Three dimensional versus standard miniplate fixation in management of mandibular fractures: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The aims of the present study were to 1) evaluate clinical outcomes between standard and three-dimensional (3D) miniplate fixation in the management of mandibular fractures and 2) determine which fixation method is the best option for the treatment of mandibular fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive electronic search language without date was performed in July 2015. Inclusion criteria were studies in humans, including randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, and retrospective studies, with the aim of comparing the two techniques. In addition, the incidence of complications was evaluated. RESULTS: Seventeen publications were included: nine randomized controlled trials, three controlled clinical trials, and five retrospective studies. The meta-analyses showed statistically significant differences for the incidence of hardware failure, malocclusion, and postoperative trismus. There were no significant differences in the incidence of postoperative infection, wound dehiscence, non-union/malunion, and paresthesia. The cumulative odds ratio was 0.48, meaning that the use of 3D miniplates in the fixation of mandibular fractures decreases the risk of the event (postoperative complication) by 52%. CONCLUSION: The results of this meta-analysis showed that the use of 3D miniplates was superior to the two-miniplate technique in reducing the incidence of postoperative complications in the management of mandibular fractures.

The effects of povidone iodine (pH 4.2) on patients with adenoviral conjunctivitis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of classical treatment and povidone-iodine treatment for adenoviral conjunctivitis. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted at the Centre of Marmara Eye Health, Sakarya, Turkey, between January 2011 and February 2014, and comprised adult patients suffering from adenoviral conjunctivitis. The participants were randomly divided into two groups. Group I was given povidone-iodine solution while Group II was given the classical treatment and was taken as control. Povidone-iodine treatment was administered as three drops three times per day. The classical treatment comprised three drops of trifluorothymidine three times per day. Treatment were continued for two weeks. The patients who had not recovered in this time frame were defined as 'late recovering' patients. SPSS 23 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Of the 112 participants, there were 56(50%) in each group. In Group I, 54(96.4%) patients recovered in two weeks, while 2(3.6%) took more time. In Group II, 33(58.9%) patients recovered in two weeks while 23(41.1%) took more time (p<0.001). Overall, 92(82.1%) patients had familial transmission-contamination. CONCLUSIONS: A new treatment protocol of povidone-iodine was used safely in patients with adenoviral conjunctivitis. Familial transmission was found very important to adenoviral conjunctivitis infection.

Changes in the cornea related to sickle cell disease: a pilot investigation.

PURPOSE: To investigate corneal structural changes (central corneal thickness, endothelial cell count, and cellular morphology) in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). METHODS: This prospective study included 56 patients with SCD and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects without any eye disease aside from refractive errors. Endothelial cell density (ECD), percentage of hexagonality, and the coefficient of variation in cell size (CV) were measured using noncontact specular microscopy, and central corneal thickness (CCT) was measured by pachymetry. RESULTS: The mean CCT value was 509.6 ± 20.7 µm in the study group and 520.8 ± 23.6 µm in the control group. The mean ECD, CV, and percentage of hexagonality values in the study group were 2712 ± 335 cells/mm², 34.5 ± 5.3%, and 57.2 ± 6.6%, respectively, and 3030 ± 247 cells/mm², 31.6 ± 5.0%, and 60.4 ± 6.9% in the control group, respectively. Endothelial cell density (p = 0.001), CCT (p = 0.011), CV (p = 0.005), and percentage of hexagonality values (p = 0.018) were significantly different between the study and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study indicate that patients with SCD had considerable morphologic changes in the structure of the cornea when compared to healthy subjects.

Refractive errors in patients with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Diabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic disorder that involves the small blood vessels, often causing widespread damage to tissues, including the eyes' optic refractive error. In patients with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus who have unstable blood glucose levels, refraction may be incorrect. We aimed to investigate refraction in patients who were recently diagnosed with diabetes and treated at our centre. METHODS: This prospective study was performed from February 2013 to January 2014. Patients were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus using laboratory biochemical tests and clinical examination. Venous fasting plasma glucose (fpg) levels were measured along with refractive errors. Two measurements were taken: initially and after four weeks. The last difference between the initial and end refractive measurements were evaluated. RESULTS: Our patients were 100 males and 30 females who had been newly diagnosed with type II DM. The refractive and fpg levels were measured twice in all patients. The average values of the initial measurements were as follows: fpg level, 415 mg/dl; average refractive value, +2.5 D (Dioptres). The average end of period measurements were fpg, 203 mg/dl; average refractive value, +0.75 D. There is a statistically significant difference between after four weeks measurements with initially measurements of fasting plasma glucose (fpg) levels (p<0.05) and there is a statistically significant relationship between changes in fpg changes with glasses ID (p<0.05) and the disappearance of blurred vision (to be greater than 50% success rate) were statistically significant (p<0.05). Also, were detected upon all these results the absence of any age and sex effects (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Refractive error is affected in patients with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus; therefore, plasma glucose levels should be considered in the selection of glasses.

Frequency of choroidal abnormalities in pediatric patients with neurofibromatosis type 1.

PURPOSE: To investigate the frequency of choroidal abnormalities in pediatric patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 detected by infrared reflectance imaging. METHODS: The fundus of 38 eyes of 19 patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 was examined using infrared reflectance imaging with optical coherence tomography. Forty eyes of 20 age-matched controls were examined similarly. Each patient was evaluated for the presence and the number of choroidal abnormalities. The correlation between the total number of choroidal abnormalities and the patient's age was studied. RESULTS: A total of 19 patients (11 females, 8 males) were included. The mean age of the neurofibromatosis group was 8.63 ± 3.15 years (range: 4 to 16 years) and that of the control group was 9.05 ± 3.27 years (range: 4 to 15 years). Choroidal nodules appearing as bright patchy nodules were detected in 15 (78.9%) of 19 patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 and 1 (5%) of 20 control subjects. In terms of the frequency of choroidal abnormalities, the difference was significant between the patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 and the controls (P < .001). There was a positive correlation between the number of choroidal abnormalities in both eyes and the patient's age (r = 0.701, P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Choroidal abnormalities are frequent in neurofibromatosis type 1. Choroidal abnormalities detected by infrared reflectance imaging with optical coherence tomography can be used to diagnose neurofibromatosis type 1.