The emergence of tics during escitalopram and sertraline treatment

The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have well-established antidepressant activity and have also demonstrated efficacy in a number of anxiety disorders, including panic disorder. The SSRIs, escitalopram and sertraline, are well-tolerated and movement disorders are rarely associated with their use. We present a case of the emergence of tics associated with escitalopram and sertraline treatment, which might be due to an imbalance in the dopaminergic neurotransmitter system.     

Five Fanconi anemia patients with unusual organ pathologies

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder that presents with variable organ abnormalities, progressive cytopenia, and susceptibility to the development of several malignancies. Although some of the organ pathologies such as microcephaly, microphthalmia, skin dyspigmentation, urogenital system involvement, and radial ray skeletal abnormalities are relatively common, there are some other abnormalities that are rarely associated with the disease [Alter BP. In: Nathan DG, Oski FA, editors. Hematology of infancy and childhood. Philadelphia: Saunders; 2003. p 259-273]. In this paper, five cases of unrelated FA patients with unusual organ pathologies, including chronic obstructive lung disease, lipodystrophy, Sprengel's deformity, diaphragmatic hernia, and inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus (ILVEN) are presented. Recognition of unusual pathologies associated with FA is important in order to improve our understanding of the relationship between the disease and presenting organ pathologies.     

Pandemic H1N1 influenza infection in children with acute leukemia: a single-center experience

In English literature, there are only 2 specific series of pandemic H1N1 influenza infection in children with leukemia. To increase knowledge about pandemic influenza in children with leukemia and better understand the risk factors for severe disease, we have presented the clinical characteristics of 8 children with acute leukemia and pandemic influenza treated at our center. The mean age of the children (4 girls and 4 boys) was 6.7±2.0 years (range, 4 to 10 y). All these children [3 acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 5 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases] were receiving chemotherapy during the course of infection, except 1 who was found to be H1N1 positive at the same time that she was diagnosed with AML. Among the other 7 patients undergoing chemotherapy, 4 were receiving induction, 1 was receiving consolidation, and 2 were undergoing maintenance chemotherapy. In our series, 1 patient with AML had a fatal course. She had recently received a chemotherapy bloc. Her neutrophil count was 0 during the course of H1N1 infection. She developed acute respiratory distress syndrome within a short time after the symptoms commenced and she died within 4 days. In conclusion, the clinical course of H1N1 infection may be fatal in rare cases of leukemic children receiving chemotherapy. Thus, vaccination is advisable for all leukemic children, especially for those under maintenance chemotherapy, as it might be life saving during such pandemics.     

Carotid intima media thickness is increased and associated with morning cortisol in subjects with non-functioning adrenal incidentaloma

Data regarding cardiovascular risk in subjects with non-functioning adrenal adenoma are limited. The objectives of this study are to investigate carotid intima media thickness (IMT) as an indicator of atherosclerosis in subjects with non-functioning adrenal incidentaloma (AI) and to evaluate the factors that could be associated with IMT. Forty-nine subjects without findings of hypercortisolism or other adrenal gland disorders, 34 body mass index (BMI)-unmatched controls (C) and 18 BMI-matched controls (BC) were enrolled. Participants underwent hormonal evaluation including morning cortisol, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), post dexamethasone suppression test cortisol (DST), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), and urinary free cortisol. Anthropometric and metabolic parameters and carotid IMT were measured. AI group had increased BMI, blood pressure, waist circumference, post DST cortisol, uric acid, and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) levels when compared with C. Blood pressure, uric acid and, post DST cortisol remained significantly elevated in AI versus BC. Average IMT was increased significantly in AI versus C (0.74 mm vs. 0.68 mm, P = 0.029) and insignificantly elevated in AI versus BC (0.74 mm vs. 0.67 mm, P = 0.086). In all participants, IMT was correlated with age, BMI, HOMA, waist circumference, morning cortisol, and uric acid. Morning cortisol was independently associated with HOMA levels in both AI group and all participants. Increased IMT in non-functioning AI was a consequence of insulin resistant state associated with subtle cortisol autonomy rather than a direct effect of cortisol. The correlation between morning cortisol and IMT may be associated with the effect of hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis disturbances on vasculature.     

