Evaluation of Aerobic Conjunctival Flora in Patients with Demodex Blepharitis

Objective: Demodex species are frequently found in blepharitis cases. This study aimed to compare the conjunctival flora of eyes with Demodex-positive blepharitis and Demodex-negative blepharitis with healthy individuals. Methods: Eyelash epilation was performed to detect Demodex from 44 eyes of 44 patients with chronic blepharitis and 44 eyes of 44 healthy controls and examined under a microscope. A conjunctival swab was taken from the same eye and inoculated on eosin methylene blue agar, Sabouraud dextrose agar, chocolate agar, and 5% sheep blood agar. Aerobic conjunctival flora was evaluated among Demodex-positive blepharitis, Demodex-negative blepharitis and healthy eyes. Results: Demodex spp. was detected in 3 (6.8%) of 44 healthy controls and 24 (54.5%) of 44 patients with blepharitis. The most frequently isolated bacteria in healthy controls were coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CNS) spp. (n=32, 72.7%), Streptococcus spp. (n=16, 36.4%), Corynebacterium spp. (n=13, 29.5%). The most frequently isolated bacteria in Demodex-positive blepharitis were CNS spp. (n=14, 58.3%), Staphylococcus aureus (n=11, 45.8%), Corynebacterium spp. (n=7, 29.2%). In Demodex-negative blepharitis, CNS (n=10, 50.0%), S. aureus (n=10, 50.0%), Corynebacterium spp. (n=5, 25.0%) were most commonly isolated. S. aureus growth was significantly increased in the Demodex negative and positive blepharitis groups compared with the healthy group (p=0.001 and p=0.002, respectively). Although CNS spp. growth decreased in both groups with Demodex-negative and positive blepharitis compared with the healthy group; the decrease was significant only in those with Demodex-negative blepharitis (p=0.045). In terms of other bacterial growth, there was no significant difference between healthy eyes and Demodex positive and negative eyes with blepharitis. Conclusion: We found that Demodex blepharitis has no significant effect on conjunctival flora. Blepharitis itself may be the main factor in changes in the conjunctival flora.

Increased Aqueous Humor Symmetric Dimethylarginine Level in Patients with Primary Open Angle Glaucoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) and L-arginine (L-Arg) levels both in plasma and aqueous humor of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients and matched controls. Patients and Methods: 25 primary open angle glaucoma patients and 42 control cases with senile cataract were included in the study. Plasma and aqueous humor ADMA, SDMA and L-Arg levels of the participants were measured by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Results: A significant increase in aqueous humor SDMA level was detected in POAG patients compared with controls (p = 0.0115). No significant difference was detected in plasma and aqueous humor ADMA, L-Arg levels. Conclusion: The aqueous humor levels of SDMA are found to be associated with POAG. The result of this current study supports the role of nitric oxide pathway in glaucoma.

Evaluation of Iron Deficiency Anemia Frequency as a Risk Factor in Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: Iron deficiency anemia is an important public health problem. Also it is considered to be a risk factor for many diseases. The study demonstrates the iron deficiency anemia frequency in glaucoma patients and compares with the normal subjects. We aimed to determine the iron deficiency anemia frequency in glaucoma patients. METHODS: Prospective, controlled study in a single university hospital setting. A total of 130 normal subjects (Group 1) and 131 glaucoma patients (Group 2) were included. The erythrocytes parameters, hemoglobin, red blood cell, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and red blood cell distribution width, and iron status indicators, Fe (iron), total iron binding capacity, and ferritin of the cases, in normal subjects and glaucoma patients were compared. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference for the erythrocyte parameters between the groups (p≥0.05). The number of the patients with iron deficiency anemia in both groups was similar. No statistically significant difference was found in the comparison of erythrocyte parameters and iron status indicators values according to the number of antiglaucomatous agents and visual field changes according to the presence of anemia in Group 2 (p≥0.05). A statistically significant difference was found only in MCH when the erythrocyte parameters and iron status indicators values of the cases in glaucoma patients were compared with the glaucoma duration (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The iron deficiency anemia frequency was like the normal population in glaucoma patients.

Comparison of ganglion cell and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in primary open-angle glaucoma and normal tension glaucoma with spectral-domain OCT.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the macular thickness (MT), ganglion cell complex (GCC), and circum-papillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and normal tension glaucoma (NTG) with spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). METHODS: A total of 169 subjects were enrolled: 52 normal subjects, 61 with POAG, and 56 with NTG. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) was used to analyze MT, GCC, and RNFL thickness. To compare the discrimination capabilities between the MT, GCC, and RNFL thickness measurements, we analyzed the areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (AUCs). The relationships between GCC and RNFL measurement and also the relationships of the groups, with age, gender, GCC, and RNFL thickness were assessed. RESULTS: Normal subjects showed the thickest superior and inferior GCC, followed by in order NTG and POAG (p < 0.05). While there was a statistically difference in MT value of the normal subjects and the glaucoma patients (p < 0.05), MT value did not differ between POAG and NTG (p < 0.05). RNFL thickness parameters were significantly greater in normal subjects, followed in order by the NTG, and POAG (p < 0.05). Between the normal and entire glaucoma groups, all GCC and RNFL parameters showed the similar discrimination power. RNFL thickness parameters correlated significantly with all GCC thickness (p < 0.05). Superior RNFL thickness was the only independent variable between the POAG and NTG patients (odds ratio (OR) 0.942, p = 0.004, 95 %CI 0.905-0.981). CONCLUSIONS: SD-OCT evaluation results suggest higher GCC and RNFL parameters for NTG than POAG.