Preferences of different tick species for human hosts in Turkey.

The ticks removed from the patients who applied to the hospitals in Istanbul and neighboring cities, Turkey, with the complaint of tick bite were examined in this study, on account of their species, biological stages, attachment sites on the body, and the age of the affected patients. A total of 16,969 ticks were identified. Encountered species were as follows: 33.6 % Ixodes spp. immature, 25.3 % Hyalomma spp. immature, 24.3 % I. ricinus, 9.5 % Rhipicephalus sanguineus gr., 3.2 % R. bursa, 2.2 % Hyalomma marginatum, 1.96 % Haemaphysalis adults, 1.66 % Hyalomma aegyptium, 0.52 % Dermacentor marginatus, 0.39 % Rhipicephalus spp. nymphs, 0.12 % Dermacentor spp. nymphs, 0.11 % Haemaphysalis spp. nymphs, 0.09 % Hyalomma scupense, and 0.03 % Hyalomma excavatum. The distribution of attachment sites of the species and instars showed significant differences. Furthermore, age data of the patients also revealed that certain tick species were more common within certain age groups.

Kaposi's sarcoma in a patient with psoriasis vulgaris.

A 54-year-old woman presented with angiomatous lesions located on the upper extremities and right cruris. Histopathological findings were typical of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). She had had mild to moderate psoriasis since she was 25 years old. She had been using cilazapril (an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor) for the last 9 months. She had had similar lesions in the past while taking the same medication. Because our patient's KS lesions had developed during treatment with cilazapril, the drug was stopped. One month later, spontaneous regression of KS nodules was noted and after 4 months no KS lesions were seen.

The prevalence of temporomandibular disorders in patients with psoriasis with or without psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriasis is a chronic, genetic, non-contagious skin disorder that appears in many different forms and can affect any part of the body, including the nails and scalp. It may affect the quality of life by causing psychosocial stress. Psoriatic arthritis (PA) is considered to be a spondyloarthropathy, and has spinal and peripheral joint involvement associated with psoriasis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in patients with psoriasis without PA and in patients with PA and compare with a healthy group. Signs and symptoms of TMD were evaluated by means of Helkimo's Anamnestic (Ai) and Dysfunction indices (Di). In the present study, patients with psoriasis without arthritis did not report TMD signs and symptoms significantly more often than healthy subjects. A statistically significant increase was found in patients with PA when compared with psoriasis patients without arthritis and healthy patients in Di. In patients with PA, muscle tenderness on palpation, temporomandibular joint sounds and stiffness/tiredness in jaws in the morning were the most frequent findings. It is concluded that the signs and symptoms of TMD in PA is caused mainly by related joint involvement that directly affects the masticatory system.

Prevalence of Behçet's disease in rural western Turkey: a preliminary report.

OBJECTIVES: To study the prevalence of Behçet's disease (BD) in a rural area of Western Turkey. METHODS: This study was conducted in seven villages in the rural Havsa region which has a total population of 5727. The physicians and medical students visited every household and distributed a questionnaire on the symptoms of rheumatic disorders. One of the questions was whether they had ever suffered from mouth ulcers. If the response was affirmative the proband was examined by a rheumatologist and a dermatologist for other symptoms. The individuals with true aphthous ulcerations had pathergy tests and were invited to the hospital for ophtalmic examinations. RESULTS: Of the 5203 individuals who participated in this survey, 4861 were 10 years or older. 124 out of 190 individuals who responded positively to the question regarding the presence of mouth ulcers had true aphthous ulcerations. 115/124 underwent a pathergy test and 4 showed positive reactions without any other stigmata of BD, except for folliculitis in one. Among the individuals with a negative pathergy test, 2 had acneiform skin lesions and 1 a genital ulcer. No individual exhibited any ocular symptoms or findings characteristic for BD. Only 1 person with aphthous ulceration, folliculitis and a positive pathergy test was considered to have BD. CONCLUSION: In this survey, the prevalence of BD was found to be 2: 10,000 (95% confidence interval 0 to 4.3: 10,000). This figure is lower than what has been reported in four previous studies from different regions in Turkey. This finding might be due to ethnic distribution and geographical differences.

The influence of the accuracy of the intermaxillary relations on the use of complete dentures: a clinical evaluation.

The aim of this study was to investigate possible associations between the accuracy of intermaxillary relations and complete denture usage 3 months and 3 years after their insertion. A total of 600 patients were provided with new complete dentures. Willis gauge and Woelfel's method were used to assess the quality of the existing complete dentures and the use of these dentures. Three years after insertion the remaining 250 patients took part in a follow-up examination. Three months post-insertion, significant relationships were found between adequate interocclusal rest space or quality of registration of centric relation and daily wearing of complete dentures and between quality of registration of centric relation and use of dentures for eating. Three years after insertion the adaptation to denture wearing was generally satisfactory. However, no significant relationship was observed between the accuracy of intermaxillary relations and complete denture usage.

Changes in temporomandibular disorders after treatment with new complete dentures.

A total of 250 edentulous patients (118 non-denture and 132 denture wearing) awaiting treatment for new complete dentures were examined for signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders. Signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) were evaluated before prosthetic treatment, 3 months and 3 years after denture insertion by means Helkimo's Anamnestic and Clinical Dysfunction Indices. Before treatment began, patients were observed to have a low prevalence of signs and symptoms of TMD. This prevalence decreased, but was not statistically significant, in the 3 months and 3 years after denture insertion. No statistically significant correlations were found between signs and symptoms of TMD and denture retention, stability, occlusal errors, freeway space, age of present denture, or number of sets of dentures.