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Background: Cystoid macular edema (CME) is the leading cause of permanent visual impairment in patients with uveitis, particularly in patients with intermediate uveitis (IU). This study was aimed at comparing the changes in the macular microvasculature in patients with IU with uveitic non-responsive CME and without macular edema. Methods: In this case-control study, 55 eyes of patients with IU were assessed for macular microvascular structures, including vascular density, foveal avascular zone (FAZ) measurement, and vascular morphological changes, using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) with the AngioVue OCT-A system. We divided patients into the following two groups: the case group, including 30 eyes with IU-related non-responsive CME, and the control group, including 25 eyes with IU without macular edema. Results: Participants in the case and control groups had comparable age (P = 0.753) and sex (P = 0.124) distributions. Superficial capillary plexus vessel density in the case group was significantly decreased in the whole image (P = 0.027) and the parafoveal area (P = 0.001) compared to the control group. However, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of foveal superficial vessel density, deep capillary plexus vessel density, FAZ area, FAZ perimeter, FAZ acircularity index, or foveal vessel density in a 300-µm-wide annulus around the FAZ (all P > 0.05). Vascular morphological changes, such as the capillary tuft, telangiectatic vessels, or micro-aneurism, were not different in the overview images of the OCT-A printout between the two groups. Conclusions: The mean superficial capillary plexus vessel density was lower in eyes with IU-related nonresponsive CME than in those without macular edema. We observed more cystoid spaces in SCP than in DCP. Microcystic changes in the inner retina and ischemia may be the underlying cause in eyes with nonresponsive CME. Future prospective longitudinal studies with healthy, matched controls are warranted to confirm our findings.

Objectives: Thalassemia major (TM) is one of the most common blood disorders with a high mortality rate due to cardiovascular disease. Vitamin D deficiency has been suggested to implicate in cardiac abnormalities. In this prospective study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between serum levels of vitamin D and tissue Doppler (TD) echocardiographic indices in thalassemia major patients. Methods: A total of 81 TM patients, including 56 females and 25 males, with a mean age of 27.5± 6.8 years, were enrolled consecutively. Serum levels of vitamin D and other biomedical parameters were measured. Then, all patients were subjected to TD echocardiography. Correlations between the serum parameters and systolic and diastolic indices were examined. Results: The serum level of vitamin D was correlated with systolic and diastolic indices such as the EF (r= 0.33, P= 0.003) and TD Imaging (TDI)-lateral (r= 0.31, P= 0.005). However, no correlations were observed between vitamin D deficiency and the LV septal and posterior wall thickness, TDIseptal, tricuspid regurgitation peak gradient (TRPG), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), deceleration time (DT), and propagation velocity (PVcm/s) indices. The results revealed also no linear correlations between serum vitamin D and albumin (r= -0.17, P= 0.06), ALP (r= -0.12, P= 0.14), T4 (r= -0.11, P= 0.16), as well as TSH (r= -0.10, P= 0.19). Conclusions: It seems that vitamin D deficiency in patients with TM is associated with systolic but not diastolic dysfunctions, possibly as consequences of related biochemical abnormalities.

BACKGROUND Our goal was to use molecular techniques to verify and characterise clinical diagnoses of ocular toxoplasmosis. Clinical cases were evaluated against IgM and IgG Toxoplasma antibodies, and IgG avidity was tested. B1 gene was assessed for molecular detection, and multi-locus genotyping were conducted to type Toxoplasma infections. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in 33 patients with suspected active ocular toxoplasmosis. Patients were examined by an ophthalmologist and clinical manifestations were recorded. Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM from serum samples were analysed by chemiluminescence immunoassay and ELISA. Acute vs chronic infection was evaluated by IgG avidity testing. Molecular diagnosis of T. gondii infection targeted the B1 gene, and the T. gondii genotype was determined by amplification of the GRA6, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB and APICO loci. The correlation of age, gender, occupation, education, contact with cats or soil, and the consumption of undercooked meat with the incidence of ocular toxoplasmosis was evaluated. RESULTS Twenty-eight patients (84.8%) were seropositive, two (6%) were both IgG and IgM positive, while one (3%) showed IgG avidity

Objective : To assess the microvascular structure of macula in uveitic refractory macular edemaMethod:In a cross-sectional observational study fifty-five patients in all were assessed for macular microvascular structure using Optuve OCT angiography: 30 patients with intermediate uveitis-related refractory macular edema (RME group), and 25 patients with intermediate uveitis without macular edema (control group).Results:Superficial layer density in RME and control group were significantly different in whole image and parafovea (P=0.027 , P= 0.001), however there was no significant differences between the two groups in fovea superficial density (P=0.711).There was no significant difference in deep layer density between the two groups (P>0.05).Conclusion:The density of superficial vessels is lower in refractory macular edema. Micro-cystic changes in inner retina and ischemia can be the cause of alteration in superficial layer density in refractory macular edema.

