The evolution of Pemphigus publications: A bibliometric analysis with research trends and global productivity.

Despite an increase in global research on the subject of Pemphigus, which seriously affects patient health and quality of life, there is no bibliometric research on this subject in literature to date. The aim of this study was to conduct a holistic analysis of scientific articles published on Pemphigus, using bibliometric methods. Articles published on the subject of Pemphigus between 1980 and 2021 were downloaded from the web of science (WoS) database and analyzed using various statistical methods. To determine trend subjects, collaboration between countries, and the most effective studies with citation analyses, visual network maps were obtained with bibliometric analyses. A total of 3034 articles were analyzed. The 3 countries making the greatest contribution to literature were the USA (n:831, 27.3%), Japan (n:402, 13.2%), and Germany (n:221, 7.2%). The 3 most active institutions were Keio University (n:163, 5.3%), Kurume University (n:130, 4.2%) and Tel Aviv University (n:107, 3.5%). The 3 journals publishing the most articles were the British Journal of Dermatology (n: 88), Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (n:171) and the Journal of Investigative Dermatology (n:143). The 3 leading journals according to the mean number of citations (NC) per article (citation count: CC) were the New England Journal of Medicine (CC:246), the Lancet (CC:143) and the Journal of Cell Biology (CC:133). The author with the most articles published was Hashimoto Takashi (n.168, 5.5%). As a result of cluster analysis, it was seen that 9 different main clusters had been studied on Pemphigus subjects to date (1: desmoglein, 2: paraneoplastic Pemphigus (PNP) - Pemphigus types-desmosome, 3: desmoglein 1 ve 3-autoimmunity, 4: treatment-rituximab, 5: acantholysis-apoptosis, 6: quality of life-remission-relapse, 7: autoantibodies, 8: epidemiology-mortality, 9: corticosteroids). The most commonly studied subjects were determined to be pemphigus vulgaris (PV), pemphigus foliaceus (PF), autoimmunity, rituximab, PNP, desmoglein (desmoglein3-desmoglein1), autoantibodies, acantholysis, autoantibody, treatment, autoimmune disease, desmosome, ELISA, and immunofluorescence. The primary trending topic was rituximab drug, which is used in the treatment of Pemphigus. The other most studied trend topics were azathioprine drug used in treatment, intravenous immunoglobulin treatment, quality of life, mortality rates, Pemphigus herpetiformis, and wound healing.

The Role of Ischemia-modified Albumin and Ischemia-Modified Albumin to Albumin Ratios in Patients with Alopecia Areata.

INTRODUCTION: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) and IMA/albumin levels in patients with AA. METHODS: The present prospective crossectional study includes patients ≥18 who were admitted to the Dermatology and Venerology Department of Hitit University Hospital between April 1, 2021, and September 30, 2021. 70 patients participated in the study (n=34 for the study group and n=36 for the control group). Demographic features, clinical characteristics, IMA, and IMA/albumin levels were compared between the groups. The study group was divided into subgroups based on the number of patches, disease duration, and the number of disease attacks. IMA and IMA/albumin levels were compared between each subgroup. RESULTS: The study and control groups were similar with regard to demographic features and clinical characteristics. Significant differences were observed between the mean IMA and IMA/albumin ratio (p=0.004 and 0.012, respectively). The study subgroups were comparable in the number of patches, disease duration, and number of disease attacks. CONCLUSION: Although oxidative stress is an important component in the etiology of AA, IMA and IMA/albumin may not be useful in the prediction of disease severity in patients with AA.

Impact of Individual, Familial and Parental Factors on Adolescent Smoking in Turkey.

The burden of adolescent cigarette smoking is substantial. We assess mothers' and fathers' attitudes and behaviours on adolescent smoking using a cross-sectional study of n = 707 adolescents. Associations between parental attitudes and behaviours in adolescent smoking were assessed using logistic regression separately for boys and girls. Occasional alcohol use by both parents increased odds of smoking once a day (OR = 2.44, 95% CI 1.26, 4.71, OR = 1.51, 95% CI 0.97, 2.35, respectively). Fathers smoking increased odds for girls (OR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.01, 2.52). A democratic mother decreased odds for boys (OR = 0.32, 95% CI 0.10, 0.93) whereas a protective, demanding mother increased the odds for girls (OR = 8.65, 95% CI 1.38, 54.22). Public health smoking prevention programs could support changing parental behaviours and attitudes in early years to address this burden in countries with authoritarian parenting styles.

The association of depression, loneliness and internet addiction levels in patients with acne vulgaris.

BACKGROUND: Acne vulgaris is a very common skin disorder that has negative effects on the mood, self image and social relations of the patients. We want to evaluate the effects of acne vulgaris and its severity on depression, loneliness, internet addiction levels, and the quality of life of young adult females. METHODS: Two hundred three female acne vulgaris patients and 202 healthy controls who admitted to the dermatology clinic of a university hospital formed the study sample. Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) was used to assess the severity of acne. The Young Internet Addiction Scale-Short Form (YIAS-SF), The Acne Quality of Life Scale (AQLS), The University of California Los Angeles-Loneliness Scale (UCLA-LS), and The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used to collect information about the patients. RESULTS: The median BDI and the mean UCLA-LS and YIAS-SF scores were higher in the Acne group than those in the control group. The correlations between acne severity and the 3 scales were not significant but the correlations between AQLS and BDI, UCLA-LS, and YIAS-SF were highly significant. In multiple regression analysis, age and the BDI score predicted the YIAS-SF score significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the previous findings that acne vulgaris patients are prone to depression and loneliness, and expand these findings to the vulnerability against internet addiction. Loneliness and depression should be assessed and, if found, targeted by psychological means to prevent internet addiction in acne vulgaris patients.

