Institute of Geography Named after Academician Hasan Aliyev

Importance: Early diagnosis of retinoblastoma, the most common intraocular cancer, can save both a child's life and vision. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that many children across the world are diagnosed late. To our knowledge, the clinical presentation of retinoblastoma has never been assessed on a global scale. Objectives: To report the retinoblastoma stage at diagnosis in patients across the world during a single year, to investigate associations between clinical variables and national income level, and to investigate risk factors for advanced disease at diagnosis. Design, Setting, and Participants: A total of 278 retinoblastoma treatment centers were recruited from June 2017 through December 2018 to participate in a cross-sectional analysis of treatment-naive patients with retinoblastoma who were diagnosed in 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures: Age at presentation, proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, and tumor stage and metastasis. Results: The cohort included 4351 new patients from 153 countries; the median age at diagnosis was 30.5 (interquartile range, 18.3-45.9) months, and 1976 patients (45.4%) were female. Most patients (n = 3685 [84.7%]) were from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Globally, the most common indication for referral was leukocoria (n = 2638 [62.8%]), followed by strabismus (n = 429 [10.2%]) and proptosis (n = 309 [7.4%]). Patients from high-income countries (HICs) were diagnosed at a median age of 14.1 months, with 656 of 666 (98.5%) patients having intraocular retinoblastoma and 2 (0.3%) having metastasis. Patients from low-income countries were diagnosed at a median age of 30.5 months, with 256 of 521 (49.1%) having extraocular retinoblastoma and 94 of 498 (18.9%) having metastasis. Lower national income level was associated with older presentation age, higher proportion of locally advanced disease and distant metastasis, and smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma. Advanced disease at diagnosis was more common in LMICs even after adjusting for age (odds ratio for low-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 17.92 [95% CI, 12.94-24.80], and for lower-middle-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 5.74 [95% CI, 4.30-7.68]). Conclusions and Relevance: This study is estimated to have included more than half of all new retinoblastoma cases worldwide in 2017. Children from LMICs, where the main global retinoblastoma burden lies, presented at an older age with more advanced disease and demonstrated a smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, likely because many do not reach a childbearing age. Given that retinoblastoma is curable, these data are concerning and mandate intervention at national and international levels. Further studies are needed to investigate factors, other than age at presentation, that may be associated with advanced disease in LMICs.

PURPOSE: To introduce a novel biomarker for screening of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) by detecting and measuring brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the serum of normal subjects and patients with early stage of glaucoma. METHODS: Twenty-five glaucoma patients as the case group and 25 age- and sex-matched normal persons as the control group were tested. The control group comprised 19 men and 6 women, with the mean age of 59.32 ± 11.8 years and without any apparent ocular or systemic diseases. The case group comprised 20 men and 5 women, with the mean age of 59.64 ± 11.56 years, who were assessed by routinely performed clinical and paraclinical investigations. BDNF levels in serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using monoclonal antibodies specific for BDNF. RESULTS: The mean of BDNF levels in the serum was 27.16 ± 5.53 ng/mL in the control subjects and 18.42 ± 4.05 ng/mL in the subjects with the early stage glaucoma. A statistically significant difference was evident between the two groups (p < 0.05). We found no significant differences in serum BDNF levels according to the subjects' age, gender, duration of the glaucoma, mean intraocular pressure, and blood pressure (p > 0.05). Glaucoma patients who had lower serum BDNF concentration had disclosed a significant negative correlation with pattern standard deviations. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that BDNF in the serum might be a useful biochemical marker for early detection of POAG. We also propose that this might be a reliable, time efficient, and cost-effective method for diagnosis, screening, and assessing the progression of POAG. However, more studies and trials are needed to investigate these factors in greater detail.

