Correlation between erythrocyte antioxidant activity, lipid peroxidation, and disease activity in patients with Behçet's disease.
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
A Akar
Publications and source records attributed to A Akar.
Multiple keratoacanthomas arising on skin lesions of pseudoxanthoma elasticum.
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Adult↗
An open, randomized, comparative study of oral fluconazole, itraconazole and terbinafine therapy in onychomycosis.
BACKGROUND/AIM: In this open, randomized and comparative study, the safety and efficacy of systemic fluconazole, itraconazole and terbinafine was investigated in 50 patients with distal subungual toenail onychomycosis diagnosed clinically and mycologically. The patients with positive mycology and also the patients with positive microscopy and negative culture were investigated. METHODS: The treatment duration was 3 months, and the follow-up period was 6 months. Patients were randomly assigned: 16 patients received 150 mg fluconazole once weekly, 18 patients received 200 mg itraconazole twice daily with meals during the first week of each month, and 16 patients received 250 mg/day terbinafine during the treatment period. RESULTS: In a clinical evaluation, at the endpoint of the follow-up period, the clinical cure rates were 81.3% (13/16) in the terbinafine group, 77.8% (14/18) in the itraconazole group, and 37.5% (6/16) in the fluconazole group. The mycological cure rates were 75% (12/16), 61.1% (11/18) and 31.2% (5/16), respectively. The overall assessment rates were 62.5% (10/16), 61.1% (11/18) and 31.2% (5/16), respectively. Statistically significant intra-group reductions from baseline symptom severity values were seen at the endpoint of treatment and at the endpoint of the follow-up period for all three treatment groups in onycholysis, subungual hyperkeratosis, affected-area percentage score and total score parameters (p < 0.001). At the endpoint of the follow-up period, statistically significant differences between the treatment groups were seen in clinical, mycological and overall assessment (p < 0.05). However, while no statistically significant difference between the terbinafine and itraconazole groups was seen, there was a clinical and statistical difference between the other groups and the fluconazole group. Treatment was not stopped for side effects such as mild gastrointestinal and central nervous system symptoms. These effects were noted in four patients in the fluconazole group (25%), five patients in the itraconazole group (27.8%), and three patients in the terbinafine group (18.75%). The clinical laboratory data on all three drug groups did not show any statistically or clinically significant intra-group changes from baseline values at the endpoint (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This comparative study of systemic fluconazole, itraconazole and terbinafine showed that all three drugs were effective and safe in the treatment of onychomycosis. However, fluconazole, at these doses and treatment durations, was the least effective. With regard to cost-effectiveness, side effects and the cure rates, terbinafine could be the drug of choice in the short-term treatment of toenail onychomycosis.
Administration, Oral↗
Focal epithelial hyperplasia treated with interferon alpha-2a.
BACKGROUND: Focal epithelial hyperplasia (FEH) is an uncommon benign oral condition that occurs mainly in young individuals of certain racial groups. METHODS: A 21-year-old Caucasian man presented with FEH of the oral mucosa. The patient was treated with interferon alpha-2a three times a week for 14 weeks intramuscularly (a total of 162 million units). RESULTS: At 2 months after the end of therapy, the papular lesions showed partial regression. CONCLUSION: This treatment modality should be used in cases with diffuse focal epithelial hyperplasia.
Adult↗
Acute rhabdomyolysis during the treatment of scleromyxedema with interferon alfa.
A 34-year-old white man developed acute rhabdomyolysis during the treatment of scleromyxedema with interferon alfa. If interferon alfa is to be used as a therapeutic option for scleromyxedema the possibility of rhabdomyolysis should be considered. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case in which acute rhabdomyolysis was developed during the treatment of scleromyxedema with interferon alfa.
Acute Disease↗
Efficacy and safety assessment of 0.5% and 1% colchicine cream in the treatment of actinic keratoses.
