Objective: In this current study, we investigated the iron (FE), total iron binding capacity (TIBC), ferritin, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in breast cancer patients with and without metastasis.
Study Design: To this aim, 40 breast cancer women, 20 with metastasis, 20 without metastasis, and a control group of 20 healthy women were included in the study. Ferritin, iron, and TIBC were measured in Hitachi 717 autoanalyser, and CRP levels were detected by nephelometric method.
Results: The mean serum ferritin level was 60.60 ng/ml in control group (group 1), 59.55 ng/ml in non-metastatic patient group (group 2), and there was not any significant difference between this two groups (p>0.90). Contrarily, the mean ferritin level was 427.25 ng/ml in metastatic patient group (group 3), and this was significantly different from the means of group 1 and 2 (p<0.001, p<0.001). Serum iron levels’ means were respectively 65.75 pg/dl, 83.40 pgldL, 66, 0 pg/dl in group 1, 2, and 3. There was not any difference between group 3 versus group land 2 (p>0, 9, p>0,1). The mean serum TIBC level was 302.15 pg/dl in group 1 and 366.20 pg/dl in group 2, and there was a significant difference between two groups (p< 0.001). On the other hand, the mean TIBC level of group 3 was 312.75 pg/dl, and this was significantly different from group 2 (p<0.020) but did not show any difference from group 1 (p: 0.3-0.5). The mean serum CRP level was 0.75 mg/l in group 1, 2.20 mg/l in group 2, and there was not any significant difference between two groups (p>0.3). This value was 42.25 mg/l in group 3, and it was significantly different from group 1 and 2 (p<0.001).
Conclusions: We found that serum CRP, TIBC, and ferritin values were significantly different in metastatic breast cancer patients than those of non-metastatic breast cancer patients and those of healthy control indivuduals.

Purpose: To compare the clinical efficiency of olopatadine hydrochloride %0,1 with ketotifen %0.025 in the treatment of allerjic conjunctivitis.
Methods: Fourty cases of allerjic conjunctivitis with or without a history of hay fever, bronchial asthma, allergic dermatitis were randomly "ed. They were divided into two groups constituted from 20 cases. First group received olopatadine hydrochloide %0,1 in each eye, and the second group received ketotifen %0,025. Symptoms and signs of itching, hyperemia, mucous discharge, tearing, photophobia, presence of papillary structures, lid swelling were evaluated in 10 minutes, 30 minutes after instillation and 7th, 14th, 45th day visits.
Results: Subjects in both groups were evaluated in 10 minutes, 30 minutes after instillation and 7th, 14th, 45th day visits. Symptoms and signs of itching, hyperemia, mucous discharge, tearing, photophobia, presence of papillary structures, lid swelling were significantly reduced.
Conclusion: There was no statistically significant difference between olopatadine %0,1 and ketotifen %0,025 concerning symptoms and signs evaluated between the time of first application and 45th day.

Background and Purpose: Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) present a major public health and economic problem. Increases in STDs have been reported from the United States and Europe in recent years. However, there are a few reports about STDs in Turkey. Our aim was to indicate the prevalence and demographic features of patients with STDs in our dermatology out-patient clinic.
Methods: In this study, 172 patients (124 men, 48 women) was enrolled between September 2005-September 2006. Demographic features, diagnoses, history of previous STDs and personal protection methods were reported.
Results: The mean age of study population was 34 (16-70) years and %6.9% were married. With respect to demographic features, there was no statistically difference between female and male patients. Out of 172 patients, condyloma accuminata (79%) was the most frequent disease. Molluscum contagiosum in 32 (18.6%), syphilis in 24 (13.9%), vulvovaginal canidiasis in 6 (3.4%) and genital herpes in 4 (2.3%) patients were found.
Conclusion: The prevalance of STDs in our dermatology outpatient clinic was %0,71. We suggest that the multicenter and multidiciplinary studies about STDs are needed in Turkey.

Objective: The objective of this study is to examine the degree of concordance between clinical findings and lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRG) and lower extremity electromyographic (EMG) examinations in patients with lombar discal hernias.
Material and Method: Thirty four patients who had MRGs and EMGs and treated on in-patient basis were examined retrospectively. In patients the degrees of concordance between positive nerve traction tests, and clinical status as indicated by the presence of at least one neurological sign were explored. The patients were grouped clinically as definite, probable and possible cases with radiculopathy.
Results: In our patients degrees of correlations between clinical status and EMG or MRG were at identical level (48,2 %). However degree of concordance between EMG and MRG for the same clinical level was 38 percent. In 88 percent of 18 patients conforming with definite radiculopathy signs of physical examination and EMG were in concordance while for MRG the concordance rate was 77 percent. In this patient group degree of concordance for EMG and MRG was found to be 66 percent. In cases with probable radiculopathy, degrees of concordance between clinical findings and EMG or MRG were 75 and 62 percent respectively. Degree of concordance for both EMG and MRG was detected to be 56 percent.
Conclusion: In patients with symptoms of apparent radiculopathy, auxiliary diagnostic examinations have confirmed the presence of radiculopathy with a greater precision. However still MRG and EMG should be considered as complementary tests to physical examination in the assessment of lombar radiculopathy.

