Gender disparities in Behçet's syndrome: identifying distinct phenotypes through cluster analysis.

Behçet's syndrome (BS) is a complex, multi-systemic disorder with a global occurrence, notably concentrated along the Silk Road. This study aimed to investigate gender-specific expressions and clinical phenotypes in BS patients within the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey. A total of 290 BS patients were retrospectively analyzed between January 2013 and December 2023.

Oxidative modification of carbonic anhydrase by peroxynitrite trigger immune response in mice and rheumatic disease patients.

Background: Carbonic anhydrases (CA) are metalloenzymes with wide tissue distribution, involved in many important physiological processes, and in some rheumatic diseases, autoantibodies are formed against these enzymes. Recent studies have suggested that oxidative stress triggers anti-CA antibody formation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of modification with oxidative/nitrosative stress end products on CA antigenicity in mice and the relationship between the modified CA autoantibodies and oxidant-antioxidant status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Sjögren's syndrome (SjS).

Evaluation of hepatitis serology and frequency of viral reactivation in patients with inflammatory arthritis receiving biologic agents: a multicenter observational study.

To evaluate of hepatitis serology and reactivation frequency in patients with rheumatic disease receiving biologic agents. Our study included patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases from 23 centers, who were followed up with biological therapy. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, duration of drug use and hepatitis serology and the state of viral reactivation were analyzed.

Infliximab therapy provides beneficial effects for choroidal thickness increase in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis: A possible mechanism mediating the suppressing of uveitis attacks.

Objectives: This study aims to quantitatively assess the profile of the choroidal thickness (ChT) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) using optical coherence tomography (OCT), and to examine whether the posterior eye segment abnormalities in active AS patients are reversible by infliximab therapy.

Patients And Methods: October 2014 and March 2016 Thirty-one patients with AS (22 males, 9 females; mean age 39.6±12.

Associations between cytokine gene polymorphisms and rheumatoid arthritis in Turkish population.

Objective: Various cytokine polymorphisms have been associated with genetic risk factors predisposing to Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) in different populations. To predict the clinical outcome as well as response to therapy in RA, studies aimed to describe genetic markers. The present study aims to search for polymorphisms of 13 cytokine coding genes in the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey.

The potential utility of real-time PCR of the 16S-rRNA gene in the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis.

İstanbullu K, Köksal N, Çetinkaya M, Özkan H, Yakut T, Karkucak M, Doğan H. The potential utility of real-time PCR of the 16S-rRNA gene in the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. Turk J Pediatr 2019; 61: 493-499.

Diagnostic efficacy of routine contrast-enhanced abdominal CT for the assessment of osteoporosis in the Turkish population.

Background/aim: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of vertebral Hounsfield unit (HU) values on routine contrast- enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans for the assessment of osteoporosis using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) T-scores as a reference standard.

Materials And Methods: A total of 111 consecutive patients who underwent contrast-enhanced abdominal CT examination for any indication and DXA within a 6-month period were retrospectively analyzed. The CT attenuation values of trabecular bone in HUs were measured in axial and sagittal planes from lumbar vertebrae 1–4 (L1–L4).

Comparison of clinical outcomes of ultrasonography-guided and blind local injections in facet syndrome: A 6-week randomized controlled trial.

Background: Facet syndrome is defined as pain that arises from any structure of the facet joints, including the fibrous capsule, synovial membrane, hyaline cartilage, and bone.

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of US-guided and blind injections on clinical outcome in facet syndrome.

Materials And Methods: Forty-seven patients with the diagnosis of facet syndrome were included.

Identification of novel variants in ten patients with Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome by high-throughput sequencing.

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a rare inherited platelet disorder characterized by bleeding diathesis, oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) and a myriad of often-serious clinical complications. We established the clinical and laboratory phenotype and genotype of six unrelated pedigrees comprising ten patients with clinical suspicion of HPS; including platelet aggregation, flow cytometry, platelet dense granule content, electron microscopy and high-throughput sequencing (HTS). The clinical presentation showed significant heterogeneity and no clear phenotype-genotype correlations.

A prospective clinical investigation of the effects of anti-TNF alpha therapy on exercise capacity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Background/aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate possible effects of anti-TNF alpha therapy on cardiorespiratory fitness and physical functional capacity of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Materials And Methods: Twenty-eight AS patients meeting the modified New York criteria with active disease state and an equivalent number of healthy individuals as the control were prospectively enrolled. Physical working capacity and aerobic exercise capacity of the participants were determined by using cardiopulmonary exercise tests, performed before and 4 months after initiation of anti-TNF alpha therapy.

