Seroepidemiology of varicella-zoster virus infection in a cosmopolitan city (Erzurum) in the eastern Turkey

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine VZV seroprevalence under age 30 and to identify the relationship of VZV seroprevalence and several sociodemographic characteristics of the study subjects. The results were presented in order to design a strategy for vaccination against varicella-zoster virus (VZV). MATERIAL AND METHOD: It was planned to include a total of 568 subjects. The sampling method of 30 clusters recommended for field studies was used for selecting subjects of a predetermined number in the rural and urban areas in eastern Turkey. ELISA method was used to examine the blood samples for VZV seropositivity. Age, gender, place of living, educational level, family size and socioeconomic status was investigated in the study subjects. RESULTS: Positive VZV seroprevalence was detected in 78% of 559 subjects. Seroprevalence increased with age. Seroprevalence was 16.67% at the age of 1 year, subsequently increased to 57.58% at the age of 4 years, 70% at the age of 7 years, 92.31% at the age of 10 years and then remained 86.78-96.36% in subjects over the age of 10 years. No association was found between sociodemographic variables studied and prevalence levels of antibodies except for educational level in the 0-14 year group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the majority of VZV infections occur during the early childhood; the best option to reduce the circulation of wild type VZV in the population would be the immunization of young children. VZV vaccine should be introduced into the routine childhood vaccination programme in Turkey.     

Effect of nimesulide, rofecoxib and celecoxib on gastric tissue glutathione level in rats with indomethacin-induced gastric ulcerations

Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide and a superoxide radical scavenger and it protects thiol protein groups required for maintaining the integrity of cell against oxidation. GSH is present in the stomach at high concentrations and plays an important role in maintaining the integrity of the gastric mucosa. We investigated whether oral administration of nimesulide, rofecoxib and celecoxib, selective COX-2 inhibitors, changed GSH level in the gastric tissue of indomethacin-treated rats. Thirty albino Wistar rats were used in this study. Animals were randomly assigned to five groups as follows: control group received only distilled water (group I). Nimesulide at a dose of 100 mg/kg (group II), rofecoxib at a dose of 25 mg/kg (group III) and celecoxib at a dose of 100 mg/kg (group IV) were intragastrically administered 5 min before indomethacin (25 mg/kg) treatment. Equal volume of distilled water was given to the indomethacin-administered group (group V). Indomethacin was administered intragastrically. Gastric tissue mean GSH level was significantly higher in nimesulide-given rats than in rofecoxib- and celecoxib-treated groups, there was not any significant difference between the nimesulide and control groups. Our study showed that although nimesulide prevented the indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers completely, rofecoxib and celecoxib did not prevent the indomethacin-induced ulcer formation. In conclusion, we propose that nimesulide exerts a prophylactic effect on the indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers by enhancing gastric GSH level.     

Effects of posterior capsular opacification on the evaluation of retinal nerve fiber layer as measured by Stratus optical coherence tomography

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of posterior capsular opacification (PCO) and Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy on the evaluation of peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) as measured by Stratus (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA) optical coherence tomography (OCT).DesignProspective interventional case series.ParticipantsWe studied 98 eyes of 89 patients experiencing PCO.MethodsWe performed a complete ophthalmologic examination and evaluation of RNFL as measured by Stratus OCT before and after Nd:YAG capsulotomy. The patients were classified on the basis of PCO score or signal strength (SS) obtained by prelaser OCT scans.ResultsThe preoperative and postoperative peripapillary RNFL thicknesses were 90.24 ± 15.9 μm and 98.27 ± 14.1 μm, respectively (p < 0.001). The mean preoperative SSs were 5.4 ± 1.6, and they improved to 9.5 ± 0.5 postoperatively (p < 0.001). Prelaser and postlaser RNFL thicknesses differed significantly in eyes with preoperative SSs less than 7 (p < 0.05). Also, in patients with preoperative PCO grades higher than 2, there were significant increases in RNFL thickness after laser capsulotomy (p < 0.05).ConclusionRNFL thickness measured by the Stratus OCT is affected by PCO. RFNL thickness may be underestimated in eyes with preoperative PCO grades higher than 2 and in eyes with preoperative SSs lower than 7.     

Subclinic arterial and left ventricular systolic impairment in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease with preserved renal functions

The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging - Subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events are common even in young normotensive patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney...     

Evaluation of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Acromegalic Patients Using Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

Purpose: To evaluate retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in acromegalic patients. Methods: A study group of 29 patients with acromegaly and a control group of 38 age-matched healthy individuals were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. The study group was further divided by tumor size into two subgroups, a macroadenoma group and a microadenoma group. Serum growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I) levels were detected at the time of ophthalmological examination in the study group. In both the study and control group, the RNFL thickness in the four quadrants was measured by optical coherence tomography. The relationship between GH and IGF-I levels and RNLF thickness was also evaluated. Results: The difference in mean RNLF thickness in all quadrants between the study and control groups was not statistically significant. In acromegalic patients with macroadenoma, the mean RNLF thickness of the inferior quadrant decreased significantly compared to both patients with microadenoma and healthy individuals (p?=?0,032 and p?=?0,046). GH and IGF-1 levels were not significantly correlated with the RNLF thickness in the study group. Conclusions: Excessive GH and IGF-1 levels do not affect the optic nerve or RNLF thickness, whereas the RNLF becomes thinner in the inferior quadrant in acromegalic patients with macroadenoma as a result of the chiasmal compression.     

Increased Tear Film Osmolarity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Purpose: To evaluate tear film osmolarity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: A total of 55 eyes from 55 patients with SLE and 47 eyes from 47 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals were included in this study. Tear film osmolarity was evaluated with a lab-on-a-chip technique (TearLab; TearLab Corporation, San Diego, CA) in SLE patients in comparison with healthy individuals, and results were correlated to clinically available diagnostic tests for dry eye, such as tear ?lm break-up time (BUT), Schirmer’s test, and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). Results: The mean tear film osmolarity in the SLE patients and healthy individuals was 306.02 ± 13.27 mOsm/L and 300.74 ± 9.11 mOsm/L, respectively, which made for a statistically significant difference (p = 0.020). In the SLE group, tear film osmolarity was negatively correlated with the Schirmer’s test score and the BUT value (r = ?0.295 p = 0.029 and r = 0.347 p = 0.009, respectively), whereas tear film osmolarity was not correlated with OSDI score (r = ?0.182 p = 0.183). Conclusions: This study revealed that tear film hyperosmolarity and abnormal tear film function are associated with SLE.