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ABSTRACT: Vascular involvement is one of the major characteristics of Behcet’s disease (BD). However, there are controversial findings
regarding cardiac involvement in BD. Although early reports demonstrated that there is diastolic dysfunction in BD, conflicting
results were found in the following trials. Hence, a new method for more objectively estimating the cardiac functions is needed.
For this aim, we used high-usefulness tissue Doppler echocardiography for detailed analysis of cardiac changes in BD patients
because this method was superior to other conventional echocardiographic techniques. The study population included 42 patients
with BD (19 men, 23 women; mean age, 35 ± 10years, mean disease duration, 2.7 ± 1.6years) and 30 healthy subjects (14 men,
16 women; mean age, 38 ± 7years). Cardiac functions were determined using echocardiography, comprising standard two-dimensional
and conventional Doppler and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). Peak systolic myocardial velocity at mitral annulus, early diastolic
mitral annular velocity (Em), late diastolic mitral annular velocity (Am), Em/Am, and myocardial performance index (MPI) were
calculated by TDI. The conventional echocardiographic parameters and tissue Doppler measurements were similar between the
groups. Tissue Doppler derived mitral relaxation time was longer (75 ± 13 vs 63 ± 16msn, p = 0.021) in patients with BD. There was statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding left ventricular
MPI (0.458 ± 0.072 vs 0.416 ± 0.068%, p = 0.016), which were calculated from tissue Doppler systolic time intervals. There was also significant correlation between
the disease duration and MPI (r = 0.38, p = 0.017). We have demonstrated that tissue Doppler-derived myocardial left ventricular relaxation time and MPI were impaired
in BD patients, although systolic and diastolic function parameters were comparable in the patients and controls.
Clinical Rheumatology 04/2012; 27(3):309-314. · 2.00 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Topical tetracycline was the first topical antibiotic approved for the treatment of acne, its use has been limited because of the skin penetration problems of the active ingredient.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a new formulation of topical tetracycline [Imex, tetracycline hydrochloride 3%, 20g] monotherapy in the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris.
The sample group consisted of 87 volunteer students of both sexes with grade 1 to grade 2 acne as assessed by Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) severity grading system. Subjects were instructed to apply topical tetracycline twice daily for 8 weeks. Subject were evaluated at baseline and at weeks 2, 4, and 8.
Of 87 subjects, 68 completed the 8-week treatment period. The mean reduction rates of opened comedones were 55.4%, closed comedones were 27.1%, papules were 24.8%, pustules were 27.3%. After 8 weeks of treatment, a statistically significant reduction was only observed in the mean counts of the papules and pustules (P < 0.001).
Tetracycline is a well-tolerated topical agent and is particularly effective in the treatment of inflammatory lesions in acne.
Journal of drugs in dermatology: JDD 10/2008; 7(10):953-5. · 1.57 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) in saliva is cytoprotective against injuries and contributes to the maintenance of the integrity of the gastrointestinal mucosa. Low salivary EGF levels have been observed in patients with various forms of oral mucosal disease.
Our aim was to determine whether salivary EGF is low in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) or those with Behçet's disease (BD) when compared with healthy controls.
The study population consisted of 33 BD and 16 RAS patients and 60 healthy controls. Measurement of EGF concentration in human saliva was performed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using an antibody-coated solid phase.
The mean salivary EGF levels (+/-SD) of active (with oral ulceration) and inactive stages (absence of oral ulceration) of BD (1,939.7 +/- 1,561.5 and 2,305.7 +/- 1,481.6 pg/ml, respectively) and RAS patients (1,650.5 +/- 704.7 and 1,069.9 +/- 539.2 pg/ml, respectively) were both lower than those of the healthy controls (2,758.7 +/- 1,657.9 pg/ml) (p < 0.05 for each).
BD and RAS patients have reduced salivary EGF levels even in the absence of oral ulcerations. EGF could be involved in the pathogenesis of BD and RAS by disturbing the mucosal integrity that may result in a susceptibility to the development of oral ulcers in these diseases.
