Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis and immune thrombocytopenia: More than a coincidence?

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a progressive disease caused by persistent measles virus (MV). It has an incidence of 0.4-2.0/million in Turkey. Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a bleeding disorder whose estimated incidence is 4.2/100.000 person/years in the pediatric age group. We observed three cases with ITP in our cohort of 315 pediatric SSPE cases, an incidence higher than coincidentally expected in the general population. We hypothesize an association between SSPE and ITP. Our three cases had measles 1-2 years before the onset of ITP and 8-10 years before first symptoms of SSPE. A common immunogenetic background creating susceptibility to infection and autoimmunity might play a role. Alternatively, chronic antigenic stimulation by the MV leading to synthesis of cross-reacting antibodies against platelets, or treatment of ITP with immunoglobulins or steroids might affect or alter the development and manifestation of SSPE. The co-occurrence of these two disorders of viral and immune pathogenesis may draw attention to similar observations and provide clues for their mechanisms.

[Computed tomography stage in patients with allergic rhinitis and nonallergic rhinitis with eosinophilia syndrome]. / Alerjik rinit ve nonalerjik rinit eozinofilik sendromlu hastalarda bilgisayarli tomografi evresi.

OBJECTIVES: To compare computed tomography (CT) scores and nasal eosinophilia between patients with allergic rhinitis and nonallergic rhinitis with eosinophilia syndrome (NARES) and to evaluate the effect of the number of responsible allergens on the CT scores. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-three patients with a positive skin prick test, 11 patients with NARES and 15 healthy volunteers were included in this study. Allergic rhinitis patients were divided into three groups according to sensitivity to one allergen, two allergens, and more than two allergens. All the patients were examined by paranasal CT scans. The mean CT scores were determined by using the Lund-Mackay grading system and the results were compared. RESULTS: The mean CT scores were 5.4+/-5.8, 15.6+/-6.2, and 1.0+/-0.6 in patients with allergic rhinitis and NARES and in the control group, respectively. The mean CT score and eosinophilia in nasal smears were significantly higher in NARES patients compared to those with allergic rhinitis (p<0.05). No significant differences were found between the three groups of allergic rhinitis in this respect (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Although the paranasal sinuses are affected by both allergic rhinitis and NARES, this effect is greater in NARES. The number of allergens causing sensitivity does not influence the CT score.

[Detection of gastroesophageal reflux by scintigraphy in patients with laryngopharyngeal symptoms and findings]. / Larengofarenjeal semptom ve bulgulari olan hastalarda gastroözofajeal reflü sikliginin sintigrafik yöntemle degerlendirilmesi.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux by scintigraphy in patients with laryngopharyngeal symptoms and findings. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 32 patients (14 males, 18 females; mean age 38 years; range 17 to 55 years) who presented with laryngopharyngeal complaints. All patients underwent routine ENT and head-neck examinations and rigid endoscopy of the larynx to determine laryngopharyngeal symptoms and findings. The presence of gastroesophageal reflux was sought by technetium 99m sulfur colloid scintigraphy. RESULTS: The most common symptom was dysphagia (56%) followed by hoarseness (46%). Posterior laryngitis was the most common laryngeal finding (18 patients, 56%). Scintigraphy revealed gastroesophageal reflux in 21 patients (66%), 14 of whom (67%) had posterior laryngitis. CONCLUSION: Patients with laryngopharyngeal symptoms and findings should be investigated with regard to gastroesophageal reflux. Scintigraphy may be a method of choice in this respect.

Interactive effects of temperature and heavy metal stress on the growth and some biochemical compounds in wheat seedlings.

In this study, the interaction between temperature and heavy metal stress was investigated in two wheat varieties (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Gerek-79 and Bolal-2973). Effects of different concentrations of lead and cadmium (0, 50, 100, 250, 500 mg l(-1)) simultaneously applied at various temperatures (8/4, 25/18, 35/26 degrees C day/night) to the seedlings were detected by measuring changes in the plant length, percentage of dry weight, chlorophyll (a, b, a/b), total soluble phenolics, and free proline. At the high cadmium concentrations, significant changes occurred in plant length and in the amounts of dry weight, chlorophyll, total soluble phenolics, and free proline. Significant differences were not observed in the parameters examined for the lead treatments. These data indicated that heavy metal toxicity increases in parallel with temperature. In addition, lead did not have any toxic effects on plants in sand-perlite mixture at 500 mg l(-1), whereas cadmium showed toxic effect even at such low concentrations as 50 mg l(-1).