Serum eosinophil cationic protein levels in Behçet's disease and its relation to clinical activity

PubMedID: 23517396Background: Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) is a matrix protein of eosinophils and has been reported to reflect eosinophil activity. Few studies have examined the role of eosinophils in the pathogenesis of Behçet's disease. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the serum ECP levels in BD and its relation to clinical activity. Methods: Forty-seven consecutive patients with BD (22 active, 25 inactive), 21 age and sex matched patients with allergic rhinitis and 21 healthy controls were evaluated cross-sectionally. The serum ECP levels were measured by the flourescein enzyme immunoassay method. Results: Mean serum ECP levels of active patients with BD (34.28 ± 23.43 µg/L) were found to be significantly lower than those of the inactive patients (65.69 ± 46.32 µg/L, p <0.05) and the controls (62.92 ± 30.49 µg/L, p <0.01). Behçet patients with oral aphthous lesions had significantly lower mean serum ECP levels (n=21, 38.82 ± 33.38 µg/L) than those without aphthous lesions (n=26, 60.81 ± 43.21µg/L) (p = 0.041). Similarly patients with arthritis had lower serum ECP values (n=6, 22.12 ± 9.47 µg/L) than those without arthritis (n = 41, 55.21 ± 41.35 µg/L) (p =0.029). Conclusions: Lower ECP levels in the active phase of the disease may be a result of decreased production due to the activation of Th1 cytokines

Reactive arthritis due to zoophilic (canine) sexual intercourse

PubMedID: 17509183Reactive arthritis (ReA) is defined as a joint inflammation triggered by a distant infection, with no cultivable microbes in the joints. Although efforts have been made to characterize the microorganism linked to ReA, no definite common feature has so far emerged. Here we present a case of ReA which occurred after a zoophilic (canine genus) sexual intercourse

Investigation of C5a receptor gene 450 C/T polymorphism in Turkish patients with familial Mediterranean fever

PubMedID: 19657723Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a genetic disorder with acute inflammatory serosal attacks due to MEFV gene mutations which resides in chromosome 16. Lack of a C5a inhibitor activity in the peritoneum has previously been proposed in part to contribute in propagation of the serosal inflammation in FMF attacks. The aim of this study is to investigate C5a receptor (C5aR) gene polymorphism in patients with FMF and its relation to the main features of the disease. A polymorphism in the coding region of C5aR gene leading to C to T transition at nucleotide position 450 has been investigated in 85 non-related Turkish FMF patients and 160 non-related healthy controls by using PCR-RFLP. The frequencies of C5aR gene 450 CT genotype and T allele were not significantly different between Turkish FMF patients and healthy subjects (14.12 and 8.24% for FMF vs. 10 and 5% for controls, respectively). C5aR gene 450 CT genotype tended to associate with the presence Henoch-Schonlein purpura (OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 0.917-1.704, P = 0.017) but with no other clinical findings of the disease. C5aR polymorphism might be searched in populations having high prevalence of FMF. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.Firat University Scientific Research Projects Management Unit: TF2003BAP13Acknowledgments This study was supported by the Cukurova University Scientific Research Projects Fund, Adana, Turkey (Project number: TF2003BAP13)

Plasma interleukin-10 and interleukin-12 levels in patients with familial Mediterranean fever

PubMedID: 16397779Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by recurrent attacks of fever, polyserositis and arthritis. A vast array of cytokines were analysed in these patients, however, little is known about the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-12. Plasma IL-12 and IL-10 were measured in 24 patients with FMF (19 active, 5 inactive) and 18 healthy controls by ELISA. From 15 active patients blood was also drawn in attack-free period. Mean plasma IL-12 levels of the FMF patients (mean ± SEM, 6.84±3.59 pg/ml) were higher than the controls (0.13±0.09 pg/ml, P<0.001). Mean IL-12 levels of active (7.02±5.23 pg/ml) and inactive patients (6.89±5.61 pg/ml) were comparable, and they were higher compared to controls (P ? 0.001). Mean plasma IL-10 levels of the total FMF patients (3.01±1.53 pg/ml) were also higher than the controls (P=0.024). Patients had higher IL-10 levels in attacks (3.83±2.02 pg/ml) compared to levels when they were in remission (1.86±1.59 pg/ml, P=0.046). Significantly elevated IL-12 levels in FMF patients regardless of activity may suggest the presence of a pro-inflammatory state also in the inactive period of FMF. Significant increase in IL-10 levels in FMF group may point to the compensatory suppression of inflammation in active periods of the disease. © Springer-Verlag 2006

