Fatma Tunçez Akyürek

Plasma‐soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) levels in Behçet's disease and correlation with disease activity

Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR), a new biomarker, is a soluble form of membrane‐bound receptors secreted from different immune cells. The aim of the present study is to determine plasma suPAR levels in Behçets disease and their correlation with disease activity.

Frequency of metabolic syndrome in patients with knuckle pads

Knuckle pads are hyperkeratotic, benign skin lesions that we commonly observe in obese patients. There is no study that investigates the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and knuckle pads. We aimed to investigate the frequency of MetS in patients with knuckle pads. Forty‐seven patients with knuckle pads and 46 age‐ and sex‐matched controls were enrolled. The presence of MetS was evaluated according to National Cholesterol Education Program–Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. In the patient group, waist circumference (P < 0.01), body mass index (BMI; P < 0.01), and systolic (P < 0.01) and diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.01) were higher than controls, and most of the patients had a history of hypertension (P < 0.01). The presence of MetS was found in 66% of the patients with knuckle pads and in 52.2% of the controls (P = 0.25). In the patient group, compared with controls, more patients had blood pressure above reference values or were on antihypertensive therapy (70.2% and 43.5%, P = 0.017, respectively), and had greater waist circumference value (93.6% and 76.1%, P = 0.038, respectively). The presence of the other three criteria were similar in both groups. Although we found similar MetS frequency in both groups, patients with knuckle pads should be examined for the presence of MetS components, especially abdominal obesity and hypertension.

GEOGRAPHIC TONGUE THAT RESPONDS TO THE TREATMENT OF PREGABALIN: CAN IT BE A NEW TREATMENT CHOICE?

Geographical tongue, also known as benign migratory glossitis or erythema migrans, is a benign dermatosis whose spesific etiology is not known due to the disappearance of central erythematous and filiform papillaries surrounded by a hyperkeratotic ring forming the geographical shape on the tongue. In treatment, topical corticosteroids may be recommended for symptomatic relief. Pregabalin is a drug with, GABA analog structure. Pregabalin is a drug used and investigated in epilepsy, neuropathic pain, anxiety, and sleep disorders. We reported in a patient with geographical tongue successfully treated with pregabalin. We believe that geographic tongue lesions that do not have an effective treatment option in the future may be a new and successful treatment option supported by pregabalin treated case series and prospective studies. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Knowledge, Beliefs and Attitudes of Patients with Verruca Vulgaris About the Disease

Objective: The purpose of this study was to learn the opinions of the patients with nongenital verruca vulgaris about the cause, course and treatment of verruca and their sources of information. Methods: A total of 187 non-genital verruca patients over 15 years old were included in the study. Their ideas about the cause, ways of transmission and treatment, and the sources they referred for information about the disease were recorded. Results: Of the participants, 44.4% thought it was contagious, 3.2% thought it was genetically inherited and 11.8% thought that is was not a disease. Seventy six of the patients (40.6%) had no idea about the subject. When the causes of verruca was questioned, 88 patients (47.1%) replied that it is a virus, 12 patients (6.4%) thought that it was transmitted by frogs, 4 patients (2.1%) thought that it was transmitted by turtles and 83 patients (44.4%) thought that it was transmitted by other reasons. Forty five of the patients (24.1%) tried conventional treatment methods previously. Of them, 16 (35.5%) had the verruca prayed, 7 (15.5%) applied fig sap, 6 (13.4%) applied vaseline/ toothpaste, 6 (13.4%) applied acid on it, 4 (8.9%) tied it with a string, 4 (8.9%) used keratoma tape, and 2 (4.4%) cut it. Conclusion: It was determined that such a common dermatological disease is not recognized and the treatment methods are not known enough.

Widespreed Staphylococcus Folliculitis Advancing After the Usage of Epilators

Bakteriyel follikülit kıl follikülünün yüzeysel veya derin enfeksiyonudur. Stafilokokkus aureus follikülite neden olan en yaygın ajandır. Bakteriyel follikülite eğilim yaratan faktörler derinin oklüzyon, maserasyon ve aşrı hidrasyonunu içerir. Kılların traşlanması, kökünden koparılması ve parafinlenmesi, topikal kortikosteroidlerin kullanılması, sıcak ve nemli iklim ve diabetes mellitus kişilerde follikülite eğilime neden olabilir.