Choroidal thickness alterations in diabetic nephropathy patients with early or no diabetic retinopathy.

PURPOSE: To assess changes in choroidal thickness (CT) in diabetes patients with and without diabetic nephropathy using enhanced depth imaging spectral domain optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT). METHODS: Thirty-five type 2 diabetes patients with a diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy (DNP) in nephrology department and 35 type 2 diabetes patients without nephropathy (non-DNP) were included in our prospective study consecutively. The control group comprised 34 healthy individuals. CT measurements were recorded under the fovea and at 1500 µm from the foveal center in the nasal and temporal sides. The study parameters also included age, refractive error, axial length, intraocular pressure, HbA1c, glomerular filtration rate and proteinuria amount. RESULTS: The subfoveal, temporal and nasal choroidal thickness was noted to be thinner in patients with DNP compared with non-DNP and normal subjects (p < 0.05). However, CT measurements did not show any difference between the healthy and non-DNP group. CONCLUSION: CT decreases significantly in diabetic patients when diabetic nephropathy accompanies diabetes mellitus.

Visual Outcomes at 12 Months in Patients Following Implantation of a Diffractive Multifocal Intraocular Lens.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to assess distance, intermediate, and near visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and patient satisfaction outcomes of a multifocal intraocular lens (IOL). METHODS: This multicenter, prospective clinical study was conducted at seven study sites in Turkey. Patients who underwent bilateral cataract removal and implantation of a diffractive, acrylic, hydrophobic, multifocal IOL (Acriva UD Reviol MFB 625; VSY Biotechnology, Istanbul, Turkey) were included. The uncorrected and best corrected distance visual acuities (UCDVA and BCDVA), uncorrected and best corrected intermediate visual acuities (UCIVA and BCIVA), and uncorrected and best corrected near visual acuities (UCNVA and BCNVA) were measured preoperatively and at postoperative 1, 6, and 12 months. Distance and near visual acuity scores (VAS) contrast sensitivities were measured at these time points. Quality of life was evaluated by visual function-14 (VF-14) questionnaire. RESULTS: Two hundred eyes of 100 patients were included. Monocular and binocular visual acuities at all distances showed improvement at postoperative 12 months compared to preoperative measurements (P < 0.001). Monocular and binocular UCIVA and binocular BCIVA at postoperative 12 months were significantly improved compared to measurements at 1 month (P < 0.001). Binocular contrast sensitivity at distance showed significant improvement from postoperative 1 month to postoperative 12 months, except for 3 cycles per degree (cpd; without glare) and 18 cpd (with glare). VAS improved from 75.96 at postoperative 1 month to 76.85 at postoperative 12 months. VF-14 score was 98.2 ± 4.6. CONCLUSION: The Acriva UD Reviol MFB 625 appears to provide a good level of distance and near visual acuity, quality of life, and patient satisfaction. Further studies with longer follow-up will provide valuable insight into the long-term stability of these visual outcomes.

Knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of women working in government hospitals regarding breast self examination.

BACKGROUND: Breast self examination (BSE), performed regularly every month, is one of the most important methods in the early diagnosis of breast cancer. This study was performed with the aim of establishing the knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of women working in government hospitals within the province of Samsun regarding BSE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted between January-March 2012, on a total of 550 women (500 health personnel, and 50 general administration services (GAS) workers) from 7 government hospitals and the Cancer Early Diagnosis, Screening, and Education Centre (CEDSEC). Percentages were used for the descriptive statistics, and the chi-square test for the evaluation of statistical importance. Values of p<0.05 were accepted as significant. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 36.2± 15.3, and 42.5% were in the 30-39 year old age group, 78.0% being married. Seventy-eight point four percent (78.4%) of the health personnel and 76.0% of the GAS workers performed BSE. However, the rates of performing BSE regularly every month were only 25.6% and 5.0%. Within the health personnel, 1.4% stated that they did not perform BSE because they found it unnecessary as they had no history of breast cancer in their family, 3.6% did not do so due to fear and stress, 13.2% because they forgot, and 14.6% because they had no complaints. Some 22.2% of the health personnel and 52.0% of the GAS workers had undergone mammographic evaluation, the difference being significant (p<0.05), 84.1% of the health personnel and 61.9% of the GAS workers knowing symptoms of breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Women in society should be brought to a certain level of awareness and knowledge regarding BSE. It is of the utmost importance that health personnel, who carry the responsibility for counseling and enlightening society, should interiorize the necessary knowledge, attitudes and behavior.

