Psoriasis and family history of psoriasis may not affect disease severity of rheumatoid arthritis.

The incidence of psoriasis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is higher than in the general population. In addition, psoriasis may negatively affect the severity of rheumatological diseases in patients with autoinflammatory or autoimmune diseases. In this study, we evaluated the effect of psoriasis or a family history of psoriasis on the characteristics of RA. This is a cross-sectional study. We included 737 RA patients who met the 2010 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) RA Classification Criteria, but did not meet the CASPAR psoriatic arthritis criteria. Subsequently, we compared disease activity, the need for biologic therapy, the number of conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs taken, the frequency of erosive disease and extra-articular involvement, glucocorticoid doses and the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire scores between patients with and without a history of psoriasis, and patients with and without a family history of psoriasis. Thirteen (1.8%) patients had psoriasis, while 58 (7.9%) had a family history of psoriasis in first- or seconddegree relatives. All outcome parameters were found to be similar between the groups. We show that concomitant psoriasis has no effect on the evaluated disease characteristics of RA.

Comparison of laparoscopic evaluation of hepatosteatosis with ultrasound findings.

OBJECTIVE: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition characterized by abnormal liver function because of lipid accumulation. NAFLD can range from simple fatty liver, which is usually harmless, to a more severe condition called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which involves inflammation, liver cell damage, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Liver biopsy is considered the gold standard for diagnosing and staging hepatosteatosis, but it is an invasive and expensive procedure. Non-invasive methods, such as ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), can provide useful information without the need for an invasive procedure. This study aimed to compare laparoscopic findings of hepatosteatosis with ultrasound data to create a classification that can identify individuals with NASH in operated patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 120 patients who applied to the General Surgery Department of Istinye University Faculty of Medicine between 06/2022 and 12/2022 were included in the study. They were evaluated for hepatosteatosis with preoperative ultrasound. Demographic, physical examination (BMI), laboratory, and radiological findings of the patients were recorded retrospectively. In addition, laparoscopy video recordings were reviewed retrospectively, and the findings were evaluated. Statistical analysis of the findings was made. The p-value was calculated using the Chi-square test; p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The mean age of 120 patients was 39.04 years, the mean BMI was 34.9 kg/m², and 63.3% of them were female patients. Cholecystectomy was performed in 60 of 120 patients, and sleeve gastrectomy in 60 of them. It has been observed that there is a high correlation between the ultrasound grade and the laparoscopic stage of hepatosteatosis (r=0.849) (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy results to be an effective method in the diagnosis and classification of NASH.

Perineural invasion in early-stage cervical carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Evaluation of the association between perineural invasion (PNI) and predictive and prognostic factors in early-stage cervical carcinoma patients treated with surgery. METHODS: Fifteen PNI (+) and 21 PNI (-) early-stage cervical carcinoma patients, primarily treated by surgery, were evaluated retrospectively. Patients' complete blood counts and biochemistry tests, tumoral prognostic parameters, PNI status, postoperative treatment, recurrence and survival data were obtained from the records. RESULTS: The percentage of mean depth of stromal invasion was significantly higher in the PNI (+) group (p < or = 0.05). Vaginal (p < or = 0.05) and uterine (p < or = 0.01) invasion of the tumor were significantly more prevalent in the PNI (+) group. Lymphovascular space invasion, in particular lymphatic invasion (p < or = 0.05), but not vascular invasion (p > 0.05) was significantly more prevalent in the PNI (+) group. CONCLUSION: PNI is closely related with stromal invasion in percentage, vaginal and uterine involvement and lymphatic invasion of the tumor.

Tissue Doppler echocardiography and myocardial performance index in patients with scleroderma.

In this study, left and right ventricular functions were examined echocardiographically in 22 patients with scleroderma and 22 healthy volunteers. Conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography and myocardial performance indexes were used as measures of right and left ventricular global functions. Mitral early diastolic E wave deceleration time, isovolumetric contraction time and left ventricular myocardial performance index and peak tricuspid A wave velocity were significantly higher in the scleroderma group compared with the control group. Mitral and tricuspid E/A ratios were significantly lower in patients with scleroderma. In addition, mitral annular and tricuspid annular isovolumetric relaxation times and the tricuspid E/E' ratio were significantly increased in scleroderma patients compared with the control group. In conclusion, in scleroderma patients the global left ventricular functions were depressed and diastolic function abnormalities were seen in both right and left ventricles. In addition, longitudinal muscle functions of the ventricles were depressed in scleroderma patients, as shown by tissue Doppler imaging parameters.

Correlation of tuberculin induration with the number of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccines.

In developing countries with a higher prevalence of tuberculous infection, usually more than one Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is recommended. Revaccination can considerably alter the tuberculin skin test response and the diagnosis of tuberculous infection. In this study to assess the relationship between the number of BCG vaccinations and tuberculin skin reactions, 3548 children (ages 6 to 12 years) from 7 elementary schools were given 5 tuberculin units of purified protein derivative, and results were compared taking vaccination status into account. Forty-seven children were excluded from the study. Mean purified protein derivative induration size at 72 hours was 3.2 +/- 3.9 mm with no BCG scar (n = 1518), 6.3 +/- 7.8 mm with 1 scar (n = 1513), 10.7 +/- 6.2 mm with 2 scars (n = 433) and 14.8 +/- 4.3 mm with 3 scars (n = 37). In children with no scar the 90th percentile values of the size of the purified protein derivative induration were 10 mm. The 90th percentile values of children with one, two and three scars were 15, 17.5 and 20 mm, respectively. We suggest that tuberculin skin test responses be evaluated with regard to the number of previous BCG vaccinations.

Plasma ascorbic acid level and erythrocyte fragility in preeclampsia and eclampsia.

An imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in the circulation is blamed to cause preeclampsia and eclampsia. In this study plasma ascorbic acid level was analysed in 13 eclamptic, 14 mild preeclamptic, 12 severe preeclamptic and 20 uncomplicated pregnancies to see whether there is any correlation with blood pressure, proteinuria, serum triglyceride level, erythrocyte fragility and leukocyte count. Plasma ascorbic acid level was normal and had no significant difference among the groups. Fasting serum triglyceride level was significantly higher in the study group than in the control group but it did not differ among the three study groups. Erythrocyte fragility was found to be increased in all three study groups. Blood leukocyte count was increased in the study groups, especially in the eclampsia group. However, plasma ascorbic acid level and erythrocyte fragility were found to have no significant correlation with blood pressure and proteinuria. It was concluded that though the ascorbic acid levels were normal in both the study and the control groups, erythrocyte fragility increased probably due to an elevation in peroxide and free radical levels in preeclampsia and eclampsia groups, but without any correlation with the severity of the clinical picture.

Effect of copper on liver and bone metabolism in malnutrition.

This study was planned to investigate the effects of copper (Cu) deficiency on liver and bone metabolism in malnourished children. Serum total calcium (Ca), inorganic phosphorus (P), Ca/P, Cu/Ca, Cu/P ratios and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity values were analyzed. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) enzyme activities and the ALT/AST (De Ritis) ratio as well as their correlations with Cu were tested to determine liver function. The results of the study showed that Cu deficiency directly affects the organic matrix formation, and by the suppression of ALP activity, indirectly causes decalcification. In the liver, however, no direct effect of Cu deficiency was seen. Deterioration in liver function and Cu deficiency increased parallel with the severity of malnutrition. Thus we concluded that a correlation exists between Cu and the parameters that indicate liver function.