Serum Calprotectin Levels in Vitiligo Patients and Disease Relation.

INTRODUCTION: Vitiligo is characterized as melanocyte loss in skin and mucous membranes, the pathogenesis of which has not yet been clarified. Calprotectin is a protein secreted from neutrophils, monocytes, and dendritic cells which has an effect on cytokine receptor regulation and the production of reactive oxygen radicals. It has been the subject of research in various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, yet not investigated in vitiligo. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to investigate the role of calprotectin in the etiopathogenesis of vitiligo and its relationship with clinical subtypes and disease scores. METHODS: Forty-four vitiligo patients with lack of autoimmune disease and 36 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were involved in the study. Serum calprotectin levels were measured by ELISA. The results were compared with the control group, and the relationship between patients' demographic characteristics, skin phototypes, disease type, disease scores (Vitiligo Area Scoring Index and Vitiligo Disease Activity Score), disease duration, and age at onset were evaluated. RESULTS: The median serum calprotectin level was 454.08 pg/ml (41.19-873.41) in the patient group, and the median serum calprotectin level was 223.17 pg/ml (44.88-1044.43) in the control group. Serum calprotectin level was significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group (P = 0.016). No correlation was found between serum calprotectin level and disease scores, disease duration, age, or age of onset of disease (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, serum calprotectin levels in the patient group were found to be significantly higher than in the control group. Our findings and the existing literature on calprotectin suggest its potential involvement in the pathogenesis of vitiligo, independent of disease progression and patient characteristics.

Elucidating the role of T-Reg related cytokines: serum transforming growth factor beta and interleukin-35 in alopecia areata.

Previous studies demonstrated that Th1 cytokines like IL-2, IL-12 and IFN-γ have initiatory role in alopecia areata (AA) and positive correlation with disease severity. They informed that serum levels of Th17 cytokines, IL-17, IL-22, IL-23 increased in active AA patients and corelated, particularly IL-17, with disease severity. In recent reports it was showed the balance between Th17 and Treg cells is crucial for maintaining tolerance to self-antigens, and an imbalance towards Th17 may contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases like AA. But research on serum Treg markers in AA is limited. It was aimed to investigate whether the Treg cells have a role in the pathogenesis of AA analyzing the serum levels of Treg cytokines IL-35 and TGF-ß in the patients with AA. 42 AA patients and 38 healthy controls were enrolled. Patient demographics, clinical data, disease severity assessed by Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) scores were recorded. Serum samples were collected and analyzed for TGF-ß and IL-35 levels using ELISA kits. The cytokine levels in both groups were statistically compared. Their relation with parameters of demographic and severity of disease was evaluated. The patient and control groups had no statistically significant difference, there was 71.4% males and 28.6% females in patient group, while the control group had 63.2% males and 36.8% females, Severity analysis classified 18 patients with mild AA, 19 with moderate AA, and 5 with alopecia totalis/areata universalis. While TGF-ß levels exhibited no significant difference between groups, IL-35 levels were significantly elevated in AA patients (p = 0.002). Logistic regression identified IL-35 as a significant parameter influencing disease status (OR = 1.055). Correlation analysis revealed a weak positive correlation between patient age and IL-35 levels (r = 0.436; p = 0.004). Notably, IL-35 levels displayed a significant decrease in individuals with antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity. No correlations were identified between cytokine levels and disease severity, prognosis, or disease activity. Elevated IL-35 levels suggest that IL-35 and specific Treg cell subsets can play a role in AA pathogenesis. The nuanced roles of TGF-ß and IL-35 highlight the need for comprehensive studies to interpret their implications in the complex immunopathogenesis of AA. These findings open avenues for further research, positioning IL-35 as a prospective target for investigating and potentially intervening in AA pathogenesis.

Clinical and Optical Coherence Tomography Analysis of Intraretinal Microcysts in Patients with Epiretinal Membrane.

Purpose: To perform clinical and optical coherence tomography analysis of intraretinal microcysts (IRM) in patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for primary epiretinal membrane (ERM) treatment.Materials and Methods: The files of 137 patients who were operated on by a single surgeon for primary epiretinal membrane treatment in our clinic between September 2017 and January 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with ERM due to secondary pathology were excluded from the study. Twenty patients with post-operative IRM (group 1) were determined and were included as the study group. To determine the effect of IRMs on visual acuity 20 patients who did not have IRM, had primary ERM and underwent PPV for treatment were included as the control group (group 2). The demographic, clinical, and operative data of the patients were obtained from the hospital database. Retinal analysis of the patients before the operation and at the earliest 6 months after the operation was performed using 6 × 6 mm images taken with the macular cube 512 × 128 protocol on the Cirrus HD-OCT (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA, USA) device in our clinic.Results: Intraretinal microcysts were present in 8 (5.8%) of preoperative 137 patients and 20 (14.6%) of 137 postoperative patients. All 8 patients with preoperative cysts in group 1 also had postoperative IRMs. Excluding patients with preoperative cysts, the postoperative IRM incidence was found to be 12/137 (8.75%). Preoperative (p = .392) and postoperative (p = .978) visions were similar in group 1 and group 2. Preoperative (p = .745) and postoperative retinal thicknesses were similar in both groups (p = .989). The incidence of postoperative (p = .642) IRM was similar in patients who underwent ERM and ERM + internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling in group 1.Conclusions: Intraretinal microcysts may sometimes be seen before and after ERM surgery. The preoperative cyst presence in ERM patients is an important risk factor for postoperative cyst presence. The peeling of ILM with ERM does not increase the probability of IRM occurrence. The presence of these cysts before and/or after the operation does not affect the visual prognosis and macular thickness in ERM patients.

