Patient characteristics in Behçet's Syndrome and their associations with major organ involvement: a single-centre experience of 2118 cases.

Objectives: To evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with Behçet's syndrome (BS), and to define their associations with the presence of major organ involvement (MOI).Method: Medical records of 2118 patients (964 males, 1154 females) were analysed retrospectively. MOI was defined as the presence of at least one of vascular, eye, nervous, or gastrointestinal system involvement. Univariable and multivariable binary and ordinal logistic regression analyses were applied to assess the factors that were potentially associated with MOI.Results: The mean ± sd age at diagnosis was 30.5 ± 9.4 years. Genital ulcer and joint involvement were more common in females (both p < 0.001), while MOI was more frequent in males (p < 0.001). Genital ulcer (p < 0.001) and vascular involvement (p = 0.006) were more common in patients with a younger age at diagnosis, while joint involvement was more common in older patients. A total of 1097 patients (51.8%) had at least one MOI, 322 (15.2%) at least two MOIs, and 48 (2.3%) at least three MOIs. Male gender, smoking history, and absence of genital ulcer were significantly associated with MOI in multivariable binary logistic regression. Multivariable ordinal regression analyses confirmed the association between MOI and male gender and smoking, but not the protective effect of genital ulcers. In both regression analyses, we found no significant effects of age, human leucocyte antigen-B51, skin involvement, or joint involvement on MOI.Conclusion: Male gender and positive smoking history have a significant influence on the presence of MOI in patients with BS.

Resin composite restorations of permanent incisors with crown fractures: a case report with a six-year follow-up.

Using resin composite for the restoration of permanent incisors that have crown fractures is a conservative, timely and economical treatment option. Presented in this case report is a 41-year old female patient with resin composite restorations of anterior teeth that had crown fractures. This manuscript presents the clinical success of these resin composite restorations of permanent incisors after six-years.

One-year clinical evaluation of a two-step self-etch adhesive with and without additional enamel etching technique in cervical lesions.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the clinical performance of a two-step self-etch adhesive with and without additional enamel etching technique to advanced non-carious cervical sclerotic lesions. METHODS: Twenty-two patients (mean age = 51.5) having at least two pairs of non-carious cervical erosion/attrition/abfraction lesions with incisal or occlusal margins in enamel and gingival margins in dentine/cementum were included in the study. The two-step self-etch adhesive (AdheSE; Ivoclar-Vivadent) was either applied following the self-etch approach on both enamel and dentine (AdheSE non-etch), or a similar application including additional acid-etching of the enamel cavity margins with 37% phosphoric acid (AdheSE etch). Resin composite Point 4 was used for all 104 restorations. Restorations were evaluated at baseline and at one year according to the modified United States Public Health Service (USPHS) criteria. Data were analysed by using McNemar's test (p <0.05). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the marginal adaptation both at the cervical and enamel margins between AdheSE non-etch and AdheSE etch groups (p >0.05). At one year, marginal discolouration was evident in the AdheSE non-etch group but it was not statistically significant from the AdheSE etch group (p = 0.12). Postoperative sensitivity was 5% at baseline and reduced to 2% at one year. CONCLUSIONS: At one year, the two-step self-etch adhesive with and without additional enamel etching technique showed excellent clinical results to advanced non-carious cervical sclerotic lesions.

The allergy of toothpaste: a case report

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Peculiar word use as a possible trait marker in schizophrenia.

Peculiar word use in schizophrenia has been emphasized by many authors, however the definition or the linguistic and clinical correlates of this phenomenon are not clear. We propose a new, standard and reliable method to extract a numerical measure of peculiar word use with operationalized definitions. We applied a modified version of the Controlled Word Association Test (Turkish version) to a pool of healthy subjects (N=55) and used the data as norm to compare the degree of peculiarity and patterns of word association among patients with schizophrenia (N=33), their healthy siblings (N=31) and healthy controls (N=32). We also explored the relationship of peculiar word use with patterns of word association (semantic versus phonologic) and formal thought disorder. Patients and their siblings performed worse on measures of verbal fluency. They also generated more peculiar words and relied less on semantic associations, compared to healthy controls. Peculiar word use was associated with the severity of formal thought disorder and the tendency to make use of phonologic associations in the patient group and their siblings, whereas neither of the word association patterns predicted peculiar word use in the control group. Our results provide empirical support to previous observations about the peculiarity of schizophrenic speech. Peculiar word use could be associated with a deficit to employ semantic classifications in verbal fluency tasks and thus relying more on sound-based associations. Excess use of phonologic associations may be playing a mediating role between semantic processing abnormalities and formal thought disorder.

The allergy of toothpaste: a case report.

Toothpastes are definitely one of the indispensable elements of oral health care. They are produced to serve multiple purposes and possess complex chemical structures. Slight abrasion, froth, sweetening, bleaching, prevention of plaque, calculus and decay are properties expected from an ideal toothpaste. In recent years, allergic reactions have started to appear more frequently in dental practice. The present case describes the progression of an allergic response to toothpastes, one of the basic agents of oral hygiene.

Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase in ovarian surface epithelial carcinomas: is there any correlation with angiogenesis or clinicopathologic parameters?

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) products have been implicated in the regulation of immune system, tumor cell apoptosis, and angiogenesis in many human tumors. In this study, we investigated the expression of COX-2 and iNOS in ovarian carcinomas by immunohistochemistry and correlated the results with other prognostic parameters. Specimens from 100 ovarian carcinomas were studied by immunohistochemistry for COX-2 and iNOS expression, and angiogenesis microvessel density (MVD) was evaluated by CD34-stained microvessels. High COX-2 expression was observed in 85% of carcinomas. No correlation was found between COX-2 expression and clinicopathologic variables. Patients with high COX-2-expressed tumors had shorter overall survival, but it is not statistically significant. Expression of iNOS in serous and low-grade carcinomas was significantly higher than that in nonserous and high-grade carcinomas (P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between COX-2 and iNOS expression (P= 0.009). No correlation of COX-2 and iNOS expression with MVD was found. Expression of iNOS showed no effect on survival of the patients. We found that iNOS expression might act in the first steps of carcinogenesis, whereas COX-2 expression was seen in more advanced tumors. Shorter overall survival of patients with high COX-2 expression might indicate new targets for therapy.

Sexual dysfunctions in HCV patients and its correlations with psychological and biological variables.

The frequency of sexual dysfunction (SD) is not very well known in patients with chronic hepatitis C. In this study, the prevalence of SD and its correlations with psychological and biological variables was assessed in 46 HCV positive patients. The mean age of patients was 46.4+/-9.4 y; the mean duration of HCV infection was 43.4+/-34.0 months; 52% were male; 89% were living with a spouse. SD was assessed using the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX), the level of anxiety and depression measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Biochemical parameters were also assessed. Overall, as indicated by ASEX criteria, SD was observed in 35% of our patients. Of 24 males, 21% described SD; problems with drive (25%), arousal (17%) and erection (17%) were the most frequent complaints. Of 22 female patients, 50% described SD; problems with drive (55%) arousal (50%), and reaching orgasm (59%) were the most frequent complaints. Total ASEX scores were correlated with age (P<0.07, significant at trend level), education (P<0.001), and was higher in female patients (P<0.02). After controlling for the effects of age, sex, education, duration of HCV and marital status, depression levels could still significantly predict the SD (P<0.05). Moreover, even after controlling the effects of all other variables, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels could predict the SD status of the patients (P<0.05). Our results indicate that the prevalence of SD was 35% in HCV-infected patients and the level of depression and GGT levels were predictive of patients SD status.