Mehtap Toprak

Herpes zoster results from the reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus and may cause serious complications. Although traditionally considered nonseasonal, recent studies have reported summer peaks in herpes zoster occurrence. Given these inconsistencies, monthly and seasonal variations in herpes zoster case rates and their implications for prevention were evaluated in this study. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, the medical records of patients diagnosed with herpes zoster at a dermatology outpatient clinic between January 2017 and December 2025 were reviewed. Data on age, sex, and the year, month, and season of diagnosis were collected and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 30.0. The highest proportion of herpes zoster cases occurred in patients aged 60–69 years. Visit-adjusted case rates did not differ significantly across months or seasons. A significant increasing trend in herpes zoster case rates was observed from 2020 to 2025. Herpes zoster is a vaccine-preventable disease that may cause serious complications and shows an increasing trend in occurrence. No statistically significant seasonal variation in herpes zoster occurrence was detected in this cohort, supporting the importance of maintaining year-round preventive strategies, including vaccination.

(1) Background: Herpes zoster results from reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus and may cause serious complications. Although traditionally considered nonseasonal, recent studies have reported summer peaks in herpes zoster occurrence. Given these inconsistencies, this study evaluated monthly and seasonal variations in herpes zoster case rates and their implications for prevention. (2) Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, the medical records of patients diagnosed with herpes zoster at a dermatology outpatient clinic between January 2017 and December 2025 were reviewed. Data on age, sex, and the year, month, and season of diagnosis were collected and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 30.0. (3) Results: The highest proportion of herpes zoster cases occurred in patients aged 60–69 years. Visit-adjusted case rates did not differ significantly across months or seasons. A significant increasing trend in herpes zoster case rates was observed from 2020 to 2025. (4) Conclusions: Herpes zoster is a vaccine-preventable disease that may cause serious complications and shows an increasing trend in occurrence. Our findings suggest that herpes zoster does not exhibit a distinct seasonal pattern and occurs throughout the year, supporting the importance of maintaining year-round preventive strategies, including vaccination.

(1) Background: The available literature on sexually transmitted infections in patients with genital molluscum contagiosum is limited. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the serological test results and screening rate for sexually transmitted infections, including human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and syphilis, among patients with genital molluscum contagiosum. (2) Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, we reviewed the medical records of patients aged ≥18 years diagnosed with genital molluscum contagiosum at our dermatology outpatient clinic between October 2016 and December 2025. Age, sex, and serological test results for anti-human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-hepatitis C virus, and Venereal Disease Research Laboratory/Rapid Plasma Reagin were recorded. (3) Results: Serological screening was performed in 202 of 528 patients (38.3%), and 11 (5.45%) had positive test results for at least one sexually transmitted infection. (4) Conclusions: Our findings support routine screening for sexually transmitted infections in patients with genital molluscum contagiosum, given that a substantial proportion of these patients do not undergo serological screening.

(1) Background: The available literature on sexually transmitted infections in patients with genital molluscum contagiosum is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the serological test results and screening rate for sexually transmitted infections, including human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and syphilis, among patients with genital molluscum contagiosum. (2) Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study reviewed the medical records of patients aged ≥18 years diagnosed with genital molluscum contagiosum at our dermatology outpatient clinic between October 2016 and December 2025. Age, sex, and serological test results for anti-human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-hepatitis C virus, and Venereal Disease Research Laboratory/Rapid Plasma Reagin were recorded. (3) Results: Serological screening was performed in 202 of 528 patients (38.3%), and 11 (5.45%) had positive test results for at least one sexually transmitted infection. (4) Conclusions: Our findings support routine screening for sexually transmitted infections in patients with genital molluscum contagiosum, given that a substantial proportion of these patients do not undergo serological screening.

Studying the incidence of Kaposi sarcoma in relation to key variables can guide targeted research and subtype-specific clinical interventions. We reviewed the records of all patients who visited our hospital’s dermatology outpatient clinic, and patients who were clinically and histopathologically diagnosed with Kaposi sarcoma were included in the study. The age, gender, lesion location, anti-HIV test results, and comorbidities of the patients were recorded. Thirty-three patients with Kaposi sarcoma were identified. The male/female ratio was 2.7:1. The Kaposi sarcoma lesions were statistically significantly more prevalent in the lower extremities of HIV-negative patients (p = 0.005). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis identified 59 years as the optimal age cutoff for distinguishing between HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients. Anti-HIV positivity was significantly higher in individuals aged 59 and younger compared to those aged 60 and older (p < 0.001). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate a statistically significant higher prevalence of lower extremity lesions among HIV-negative patients and to identify 59 years as the optimal age cutoff for distinguishing between HIV-positive and HIV-negative Kaposi sarcoma patients using ROC curve analysis. The age-related patterns observed in this study warrant further investigation.

Background/Objectives: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key stromal mediators of breast tumor progression and therapy resistance. Carvacrol, a dietary monoterpenic phenol, exhibits antiproliferative activity in cancer cells, but its effects on primary human breast CAFs remain unclear. This study aimed to determine whether carvacrol selectively induces mitochondria-related apoptotic signaling in breast CAFs while sparing normal fibroblasts (NFs). Methods: Primary fibroblast cultures were established from invasive ductal carcinoma tissues (CAFs, n = 9) and nonmalignant breast tissues (NFs, n = 5) and validated by α-SMA and FAP immunofluorescence. Cells were exposed to 400 μM carvacrol. Apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL assay and BAX/BCL-XL Western blotting. Changes in signaling pathways were evaluated by analyzing PPARα/NF-κB, sirtuin (SIRT1, SIRT3), autophagy-related markers (LAMP2A, p62), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2, MMP-3). In silico molecular docking and 100-ns molecular dynamics simulations were performed to examine interactions between carvacrol and caspase-3 and caspase-9. Results: Carvacrol induced a pronounced, time-dependent apoptotic response in CAFs, with TUNEL-based viability declining to approximately 10% of control levels by 12 h and a marked increase in the BAX/BCL-XL ratio. In contrast, NFs exhibited minimal TUNEL positivity and no significant change in BAX/BCL-XL. In CAFs, but not NFs, carvacrol reduced PPARα expression and NF-κB nuclear localization, increased SIRT1 and SIRT3 levels, selectively suppressed MMP-3 while partially normalizing MMP-2, and altered autophagy-related markers (decreased LAMP2A and accumulation of p62), consistent with autophagic stress and possible impairment of autophagic flux. Computational analyses revealed stable carvacrol binding to caspase-3 and caspase-9 with modest stabilization of active-site loops, supporting caspase-dependent, mitochondria-related apoptosis. Conclusions: Carvacrol selectively targets breast cancer-associated fibroblasts by inducing mitochondria-related apoptotic signaling while largely sparing normal fibroblasts. This effect is accompanied by coordinated modulation of PPARα/NF-κB, sirtuin, autophagy, and MMP pathways. These findings support further evaluation of carvacrol as a microenvironment-directed adjunct in breast cancer therapy.