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare the topographic and topometric parameters, thickness profile data, and data from enhanced elevation maps of thin non-keratoconic, subclinical keratoconic, and mild keratoconic corneas with the Pentacam Scheimpflug corneal tomography and to study the usefulness of different parameters to differentiate keratoconus from topographically normal thin corneas. METHODS: The study included 30 eyes with subclinical keratoconus, 30 eyes with mild-stage keratoconus, and 54 healthy eyes with minimal pachymetry ≤500 µm, with a mean age of 21.19 ± 2.97, 21.75 ± 1.93, and 21.5 ± 2.95 years, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves was used to analyze the diagnostic significance of the Pentacam parameters. RESULTS: The anterior and posterior corneal elevations, pachymetric progression, the percentage of thickness increase measurements, overall D value, and topometric indices were statistically significantly higher in subclinical and mild keratoconic corneas than in normal eyes with thin cornea (p < 0.05). All these parameters had sufficient strength (area under the receiver operating characteristic curves >0.90) to differentiate clinical keratoconus. Posterior elevation showed the excellent area under the receiver operating characteristic curves with 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity for this purpose. However, among all parameters studied, the anterior elevation (0.935) showed the excellent area under the receiver operating characteristic curves to differentiate subclinical keratoconus, followed by posterior elevation (0.897), index of height decentration (0.887), and D value (0.882). CONCLUSION: The parameters derived from the Scheimpflug device, such as corneal elevations and overall D value, can effectively differentiate subclinical and clinical keratoconus from non-keratoconic thin cornea eyes. However, the specificity levels of these parameters were relatively limited in the diagnosis of subclinical keratoconus.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate tomographic and topographic parameters in subclinical and clinical keratoconus eyes by comparing them with normal eyes in a young Caucasian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 88 normal eyes (control group), bilateral data from the preclinical stage of 24 progressive keratoconus eyes (bilateral subclinical keratoconus group), 40 fellow eyes of patients with unilateral keratoconus (fellow eyes group) and 97 eyes with mild keratoconus (clinical keratoconus group). Topographic and tomographic data, data from enhanced elevation maps and keratoconus indices were measured in all study eyes using Scheimpflug tomography. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess individual parameters to discriminate eyes of patients with subclinical and clinical keratoconus from control eyes. The sensitivity and specificity of the main effective parameters were evaluated and optimal cut-off points were identified to differentiate subclinical keratoconus and keratoconus from normal corneas. RESULTS: Comparison of all subclinical and clinical keratoconus eyes from the normal group revealed significant differences in most diagnostic parameters. The ROC curve analysis showed high overall predictive accuracy of several Pentacam parameters (overall D value, anterior and posterior elevations and difference elevations, pachymetry progression index, index of surface variance, index of height decentration and keratoconus index) in discriminating ectatic corneas from normal ones. These outcomes were proportionally less pronounced in all subclinical keratoconus eyes than in the clinical keratoconus eyes. Pachymetric readings were progressively lower in the bilateral subclinical keratoconus eyes and sensitivity and specificity of the analyzed tomographic and topographic parameters were higher than the fellow eyes group when differentiating subclinical keratoconus from healthy corneas. CONCLUSION: Scheimpflug tomography parameters such as D value, elevation parameters, progression index and several surface indices can effectively differentiate keratoconus from normal corneas in a Caucasian population. Nevertheless, a combination of different data is required to distinguish subclinical keratoconus.

Background Bismuth quadruple therapies (BQTs) including bismuth, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and two antibiotics have been shown to be highly effective for treating Helicobacter pylori infection even in areas of high bacterial antibiotic resistance. Objective To describe the time trends of use, effectiveness and safety of BQT in Europe using the European Registry on Helicobacter pylori Management (Hp-EuReg). Design Patients registered in the Hp-EuReg from 2013 to 2021 who had received BQT were included. The regimens prescribed, the number of eradication attempts, effectiveness, adherence and safety were analysed. The effectiveness was assessed by modified intention to treat (mITT). Time-trend and multivariate analyses were performed to determine variables that predicted treatment success. Results Of the 49 690 patients included in the Hp-EuReg, 15 582 (31%) had received BQT. BQT use increased from 8.6% of all treatments in 2013 to 39% in 2021. Single-capsule BQT—containing bismuth, metronidazole and tetracycline—plus a PPI (single-capsule BQT, ScBQT) was the most frequent treatment mode (43%). Schemes that obtained an effectiveness above 90% were the 10-day ScBQT and 14-day BQT using tetracycline plus metronidazole, or amoxicillin plus either clarithromycin or metronidazole. Only ScBQT achieved above 90% cure rates in all the geographical areas studied. Using the ScBQT scheme, adherence, the use of standard or high-dose PPIs, 14-day prescriptions and the use of BQT as first-line treatment were significantly associated with higher mITT effectiveness. Conclusion The use of BQT increased notably in Europe over the study period. A 10-day ScBQT was the scheme that most consistently achieved optimal effectiveness. Trial registration number NCT02328131 .

