Biomedical subjects

G Ozarmagan

Publications and source records attributed to G Ozarmagan.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Sexually transmitted infections in Turkey.

Turkey is a Moslem country where lay knowledge regarding sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is poor. Surveillance arrangements are limited, and frequently ignored, with the result that the true incidence of STIs is unknown. The prevalence of syphilis is definitely increasing, and probably that of the other infections is too. Modern diagnostic techniques are not widely deployed and there is little standardization of medical arrangements. However, there has been a high level of governmental involvement in HIV prevention in recent years and it is now believed that most HIV transmission in Turkey is by the heterosexual route.

Humans↗

PubMed2000

Drug related clinical pattern in fixed drug eruption.

Fixed drug eruption (FDE) represents a frequent type of drug eruption in Turkey. The aim of this open study is to analyze the clinical features with special emphasize on drug related pattern in our case series. Sixty-four cases with established FDE by oral provocation were clinically evaluated. Cotrimoxazole, a combination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim, was the most common offender for FDE (75%), followed by naproxen sodium (12.5%), dipyrone (9.5%), dimenhydrinate (1.5%) and paracetamol (1.5%). Sensitivity to more than one drug was not observed. Cotrimoxazole-induced FDE was mainly located on male genitalia. Naproxen predominantly affected lips and face whereas dipyrone mainly caused FDE on trunk and extremities. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference only for dipyrone versus cotrimoxazole over trunk and extremities (p = 0.03). Familial occurrence, symmetrical and asymmetrical nonpigmenting FDE, linear FDE, solitary plaque on the cheek, and "wandering" FDE were unusual findings of cotrimoxazole-induced FDE. Cotrimoxazole was the leading etiological agent in our series. Cotrimoxazole-induced FDE had some rarely or previously unreported features, but a significant relation between drugs and involved areas or clinical pattern could not be established.

Acetaminophen↗

PubMed1999

Topical provocation in 27 cases of cotrimoxazole-induced fixed drug eruption.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of topical provocation in the diagnosis of cotrimoxazole-induced fixed-drug eruption (FDE). 27 patients with established cotrimoxazole-induced FDE by oral provocation and 20 healthy controls were tested with drugs at increasing concentrations in white petrolatum and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) both on previously involved and uninvolved skin sites. Tape-stripping occlusive patch testing in petrolatum remained negative in 19 tested patients. Open testing with drug preparations in DMSO revealed positive results in 25 of 27 tested patients. 1 patient showed an additional positive reaction on previously uninvolved skin. Lesions on male genitalia and on face reacted to testing once with 10% or 20% of the suspected drug, whereas repeated testing with concentrations up to 50% was necessary in lesions on trunk & extremities. Open testing with drug preparations in DMSO at concentrations of 10%, 20% and 50% and pure DMSO remained negative in 20 healthy controls. The present study shows that repeated open testing with graded concentrations of the drugs up to 50% in DMSO is a reliable test method in sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim-induced FDE. Patients and physicians should be aware of the transient irritant reaction to DMSO that is not infrequent, so as to avoid false-positive interpretations.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Intermittent use of topical dimethyl sulfoxide in macular and papular amyloidosis.

