Serum galectin-3 levels in patients with psoriasis.

Introduction: Galectin-3 is a β-galactoside-binding lectin associated with cellular proliferation, inflammation and angiogenesis, which are the major characteristics of psoriatic skin.

Objectives: To investigate serum galectin-3 levels in psoriasis patients compared with healthy controls and to study its relationship with disease characteristics.

Methods: Seventy-eight patients diagnosed with psoriasis and 78 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were included in the study.

Association of CYP2J2 polymorphism with susceptibility to psoriasis in Turkish population: a case-control study.

Background: Cytochrome P450 2J2 is mostly expressed in extrahepatic tissues; it metabolizes arachidonic acid to epoxyeicosatrienoic acids, with various cardio protective and anti-inflammatory effects. CYP2J2 polymorphism has been identified as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, but its association with psoriasis remains unknown.

Objective: To evaluate CYP2J2 polymorphism as a risk factor for psoriasis in the Turkish population.

Comparison of Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Findings in Patients with Behçet's Disease and Healthy Controls.

Purpose: To investigate optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) findings in patients with Behçet's disease (BD).

Methods: Ninety-four eyes of 49 patients with BD and 53 eyes of 53 healthy subjects were included. Vascular density (VD), foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, perifoveal capillary hypoperfusion, perifoveal capillary network disorganization, and FAZ irregularity were analyzed.

Elevated neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio as an indicator of secondary erythema nodosum, a retrospective observational study.

Background/aim: Erythema nodosum (EN) is an inflammatory disorder of subcutaneous tissue. Although etiopathogenesis of the disease is unknown, many predisposing factors such as infections, systemic disease, and drugs have been identified. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been shown to be a novel inflammatory marker in many dermatological diseases.

Assessment of Metabolic Profile and Ischemia-modified Albumin Level in Patients with Alopecia Areata: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune-mediated hair follicle disorder. In the literature, there is no study evaluating metabolic syndrome and levels of ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) which is proposed as an oxidative stress biomarker in patients with AA.

Aims: The aim was to investigate the presence of metabolic syndrome and the levels of IMA, small dense low-density lipoprotein (sd-LDL), and visfatin levels in AA patients.

Visfatin and insulin levels and cigarette smoking are independent risk factors for hidradenitis suppurativa: a case-control study.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. HS has been associated with obesity, adipokine imbalance, dyslipidemia, pro-inflammation, and metabolic syndrome (MS). The aim of this study was to determine the association between HS, and serum visfatin levels (SVLs), small-dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL-C), and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), as well as the association between HS, and smoking, alcohol consumption, anthropometric measurements, blood pressures (BPs), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and lipids, inflammatory markers, homocysteine, uric acid (UA), serum insulin levels (SILs), insulin resistance (IR) and MS, so as to identify relevant risk factors for HS.

Mycosis Fungoides and Vitamin D Status: Analyses of Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Vitamin D Receptor Gene.

Various types of cancer, including melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer, are associated with vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms. However, few studies have addressed VDR polymorphisms in patients with mycosis fungoides (MF), and previous studies have reported conflicting results. Aim of this case-control study was to assess the correlation between VDR single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) Cdx2, Fok1, Apa1, Bsm1, and Taq1 and MF.

Evaluation of the gastrointestinal findings of nodulocystic acnepatients during systemic isotretinoin therapy.

Background/aim: Systemic isotretinoin treatment is an effective treatment modality for nodulocystic acne, the clinical use of which has been associated with reports of adverse events. We conducted a prospective study with the aim of determining the possible gastrointestinal and laboratory findings of nodulocystic acne patients during systemic isotretinoin treatment.

Materials And Methods: Seventy patients with nodulocystic acne completed the study.

The frequency of hematuria in acne vulgaris patients during isotretinoin treatment.

Background: Systemic isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid) is effective in the treatment of acne vulgaris. The most common side effects are mucocutaneous ones. Hematuria seen secondary to isotretinoin treatment is thought to be due to mucosal dryness in the urinary system.

Short-term isotretinoin-induced elkonyxis and median nail dystrophy.

Elkonyxis and median nail distrophy are very rare nail fold disorders due to the damage in nail matrix and proximal nail fold. Herein, we report a patient with both elkonyxis and median nail distrophy occured two months into a treatment course of isotretinoin that is to our knowledge for the first time.