Subjective: Lipoma arborescens is villous lipomatous proliferation of the synovium. It is a rare lesion of the suprapatellar pouch. The clinical and histopathological features and differential diagnosis of lipoma arborescens is discussed in the study.
Study Design: Eleven cases of lipoma arborescens, diagnosed and treated in our clinic are included in the study. Synovectomy was performed directly in four cases and following biopsy result in five cases. Total knee prosthesis was applied in two cases with severe arthrosis. Histopathological evaluation of the biopsy and operation materials were made.
Results: Ten of the patients were female and one was male. The mean age of the patients was 55.3. Six were localized in the right knee and five were in the left knee. Radiographs of two cases showed severe atrhrosis and six cases showed slight arthrosis. Histopathological examination revealed villous proliferation of the synovium infiltrated with mature adipose cells. One of the cases recurred after six months and was treated with subtotal synovectomy. A mean four-year follow-up of the other cases showed no recurrence.
Conclusion: In patients with recurring synovitis, lipoma arborescens must be considered. The treatment of this rarely recurring lesion is synovectomy.

Objective: In this study, we investigated the the efficacy of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) on the diagnosis of primary breast cancer when measured along with carbonhydrate antigen 15- 3(CA 15-3).
Study Design: 40 primary breast cancer patient consulted in the General Surgery Department of Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty and 30 healthy women were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups as premenapausal and postmenopausal. IGF-1 and CA 15-3 measurement were performed with chemiluminescence method in Liaison immunoassay analyser.
br> Results: The mean plasma IGF-I levels was 140,8±90,6 ng/ml in premenopausal patient group, and 109,9±48,6 ng/ml in postmenopausal patient group. In control group, IGF-I levels were 126,6±40,7 ng/ml in premenopausal and 110,3+60,4 ng/ml in postmenopausal individuals. There was not any difference between two groups (p-0,9, and p=0,5 respectively). In beast cancer patients, the mean serum Ca 15-3 levels was 24,8±34,07 Ulml. Only 4 patients (%10) had results over 30 Ulml which was accepted as cut-off value. The mean serum Ca 15-3 values in control group was 17,8±8,0 Ulml which was not significantly different from the patients results (p-0.1). 0
Conclusions: Finally, we concluded that IGF-I alone or along with CA15-3 is not a useful screening test for the diagnosis of breast cancer.

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine positive results rate of the AntiHIV Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay] ELISA) and how many of them could be confirmed by western blot (WB) from 03.04.2000 to 24.10.2006 in our laboratory.
Study Design: We analysed our laboratory AntiHIV test reports retrospectively. 82304 serum samples were tested for HIV infection by different ELISA kits by using one at a time, namely HIV 1-2 Innogenetics, Vironostika HIV Uni-Form II Ag/Ab (Biomerieux), AxSYM HIV-11210* [MEIA (Micropartical Enzyme Immuno Assay) Abbott], and Architect HIV Ag/Ab Combo (Chemiflex technology, Abbott). Positive samples were sent to the Istanbul Health Authority Epidemiology Department for WB confirmation testing and the results are reported here.
Results: During the 6 years period 82304 serum samples were tested for AntiHIV antibodies with ELISA. 80 ELISA positive serum samples were further tested with WB for confirmation. 50 out of 80 samples were found negative and 30 were confirmed as positive.
Conclusions: Although ELISA is a reliable test for HIV infection screening, positive results must be confirmed with WB.

Poststernotomy mediastinitis is a highly dangerous complication following median sternotomy. Such wounds are debrided aggressively of necrotic and foreign materials with subsequent flap reconstruction. The patient, diagnosed with sternal defect which was infected, was examined with exposed bone and wires and not healing for five months. Operative debridement of infected bone and soft tissue was performed, including removal of sternal wires and other foreign bodies and then definitive coverage of the defect was made by bilateral pectoralis major muscle flaps. There were no complications in postoperative one year follow-up period and the patient has been leading normal social life while not having any respiratory problems except severe exercise. Using bilateral pectoral flaps for reconstruction of dead-spaces following debridement for patients having wide sternal defects is an appropriate and effective method.

Cases of rectal foreign body are not an uncommon presentation to the emergency department, which causes a major problem with their complications. Here, we report a case of rectal foreign body and discuss the treatment modalities.

Actinomycosis is a chronic suppurative disease which is characterised by abscess, fistula and sulphur granules. Cervicofacial region is the most common localization, other sites are thoracic, abdominal and pelvic regions. Gallbladder involvement by actinomyces is very rare and only 19 cases have been reported. Two cases of actinomycosis of the gallbladder are presented in this paper.