Differential antibody response to COVID-19 disease and COVID-19 vaccines

Background: In our study, antibody positivity was evaluated by two methods in vaccinated and unvaccinated people according to their demographic characteristics and history of COVID-19. Methods: In this study, venous blood samples were taken from patients who were requested to have COVID-19 antibodies from our hospital's outpatient clinics between February 2022 and March 2022. Results: There was no statistically significant difference when IgG antibody positivity was compared according to the age ranges in chemiluminescence and immunochromatographic methods. When patients were evaluated according to antibody titers, it was found that 81% of the seronegative patients were unvaccinated and had not had Covid-19, and it was found that this group was statistically significant compared to other groups. Conclusions: It has been concluded that it will be of great importance for every country, even every region, to have a test and vaccine policy for diagnosis and follow-up in the fight against COVID-19

The Prevalence of Antinuclear Antibodies in Patients with Sarcoidosis

Introduction. Sarcoidosis, which is a chronic inflammatory granulomatous disease, can mimic different rheumatologic diseases including connective tissue diseases. Antinuclear antibodies are the markers used for connective tissue diseases. Aim. To determine antinuclear antibody frequency and any possible correlation with clinical and laboratory data in sarcoidosis patients. Material and Method. Forty-two sarcoidosis patients, 45 rheumatoid arthritis patients, and 45 healthy volunteers who were followed up in rheumatology outpatient clinic were included in this study. Demographic, clinical, serological, and radiological data of all patients were recorded. Antinuclear antibodies were determined with indirect immunofluorescent method and 1/100 titration was accepted as positive. The cases that were ANA positive were evaluated with immunoblot method. Results. Average age of the 42 patients (10 males) with sarcoidosis was 45.2 (20–70 years), and average disease duration was 3.5 years. ANA positivity was detected in 12 (28.5%) patients with sarcoidosis (1/100 in 10 patients, 1/320 in two patients), in 19 of RA patients (42.2%), and in two of healthy volunteers in low titer (P<0.001). In the subgroup analysis made by immunblot test, one patient had anticentromere antibody, one had anti-Ro antibody, one had anti-Scl-70 antibody, one had anti-dsDNA antibody, and eight patients were negative. The two patients who had anticentromere and anti-Scl-70 antibodies had also Sjögren’s syndrome and scleroderma diagnosis, respectively. Discussion. The prevalence of ANA in patients with sarcoidosis was found to be significantly higher than healthy control group and lower than RA patients. This result shows that ANA may have an important role in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis and also could be important in revealing the overlap syndromes of sarcoidosis-connective tissue diseases. Further studies with larger series are necessary in this subject

Genotype distribution in chronic hepatitis C, relationship of genotype with HCV RNA, alpha fetoprotein, alanine aminotransferase and liver fibrosis

In this study, the genotype distribution in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and its relationship with alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alpha fetoprotein (AFP), HCV RNA and liver fibrosis were compared. HCV RNA was negative in 63 and positive in 69 CHC cases who applied to the infectious diseases outpatient clinic between May 2016 and June 2018 were included in the study. Demographic data, laboratory and pathology results of the cases were evaluated retrospectively. 76 of the cases were male, 56 of them were female. In HCV RNA positive cases, Serum ALT and AFP level were statistically significantly higher than negative ones (p: 0.04, p: 0.001). Of HCV RNA positive cases, genotype 1b in 42 (60.9%), 3a in 10 (14.5%), 1a in 8 (11.6%), 4d in 5 (7.2%), and 2b in 4 (5.8%) were found. There was no statistically significant difference between genotypes in terms of HCV RNA, ALT and fibrosis. AFP level was statistically significantly higher in genotype 1b than other genotypes. Consistent with studies, the most common genotype was 1b. One of the main results is that there is no significant relationship between genotype difference and ALT, AFP and HCV RNA and fibrosis in CHC cases. Therefore, although these parameters may play a role in chronicity and inflammation, they may not be sufficient in the evaluation of fibrosis. High level of AFP in genotype 1b compared to other genopes may be useful in determining prognosis. Such studies may be important in epidemiological evaluation of HCIs and follow-up of genotype profile changes. [Med-Science 2021; 10(2.000): 605-8

Sjogren's syndrome in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

WOS: 000243032300006PubMed ID: 16547690There are few reports about the coexistence of Sjogren's syndrome (SS) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). To evaluate the frequency of SS in patients with AS. We studied 70 patients with AS presenting to the university outpatient clinic between January 2002 and November 2003. All the patients were asked about sicca symptoms by using sicca questionnaire. Rheumatoid factor, anti-nuclear antibody, anti-Ro, and anti-La antibodies were examined for each of the patients. Salivary flowmetry for the existence of xerostomia, Schirmer's test, and break-up time for the existence of xerophtalmia were performed in all patients with AS. Minor salivary gland biopsy was performed on the patients with at least three positive responses to the sicca questionnaire and positive xerostomia/xerophtalmia tests. Biopsies were regarded as pathological when they showed focal grade III and grade IV sialoadenitis according to Chisholm grading criteria. Among 70 AS cases, 56 (80%) were men, 14 (20%) were women, and the mean age was 42 years old. Minor salivary gland biopsy was performed on the 16 patients. Of 16 minor salivary gland biopsies, 7 were assessed as pathological-5 of them showed grade III, and 2 of them showed grade IV sialoadenitis. Of these seven patients, one was anti-Ro-positive, and two were anti-La-positive. There was no patient with normal salivary gland biopsy and antiRo and/or anti-La positivity. In our study group, 7 (10%) of 70 AS patients had concomitant SS. Therefore, it seems likely that AS may have pathogenetic association with SS