An unusual side effect of isotretinoin: retinoid dermatitis affecting external urethral meatus.

Isotretinoin (Iso) is the most effective drug against severe nodulocystic acne. As a synthetic oral retinoid, Iso exerts its actions by modulating cell growth and differentiation. Targeting all the pathophysiologic processes in acne development, Iso has been considered to be an unique drug, however it has several side effects.

Coeliac disease-associated antibodies in psoriasis.

Background: The possible relationship between psoriasis and coeliac disease (CD) has been attributed to the common pathogenic mechanisms of the two diseases and the presence of antigliadin antibodies in patients has been reported to increase the incidence of CD.

Objective: The aim of this report was to study CD-associated antibodies serum antigliadin antibody immunoglobulin (Ig)A, IgG, anti-endomysial antibody IgA and anti-transglutaminase antibody IgA and to demonstrate whether there is an increase in the frequency of those markers of CD in patients with psoriasis.

Methods: Serum antigliadin antibody IgG and IgA, antiendomysial antibody IgA and anti-transglutaminase antibody IgA were studied in 37 (19 males) patients with psoriasis and 50 (23 males) healthy controls.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Behçet disease: a case-control study in Turkey.

Background: Chronic inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel diseases have been reported to be associated with the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS), which is characterized by central obesity, elevated triglycerides (TG), reduced high-density lipoproteins (HDL), impaired fasting blood glucose (FBG), and hypertension. Behçet disease (BD) is a chronic, immuno-inflammatory disease with multisystemic involvement.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for MetS in patients with BD.

Faun tail: a rare cutaneous marker of spinal dysraphism.

A 10-year-old girl who was admitted to the urology department with complaints of urinary incontinence was referred to our dermatology outpatient clinic because of a congenital, circumscribed, hypertrichotic area on the lumbosacral region. Cutaneous examination revealed a circumscribed area of coarse, dark terminal hair measuring 25 x 15 cm overlying the lumbosacral area with normal underlying skin (Figure 1). There were erythematous macular lesions on the superior of the hairy area.

Patient characteristics in Behçet disease: a retrospective analysis of 213 Turkish patients during 2001-4.

Background: Behçet disease (BD) is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystemic vasculitic disorder with a wide spectrum of clinical presentations. The highest prevalence is seen in Turkey. Specific diagnostic tools are yet to be discovered; thus, the diagnosis relies on physicians being acquainted with the symptoms and signs of the disease.

Allergic contact dermatitis to pure henna.

Henna is a naturally occurring brown dye made from the leaves of the tree Lawsonia inermis. The active ingredient of henna is lawsone (2-hydroxy-1, 4-naphthoquinone). It is traditionally used in Islamic and Hindu cultures as a hair coloring and as a dye for decorating the nails or making temporary skin tattoos.

Flare-up of pustular psoriasis with fluoxetine: possibility of a serotoninergic influence?

In this article, we report two cases of pustular psoriasis flaring up after fluoxetine administration. A 21-year-old male patient with localized pustular psoriasis became erythrodermic following commencement of fluoxetine. Even though the lesions were unresponsive to cyclosporine A (Cyc A) treatment, dramatic resolution was observed with discontinuation of fluoxetine.

Prevalence of skin diseases among pediatric patients in Turkey.

The pediatric population is composed of persons under 16 years of age, and few studies are available on the dermatological diseases of this group. In the present study, data on a total of 6300 pediatric patients admitted between the years 2004-2006 were analyzed. Hospital-based patient registry records were used for data collection.

Plasma homocysteine level is elevated in patients on isotretinoin therapy for cystic acne: a prospective controlled study.

Purpose: Isotretinoin (Iso) has marked side effects. Homocysteine (Hcy) metabolizes in the liver, requiring folate and vitamin B12. Elevated blood levels of Hcy have been linked to an increased risk of premature coronary artery disease (CAD).

Acquired aquagenic papulotranslucent acrokeratoderma: report of two cases.

Aquagenic papulotranslucent acrokeratoderma (APA) is an acquired, unusual condition characterized by bilateral, symmetric, translucent-to-white papules located on the hands and feet. These lesions are accentuated following a short period of water exposure. Since its first description in 1973 as hereditary papulotranslucent acrokeratoderma, only a few cases of APA have been reported.