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Biomedical subjects

M A Gürer

Publications and source records attributed to M A Gürer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

The effects of calcipotriol and methylprednisolone aseponate on bcl-2, p53 and ki-67 expression in psoriasis.

OBJECTIVE: The decrease of physiological apoptosis in the psoriatic lesions is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, and induction of apoptosis was shown to contribute to the regression of psoriatic hyperplasia. In the present study, we compared the effects of calcipotriol and methylprednisolone aseponate (MPA) treatments on bcl-2, p53 and ki-67 expressions in psoriatic patients in order to define a relationship between regulation of apoptosis and healing process in psoriasis. METHODS: Thirty psoriatic patients with stable and moderate chronic plaque psoriasis applied either calcipotriol or MPA ointment for 6 weeks twice daily. Evaluation of bcl-2, p53 and ki-67 positivity was performed at baseline and was repeated at sixth week for each therapy. RESULTS: The mean percentage of positive keratinocytes was 8.63 +/- 7.15% for p53, 20.66 +/- 14.45% for ki-67, and 3.74 +/- 2.83% for bcl-2 in psoriatic skin at baseline. Normal skin values were 3.27 +/- 3.21% for p53, 4.93 +/- 4.77% for ki-67, and 1.80 +/- 0.41% for bcl-2. The psoriatic skin showed higher ki-67 (P < 0.05) and bcl-2 (P < 0.05) expression rates when compared to normal skin. The p53 positivity observed in psoriatic skin and normal skin was not significantly different (P > 0.05). Following calcipotriol and MPA treatments, there was a significant reduction in p53 and ki-67 positivity accompanied by an increase in bcl-2 positivity (P < 0.05 each). No significant differences were found at sixth week between calcipotriol and MPA groups with respect to p53, ki-67 and bcl-2 positivity (P > 0.05). The post-treatment psoriatic skin showed lower expression of p53, higher expressions of ki-67 and bcl-2 when compared to normal skin (P < 0.05 each). CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide evidence that both calcipotriol and MPA decrease the p53 and ki-67 expression and increase bcl-2 expression. However, it should further be elucidated if these changes were the common behaviour of psoriatic keratinocytes to any antipsoriatic medication.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed2003

Nitric oxide levels in Behçet's disease.

Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic multisystemic disorder which is characterized by a relapsing systemic inflammatory process. In certain inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, over production of nitric oxide (NO) could damage host cells and tissues, either directly and/or following reaction with other free radicals, such as superoxide anion to form species including peroxynitrite or hydroxyl radicals. Excessive superoxide radical production and impaired antioxidant mechanism in both the neutrophils and plasma of patients with BD have been reported. Our study was designed to investigate the role of NO in BD. NO is an extremely unstable molecule and rapidly converted in vivo and in vitro to nitrate (NO3-) and nitrite (NO2-). For this reason serum NO2- and NO3- have been used as an index of NO generation. We measured serum nitrate + nitrite levels, by using an enzymatic one-step methodology based on the reduction of nitrate to nitrite by nitrate reductase from Aspergillus species, in the presence of beta-NADPH. When compared to healthy controls, serum nitrate + nitrite levels were found to be higher in active periods of BD patients (P < 0.01). It was concluded that increased NO production in patients with BD might have critical biological activities relevant to vasculitic events in the active period of disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

The multiple faces of Behçet's disease and its aetiological factors.

Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic, inflammatory multisystemic condition of unknown aetiology. It is clinically characterized by recurrent orogenital ulcerations and skin eruptions; ocular manifestations; arthritis; vasculitis and in some cases neurological and large vessel involvement. Aetiology has not been defined, but genetic, environmental, viral, bacterial and immunological factors have been proposed as causative agents. Treatment includes colchicine, thalidomide, steroids and immunosuppressive agents and it is based on the severity of systemic manifestations, such as central nervous system involvement, arterial aneurysms and thrombosis of the major veins. Mortality is related to major system involvement. In this article the different clinical features, the multiple faces of BD and a list of currently suspected aetiological factors of the disease are discussed, and treatment modalities summarized.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2000

Comparison of histopathologic and clinical evaluations of pathergy test in Behçet's disease.

