RESUMO
Sexual health is an important part of a healthy life. The aim of this study is to define Behçet's sexual dysfunction and the factors affecting it. Sixty-nine patients with Behçet's disease (BD) and 74 healthy controls were included in the study. International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) were filled out by patients and healthy control group (HCG). Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin and estradiol or testosterone levels according to gender were measured in Behçet's patients. The rate of sexual dysfunction and its relationship with gonadal hormones, Beck depression and SF 36 subgroups were evaluated in Behçet's patients. Sixty-nine patients with BD (mean age 39.55 ± 11.7) and 74 HCG (mean age 36.9 ± 6.84) were included in the study. Sexual dysfunction was observed in 74% (49) of BD and 59.5% (44) of HCG (p = 0.047). Prolactin level is within normal limits in all patients. Although there are abnormal levels of gonadal hormones, no relationship was found with sexual dysfunction. Depression especially is more prevalent compared to the healthy population (p = 0.016). The presence of depression negatively affects sexual life. Depression, SF 36 physical role limitations, energy vitality, vitality and mental health were associated with sexual dysfunction in patients with Behçet's disease. Sexual dysfunction was associated with the presence of depression and SF-36 subscales in Behçet's patients.
RESUMO
Reduced life expectancy has resulted from an increased incidence of chronic complications in patients with diabetes. The diabetic foot is one of these complications and generally presents together with diabetic neuropathy and vascular insufficiency. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is important in developing the adaptation response to hypoxia and facilitates healing through regulation of keratinocyte migration and epithelium restoration in wounds. Fetuin-A is a transporter protein that is synthesized in the liver and inhibits vascular and ectopic calcifications. It has been observed that altered fetuin-A is associated with peripheral artery disease through vascular calcification and is associated with inflammation and metabolic syndrome occurrence in diabetic patients. Fibrinogen is an acute-phase reactant and has a major role in homeostasis, tissue repair, and wound healing. Increased fibrinogen blood level is one of the factors that facilitates the hypercoagulability in diabetics. Homocysteine has atherogenic features and causes vascular toxicity by enhancing low-density lipoprotein oxidation. We evaluated the association of serum HIF-1α, fetuin-A, fibrinogen, and homocysteine levels with amputation in 31 patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. According to our evaluation, a negative correlation was determined between fetuin-A and amputation level (P = .012, r = -0.450), which was statistically significant. Unfortunately, there was no significant correlation between HIF-1α, fibrinogen, homocysteine, and amputation level (P > .05). As a result, it was suggested that vascular calcification due to fetuin-A deficiency may be important in the diabetic foot pathogenesis and that fetuin-A levels may be a predictor for amputation level.
