Retinal nerve fibre layer and peripapillary vascular density by optical coherence tomography angiography in schizophrenia.

Clinical relevance: Schizophrenia is a progressive disease. Analysis of retinal nerve fibre layer and peripapillary vascular density by optical coherence tomography angiography in schizophrenia patients may help to explain the pathophysiology of the disease.Background: Both macular and optic nerve microvascular structures can be visualised with optical coherence tomography angiography. Few studies have evaluated retinal vessels in patients with schizophrenia. Some of these studies suggest that larger retinal venules are associated with the severity of psychotic symptoms.Methods: This study evaluated retinal nerve fibre layer thickness and peripapillary vascular density by optical coherence tomography angiography in 22 eyes of 22 patients with schizophrenia and 26 eyes of 26 healthy control subjects. All peripapillary quadrants were evaluated with 4.5 × 4.5 mm images.Results: In the schizophrenia group, retinal nerve fibre layer thickness was significantly thinner and the mean peripapillary vascular density values were significantly lower in the temporal quadrant than in the control group (p < 0.05), but was similar in the peripapillary, superior, inferior, and nasal quadrants (p > 0.05). Peripapillary vascular density values and retinal nerve fibre layer thickness in schizophrenia patients were found to be lower in temporal quadrant compared to healthy eyes.Conclusion: Evaluation of the retina with optical coherence tomography angiography may be useful in detecting and monitoring progressive neurodegeneration in patients with schizophrenia.

Direct and crossover effects of Phenylephrine and Cyclopentolate on foveal avascular zone and vessel density of macular capillary plexuses: an optical coherence tomography angiography study.

Purpose: To determine the influence of phenylephrine and cyclopentolate on foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and vessel density of macular capillary plexus measurements via optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Materials and Methods: The participants were separated into 2 groups according to the administration of drops. One drop of phenylephrine 2.5% was administered on one eye of each subject in the phenylephrine group (n=30) and one drop of cyclopentolate 1% in the cyclopentolate group (n=30). FAZ parameters and vessel density values of both superficial (SCP) and deep capillary plexuses (DCP) were calculated via OCTA priorly and at 45 min following the drop administration in both eyes. Vessel density, acircularity index of FAZ, FAZ area, perimeter of FAZ and foveal density-300 were evaluated via OCTA. Results: The vessel density values of fovea in SCP and DCP was 18.51±7.14% and 36.05±8.76% and significantly decreased to 16.16±6.26% and 33.29±9.47% respectively after drop instillation in dilated eyes in phenylephrine group (p=0.041 and p=0.032). Likewise, the vessel density values in SCP and DCP were 21.56±7.74% and 39.27±8.76% and significantly decreased to 18.89±7.32% and 35.36±5.75% respectively, after drop instillation in dilated eyes in cyclopentolate group (p=0.035 and p=0.028). However, there was no significant difference between before and after instillation of drops in terms of foveal density-300 value via FAZ assessment tool in both dilated and nondilated contralateral eyes in both groups (p>0.05 for all). Conclusions: Mydriasis with phenylephrine and/ or cyclopentolate did not affect the foveal density-300 values while analyzing the perfusion of macula. Vessel density in foveal region should be evaluated via FAZ evaluation software of the OCTA.

Synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy combined with chemometrics for determination of total phenolic content and antioxidant activity in different tea types.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to monitor the antioxidant activity (AA) and total phenolic content (TPC) variations of different kinds of teas depending on the infusion temperature and time by using synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy (SFS) combined chemometrics as a rapid method. In this study, black tea, oolong tea, green tea, and green tea powder (matcha) samples were brewed at 80 °C and 96 °C for 2.5 to 30 min. Synchronous fluorescence spectra were recorded at different wavelength interval (Δλ) values for optimal models. AA and TPC of tea samples were determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and Folin-Ciocalteu methods as reference methods, respectively. Partial least square (PLS) method was used for correlation between reference methods and SFS method. RESULTS: Results showed that SFS combined with chemometrics could be an alternative rapid way to monitor TPC and AA of teas with 0.932 and 0.918 of validation R2 values in fermented teas (black tea-oolong) while with 0.961 and 0.860 of validation R2 values in non-fermented teas (green tea and green tea powder), respectively. Limit of detection (LOD) and root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) values were ≤ 6.61 µg mL-1 and ≤ 17.42, respectively. CONCLUSION: Based on the lowest R2 value (0.860) on TPC analysis, the proposed method is more appropriate for AA analysis of green tea and green tea powder. Furthermore, infusion time was more effective for obtaining different amounts of TPC and AA in fermented tea types while only infusion temperature was effective on green tea and green tea powder samples. Therefore, obtained calibration-validation models gave better results for fermented tea types.