Development and Validation of a Turkish Hypnotic Suggestibility Scale.

OBJECTIVE: To construct a scale for testing hypnotic suggestibility for Turkish-speaking adults that may be quick and convenient, and to test its reliability and validity. METHODS: The study was conducted at the hypnotherapy outpatient clinics of Atatürk University Acupuncture and Complementary Medicine Application and Research Centre. Erzurum, Turkey, from June to August 2017, and comprised aged 18-60 years. As the first step in the preparation of the scale, a panel of 15 experts was founded. The draft was pilot-tested. Incomprehensible suggestion templates in the pilot study were abolished, and the templates were reduced to four which were put to test as the Tastan Suggestibility Scale. Stanford Hypnotic Clinic Scale was also used on the same subjects, and the results were analysed using SPSS. . RESULTS: Of the 61 subjects, 38(62.3%) were females and 23(37.7%) were males. The overall mean age was 34.21±9.9 years. Cronbach alpha internal reliability coefficient of the scale was calculated to be 0.53. Correlation between the Tastan Suggestibility Scale and Stanford Hypnotic Clinic Scale total scores was high (p<0.001). Mean duration of the application of the scale was 5.0±1.2 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Tastan Suggestibility Scale was found to be a new, reliable, and rapidly applicable scale.

Vitamin D Levels in Patients with Recurrent Herpes Labialis.

Recurrent infections of herpes simplex virus in the orolabial area are known as recurrent herpes labialis (RHL). Vitamin D has been shown to have an important immunomodulatory role and to be associated with several infectious diseases. This hospital-based case-control study aimed at investigating the association between vitamin D and RHL by comparing vitamin D levels in individuals with and without RHL. Individuals who presented to the dermatology clinic at a state hospital due to RHL (n = 50) and matching control group of healthy volunteers (n = 51) were studied. Their vitamin D levels were measured, stratified based on clinical guidelines, and compared. The average serum vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) levels were 23.8 ± 15.5 and 42.0 ± 26.3 nM in the patient and control groups, with significant differences between their average serum vitamin D levels and vitamin D status. The studied population had serious vitamin D deficiency regardless of having RHL, with vitamin D levels below the adequate limits in more than 96% of the population. Most importantly, the study established a significant association between low serum vitamin D levels and the presence of RHL. Further interventional and pathophysiological studies should clarify the nature and mechanism of the relationship.

Vitamin D levels in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

BACKGROUND: Lower serum vitamin D levels, a major public health problem worldwide, has been found to be associated with various infectious diseases, cancers, autoimmune and dermatological diseases. The serum levels of vitamin D in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis are not clear. We investigated the vitamin D levels in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis. METHODS: Forty patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (Group I) and 70 healthy controls (Group II) included in the study. The characteristics of aphthous lesions (duration of disease and remission, frequency, diameter and number of the lesions) and demographics of the participants were recorded. Serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol levels were measured using electrochemiluminescence binding method. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of age (p = 0.06) and sex (p = 0.4). Other baseline characteristics were not significantly different between the groups (p > 0.05 for all). The mean diameter of aphthous lesions was 0.5 (0.4-0.6) cm and the mean number of lesions was 2.2 ± 1.5. Serum vitamin D levels were 11 ± 7.04 ng/ml in Group I and 16.4 ± 10.19 ng/ml in Group II. Serum vitamin D levels were significantly lower in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed lower vitamin D levels in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis compared to healthy controls.

Are primary health care workers aware of cervical cancer risk?

BACKGROUND: We here examined the awareness of female health employees (doctors, nurses, midwives) working in primary health care service about cervical cancer and its risk factors. Additionally attitude and behavior for gynecologic examination and pap smear screening were researched. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional, descriptive study concerned female health employees working at primary health care services in two southern cities of Turkey, over a four month period in 2013. Participants were recently or previously sexually active research was explained and verbal informed consent was obtained face to face. The questionnaire consisted of two parts; socio-demographic characteristics and level of knowledge about cervical cancer and its risk factors. RESULTS: The average age of the participants (midwives 43.7%, n=143; nurses 40.4%, n=132; doctors 6.4%, n=21; emergency medical technicians and others, 9.5%, n=31; total, n=327) was 30.9±6.41 years. 64.2% (n=210) were working in Diyarbakir and 35.8% (n=117) in Batman. A large proportion reported low knowledge and inadequate screening practice Conclusions: Health employees should be better informed about the importance of screening for cancers, given their preventive roles for the general population.

Combination of fludarabine and imatinib induces apoptosis synergistically through loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and increases in caspase-3 enzyme activity in human K562 chronic myleloid leukemia cells.

In this study, we aimed to show the synergistic apoptotic effects of imatinib/fludarabine combination in human K562 chronic myleloid leukemia (CML) cells. There was a significant increase in cytotoxicity of combination of imatinib and fludarabine as compared to any agent alone. On the other hand, combination of both agents induced apoptosis significantly as confirmed by increases in caspase-3 enzyme activity and decreases in mitochondrial membrane potential. As a summary, the results of this study strongly suggest that combination of imatinib and fludarabine induced cell death synergistically comparing to only imatinib or fludarabine in human K562 CML cells.