This study explores the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in high school education, focusing on its implications for student motivation and learning through the framework of Self-Determination Theory. As AI technologies like ChatGPT4 become more prevalent in educational settings, their potential to enhance learning by catering to students' needs for competence is significant. However, this investigation also highlights the challenges associated with AI misuse, which can undermine students' autonomy and relatedness, leading to academic dishonesty and superficial learning. The research underscores the importance of balancing technological advancements with ethical engagement and intrinsic motivation. Through qualitative analysis, including interviews and thematic analysis of student and teacher feedback, the study reveals a nuanced picture of AI's role in education. It suggests that while AI offers considerable benefits, its integration requires careful consideration of ethical use, digital literacy, and the cultivation of intrinsic motivation. The findings advocate for educational policies and practices that not only leverage AI's potential to enrich learning experiences but also address the challenges posed by its misuse. This study contributes to the ongoing discourse on technology in education, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to AI integration that supports ethical standards and promotes a meaningful educational experience.

Abstract The reconstruction of regional long‐term patterns recorded in marine sedimentary successions of the Eastern Paratethys is important in understanding the role of Cenozoic climate change and orogenic activity on the depositional environment and sedimentation dynamics in Western Asia. In this study, the environmental conditions in the early to middle Miocene (Islam Dağ section) in eastern Azerbaijan are elucidated using petrographic–mineralogical relations, detrital indicators, weathering indices and δ 13 C and δ 18 O signatures of organic‐rich (total organic carbon: ca 3 to 6 wt. %) argillites. Sedimentary facies and chemical proxies (Na/K, K/Al, Si/Al, Ti/Al ratios, chemical index of alteration values) indicate arid conditions, reduced weathering rates in the hinterland and sediment deposition in an euhaline and poorly oxygenated deep‐water basin during the early Miocene, followed by a shift to humid conditions, higher weathering rates and an oxygenated water column in the mid‐early Miocene. Long‐term aridification and deposition of gypsiferous and calcareous argillites under generally more oxygenated, euhaline to polyhaline conditions in a lacustrine or restricted shelf setting until the middle Miocene is evidenced by gradual changes in element ratios and the chemical index of alteration. Discriminant function analysis suggests the Russian Platform, drained by the Palaeo‐Volga and Palaeo‐Don river systems, to be the source area for the siliciclastic input throughout the Miocene, although a minor contribution of volcanogenic detritus and mafic components from the Greater Caucasus is possible. The C–S–Fe associations and increasing Fe/Al ratios towards the middle Miocene support the concept of continuous influx of detrital Fe and total organic carbon. The formation of ferruginous smectite from alteration of volcanic ash layers could have affected the preservation of total organic carbon and therefore the sedimentary C and Fe budget in the Eastern Paratethys basins. Palaeo‐climatic reconstructions based on δ 13 C (−34·5 to +1·7‰ Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite) and δ 18 O (−34·7 to −4·8‰ Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite) records of authigenic carbonates should be made with great caution, as the pristine marine signatures may be affected by the oxidation of organic matter and meteoric diagenesis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess clinical characteristics, risk factors, and management outcomes of retinal changes similar to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), seen in full-term infants.PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective review of 46 eyes of 23 patients, born at full term or near full term and diagnosed to have active ROP-like retinopathy or sequelae of ROP-like retinopathy.RESULTS: Mean birth weight (BW) and gestational age (GA) were 2342 ± 923 g (range, 1200–4160 g) and 38.5 ± 1.85 weeks (range, 37–40 weeks). Mean age at the time of diagnosis was 3.5 ± 8.75 years (range, 1 month–16 years). Stage 1 and 2 of retinopathy was seen in 10 eyes (21.7%), threshold disease with plus disease in 12 eyes (26%) and Stage 4 or 5 in 14 eyes (30.4%). Involutional sequelae were noted in 10 eyes (21.7%). Twenty-one eyes (45.6%) underwent appropriate treatment in the form of laser, cryotherapy, or retinal detachment surgery. Eight eyes (17.4%) with advanced sequelae such as total closed funnel retinal detachment and macular fold were not treated. Mean follow-up was 3 years (range, 1 month to 12 years). At the last follow-up, 29 eyes (63%) had a favorable structural outcome (P < 0.001). Among the patients in whom visual acuity could be assessed (16 eyes), favorable visual outcome was noted in 9 eyes (56.2%). Low BW (P = 0.038), multiple births (P = 0.013), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) (P = 0.001), phototherapy (P = 0.001), and oxygen administration (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with the development of ROP-like retinopathy in these full-term infants.CONCLUSIONS: ROP-like retinopathy can occur in full-term and near full-term infants and can potentially lead to permanent visual impairment. Screening of infants with risk factors such as oxygen administration, RDS, multiple births, and low BW, regardless of GA, may reduce visual impairment.

