Raftlin - a potential biomarker for axial spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis: An observational study.

Our aim is to evaluate serum Raftlin levels as a biomarker for diagnosing and monitoring disease activity in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and Psoriatic arthritis (PsA). This trial included 40 axSpA patients, 40 PsA patients, and 40 healthy participants as the control group. Disease activity was assessed with Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score for axSpA patients and The Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis for PsA patients. The Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada index, health assessment questionnaire-disability index, and numeric rating scale were used to evaluate the enthesitis severity, disability, and pain status of all patients. Serum Raftlin levels were determined using the ELISA method. The 3 groups had no statistical differences regarding gender, age, weight, height, BMI, educational status, and exercise habits. The axSpA group had higher Raftlin levels than the PsA and control groups, and Raftlin levels were statistically significant in predicting the likelihood of axSpA. We found no statistically significant differences between the PsA and control groups. We found no statistically significant difference in Raftlin levels in HLA-B27 positive versus HLA-B27 negative patients in both axSpA and PsA groups. Our results also did not detect any correlation of Raftlin levels with Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, health assessment questionnaire-disability index, numeric rating scale, and Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada index in axSpA patients. Receiver operating characteristic analysis determined that Raftlin level ≥ 6.31 ng/mL discriminates axSpA from normal individuals with 92.5% sensitivity, 59% specificity, and an area under the curve of 0.738. Our results demonstrate that although serum Raftlin levels are elevated in axSpA patients, Raftlin cannot be used as an alone diagnostic marker for axSpA. Furthermore, it was not found to be related to the monitoring of disease activity, the level of pain, disability, or severity of enthesitis. This study is prospectively registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov (ID: NCT05771389).

The effects of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7 and PCV13) on Turkish children with invasive pneumococcal disease: a single center experience. / Efectos de la vacuna neumocócica conjugada (VCN7 y VCN13) en los niños turcos con enfermedad neumocócica invasiva: experiencia en un solo centro.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this prospective single-center study was to determine the changings in incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), serotype distribution and the antimicrobial resistance patterns of S. pneumoniae in children with IPD after the period (1 to 7 years) of vaccination with PCV7 (2008) and PCV13 (2011). POPULATION AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 39 Turkish children with IPD between ages 1 month and 18 years in Ankara, Turkey. Streptococcus pneumoniae was identified using standard laboratory procedures from blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), pleural fluid, and other sterile body fluids and tissues. S. pneumoniae isolates were tested for resistance to penicilin and ceftriaxone using the E-test methodology. Serotypes of the isolates were determined by Quellung reaction. RESULTS: The overall annual incidence rate of IPD decreased significantly from 7.71 (95% CI, 1.99-13.4) to 1.58 (95% CI, 0.6-3.77; RRR=-79.5; p=0.006) per 100 000 population among ≤5 years of age without underlying disease. During the overall study period, the PCV7-serotypes and PCV13-serotypes represented 27.8% and 63.8% of isolates, respectively. PCV13-serotypes made up 81.8% of cases of IPD in the pre-PCV13 era and decreased to 56% in the 4 years after PCV13. The penicillin and ceftriaxone (for meningitis) resistance rates were 48.5% and 9.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study about the changing pattern of the incidence of IPD in Turkish children after the implementation of the PCV7 and PCV13 in Turkish national vaccine schedule and a prominent decrease in incidence of IPD has seen after the implementation of PCV13.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Nuestro objetivo fue determinar los cambios en la incidencia de enfermedad neumocócica invasiva (ENI), la distribución de serotipos y patrones de resistencia antibiótica del Streptococcus pneumoniae en niños con ENI tras el período de vacunación (de1 a 7 años) con vacuna neumocócica de 7 serotipos (VCN7) (2008) y de 13 serotipos (VCN13) (2011). POBLACIÓN Y MÉTODOS: El estudio se realizó en 39 niños con ENI de 1 mes a 18 años de edad en Angora, Turquía. Se identificó Streptococcus pneumoniae en sangre, líquido cefalorraquídeo, líquido pleural, y otros tejidos y líquidos corporales estériles mediante procedimientos estándar.Se analizó la resistencia de cepas aisladas de S. pneumoniae a penicilina y ceftriaxona con la prueba de epsilometría (E-test). Los serotipos de las cepas se determinaron con la reacción de Quellung. RESULTADOS: La incidencia anual de ENI disminuyó significativamente de 7,71 (intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%: de 1,99 a 13,4) a 1,58 (IC del 95%: de 0,6 a 3,77; reducción del riesgo relativo=-79,5; p=0,006) cada 100 000 habitantes de ≤ 5 años de edad sin enfermedad preexistente. Durante todo el período del estudio, los serotipos en la VCN7 y en la VCN13 representaron el 27,8% y el 63,8% de las cepas aisladas, respectivamente. Los serotipos en la VCN13 correspondían al 81,8% de los casos de ENI en la era previa a la introducción de esta vacuna, y disminuyeron al 56% en los cuatro años posteriores. Las tasas de resistencia a penicilina y ceftriaxona (en el caso de la meningitis) fueron del 48,5% y el 9,1%, respectivamente. CONCLUSIONES: Este estudio observó una disminución significativa en la incidencia de ENI después de la introducción de la VCN13.

