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Scabies outbreaks were reported in many countries especially from Africa, but had not been reported in Turkey before.1 This is a multicentre study with compiling the data of patients with scabies in 12 tertiary level dermatology clinics located in distinct geographical regions of Turkey. The study included data of 17.803 (14.574 adult and 3229 child) patients with the diagnosis of scabies. This study also gives new information regarding the WHO's global strategy for scabies control.8 Conflicts of interest Dr. Güler Özden, Dr. Ertürk, Dr. Kartal, Dr. Yayli, Dr. Göktay, Dr. Dogramaci, Dr. Bayramgürler, Dr. Özgen, Dr. Önder, Dr. Kaçar, Dr. Melikoglu, Dr. Tamer, Dr. Sentürk and Dr. Alpsoy have nothing to disclose. [Extracted from the article]

Background There is a need for a laboratory marker that correlates with the clinical activity of Behçet's disease (BD). Objective We aimed to investigate whether serum galectin-3 (Gal-3) levels were affected during the course of the disease with regard to disease activity. Methods A total of 131 subjects were involved in the study as follows: Group 1: BD active ( n = 39); Group 2: BD inactive ( n = 31); Group 3: Disease controls with leucocytoclastic vasculitis confirmed with a skin biopsy ( n = 22); and Group 4: Healthy control subjects ( n = 39). The BD patients were followed regularly and samples were taken in their active and inactive periods of the disease over a 2-year period. Results Serum Gal-3 levels were significantly higher in active BD patients (mean 2.38) than inactive BD patients (mean 0.63; P < 0.0001) and the healthy control subjects (mean 0.75; P < 0.0001). There was no significant difference between the leucocytoclastic vasculitis and active BD patients ( P = 0.093). Serum Gal-3 levels were positively correlated with clinical activity scores of active BD patients ( r = 0.66, P < 0.0001). In addition, the Gal-3 levels were significantly higher in the active disease period when compared with the inactive period during the follow-up. There were no significant differences between the two inactive periods of the disease among the same patients. Further analyses revealed that patients with vascular involvement had significantly higher Gal-3 levels than the other active BD patients (mean 7.57; P = 0.007). Limitations The limitation of the study is the small number of patients with vascular involvement in the active BD patient group. Conclusion Gal-3 levels are correlated with the activity of Behçet's disease especially with the vascular involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]