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Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell dyscrasia characterized by malignant proliferation of monoclonal plasma cells in the bone marrow. Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (I-FISH) required for revised international staging system (R-ISS) classification in MM risk classification is not available in every medical center. CRAB findings were suggested to be an easy and practically applicable marker for MM prognosis. In this study, we aimed to examine the effect of CRAB and SLiM factors, which are among the myeloma defining events, on progression-free survival and overall survival of the MM patients. Sixty six MM patients who applied to Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital Hematology Clinic for treatment and follow up between 2012 and 2021 were included in the study. Patients in this study were between the ages of 39-86. The number of male patients in the study was 36 (54.5%). In the multivariate analysis, the most important factors affecting the overall survival of the patients were identified as M protein type, bone marrow plasma cell ratio ≥ 60% and autologous stem cell transplantation (p= 0.019, p= 0.007, p= 0.04, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that the only factor affecting the progression-free survival of the patients included in the study was the presence of extra medullary plasmacytoma (p= 0.014). In conclusion, CRAB criteria are not related to overall survival. CRAB criteria cannot replace R-ISS, contrary to what is suggested in some studies in the literature. Bone marrow plasma cell ratio, which is one of the SLiM criteria, affects overall survival. SLiM criteria may be more important than CRAB criteria as a practical and easy prognostic marker that can be substituted for R-ISS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate posterior segment (PS) findings in the eye in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods: Eighty-four patients with AS and 63 healthy controls were enrolled. PS evaluations were performed using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Foveal thickness, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, macular volume, ganglion cell complex, and choroidal thickness (CT) values were compared between the groups . Results: Mean CT was higher in patients with AS (326.5 ± 71.5 µm) than in the healthy controls (286.2 ± 59.5 µm) ( p = 0.001). There was no significant difference between patients with AS and the healthy control group in terms of other OCT parameters. There was also no significant correlation between CT, AS activity index, and disease duration. Conclusions: This is the first study to evaluate effects of AS on CT. CT was high in patients with AS compared to healthy controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A response from the authors of the article "Evaluation of Choroidal Thickness in Ankylosing Spondylitis Using Optical Coherence Tomography" in the 2014 issue is presented.

Purpose. To assess the repeatability and reproducibility of ocular biometry and intraocular lens (IOL) power measurements obtained by ophthalmology residents using an AL-Scan device, a novel optical biometer. Methods. Two ophthalmology residents were instructed regarding the AL-Scan device. Both performed ocular biometry and IOL power measurements using AL-Scan, three times on each of 128 eyes, independently of one another. Corneal keratometry readings, horizontal iris width, central corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth, pupil size, and axial length values measured by both residents were recorded together with IOL power values calculated on the basis of four different IOL calculation formulas (SRK/T, Holladay, and HofferQ). Repeatability and reproducibility of the measurements obtained were analyzed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results. Repeatability (ICC, 0.872-0.999 for resident 1 versus 0.905-0.999 for resident 2) and reproducibility (ICC, 0.916-0.999) were high for all biometric measurements. Repeatability (ICC, 0.981-0.983 for resident 1 versus 0.995-0.996 for resident 2) and reproducibility were also high for all IOL power measurements (ICC, 0.996 for all). Conclusions. The AL-Scan device exhibits good repeatability and reproducibility in all biometric measurements and IOL power calculations, independent of the operator concerned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]