Infliximab therapy in Behçet's uveitis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of infliximab (IFX) therapy in patients with Behçet's uveitis (BU) refractory to conventional immunomodulatory treatment (IMT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study, trial registration number TCTR20200806007, included cases of BU with a minimum of 18 months follow-up on IFX treatment. Demographic characteristics, ophthalmological examination findings, control of ocular inflammation with IFX, response to treatment and the rate of clinical remission were analyzed in this study. RESULTS: Sixty-two eyes of 35 patients on IFX therapy were included in the study. The mean follow-up was 49.5±25.9months. The mean frequency of recurrences during the IMT was 1.47±0.78 (attacks/year), decreasing to 0.31±0.40 (attacks/year) with IFX (P<0.001). Visual acuity improved significantly in the 1st month of IFX treatment (P=0.026). Partial response to treatment was achieved in 91.4% of cases. CONCLUSION: IFX is a safe and effective treatment in cases of BU refractory to conventional IMT.

Comparison of two techniques in posterior lens dislocations: Scleral suture fixation vs. modified Yamane intrascleral lens fixation.

PURPOSE: To compare the use of Yamane flanged intrascleral haptic fixation and scleral suture fixation (SSF) techniques in combination with pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for treatment of posterior lens dislocations. METHODS: Patients who underwent PPV and scleral fixated IOL implantation due to subluxation/luxation of the crystalline lens/intraocular lens (IOL) were included in this retrospective study. The Yamane group included patients who underwent Yamane flanged intrascleral haptic fixation technique, while the SSF group consisted of patients who underwent conventional SSF. All patients underwent comprehensive ophthalmologic examinations preoperatively and postoperatively. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded. RESULTS: The Yamane group comprised of 39 eyes of 39 patients, and the SSF group included 35 eyes of 35 patients. Postoperative complications included hyphema (Yamane group: 2/39 (5.1%); SSF group: 0/35 (0%)) IOL decentration (Yamane group: 5/39 (12.8%); SSF group: 0/35 (0%)), corneal edema (Yamane group: 4/39 (10.2%); SSF group: 0/35 (0%)) cystoid macular edema (CME) (Yamane group: 1/39 (2.5%); SSF group: 3/35 (8.5%)) and retinal detachment (Yamane group: 1/39 (2.5%); SSF group: 1/35 (28.5%). The mean surgery time was significantly lower in the Yamane group compared with the SSF group (P<0.001). No cases of hypotony, conjunctival erosion, haptic exposure or endophthalmitis were encountered throughout follow-up. CONCLUSION: SSF remains a safe and effective technique for management of posterior lens dislocations. The Yamane intrascleral IOL fixation technique is an effective alternative to conventional SSF, which has a relatively steep learning curve. Postoperative complications, including IOL tilt and decentration, may be experienced in the initial cases.

Clinical outcomes of posterior segment intraocular foreign bodies: The volume effect.

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of foreign body volume on visual and anatomic outcomes in patients with a posterior segment intraocular foreign body (IOFB). METHODS: Patients were divided into three groups according to the volume of the IOFB; group 1 (n=18 eyes) with IOFBs<2mm3, group 2 (n=15 eyes) with 2mm3≤IOFBs<6mm3, group 3 (n=18 eyes) with IOFBs≥6mm3. All eyes underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for removal of the IOFB. Demographic characteristics, features of the injury and IOFB, findings of the initial and final ophthalmological examinations, and timing of IOFB removal were studied. RESULTS: The mean age was 38.8±12.0years, and the median follow-up period was 12.0 (range: 6-98) months. Initial visual acuity (VA) was significantly lower in group 3 (P=0.005), while final VA was similar between the three subgroups. Frequencies of primary globe repair, initial vitreous hemorrhage (VH), corneoscleral entry, and IOFB removal through the cornea were significantly higher in eyes with large volume IOFBs (P<0.05). Siderosis was only seen in 4 patients in group 1 (22.2%). No patients developed postoperative endophthalmitis. CONCLUSION: Large volume posterior segment IOFBs are associated with poor initial VA, initial VH and corneoscleral injury. Nevertheless, PPV and IOFB extraction under favorable conditions may provide significant visual improvement in eyes with large volume IOFBs.