Serum RANTES, MIP-1?, and MCP-1 levels in Behçet's disease [2]

PubMedID: 16133585[No abstract available]TF 2001Acknowledgement This study was funded by Cukurova University Research Foundation project number TF 2001.U12

The association between cervical rib and sacralization

PubMedID: 12163729Study Design. After determining the normal reference values for the length of the transverse processes of the seventh cervical vertebra, the association between the presence of cervical rib and sacralization was investigated. Objective. To determine the length of cervical rib and search for any association between cervical rib and sacralization. Summary of Background Data. Both cervical ribs and sacralization have been noted in some patients in the authors' clinical practice. Methods. The cervical rib is a supernumerary rib arising from a cervical vertebra, or it might be simply an elongation of the transverse process of the seventh cervical vertebra. However, there is no consensus about a specified length of this process. For reference values, anteroposterior cervical radiographs of 210 normal individuals (112 male, 98 female, mean age 33.9 ± 10.1 years, range 19-61 years) were taken, and elongation of the transverse processes beyond 2 standard deviations (30 mm) was considered as cervical rib. In the guide of the reference values, 324 outpatients (165 male, 159 female, mean age 42.0 ± 14.6 years, range 17-85 years), having cervical ribs or sacralization detected by plain radiographs, were taken as the study group. As control 729 volunteers (364 male, 365 female, mean age 41.7 ± 14.3 years, range 15-76 years) were studied. Results, In 1053 patients, of 471 patients having cervical ribs, 345 (73.2%) had also sacralization; of 536 patients with sacralization, 345 (64.4%) also had cervical ribs. Significant associations were found between cervical rib with or without articulation and sacralization [X2 = 52.284, P &lt; 0.001, odds ratio 5.097 (3.156-8.234); X2 = 139.473, P &lt; 0.001, odds ratio 5.204 (3.922-6.905), respectively]. Conclusion. Presence of cervical rib might be a clue to the existence of sacralization or vice versa. In patients with cervical or lumbar pain, this association may be helpful for differential diagnosis before applying sophisticated diagnostic techniques

Comparison of amplification refractory mutation system and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques used for the investigation of MEFV gene exon 10 point mutations in Familial Mediterranean fever patients living in Çukurova region (Turkey)

PubMedID: 16225401Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive inherited disease characterized by recurrent Fever, serositis and arthritis. The disease is highly prevalent in Mediterranean basin populations. Recently, the gene responsible for FMF (MEFV) was cloned and at least 40 MEFV gene mutations have been identified. The most frequently observed mutations in the MEFV gene are M694V, M694I, M680I, and V726A. These occur within exon 10 of the gene, and account for 85% of the known MEFV alleles. In this study, the reliability and economical aspects of amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) techniques were compared for analyzing the frequencies of the major point mutations of 90 unrelated patients with FMF from the Çukurova region in Turkey. Both techniques yielded similar results: The ratio of independent alleles of 90 patients carrying one of the tested mutations was 81.1%; patients consisted of 12 different genotypes. In 64 of 90 patients (71.1%) mutations were observed in both alleles. Thirty-six patients (40%) were homozygous for the same mutation, 28 (31.1%) were heterozygous for different mutations. Eighteen patients (20%) were heterozygous for one allele with one of the four mutations but the other allele was unknown. In 8 patients (8.8%) no mutation could be detected. The most frequently observed mutation was M694V (51.66%), followed by M680I (17.22%), V726A (10.55%), and M694I (1.66%). In conclusion ARMS and PCR-RFLP techniques were equally reliable to detect the mutations in Turkish FMF patients. However, the ARMS technique was found to be more rapid and economical than the PCR-RFLP techniques. © Mary Ann Liebert, Inc

The effects of colchicine and d-penicillamine on sister chromatid exchange frequencies in patients with systemic sclerosis

