The determinants of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in patients with allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with allergic rhinitis and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) may be at higher risk of developing asthma. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether reactivity to aeroallergens in skin prick testing (SPT) and serum eosinophil cationic protein levels can be used to predict BHR in allergic rhinitis patients. METHODS: Fifty-nine consecutive patients with allergic rhinitis underwent SPTs using grass, tree, weed, parietaria, Alternaria, Aspergillus, mites, and cat and dog dander extracts. Methacholine challenge tests were performed using spirometry. RESULTS: Methacholine-induced BHR was detected in 23 patients (39%). Of 59 patients, 14 had 1 positive SPT response, 35 had 2 to 4 positive responses, and 10 had more than 4 positive responses. There was a significant inverse correlation between methacholine provocation concentration that caused a decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 second of 20% (PC20) and the number of positive SPT responses (r = -0.28; P = .03). The BHR-positive patients had a mean of 4 positive SPT responses, whereas BHR-negative patients had a mean of 2.6 (P = .04). Nine BHR-positive patients (39%) and only 1 BHR-negative patient (3%) had more than 4 positive SPT responses (P < .001). There was no correlation between serum eosinophil cationic protein levels and methacholine PC20 doses. There was a strong association between hyperresponsiveness to methacholine and both cat and dog dander sensitivity (P < .001 and P = .001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Allergic rhinitis patients with SPT responses to a higher number of allergens are more likely to have BHR. Whether the number of positive SPT responses correlates with the risk of developing asthma in allergic rhinitis patients remains to be determined.     

A case of cellulitis causing tissue defect during etanercept therapy

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) antagonists are employed increasingly during recent years in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis who do not respond to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. Contraindications such as infections, auto-antibody formation and hypersensitive reactions can be observed during the treatment with TNF-α antagonist drugs. Our case was a 52-year-old woman, followed by several centers for a period of 21 years with a seropositive, erosive and nodular RA diagnosis. Anti TNF-α treatment was commenced due to the failure to control the disease. During the treatment, a serious cellulite developed, which required hospitalization and surgical debridement as well as intravenous antibiotics treatment. Through the present case, we aimed to draw attention to the skin infection during the use of etanercept in a patient with RA.     

Endogenous carboxyhemoglobin concentrations in the assessment of severity in patients with community-acquired pneumonia

IntroductionPrevious studies have shown that carbon monoxide, which is endogenously produced, is increased in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). However, it has not been studied enough whether severity of pneumonia is correlated with increased carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) concentrations in CAP. The aim of this study was to determine whether endogenous carbon monoxide levels in patients with CAP were higher compared with the control group and, if so, to determine whether COHb concentrations could predict severity in CAP.Materials and methodsEighty-two patients with CAP were evaluated in this cross-sectional study during a 10-month period. Demographic data, pneumonia severity index and confusion, uremia, rate respiratory, pressure blood, age>65 (CURB-65) scores, hospital admission or discharge decisions, and 30-day hospital mortality rate were recorded. In addition, 83 control subjects were included to study. The COHb concentration was measured in arterial blood sample.ResultsThe levels of COHb in patients with CAP were 1.70% (minimum-maximum, 0.8-3.2), whereas those in control subjects, 1.40% (minimum-maximum, 0.8-2.9). The higher COHb concentrations in patients with CAP were statistically significant (P < .05). Concentration of COHb correlated with pneumonia severity index (P = .04, r = 0.187); however, it did not correlate with CURB-65 (P = .218, r = 0.112).ConclusionAlthough COHb concentrations show an increase in patients with pneumonia, it was concluded that this increase did not act as an indicator in diagnosis process or prediction of clinical severity for the physicians.     