Right-sided lateralization of skin temperature in healthy young persons

Purpose: Previous studies reported a peripheral immune asymmetry and lateralization of different paired organ cancers. Because of the close relationship of immune system with body temperature, the aim of the study was to test the possible lateralization of skin temperature. Materials and Methods: Four hundred sixty three healthy subjects (325 women, 138 men) with an average age of 23.62 years (SD = 8.65) participated in this study. All skin temperature measurements were done 8:00-9:00 a.m. Skin temperature was assessed for three different points in skin: axillary, thumb and external auditory. Results: Skin temperature was statistically significantly higher on the right side of the body than on the left side, when measured by axillary and thumb temperatures. But there was no statistically significant difference in external auditory temperature. Conclusion: The asymmetry of skin temperature may result from the peripheral immune asymmetry or the asymmetric lymph node distribution

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene promoter polymorphism in patients with familial Mediterranean fever

WOS: 000246178800011PubMed ID: 17057944The proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) plays an important role on the course of disease in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). TNF-alpha gene promoter polymorphism may be a marker of susceptibility and severity of FMF. The aim of this study is to evaluate both TNF-alpha/238 and TNF-alpha/308 genotypes and allelic distribution in patients with FMF. Forty-one FMF patients and 43 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Genomic DNA was extracted from EDTA-preserved whole blood of whole series of patients and controls. Polymorphism of TNF-alpha promoter at positions -238 and -308 were detected by using amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction. TNF-alpha/238 and TNF-alpha/308 genotype distributions and allele frequencies of FMF patients and healthy volunteers were found to be similar. Moreover, there was no association between TNF-alpha/238 and TNF-alpha/308 genotypes and the frequency of acute attacks in FMF. TNF-alpha/238 and TNF-alpha/308 promoter polymorphisms do not seem to be major genetic risk factors for susceptibility to FMF and severity of the disease

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 gene polymorphisms in patients with familial mediterranean fever

WOS: 000285419600005Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a disease of unknown etiology characterized by recurrent attacks of polyserositis and fever. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is known to contribute inflammatory conditions by regulating leukocyte localization at inflammatory sites. The aim of this study was to evaluate the probable association of ICAM-1 G/R 241 and ICAM-1 E/K 469 polymorphisms according to susceptibility with FMF. Sixty-seven FMF patients and 83 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Genomic DNA was extracted from EDTA-preserved whole blood of whole series of patients and controls, and genotyped by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and allele-specific oligonucleotide techniques for ICAM-1 polymorphisms G/R at codon 241 and E/K at codon 469. The ICAM-1 241 genotype and allele frequencies of FMF patients and healthy volunteers were similar. The frequency of ICAM-1 K469 homozygosity was significantly lower in FMF patients than in the controls (32.8% vs 50.7% subsequently, p=0.03). Moreover, ICAM-1 E469 allele was more frequent in FMF patients than in controls (44.8% vs 32.3%, p:0.03). Our results showed that ICAM-1 469 gene polymorphism could contribute to the pathogenesis of FMF

Fecal calprotectin is associated with disease activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

WOS: 000369625200012PubMed ID: 26773186Calprotectin is one of the major antimicrobial S100 leucocyte proteins. Serum calprotectin levels are associated with certain inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and inflammatory bowel disease. The aim of this study was to investigate serum and fecal calprotectin levels in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and show their potential relations to the clinical findings of the disease. Fifty-one patients fulfilling the New York criteria of AS and 43 healthy age- and gender-matched volunteers were included in the study. Physical and locomotor system examinations were performed and history data were obtained for all patients. Disease activity parameters were assessed together with anthropometric parameters. Routine laboratory examinations and genetic testing (HLA-B-27) were performed. Serum calprotectin levels and fecal calprotectin levels were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mean age of the patients was 41.5 years, the mean duration of the disease was 8.6 years, and the delay in diagnosis was 4.2 years. Serum calprotectin levels were similar in both AS patients and in the control group (p=0.233). Serum calprotectin level was correlated with Bath AS disease activity index (BASDAI) and Bath AS functional index (BASFI) (p=0.001, p=0.002, respectively). A higher level of fecal calprotectin was detected in AS patients when compared with the control group. A statistically significant correlation between fecal calprotectin level and BASDAI, BASFI, C-reactive protein and Erythrocyte sedimentation rate were detected (p=0.002, p=0.005, p=0.001, p=0.002, respectively). The results indicated that fecal calprotectin levels were associated with AS disease findings and activity parameters. Calprotectin is a vital disease activity biomarker for AS and may have an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Multi-centered prospective studies are needed in order to provide further insight

Sex- and diagnosis-related differences in nostril dominance may be associated with hemisphere dysfunction in affective disorders

Conclusion: These results suggest that unipolar depression might be associated with left hemisphere dysfunction or hypofunction in females, in terms of the nasal cycle. However, bipolar I disorder might be associated with right hemisphere dysfunction or hypofunction in females, in terms of the nasal cycle