BACKGROUND: Severe and therapy-resistant pruritus is the most prominent feature of macular (MA) and lichen (LA) amyloidosis that leads to further amyloid deposition by recurrent frictional trauma to the epidermis. Of the various therapeutic modalities with variable success, the most encouraging and beneficial effect has been observed with topical dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) therapy. In a previous study, we achieved marked clinical improvement in nine of 10 patients in a daily treatment regimen over 6-20 weeks, but relapses occurred in the post-treatment follow-up period. The aims of this study are to investigate whether the patients would benefit from intermittent therapy and to determine the optimal application interval of DMSO to maintain the relief of symptoms. METHODS: Thirteen patients with histopathologically verified cutaneous amyloidosis (five MA, two LA and six biphasic) were enrolled in the study. They were treated once daily with a 50 or 100% DMSO solution until pruritus disappeared. Then, DMSO was applied at increasing intervals until the widest effective application interval for maintenance of relief was reached. Patients were regularly followed-up by a scoring system for pruritus, papules, and pigmentation, control biopsies, photographs, blood biochemistry, and side-effects. RESULTS: The mean time required for the disappearance of pruritus was 4.1 weeks. Remarkable flattening of the papules was achieved after an average therapy period of 9 weeks. After a total therapy period of 6.5 months, a nearly 50% remission in pigmentation and >70% flattening of papules were achieved. The widest effective DMSO application interval was 8.6 days. The side-effects of therapy were contact urticaria, desquamation, burning sensation, and garlic-like breath odor, which were more prominent with the higher concentration of DMSO. In interval therapy, side-effects were tolerated more easily than in daily therapy. No reduction of amyloid deposits was revealed in control biopsies. CONCLUSIONS: Locally applied DMSO can break the vicious "pruritus-amyloid deposition-pruritus" cycle in patients with MA and LA. In addition to its daily use, interval therapy seems to maintain this effect and enables patients to tolerate side-effects more easily.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed1997

Screening of sex workers in Turkey for Chlamydia trachomatis.

BACKGROUND: Increasing migration of sex workers across East European borders into Turkey has resulted in increased arrests of unregistered sex workers. There is concern regarding the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) such as C. trachomatis in this unregulated group. OBJECTIVE: To measure the prevalence of C. trachomatis infection and selected related demographic and behavioral factors among registered and unregistered sex workers in Istanbul, Turkey. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, the prevalence of C. trachomatis infection was studied by direct fluorescent antibody testing in 248 sex workers: 158 presented for routine medical screening and 90 who were arrested for lack of registration. All subjects were interviewed regarding demographic factors, sexual activity, and antibiotic and drug use. RESULTS: The overall C. trachomatis prevalence was 12.9% (12.0% registered and 14.4% unregistered). There was a strong association between never using condoms and chlamydia positivity (odds ratio 8.9 [95% confidence interval 3.7 to 21.6]). CONCLUSIONS: The high rate of C. trachomatis among all tested sex workers and the lack of regular condom use, particularly among unregistered sex workers, indicate that there is an urgent need for safe sex education and continued STD screening of unregistered sex workers.

Chlamydia Infections↗

PubMed1997

Refractory ulcerative lupus vulgaris associated with CD4 lymphocytopenia, inversion of chromosome 14, primary amenorrhoea and mental retardation.

A case of ulcerative lupus vulgaris, confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is reported. The initial lesion of our case was a papule on the nose, which progressed during antituberculous treatment and caused cartilage destruction and ectropion. Immunological analysis revealed CD4 lymphocytopenia, and the possibility of idiopathic CD4 lymphocyte deficiency was considered. In addition, the patient had primary amenorrhoea, mental retardation and inversion of chromosome 14. CD4 lymphocytopenia and chromosomal abnormality are the possible causes of antituberculous treatment failure.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Reticulate acropigmentation of Kitamura: a case report.

A Turkish female patient from Eastern Anatolia is described with the clinical and histopathological features of reticulate acropigmentation of Kitamura (RAK). The brother of the patient, who has similar clinical features, refuses to give a biopsy specimen. No similar lesions are noted on the other members of the patient's family. We have found the case worthwhile to report, since case reports on RAK from ethnic groups other than Japanese are still rare at present.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Re-evaluation of the pathergy test in Behçet's disease.

A positive pathergy test in patients with Behçet's disease has been accepted as a diagnostic criterion by many authors, but in recent years it has been claimed that the test has a decreased positivity. We have examined the test in 92 proven cases of Behçet's disease, using 20G and 26G disposable needles and evaluated them after 48 h. Maximum positivity was found to be 65% when we used needles of size 0.9 mm (20G), but the reactivity was considerably less when 0.3 mm diameter (26G) needles were used. The disposable needles used nowadays are less traumatic to initiate the reaction than were the non-disposable ones used in the pre-AIDS era.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

[Behçet disease in Turkey].

In the last 12 years, we treated 427 Turkish patients suffering from Behçet's disease. We report on the frequency of symptoms as well as the modes of therapy in Turkey.

Adolescent↗