Changes in cerebral and ocular hemodynamics in Behçet's disease assessed by color-coded duplex sonography

Retinal microvasculature features in patients with Behcet's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This meta-analysis aimed to analyze retinal microvasculature features in eyes with Behçet's disease (BD) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Electronic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library, were comprehensively searched for published studies comparing retinal microvasculature characteristics between eyes with BD and controls. Continuous variables were calculated using the mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Review Manager software (version 5.30) was used to conduct statistical analysis. A total of 13 eligible studies involving 599 eyes with BD and 622 control eyes were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled results showed that the macular whole enface superficial and deep vessel density (VD) values measured by OCTA were significantly lower in eyes with BD than in control eyes (superficial VD: MD = - 3.05, P < 0.00001; deep VD: MD = - 4.05, P = 0.0004). The foveal superficial and deep VD values were also significantly lower in the BD group than in the control group (superficial VD: MD = - 1.50, P = 0.009; deep VD: MD = - 4.25, -  = 0.03). Similarly, the analysis revealed a significant reduction in the parafoveal superficial and deep VD in eyes with BD than in control eyes (superficial VD: MD =  - 3.68, P < 0.00001; deep VD: MD = - 4.95, P = 0.0007). In addition, the superficial and deep foveal avascular zones (FAZs) were significantly larger in patients with BD than in controls (superficial FAZ: MD = 0.06, P = 0.02; deep FAZ: MD = 0.12, P = 0.03). The present meta-analysis found that macular whole enface VD, foveal VD, and parafoveal VD were lower in eyes with BD, and the FAZ was larger in patients with BD. The findings suggest that OCTA can assist clinicians in diagnosing and monitoring the status of patients with BD.

The prevalence rate of Porphyromonas gingivalis and its association with cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

It seems that Porphyromanas gingivalis is carcinogenic, because it activates a number of inflammatory immune responses in the host and causes disorders in bacterial clearance mechanisms. There is little information on the prevalence of this bacterium in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the prevalence of P. gingivalis in cancer patients by meta-analysis methods.Different databases including PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, and ISI web of Knowledge were investigated and eight relevant articles published in 2000-2013 were finally analyzed. Data were analyzed by meta-analysis method, fixed effect model. I² statistics were calculated to examine the heterogeneity of papers. The information was analyzed by R and STATA Ver 12.2.A total of 711 people infected with P. gingivalis were included in this study. In total, the prevalence of P. gingivalis was 40.7% (95% CI, 19.3-62.1). The prevalence of P. gingivalis was evaluated in four case-control studies. The results of this study showed that P. gingivalis increased the chance of cancer development and periodontal disease as much as 1.36 times (OR, 1.36; 95%CI, 0.47-3.97).Although there was no significant correlation between P. gingivalis and cancer, this bacterium increased the chance of cancer and periodontal disease and could be considered as a main potential risk factor.

Doppler sonography of ocular and carotid arteries in Behçet patients

PURPOSE

To evaluate by Doppler sonography carotid and ocular hemodynamics in Behçet disease with and without ocular involvement.

METHODS

Seventy-six patients with Behçet disease (BD) were separated into three groups: with active uveitis, with inactive uveitis, and without uveitis, and compared with 23 controls. We used duplex Doppler sonography to measure peak systolic (PSV), end-diastolic (EDV), and time-averaged mean (Vmean) blood flow velocity in the ophthalmic, central retinal (CRA), temporal posterior ciliary, nasal posterior ciliary (NPCA), common carotid (CCA), internal carotid (ICA) arteries, and maximum flow velocity (Vmax) in the central retinal veins. We then calculated resistance and pulsatility indexes of all arteries. Comparisons were carried out by two-way ANOVA and Holm-Sidak method.

RESULTS

Only two patients (2.6%) had atherosclerotic plaques, without significant hemodynamic consequence. Patients with uveitis had significantly lower ICA PSV and EDV (p < 0.05), and lower CRA PSV, EDV, and Vmean (p < 0.001) than controls. Patients with active uveitis had lower NPCA PSV and EDV than patients without uveitis or controls (p < 0.01). There were no differences in temporal posterior ciliary, ophthalmic, and CCA PSV, EDV, and in Vmean between groups (p > 0.05). Patients with uveitis had lower central retinal veins Vmax than patients without uveitis and than controls (p < 0.01). Resistance index, pulsatility index of retrobulbar arteries, CCA, and ICA were similar in the four groups (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with Behçet disease and ocular involvement have lower CRA, CRV, NPCA, and ICA blood flow velocities than healthy volunteers.