Splenic Marginal Zone Lymphoma in Turkey: Association with Hepatitis B Instead of Hepatitis C Virus as an Etiologic and Possible Prognostic Factor - A Multicenter Cohort Study

Objective: Chronic antigenic stimulation is frequently blamed in the pathogenesis of extranodal marginal zone lymphomas including splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL). Chronic hepatitis C is frequently observed in SMZL patients in some geographical regions. However, these reports are largely from North America and Europe, and data from other countries are insufficient. In this multicenter study we aimed to identify the clinical characteristics of SMZL patients in Turkey, including viral hepatitis status and treatment details. Materials and Methods: Data were gathered from participating centers from different regions of Turkey using IBM SPSS Statistics 23 for Windows. Hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HBs antibody, anti-HB core antigen antibody (anti-HBcAg), HB viral load, anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody, HCV viral load results were analyzed. Results: One hundred and four patients were reported. Hepatitis C virus positivity was observed in only one patient. However, hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity was observed in 11.2% and HBsAg and/or anti-HB core antigen antibody (anti-HBcAg) positivities were seen in 34.2% of the patients. The median age was 60 years (range=35-87). Median follow-up duration was 21.2 months (range=00.2-212; 23.2 months for surviving patients). Median overall survival was not reached. Estimated 3-year and 10-year survival rates were 84.8% and 68.9%, respectively. Older age, no splenectomy during follow-up, platelet count of <90x103/µL, lower albumin, higher lactate dehydrogenase, higher ß2-microglobulin, and HBsAg positivity were associated with increased risk of death. Only albumin remained significant in multivariable analysis. Conclusion: These results indicate that hepatitis B virus may be a possible risk factor for SMZL in our population. It may also be an indirect prognostic factor.

Blood lead and cadmium in age related macular degeneration in a Turkish urban population.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the blood lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) levels in age related macular degeneration (AMD) in a turkish urban population. METHODS: Blood Pb and Cd levels of 31 AMD patients and 24 age and gender matched controls with no sign of AMD were measured using dual atomic absorption spectrophotometer system (AAS). History of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cigarette smoking, myocardial infarction and stroke were obtained from all subjects. Degree of AMD was grade 4 according to the Age-Related Eye Disease Study grading system. Median blood Pb and Cd levels were compared by using Students' t-test. RESULTS: Demographic properties like smoking status, presence of diabetes mellitus or hypertension, cerebrovascular occlusion history, serum cholesterol and lipid levels were not significantly different between groups except history of ischemic heart disease (3.22% vs 25% in AMD and control groups respectively, p = .022). Overall in AMD group blood Pb level was 2.83 ±â€¯0.15 µg/l and it was 2.63 ±â€¯0.23 µg/l in control group (p = .36). The Cd level was 3.25 ±â€¯0.20 µg/l in AMD group and 3.11 ±â€¯0.25 µg/l in control group (p = .67). The mean Pb (2.38 ±â€¯0.88 µg/l vs 2.91 ±â€¯1.37 µg/l for AMD vs control, p = .61) and Cd levels (3.06 ±â€¯1.34 µg/l vs 3.35 ±â€¯1.26 µg/l for AMD vs control, p = .56) in current and previous smokers with AMD were not significantly different from those of the current and previous smokers in control group. CONCLUSION: Blood Pb and Cd levels which reflect short term exposure were not significantly different in AMD patients and the control group. The difference was not significant either after involvement of previous or current smoker subjects.

A new stepped tetranuclear copper(II) complex: synthesis, crystal structure and photoluminescence properties.

Binuclear and tetranuclear copper(II) complexes are of interest because of their structural, magnetic and photoluminescence properties. Of the several important configurations of tetranuclear copper(II) complexes, there are limited reports on the crystal structures and solid-state photoluminescence properties of `stepped' tetranuclear copper(II) complexes. A new CuII complex, namely bis{µ3-3-[(4-methoxy-2-oxidobenzylidene)amino]propanolato}bis{µ2-3-[(4-methoxy-2-oxidobenzylidene)amino]propanolato}tetracopper(II), [Cu4(C11H13NO3)4], has been synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis, FT-IR, solid-state UV-Vis spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal structure determination shows that the complex is a stepped tetranuclear structure consisting of two dinuclear [Cu2(L)2] units {L is 3-[(4-methoxy-2-oxidobenzylidene)amino]propanolate}. The two terminal CuII atoms are four-coordinated in square-planar environments, while the two central CuII atoms are five-coordinated in square-pyramidal environments. The solid-state photoluminescence properties of both the complex and 3-[(2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzylidene)amino]propanol (H2L) have been investigated at room temperature in the visible region. When the complex and H2L are excited under UV light at 349 nm, the complex displays a strong blue emission at 469 nm and H2L displays a green emission at 515 nm.

