Lower serum vitamin D levels, a major public health problem worldwide, has been found to be associated with various infectious diseases, cancers, autoimmune and dermatological diseases. The serum levels of vitamin D in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis are not clear. We investigated the vitamin D levels in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Forty patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (Group I) and 70 healthy controls (Group II) included in the study. The characteristics of aphthous lesions (duration of disease and remission, frequency, diameter and number of the lesions) and demographics of the participants were recorded. Serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol levels were measured using electrochemiluminescence binding method. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of age (p = 0.06) and sex (p = 0.4). Other baseline characteristics were not significantly different between the groups (p > 0.05 for all). The mean diameter of aphthous lesions was 0.5 (0.4–0.6) cm and the mean number of lesions was 2.2 ± 1.5. Serum vitamin D levels were 11 ± 7.04 ng/ml in Group I and 16.4 ± 10.19 ng/ml in Group II. Serum vitamin D levels were significantly lower in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (p = 0.004). The present study showed lower vitamin D levels in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis compared to healthy controls.

Background: Acne vulgaris is a very common skin disorder that has negative effects on the mood, self image and social relations of the patients. We want to evaluate the effects of acne vulgaris and its severity on depression, loneliness, internet addiction levels, and the quality of life of young adult females. Methods: Two hundred three female acne vulgaris patients and 202 healthy controls who admitted to the dermatology clinic of a university hospital formed the study sample. Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) was used to assess the severity of acne. The Young Internet Addiction Scale-Short Form (YIAS-SF), The Acne Quality of Life Scale (AQLS), The University of California Los Angeles-Loneliness Scale (UCLA-LS), and The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used to collect information about the patients. Results: The median BDI and the mean UCLA-LS and YIAS-SF scores were higher in the Acne group than those in the control group. The correlations between acne severity and the 3 scales were not significant but the correlations between AQLS and BDI, UCLA-LS, and YIAS-SF were highly significant. In multiple regression analysis, age and the BDI score predicted the YIAS-SF score significantly. Conclusions: Our findings support the previous findings that acne vulgaris patients are prone to depression and loneliness, and expand these findings to the vulnerability against internet addiction. Loneliness and depression should be assessed and, if found, targeted by psychological means to prevent internet addiction in acne vulgaris patients.

Telogen effluvium is the most common form of non-scarring alopecia characterized by diffuse hair loss. Ischemia-modified albumin is a marker of oxidative stress and inflammation. The aim of this study was to compare the levels of ischemia-modified albumin of telogen effluvium patients with healthy controls. Ninety-one patients diagnosed with telogen effluvium and 35 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Serum ischemia-modified albumin level was determined by a fast-colorimetric method, and albumin cobalt binding test. The results were evaluated statistically. There was no statistically significant difference between the serum albumin values of patient and control groups (p=0.739). Serum ischemia-modified albumin values were significantly higher in the patients with telogen effluvium than healthy controls (p<0.001). Body mass index values of the patient and control groups could not be calculated. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first clinical study to investigate the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of telogen effluvium using ischemia-modified albumin as a biomarker. Based on the results of the present study, it can be considered that oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of telogen effluvium. There is a need for further studies to support the results of this study, to demonstrate the possible effects of oxidative stress, and to investigate the other oxidative stress markers in the pathogenesis of telogen effluvium.

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients with Behçet disease (BD) and to investigate the relationship between the severity of BD and LUTS.Methods: Fifty-five patients with BD were included in this study from January to December 2018. All patients received a detailed urological evaluation. Additionally, BD activity was investigated using the Behçet Disease Current Activation Form. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form, 8-item overactive bladder questionnaire forms, uroflowmetry, and postvoid residual urine volume were evaluated.Results: The mean age of the patients was 42.6 years. The mean activity score of BD was 4.6±3.2 and the mean IPSS score was 7.3±7.3. Sex had no significant effect on the BD activity score. The BD activity score was significantly correlated with the IPSS score, frequency of daytime urination, nocturia, and urgency. It was also correlated with the presence and the severity of urinary incontinence and the effect of urinary incontinence on daily life. Peak flow rate, voided volume, and the postvoid residual urine volume were not correlated with the BD activity score.Conclusions: LUTS were highly prevalent in patients with BD, and the severity and current activity of BD were correlated with frequency, nocturia, urgency, and urinary incontinence. Therefore, a urological evaluation of patients with BD in whom the activity and severity of the disease is elevated should be carried out comprehensively and patients should be managed accordingly.

Recurrent infections of herpes simplex virus in the orolabial area are known as recurrent herpes labialis (RHL). Vitamin D has been shown to have an important immunomodulatory role and to be associated with several infectious diseases. This hospital-based case-control study aimed at investigating the association between vitamin D and RHL by comparing vitamin D levels in individuals with and without RHL. Individuals who presented to the dermatology clinic at a state hospital due to RHL (n = 50) and matching control group of healthy volunteers (n = 51) were studied. Their vitamin D levels were measured, stratified based on clinical guidelines, and compared. The average serum vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) levels were 23.8 ± 15.5 and 42.0 ± 26.3 nM in the patient and control groups, with significant differences between their average serum vitamin D levels and vitamin D status. The studied population had serious vitamin D deficiency regardless of having RHL, with vitamin D levels below the adequate limits in more than 96% of the population. Most importantly, the study established a significant association between low serum vitamin D levels and the presence of RHL. Further interventional and pathophysiological studies should clarify the nature and mechanism of the relationship.

The objective of this study was to examine articles on acupuncture from past to present, revealing prevalent research trends, showcasing global productivity, identifying international collaborations, and highlighting influential publications and journals in the field. We acquired a comprehensive dataset comprising 9340 articles pertaining to acupuncture that were published within the time frame spanning from 1980 to 2023. These articles were sourced from the Web of Science and underwent rigorous analysis through a diverse set of bibliometric techniques. Our analytical approaches encompassed trend keyword analysis, thematic evolution analysis, conceptual structure analysis, factor analysis, citation and co-citation analyses, as well as an exploration of international collaboration patterns. The 3 most productive countries were China (n = 3357), the USA (n = 1351), and South Korea (n = 814). The 3 most productive journals were Acupuncture in Medicine (n = 440), Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (n = 415), and Medical Acupuncture (n = 400). The 3 journals with the highest h-index on acupuncture were the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (h = 45), Pain (h = 41), and the American Journal of Chinese Medicine (h = 35). The most active author was Park Hi-Joon (n = 128). According to the findings of the factor analysis, acupuncture literature was grouped around 3 main subfactors. The primary factor encompassed topics related to the effectiveness/applicability of the treatment method for various medical conditions and general principles of acupuncture methods and points. The second factor covered topics related to mental health and quality of life. The third subfactor addressed the qualitative and quantitative analysis direction of acupuncture, such as meta-analysis and systematic reviews, and randomized controlled trials. From the past to the present, the most extensively researched main topics in acupuncture literature have covered a wide range of subjects. Prominent themes among these topics included acupuncture methods and applications, pain management, the nervous system and acupuncture, mental health and acupuncture, quality of life, and general health. In recent years, emerging trends in acupuncture research have focused on neurological health issues, oncology and cancer treatment, women’s health and hormonal issues, sleep problems, digestive issues, and studies related to the quantitative and qualitative evaluation of acupuncture research.