This report presents the echocardiographic findings of right ventricular cardiomyopathy associated with dextroposition of the great arteries following Senning operation resembling noncompaction. Thus, this rare entity needs to be clarified regarding morphological criteria in distinction from other cardiomyopathies.

Noninvasive diagnosis and surgical management in total anomalous pulmonary venous return draining into the coronary sinus: report of 2 cases.

Total anomalous pulmonary venous return results from nondevelopment of the common pulmonary vein, with consequent enlargement of embryonic collaterals between the lungs and the systemic veins. In this report, two patients with this anomaly draining into the coronary sinus who presented in infancy are described. One of the patients was referred because of growth and development failure and chronic constipation, while the other had tachypnea as the presenting problem. Both were diagnosed during the echocardiographic examination. Typical echocardiographic findings were a small left atrium, a sausage-shaped dilated coronary sinus receiving the pulmonary veins in the subcostal short axis, and flying seagull configuration in the subcostal long axis views. Both had a large interatrial communication. The patients underwent corrective surgery. The aim of the presentation is to emphasize the role of segmental echocardiography in the differential diagnosis.

Extraordinarily elevated CA19-9 in benign conditions: a case report and review of the literature.

Carbohydrate antigen CA19-9 is commonly used in the diagnosis of pancreatic and biliary malignancies. However, increases in its level in benign conditions such as acute cholangitis or pancreatitis have also been reported. A 79-year-old woman presented with cholangitis and a pancreatic pseudocyst while showing elevation of CA19-9 up to 35,500 U/mL. The patient was adequately treated and at two months' follow-up the CA19-9 level had returned to normal.

Influence of viral load and alanine aminotransferase on viral genetic heterogeneity in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) populations in vivo consist of genetically different heterogeneous mixtures defined as 'quasispecies', which vary in the hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) mostly. To further address the role of quasispecies diversity in hepatitis C infection, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of ALT, viral load and genotypes on quasispecies heterogeneity in patients with HCV infection. METHODS: Thirty-six chronic hepatitis C patients with high levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were studied. None of them received any antiviral therapy. HCV RNA serum levels, genotype and genetic heterogeneity were determined by branched-chain DNA assay, restriction fragment length patterns and RT-PCR single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis of HVR1, respectively. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients had genotype 1b (28/36; 78%), 6 patients had genotype 1a (6/36; 17%), 1 patient was 2a (1/36; 3%) and genotype could not be determined in 1 patient. The patients were categorized into two groups according to the number of bands representing the dominant strains in the circulation: group A with 2 bands having 1 strain (14/36 patients; 39%) and group B with more than 2 bands indicating more than 1 strain (22/36 patients; 61%). The serum viremia and ALT levels for these groups were 11 +/- 8.8 and 5.3 +/- 4.6 mEq/ml (p < 0.05), and 79 +/- 20, and 127 +/- 80 IU/l (p < 0.05), respectively. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that hepatitis C patients having 1 dominant strain in the circulation may show a relatively weaker immune response resulting in lower ALT and higher viremia levels, whereas patients with high degrees of virus quasispecies diversity have higher ALT levels and a more active immune response causing the selection of new genome variants and depressing viral replication partly.

A prospective randomized trial from Turkey comparing octreotide versus injection sclerotherapy in acute variceal bleeding.

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: Bleeding from gastroesophageal varices continues to be a life threatening complication of chronic liver diseases and portal hypertension. The purpose of this randomized prospective study is to compare the efficacy of octreotide administration and emergency injection sclerotherapy for the control of actively bleeding esophageal varices and prevention of early rebleeding in patients with cirrhosis. METHODOLOGY: A total of 66 episodes of endoscopically proven active variceal bleeding in 52 patients were included in this study. Following admission to the hospital, the patients were resuscitated with blood and plasma, and fiberoptic endoscopy was performed within 2 hours. Thirty-six bleeds in 28 patients and 30 bleeds in 24 patients were randomized to endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy (1% polidocanol) and to octreotide infusion (at 50 micrograms/h for 12 hours following the initial 50 micrograms i.v. bolus), respectively. RESULTS: Bleeding was initially controlled within 6 hours in 75% of episodes by endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy and in 73.3 by octreotide infusion (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in early rebleeding (within 72 hours of randomization) (22% vs. 22.7%), blood transfusion (4.2 +/- 1.8 units vs. 4.8 +/- 2.9 units), or hospital mortality (3.6% vs. 3.3%). Treatment failed in 9 episodes (25%) in the sclerotherapy group and in 8 episodes (26.7%) in the octreotide group. CONCLUSIONS: We consider that Octreotide would appear to be as effective as sclerotherapy in both the early control of variceal hemorrhage and in the prevention of early recurrent bleeding and should therefore be considered the treatment of choice in those centers where 24-hour endoscopy is not available. Furthermore, even in hospitals that do have a 24-hour endoscopy service there is good evidence that octreotide therapy should be commenced as soon as a patient enters hospital with a suspected variceal bleed to achieve rapid homeostasis. When initial hemostasis is achieved, elective endoscopic therapies can be undertaken with greater success.

