Search

WOS: 000295051000007 PubMed: 21214630 Background There is a need for a laboratory marker that correlates with the clinical activity of Behcet's disease (BD). Objective We aimed to investigate whether serum galectin-3 (Gal-3) levels were affected during the course of the disease with regard to disease activity. Methods A total of 131 subjects were involved in the study as follows: Group 1: BD active (n = 39); Group 2: BD inactive (n = 31); Group 3: Disease controls with leucocytoclastic vasculitis confirmed with a skin biopsy (n = 22); and Group 4: Healthy control subjects (n = 39). The BD patients were followed regularly and samples were taken in their active and inactive periods of the disease over a 2-year period. Results Serum Gal-3 levels were significantly higher in active BD patients (mean 2.38) than inactive BD patients (mean 0.63; P < 0.0001) and the healthy control subjects (mean 0.75; P < 0.0001). There was no significant difference between the leucocytoclastic vasculitis and active BD patients (P = 0.093). Serum Gal-3 levels were positively correlated with clinical activity scores of active BD patients (r = 0.66, P < 0.0001). In addition, the Gal-3 levels were significantly higher in the active disease period when compared with the inactive period during the follow-up. There were no significant differences between the two inactive periods of the disease among the same patients. Further analyses revealed that patients with vascular involvement had significantly higher Gal-3 levels than the other active BD patients (mean 7.57; P = 0.007). Limitations The limitation of the study is the small number of patients with vascular involvement in the active BD patient group. Conclusion Gal-3 levels are correlated with the activity of Behcet's disease especially with the vascular involvement. Received: 28 June 2010; Accepted: 18 November 2010 Ondokuz Mayis University Faculty of Medicine Research FoundationOndokuz Mayis University Ondokuz Mayis University Faculty of Medicine Research Foundation.

WOS: 000279439100004 PubMed: 19874331 Background. Laser-assisted hair removal has become a popular treatment for eradication of body hair. Many studies have been published concerning the safety and efficacy of several laser systems. Adverse events are hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, erythema, oedema, scarring, pain and blistering. Changes in sweating have not previously been reported. Aim. To investigate the effects on axillary sweating of hair removal by a 1064-nm neodymium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser. Methods. The sweating function of both axillae was evaluated objectively by the iodine starch test for planimetry measurement and subjectively using a visual analogue scale (VAS) before the treatment, and 1 month and 1 year after the last session. Results. The difference in hyperhidrotic activity before and after treatment was significant (P < 0.05), and these differences persisted 1 year after the last evaluation. Conclusions. The results of this study confirm that treatment of axillary hair using the 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser can cause hyperhidrosis, and this effect is not transient. We did not evaluate the eccrine glands histologically, which is a limitation of the study.

WOS: 000243297700011 PubMed: 17207170 Background Behcet's disease is a chronic, multisystem, inflammatory disease characterized by the predominance of T-helper 1 cytokines. The disease is also characterized by infiltration of lymphocytes and neutrophils into the affected tissues. Because cytokines are involved in the regulation of lymphocyte and phagocyte functions, they may play an important role in the pathogenesis of Behcet's disease. Leptin, a member of the gp 130 family of cytokines, induces a strong T-helper 1 response and is regarded as a proinflammatory inducer. Recent studies have shown that serum leptin concentration was increased in patients with Behcet's disease and correlated with disease activity. Objectives We aimed to investigate the role of G2548A polymorphism of leptin gene in patients with Behcet's disease and compare the results with healthy controls. Patients and methods A total of 93 subjects with Behcet's disease and 125 healthy controls were included in this study. Analyses of G-2548A polymorphism of the LEP gene were performed using the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. The genotypes (GG, GA, and AA of leptin G2548A) and alleles (G and A of leptin 2548) were scored and the frequency was estimated. The frequencies of the alleles and genotypes in patients and controls were compared. We analysed the correlation between leptin gene polymorphism and the clinical features of BD. Results Both genotype and allele frequencies were not significantly different between controls and Behcet's disease patients [OR = 0.67, 95% CI (0.35-1.29), P = 0.197 and OR = 0.77, 95% CI (0.52-1.15), P = 0.184]. We did not find any significant relationship between leptin gene polymorphism and the clinical features of BD (P > 0.05). Conclusion In the present case-control study, we found no evidence of an association between the G-2548A variant of the leptin gene and BD among Turks. Further studies are needed to investigate serum leptin level to explain the mechanisms behind the lack of association between leptin G2548A gene polymorphism and BD.