Strategies for Alleviating Electrode Expansion of Graphite Electrodes in Sodium-Ion Batteries Followed by In Situ Electrochemical Dilatometry.

The electrochemical intercalation/deintercalation of solvated sodium ions into graphite is a highly reversible process, but leads to large, undesired electrode expansion/shrinkage ("breathing"). Herein, two strategies to mitigate the electrode expansion are studied. Starting with the standard configuration (-) sodium | diglyme (2G) electrolyte | graphite (poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) binder) (+), the PVDF binder is first replaced with a binder made of the sodium salt of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Second, ethylenediamine (EN) is added to the electrolyte solution as a co-solvent. The electrode breathing is followed in situ (operando) through electrochemical dilatometry (ECD). It is found that replacing PVDF with CMC is only effective in reducing the electrode expansion during initial sodiation. During cycling, the electrode breathing for both binders is comparable. Much more effective is the addition of EN. The addition of 10 v/v EN to the diglyme electrolyte strongly reduces the electrode expansion during the initial sodiation (+100% with EN versus +175% without EN) as well as the breathing during cycling. A more detailed analysis of the ECD signals reveals that solvent co-intercalation temporarily leads to pillaring of the graphite lattice and that the addition of EN to 2G leads to a change in the sodium storage mechanism.

Ultrafine SnO2 nanoparticles anchored on N, P-doped porous carbon as anodes for high performance lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries.

An ultrafine tin dioxide/N, P-doped porous carbon (SnO2/NPPC) nanocomposite is prepared through in-situ growth of tin dioxide (SnO2) nanoparticles in N, P-doped porous carbon (NPPC). Owing to the in-situ growth method, the size of SnO2 nanoparticles in SnO2/NPPC is quite small and uniform (generally less than 5.0 nm). NPPC provides a support and a conductive carbon skeleton for the SnO2 nanoparticles. The small SnO2 nanoparticles are less likely to aggregate during the discharge-charge process due to the presence of Sn-O-C bonding and nanoconfinement effect of SnO2 nanoparticles in carbon matrix. The N and P doping can provide abundant defects to facilitate the penetration of Li+ or Na+ into the interior of the electrode. In addition, the presence of Sn-N bonding can further improve the electrochemical properties of the electrodes. Thus, as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries, SnO2/NPPC possesses an enhanced rate performance, an excellent cycling stability, and a high initial Coulombic efficiency. The structure of the ultrafine SnO2 nanoparticles is well maintained in cycled SnO2/NPPC. Meanwhile, SnO2/NPPC also possesses good electrochemical performance as an anode for sodium-ion batteries. The good electrochemical properties for SnO2/NPPC materials can be ascribed to the synergetic effect between small SnO2 nanoparticles and NPPC.

Stable and Unstable Diglyme-Based Electrolytes for Batteries with Sodium or Graphite as Electrode.

We study the stability of several diglyme-based electrolytes in sodium|sodium and sodium|graphite cells. The electrolyte behavior for different conductive salts [sodium trifluoromethanesulfonate (NaOTf), NaPF6, NaClO4, bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (NaFSI), and sodium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (NaTFSI)] is compared and, in some cases, considerable differences are identified. Side reactions are studied with a variety of methods, including X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, online electrochemical mass spectrometry, and in situ electrochemical dilatometry. For Na|Na symmetric cells as well as for Na|graphite cells, we find that NaOTf and NaPF6 are the preferred salts followed by NaClO4 and NaFSI, as the latter two lead to more side reactions and increasing impedance. NaTFSI shows the worst performance leading to poor Coulombic efficiency and cycle life. In this case, excessive side reactions lead also to a strong increase in electrode thickness during cycling. In a qualitative order, the suitability of the conductive salts can be ranked as follows: NaOTf ≥ NaPF6 > NaClO4 > NaFSI ≫ NaTFSI. Our results also explain two recent, seemingly conflicting findings on the degree of solid electrolyte interphase formation on graphite electrodes in sodium-ion batteries [ Maibach , J. ; ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2017 , 9 , 12373 - 12381 ; Goktas , M. ; Adv. Energy Mater. 2018 , 8 , 1702724 ]. The contradictory findings are due to the different conductive salts used in both studies.

A Novel Electrocardiographic Sign of an ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction-Equivalent: De Winter Syndrome.