Does the anatomical localization of lower extremity venous diseases affect the quality of life?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of venous diseases at different anatomical localizations on the qualities of life of patients with varicose veins. METHODS: The study included 354 cases, which was referred to a private vascular and interventional radiology center in Bursa, Turkey between January 2005 to January 2006. The cases were diagnosed with visual inspection and were clinically indicative of varicose veins. Color Doppler ultrasonography was used to radiologically examine the varicose veins. All cases were accepted as class II criteria according to the Clinical, Etiologic, Anatomic, Pathophysiologic classification. The generic Short Form Health Survey-36 (SF-36) was used to measure physical and mental quality of life (QOL). High scores indicated good QOL. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 13.0 program was used for the statistical evaluation. RESULTS: When the life SF-36 quality parameters of cases with different anatomical localizations of the varicose veins were examined, only the mental health scores were found to differ in different groups (p<0.01). In females and males with superficial venous disease, significant differences were found in physical function, physical role and pain among the physical health scale components, and in vitality and emotional role scores among the mental state determinants. When females and males with deep vein disease were compared, significant differences were found among both physical and mental health determinants. CONCLUSION: Anatomical localization of lower extremity varicose veins can be accepted as a predictive factor in determining the life qualities of patients with varicosities in their lower limb, and should be used to regulate their therapy and follow up protocols.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome associated with metoclopramide in a child.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a rare but potentially fatal complication of treatment with antipsychotic medication. NMS has also been associated with non-neuroleptic agents that block central dopamine pathways, such as metoclopramide, amoxapine and lithium. Metoclopromide has antidopaminergic properties and is a rare but well-recognized perpetrator in the development of NMS. NMS has a constellation of signs and symptoms, including hyperthermia, muscle rigidity, autonomic instability, tachycardia, tachypnea, diaphoresis, hypertension and altered mental status. We present a 2-year-old girl who developed neuroleptic malignant syndrome after metoclopromide therapy. High-dose metoclopromide was given to our patient, and it is very likely that she was dehydrated while using metoclopromide, as she developed NMS two hours after treatment. The patient was discharged on the sixth day after admission to our hospital, having been cured. In summary, NMS developed in this patient very soon after metoclopromide treatment. NMS is a life-threatening emergency; if not recognized, or left untreated, it may be fatal. Therefore, early recognition of the developing signs and symptoms, along with a thorough medical history, is of great importance.

Efectos de la vacuna neumocócica conjugada (VCN7 y VCN13) en los niños turcos con enfermedad neumocócica invasiva: experiencia en un solo centro / The effects of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7 and PCV13) on Turkish children with invasive pneumococcal disease: a single center experience

Introducción: Nuestro objetivo fue determinar los cambios en la incidencia de enfermedad neumocócica invasiva (ENI), la distribución de serotipos y patrones de resistencia antibiótica del Streptococcus pneumoniae en niños con ENI tras el período de vacunación (de 1 a 7 años) con vacuna neumocócica de 7 serotipos (VCN7) (2008) y de 13 serotipos (VCN13) (2011). Población y métodos: El estudio se realizó en 39 niños con ENI de 1 mes a 18 años de edad en Angora, Turquía. Se identificó Streptococcus pneumoniae en sangre, líquido cefalorraquídeo, líquido pleural, y otros tejidos y líquidos corporales estériles mediante procedimientos estándar. Se analizó la resistencia de cepas aisladas de S. pneumoniae a penicilina y ceftriaxona con la prueba de epsilometría (E-test). Los serotipos de las cepas se determinaron con la reacción de Quellung. Resultados: La incidencia anual de ENI disminuyó significativamente de 7,71 (intervalo de confianza --#91;IC--#93; del 95%: de 1,99 a 13,4) a 1,58 (IC del 95%: de 0,6 a 3,77; reducción del riesgo relativo= -79,5; p= 0,006) cada 100 000 habitantes de < 5 años de edad sin enfermedad preexistente. Durante todo el período del estudio, los serotipos en la VCN7 y en la VCN13 representaron el 27,8% y el 63,8% de las cepas aisladas, respectivamente. Los serotipos en la VCN13 correspondían al 81,8% de los casos de ENI en la era previa a la introducción de esta vacuna, y disminuyeron al 56% en los cuatro años posteriores. Las tasas de resistencia a penicilina y ceftriaxona (en el caso de la meningitis) fueron del 48,5% y el 9,1%, respectivamente. Conclusiones: Este estudio observó una disminución significativa en la incidencia de ENI después de la introducción de la VCN13.

Introduction. The aim of this prospective singlecenter study was to determine the changings in incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), serotype distribution and the antimicrobial resistance patterns of S. pneumoniae in children with IPD after the period (1 to 7 years) of vaccination with PCV7 (2008) and PCV13 (2011). Population and methods. The study was conducted on 39 Turkish children with IPD between ages 1 month and 18 years in Ankara, Turkey. Streptococcus pneumoniae was identified using standard laboratory procedures from blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), pleural fluid, and other sterile body fluids and tissues. S. pneumoniae isolates were tested for resistance to penicilin and ceftriaxone using the E-test methodology. Serotypes of the isolates were determined by Quellung reaction. Results. The overall annual incidence rate of IPD decreased significantly from 7.71 (95% CI, 1.99-13.4) to 1.58 (95% CI, 0.6-3.77; RRR= -79.5; p= 0.006) per 100 000 population among <5 years of age without underlying disease. During the overall study period, the PCV7-serotypes and PCV13-serotypes represented 27.8% and 63.8% of isolates, respectively. PCV13-serotypes made up 81.8% of cases of IPD in the pre-PCV13 era and decreased to 56% in the 4 years after PCV13. The penicillin and ceftriaxone (for meningitis) resistance rates were 48.5% and 9.1%, respectively. Conclusions. This is the first study about the changing pattern of the incidence of IPD in Turkish children after the implementation of the PCV7 and PCV13 in Turkish national vaccine schedule and a prominent decrease in incidence of IPD has seen after the implementation of PCV13.