Purpose: To investigate the pattern of ocular involvement in Behcet’s disease (BD) with predictors of patients’ final state of vision. Methods: This historical cohort encompassed the clinical records of 200 patients diagnosed according to the International Criteria for BD (ICBD), over a period of 17 years between 2004 and 2021. Results: The prevalence of Behcet’s uveitis (BU) was more common in females and patients in the fourth decade of life. Ninety-five patients (47.5%) had evidence of ocular involvement in the initial ophthalmologic evaluation, and 171 patients (85.5%) manifested evidence of BU during the follow-up visits of which bilateral non-granulomatous panuveitis was the most common anatomical pattern of involvement (32.9%) followed by posterior (27.6%), anterior (26.5%), and intermediate (13.8%) uveitis. The prevalent accompanying signs were oral aphthous (67%), skin lesions (29%), and genital ulcers (19.5%). Cystoid macular edema (CME) was the most frequent ocular complication (62%), followed by cataract (57.5%) and epiretinal membranes (ERM) (36.5%). Univariate analysis showed the following determinants: male gender, younger age at onset, panuveitis, posterior uveitis, retinal vasculitis, and longer duration of uveitis as poorer visual prognostic factors of the disease. Multivariate analysis demonstrated a higher chance of poor visual prognosis of BD in patients with panuveitis, posterior uveitis, retinal vasculitis, and longer duration of uveitis. Conclusion: This cohort study demonstrated an overview on epidemiological patterns of BU along with the visual prognostic factors in Iranian patients.

The purpose of this study was to compare the vitreoretinal surgery outcomes in patients with uncomplicated rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). This was a retrospective, nonrandomized consecutive case series study. Six hundred and eighty-three eyes with primary uncomplicated RRD between 2013 and 2017 were included in this study. Patients were treated by one of the following methods: pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), scleral buckling (SB), and combined PPV with SB (PPV + SB). The success rate was divided into an anatomical and functional one, the anatomical success rate was retinal reattachment, and the functional success rate was defined as a statistically significant improvement in BCVA patients within a 6-month follow-up period. This study involved 683 eyes; of these, 79 eyes underwent PPV, combined PPV/SB was performed on 180 eyes, and 424 eyes underwent SB. The anatomical success rates were 83.5% for PPV and 80% for combined SB/PPV. The anatomical success rate for the SB group was 75.5%. There were no significant differences between these groups in terms of anatomical success rates (0.191) or functional success rates (p = 0.534). There was no significant difference between the PPV alone and PPV + SB in terms of the likelihood of anatomic success (p-value: 0.503) or functional success (p-value: 0.839). Preoperative worse BCVA and presence of PVR were associated with poor prognosis (p-value: 0.024, 0.013, respectively). In the setting of appropriate instruments for microincision pars plana deep vitrectomy, it seems the surgical outcomes of scleral buckling and PPV are not different in patients with primary uncomplicated RRD. The supplementary band has not additional benefits in patients who underwent PPV with this type of RRD.

Herein, the preparation of a novel core-shell structured Cu/ionic liquid-containing magnetic nanoporous MCM-41 (Mag@mSiO2/IL-Cu) is developed. The Mag@mSiO2/IL-Cu was synthesized via the surfactant-directed condensation of tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) over Fe3O4@SiO2, followed by chemical immobilization of alkyl imidazolium chloride/copper complex. This nanomaterial was characterized by using FT-IR, TGA, SEM, VSM, PXRD, EDX and TEM analyses. The Mag@mSiO2/IL-Cu nanocomposite was used as a powerful and highly stable nanocatalyst in the synthesis of biologically active pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles. The catalyst showed excellent activity in H2O at room temperature under ultrasonic conditions. The leaching test was performed to study the nature of the Mag@mSiO2/IL-Cu nanocatalyst under applied conditions. The designed catalyst could be easily removed and recovered for at least six runs without a significant decrease in its activity.

