The role of pentraxin 3 in pemphigus vulgaris.

Introduction: Pemphigus is a group of autoimmune bullous diseases caused by antibodies directed against the desmosomal adhesion molecules desmoglein 1 and 3, which are required for intercellular adhesion of keratinocytes. Pentraxins are a group of proteins that function as pattern recognition molecules and also play a role in humoral innate immunity. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is the prototype of the long pentraxins and has been shown to be increased in numerous autoimmune diseases.

Reduced serum paraoxonase-1 levels in vitiligo: further evidence of oxidative stress.

Vitiligo is a common disorder that results in depigmented areas of the skin. The pathogenesis of the disease remains unclear, but oxidative stress is one suggested cause. Oxidative stress may be induced by increasing the generation of reactive oxygen species and other free radicals.

Determination of some organochlorine pesticide residues in honeys from Konya, Turkey.

In this study, 24 organochlorine pesticide residues in 109 different honey samples collected from stores and open markets in Konya, Turkey were analyzed by gas chromatography-electron capture detection. Aldrin, cis-chlordane, trans-chlordane, oxy-chlordane, 2,4(')-DDE, and 4,4(')-DDE were found in all honey samples. The mean value was 0.