The paper adresses three ocular diseases - “wet” type of age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema and neovascular glaucoma, which have similar neovascular changes and immunological disorders. The key moment of neovascularization development is an imbalance between pro- and anti-angiogenic factors. Particular attention is paid to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A), pigment epithelial derived factor (PEDF), transforming growth factor-beta (ТGF-β). The paper discusses the “immune privilege” of the eye, ACAID phenomenon, aspects of choroidal neovascularization pathogenesis, inflammation as an important part of neovascularization and the protective response to endogenous and exogenous damage, as well as complement system’s disorders, cytokine status impairment and autoimmune mechanisms. Laser treatment is widely used for treatment of neovascular diseases, but pharmacotherapy is very important too. Anti-angiogenic therapy is extremely promising and is held to provide regression of the newly-formed vasculature and/or normalization of newly formed blood vessels structure and suppress the functional activity of a key proangiogenic factor VEGF-A. Pegaptanib, ranibizumab and bevacizumab are discussed, and results of international clinical trials MARINA, ANCHOR, FOCUS, PrONTO, IVAN, CATT, RESTORE are provided.

Childhood glaucoma is a heterogeneous disease and can be associated with various genetic alterations. The aim of this study was to report first results of the phenotype-genotype relationship in a German childhood glaucoma cohort. Forty-nine eyes of 29 children diagnosed with childhood glaucoma were prospectively included in the registry. Besides medical history, non-genetic risk factor anamnesis and examination results, genetic examination report was obtained (23 cases). DNA from peripheral blood or buccal swab was used for molecular genetic analysis using a specific glaucoma gene panel. Primary endpoint was the distribution of causative genetic mutations and associated disorders. Median age was 1.8 (IQR 0.6; 3.8) years, 64% participants were female. Secondary childhood glaucoma (55%) was more common than primary childhood glaucoma (41%). In 14%, parental consanguinity was indicated. A mutation was found in all these cases, which makes consanguinity an important risk factor for genetic causes in childhood glaucoma. CYP1B1 (30%) and TEK (10%) mutations were found in primary childhood glaucoma patients. In secondary childhood glaucoma cases, alterations in CYP1B1 (25%), SOX11 (13%), FOXC1 (13%), GJA8 (13%) and LTBP2 (13%) were detected. Congenital cataract was associated with variants in FYCO1 and CRYBB3 (25% each), and one case of primary megalocornea with a CHRDL1 aberration. Novel variants of causative genetic mutations were found. Distribution of childhood glaucoma types and causative genes was comparable to previous investigated cohorts. This is the first prospective study using standardized forms to determine phenotypes and non-genetic factors in childhood glaucoma with the aim to evaluate their association with genotypes in childhood glaucoma.