[The efficacy of radiofrequency ablation technique in patients with inferior turbinate hypertrophy]. / Alt konka hipertrofisi olan hastalarda radyofrekans tekniginin etkinligi.

OBJECTIVES: The efficacy of the radiofrequency ablation technique was evaluated in patients with nasal airway obstruction due to inferior turbinate hypertrophy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 30 patients (20 females, 10 males; mean age 32+/-12 years; range 17 to 18 years) treated with radiofrequency ablation. The patients were evaluated preoperatively and at 3, 7, and 60 days for nasal obstruction, turbinate edema, and other complaints using a visual analog scale (VAS). Nasal ciliary activity was evaluated by the saccharin test at 7 and 60 days, and nasal volume was measured by acoustic rhinometry at 60 days. RESULTS: Postoperative VAS scores of nasal obstruction, nasal itching, crusting, sneezing, rhinolalia, nasal discharge, and post-nasal drip significantly decreased (p<0.05), while hyposmia score remained unchanged. Postoperative pain was trivial and did not require analgesic use. Nasal passage volume increased significantly (p<0.05). Nasal ciliary activity did not change significantly. No significant episodes of epistaxis were observed postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Radiofrequency ablation may be the treatment of choice for turbinate reduction because it is highly effective, minimally invasive with very low complication rates, and can be performed in outpatient clinics without general anesthesia.

Surgical technique and postoperative complications in congenital cataract surgery.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated cases that underwent congenital cataract surgery in terms of the surgical technique, post-operative complications, and visual prognosis. MATERIAL/METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 132 eyes in 76 patients with congenital cataracts who underwent cataract surgery between January 1995 and December 2000. The patient age at surgery, surgical technique, post-operative complications, and final visual prognosis were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirty eyes underwent aspiration, posterior capsulotomy, and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation; 22 eyes underwent aspiration and posterior capsulotomy; 39 eyes underwent aspiration, posterior capsulotomy, and anterior vitrectomy; and 41 eyes underwent aspiration, posterior capsulotomy, anterior vitrectomy, and IOL implantation. The most frequent complications were secondary cataract (24.2%), posterior synechiae (9.1%), and glaucoma (3%). Groups were compared according to surgical technique and incidence of complications. Complications occurred most frequently with aspiration and posterior capsulotomy and occurred less frequently with aspiration, posterior capsulotomy, and anterior vitrectomy; these differences were statistically significant (p<0.05). The difference in the final visual prognosis was statistically significant in the aspiration, posterior capsulotomy, anterior vitrectomy, and IOL implantation groups as compared with the other groups (p<0.05). The mean follow up times was 15.5+/-1.78 months. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent complication of congenital cataract surgery is secondary cataract formation. Today, posterior capsulotomy with anterior vitrectomy is the preferred method for decreasing the incidence of this complication.

Karyometric analysis of nasal polyps.

OBJECTIVES: Nuclear characteristics of epithelial cells in nasal polyps were analyzed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The slides of 35 patients who underwent surgery for nasal polyposis and 18 slides of normal mucosa were examined. The specimens were stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Tissue sections were analyzed by a CCD camera and the Karyotype Program of Human Cytogenetics Nomenclature System on a Macintosh computer (OS 9). Fifty epithelial cells in each slide were randomly selected and transferred to the automated karyotyping system and photographed. The diameters of the nuclei were measured and some peculiar nuclear features were examined, including unsmooth appearance of the nuclear membrane, anaphase-bridge, and binucleation. RESULTS: There were significant differences between nasal polyp and normal mucosa groups in terms of nuclear diameter, perimeter, and volume, with all variables being greater in the nasal polyp group (p=0.001). Unusual nuclear features differed significantly (unsmooth nuclear membrane appearance, p<0.001; anaphase-bridge, p=0.041; binucleation, p=0.018), as well. CONCLUSION: Epithelial cells of nasal polyps exhibit nuclear instability.