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Purpose: To evaluate the effect of pregnancy on subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) and central macular thickness (CMT) via spectral domain optic coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Materials and Methods: 24 pregnant women's 48 eyes as study group and 24 healthy non-pregnant women's 48 eyes as control group were enrolled in this prospective comparative study. SFCT, RNFLT and CMT were calculated at trimester 1-3. and postpartum month 1 via SD-OCT and compared with control group. Results: SFCT was median 350.50±81.01 µm at trimester 1., 348.50±80.37 µm at trimester 2., 348.50±82.29 µm at trimester 3. and 349±83,15 µm at postpartum month 1. in study group and 320.00±85.71 µm in control group. RNFLT was median 100.50±11.14 µm at trimester 1., 100±11.27 µm at trimester 2., 101±11.41 µm at trimester 3. and 98.50±11.21 µm at postpartum month 1. in study group and 101,00±10,90 µm in control group. CMT was median 214.50±12.31 µm at trimester 1., 215±12.16 µm at trimester 2., 215.50±17.38 µm at trimester 3. and 215±12.13 µm at postpartum month 1. in study group and 217,50±14,61 µm in control group. SFCT, RNFLT and CMT changes were not statistically significant in the course of time (p=0.87 p=0.092 and p=0.538 respectively). When study group and control group were compared, no statistically significance was found in terms of SFCT, RNFLT and CMT (p=0.086; p=0.526 and p=0.238 respectively). Conclusion: No significant change was found in terms of SFCT, RNFLT and CMT during pregnancy and until postpartum month 1. © 2016 Gazi Eye Foundation. All rights reserved.

OBJECTIVE: Endothelial dysfunction is an early marker of atherosclerosis. Angiotensin II and nitric oxide have important roles in maintaining the vascular tone. The existence of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphisms has been known, and deletion (D) of the allele has been associated with coronary artery disease. As ACE genotype affects endothelial functions in the patients with risk factors for coronary artery disease, it may also be a determinant of atherosclerosis. In this study, the relationship between endothelial function and ACE gene polymorphisms was investigated in healthy young subjects. METHODS: Forty-six healthy young subjects were included in this cross-sectional, randomized study. Participants were further divided into three groups according with ACE genotypes: DD genotype--24 subjects, DI genotype--13 subjects and II genotype--9 subjects. All patients underwent brachial artery ultrasonographic examination. We analyzed ACE insertion (I) and D allele frequencies in all subjects. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare continuous variables, and the Chi-square test was used to compare proportions among groups. RESULTS: Demographic features were similar except gender between the groups according to the ACE genotypes. Total cholesterol levels were lower in the DD genotype comparing with the others (p0.05). Endothelium independent dilatations were similar among different ACE genotypes. CONCLUSION: Our data showed that ACE genotype has no effect on endothelial functions in patients without risk factors for coronary artery disease.

PubMed: 15700667 Recent reports have demonstrated that automated continous monitoring blood culture systems are fast and efficent in the detection of Brucella spp. In this retrospective study, the detection of these slow-growing bacteria by BACTEC 9050 blood culture system was evaluated. For this purpose, 60 patients, whose blood cultures were monitored by using BACTEC 9050 system were included into the study. Brucella spp. were isolated in 26 of 31 patients from whom two blood cultures were obtained and in 17 of 29 patients from whom single blood culture were obtained. The majority of isolates (84.1 %) were detected within 7 days of incubation while the earliest detection was on the 3rd day in two samples. However, the bacteria were isolated by subcultures after 30 days of incubation in 8 of the samples. In conclusion, the routine 5 or 7 days-incubation protocols with BACTEC 9050 system were not efficient for the isolation of Brucella spp. Obtaining two blood cultures and prolonge incubation followed by subcultures increased the probability of bacterial isolation.