Complications of pediatric cardiac catheterization: 18-month study.

Pediatric cardiac catheterization may be indicated under certain conditions, but is associated with some risk. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the complications associated with diagnostic and interventional catheterization procedures done over an 18-month period in our laboratory. Of the 230 cardiac catheterizations, 204 were solely diagnostic in nature. Eleven percent were interventional catheterizations including aortic and pulmonary valvuloplasties and balloon atrial septostomy. Six percent of the patients constituted grown-up congenital heart disease (GUCH). The median age was 34 months excluding the GUCH group. There was one death below one year of age (0.4% mortality) occurring six hours after the diagnostic catheterization; it was attributed to the underlying disease. There were eight complications (3.4%) that we would consider serious, including atrial flutter, ventricular tachycardia, severe hypercyanotic spell, seizure, transient complete heart block, peripheral vascular injury which resulted in pseudoaneurysm formation of the femoral artery requiring surgical intervention, and transient pulse loss. When catheterization is necessary, it should be carried out as efficiently as possible with awareness of conditions that probably increase the risk of a clinically important event. Although patients undergoing cardiac catheterization are now younger and have more complex cardiac abnormalities, the procedure seems to have become safer when compared to previous literature.

Four cases with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction due to hollow visceral myopathy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction is a rare clinical syndrome characterized by symptoms and signs of intestinal obstruction without any organic lesion obstructing the intestine. Visceral myopathy is one of the etiological causes and full thickness intestinal biopsy is essential for reaching a diagnosis. In this article we describe 4 cases of hollow visceral myopathy; our aim is to stress the importance of full thickness biopsy. METHODOLOGY: Four cases of hollow visceral myopathy are studied herein. All the patients had recurrent abdominal pain and constipation. The onset of symptoms was early in life or in the second to third decade. A diagnosis was established in all cases by full thickness intestinal biopsy obtained during laparotomy. Associated disorders were noted in 2 cases. One patient had Axenfelt syndrome, non-descended testicles and primary hypogonadism, and another had a diagnosis of Kleinfelter syndrome. RESULTS: All of the 4 cases were diagnosed to be suffering from hollow visceral myopathy by full thickness intestinal biopsy and 2 had additional disorders as well. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction should be carefully evaluated as to whether there is an associated disorder and the diagnosis may be delayed unless full thickness intestinal biopsy is obtained.

Comparison of tear lactate dehydrogenase activities of different types of contact lens wearers and normal control group.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities in the tears of patients wearing different types of contact lenses with each other and to individuals who have never worn contact lenses (controls). METHODS: Tear LDH activities were determined in 13 normal subjects who had never worn contact lenses, 12 daily wear and ten extended wear soft contact lens wearers, and 14 daily wear and eight extended wear rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lens wearers(Dk125). Tear samples were collected from all subjects at the same time of day from the inferior meniscus by using a microcapillary tube. The measurements were determined using a Sigma diagnostic LDH reagent and a spectrophotometer. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in the LDH activities between soft and RGP contact lenses--used either as daily or extended wear--when compared with each other. However, individuals wearing extended wear soft contact lenses had significantly higher tear LDH activities than the control group. CONCLUSION: Tear LDH activity may be a useful method in evaluating the physiologic response of extended soft contact lens wear.

Determination of hepatic zinc content in chronic liver disease due to hepatitis B virus.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Zinc is an essential, mostly intracellular, trace element which participates in many physiologic mechanisms. Some liver functions like urea formation require the presence of zinc; thus the determination of hepatic zinc content may contribute to the understanding of probable zinc-related clinical consequences of chronic liver disease. In this study, we aimed to determine the hepatic zinc concentrations in patients with chronic liver disease due to the Hepatitis B virus and to ascertain the relationship between the severity of liver disease and hepatic zinc content, if one in fact exists. METHODOLOGY: A total of 99 HBsAg positive subjects were included in the study. We performed a liver biopsy on all subjects. Hepatic zinc concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. RESULTS: The liver biopsies were normal in 25 subjects. There were 33 chronic active hepatitis (CAH), 34 cirrhosis and 7 chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH) patients in the study group. In the control group, CAH, cirrhosis and CPH groups, the mean liver zinc concentrations were 3.83 +/- 1.86, 1.86 +/- 0.92, 1.14 +/- 0.68 and 3.74 +/- 1.81 mumol/g dry weight, respectively. Hepatic zinc in the CAH and cirrhosis groups were lower than that of the control group (p < 0.05). We also found that liver zinc in the cirrhosis group was lower than in the CAH group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: According to these results, as the severity of liver damage increases, the hepatic zinc concentration decreases. Therefore, it can be suggested that zinc supplementation may improve hepatic encephalopathy by increasing the efficiency of the urea cycle.