Dermatology 08/2008; 217(3):235-40. · 2.05 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Vascular involvement is one of the major characteristics of Behcet's disease (BD). However, there are controversial findings regarding cardiac involvement in BD. Although early reports demonstrated that there is diastolic dysfunction in BD, conflicting results were found in the following trials. Hence, a new method for more objectively estimating the cardiac functions is needed. For this aim, we used high-usefulness tissue Doppler echocardiography for detailed analysis of cardiac changes in BD patients because this method was superior to other conventional echocardiographic techniques. The study population included 42 patients with BD (19 men, 23 women; mean age, 35 +/- 10 years, mean disease duration, 2.7 +/- 1.6 years) and 30 healthy subjects (14 men, 16 women; mean age, 38 +/- 7 years). Cardiac functions were determined using echocardiography, comprising standard two-dimensional and conventional Doppler and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). Peak systolic myocardial velocity at mitral annulus, early diastolic mitral annular velocity (Em), late diastolic mitral annular velocity (Am), Em/Am, and myocardial performance index (MPI) were calculated by TDI. The conventional echocardiographic parameters and tissue Doppler measurements were similar between the groups. Tissue Doppler derived mitral relaxation time was longer (75 +/- 13 vs 63 +/- 16 msn, p = 0.021) in patients with BD. There was statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding left ventricular MPI (0.458 +/- 0.072 vs 0.416 +/- 0.068%, p = 0.016), which were calculated from tissue Doppler systolic time intervals. There was also significant correlation between the disease duration and MPI (r = 0.38, p = 0.017). We have demonstrated that tissue Doppler-derived myocardial left ventricular relaxation time and MPI were impaired in BD patients, although systolic and diastolic function parameters were comparable in the patients and controls.
Clinical Rheumatology 04/2008; 27(3):309-14. · 2.00 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: CASE 1: A 27-year-old woman presented with a 6 x 6 mm, soft, pink-brown papule located on the right axilla (Fig. 1). Dermoscopic examination showed a central scar-like white-colored area, a cleft-like appearance in the central area, and a fine pigment network in the periphery of the lesion (Fig. 2). CASE 2: A 5-year-old girl presented with a 4 x 4 mm pink nodule on her left abdominal region. Dermoscopic examination showed a central scar-like white-colored area, and a fine pigment network in the periphery of the lesion. CASE 3: An 18-year-old man presented to our outpatient clinic suffering from a firm, tender, painful, 7 x 7 mm brownish pink nodule located on his left hypochondrium. Upon dermoscopic examination, a central white scar-like area was detected. A cleft-like appearance was also detected in the central region. In the periphery of the lesion, there was a fine pigment network. CASE 4: An 8-year-old girl reported to our outpatient clinic with a congenital 5 x 5 mm brownish papule on her right inguinal region. Dermoscopic examination showed a central white scar-like area, a cleft-like appearance in the central region, and a fine pigment network in the periphery of the lesion (Fig. 3). CASE 5: A 2-month-old girl was referred to our pigmented lesions clinic with a 3 x 3 mm brownish pink papule located on the right subcostal region lesion that had been noted by a pediatrician. Dermoscopic examination showed a central white area, central streak, and a very faint pigmented network at the periphery.
International Journal of Dermatology 11/2007; 46(10):1067-8. · 1.14 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This study aimed to assess cochlear functions in Behçet's disease and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using otoacoustic emission testing (OAE), which objectively assesses outer hair cells in the cochlea.
Patients with Behçet's disease (n = 16) and RA (n = 11) as well as 20 controls were tested using pure tone audiometry and transiently evoked (TEOAEs) and distortion product OAEs (DPOAEs).
Pure tone results in the Behçet's group were not significantly different from controls (p > 0.05). Pure tone results in the RA group were significantly different than in controls at 250, 500 and 6,000 Hz (p < 0.05). TEOAEs could be obtained in all participants. DPOAE amplitudes in the RA group and controls were similar (p > 0.05). DPOAE amplitudes were significantly higher in the Behçet's group than in controls at 1 and 2 kHz (p < 0.05).
A subtle deterioration in hearing can be seen at low and high frequencies in RA, which is not related to outer hair cell dysfunction as detected by DPOAE testing. In the patients with Behçet's disease who have hearing thresholds within the normal limits, outer hair cell functions seem spared with an increased activity in the apical regions of the cochlea.
ORL 01/2007; 69(4):233-8. · 0.91 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Psoriasis is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory, and hyperproliferative disease. Recently there have been studies regarding increases in the levels of NO in inflammatory dermatoses including psoriasis. In this study, 22 patients with psoriasis were scored with PASI (psoriasis area and severity index) and the levels of serum nitrite-nitrate were evaluated before and after therapy with methotrexate (Mtx). The results were compared with age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. The relation of the results with the clinical severity and the cumulative Mtx dose were also evaluated. The serum levels of nitrite-nitrate of the psoriatic patients with active lesions were found to be significantly higher than the levels of the healthy volunteers and the patients after therapy. The elevated nitrite-nitrate serum levels in the inflammatory period may suggest the possible role of this mediator in the etiopathogenesis of psoriasis and the potential future use of NO inhibitors in the treatment of psoriasis.
Mediators of Inflammation 02/2006; 2006(3):16043. · 3.26 Impact Factor