Patients with de Winter syndrome, also termed anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)-equivalent, represent 2% of all patients with acute anterior myocardial infarctions admitted to emergency departments (EDs). STEMI-equivalents do not present with classical electrocardiogram (ECG) changes but exhibit a critical stenosis of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. This is under-recognized by clinicians and is therefore associated with high morbidity and mortality. Here, we report a rare case of a novel, typical, STEMI-equivalent ECG pattern without obvious ST-segment elevation in a 34-year-old female who presented to our ED with substantial chest pain and a large, acute, transmural anterior myocardial infarction caused by acute occlusion of the LAD coronary artery. However, she presented as a non-STEMI case. A definite diagnosis of de Winter syndrome was made on the basis of clinical and ECG findings.

Effects of Carvacrol on Survival, Mesenteric Blood Flow, Aortic Function and Multiple Organ Injury in a Murine Model of Polymicrobial Sepsis.

Carvacrol (CRV) has strong cytoprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. We aimed to demonstrate the possible protective effects of CRV on survival, mesenteric artery blood flow (MBF), vascular reactivity, and oxidative and inflammatory injuries in a murine model of polymicrobial sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Wistar rats were allocated into the following four groups: Sham, CLP, Sham + CRV, and CLP + CRV. The animals were orally administered with CRV (80 mg/kg/day) or vehicle (corn oil; 1 mL/kg/day) for 7 days. At the eighth day, Sham or CLP procedure was applied. Twenty hours after the operations, MBF and contractile responses of isolated aortic preparations to phenylephrine were measured. Tissue samples were obtained for biochemical and histopathological assessments. Additionally, survival rates were recorded throughout 96 h. CRV administration improved the mesenteric perfusion, contractile function of aorta, and survival after CLP. CRV substantially prevented the elevations in the levels of LDH, BUN, Cr, and inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-6) but could not prevent the elevations of AST and ALT after CLP. The decreased liver, kidney, and spleen glutathione levels and increased liver, kidney, lung, and spleen malondialdehyde levels induced by CLP were substantially restored by CRV. Also, histopathological protective effects of CRV on multiple organ damage due to CLP were observed. CRV possesses strong ameliorative effects on sepsis due to its protective effects on mesenteric perfusion and aortic function and its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects.

Coenzyme Q10 improves the survival, mesenteric perfusion, organs and vessel functions in septic rats.

BACKGROUND: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a naturally occurring, lipid-soluble antioxidant and an essential electron carrier in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. In sepsis, CoQ10 deficiency induced by mitochondrial failure can lead to hypoxia, hypoperfusion, oxidative organ damage and finally death. We aimed to investigate the effects of CoQ10 on survival, mesenteric artery blood flow (MABF), vascular reactivity, oxidative and inflammatory injuries in cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis. METHODS: Wistar rats were divided into Sham, CLP, Sham+CoQ10, CLP+CoQ10 subgroups. CoQ10 (10mg/kg/day) or vehicle (olive oil; 1mL/kg/day) was intraperitoneally injected for 15days. At 16th day, Sham or CLP operation was performed. 20h after the operations, MABF and phenylephrine responses of isolated aortic rings were measured. Tissue samples were obtained for histopathological and biochemical evaluations. Furthermore, survival rates were monitored throughout 96h. RESULTS: CoQ10 prevented mesenteric hypoperfusion and aortic dysfunction induced by CLP. Survival rate was %0 at 46th h in CLP group, but in CLP+CoQ10 group it was 37.5% at the end of 96h. CLP-induced elevations of serum AST, ALT, LDH, BUN, Cr and inflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-6) levels were blocked by CoQ10. CoQ10 restored the increased liver, lung, spleen and kidney malondialdehyde levels and as well as reduced liver and spleen glutathione levels. The protective effects of CoQ10 on multiple organ damage were also observed histopathologically. CONCLUSIONS: CoQ10 showed protective effects in sepsis due to its preservative effects on mesenteric perfusion, aortic function and also its anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects.

