Neuroimaging has been used in schizophrenia since the invention of computed tomography and new modalities are introduced as technology advances. Magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, diffusion tensor imaging, functional magnetic resonance imaging and radionuclide imaging are such techniques that are currently used in neuroimaging. Structural neuroimaging studies have demonstrated the association between auditory hallucinations and superior temporal gyrus volume loss whereas negative symptoms of schizophrenia were reported to be associated with prefrontal lobe volume loss. Functional neuroimaging techniques show that schizophrenia patients have diffuse functional disorders located in different areas and networks of the brain defined as the default mode network. The effects of chronic drug therapy affects neuroimaging findings by altering neuronal function via genomic expression and changes in the ultrastructural level. Although neuroimaging is an indispensible tool for psychiatric research, its clinical utility is questionable until new modalities become more accessible and regularly used in clinical practice. The aim of this paper is to provide clinicians with an introductory knowledge on neuroimaging in schizophrenia including basic physics principles, current contributions to general understanding and treatment of schizophrenia and possible future applications of neuroimaging.

Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibodies are widely used for diagnosis of autoimmune disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of ANA and anti-dsDNA in patient with suspected autoimmune disease. Serum samples were obtained from different clinics of Sakarya Educational and Research Hospital. Each of these serum samples was tested for the presence of ANA and anti-dsDNA by ELISA technique. These tests were performed by commercial kits according to the manufacturer's instructions. ANA and anti-dsDNA results were classified as positive or negative for each patient. Borderline results were arbitrarily classified as positive. In this study, ANA and anti-dsDNA were found positive 2.96% (58/1975) and 4.52% (29/642) respectively. There is no statistical significant correlation between ANA and anti-dsDNA positivity. Only two patient both ANA and anti-dsDNA were found positivity by ELISA kits. Agreement between assays is generally marginal. ELISA technique seems to be less sensitive than fluorescent tests for ANA with fewest positivity rates. These results may be due to a number of factors which may contribute to the variability on ELISA. Finally, each of the autoantibody assays provides different criteria for diagnosis, but ANA screen test should be followed up with fluorescent tests to provide proper diagnostic information.

Among all fetal anomalies, the central nervous system anomalies represent one of the most frequently involved structures with an estimated incidence of 1 per 100 births. It is mostly difficult to make an accurate diagnosis of congenital brain malformation, based on clinical findings; thus use of computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is essential in these cases. The aim of this essay is to state the imaging findings of the main, most prominent congenital brain abnormalities and to present a practical classification of the entity.

Although the IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase test (IgA anti-Ttg) has been recommended as the first step in the diagnosis of celiac disease (CD), there are controversial data about the real accuracy of the test in clinical practice. Therefore we evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of the IgA anti-Ttg in a group of patients who were suspected of having CD. The study was performed at Van Training and Research Hospital, Van-Turkey. Details of patients in whom the IgA anti-Ttg was requested from January 2009 to April 2012 were obtained from databases. Duplicate requests were excluded. Histopathologic examination of duodenal biopsies and serologic evaluations were compared. A total of 1614 IgA anti-Ttg were requested from different patients. In all, 49.6% of requests were in females and 29.8% from children under the age of sixteen. A total of 192 (11.9%) requests were found to be positive. Duodenal biopsies were performed to 61 (31.8%) of seropositive patients. The overall sensitivity and specificity of IgA anti-Ttg were 93.3% and 9.5%. Our data have revealed that clinicians should be aware of solely relying on the results of the IgA anti-Ttg test could result in unnecessary diagnostic procedures and treatments.

To compare the effects of different progestins in combined oral contraceptives (COC) on sexual functions and well-being of women. In this prospective and observational study, 52 participants used drosperinone, 48 participants used gestodene, 55 participants used levonorgestrele and 60 participants used non- hormonal contraception. All participants completed the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) at baseline and after six cycles of treatment. There was a statistically significant improvement between FSFI scores at baseline and after six cycles of treatment compared with each other. There was no significant difference between FSFI scores compared with each other. In the hormonal contraception group, there was a statistically significant increase between BDI scores at baseline and after six cycles of treatment. In each hormonal contraception subgroup, there was no significant difference between BDI scores. These data show that COC pills make positive effects on female sexuality. Androgenic or antiandrogenic progestins have similar improvements on female sexual function. In addition, COC pills have negative impacts on depression.