Purpose: Increased chromosomal breakage and rearrangements have been reported in cell cultures of blood, skin and aponeurosis in patients with systemic sclerosis (SS). Among the drugs used for SS, d-penicillamine have been shown to increase sister chromatid exchange (SCE) in vitro, whereas there exist no data available to our knowledge for colchicine. Method: SCE frequencies were searched in 27 non-smoking patients with SS (mean age ± SD; 46.0 ± 11.9; 3 males, 24 females) of whom 8 on only colchicine and 10 on only d-penicillamine. In nine patients SCE was also studied after 45 days of colchicines administration as well. Twenty-one non-smoking healthy individuals (mean age ± SD; 34.8 ± 8.2; 4 males, 17 females) were taken as the control group. Results: When patients on d-penicillamine were excluded, SCE values were comparable among the patients with colchicine users (6.24 ± 0.45, n = 8) and non-users (6.22 ± 0.26, n = 8). Similarly when colchicine users were excluded no significant difference was found in SCE values between patients on d-penicillamine (6.08 ± 0.24, n = 10) and patients that were not taking the drug (6.22 ± 0.26, n = 8). Initial SCE values and those after 45 days of colchicine commencement were comparable (n = 9; 6.17 ± 0.24 and 6.30 ± 0.39, respectively). Conclusion: Colchicine and d-penicillamine usage appears not to effect SCE rates in the studied patients with systemic sclerosis

Evaluation of the Turkish version of the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Patient Global Score (BAS-G)

PubMedID: 16477399The objective of this study was to investigate the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) Patient Global Score (BAS-G). Seventy-one consecutive patients with AS were enrolled into the study. Patients were requested to fill in the questionnaire on the day of admission (first visit), on a second occasion within 24 h after admission (second visit) for test-retest reliability analysis, and on a third occasion for assessing sensitivity to change. Construct validity was assessed by correlation analysis with the Bath AS Functional Index (BASFI), Dougados Functional Index (DFI), Dougados Articular Index (DAI), physical examination findings, and several other parameters. Test-retest reliability analysis of individual BAS-G scores at initial and second visits showed good intraclass correlations [n=46, intraclass correlation=0.928 (0.870-0.960) and intraclass correlation=0.853 (0.725-0.920), for 1-week and 6-month scores, respectively]. Both 1-week and 6-month scores showed moderate correlations with the BASFI (r=0.586 and r=0.503, respectively, P=0.000 for both). The 1-week score also showed moderate correlation with the DFI (r=0.530, P=0.000). The 1-week score showed weak correlations with finger-to-floor distance (r=0.263, P=0.027), chest expansion (r=0.245, P=0.039), and DAI (r=0.271, P=0.036). Change in the 1-week score at the third visit showed good correlation with the BASFI score (r=0.670, P=0.000, n=36) and moderate correlation with the DFI (r=0.440, P=0.017, n=29). The Turkish version of the BAS-G has good reliability and validity. It is a good tool for assessing patients with AS or other rheumatic diseases in clinical practice and research. © Clinical Rheumatology 2006

Evaluation of the Turkish version of the Dougados functional index in ankylosing spondylitis

PubMedID: 15742189To investigate the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Dougados functional index (DFI) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The Turkish version of DFI was obtained after a translation and back-translation process. Seventy consecutive patients with AS were enrolled. Patients were requested to complete the questionnaire on the day of admission (first visit), a second time within 24 h after admission (second visit), and on a third occasion. Reliability, validity and reproducibility of the Turkish version of the index were assessed. All the items showed significant correlations with the total index score with r-values ranging from 0.516 to 0.817. Cronbach ? score was calculated as 0.908. Significant correlations were found between the total DFI score and Schober test (r=-0.293, P<0.05), occiput-wall distance (r=0.384; P<0.01) finger-to-floor distance (r=0.450, P<0.001), chest expansion (r=-0.331, P<0.01) and Dougados articular index (r=0.352, P<0.05). Good correlations were found between individual DFI items and the total score (r=between 0.533 and 0.882, p< 0.001) for the first and second visits, showing good reproducibility of the index. Conclusion: the Turkish version of DFI has good reliability, validity and reproducibility, confirming its utility for trials in Turkish AS patients. © Springer-Verlag 2005