Assessment of possible risk indicators for apical periodontitis in root-filled teeth in an adult Turkish population.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine possible independent risk indicators of apical periodontitis (AP) in root-filled teeth in an adult Turkish population. STUDY DESIGN: This study included subjects older than 15 years who had 1 or more root-filled teeth examined at the Baskent University Faculty of Dentistry. A total of 812 root-filled teeth were evaluated in 425 individuals. AP was the dependent variable and age, gender, length and density of root fillings, presence of periodontal problems, posts, localization of tooth, and tooth type were identified as independent variables. Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) models were used in statistical analysis. RESULTS: AP was detected on 148 teeth (18.2%) in 812 root-filled teeth. According to multiple GEE model, males were more likely to have AP than females. Of the dental variables, length of root fillings, periodontal problems and tooth type were significantly associated with AP. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that to be male and dental variables including length of root fillings, periodontal problems, and molar teeth were significantly associated with AP.

CTLA-4 +49 A/G genotype and HLA-DRB1 polymorphisms in Turkish patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura.

The pathogenesis of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) remains unknown; however, it is generally considered to be an immune complex-mediated disease. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) is expressed on activated T cells, and, thus, it is critically involved in the immune response. We aimed to investigate the possible influence of CTLA-4 polymorphisms for susceptibility to HSP and determine if there were associations with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 genotypes. Using polymerase chain reaction-based DNA genotyping, we investigated the polymorphisms located in the genes encoding CTLA-4 in 100 patients with HSP and 156 ethnically matched healthy controls. When CTLA-4 +49 A/G polymorphism of HSP patients and control group was compared, no associations with joint, gastrointestinal or renal manifestations, or susceptibility to HSP, were observed. However, patients with nephrotic proteinuria had higher HLA-DRB1*13 positivity [odds ratio (OR) = 3.76, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.25-11.23, P = 0.025]. When the patients were stratified according to CTLA-4 polymorphism, a significant association between nephrotic proteinuria patients and carriage of the AG genotype was also found (OR = 15.42, 95%CI = 1.59-148.82, P = 0.008). These results suggested that CTLA-4 +49 A/G polymorphism does not contribute to susceptibility to HSP; however, the presence of CTLA-4 AG genotype and HLA-DRB1*13 could be a risk factor for developing nephrotic-range proteinuria in these patients.

HLA-DRB1 alleles and Henoch-Schönlein purpura: susceptibility and severity of disease.

OBJECTIVE: The genetic basis of susceptibility to Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) may be conferred by a number of gene loci, including the MHC. Associations between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and disease can help to establish a basis for susceptibility and assist in the prediction of the outcome and clinical heterogeneity. We aimed to investigate the implications of the HLA-DRB1 locus and the susceptibility to HSP, and to determine if there are associations with joint, gastrointestinal, and renal manifestations of the disease. METHODS: We studied 110 Turkish patients (men/women: 66/44) with HSP. Patients and ethnically matched controls with respect to age and sex (n = 250) were HLA-DRB1 genotyped from DNA determined using molecular based methods. RESULTS: HLA-DRB1 genotype differences between patients with HSP and controls were observed. The frequency of HLA-DRB1 11/14 was higher [odds ratio (OR) 1.97, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.25-3.12, p = 0.003; OR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.02-3.28, p = 0.035, respectively] and the frequency of HLA-DRB1 10/17 was lower (OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.01-1.86, p = 0.035; OR = 3.96, 95% CI = 1.17-13.33, p = 0018, respectively) in patients with HSP compared to controls. No HLA-DRB1 associations with gastrointestinal and renal manifestations were found (p > 0.05). In contrast, HLA-DRB1*11 positivity was increased and HLA-DRB1 14 positivity reduced in HSP patients with joint manifestations (OR = 2.68, 95% CI = 1.09-6.66, p = 0.029; OR = 9.34, 95% CI = 3.38-25.64, p = 0.000, respectively). Also, HLA-DRB1 13 positivity was found to be increased in patients with nephrotic proteinuria (OR = 3.76, 95% CI = 1.25-11.23, p = 0.025). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that genetic factors from HLA-DRB1 genotypes might be related to the susceptibility to HSP for Turkish children but not to the severity of this disease. Additional studies are required to confirm the association of alleles encoded in the HLA region with the disease progression and severity.

HLA class 1 associations in Henoch Schonlein purpura: increased and decreased frequencies.

Henoch Schonlein purpura (HSP) is the most common vasculitis of childhood. Susceptibility to HSP and associated clinical heterogeneity in HSP may be conferred by a number of genetic loci, including the major histocompatibility complex. We aimed to investigate the implications of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class 1 alleles in susceptibility to HSP and determine the possible associations with renal, gastrointestinal (GI), and joint manifestations of the disease. 110 children with HSP (66 boys, 44 girls) and 250 unrelated healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The mean age was 8.65 +/- 3.59 years. HSP was diagnosed on the basis of clinical and laboratory data according to the American College of Rheumatology classification. The diagnosis was supported with skin and/or kidney in most of the patients. Clinical and laboratory findings revealed: skin involvement in 110 (100%), joint manifestations in 82 (74.5%), GI symptoms in 58 (52.7%), and hematuria and/or proteinuria in 36 (32.7%) patients. HLA class 1 alleles were identified by DNA amplification, hybridized with specific primer sequences. Comparison of frequencies between patients and controls were made by using the Fisher's exact test. Odds ratio (OR) was used as the measure of association. HLA A2, A11, and B35 antigens showed an increased risk for predisposition to HSP (OR = 1.714, 95%CI = 1.088-2.700, p = 0.020; OR = 2.185, 95%CI = 1.289-3.703, p = 0.003; and OR = 2.292, 95%CI = 1.451-3.619, p = 0.000, respectively), while HLA A1, B49, and B50 antigens revealed decreased risk for predisposition to HSP (OR = 4.739, 95%CI = 1.828-12.345, p = 0.001; OR = 3.268, 95%CI = 0.955-11.236, p = 0.047; and OR = 7.462, 95%CI = 0.975-55.555, p = 0.024, respectively). Considering the renal involvement and severity of proteinuria, there was no association with HLA class 1 alleles. Our results suggest that the increased frequency of HLA A2, A11, and B35 alleles in unselected pediatric HSP patient population and miscarrying of HLA A1, B49, and B50 could be considered as a risk factor for susceptibility to HSP.

STR data for the AmpFlSTR identifier loci from an old settlement in northwestern Turkey.

The polymorphism of 15 STR loci has been studied in a population sample of 193 healthy unrelated individuals from the population of Duzce, a city in the northwestern Turkey. The most valuable loci, from forensic point of view according to their power of discrimination values, were D2S1338, D18S51, FGA, and D19S433 where CSF1PO appeared to be the least powerful one. From paternity point of view, FGA, D21S11 were found to be the loci with highest exclusion value whereas D3S1358 and TPOX were the locus with the lowest exclusion.