PURPOSE: This study assesses short-term intraocular pressure (IOP) change in the fellow eye of glaucoma patients after mitomycin C-augmented trabeculectomy, filtering canaloplasty, or PreserFlo™ microshunt implantation in the treated eye. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective chart review of 235 glaucoma patients (235 eyes) was performed. Patients underwent initial trabeculectomy (187 patients), filtering canaloplasty (25 patients), or PreserFlo™ microshunt implantation (23 patients) in one eye, while the fellow eye was naïve to any previous glaucoma surgery. IOP was evaluated before and on the 1st and 2nd days and at 1 week after surgery. Main outcome measure was IOP change in the fellow eye. Secondary outcomes were proportion of clinically significant IOP elevation in the fellow eye and evaluation of potential risk factors associated with postoperative IOP fluctuation. RESULTS: IOP in the fellow eye at 1 week after trabeculectomy was statistically significantly lower than preoperatively (p < 0.0001), while the IOP did not change significantly in the fellow eyes in filtering canaloplasty or PreserFlo groups. The higher the preoperative IOP was in the fellow eye, the larger was the intraocular pressure-lowering effect at 1 week after trabeculectomy (p < 0.0001). A clinically significant IOP elevation was noted in 14.2%, 9.5%, and 5% of fellow eyes after trabeculectomy, filtering canaloplasty, or PreserFlo™ microshunt implantation, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows an IOP-lowering effect in the fellow eye of glaucoma patients after trabeculectomy. Significant IOP rise might occur in the fellow eye of some glaucoma patients after different types of glaucoma surgery.

Nowadays, various trade operations are carried out in the international economic relations and economic relations between the world’s countries. Trade is one of the leading sectors of the world economy. Trade plays a vital role in shaping the world economy, increasing its efficiency based on historical stages of development, and regulating international relations. Specialisation, globalisation, and integration principles are taken as a basis in this case. Trade efficiency is achieved through a pricing policy that optimises international trade. It is also based on supply and demand. From this point of view, the article extensively studies the foreign trade relations of the Republic of Azerbaijan, along with its positive trends, and explores the areas hindering its development. Thus, the geography of foreign trade relations of the Republic of Azerbaijan has significantly expanded in recent years, has become a member of international trade organisations, and has achieved positive trends in trade. The Republic of Azerbaijan has established foreign economic and trade relations with several countries worldwide and constantly develops these relations.

