Sublingual epidermoid cyst: a case report

Epidermoid and dermoid cysts represent less than 0.01% of all oral cavity cysts. The cysts can be defined as epidermoid when the lining presents only epithelium, dermoid cysts when skin adnexa are found, and teratoid cysts when other tissue such as muscle, cartilage, and bone are present

Comparison of Gram stain and Pap smear procedures in the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics of Gram stain versus Pap smear in diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV). METHODS: One-thousand and sixty women were enrolled in this study. All cases with symptoms of BV were determined by Amsel's criteria, which were accepted as the gold standard for diagnosis of BV. Pap smear and Gram stain evaluations were compared according to Amsel's criteria, without viewing the clinical results of the patients. Gram stain and Pap smear results were determined as negative or positive according to Amsel's criteria. Sensitivity, specifity and positive predictive values were calculated. RESULTS: After accepting the cases that were diagnosed as BV according to Amsel's criteria as reference cases, the sensitivity of the Gram stain method was calculated as 97% and the sensitivity of the Pap smear method as 93%. Similar specificity rates were obtained with both methods in diagnosis of BV related to the clinical results. There were no statistically significant differences in diagnosis of BV between these two groups. CONCLUSION: If Amsel's criteria are accepted as the gold standard for diagnosis of BV, Gram stain and Pap smear methods will give similar results in diagnosis

Retroperitoneal Ancient Schwannoma

Schwannomas are benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors made up of Schwann cells. Ancient schwannoma is an uncommon subtype of schwannomas exhibiting areas of cystic cavitation, calcification and hyalinization. The “ancient” term refers to tumors that are long standing and show degenerative changes and diffuse hypocellular areas. This case highlights that the possibility of ancient schwannoma should be considered in patients presenting with a retroperitoneal cystic mass

Hemoglobin variant analysis methods

Amaç: Hemoglobin (Hb) bozuklukları, gerek ülkemizde gerekse dünyada rastlanan en önemli kalıtsal hastalıklardandır. Hemoglobinlerin globin zincirlerinin yapılarındaki aminoasit değişikliği ile oluşan hemoglobinlere anormal hemoglobinler veya kısaca "Hb varyantları" denilmektedir. Anormal hemoglobin varlığının, protein düzeyindeki yöntemler ile belirlenmesini takiben kesin tanı işlemi gen düzeyindeki analizlerin yapılması ile gerçekleştirilmektedir. Bu derlemeyi hazırlamaktaki amacımız, hemoglobin varyant analiz yöntemlerinin tümünü içeren bir veri hazırlamaktır.Hemoglobin (Hb) disorders are among the most important hereditary diseases both in our country and in the world. Hemoglobins which result from amino acid change in the structure of globin chains are called abnormal hemoglobins or simply "Hb variants". Following the protein level analysis methods for the determination of the presence of abnormal hemoglobins, the diagnosis is carried out by gene-level analysis. Our purpose for this review is to bring together and present all hemoglobin variant analysis methods

A Fast and Reliable Method to Interpret Short-Term Mortality in Perforated Peptic Ulcer: Red Cell Distribution Width is Sensitive and Specific

Introduction. Peptic ulcer is an important health problem worldwide with a prevalence of around 5%. Peptic ulcer perforation is a potentially mortal complication of peptic ulcer disease. We aimed to investigate the potential use of red cell distribution width as a prognostic marker in peptic ulcer perforation. Methods. The files, operation notes, biochemical and hematological parameters, and prognosis of patients who were operated for a peptic ulcer perforation were reviewed in a retrospective cohort study. The relation of red cell distribution width (RDW) to main outcome in-hospital mortality was assessed. Results. The mean age of the 172 patients was 40 ± 17.89. There were 158 (92%) males and 14 (8%) females. The in-hospital mortality was 8.7% (15/172). The median RDW in the group with mortality was 15.00 (interquartile range (IQR): 14.30–17.20) compared with the median RDW in the group with no mortality as 13.2 (IQR: 12.80–14.00, p≤0.001). Receiver operator characteristic curves were plotted for RDW to identify nonsurvivors and yielded a significant area under the curve as 0.812 (95% confidence interval: 0.682–0.942). The sensitivity and specificity of RDW at a cutoff value of 14.25% were calculated with an accuracy of 81.98 (95% confidence interval: 75.40–87.41) as 80.00 (51.91–95.67) and 82.17 (75.27–87.81), respectively. Conclusion. Increased RDW may be of use to interpret mortality in patients with peptic ulcer perforation

Could mean platelet volume be used as a marker for oral aphthae and activity of behçet's disease?

