Colour Doppler ultrasound evaluation of orbital vessels in diabetic retinopathy.

The aim of this study was to determine the role of colour Doppler imaging in the retrobulbar vascular circulation in diabetic retinopathy (DR). Maximum (V(max)), end-diastolic (V(min)) and average (V(mean)) velocities of blood flows and pulsatility index and resistivity index (RI) in central retinal artery (CRA), short branches of posterior ciliary artery (PCA) and ophthalmic artery of the 65 diabetic and 22 control eyes were measured. The CRA V(max) level in the control group was significantly higher than in DR groups. The CRA V(mean) level was also significantly higher in the control group than in the mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and the moderate NPDR groups. The CRA RI value was significantly higher in the control group than in the nonretinopathy group. The CRA V(min) and the ophthalmic artery RI values were found significantly higher in the nonretinopathy group than in the moderate NPDR group. There were significant decreases in the some CRA and PCA values as glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels increase in diabetic group. There was a positive correlation between the duration of diabetes and HbA1c levels. This study showed the presence of some dynamic circulatory alterations in the nonretinopathy group with diabetes and DR groups. It was also shown that there is a negative correlation between HbA1c and some orbital vascular velocities.

Intentional communicative behaviours of Turkish-speaking children with normal and delayed language development.

BACKGROUND: Language profiles may predict whether children with slower language development will catch up to their peers by overcoming this transient phenomenon or will be at risk for persistent language disorders. The research of the last decade has focused on this topic. Some researchers have emphasized the significance of developing communicative intentions, which provide a potential predictor of later language competence. In Turkey, children with slower language development may not be diagnosed partly because of the lack of sufficient standardized assessment/evaluation tools, educational and therapeutic media, and qualified speech-language therapists. In devising appropriate evaluation instruments, it is necessary to examine cross-linguistic variation in early language acquisition. The purpose of this study therefore is to observe, describe and assess early communicative behaviours of 15-36 months old Turkish-speaking children by using a functional communicative approach. METHODS: The research was designed within a qualitative-descriptive paradigm, involving qualitative data collection, observation and data analysis procedures. A total of 16 children, eight typically developing and eight language delayed, served as subjects. The classification system used in this study for coding children's communicative intentions was mostly based upon a system used by Dore (1977). Each variable was referred to as one of three intentional categories: regulating behaviours (request for object, request for action and protest), social interaction (direct attention, greeting and acknowledgement) and joint attention (comment/statement, asking for information and responding). A non-parametric Mann-Whitney U-test was carried out to verify the descriptive measures in comparing the delayed and normal group performance. RESULTS: As expected, the mode of expressing communicative intentions varied as a function of age for both groups. Children with normal language development were observed to express intentions within the category of joint attention more frequently whereas the children with delayed language expressed intentions related to the variables of regulating behaviours and social interaction.

Experimental tractional retinal detachment: an immunohistochemical study.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the pathogenesis of tractional retinal detachment associated with proliferative vitreoretinopathy in an experimental model, using immunohistochemical staining. METHODS: To produce tractional retinal detachment in rabbit eyes, homologous cultured fibroblasts obtained from the gluteal muscle fascia were injected intravitreously. Right eyes of 20 rabbits in the study group, and 7 rabbits in the control group were followed for 26 days at weekly intervals with indirect ophthalmoscopy and fundus photographs. RESULTS: During the follow-up period grade III tractional retinal detachment developed in 11 eyes, grade II in six, and grade 1 in three eyes. The spindle-shaped cells contributed predominantly to the development of epiretinal membrane, and a smaller number of round small and large cells. In 10/17 grade II and III eyes, spindle-shaped cells had vimentin, 7/10 had actin, 5/17 had GFAP, 4/17 had S-100 protein immunoreactivity. Round small and large cells expressed S-100 protein, GFAP and actin in 5/17 eyes. Epiretinal membrane appeared to be formed by spindle-shaped fibroblast-like cells and small and large round glia-like cells. Actin positivity of spindle-shaped and round cells was taken as a marker of contractile elements of the cells and their locomotional features. CONCLUSIONS: These features are believed to be involved in contraction of the membrane and retinal detachment.

Phonological acquisition of Turkish children: implications for phonological disorders.

The study reported describes the phonological rules typical of normal development of Turkish-speaking children. The processes identified include: reduplication, syllable deletion, consonant deletion, assimilation, cluster reduction, liquid deviation, stopping, fronting, affrication, and backing. From a crosslinguistic perspective, the phonological process patterns exhibited coincide broadly with universal tendencies, although some language specific patterns were also evident. In contrast, a case study of a phonologically disordered child indicated that her system was characterised by the use of idiosyncratic phonological rules as well as delayed acquisition of some aspects of the system. This atypical pattern reflects reports of phonologically disordered children learning other languages. The findings indicate that the deficit underlying this type of phonological disorder leads to similar phonological behavior irrespective of the language being acquired.

[Stability of cefazolin sodium as eyedrops in various solutions]. / Cesitli sivilar ile göz damlasi olarak hazirlanan sefazolin sodyumun stabilitesi.

Cephazolin sodium prepared with four different solutions (NaCl 0.9%, Protagent, Liquifilm and phosphate buffer) to be used as eye drops, was evaluated as to its physicochemical features at +4 degrees C, +37 degrees C and at room temperature and its activity in terms of minimal inhibition concentration. In conclusion, cephazolin sodium prepared with artificial tears at acidic pH can be kept for 3 days at room temperature and at +4 degrees C without any loss of its activity.

[Evaluation of conjunctival cultures in various eye infections]. / Cesitli göz enfeksiyonlarinda konjonktiva kültürlerinin degerlendirilmesi.

1550 conjunctival cultures taken between 1985-1988 were evaluated retrospectively. Among 455 cultures with positive growth, bacterial agents seen in their order of occurrence were Staphylococcus epidermidis (35.82%), Streptococcus pneumonia (19.34%) and Staphylococcus aureus (18.46%), respectively. Moreover, the distribution of agents in 185 cases with complete clinical records were discussed in the light of data found in the literature.