Ege University

About: Ege University is a education organization based out in Izmir, Turkey. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 10166 authors who have published 22035 publications receiving 429516 citations.

Dense opacification of the optical component of a hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lens: a clinicopathological analysis of 9 explanted lenses.

Abstract: Purpose: To report clinical, pathological, histochemical, ultrastructural, and spectrographic analyses of explanted hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs) obtained from patients who had visual disturbances caused by postoperative opacification of the lens optic. Setting: Center for Research on Ocular Therapeutics and Biodevices, Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA, and Ege University, Alsancak Izmir, Turkey. Methods: Nine hydrophilic IOLs (SC60B-OUV, MDR Inc.) were explanted from 9 patients with decreased visual acuity. Most patients became symptomatic approximately 24 months after uneventful phacoemulsification and IOL implantation. Opacification was noted and appeared clinically to be associated with a fine granularity within the substance of the IOL optic. The IOLs were forwarded to the center and examined by gross and light microscopy. Full-thickness cut sections of the optics were stained with 1% alizarin red and the von Kossa method (special stains for calcium). Some were submitted for scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. Results: Microscopic analyses revealed multiple fine, granular deposits of variable sizes within the lens optics, usually distributed in a line parallel to the anterior and posterior curvatures of the optic, with a clear zone just beneath the optic surface. The deposits stained positive with alizarin red and the von Kossa method. Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy of the internal substance of sectioned IOLs demonstrated the presence of calcium within the deposits. Conclusion: This is the first clinicopathological report of optic opacification occurring with this hydrophilic acrylic IOL model. Studies of similar cases with this lens should be done to determine the incidence and possible mechanisms of the phenomenon.

Association Between Periodontal Disease and Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract: Background: Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Well-known risk factors independently or combined participate in both myocardial infarction and atherosclerosis. Recent data have shown that viral and bacterial infections may also contribute to the acute thromboembolic events. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible association between periodontal health and coronary heart disease in patients with acute myocardial infarction and chronic coronary heart disease. Methods: A total of 120 patients, 60 with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and 60 with chronic coronary heart disease (CCHD) were included in this study. The patients in the AMI group (50 men and 10 women; mean age 53.8 ± 9.5 years) were admitted to the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Ege because of AMI. The CCHD patients group (42 men and 18 women; mean age 58.5 ± 11.6 years) had no documented history of recent acute coronary events. All patients were clin...

Sounding Open Clusters: Asteroseismic Constraints from Kepler on the Properties of NGC 6791 and NGC 6819

Abstract: We present initial results on some of the properties of open clusters NGC 6791 and NGC 6819 derived from asteroseismic data obtained by NASA's Kepler mission. In addition to estimating the mass, radius, and log g of stars on the red giant branch (RGB) of these clusters, we estimate the distance to the clusters and their ages. Our model-independent estimate of the distance modulus of NGC 6791 is (m - M){sub 0} = 13.11 {+-} 0.06. We find (m - M){sub 0} = 11.85 {+-} 0.05 for NGC 6819. The average mass of stars on the RGB of NGC 6791 is 1.20 {+-} 0.01 M{sub sun}, while that of NGC 6819 is 1.68 {+-} 0.03 M{sub sun}. It should be noted that we do not have data that cover the entire RGB and the actual mass will be somewhat lower. We have determined model-dependent estimates of ages of these clusters. We find ages between 6.8 and 8.6 Gyr for NGC 6791, however, most sets of models give ages around 7 Gyr. We obtain ages between 2 and 2.4 Gyr for NGC 6819.