Objective: One of the important vectors of the strategic development of the EAEU countries (Member States of the Eurasian Economic Union) is the construction of a digital economy and digital education - the formation of a common market for educational services with norms that level the competitiveness of countries in the field of education, aimed at improving the quality of human capital. It should be noted that education was not included in the service sectors for which the EAEU common market is being formed. Only in relation to the common labor market, the EAEU countries agreed on the mutual recognition of documents on education without going through the procedure for recognizing diplomas (with the exception of papers on education in pedagogical, legal, medical, and pharmaceutical profiles), as well as on the right to receive education by children from families working in the country (Articles 97 and 98 of the Treaty on the EAEU). But five years before the creation of the EAEU, on December 11, 2009, the EAEU countries signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of education, according to which the parties «carry out coordinated measures to consistently expand the EAEU aimed at creating a common educational space». Research in the field of concerted action of the member countries of the EAEU, as a rule, is located in the area of higher education, and we do not find research in the field of general education in the public domain. Theoretical framework: This study aims to identify the main directions of sustainable development in education in modern conditions. The choice of the topic is due to the importance of understanding the differences in the potential for digitalization of school education in the post-Soviet republics within the framework of the Eurasian Union and the hypothetical request of the Azerbaijani and Russian education systems to develop a resource matrix for the digital educational environment, as signaled by the roadmaps of the National Projects of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation in the field of education and economy in general. Method: To compare the preparedness of schools in different countries for the digitalization of education for subsequent testing in the educational system of Azerbaijan, an analysis of the state of affairs was carried out according to the criteria: (1) material and technical equipment; (2) preparedness of teaching staff; (3) opportunities for the formation of a digital educational environment and an analysis of digital practices in the projects of schools in the EAEU member countries. The logic of the empirical part includes identifying the respondents' ideas about the possibilities of digitalizing school education in the EAEU countries. The result of the practical part will be the formed matrix of the «potential of school digitalization» in the context of the EAEU countries. Results: The effect of the global digitalization of general education, triggered by the pandemic (COVID 19), is the reason for the emergence of research interest in the problem in the EAEU countries and the comparison of approaches and processes that accompany the phenomenon of digitalization of education. Moreover, advanced practices in digitalizing education have been identified among these countries, which can become the basis for further sustainable development. Originality/value: The digitalization of education is a multifaceted phenomenon covering all human activity spheres. A phenomenon that needs to be comprehended, developed, and actively applied in practice is its consequences and advanced learning technologies to fit into the new, emerging digital world system. With a broad interpretation of the concept of «digitalization of education», it can be noted that the authors are unanimous that digitalization forms an educational environment that ensures the «delivery» of information to participants in the educational process using digital technologies and tools (software + multimedia equipment).

Purpose: The research aims to create a general economic-geographical model and explore its application possibilities using various criteria to achieve sustainable development in production and education. Introducing a new model is one of the most critical conditions since scientific research in this direction only partially solves the problem. In this regard, creating an economic-geographical model in production and education is very important. The model can positively affect the regulation of mutual relations of any economically developed countries with a favourable geographical position. Theoretical framework: The model we have presented can be applied from a theoretical point of view in creating new production areas, increasing personnel potential, and improving the quality of education. However, there is a need to conduct scientific research in this direction. Because in order to achieve the principles of stable and sustainable development in production and education, a favourable and accessible environment must first be formed so that people's social well-being and quality of life can reach a high level of development. Nevertheless, all forms of education provide us with a wealth of experience and information related to various scientific fields, as well as an understanding of the wider world and human interactions. Design/methodology/approach: From a methodological point of view, several scientists and specialists deal with ways of developing production and education and their application mechanisms. In this direction, we approached the scientific works of N.A.Iskakov, L.N.Rodionova, Y.I.Vaisman, R.Jovovic, M.P.Todaro, Z.T.Imrani and others, their ideas and scientific results from a synergistic point of view. Besides these, there are different methods of approach in the field of production and education. Grouping methods were used: event, fact, cause and effect, as well as a deduction, systematic study of objects, synthesis of events and processes, characterizing production and education, comparison in determining optimal options, generalization, establishing interaction and in preparation of the model. Findings: In our modern times, economic power reflects the social and ecological components and the ability to produce products. In addition to production, this potential includes scientific and technical achievements and the level of education. The economic-geographical model of sustainable development in production and education can have different directions, but its advantage is related to meeting the minimum needs of people in the future by achieving complex development. Research, Practical &amp; Social implications: The economic-geographical model presented in the field of production and education can help to focus on many ideas based on political, economic, social as well as environmental sustainability at the local, regional and global levels. Geographical development is not only natural but also can lead to the solution of economic problems. Originality/value: Aerospace, electronic, microbiological, biochemical and other fields, which have the latest scientific achievements and are equipped with technological equipment, occupy the most essential place in modern production. However, the most critical changes in the economy are related to the advanced development of professional services, information technology and scientific research. In this regard, the value of the research will be a foundation for undergraduate and graduate students, and the application of the model will allow for the exploration of many theories and applications of sustainable development in urban and rural areas.