Effects of user experience and method in the inflation of endotracheal tube pilot balloon on cuff pressure.

CONTEXT: Endotracheal tube cuff pressure (ETCP) is recommended to be maintained between 20-30 cm H2O limits. While insufficient inflation of ETC may cause aspirations, over-inflation of it may lead to damage in tracheal epithelium. AIMS: We planned to investigate the effects of user experience and cuff pressure inflation method differences following endotracheal tube cuff pressure and complaints about it. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two hundred and fifty patients planned for general anaesthesia were included in this study. ETC was inflated by users with different experience according to leakage or pilot balloon palpation techniques. ETCPs were measured by manometer at three periods (5 and 60 minutes after endotracheal intubation, and before extubation). Complaints about it were recorded in post anaesthetic care unit and 24 hours postoperatively. RESULTS: Though we found experience of user had significant effect on the ETCP regulations, we observed inflation methods did not have any effect. However we found ETCP was higher than normal range with experienced users. A correlation was observed between cuff pressure and anaesthesia duration with postoperative complaints. CONCLUSIONS: Our study concluded that the methods used do not have any significant advantage over one another. While ETC inflated at normal pressure increases as user's experience increases, experience alone is not enough in adjusting ETCP. A manometer should be used in routine inflation of ETC instead of conventional methods. CP and anaesthesia duration have correlations with some postoperative complaints.

Comparison of the effects of preoperative and intraoperative intravenous application of dexketoprofen on postoperative analgesia in septorhinoplasty patients: randomised double blind clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative analgesia is important because it prevents the adverse effects of pain. To study the effect of preoperative or intraoperative application of dexketoprofen on postoperative analgesia and patient comfort in patients undergoing septorhinoplasty. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The study included 100 patients randomly assigned to four groups. Patients from group 50/0 got 50 mg dexketoprofen 30 minutes prior to the operation; patients from group 0/50 got 50 mg dexketoprofen 30 minutes after the operation, and patients from group 25/25 got 25 mg dexketoprofen both 30 minutes prior and 30 minutes after the operation. Dexketoprofen was not applied to any of the patients from group C. Once in the recovery room, patient-controlled analgesia was received to all patients. The patients' visual analog scale (VAS), sedation, nausea and vomiting and dyspepsia complaints were recorded at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 and 24 hours. In addition, patient satisfaction, intraoperative fentanyl and consumption of tramadol in the postoperative 24 hour period were recorded. RESULTS: The VAS, nausea and vomiting, sedation and patient satisfaction scores were lower in patients from all groups that had received dexketoprofen compared to the controls. There was no difference in intraoperative fentanyl consumption between the groups. The consumption of tramadol was significantly higher in group C compared to all other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Dexketoprofen provides good postoperative analgesia and patient satisfaction if applied intravenously to septorhinoplasty patients. However, there is no significant difference between preoperative and intraoperative applications of dexketoprofen.

Heterogeneous Fenton-like degradation of Rhodamine 6G in water using CuFeZSM-5 zeolite catalyst prepared by hydrothermal synthesis.

In this study, heterogeneous Fenton-like degradation of reactive azo dye Rhodamine 6G in water was investigated over a CuFeZSM-5 zeolite catalyst prepared by hydrothermal synthesis. At initial pH of 3.4, a color removal of 100% was achieved after a reaction time of 45 min. TOC elimination was measured to be 51.8% after 2 h of oxidation. Initial decolorization rate was described by an equation of -r(A0) = 4.56 x 10(2) e(-24.83/RT)C(R6G,0)C(0.35)(H2O2,0) where R is in kJ/mol. The leaching of iron and copper cations from zeolite structure into the solution during oxidation was dependent on pH strongly. The regulation of pH from 6.5 (dye solution pH) to 3.4, increased leaching for iron from 0.7 to 0.8 mg/dm3 and for copper from 1.4 to 2.1 mg/dm3. The copper was totally leached from the catalyst during the process at pH 3.4.