BACKGROUND: Topical colchicine has been reported to be an effective treatment for actinic keratoses, but the optimal concentration has not been fully defined. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to further support the beneficial effect of topical colchicine therapy for actinic keratoses, and to compare the efficacy and safety of two different concentrations of colchicine cream, 0.5% and 1%. METHODS: Sixteen patients with actinic keratoses were enrolled in this comparative randomized study. Eight patients applied 1% colchicine cream, twice daily on their lesions while the other eight were treated with a 0.5% colchicine cream for 10 days. Some patients were applied a second course of 10 days' therapy. Patients were examined before treatment and at 10 days, and followed up at 1, 2 and 6 months of treatment. Visible and palpable actinic keratoses lesions in each group were counted. Safety and efficacy were also assessed by clinical examination at each study visit. Routine laboratory tests were performed before and after treatment. RESULTS: Actinic keratoses lesions showed significant clinical improvement following treatment with 0.5% and 1% colchicine cream. Complete healing of actinic keratoses were observed in six of the eight patients in the 1% colchicine group, and in seven of the eight patients in the 0.5% colchicine group. The reduction rate in number of actinic keratoses at the end of treatment in the 1% colchicine group was 73.9% (48/65) (p < 0.001), and the reduction rate in the 0.5% colchicine group was 77.7% (52/67) in total (p < 0.001). The reduction in number of actinic keratoses (mean +/- SD) at the end of treatment was similar in the 1% colchicine group (0.7 +/- 1.3), and the 0.5% colchicine group (mean 0.6 +/- 1.7) (p > 0.05). Systemic side effects were not seen in either concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Topical colchicine is an effective and safe alternative agent. Cream containing 0.5% of colchicine is equally effective as 1% colchicine cream in the treatment of actinic keratoses.
Administration, Cutaneous↗
A new surgical therapeutic approach to pincer nail deformity.
BACKGROUND: Pincer nail deformity (PND) is an important health problem that causes discomfort in daily life. Until now, some surgical and conservative treatment modalities were applied with success. However, there is still no consensus on the common and accepted form of treatment. OBJECTIVE: To present a new surgical therapeutic approach to PND. METHODS: Ten patients, four with bilateral and six with unilateral PND, were treated with a new surgical technique which is a combination of chemical matricectomy with phenol and nail bed repair. RESULTS: No recurrence was observed in any of the patients after 12-16 months follow-up. No serious complication was encountered. The cosmetic improvement was also marked and satisfactory. CONCLUSION: This new surgical approach was found to be effective and is presented as an alternative treatment modality for PND.
Adult↗
Detection of HIV-1 infections by PCR: evaluation in a seropositive subject population.
To study the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) performance in detecting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections, we tested 53 HIV-1 seropositive patients and 29 HIV-1 seronegative subjects for four different HIV-1 DNA regions. Fifty-one seropositive patients were found positive by PCR with at least one primer pair, but two were repeatedly negative for all primers. Weekly blood samples from 12 seropositive subjects all detected positive for at least one primer pair, but for three patients an irregular primer detection pattern was found. One additional HIV-1 seropositive sample, found negative for HIV DNA, was also negative for the beta-globin PCR control. The 29 seronegative specimens were HIV-1 DNA negative, as was a HIV-2 seropositive patient. This study demonstrates that PCR is almost as good as serological tests for detecting HIV infections, with a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 96% and that resampling the patients may improve detection performance.
Base Sequence↗
Detection of hepatitis B virus DNA in serum by a nonisotopic hybridization technique.
We developed a nonisotopic technique, Hepagene, for measuring hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in human serum by using a sulfonated probe that is detected by a sandwich immunoenzymatic reaction. The detection limit, determined by serum dilution tests, was 2.5 ng/L. The precision of the Hepagene test was demonstrated by the accurate reproducibility observed for low (3 ng/L) and medium (38 ng/L) concentrations of HBV DNA assayed in 24 different series. Specificity was established by assaying HBV DNA in sera from 98 patients by the Hepagene technique or by a solution hybridization assay with an 125I-labeled probe. Results by both techniques agreed for 94 sera (96%), with 68 being concordant for HBV DNA negativity and 26 for positivity. HBV DNA titers assayed by both methods also agreed. Hepagene represents the first nonisotopic HBV DNA assay involving a sulfonated probe and with performance characteristics equivalent to those of classical radioactive hybridization techniques.
DNA Probes↗
A simple technique for collecting blood of testicular origin: application to in vivo studies on testicular steroidogenesis in rats and Macaca fascicularis.