Infliximab alleviates the mortality, mesenteric hypoperfusion, aortic dysfunction, and multiple organ damage in septic rats.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is a pivotal mediator that triggers inflammatory process, oxidative stress, and multiple organ injury in sepsis. We investigated the effects of infliximab on survival, mesenteric artery blood flow (MBF), vascular reactivity, and oxidative and inflammatory injuries in cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis. Wistar rats were divided into Sham, CLP, Sham+infliximab, and CLP+infliximab subgroups. Twenty-four hours before the operations, rats were injected intraperitoneally with infliximab (7 mg/kg) or vehicle (saline; 1 mL/kg). Twenty hours after the operations, MBF and phenylephrine responses of isolated aortic rings were measured. Tissue damages were examined biochemically and histopathologically. Furthermore, survival rates were monitored throughout 96 h. Infliximab improved survival, mesenteric perfusion, and aortic function after CLP. Increases of serum AST, ALT, LDH, BUN, Cr, and inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta, and interleukin-6) induced by CLP were blocked by infliximab. Infliximab prevented malondialdehyde elevations in septic liver, lung, spleen, and kidney tissues, as well as glutathione reductions in septic liver, spleen, and kidney tissues. Protective effects of infliximab on multiple organ damage were also observed histopathologically. Infliximab showed protective effects in sepsis due to its improvement effects on mesenteric perfusion, aortic function, and its anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects.

Thymoquinone protects against the sepsis induced mortality, mesenteric hypoperfusion, aortic dysfunction and multiple organ damage in rats.

BACKGROUND: Thymoquinone (TQ) is a potent cytoprotective, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. We aimed to investigate the possible protective effects of TQ on survival, mesenteric artery blood flow (MABF), vascular reactivity, oxidative and inflammatory injuries in a murine sepsis model induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). METHODS: Wistar rats were divided into the following four groups: Sham, CLP, Sham+TQ and CLP+TQ. TQ (1mg/kg/day) or vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide, 1mL/kg/day) was intraperitoneally injected for 3 days. At 4th day Sham or CLP operation was applied. 20h after the operations, MABF and contractile responses of isolated aortic rings to phenylephrine were measured. Tissue samples were obtained for histopathological and biochemical examinations. Also, survival rates were recorded throughout 96h. RESULTS: TQ ameliorated mesenteric hypoperfusion and partially attenuated aortic dysfunction induced by CLP. Survival rate was %0 at 42nd h in CLP group, but in CLP+TQ group it was 33.4% at the end of 96h. Serum levels of AST, ALT, LDH, BUN, Cr and inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1 ß and interleukin-6) increased in CLP group that were prevented by TQ. The decreases in liver, spleen and kidney glutathione levels and the increases in liver, lung, kidney and spleen malondialdehyde levels induced by CLP were inhibited by TQ. The histopathological protective effects of TQ on multiple organ damage due to CLP were also observed. CONCLUSION: TQ has ameliorative effects on sepsis due to its protective effects on mesenteric perfusion, contractile function of aorta and its anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects.

Celecoxib administration reduced mortality, mesenteric hypoperfusion, aortic dysfunction and multiple organ injury in septic rats.

BACKGROUND: The cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 overexpression is associated with vascular injury and multiple organ failure in sepsis. However, constitutive COX-1 and basal COX-2 expressions have physiological effects. We aimed to investigate the effects of partial and selective COX-2 inhibition without affecting constitutive COX-1 and basal COX-2 activities by celecoxib on mesenteric artery blood flow (MABF), vascular reactivity, oxidative and inflammatory injuries, and survival in septic rats accomplished by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). METHODS: Wistar rats were allocated into Sham, CLP, Sham+celecoxib, CLP+celecoxib subgroups. 2h after Sham and CLP operations, celecoxib (0.5mg/kg) or vehicle (saline; 1mL/kg) was administered orally to rats. 18h after drug administrations, MABF and responses of isolated aortic rings to phenylephrine were measured. Tissue samples were obtained for biochemical and histopathological examinations. Furthermore, survival rate was monitored throughout 96h. RESULTS: Celecoxib ameliorated mesenteric hypoperfusion and partially improved aortic dysfunction induced by CLP. Survival rate was%0 at 49th h in CLP group, but in CLP+celecoxib group it was 42.8% at the end of 96h. Serum AST, ALT, LDH, BUN, Cr and inflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-6) levels were increased in CLP group that were prevented by celecoxib. The decreases in liver and spleen glutathione levels and the increases in liver, lung, spleen and kidney malondialdehyde levels in CLP group were blocked by celecoxib. The histopathological protective effects of celecoxib on organ injury due to CLP were also observed. CONCLUSIONS: Celecoxib has protective effects on sepsis due to its preservative effects on mesenteric perfusion, aortic function and its anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects.