PURPOSE: To evaluate advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity, and total sulfhydryl (TSH) levels in rabbit corneas after different corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) methods. METHODS: Eighteen eyes of 9 adult New Zealand rabbits were divided into 3 groups of 6 eyes. The standard CXL group was continuously exposed to UV-A at a power setting of 3 mW/cm for 30 minutes. The accelerated CXL (A-CXL) group was continuously exposed to UV-A at a power setting of 30 mW/cm for 3 minutes. The pulse light-accelerated CXL (PLA-CXL) group received UV-A at a power setting of 30 mW/cm for 6 minutes of pulsed exposure (1 second on, 1 second off). Corneas were obtained after 1 hour of UV-A exposure, and 360-degree keratotomy was performed. SOD enzyme activity, AOPP, and TSH levels were measured in the corneal tissues. RESULTS: Compared with the standard CXL and A-CXL groups (133.2 ± 8.5 and 140.2 ± 6.2 μmol/mg, respectively), AOPP levels were found to be significantly increased in the PLA-CXL group (230.7 ± 30.2 μmol/mg) (P = 0.005 and 0.009, respectively). SOD enzyme activities and TSH levels did not differ between the groups (P = 0.167 and 0.187, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: CXL creates covalent bonds between collagen fibers because of reactive oxygen species. This means that more oxygen concentration during the CXL method will produce more reactive oxygen species and, thereby, AOPP. This means that in which CXL method occurs in more oxygen concentration that will produce more reactive oxygen species and thereby AOPP. This study demonstrated that PLA-CXL results in more AOPP formation than did standard CXL and A-CXL.

PURPOSE: To evaluate long-term results of glaucoma surgery in newborn and infants with glaucoma. METHODS: Seventy-nine eyes of 52 children (age: 3 weeks-15.3 years) with primary congenital or secondary glaucoma treated between 2015 and 2017 were included. The median follow-up time was 3.9 years. Conventional probe trabeculotomy, 360° catheter-assisted trabeculotomy, filtering and cyclodestructive surgery were compared. Strict criteria for surgical success were applied: Complete surgical success (IOP below target IOP, no further surgery) and incomplete surgical success (additional surgery allowed) were analyzed, and IOP at baseline and last follow-up was compared. RESULTS: Intraocular pressure (IOP) was significantly reduced in primary congenital (preoperative IOP: 27.8 ± 7.5 mmHg vs. postoperative IOP: 14.2 ± 4.5 mmHg) and secondary glaucoma (preoperative IOP: 29.2 ± 9.1 mmHg vs. postoperative IOP: 16.6 ± 4.7 mmHg). 90% of all eyes reached target IOP with or without medication allowing for additional surgeries. As first surgery, 360° catheter-assisted trabeculotomy had a tendency to higher surgical success than other surgical approaches, while cyclodestructive procedures had lowest. CONCLUSIONS: We found very promising surgical results in our childhood glaucoma patient group. Surgical success in both congenital and secondary glaucoma was high.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the prescription patterns, effectiveness, and safety of adding probiotics to Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy, in Europe. METHODS: International, prospective, noninterventional registry of the clinical practice of the European gastroenterologists. Data were collected and quality reviewed until March 2021 at AEG-REDCap. The effectiveness was evaluated by modified intention-to-treat analysis, differentiating by geographic areas. Adverse events (AEs) were categorized as mild, moderate, and severe. RESULTS: Overall, 36,699 treatments were recorded, where 8,233 (22%) were prescribed with probiotics. Probiotics use was associated with higher effectiveness in the overall analysis (odds ratio [OR] 1.631, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.456-1.828), as well as in triple (OR 1.702, 95% CI 1.403-2.065), quadruple (OR 1.383, 95% CI 0.996-1.920), bismuth quadruple (OR 1.248, 95% CI 1.003-1.554), and sequential therapies (OR 3.690, 95% CI 2.686-5.069). Lactobacillus genus was associated with a higher therapy effectiveness in Eastern Europe when triple (OR 2.625, 95% CI 1.911-3.606) and bismuth quadruple (OR 1.587, 95% CI 1.117-2.254) first-line therapies were prescribed. In Central Europe, the use of probiotics was associated with a decrease in both the overall incidence of AEs (OR 0.656, 95% CI 0.516-0.888) and severe AEs (OR 0.312, 95% CI 0.217-0.449). Bifidobacterium genus was associated with lower overall (OR 0.725, 95% CI 0.592-0.888) and severe (OR 0.254, 95% CI 0.185-0.347) AEs, and Saccharomyces was associated with reduced overall (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.32-0.91) and severe (OR 0.257, 95% CI 0.123-0.536) AEs under quadruple-bismuth regimen. DISCUSSION: In Europe, the use of probiotics was associated with higher effectiveness and safety of H. pylori eradication therapy. Lactobacillus improved treatment effectiveness, whereas Bifidobacterium and Saccharomyces were associated with a better safety profile.

