Conus Medullaris Levels on Ultrasonography in Term Newborns : Normal Levels and Dermatological Findings

Conclusion : Therefore, according to our results, gender is not an influencing factor in the termination of the spinal cord. Based on the study we performed, as well as the previous literature, in infants without a recognized spinal pathology, the spinal cord is detected below the vertebra L3

Diagnostic role of ultrasound elastography for nail bed involvement in psoriasis

Conclusion: Due to the superiority of ultrasound in real-time imaging of the nail structure and the compatibility of sonographic elastography with clinical scores in the assessment of the nail bed, we believe that it can be used as a complementary method

Assessment of Hematological and Inflammatory Parameters in Patients Receiving Isotretinoin Therapy for Acne Vulgaris

Objectives:Isotretinoin (ISO) is a synthetic analog of vitamin A used at the doses of 0.5–2 mg/kg for four to five months in the treatment of moderate to severe acne vulgaris. In the present study, both hematological and inflammatory parameters were retrospectively assessed in patients receiving ISO therapy for acne vulgaris.Method: This study included 352 patients who were admitted to the Dermatology Clinic and received oral ISO for the treatment of acne vulgaris were included in the study. Each patient’s hematological and inflammatory parameters (hemoglobin, hematocrit, thrombocyte, mean platelet volume, leukocyte, erythrocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, basophil, neutrophil/basophil, thrombocyte/lymphocyte, RDW, PCT and PDW) were evaluated before the treatment and retrospectively evaluated four months after the onset of treatment. Results: After treatment, a significant decrease was detected in the levels of leukocyte, neutrophil and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (an indicator of inflammation), and a significant increase was detected in the levels of thrombocyte and procalcitonin (PCT).Conclusion: In our study, isotretinoin inhibited the anti-inflammatory effect of isotretinoin treatment of acne in patients with NLR decline after treatment with inflammatory markers. Patients with markedly elevated platelet counts or low leukocyte counts should be closely monitored

Comparison of the Efficacy of Methotrexate and Narrow-Band Ultraviolet B for the Treatment of Plaque-Type Psoriasis

Although many treatment methods for psoriasis are available, it is still a challenging task for the dermatologist to choose the optimal one. To the best of our knowledge, there was only 1 small study of head-to-head comparison of the efficacy of these medications to date. In this retrospective study, we compared the clinical efficacy and recurrence rates of narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) and methotrexate (MTX) treatments for plaque-type psoriasis. Sixty-seven patients with psoriasis who received NB-UVB (n = 35) or MTX (n = 32) treatments were included in the study. Response was assessed by Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) at baseline, 4th and 12th week. Our results revealed that both treatment modalities significantly reduced the PASI score compared with baseline (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Moreover, there was no significant difference between both regimens regardless of baseline PASI scores (P = 0.796 at 4th week and P = 0.606 at 12th week). Recurrence rates in both treatments were also similar at 3 months (42.9% for NB-UVB and 65.2% for MTX, P = 0.162). In conclusion, the use of NB-UVB can be considered as a preliminary treatment method rather than MTX when taking into account of the lower side effect profile even in patients with severe psoriasis

Comparison of Famciclovir, Valaciclovir, and Brivudine Treatments in Adult Immunocompetent Patients With Herpes Zoster

Herpes zoster (HZ) is a common disease characterized by the recurrence of varicella zoster, that stays dormant in sensory ganglia. The primary goal of this study was to compare efficiencies of famciclovir, valaciclovir, and brivudine in terms of pain relief in HZ patients. Records of patients who were admitted to the Dermatology Clinic of our hospital due to acute HZ between the years 2012 and 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Treatment decisions were at the discretion of caring physicians as valaciclovir (VACV), famciclovir (FCV), and brivudine (BRV) based on the clinical observations. BRV, FCV, and VACV were effective in treating pain in acute HZ. There was no significant difference between mild and moderate HZ patients. In severe cases, a significant reduction in intensity of pain was observed on day 3 in the BRV group, on day 7 in the FCV group, and at 2-3 weeks in the VACV group. There were no significant side effects observed in any of the groups. Results of this study indicate that brivudine may be the first choice in severe HZ cases as it controls pain earlier and is easier to use because of its once daily administration

Synchronous papillary urothelial carcinoma of the bladder and squamous cell carcinoma with sarcomatoid differentiation: A case report

The incidence rate of multiple primary tumors is 37% in all types of cancer. A patient diagnosed with primary cancer is 1.29 times more likely to develop an additional primary cancer when compared with the general population. Furthermore, in patients diagnosed with primary cancer, the possibility of a secondary malignancy in the same or different organ is increased. Following the identification of a secondary tumor, the risk of relapse or metastasis must be considered. The present study reports the case of a 76-year-old man who was admitted to Sakarya University Training and Research Hospital (Sakarya, Turkey) with swelling of the head, which had been apparent for 15 days. An excisional biopsy of the temporal region was performed and was used to diagnose the patient with synchronous squamous cell carcinoma with sarcomatoid differentiation of the scalp. The patient was referred to the Department of Plastic Surgery (Sakarya University Training and Research Hospital) for resection; however, he refused treatment and was subsequently discharged. To the best of our knowledge, this patient represents the first case of synchronous skin malignancy and urothelial carcinoma of the bladder to be reported in the literature