Sexual Dysfunction in Male Patients With Behçet's Disease.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate sexual dysfunction in male patients with Behçet's Disease in comparison to healthy control subjects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-two sexually active male patients with Behçet's Disease and 62 healthy control subjects were included in this study. Patients' demographic and clinical characteristics were noted. Sexual function was assessed by means of the International Index of Erectile Function scoring system. In addition, disease-related quality of life was measured by means of the Nottingham Health Profile, and anxiety and depression levels were assessed by means of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. RESULTS: Patients with Behçet's Disease scored significantly lower in each of the 5 parameters of International Index of Erectile Function (p < 0.001) and significantly higher in Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale compared to healthy control subjects (p < 0.001). International Index of Erectile Function scores correlated with age, duration of disease and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Nottingham Health Profile scores in patients with Behçet's Disease (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Sexual function is impaired in male patients with Behçet's Disease, which might be associated by age, duration of disease, psychological status and quality of life.

Effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on rat facial skin.

INTRODUCTION: We used immunohistochemistry to investigate the histopathologic effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on the facial skin of rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Rats in the HBO group (n = 6) were placed in a 20 L HBO chamber at 2.5 atmospheres absolute at 25-26°C with 100% oxygen for 90 min/day for 7 days. Following euthanasia, sections of facial skin were removed for examination. RESULTS: Epidermal hyperplasia and degeneration, basal-cell hypertrophy, subepithelial fibrosis, and increased connective tissue were observed in the HBO group. E-cadherin expression was reduced in the epidermis, hair follicles, and sebaceous glands in HBO-treated rats relative to control animals. HBO treatment was associated with vimentin immunoreactivity in fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and the bulbus pilorum of a subset of hair follicles. It also resulted in increased type IV collagen expression within the connective tissue in the hair follicles and sebaceous glands. CONCLUSION: The HBO group demonstrated epidermal hyperplasia and degeneration, basal-cell hypertrophy, and subepithelial fibrosis. In addition, HBO decreased E-cadherin expression, which suggests that HBO may impair intracellular adhesion. Expression of vimentin and type IV collagen was also observed in the dermis. Increased connective tissue, hemorrhage, and mononuclear cell infiltration were observed in the dermis of HBO-treated animals. Thus, HBO has effects on the structures of the epidermis and dermis.

Comparison of snakebite cases in children and adults.

OBJECTIVE: There are very few studies that compare the snakebite cases in children and adults. The present study aimed to compare the demographic characteristics, clinical presentations, laboratory findings, and developed complications in pediatric and adult patients due to snakebites. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included the patients admitted to the hospital and monitored due to snakebite between July 1999 and December 2012. The condition of each patient who had been bitten was admitted to the hospital was monitored from the time of admission to the end of their hospital stay. The fact that a snakebite occurred was recorded if the subjects saw the snake or if the appearance of the puncture sites was convincingly a snakebite. RESULTS: The present work included 290 patients, of whom 123 were children and 167 were adults. The most common location of the bites was the lower extremity with 78.9% (n=97) and 63.5% (n=106) in pediatric and adult patients, respectively. All of the pediatric patients received prophylactic treatment with antibiotics, whereas 62 (37.1%) adult patients received antimicrobial treatments due to the soft tissue infection. The most common complication developed was pulmonary edema in children at a rate of 33.3% (n=41) and compartment syndrome in adult patients at a rate of 3% (n=5). CONCLUSIONS: Patients admitted to the hospital due to snakebite should be monitored for at least 12 hours, even if there is no sign of clinical envenomation. Antivenom treatment should be administered to the patients requiring clinical staging. Patients should be kept under close monitoring to prevent the development of serious complications such as cellulitis, pulmonary edema, compartment syndrome, and disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Protective Effects of Carvacrol Against Methotrexate-induced Liver Toxicity in Rats.

BACKGROUND: To investigate whether carvacrol (CAR) pretreatment reduces the severity of methotrexate (MTX)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. METHODS: A total of 24 rats were equally divided into three groups : group I, control ; group II, MTX-treated ; and group III, CAR+MTX-treated. On Day 1 group III received a one-time intraperitoneal dose of CAR (73 mg/kg), and on Day 2 both groups II and III received a single dose of intraperitoneal MTX (20 mg/kg). The rats were then sacrificed so to harvest blood and liver tissue samples to determine malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels. Histological specimens were examined via light microscopy. RESULTS: Levels of MDA, ALT, AST and ALP in rat liver tissue samples were significantly higher in the MTX-treated group relative to the control group. However, TAS was significantly reduced in the MTX-treated group when compared to controls. Pretreating rats with CAR counteracted the effect of MTX exposure as MDA was significantly decreased and TAS was elevated in liver tissues when contrasted with the MTX-treated group. Furthermore, histological examination demonstrated significant liver injury in the MTX-treated group versus the CAR+MTX group. CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment with CAR markedly diminished liver damage induced by MTX. Therefore, CAR administration preceding MTX treatment might be a promising therapeutic modality to prevent and/or lessen the extent of MTX-induced hepatotoxicity.

Oxidative stress index may play a key role in patients with pemphigus vulgaris.

BACKGROUND: Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation are seen in many dermatologic disorders, including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, vitiligo, acne vulgaris, pemphigus vulgaris (PV), lichen planus and alopecia areata. In PV, the increased production of ROS from activated neutrophils reduces the concentrations of antioxidant vitamins and enzymes. OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to determine the oxidative stress index (OSI) by studying serum total oxidant capacity (TOC), lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in PV patients. METHODS: The study included 27 PV patients and a control group consisting of 24 healthy volunteers. Serum TOC, LOOH and TAC levels were examined and OSI was measured in the PV patients and the control group. RESULTS: TOC (P = 0.001) and LOOH (P = 0.001) levels as well as OSI (P = 0.001) were found higher in the PV patients, relative to the control group. Serum TAS (P = 0.221) did not differ between groups. Serum TOC, LOOH and TAC levels and OSI in PV patients with mucosal involvement were not different than those in mucocutaneous PV patients. CONCLUSION: Serum TOC and LOOH levels and OSI were higher in the PV patients, in comparison with the control group. Serum TAC level was not different.