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Diabetes and diabetes-induced complications is a rising health concern in Northern Cyprus. Of the adult population in Northern Cyprus, 12.2% has diabetes and 90% of all individuals suffering from cardiovascular disease are people with diabetes. The aim of this study was to evaluate nutritional habits of people with diabetes in Northern Cyprus in order to make the necessary recommendations to improve their eating habits to prevent diabetes-induced complications. We used the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) to evaluate dietary quality of people with diabetes in Northern Cyprus based on their 24-hour food intake. A total of 200 participants with diabetes were selected randomly from the out-patient clinic of Dr. Burhan Nalbantoğlu central hospital in Nicosia. Individuals were asked to complete a questionnaire to determine their 24-hour food intake and frequency of intake of various food substances. The mean HEI score for the subjects with diabetes was 58.8. The HEI component scores for saturated fat, vegetables, dairy products and meat consumption were less than 5, whereas average scores for fat, cholesterol, fruits, grains, and sodium consumption were more than 5. The meat component of the HEI had the lowest mean score (3.3). There was statistical significance between male and female subjects regarding the HEI scores for meat and nutrient variety intake. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that subjects with diabetes in Northern Cyprus should improve their diet by decreasing their intake of saturated fat and by increasing their intake of vegetables, meat and milk.

Beta-amyloid 42 (Aβ42) concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are significantly decreased in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this study was to correlate genetic variability in presenilin 2 (PSEN2) in relation to Aβ42 concentrations and to confirm association of apolipoprotein E (APOE) alleles E4/E4 genotype with lower CSF Aβ42. Haplotype analysis of PSEN2 and APOE genotyping were performed in 175 Alzheimer's disease patients, as defined by clinical diagnosis and Aβ42 levels. One distinct haploblock in PSEN2 was detected and the frequent haplotypes were analyzed using 4 tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We found an association between haplotype 2 and higher CSF Aβ42 concentrations (p = 0.021) and lower Aβ42 concentrations in haplotype 5 carriers (p < 0.001). APOE E4/E4 carriers had lower Aβ42 levels (p = 0.009). Additive regression analysis showed an association of Aβ42 level with APOE genotype (p = 0.024), haplotype 4 (p = 0.064), and haplotype 5 (p = 0.04), whereas gender, age at onset and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) remained insignificant. Using CSF Aβ42 as a biomarker we replicated genetic influences in APOE and observed a significant influence of a new haplotype in PSEN2. A better understanding of genetic influences on biomarkers like CSF Aβ42 might help to stratify patients and develop specific treatment strategies., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Lichen planus pemphigoides (LPP) is a rare and controversial disease. It is characterized clinically by tense bullae arising both on lichen planus papules and on uninvolved skin, histologically by the demonstration of subepidermal bullae and by linear deposits of immunoglobulin G and C3 along the basement membrane zone on immunofluorescence of peribullous skin. Some authors consider LPP as the combination of lichen planus and bullous pemphigoid. Others think that it most likely encompasses a heterogeneous group of subepidermal autoimmune blistering disorders occurring in association with lichen planus. We present a child case that supports the heterogeneous condition of this disease triggered by varicella., (© 2011 Japanese Dermatological Association.)

Six genes including POMT1, POMT2, POMGNT1, FKRP, Fukutin (FKTN) and LARGE encode proteins involved in the glycosylation of α-dystroglycan (α-DG). Abnormal glycosylation of α-DG is a common finding in Walker-Warburg syndrome (WWS), muscle-eye-brain disease (MEB), Fukuyama congenital muscular dystrophy (FCMD), congenital muscular dystrophy types 1C and 1D and some forms of autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD2I, LGMD2K, LGMD2M), and is associated with mutations in the above genes. FCMD, caused by mutations in Fukutin (FKTN), is most frequent in Japan, but an increasing number of FKTN mutations are being reported outside of Japan. We describe four new patients with FKTN mutations and phenotypes ranging from: severe WWS in a Greek-Croatian patient, to congenital muscular dystrophy and cobblestone lissencephaly resembling MEB-FCMD in two Turkish patients, and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy and no mental retardation in a German patient. Four of the five different FKTN mutations have not been previously described., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A 33 weeks' gestation, a baby with rhesus hemolytic disease (RHD), who had received intrauterine transfusions twice, developed cholestatic hepatic disease and late hyporegenerative anemia. Her serum ferritin and bilirubin levels increased to 8842 ng/ml and 17.9 mg/dl, respectively. Liver biopsy showed cholestasis and severe iron overload. Treatment with recombinant erythropoietin (rHuEPO) decreased the transfusion need, and intravenous deferoxamine resulted in a marked decreased in serum ferritin levels and normalization of liver function. In patients who have undergone intrauterine transfusions due to RHD, hyperferritinemia and late hyporegenerative anemia should be kept in mind. Chelation therapy in cases with symptomatic hyperferritinemia and rHuEPO treatment in cases with severe hyporegenerative anemia should be considered.