Is overactive bladder a nervous or bladder disorder? Autonomic imaging in patients with overactive bladder via dynamic pupillometry.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes in dynamic pupillometry in patients with idiopathic overactive bladder (OAB). METHODS: The study included 40 female patients with idiopathic OAB and 40 healthy female volunteers as a control group. Demographic and clinical data were recorded. Dynamic pupillometric parameters were measured with a commercially available unit (MonPack One, Metrovision, France) at baseline and on the 30th day of treatment with an antimuscarinic treatment (drug-agent) (solifenacin 5 mg daily). Initial, minimum, maximum and mean pupil diameters, the latency and duration of contraction and dilatation of the pupil, the amplitude of contraction and dilatation velocity were automatically measured and compared between the groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between two groups with respect to age and body mass index (p = 0.288, 0.755, respectively). The measurements of initial, minimum and mean pupil diameters were significantly lower in patients with OAB compared to healthy controls (p = 0.007, 0.002, 0.001, respectively). OAB patients had significantly longer latency of pupil dilatation, latency of pupil contraction and shorter duration of pupil contraction than control group (p = 0.028, 0.029, 0.021, respectively). After the antimuscarinic treatment, latency of pupil contraction, latency of pupil dilatation and duration of pupil contraction shortened significantly (all p < 0.001). Pupil dilatation velocity increased significantly during the treatment (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The dynamic pupillometric findings in this study imply impaired autonomic dysfunction, mostly the increased parasympathetic action, in OAB patients and the modulatory effects of antimuscarinic treatment.

Effects of Genetic Polymorphisms of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes and MDR1 Transporter on Pantoprazole Metabolism and Helicobacter pylori Eradication.

Pantoprazole is a proton pump inhibitor that is commonly used in the treatment of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes CYP2C19 and CYP3A4. Pantoprazole is a substrate for multi-drug resistance protein 1 (MDR1). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CYP2C19, CYP3A4 and MDR1 affect enzyme activity or gene expression of proteins and may alter plasma pantoprazole concentrations and treatment success in PUD. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between genetic polymorphisms in CYP2C19, CYP3A4 and MDR1 and pharmacokinetics of pantoprazole and therapeutic outcome in patients with either Helicobacter pylori-associated [H.P.(+)]-PUD or [H.P.(+)]-gastritis. The plasma pantoprazole concentrations were determined by using an HPLC method at the third hour after a 40-mg tablet of pantoprazole administration in 194 newly diagnosed patients with either [H.P.(+)]-PUD or [H.P.(+)]-gastritis. Genotyping was performed by using PCR-RFLP and DNA sequencing. Among patients appearing for follow-up examination (n = 105), the eradication rate for H. pylori was 82.8% (n = 87). The median pantoprazole plasma concentrations in poor metabolizers (PM), rapid metabolizers (RM) and ultrarapid metabolizers (URM) were 2.07, 1.69 and 1.28 µg/ml, respectively (p = 0.04). CYP3A4*1G and *22 polymorphisms did not affect plasma pantoprazole concentrations and H. pylori eradication rate. The MDR1 genetic polymorphisms did not affect plasma pantoprazole concentrations. MDR1 3435CC-2677GG-1236CC haplotype carriers had lower H. pylori eradication rate (60%) than the remaining subjects (84.9%) while the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.07). In conclusion, while CYP2C19 genetic polymorphisms significantly affected plasma pantoprazole concentrations, polymorphisms of CYP2C19, CYP3A4 and MDR1 did not affect H. pylori eradication rates.

Decreased Activity and Genetic Polymorphisms of CYP2C19 in Behçet's Disease.