BACKGROUND: The pathergy test, an important test in the diagnosis of Behçet's disease, is currently applied with disposable/sharp needles and evaluated only clinically (no histopathologic evaluation). In this study, the usefulness of the pathergy test conducted intradermally and intravenously with disposable/sharp needles in the diagnosis and determination of the activation of the disease is studied in comparison with the test conducted with nondisposable/blunt needles. In addition, histopathologic evaluation of the pathergy test is compared with the clinical evaluation. METHODS: The study group consists of 43 Behçet's disease patients together with 15 patients with dermatosis as the control group. The pathergy test was applied to the Behçet's disease patients and the control group intradermally and intravenously with disposable/sharp and nondisposable/blunt needles. RESULTS: The results of the pathergy test on the patients and the control group were evaluated clinically and histopathologically. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical evaluation of the pathergy test conducted intradermally with nondisposable/blunt needles is sufficient for both the diagnosis and determination of the activation of Behçet's disease. Histopathologic evaluation of the test is not found to be more sensitive than the clinical evaluation.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Skin problems of musicians.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the skin problems of high level musicians in a professional orchestra. This study was prompted by our observation of violinists with skin changes. METHODS: Ninety-seven musicians were evaluated. Twelve reporting dermatitis associated with the playing of their instruments were patch tested. We also examined 20 singers (nonplayers). RESULTS: Positive patch test reactions to nickel and colophony were found in only three patients. Musicians were subject to a variety of skin problems from playing their instruments, however, such as hyperhidrosis, cheilitis, and calluses of the fingertips. Singers had skin problems including lichen planus, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, and urticaria. It was thought that emotional factors exacerbate their problems. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this survey suggest a significant incidence of occupational- and stress-related skin problems in musicians.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Bilateral nipple hyperkeratosis treated successfully with topical isotretinoin.

A 22-year-old woman presented with bilateral thickening and hyperpigmentation of her nipples since the age of 17 years. There was no history of pregnancy or oral contraceptive pill use. Isotretinoin 0.025% gel was applied twice daily and the lesions disappeared in 4 weeks. After the drug was ceased, recurrence appeared within 4 months. The same therapy, applied for 2 weeks, again cleared the problem.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1994

Natural cellular cytotoxicity in Behçet's disease.

This study evaluated the cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells in the active and inactive stages of Behçet's disease (BD) and attempted to develop a new explanation for its immunopathogenesis. Blood samples were taken from 16 BD patients and compared with 11 healthy individuals. The lymphocyte fraction was separated and diluted in RPMI-1640. Candida as a target cell (T) was mixed with lymphocytes (E) (effector cells) in ratios of T:E 1/5 and T:E 1/25. After the numbers of colonies were counted with controls, the anticandidal index (natural cytotoxicity) was calculated. Natural cytotoxicity relatively decreased in the active stage and increased in the inactive stage of BD. Although the difference between the mean value of natural cytotoxicity in the active stage and in the inactive stage was significant, the difference between the averages of active stage and the control group was insignificant. However, the difference between inactive stage and the control group was remarkable. The increase of the natural cytotoxic activity in the inactive period of the disease may play a role together with other immune mechanisms in the aetiopathogenesis of BD.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Arachidonic acid metabolites and colchicine in Behçet's disease (BD).

Vasculitis is accepted to be the basis of Behçet's disease (BD) which is a multisystem disease, and the arachidonic acid(AA) metabolites acting as balancing mediators in the organism are accepted to be responsible for the vasculitis. In this study, we examined the prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and leukotriene C4 (LTC4) levels of the patients with BD before and after colchicine therapy. We found a statistical decrease in the PGE2 and LTC4 levels after colchicine therapy compared to the previous levels, concluding that colchicine inhibits the inflammation and the polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PML) chemotaxis by inhibiting the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways.

Adolescent↗