Amaç: Çalışmamızda; ülkemizde sık görülen inflamatuvar bir hastalık olan Behçet hastalarının ortalama trombosit hacmi değerlerinin, hastalarda görü- len oral aft varlığının ve hastalık aktivitesinin belirteci olarak kullanabilirliğini araştırmayı amaçladık. Yöntemler: 04/01/2010 - 30/07/2010 tarihleri arasında Okmeydanı eğitim ve araştırma hastanesi dermatoloji kliniğinde, tanısı uluslararası çalışma grubu tanı kriterleri esas alınarak konulan 15 aktif ve 37 inaktif dönemde olmak üzere toplam 52 Behçet hastası ve herhangi bir inflamatuvar hastalığı bulunmayan 26 kişi kontrol grubunu oluşturmak üzere toplam 78 hasta çalışmaya retrospektif olarak dahil edildi. Ortalama trombosit hacmi ve inflamasyonun laboratuvar belirteçleri hasta ve kontrol gruplarında istatiksel olarak değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Kontrol grubu ile beraber Behçet inaktif ve aktif hasta grupları arasında ortalama trombosit hacmi ortalamaları istatistiksel olarak anlamlı farklı değildi (p0,678). Kontrol grubu ile beraber Behçet oral aftı olmayan ve Behçet oral aftı olan hasta grupları arasında ortalama trombosit hacmi ortalama değerleri istatistiksel olarak anlamlı farklı değildi (p0,637). Sonuç: Biz bu çalışmamızda; ortalama trombosit hacmi değerlerinin, Behçet hastalarında görülen oral aft varlığının ve hastalık aktivitesinin belirteci olarak kullanılamayacağını tespit ettik. Behçet hastalarının kullandığı kolşisin ve kortikosteroidler gibi immünsüpresif ilaçların inflamatuvar süreci etkileyerek aktif veya inaktif dönemdeki Behçet hastalarındaki ortalama trombosit hacmi düzeylerini değiştirebileceğinden, çalışmanın, sitokin düzeylerinin de ölçüldü- ğü ve hiçbir ilaç tedavisi almamış yeni tanı konmuş daha geniş populasyonlu çalışmalar yapılarak değerlendirilmesinin yararlı olacağı kanaatine vardık.Objective: Behçet's disease is a common inflammatory disease in our country. We aimed to determine whether mean platelet volume can be used as a marker for oral aphthae and the activity of Behçet's disease. Methods: Between 04/01/2010 and 30/07/2010, 78 patients from the Okmeydani Training and Research Hospital Dermatology Clinic were retrospectively enrolled in this study, of which 15 patients had active Behçet's disease and 37 had inactive Behçet's disease that were diagnosed according to the International Criteria for Behçet's Disease; 26 control patients without any inflammatory disease were also evaluated. Mean platelet volume and laboratory indicators of inflammation were compared between the patients and control groups. Results: There were no significant differences in the mean platelet volume values between the active Behçet's disease group, inactive Behçet's disease group, and control group (p0.678). Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the mean platelet volume values between patients with oral aphthae, patients without oral aphthae, and control patients (p0.637). Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that mean platelet volume values cannot be used as a marker for oral aphthae and activity of Behçet's disease. However, immunosuppressive agents, such as colchicine and corticosteroids that are used in treating Behçet's disease, could affect the mean platelet volume values in active or inactive Behçet's disease by suppressing the inflammatory process. Therefore, we believe that the evaluation of the mean platelet volume values in large-scale studies that include patients with newly diagnosed Behçet's disease, which have not been treated, would be useful

A proposal from Istanbul University for a new legislation on higher education

The main aims of the universities are to further and promote secular critical thinking, innovation and know- how to universal standards along with opening the same to local and international competition. Pluralism, autonomy along with accountability are the principal elements to this end. A "framework law" is needed for our institutions of higher education

Could Mean Platelet Volume Be Used as A Marker for Oral Aphthae and Activity of Behcet's Disease?

WOS: 000376296100003Objective: Behcet's disease is a common inflammatory disease in our country. We aimed to determine whether mean platelet volume can be used as a marker for oral aphthae and the activity of Behcet's disease, Methods: Between 04/01/2010 and 30/07/2010, 78 patients from the Ok-meydani Training and Research Hospital Dermatology Clinic were retrospectively enrolled in this study, of which 15 patients had active Behcet's disease and 37 had inactive Behcet's disease that were diagnosed according to the International Criteria for Behcet's Disease; 26 control patients without any inflammatory disease were also evaluated, Mean platelet volume and laboratory indicators of inflammation were compared between the patients and control groups. Results: There were no significant differences in the mean platelet volume values between the active Behcet's disease group, inactive Behcet's disease group, and control group (p=0.678). Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the mean platelet volume values between patients with oral aphthae, patients without oral aphthae, and control patients (p=0.637). Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that mean platelet volume values cannot be used as a marker for oral aphthae and activity of Behcet's disease. However, immunosuppressive agents, such as colchicine and corticosteroids that are used in treating Behcet's disease, could affect the mean platelet volume values in active or inactive Behcet's disease by suppressing the inflammatory process. Therefore, we believe that the evaluation of the mean platelet volume values in large-scale studies that include patients with newly diagnosed Behcet's disease, which have not been treated, would be useful