Objective: Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), an autosomal dominant inherited disorder is characterized by the presence of multiple adenomatous colorectal polyps, which can develop into cancer during early adulthood. Therefore, early diagnosis is essential. Most FAP patients have several extracolonic manifestations, including congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (CHRPE). Whereas genetic markers may provide the main route to detection of “at risk” subjects , at present this approach is clearly limited and searches for a noninvasive phenotypic marker continue to be high priority. The aim of this study was to describe the pattern of distribution of CHRPE lesions and evaluate their diagnostic value in FAP patients and their family members in a local population. Methods: A total of 23 FAP patients and 26 relatives belonging to 12 families at high risk of developing FAP were subjected to colonoscopic and ophthalmological examination. Result: Retinal examinations demonstrated prevalences of CHRPE in FAP patents and their siblings of 78% and 38%, respectively. We were able to illustrate a significant correlation between FAP disease and the presence of retinal lesions. Sensitivity and specificity of CHRPE as a screening test to detect the presence of FAP are 78.3% and 61.5%, respectively, with a positive predictive value of 64.3% and a negative predictive value of 76.2 %. A “lesion form” significant difference was found between FAP and normal participants. Spearman nonparametric analysis revealed no correlation between age and number or size of lesions. Conclusion: Multiple CHRPE lesions are a diagnostic feature of FAP patients They are specific and sensitive clinical markers of this disease (specificity 60% and sensitivity 77%).

The Aim of this research is to discuss emotional relation with marriage satisfaction of couples in Ilam. The statistical society consisted of couples of Ilam. The method was correlative one. Also, the data collected in questionnaire are measurement. Based on report of registration marriage bureau of Ilam, the couples were 2000 people at 2013-2014. In order to collect data and as for background of subject, librarian method has been used and for collecting data, closed answer question has been used which consist of: 1- emotional relations 2- Enrich marriage satisfaction questionnaire. The findings showed that there is significant relation between emotional relation and marriage satisfaction of Ilam. Also, there is significant relation between satisfaction with gender and emotional relation in Ilam couples. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n6s6p37

Purpose To investigate the effect of subconjunctival bevacizumab immediately after excision of primary pterygium. Methods Eighty patients (80 eyes) with primary pterygium were included in this double-blind clinical trial. The pterygia were excised by the bare sclera technique. Then, the patients were randomized in 2 equal groups; group A received subconjunctival bevacizumab (1.25 mg/0.1 mL) injected immediately after surgical excision of the pterygium, and placebo was administered in the same way in group B. Patients were followed-up for 9 months after the operation, and the possible complications and recurrence rate were documented. Thirty-three patients (33 eyes) completed the study in each group. Results The rate of complications was comparable between the 2 groups (57.6% in group A versus 63.6% in group B; P = 0.61). None of these complications was clinically significant, and they resolved spontaneously or by using conservative measures. The recurrence rate was higher in group B compared with group A (57.6% vs. 45.5%); however, this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.33; odds ratio, 1.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.62-4.31). Conclusions Subconjunctival injection of bevacizumab immediately after surgical excision of primary pterygium is well-tolerated, but it cannot significantly prevent the recurrence of this condition.

This study was performed in an attempt to assess serum calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase in adolescent girls and calcium supplementation in subjects with abnormal serum findings.A randomized, cross-sectional, cluster sampling, prospective, and descriptive trial was conducted from January through March 2003 for measurement of serum calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase. The study group consisted of healthy girl students aged 11 - 15 years, from various areas of Tehran, Iran. Supplementary calcium tablets (2000 mg per day) were prescribed for 20 days for girls with low or normal serum calcium and raised alkaline phosphatase concentration.Of 414 girls who were evaluated, 29 (7%) had low or normal serum calcium and raised alkaline phosphatase concentration, with other normal findings. The mean serum calcium and alkaline phosphatase in these girls were 9.4 +/- 0.4 mg% and 1168 +/- 156 IU/L, respectively. The mean serum calcium in 8 (27.58%) of these 29 girls were 8.02 +/- 0.3 mg%. The serum calcium and alkaline phosphatase after calcium supplementation were 9.6 +/- 0.9 mg% and 666 +/- 310 IU/L, respectively, with a significant (P0.05) difference existing in serum alkaline phosphatase concentration among girls before and after supplementation. The serum phosphorus concentration in all girls was normal.Hypocalcemia is common in adolescent girls, which is among the subtle biochemical findings of rickets during the rapid growth period and may progress into symptomatic rickets.