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AIM: The purpose of our study was to determine the frequency of detection of some markers of endothelial dysfunction in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on the basis of the Therapy Department of of A. Aliyev Azerbaijan State Advanced Training Institute for Doctors, the Department of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases &quot;MedEra Hospital&quot; and &quot;Memorial Klinika&quot; between March 2015 and September 2017. In patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, homocysteine (Axis-Shield, IFA method) and hs-CRP (Biomerica, IFA method) in the blood, albumin (MicralTest, Roche Diagnostics) in urine were determined. The study included 87 patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (the diagnosis was confirmed on the basis of ECCO recommendations) in whom there was no history of nephro-, cerebro- and cardiovascular pathology in the anamnesis. RESULTS: Of the 48 patients with Crohn's disease, 45 homocysteine levels were elevated and comprised 12.9-48.7 μmol/L in the 15-60 year old; and in the group of patients older than 60 years fluctuated within 16.5-34.6 μmol/L. Out of 48 patients with Crohn's disease, 47 showed both albuminuria (micro- and macroalbuminuria) and was 22.8-98.5 mg/L. Of the 48 patients with Crohn's disease, 31 had an increase in hs-CRP between 4.3-47.1 mg/L; of them in 14 patients less than 10 mg/L, in 8 patients from 10.1-20.0 mg/L, and in 9 patients it ranged more than 20.0 mg/L. Of the 39 patients with ulcerative colitis, the level of homocysteine in 33 was elevated and amounted to 13.4-48.7 μmol/L in the 17-40 year old group; in the 41-59 year old group, 14.9-31.3 μmol/L; and in the group of patients older than 60 years fluctuated within the range of 16.9-41.7 μmol/L. Out of 39 patients with ulcerative colitis, 24 had albuminuria (both micro- and macroalbuminuria) and was 21.9-146.5 mg/L. Of 39 patients with ulcerative colitis in 36, an increase in hs-CRP was observed in the range 3.5-118.7 mg/L; of them in 17 patients less than 10 mg/L, in 6 patients from 10.1-20.0 mg/L, in 13 patients it ranged more than 20.0 mg/L. CONCLUSION: The frequency of detection of some markers of endothelial dysfunction in Crohn's disease was on the average 85.3%: for homocysteine 93.7%; for hs-CRP 64.5%; for albuminuria 97.9%, and for ulcerative colitis averaged 79.4%: for homocysteine, 84.6%; for hs-CRP 92.3%; for albuminuria 61.5%. Because of the high incidence of these markers, patients with inflammatory bowel diseases need a multi-disciplinary approach.

The hydrodynamics of the capillary flow of a viscous-plastic liquid in cylindrical rectilinear pores is considered, as a result of which the structural velocity distribution over the pore cross section is obtained. Analytical solutions are proposed for the equations of hydraulic diffusion and nonlinear filtration for a non-Newtonian fluid in a cylindrical porous medium. It is noted that when a non-Newtonian fluid flows in a porous medium, the filtration equations take a nonlinear form due to the effective viscosity, shear, and yield stresses taken into account in its structure. The proposed solutions make it possible to evaluate the state of the porous medium and its main parameters (permeability, hydraulic diffusion, and effective viscosity coefficients). The obtained solutions are compared with existing experimental data for non-Newtonian oils.