A technique for rapidly collecting blood of testicular origin is described, one which can provide sufficient plasma amounts to investigate some steps of testicular steroid biogenesis in vivo in 2 species. In adult male rats, testosterone (T), androstenedione (4A) and 5-androstenediol (5AD) were determined in pampiniform plexus testicular venous blood (PPTV) and peripheral (PV) blood samples before and 2 h after human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG). PPTV concentration of 5AD was 0.83 +/- 0.1 ng/ml (mean +/- SEM) with a PPTV/PV ratio of 7.0 +/- 1.0, comparable to a PPTV/PV ratio for 4A of 5.8 +/- 1.8. After hCG, PPTV concentration of 5AD significantly increased to 1.28 +/- 0.15 ng/ml (P less than 0.05). Those data are in favor of a participation of 5-ene pathway to testicular biogenesis of T associated to a 4-ene pathway which is predominant. In adult male Macaca fascicularis, spermatic vein (SV) concentrations of 5AD and 4A were comparable (3.0 +/- 1.2 vs 4.3 +/- 1.0 ng/ml) as well as SV/PV ratios under basal conditions (3.5 +/- 0.9 vs 5.1 +/- 0.1), as well as 48 h after hCG, confirming in vivo that both 5-ene and 4-ene pathways are involved in testicular T biogenesis. Testicular production of estradiol (E2), estrone (E1) and their sulfates E2S and E1S showed a SV/PV ratio significantly higher than 1 (3.4 +/- 0.6; 2.4 +/- 0.1; 1.7 +/- 0.2 and 1.6 +/- 0.2, respectively).
Androstenediol↗
Metabolic fate of human choriogonadotropin.
Review of the literature reveals a number of recent insights concerning the metabolic fate of human choriogonadotropin (hCG). In man, only a fraction (21.7%) of the circulating hCG molecules is excreted in urine. Results from animal studies indicate that the retained hCG is taken up by various tissues, principally kidney, liver, and ovary, where degradation occurs. Ovarian uptake is receptor mediated and saturable. Hepatic uptake of hCG is not preceded by desialylation, and blockade of hepatic receptors for galactose-terminated glycoproteins does not impair hepatic accumulation of hCG. Kidney uptake is quantitatively the most important; parenchymal metabolism, as well as excretion in urine constitute major renal components of hCG disposal. The intracellular products of hCG catabolism in kidney include certain fragments of the hCG molecule that exhibit relative resistance to processing by degradative enzymes. These products are fragments of the hCG beta subunit that lack the hCG beta carboxyterminal antigenic determinant, but retain an hCG beta core antigenic determinant, and, thus, they are designated beta-core molecules. Both kidney from hCG-infused rat and urine from pregnant women contain beta-core molecules in great abundance, in fact, in greater abundance than hCG, itself. Structural characterizations of the beta-core purified from pregnancy urine indicate a mol. wt of about 10,000 and an absence of sialic acid, galactose, and carboxyterminal peptide region, including O-linked oligosaccharides. Human volunteers given purified hCG or hCG beta by infusion excrete beta-core in their urines, which establishes the existence of catabolic pathways in humans for the production of beta-core. Thus, urinary excretion of beta-core may reflect an important fate for the metabolic products of hCG degradation.
Chorionic Gonadotropin↗
[hCG and its subunits as tumor markers].
hCG is known to be produced by trophoblastic cells as well as by many normal tissues and malignancies. hCG is considered as a reliable marker for gonadal and extra gonadal choriocarcinomas; moreover it has been evidenced by immunohistochemical techniques in other malignancies. In this study, hCG and/or its alpha and beta subunits were detected in 73 males. Intact hCG was detected in 48 patients with gonadal tumors (n = 37) or extragonadal malignancies (n = 11), with or without free alpha or beta subunits. In the other 25 patients, native hCG was not detected but there were significant amounts of free beta subunit in 8 germ cells tumors and 17 extragonadal tumors. The production of free beta chains is correlated with a severe evolution in extragonadal tumors. hCG should be considered as a good marker for many tumors, but it is absolutely necessary to evaluate intact hCG as well as free beta chains.
Biomarkers, Tumor↗