Sonolytic degradation of acetic acid in aqueous solutions.

In this work, ultrasonic degradation of acetic acid, which is one of the most resistant carboxylic acids to oxidize, was investigated. The effects of parameters such as ultrasonic power, initial concentration, addition of NaCl or several oxides were studied on the degradation of acetic acid. Acetic acid was sonicated indirectly using an ultrasonic bath with 40 kHz. It was observed that degradation degree increased with decreasing power and initial concentration and with increasing NaCl concentration. Initial degradation degree was enhanced with addition of zeolite and SiO(2).

Direct sonication of acetic acid in aqueous solutions.

Sonochemical oxidation has a promising future in the area of waste water treatment as one of the advanced oxidation methods. In this study, direct ultrasonic degradation of acetic acid was investigated in low powers (0.1-0.4 W) and in a frequency range of 30-100 kHz. An ultrasonic transducer was used for sonication. The results showed that there was an optimum frequency at 60 kHz for direct sonication of acetic acid and degradation rate increased up to a power of 0.2 W and then it decreased. Sonochemistry is associated with the bubble of cavitation which depends on the sound pressure field and nature of molecule. Therefore, the frequency and intensity have to be optimized for the minimization of energy requirement during waste water treatment with ultrasound.

Ultrasonic degradation of oxalic acid in aqueous solutions.

This paper describes the ultrasonic degradation of oxalic acid. The effects of ultrasonic power, H(2)O(2), NaCl, external gases on the degradation of oxalic acid were investigated. Reactor flask containing oxalic acid was immersed in the ultrasonic bath with water as the coupling fluid. Representative samples withdrawn were analysed by volumetric titration. Degradation degree of oxalic acid increased with increasing ultrasonic power. It was observed that H(2)O(2) has negative contribution on the degradation of oxalic acid and there was an optimum concentration of NaCl for enhancing the degradation degree of oxalic acid. Although bubbling nitrogen gave higher degradation than that for bubbling air, both gases (for 20 min before sonication and during sonication together) could not help to enhance the degradation of oxalic acid when compared with the degradation without gas passage.

Cytogenetic study in 102 infertile men.

Chromosomal anomalies may be a reason for male infertility. To find out whether this is true mitotic chromosome studies were performed on 41 males with azoospermia and 61 males with oligozoospermia. A constitutional chromosomal abnormality was diagnosed in 14 (34.1%) azoospermic patients and in 2 (3.3%) oligozoospermic patients. The 47,XXY karyotype was the commonest in the azoospermic group. An overall incidence of 15.7% abnormality indicates that routine chromosome analysis of infertile men should be considered.

Premature centromere division in three unrelated families.

We describe three unrelated families with an increased frequency of cells with premature centromere division (PCD) in all of the chromosomes. There were eight phenotypically normal individuals with PCD in these families. Familial PCD phenomenon is different from the described PCD of X chromosome and of the cells of patients with Roberts syndrome. In this study, we discussed our findings in different medium and time and with/without colcemid in cases referred with spontaneous abortions and in the father of a child who had chromosomal abnormality. In our families, this anomaly was transmitted in a way compatible with autosomal dominant inheritance.

Preservation of Cheese and Plain Yogurt by Low-dose Irradiation.

Irradiation preservation of Turkish kashar cheese and plain yogurt was studied using very low doses of Co-60 radiation. No side effects were observed below 0.15 Mrad. The number of bacteria killed was directly related to total dose up to 0.02 Mrad, then the effectiveness of the dose decreased. Coating cheese samples with a sorbic acid solution helped in reducing the number of bacteria by about 10-12% in irradiated samples. The shelf-life of irradiated samples stored at refrigerator temperature was almost the same as that of ones coated with sorbic acid but stored at room temperature. Mold formation in irradiated samples took three to four times longer than in nonirradiated ones. With plain yogurt the effect of total dose seemed to be the same as in cheese. Irradiation increased the shelf-life of yogurt three- to four-fold. Preservation by irradiation combined with refrigeration increased the shelf-life about five-fold.