The Relationship between Th1/Th2 Balance and 1α, 25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis.

OBJECTIVE: With regard to the correlation between T helper1/T helper2 (Th1/Th2) cell balance and 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, active metabolite of vitamin D, we studied Th1/Th2 cell balance by measuring levels of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), which are important for immune response of patients with allergic rhinitis. METHODS: Thirty adult patients diagnosed with allergic rhinitis (study group) and 40 healthy volunteers (control group) are examined in the research. IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, and total immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels from serum samples and vitamin D3 levels from plasma were determined in all patients. RESULTS: In IgE, IL-4, IL-10, IFN-γ, and 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 levels (p<0.05), a statistically noticeable difference was observed between the study and control group. The 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 levels in both groups were compared and a statistically significant difference between the 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 levels in the study group and that in the control group (p<0.05) was observed. There was a positive correlation between IFN-γ and vitamin D levels (p<0.05) in the study group, whereas IgE, IL-4, and IL-10 levels showed a negative correlation with vitamin D3 levels (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In our study, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 levels were associated with Th1/Th2 balance in allergic rhinitis, and a remarkable correlation was observed among vitamin D deficiency and allergy. These findings show that 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 may have a remarkable role in the severity and control of allergic disorders. In addition, further investigations are required to confirm how vitamin D should be used in allergic diseases. Furthermore, to reveal the exact mechanism of vitamin D on allergic diseases, further studies are required.

Thyroid tissue connected to normally located thyroid gland: ectopic or exophytic?

Ectopic thyroid tissue is seen rarely. It is often seen in cervical midline, and rarely in other areas such as submandibular area. Diagnosis is made histopathologically by fine needle biopsy after the elimination of malignancy. In the treatment of ectopic thyroid tissue, surgical excision is mostly applied. According to our knowledge, there is no exophytic thyroid tissue reported in the literature. In this paper, a 32-year-old woman who presented with a swelling under the right jaw and found a thyroid tissue attached to the normally located thyroid gland with a fibrous band in the neck was discussed.

The relationship between Th1/Th2 balance and 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in patients with nasal polyposis.

We aimed to study Th1/Th2 cell balance by measuring the levels of cytokines IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ, which play an important role in the immune response of patients with allergic rhinitis and/or nasal polyps, and determine the correlation between Th1/Th2 cell balance and 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3), an active metabolite of vitamin D. The study subjects were 60 adult patients and 40 healthy volunteers. Subjects were separated into three groups: 30 patients diagnosed with nasal polyposis together with allergic rhinitis formed Group I, 30 patients with nasal polyposis but without allergic rhinitis constituted Group II, and 40 healthy volunteers without nasal polyp and/or allergic rhinitis were the control group, or Group III. IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, and total IgE levels were determined in the serum samples of all patients and vitamin D(3) in their plasma. A statistically significant difference was found between the Group I and the control group in their IgE, IL-4, IL-10, IFN-γ, and vitamin D levels (p < 0.05), while there were no such significant differences between Group II and the control group in these measurements (p > 0.05). Within Group I, vitamin D levels showed a negative correlation with IgE and IL-4 levels, and a positive correlation with IFN-γ (p < 0.05). Within Group II, IgE levels showed a positive correlation with IL-4 and IL-10 levels (p < 0.05) and a negative correlation with IFN-γ levels (p < 0.05). In this study, no significant relation was detected between vitamin D deficiency and nasal polyposis in the absence of allergic rhinitis. The study demonstrates that vitamin D is effective on Th1/Th2 balance in patients with allergic rhinitis and that there is a significant relation between vitamin D deficiency and allergy. These results are compatible with the possibility of an important role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis and degree of severity of allergic disease, and its capacity to control allergic disease.

[Fibrous dysplasia of the frontal sinus: a case report]. / Frontal sinüste fibröz displazi: Olgu sunumu.

Fibrous dysplasia is a rare and indolent benign tumor of bone. Although it is a benign tumor, it has malignant transformation potential. Fibrous dysplasia can involve a single or multiple bones. The maxilla and mandible are the most common sites in the head and neck region. Paranasal sinus involvement is rare. Surgical excision is the preferred treatment of patients with symptomatic fibrous dysplasia. In this article, a 54-year-old male patient diagnosed with fibrous dysplasia of the frontal bone is presented.