The Effect of Perioperative Topical Ketorolac 0.5% on Macular Thickness after Uneventful Phacoemulsification.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effects of topical 0.5% ketorolac treatment combined with topical steroids on macular thickness in cases who had uneventful phacoemulsification surgery. METHODS: 58 eyes of 58 consecutive cases were included. The mean foveal thickness (MFT), parafoveal thickness (ParaFT), and perifoveal thickness (PeriFT) measurements were performed with optical coherence tomography (RTVue-100, Optovue, Fremont, CA, USA) preoperatively and at postoperative 1 week, 1 month, and 2 months. All cases received topical 0.1% dexamethasone postoperatively. Randomly selected cases additionally received topical 0.5% ketorolac, which started 2 days prior to surgery. Cases who received both topical steroids and ketorolac formed group 1 and subjects who received only topical steroids formed group 2. RESULTS: The increase in mean MFT at the 1st week, 1st month, and 2nd months after surgery in group 1 was significantly lower than group 2 (P = 0.008, P ≤ 0.001, and P ≤ 0.001, resp.). In group 1, the increase in mean ParaFT and PeriFT was significantly lower than group 2 at the 1st and 2nd months of the surgery (P < 0.05 for all variables). CONCLUSIONS: Topical ketorolac combined with steroids is highly efficacious in order to prevent increment in thickness on each part of the macula even after an uneventful phacoemulsification surgery comparing to steroid monotheraphy.

Effectivity of intraoperative adjustable suture technique in horizontal strabismus.

AIM: To compare the long-term effectivity of intraoperative adjustable suture technique with traditional non-adjustable strabismus surgery. METHODS: Two hundred and thirty-three patients, who underwent strabismus surgery either with traditional procedures or one-stage intraoperative adjustable suture technique, were included in our long-term follow-up study. One hundred and eighteen patients were evaluated in traditional surgery group (TSG) and 115 who underwent adjustable suture were in the one-stage intraoperative adjustable surgery group (ASG). In this group 9 patients had paralytic strabismus and 16 had reoperations, 2 patients had restrictive strabismus related to thyroid eye disease. The mean follow up in the TSG was 26.2 months and it was 24.8 months in the ASG group. RESULTS: In patients with exotropia (XT) the mean correction of deviation for near fixation in ASG (32.4±13.2PD) and in TSG (26.4±8.2PD) were similar (P=0.112). The correction for distant fixation in ASG (33.2±11.4PD) and TSG (30.9±7.2PD) were not significantly different (P=0.321). In patients with esotropia (ET) even the mean correction of deviation for both near (31±12PD) and distant (30.6±12.8PD) fixations were higher in ASG than in TSG, for both near (28.27±14.2PD) and distant (28.9±12.9PD) fixations, the differences were not significant (P=0.346, 0.824 respectively). The overall success rate of XT patient was 78.9% in TSG and 78.78% in ASG, the difference was not significant (P=0.629). The success rates were 78.75% in TSG and 75.51% in ASG in ET patient, which was also not significantly different (P=0.821). CONCLUSION: Although patients in ASG had more complex deviation such as paralysis, reoperations and restrictive strabismus, success rates of this tecnique was as high as TSG which did not contain complicated deviation. One-stage intraoperative adjustable suture technique is a safe and effective method for cooperative patient who has complex deviation.

Two tridentate Schiff base ligands and their mononuclear cobalt (III) complexes: Synthesis, characterization, antibacterial and antifungal activities.

Two Schiff base ligands (HL1, HL2) and their Co(III) complexes, [Co(HL1)(L1)] (1) and [Co(HL2)(L2)] (2) [where HL1=2-((E)-(2-hydroxyethylimino)methyl)-4-chlorophenol and HL2=2-((E)-(2-hydroxyethylimino)methyl)-4-bromophenol] were synthesized and characterized using spectroscopic methods. The crystal structures of 1 and 2 have been re-determined by single crystal diffraction at 100K. The ligands and their Co(III) complexes were screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities by the disc diffusion, microdilution broth and single spore culture techniques. The antimicrobial activity of the Co(III) complexes and the free ligands exhibit antimicrobial properties and the Co(III) complexes show enhanced inhibitory activity compared with their parent ligand.

A new hydrogen-bonded pseudo-dimer Mn(III) Schiff base complex. The synthesis, X-ray structure and spectroscopic studies.

A new hydrogen-bonded pseudo-dimer, [Mn(III)L1(CH(3)CH(2)OH)](2)(ClO(4)) (1) (L1 = N,N'-bis(2-hydroxy-1-naphthalidenato)-1,2-diaminopropane) has been synthesized and characterized by UV-vis, IR, elemental analysis and crystal structure analysis. The single crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that the structure affords an elongated octahedral MnN(2)O(4) coordination environment, geometry with the four donor atoms of the tetradentate Schiff base in the equatorial plane and with two ethanol molecule in axial positions with Mn-O = 2.265(2) and 2.266(2) Å.