Hyperhomocysteinemia: a novel risk factor for erectile dysfunction

Nitric oxide (NO), the key mediator synthesized by different NO synthase isoenzymes, plays an important role in endothelial function. It was recently shown that hyperhomocysteinemia is an important regulator of NO synthase. We investigated the role of homocysteine (Hcys) in erectile dysfunction (ED), which is associated with the defect in NO generation. Thirty-one nondiabetic patients and 33 control cases were evaluated. Patients with diabetes, coronary artery disease, vitamin B(12), or folate deficiency were excluded in the study. The International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire was used to gauge identified erectile quality. Fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, vitamin B(12), folic acid, and Hcys levels of patients were measured. Penile color Dupplex ultrasound was used to detect vascular abnormalities in nondiabetic patients with ED. Patients with ED were older than the control subjects (55.6 +/- 8.4 vs 44.5 +/- 4.7 years, respectively; P < .001). Patients with ED had higher fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and Hcys levels. There was a significant negative correlation between mean Hcys level and mean International Index of Erectile Function domain score (P < .001). The penile color Doppler ultrasound findings showed that there was a negative significant correlation between mean Hcys level and the 1st, 5th, and 10th minute's peak-systolic velocity. Logistic regression analysis revealed that age and Hcys levels were the main determinants in ED. Hyperhomocysteinemia, known to be an important risk factor in endothelial dysfunction, seems to be an important determinant in ED. These data suggest that slightly elevated Hcys levels are significantly related with arterial and probably endothelial dysfunction in patients with ED.     

The factors considered as trigger for the attacks in patients with familial Mediterranean fever

Although the inflammatory cascade of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is partially understood, triggering factors of those attacks has not been studied well. It is supposed that physical stresses such as cold exposure, tiredness and emotional stresses could provoke attacks. This study is aimed to survey the factors regarded as triggering the attacks in patients with FMF and their relationship with MEFV gene mutations. Clinical findings and genetic mutations (consist of M694V, M694I, M680I, V726A, E148Q) of patients were recorded. Patients were questioned about cold exposure, emotional stress, tiredness, long-lasting standing, long-duration travel, starvation, high intake of food, trauma, and infection as triggering factors for the attacks with both serositis and musculoskeletal pain. The study is comprised of 275 FMF patients (male/female: 177/98). The most common triggering factors for the attacks with serositis were cold exposure (59.3 %), emotional stress (49.8 %), tiredness (40.0 %) and menstruation (33.7 % in females). Long-lasting standing (78.8 %), long-duration travel (64.1 %) and tiredness (47.8 %) were the triggering factors for the attacks with musculoskeletal symptoms. The relationships between MEFV mutations and triggering factors were found as M694V allele with starvation, E148Q allele with high intake of food and V726A allele with long-duration travel. The attacks with serositis seem to be triggered by those factors to which whole body exposed, whereas the attacks with musculoskeletal complaints seem to be triggered by those factors to which regional or local part of body exposed. Since the number of alleles was small, a clear conclusion for a relationship between a particular gene variant and a specific trigger was not made.     

Reference interval of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A in healthy men and non-pregnant women

ObjectiveThe serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) concentration is a predictor of ischemic cardiac events and renal impairment. However, the reference interval of PAPP-A has not been determined. This study determined the reference interval of PAPP-A in men and non-pregnant women.MethodsThe study enrolled 126 apparently healthy individuals (52 males and 74 females). The mean age of the men and women was 34.7 (range 20–66) years and 34.6 (range 18–65) years, respectively. Serum PAPP-A concentrations were determined using an ultrasensitive enzyme-linked immunoassay kit. Reference intervals were calculated using the bootstrap method.ResultsThe results for three subjects were outliers, so the reference interval of PAPP-A was calculated using the data for 123 subjects. PAPP-A was undetectable in 26 subjects. The reference interval of PAPP-A for men and women (with the 90% confidence interval) was <22.9 ng/mL (19.7–23.3) and <33.6 ng/mL (25.2–36.7), respectively. In male subjects, serum PAPP-A levels of smokers [3.10 (UD, 7.30) ng/mL] were significantly lower than that of non-smokers [11.00 (UD, 24.4) ng/mL] (p < 0.001) and there was a positive correlation between serum PAPP-A levels and subjects’ age (r = 0.439; p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe reference interval of PAPP-A differed for men and non-pregnant women. In clinical practice, <22.9 ng/mL for men and <33.6 ng/mL for non-pregnant women may be used as reference intervals for PAPP-A.