The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of haemodialysis with a high ultrafiltration rate on the choroidal and retinal thickness of non-diabetic end-stage chronic renal failure (CRF) patients using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Twenty-one eyes of 21 male CRF patients aged between 46 and 80 years were included in this prospective study. Retinal and choroidal thicknesses of the patients were measured using high-resolution OCT line scans with the activated enhanced depth imaging mode before and shortly after haemodialysis. Retinal and choroidal thickness measurements were taken at the fovea and at two points that were 1,500 μm nasal and temporal to the fovea. The relationships between the haemodynamic changes, intraocular pressure (IOP) and central corneal thickness (CCT) were also evaluated. The mean choroidal thicknesses before haemodialysis at the subfoveal, temporal and nasal locations were 232.81 ± 71.92, 212.43 ± 70.50 and 182.14 ± 68.88 μm, respectively. The mean choroidal thicknesses after haemodialysis at the subfoveal, temporal and nasal locations were 210.90 ± 65.53, 195.38 ± 66.48 and 165.19 ± 66.73 μm, respectively. There were significant differences between the choroidal thicknesses before and after haemodialysis (p < 0.001 for all). The mean retinal thicknesses before haemodialysis at the foveal, temporal and nasal locations were 215.86 ± 41.06, 308.86 ± 37.73 and 338.00 ± 33.32 μm, respectively. The mean retinal thicknesses after haemodialysis at the foveal, temporal and nasal locations were 216.90 ± 39.70, 313.86 ± 32.89 and 335.29 ± 36.85 μm, respectively. There was no significant difference between the retinal thicknesses before and after haemodialysis (p > 0.05 for all). The mean CCT decreased insignificantly from 550.48 ± 17.46 to 548.10 ± 21.12 μm (p = 0.411). The mean IOP decreased significantly from 14.09 ± 2.58 to 12.54 ± 2.23 mmHg (p = 0.003), which did not correlate with the CCT [r = (-)0.134, p = 0.562]. Haemodialysis with a high ultrafiltration volume did not alter the retinal thickness but caused a significant choroidal thinning and an IOP decrease in non-diabetic end-stage CRF patients.

Prevalence of HGM was 3.6%. Dysphagia was found related with the size of HGM. This may be associated with larger HGMs' causing more acid secretion.

Smoking caused acute, significant increase in choroidal thickness that returned to baseline levels after 1 h. The choroidal and retinal thicknesses did not differ significantly between the healthy young smokers and non-smokers.

The objective of this study was to describe the demographic and clinical features of patients who were admitted to the emergency department (ED) due to wild mushroom poisoning and to point the importance of mushroom poisonings in our area. This study was performed by examining the files of wild mushroom poisoning patients who were admitted to the ED of Firat University, Faculty of Medicine, between January 2000 and June 2004, retrospectively. Patients ≥16 years of age were included in the study. The frequency of wild mushroom poisoning, age and sex of the patients, season, place of the residence, laboratory findings, treatment and outcome of the patients were investigated. During the study period, 64 patients with wild mushroom poisoning were admitted to the ED. From 64 overall patients, 25 (39.1%) were males. The most common complaints during the admission were nausea, vomiting and abdominal discomfort. The duration of hospitalization was two (range 1—4 days) days. No death was observed. Severity of mushroom poisoning depends on the type of mushroom eaten, the time lag between the poisoning and admission to the hospital, and the rapid and correct treatment given to the patient either in the ambulance or at health centre. Human & Experimental Toxicology (2007) 26: 579—582.

Our study suggests that DCR with double-flap anastomosis has no advantage over DCR with only anterior flaps. Anastomosis by suturing only anterior flaps and excision of the posterior flaps is easier to perform and does not appear to adversely affect the outcome of DCR surgery.