This study investigated the effect of antibiotics in patients with PSA value high than 4 ng/Ml on Tpsa, Fpsa and Fpsa/Tpsa ratio without missing cancer and avoiding unnecessary biopsies. A total of 96 patients were included into the study with detected high level than 4 ng/Ml serum PSA. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the high level of PSA value. Group 1 included 49 patients with PSA level between 4-10 ng/Ml. Group 2 included 47 patients with PSA level higher than 10 ng/Ml. Patients were treated with Ciprofloxacin (500mg b.i.d.) orally for 2 weeks. All patients' PSA levels were evaluated and analyzed before and after antibiotic treatment. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS version 18. A p value <0.05 was considered as significant. The mean age was 61.6 ±5.7 (51-75) years in group 1 and 63.1 ±8.7 (55-74) years in group 2. Suspicious DRE findings were significantly high in group 2. The mean Tpsa values were 6.82±0.42 and 5.93±0.36 before and after antibiotic treatment in group 1 respectively. There was no significant differences in Tpsa value before and after antibiotic treatment in group 1. The mean Tpsa values were 32.53±8.23 and 11.72±5.61 before and after antibiotic treatment in group 2 respectively. The mean Tpsa value decreased significantly after antibiotic treatment in group 2. Prostate cancer was detected in 32 patients after TRUS guided prostate biopsy. Prostate cancer was identified in 13 patients in group 1 and 19 patients in group 2. Antibiotic treatment in patients with PSA levels higher than 10 ng/Ml is effective on prostate biopsy decision and antibiotic treatment can prevent unnecessary prostate biopsies.

Capsaicin is a spicy ingredient of Capsicum annuum and a lipophilic, crystalline, odorless and colorless alkaloid. Although the effect of capsaicin on adipocyte differentiation is well-known, the role of capsaicin on transcription factors while adipocyte differentiation is not clear. The aim of this study is thus to identify and characterize the transcription factors in the process of adipocyte differentiation after the capsaicin treatment. In this study, concentration of 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 µM capsaicin were treated to 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes in cell culture. MTT cell cytotoxicity, cell viability with trypan blue staining, Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) enzyme assay, triglyceride content assay, Glycerol-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity, Oil Red O staining and mRNA levels of transcription factors (PPAR?, C/EBP? and SREBP-lc) were investigated in capsaicin induced 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cell line. Capsaicin treatment decreased cell population growth of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, assessed with trypan blue staining, MTT test and rising of LDH release proportion. Capsaicin inhibited GPDH activity and intracellular triglyceride content in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in all treated groups in a dose-dependent manner. Oil Red O staining indicated that capsaicin inhibited adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in all treatment groups. In this study, it was revealed that exposing 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and differentiating postconfluent preadipocytes to different doses of capsaicin decreased PPAR?, C/EBP? and SREBP-1c mRNA levels as compared with their controls without treatment in dose dependent manner. Although, reduction of PPAR? mRNA level was statistical significant, this decrease was not significant in C/EBP? and SREBP-1c mRNA levels. This study demonstrated that capsaicin treatment inhibited the adipogenesis through the down-regulation of transcription factors, especially PPAR?. Alternative mechanisms may involve cell cycle arrest and the induction of apoptosis. Since capsaicin is the main component found in hot pepper, the consumption of hot pepper may contribute to the maintenance of body weight and prevent the development of obesity.

A 3-months old girl who presented to our clinic with accessory breast and had signs of supernumerary nipples, congenital scoliosis and diastematomyelia was presented as she didn’t correspond to any known syndrome.

The sphenoid sinus is the least common site for mucocele of all paranasal sinuses. It is very rare in children, especially in those younger than 12 years when pneumatization of the sphenoid sinus has not been completed yet. We report a case of histologically proven sphenoid sinus mucocele in an 8 year old child. The child presented with an acute onset of significant headache and vomiting. He also had a chronic problem of visual impairment. His vision gradually improved after endoscope endonasal sphenoidotomy and drainage of the sinus content which resolved all his symptoms. The rareness of paranasal sinus mucocele in children especially sphenoid occurrence prompted the authors to discuss the etiology, radiological imaging findings and the role of endoscopic endonasal sphenoidotomy.

Melioidosis is a fatal disease endemic in Southeast Asia and Australia. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is one of the main risk factors for acquiring this infectious disease. We described a case of severe melioidosis in a 31-year-old female patient with multiple hepatosplenic abscesses and underlying type 2 diabetes mellitus. The blood culture showed positive results to Burkholderia pseudomallei only after one month of on and off fever experienced by the patient. A splenectomy was done to prevent the development of peritonitis. The use of granulocyte colony-stimulating Factor (G-CSF) in addition to shifting from ceftazidime to meropenem therapy played an effective role in the recovery of the patient. In this case report we reviewed the literature on the impaired immunity in type 2 diabetic patient that put the patient on risk of acquiring melioidosis and the suggested role of G-CSF and carbapenem therapy.

The presence of corpus luteum cyst rupture resulting in hemoperitoneum together with a diagnosis of pregnancy at unknown location is rare and challenging for the gynecologist. A 29-year-old primipara woman presented with abdominal pain. A urine pregnancy test was positive. Ultrasonography revealed hemoperitoneum, but there was no sign of any intrauterine pregnancy. On abdominal exploration, there was a massive hemorrhage with a ruptured corpus luteum on the right ovary. The diagnosis and management difficulty of corpus luteum cyst rupture with a concomitant positive pregnancy test but without exact confirmation of pregnancy location is discussed.

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease, especially in endemic regions all over the world, it is a common infectious disease. However, brucellosis borne thyroid gland infection is quite rare. The purpose of this study is to draw attention to the thyroid abscess borne due to brucella, which also show an unusual clinical graphic. Within this study we aim to represent a case with thyroid abscess dominated Brucella spp.