Sexual Dysfunction and Childhood Trauma In Female Patients With Fibromyalgia.

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a rheumatological diseases characterized by diffuse pain and stiffness accompanied with fatigue, insomnia and headache. Physical and psychological factors were implicated in sexuality of patients with FM. There are few studies investigating the effect of childhood trauma on sexuality of patients with FM.

Assessment of hand function and disability in fibromyalgia.

Objective: Fibromyalgia, a potentially debilitating chronic pain syndrome, is a chronic disease. We aimed to compare the hand function of fibromyalgia (FM) patients and healthy individuals and to demonstrate the relationship between hand disability and FM.

Patients And Methods: The study was consisted of 40 female patients with FM and 30 healthy controls.

Investigation of MEFV gene polymorphisms (G138G and A165A) in adult patients with familial Mediterranean fever.

Aim: Various mutations have been identified in the Mediterranean fever (MEFV) gene which is reported to be responsible from Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). In our study, we aimed to determine the frequency of the MEFV mutations in our region and to investigate the impact of G138G (rs224224, c.414A>G) and A165A (rs224223, c.

Carbonic anhydrase I and II autoantibodies in Behçet's disease.

Background: Behçet's disease is a vasculitis, seen more frequently around the Mediterranean and the Far East, and evinces with oral and genital ulcerations, skin lesions and uveitis. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is a metalloenzyme which is widely distributed in the living world, and it is essential for the regulation of acid-base balance. Anti-CA antibodies have been reported in many disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, endometriosis, idiopathic chronic pancreatitis, type 1 diabetes and Graves' disease.

Evaluation of TNF-alpha gene (G308A) and MBL2 gene codon 54 polymorphisms in Turkish patients with tuberculosis.

Objective: MBL acts as a binding protein that enables uptake of mycobacteria into macrophages. And, TNF-alpha is an important cytokine that is involved in control of mycobacterial infections both in-vivo and in-vitro. A large number of genetic factors exerting susceptibility to tuberculosis has been identified, among which mannose-binding lectin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha call attention.

GSTT1 and GSTM1 gene polymorphisims in sarcoidosis.

Introduction: Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease of unknown cause, which affects all systems, especially the lungs and the lymphatic system. Genetic and environmental factors are held accountable for the etiology. Based on the general opinion, sarcoidosis develops after exposure to a specific environmental agent by genetically susceptible individuals.

The relationship between serum YKL-40 levels and arterial stiffness in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: Serum YKL-40 plays roles in inflammatory and vascular processes. Our aim was to evaluate serum YKL-40 levels in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to investigate their potential relationship with arterial stiffness based on carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CF-PWV).

Methods: Forty-three patients with AS and 41 healthy controls with no history or current signs of cardiovascular disease were included in the study.

Gender specific differences in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Objectives: To assess gender related differences in a cohort of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods: Consecutively recruited patients were included and underwent clinical, radiological and laboratory evaluation by using standardized protocol and case report forms.

Results: Women (n = 115) with PsA had higher symptom duration and body mass index (BMI), tender and swollen joint counts, disease activity score-28 joints (DAS28), Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and poorer physical activity and fatigue than men (n = 72) with PsA.

Distribution of KRAS and BRAF Mutations in Metastatic Colorectal Cancers in Turkish Patients.

The results of this study demonstrate the potential prognostic and predictive values of KRAS and BRAF gene mutations in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). It has been proven that KRAS and BRAF mutations are predictive biomarkers for resistance to anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody treatment in patients with metastatic CRC (mCRC). We demonstrated the distribution of KRAS (codons 12, 13 and 61) and BRAF (codon 600) gene mutations in 50 mCRCs using direct sequencing and compared the results with clinicopathological data.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of femoral cartilage thickness in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Background: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a common form of arthritis that may vary from asymmetric oligoarthritis to symmetric polyarthritis and spondyloarthritis.

Objectives: To evaluate femoral cartilage thickness using ultrasonography in patients with PsA.

Methods: Thirty-three patients (24 female, 9 male) with a diagnosis of PsA and 31 age-, sex- and body mass index-similar healthy subjects were enrolled in this study.

Arterial stiffness is associated with left ventricular dysfunction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Arterial stiffness (AS) has a detrimental effect on cardiovascular system particularly on left ventricle (LV). The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of AS on LV functions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Forty patients with RA and 25 age-sex matched control subjects (mean age 48.