Vitamin D levels in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Abstract Background Lower serum vitamin D levels, a major public health problem worldwide, has been found to be associated with various infectious diseases, cancers, autoimmune and dermatological diseases. The serum levels of vitamin D in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis are not clear. We investigated the vitamin D levels in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Methods Forty patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (Group I) and 70 healthy controls (Group II) included in the study. The characteristics of aphthous lesions (duration of disease and remission, frequency, diameter and number of the lesions) and demographics of the participants were recorded. Serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol levels were measured using electrochemiluminescence binding method. Results There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of age (p = 0.06) and sex (p = 0.4). Other baseline characteristics were not significantly different between the groups (p > 0.05 for all). The mean diameter of aphthous lesions was 0.5 (0.4–0.6) cm and the mean number of lesions was 2.2 ± 1.5. Serum vitamin D levels were 11 ± 7.04 ng/ml in Group I and 16.4 ± 10.19 ng/ml in Group II. Serum vitamin D levels were significantly lower in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (p = 0.004). Conclusions The present study showed lower vitamin D levels in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis compared to healthy controls

Immunohistochemical demonstration of CD31, HCG and receptors for estrogene on normal human placenta at term stage

Çalışmada; CD31, hCG ve Estrojene spesifik reseptörlerin normal gelişimini tamamlamış insan plasentasındaki lokalizasyonunun araştırılması amaçlandı. Materyal ve Metod: 10 adet insan plasentasından hazırlanan kesitler; Hematoksilen-Eozin, PAS ve Masson 'un trikrom boyaları ile boyandı. Ardından; HCG(Ab-5)(Lab Vision), CDS I (Diagnostic BioSystems), insan estrojen reseptörüne spesifik antikorlar (Diagnostic BioSystems) ile indirekt immunoperoksidaz yöntemi kullanılarak işaretlendi. Bulgular: CD31 ile; fetal kapillerleri döşeyen endotelyal hücre sitoplazmaları ile; koryon içerisindeki kapillerler ve diğer tüm damarsal yapıları çevreleyen endotel hücreleri işaretlendi. Sinsityotrofoblastlar hCG ile belirgin şekilde boyandı. Villuslar içerisinde; yer yer sitoplazmaları hCG ile işaretlenmiş mezenkimal hücreler gözlendi. Koryon içerisinde de sitoplazması boyanmış hücrelere rastlandı. Estrojene spesifik reseptörlerle; sinsityotrofoblast sitoplazmalannda, villuslar içindeki mezenkimal hücrelerin bir kısmında, koryon kesitlerinde bazı bağ dokusu içerisindeki hücrelerin sitoplazmalannda işaretlenme mevcuttu. Tartışma: CD31 ile villuslar içerisinde lokalize mezenkimal hücrelerde işaretlenme gözlemleyememiz; yeni damar oluşumunun artık son dönem plasentada stimüle edilmediğini düşündürmektedir. hCG ile boyanmış mezenkimal hücrelerin varlığı bu hücrelerin; sinsityotrofoblastlar gibi hCG sentezleyip salgılayan hücreler ya da sinsityotrofoblastlar a farklılaşma potansiyeline sahip öncül hücreler olabileceği kanısındayız.Estrojen reseptörüne spesifik antikorla; koryon kesitlerinde ve villus içi mezenkimal hücrelerde gözlemlenen boyanma; sinsityotrofoblastlara dönüşmek üzere programlanmış hücreler veya bu reseptörleri taşıyan diğer tipteki hücreler olabileceklerini düşündürmektedir.Introduction: The aim of the study was to investigate the localization of CD31, hCG and the receptors which are specific for estrogene in normal human placenta. Material and Methods: Sections from 10 normal human placenta were stained with Hematoksilen-Eozin, PAS ve Masson's trichrom stain and immunolabeled with the antibodies specific for HCG(Ab-5)(Lab Vision), CD31 (Diagnostic BioSystems) and human estrogene receptor s (Diagnostic BioSystems) . RESULTS: Antibodies specific for CD31 were localised in the fetal capillary endothelial cells's cytoplasm and the endothelial cells aroud the different types of vessels in Chorion. Syncythyotrophoblasts were immunostained with hCG. There were also immunolabeling in the cytoplasm of mesenchimal cells in villi, and in some cells in chorion. Labeling for the receptors specific for Estrogene were localised in the cytoplasm of syncythiotrophoblasts, in mesenchimal cells in villi and the cytoplasm of the connective tissue cells in chorion. Conclusions: We conclude that new vessel formation is not common in villi in term placenta since immunolabeling with CD31 in mesenchimal cells at this location were not seen. Mesenchimal cells which were stained with hCG might be the cells which synthesize and secrete HCG, like syncythyotrophoblasts, or they might be primitive cells which have potential for differentiation into the cyncythiotrophoblasts. Cells labeled with the estrogene receptor specific antibodies in mesenchimal cells in chorion and in villi would be the precursor cells of syncythiotrophoblasts or other cell types carrying these type receptors

Dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis in serum of patients with generalized vitiligo

WOS:000463592100007Vitiligo is a multifactorial disorder commonly associated with hypo-/depigmentation in the skin and may influence both children and adults psychologically because of the notable leopard-skin-like appearance. This study was designed to investigate the thiol/disulfide homeostasis in patients with generalized vitiligo and to determine its relationship with some of the demographical characteristics. Seventy-six generalized vitiligo patients and 67 healthy individuals were included in the study. Blood serum native thiol, disulfide and total thiol concentrations, together with some hematological parameters, were determined. Results demonstrated that native and total thiol contents, and their ratios, were significantly lower in vitiligo patients. Disulfide/native thiol and disulfide/total thiol ratios were significantly higher in the patient group. Progressivity of the disease strongly regulated the thiol/disulfide homeostasis in such a way that active vitiligo patients had reduced native and total thiol levels but increased disulfide/native thiol and disulfide/total thiol ratios. Moreover, there was a statistically significant negative correlation between both duration of the vitiligo and native and total thiol contents. As these results clearly demonstrated that thiol/disulfide homeostasis was shifted toward disulfide formation in patients with generalized vitiligo, determining the dynamic nature of thiol/disulfide homeostasis can be used to monitor disease progression.Hitit University and Yildirim Beyazit UniversityThis study was supported partially by Hitit University and Yildirim Beyazit University which kindly provided laboratory reagents and equipment

Frequency of depressive symptoms in health workers’ children

Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the frequency of depressive signs and the sociodemographic features among the children of health workers who work under harsh conditions and immense stress. Methods: The descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in the Province of Batman, Turkey, between June 15 and July 17, 2014. The study included 106 health workers who had children aged 6-17 years and volunteered to complete the questionnaire. The participants filled out the sociodemographic data form alone and completed the depression scale for children (DSC) together with their children. Data was evaluated statistically. Results: All but one child had a score of >19 on the DSC (99.1%). No correlation was found between the scores of the children and the department of their parents (r=0.050, p=0.621) and shiftwork (r=0.178, p=0.071), history of depression in their parents (r=0.100, p=0.315), number of siblings in the family (r=0.001, p=0.994), and the presence of chronic diseases in the children (r=0.138, p=0.162). The scores were higher in the children of female health workers compared to those of male health workers (p=0.027). Conclusion: High CDS scores in the children of health workers is a critical issue and the reason for this occurrence may be multifactorial. Further surveys should be conducted to define the measures to be taken