Behçet's disease (BD) is a systemic autoimmune disorder. Cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) are responsible for various drug metabolism reactions as well as those of endogenous substances which may be associated with autoimmune disease susceptibility. Recently, we reported that in patients with BD, CYP2C9 seems to be down-regulated due to inflammation. In the same Turkish patients with BD, we investigated whether also CYP2C19 activity is decreased. Lansoprazole (30 mg) was given as a probe drug to evaluate CYP2C19 activity in 59 patients with BD and 27 healthy control volunteers. An HPLC method was used to determine plasma lansoprazole and its metabolite, 5-hydroxy lansoprazole, concentrations. The genotyping for CYP2C19 *2, *3 and *17 polymorphisms was made using PCR-RFLP. The median lansoprazole/5-hydroxy lansoprazole metabolic ratio (MR) in patients with BD was 2.6-fold higher as compared to the healthy control group (p = 0.001, 22.6 (1.3-26) and 8.8 (0.5-140) as median and range, respectively). The CYP2C19*17*17 genotype frequency was found to be significantly less in the BD group as compared to the healthy controls (1.7% versus 14.8% in controls, p = 0.01). Additionally, colchicine treatment did not affect the CYP2C19 enzyme activity in six patients (p = 0.43). In conclusion, the patients with BD had lower CYP2C19 enzyme activity and lower frequency of the CYP2C19*17 allele as compared to those of the healthy controls. Further studies are warranted on the mechanisms underlying this relation. This study should also be applied to other autoimmune diseases similarly characterized by local or systemic inflammation.

Investigation of 1377C/T polymorphism of the Toll-like receptor 3 among patients with chronic hepatitis B.

The immunopathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) has not been clarified yet. Toll-like receptors (TLR) are a receptor family that initiates immunity with exogenous-endogenous ligands and plays a role in the pathogenesis of infections. In this study, we aimed to investigate the frequency of TLR 3 1377C/T (rs3775290) polymorphism and its role in patients with CHB. We included 50 healthy individuals as control group and 73 active and 43 inactive hepatitis B patients. All DNA samples were isolated from blood samples. For the detection of TLR 3 1377C/T single-nucleotide polymorphism, restriction fragment length polymorphism was used. A statistically significant difference was determined in Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels of CHB patients with the CC, CT, and TT genotypes (p = 0.013). The highest levels of HBV DNA were detected in individuals with TT genotypes. Additionally, the frequency of CC genotype was higher in the active CHB patients compared with that of the inactive CHB patients (p = 0.044). No statistically significant difference in TLR 3 1377C/T polymorphism was detected between healthy controls and the hepatitis B patients (p = 0.342). In conclusion, HBV DNA level was higher in the individuals with TT genotype, and CC genotype was more frequent in the active CHB patients. These results suggest a possible association between CHB and TLR 3 gene (1377C/T) polymorphism.

Relation of the Allelic Variants of Multidrug Resistance Gene to Agranulocytosis Associated With Clozapine.

Clozapine use is associated with leukopenia and more rarely agranulocytosis, which may be lethal. The drug and its metabolites are proposed to interact with the multidrug resistance transporter (ABCB1/MDR1) gene product, P-glycoprotein (P-gp). Among various P-glycoprotein genetic polymorphisms, nucleotide changes in exons 26 (C3435T), 21 (G2677T), and 12 (C1236T) have been implicated for changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of many substrate drugs. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between these specific ABCB1 polymorphisms and clozapine-associated agranulocytosis (CAA). Ten patients with a history of CAA and 91 control patients without a history of CAA, despite 10 years of continuous clozapine use, were included. Patient recruitment and blood sample collection were conducted at the Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, in collaboration with the members of the Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders Section of the Psychiatric Association of Turkey, working in various psychiatry clinics. After DNA extraction from peripheral blood lymphocytes, genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction and endonuclease digestion. Patients with CAA had shorter duration of clozapine use but did not show any significant difference in other clinical, sociodemographic characteristics and in genotypic or allelic distributions of ABCB1 variants and haplotypes compared with control patients. Among the 10 patients with CAA, none carried the ABCB1 all-variant haplotype (TT-TT-TT), whereas the frequency of this haplotype was approximately 12% among the controls. Larger sample size studies and thorough genetic analyses may reveal both genetic risk and protective factors for this serious adverse event.

Lower CYP2C9 activity in Turkish patients with Behçet's disease compared to healthy subjects: a down-regulation due to inflammation?

