Browsing by Author "Sula, Bilal"

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High Frequency of Fibromyalgia in Patients With Acne Vulgaris
(Turkish League Against Rheumatism, 2016) Yazmalar, Levent; Celepkolu, Tahsin; Batmaz, Ibrahim; Sariyildiz, Mustafa Akif; Sula, Bilal; Alpayci, Mahmut; Cevik, Remzi
Objectives: This study aims to investigate the frequency of fibromyalgia syndrome and to specify fibromyalgia syndrome-associated clinical symptoms in patients with acne vulgaris. Patients and methods: Eighty-eight patients (28 males, 60 females; mean age 23.2 +/- 5.1 years; range 18 to 40 years) with acne vulgaris and age, sex- and body mass index-similar 76 healthy controls (14 males, 62 females; mean age 24.5 +/- 2.9 years; range 18 to 35 years) were included. Acne vulgaris was evaluated by using the Global Acne Scale, while Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to evaluate anxiety. Results: Fibromyalgia-associated pain, sleep disturbance, anxiety, and menstrual cycle disturbance were significantly more frequent in patients with acne vulgaris than controls. Also, the severity of anxiety and the number of tender points were significantly higher in the acne vulgaris patients than controls. Conclusion: This study indicates that patients with acne vulgaris have increased frequency of fibromyalgia syndrome than healthy controls (21.6% versus 5.3%, respectively).
Serum Gdf-15 Level in Behcet's Disease: Relationships Between Disease Activity and Clinical Parameters
(Wiley, 2016) Sariyildiz, Mustafa Akif; Yazmalar, Levent; Batmaz, Ibrahim; Alpayci, Mahmut; Burkan, Yahya Kemal; Sula, Bilal; Bozkurt, Mehtap
Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), a member of the transforming growth factor-b superfamily of cytokines, plays an important role in cell growth, signal transduction, and apoptosis regulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum GDF-15 levels and their relationships with disease-related variables in patients with Behcet's disease (BD). Fortysix patients diagnosed with BD and 30 demographically matched healthy control subjects participated in the study. GDF-15 levels were measured in blood samples from patients and controls. The Behcet's Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF) was used to evaluate the disease activity of BD. There were no significant differences between the two groups in C-reactive protein (CRP) level, mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), age, body mass index, and mean GDF-15 levels (P > 0.05). Serum GDF-15 levels were positively correlated with findings for peripheral arthritis and CRP, and with BDCAF erythema nodosum, BDCAF arthralgia, and BDCAF arthritis scores. Patients with BD were divided into two groups according to the presence of peripheral arthritis; nine subjects (20%) were positive for peripheral arthritis. Serum ESR, CRP, white blood cell counts, and GDF-15 levels were significantly higher in the group that was positive for peripheral arthritis (P < 0.05). GDF-15 may play a role in the progression and pathway of Behcet's joint involvement and erythema nodosum that is independent of classic inflammatory response measures.
Serum Levels of Alpha-1 Acid Glycoprotein and Pentraxin 3 in Patients With Behcet's Disease and Relationship With Disease Activity
(Wiley, 2015) Yazmalar, Levent; Batmaz, Ibrahim; Sula, Bilal; Alpayci, Mahmut; Aydin, Fatma; Turkcu, Fatih; Sariyildiz, Mustafa Akif
Background To evaluate the relationship between disease activity and levels of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein and pentraxin 3 in patients with Behcet's disease (BD). Methods Forty-eight patients with BD and 29 age-and gender-matched healthy control subjects were included in the study. Serum pentraxin 3 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ng/ml), and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein levels were measured using nephelometry (mg/dl). Disease activity was assessed using the BD Current Activity Form (BDCAF). Results Serum alpha-1 acid glycoprotein levels were significantly higher in patients with BD compared to the control group (P = 0.048). There were no significant differences between two groups in terms of levels of pentraxin 3 (P = 0.697). According to Pearson's analysis, alpha 1-acid levels are significantly positively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and skin lesions and arthritis of BDCAF scores. Pentraxin 3 levels did not correlate with erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, or any domains of BDCAF scores. Conclusion The results of the present study demonstrate that serum levels of alpha-1 acid glycoprotein were significantly higher in patients with BD relative to the control group. Alpha-1 acid glycoprotein is greatly associated with skin lesions and arthritis in patients with BD. We did not find high serum levels of PTX3 in patients with BD compared to healthy controls, and pentraxin 3 is not associated with disease activity in BD.