The outcome of initial mitomycin C-augmented trabeculectomy with subconjunctival bevacizumab in the management of secondary glaucoma associated with Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the outcome of mitomycin C (MMC)-augmented trabeculectomy with subconjunctival bevacizumab in the management of Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis (FHI)-related glaucoma in 1-year follow-up period. METHODS: This retrospective study included 50 eyes with FHI-related glaucoma those had underwent initial trabeculectomy with MMC (0.2 mg/ml-3 min). Thirty-one of them had single-dose bevacizumab injection (1.25 mg/0.05 ml) into the bleb area just at the end of the surgery, while 19 eyes did not have. The intraocular pressure (IOP) and the mean number of anti-glaucomatous medications were evaluated. The IOP value ≤ 21 mmHg was defined as complete or qualified surgical success in terms of using medical anti-glaucomatous treatment. Bleb height and vascularity were evaluated with Indiana bleb grading system. Paired sample t test, t test, Chi-square and Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The preoperative IOP values of bevacizumab and without bevacizumab groups were 32.8 ± 4.5 mmHg and 32.8 ± 4.5 mmHg, respectively, and they decreased to 17.5 ± 4.6 mmHg and 17 ± 5.2 mmHg at the final visit (p < 0.001 for all values). There were no significant differences in postoperative IOP and the number of medications between the groups at the final visit. In bevacizumab group, complete success was achieved in 100% within the third month but decreased to 22.5% (complete) and 74.1% (qualified) at the first year. In the other group (without bevacizumab group), complete success was achieved in 94.7% within the third month but decreased to 15.8% (complete) and 84.2% (qualified) at the first year. CONCLUSION: Initial trabeculectomy with MMC and subconjunctival bevacizumab injection was found to have lower rates of complete success with relatively acceptable qualified success rates in the management of FHI-related glaucoma. Subconjunctival bevacizumab was not found to have additional effect to improve the surgical success.

Evaluation of corneal topographic changes and surgically induced astigmatism after transconjunctival 27-gauge microincision vitrectomy surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the corneal topographic changes and postvitrectomy astigmatism after 27-gauge (g) microincision vitrectomy surgery (MIVS) by using Pentacam HR-Scheimpflug imaging system. METHODS: This prospective descriptive study included 30 eyes of 30 patients who underwent 27-g MIVS. All eyes underwent a Pentacam HR examination preoperatively and on the first week, first month and third month postoperatively. The power of the corneal astigmatism, mean keratometry (K m), K 1 and K 2 values and corneal asphericity (Q value) values for the both front and back surfaces of the cornea, index of surface variance (ISV), index of vertical asymmetry (IVA), index of height asymmetry (IHA), index of height decentration (IHD) and higher-order aberrations including coma, trefoil, spherical aberration, higher-order root-mean-square and total RMS were recorded. Additionally, the mean induced astigmatism was estimated by vector analysis. RESULTS: No statistically significant changes were observed in the mean power of corneal astigmatism, mean keratometry, K 1 and K 2 values, corneal asphericity values, ISV, IVA, IHA, IHD and higher-order aberrations on the first week, first month and third month after the operation. The mean surgically induced astigmatism was calculated as 0.23 ± 0.11 D on the first week, 0.19 ± 0.10 D on the first month and 0.19 ± 0.08 D on the third month postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Minor corneal surface and induced astigmatic changes are expected to result in rapid visual rehabilitation after pars plana vitrectomy with the 27-g MIVS system.

Compositional, nutritional, and functional characteristics of instant teas produced from low- and high-quality black teas.

Two types of instant teas produced from low- and high-quality black teas were examined for their proximate composition, dietary fiber, minerals, water-soluble vitamins, total phenolic content, various antioxidant assays, phenolics (flavanols, condensed phenolics, and phenolic acids), alkaloids, and carotenoids as well as taste-active compounds (sugars, organic acids, and free amino acids). Some variations, albeit to different extents, were observed (p < 0.05) among these parameters between instant teas produced from low- and high-quality black teas. With respect to proximate composition, carbohydrate was the predominant component (56.68-59.84 g/100 g), followed by protein (19.31-19.86 g/100 g). Ash, moisture, and, to a lesser extent, dietary fiber and fat were also present in both instant teas. Thirteen minerals, four water-soluble vitamins, six flavanols, two alkaloids, three condensed phenolics, one phenolic acid, and one carotenoid were identified. Total phenolic content varied between 17.35 and 17.82 g of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g instant tea. With regard to antioxidant activities, three different assays such as oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), and cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) were measured. No significant differences (p > 0.05) in total phenolic, ORAC, TEAC, and CUPRAC contents between low- and high-quality instant teas were observed. With regard to taste-active compounds, 3 sugars, 5 organic acids, and 18 free amino acids were positively identified, of which fructose, tannic acid, and theanine predominated, respectively. The present work suggests that despite some differences, instant teas produced from low- and high-quality black teas should not be distinguished on the basis of their compositional, nutritional, and functional characteristics as well as taste-active compounds.

Influence of different drying methods on carotenoids and capsaicinoids of paprika (Cv., Jalapeno).

Influence of Refractance Window™ Drying (RWD), a novel contact drying method, on carotenoids, capsaicinoids, Retinol Activity Equivalent (RAE) and Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) of paprika (Cv., Jalapeno) was investigated in comparison with freeze drying (FD), oven drying (OD), and natural convective drying (NCD) methods. Eight carotenoids (capsanthin, capsorubin, capsolutein, ß-carotene, ß-cryptoxanthin, mutatoxanthin, violaxanthin and zeaxanthin) and five capsaicinoid analogues (capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, homodihydrocapsaicin, isodihydrocapsaicin, nordihydrocapsaicin) were identified in paprika. All these components were significantly (P<0.05) decreased by the RWD, FD and OD methods. However, due to ongoing synthesis, the NCD method resulted in higher carotenoids, except violaxanthin and mutatoxanthin, and capsaicinoids content than those of the others, even puree. Mutatoxanthin, naturally occurring pigment in red pepper, could only be detected in FD paprika. The highest RAE and SHU values, which were derived from the data of carotenoids and capsaicinoids, respectively, were also determined in NCD paprika.