Glycosaminoglycan excretion in children with nephrotic syndrome

Although most childhood nephrotic syndromes respond to steroid treatment, steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) is also common and is particularly difficult to treat. This study investigated the role of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) in the pathogenesis and clinical course of nephrotic syndrome in children. Thirty-four children (21 males and 13 females, mean age 3.7±1.6 years) with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome and 20 children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (12 males and 8 females, mean age 10.9±3.8 years; of the twenty, four had primary SRNS (FSGS) and the others had secondary SRNS) were included the study. Mean urine levels of GAG relative to creatinine (U_GAG/U_Cr) in patients with SRNS (n=20, 113.01±78.46 mg g^–1 Cr) and in patients experiencing the nephrotic period of steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (n=34, 132.15±101.55 mg g^–1 Cr) were both significantly higher than mean U_GAG/U_Cr for control subjects (n=30, 51.83±47.66 mg g^–1 Cr) (P<0.01 for both). Patients excreted significantly more GAG during the nephrotic period of steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome than during remission (132.15±101.55 vs 39.11±42.73 mg g^–1 Cr, respectively; P<0.01). There was, however, no significant difference between U_GAG/U_Cr for patients with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome and U_GAG/U_Cr in the nephrotic period of steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome. Urine GAG excretion correlated significantly with the severity of proteinuria. The results suggest that GAG play a significant role in the pathogenesis of nephrotic syndrome but that GAG excretion is not a marker for response to steroid treatment in pediatric patients with this condition.     

Sexual problems in a sample of the Turkish psychiatric population

Introduction

Sexual functioning has received little attention as an important aspect of patient care for those who have severe mental disorders.

Aim

The aim of this study is to compare sexual difficulties seen in Turkish psychiatric patients and healthy control subjects.

Methods

Study group consisted of outpatients in remission with schizophrenia (n = 84), bipolar affective disorders (n = 90), heroin addiction (n = 88), and healthy control group (n = 98). A sociodemographical data form and the Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction were applied to all groups (N = 360).

Results

Half of the patient groups and 72.8% of control subjects reported that they had regular sexual life. The patients with heroin addiction complained about more problems in their sexual life than in the other groups. Controls (86.2%) felt more satisfied with their sexual life. Female patients with heroin addiction had statistically significant higher scores in nonsensuality subscale of Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction. Female patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder had statistically significant higher scores in vaginismus subscale than in control group. Between the groups, male patients with bipolar disorder had higher score in most of the items except noncommunication and erectile dysfunction and also had higher total score than in the controls. More men (especially with heroin addiction) thought that their illness and drugs were responsible for their sexual problems, knew the effect of the illness and drugs on their sexual life, and asked questions to their psychiatrists about the problems more than women.

Conclusion

Patients with bipolar disorders and schizophrenia were unaware of effects of their medication on their sexual life. Finally, it was also found that clinicians in our country do not pay sufficient attention to the sexual problems of psychiatric patients.     

Risky sexual behavior among patients in Turkey with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and heroin addiction

AimRisky sexual behavior associated with such sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as hepatitis B and C, herpes, Treponema pallidum, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is more frequent among psychiatric patients and parenteral drug abusers than the general population. The aim of this study was to investigate risky sexual behavior in psychiatric outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia (SCH), bipolar disorder, and heroin addiction (HA), and to compare them with those observed in healthy controls.MethodsThe study group (N = 485; 234 females and 251 males) consisted of patients that consecutively presented to Bak?rkoy State and Training Hospital for Psychiatric and Neurological Diseases in Istanbul and normal healthy controls.Main Outcome MeasuresThe chi‐squared test was used for comparisons between groups and categorical variables. One‐way analysis of variance (post‐hoc Bonferroni test) was used for demographic data. A 22‐item questionnaire for collecting demographic, illness history, and sexual activity data, and a structured 23‐item form for collecting data on risky sexually behavior were administered to the participants.ResultsIn all, 10% of the participants had a positive history for STIs. The majority of risky sexual behaviors was observed among the HA patients. The frequency of being sexually assaulted and having homosexual acts among the SCH group were higher. None of the patients had a positive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) test result. The frequency of positivity for hepatitis B and C markers was highest among the HA patients.ConclusionsThe provision of information and training about all STIs and risky sexual behavior should become routine in the treatment of mentally ill patients, especially those that abuse drugs. Hariri AG, Karadag F, Gokalp P, and Essizoglu A. Risky sexual behavior among patients in Turkey with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and heroin addiction. J Sex Med 2011;8:2284–2291.