In this study we investigated cytokine levels in patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). Twenty patients and 20 healthy controls were included. Ten patients had acute attacks of FMF, whereas the other 10 were in the silent period. Patients with the acute exacerbation of FMF had higher soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2r), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-alpha, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen levels than those in the silent period ( P<0.001) and controls ( P<0.001). In patients with acute attacks of FMF, interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels were not significantly different from those in the other patients or the controls ( P>0.05). In FMF patients IL-6, TNF-alpha, sIL-2r, ESR, CRP and fibrinogen levels increased with the acute-phase reaction, especially in the attack period. On the other hand, anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 levels did not increase as much as did the inflammatory cytokines. The balance between the cytokines may help us to understand the pathophysiology of FMF and to develop therapies. We conclude that the levels of the acute-phase reactants and the cytokines could be useful for diagnosis of acute exacerbations, follow-up and treatment. However, the cost of cytokine measurement analyses seems disadvantageous at present.

Cytokines play important roles in the pathogenesis of lymphomas. The aim of this study was to determine the relations between serum levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-6, and IL-10 and parameters of International Prognostic Index (IPI). Serum levels of IL-2, IL-6, and IL-10 were measured using a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the pretreatment frozen sera from 43 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The patients we included in the study were divided into two groups, one with high risk and the other with low risk according to the IPI in regard to their ages, stages, performance status, extranodal involvements, and serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase. In the high-risk group, serum levels of IL-2 (0.852 +/- 0.268 ng/ml), IL-6 (0.461 +/- 0.206 ng/ml), and IL-10 (0.816 +/- 0.240 ng/ml) were found to be higher than serum levels of IL-2 (0.667 +/- 0.170 ng/ml), IL-6 (0.355 +/- 0.075 ng/ml), and IL-10 (0.643+0.177 ng/ml) in the low-risk group ( < 0.05). There was a correlation between the patients with high risk according to the IPI criteria and high levels of serum cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, IL-10). Knowledge of the serum levels of these cytokines in patients with newly diagnosed aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may help us to have some information about the possible prognosis, the activation of disease, and to decide on appropriate therapeutic approaches for individual patients.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of antipsychotics on bone mineral density in bipolar disorder. A total of 44 premenopausal female patients receiving antipsychotic medication for at least 1 year and 43 healthy premenopausal female volunteers were included in the present study. Clinical evaluation was performed via Hamilton Depression Scale and Clinical Global Impression Scale, bone metabolism via serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, parathormone, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), vitamin D and prolactin, while bone mineral density via dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Bone mineral density scores were determined to be significantly lower, while prolactin, parathormone and ALP levels were significantly higher in the patient group. Comparison of patient group in itself based on patients under atypical antipsychotic vs. atypical antipsychotic + mood stabilizer treatment revealed no significant difference between groups in terms of clinical and biochemical parameters. In conclusion, contrary to what many studies suggest, our findings revealed that atypical antipsychotics offered no advantages over other medications in the development of secondary osteoporosis in patients with bipolar disorder. There was no significant difference between patients receiving atypical antipsychotics and other mood stabilizers in terms of osteoporosis incidence.