BACKGROUND: We previously reported on a Swedish patient with Behçet's disease (BD) who was an ultra-rapid metaboliser of drugs catalysed by CYP2C9. Was this extreme metabolism caused by the disease? AIM: This study aims to compare the genotype/phenotype of CYP2C9 in patients with BD and healthy subjects. As the occurrence of BD is high in Turkey, all subjects were recruited from this country. METHODS: Genotyping of CYP2C9 was performed using standard PCR-RFLP and allele-specific PCR methods. Phenotyping of CYP2C9 was performed by administration of a 50-mg single oral dose of losartan and by calculating the urinary metabolic ratio (MR) of probe drug to its metabolite E-3174. Quantitation was performed by HPLC. RESULTS: The frequency of CYP2C9*2 and *3 was not significantly different between the Behçet's disease patients (12.5 and 8.7%) and the healthy subjects (8.9 and 8.2%). The geometric mean losartan MR was higher in the 52 patients (1.75) than in the 96 healthy subjects (1.02) (p = 0.002; t-test). Within the genotypes *1/*1, there was a significant difference of MR between patients and healthy subjects (P = 0.006). All but three of the Behçet's disease patients were treated with colchicine. In nine subsequent patients, we found no significant effect of 2 weeks of treatment with colchicine on the CYP2C9 MR. CONCLUSION: Contrary to expectation, the CYP2C9 activity was lower in Turkish BD patients compared to healthy subjects. As this seems not to be due to colchicine treatment, our hypothesis is that inflammation related to BD might have caused the down-regulation of the CYP2C9 activity due to immune cytokine reactions. The ultra-rapid metabolism of CYP2C9 substrate drugs in the Swedish patient was not due to her BD.

Oral Candida carriage and prevalence of Candida species among Maras powder users and non-users.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate Candida carriage and species in Maras powder users and non-users. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study included 100 volunteering men in 12 cafés in the city of Kahramanmaras, Turkey. A questionnaire composed of questions about socio-demographic features and Maras powder use was filled in by the participants. Culture specimens were obtained from bilateral buccal mucosa and dorsum of the tongue with a sterile cotton-tipped swap. The specimens were inoculated in Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA). RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 48.0 ± 12.5 years (min = 20, max = 70). Fifty-four percent of the Maras powder users and 22% of the non-users were Candida carriers. The difference between the groups was significant (P = 0.001). The most frequently isolated species was Candida albicans at a rate of 44% in the Maras powder users and at a rate of 18% in the non-users. Other frequent species were Candida glabrata at a rate of 6% in the Maras powder users and 2% in the control group and Candida tropicalis at a rate of 4% in the Maras powder users and 2% in the nonusers. CONCLUSION: We found that a significantly high rate of the Maras powder users was Candida carriers. It should be kept in mind that opportunistic infections may be caused by Candida species in Maras powder users especially with immunosuppressive conditions since Candida species are likely to lead to such infections in cases of immunosuppressive diseases.

Ocular pharmacokinetics, safety and efficacy of intracameral moxifloxacin 0.5% solution in a rabbit model.

PURPOSE: This study was carried out to determine the ocular pharmacokinetics, efficacy and potential endothelial toxicity of moxifloxacin (MF) after a single intracameral bolus injection of 500 µg/0.1 ml in a rabbit model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight eyes of 24 New Zealand White Rabbits were separated into six groups, each including four rabbits. 0.1 ml of 0.5% intracameral moxifloxacin (500 µg) injection was injected to the right eyes and 0.1 ml of balanced salt solution to the left eyes (control). Aqueous humor (AH) and vitreous samples were collected at the 0.5th, 1st, 3rd, 6th, 12th and 24th hours from both eyes of group 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, respectively. MF concentrations were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. These were compared with the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and mutant prevention concentrations (MPC) for frequent endophthalmitis pathogens. Electron and light microscopical evaluation of the corneas were performed. RESULTS: Moxifloxacin reaches higher concentration than the MIC of all common endophthalmitis pathogens in the AH and exceeds the mutant prevention concentration levels for Streptococcus pneumonia, Streptococcus viridans, flouroquinolone susceptible Coagulase-negative staphylococcus and flouroquinolone susceptible Staphylococcus aureus for 6 h. The half-life of moxifloxacin in the AH was 2.2 h. Electron and light microscopic evaluation revealed no noticeable sign of toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Peroperative intracameral moxifloxacin injection for endophthalmitis prophylaxis is a safe and effective method in uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery.