Carriage rate of Haemophilus influenzae among preschool children in Turkey

This study was designed to determine the prevalence of healthy Haemophilus influenzae carriers in a random sample of the preschool population in Kayseri, Turkey. The lack of H. influenzae type b (Hib) disease surveillance and epidemiological data on the throat carriage of Turkish children has caused a delay in the introduction of conjugated Hib vaccination into proposed national vaccination programs. Oropharyngeal cultures were collected and cultured on chocolate agar supplemented with 260 microg/ml bacitracin from 683 children between May and June, 2006. One hundred seven (15,6%) of the 683 children studied were found to be as H. influenzae carriers, and 29 (4,2%) isolates were serotype b. Beta-lactamase production was detected in four isolates (3.7%). According to multivariate analysis, the sex of the child and the number of people sharing the same room with the child significantly influenced the odds of carrying H. influenzae. Age, having older siblings, passive smoking, respiratory infection during the last 30 days, number of people in the household, attending kindergarten or a day-care center, and household income were not significant variables. Our results suggest that there is a strong relationship between exposure to large numbers of children and H. influenzae carriage.     

Comparison of 1- and 2-week pantoprazole-based triple therapies in clarithromycin-sensitive and resistant cases

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this prospective study were: (i) to compare the efficacy of 1-week with 2-week pantoprazole-based triple therapy and (ii) to evaluate the impact of clarithromycin resistance on Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication rates. METHODS: Eighty dyspeptic patients were randomly allocated to two groups. The first group (PAC-1, n=40) received pantoprazole 40 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg, and clarithromycin 500 mg twice a day for one week, and the second group (PAC-2, n=40) received the same regimen for two weeks. Endoscopy was repeated one month after the end of the treatment. RESULTS: DNA extraction for clarithromycin resistance could not be performed in seven cases. Five cases were lost to follow-up. Clarithromycin resistance was found to be 44.1% (15/34) in the PAC-1 group and 58.8% (20/34) in the PAC-2 group (p>0.05). Eradication was achieved in 16 (PP: 47.1%, ITT: 44.4%) and 25 (PP:73.5%, ITT: 67.6%) patients in the PAC-1 and PAC-2 groups, respectively (p>0.05). H. pylori was eradicated in 4 of 15 (PP: 26.7%, ITT: 26.7%) clarithromycin-resistant patients in the PAC-1 group and in 12 of 20 (PP: 60%, ITT: 60%) clarithromycin-resistant patients in the PAC-2 group (p>0.05). Among the clarithromycin-sensitive ones, eradication was achieved in 12 of 19 (PP: 63.2%, ITT: 57.1%) patients in the PAC-1 group and in 13 of 14 (PP: 92.8%, ITT: 76.5%) patients in the PAC-2 group (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Although the 2-week regimen of pantoprazole-based triple therapy was effective for H. pylori eradication in clarithromycin-sensitive cases, highly effective H. pylori eradication protocols are needed for clarithromycin-resistant ones.     

Systemic and myocardial inflammation in traditional and off-pump cardiac surgery

In this study, we attempted to determine the role of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in the myocardial and systemic inflammatory responses. Twenty patients who underwent elective CABG were enrolled in this study. Ten patients underwent on-pump CABG, and 10 patients underwent off-pump CABG. There were no differences between patients in preoperative clinical variables. We took systemic venous blood samples for the measurement of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, the MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB), and cardiac troponin I, and we took myocardial biopsies from the interventricular septum for chemiluminescence assay of reactive oxygen species (hydroxyl, hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorite, and superoxide). There was no significant difference in the myocardial tissue release of hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl, hypochlorite, and superoxide between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). The systemic tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in the off-pump group were significantly lower than in the on-pump group (P <0.01). The cardiac troponin I and creatine kinase-MB levels at 6, 12, and 24 postoperative hours were not statistically different between the 2 groups (P >0.05). We conclude that off-pump CABG appears to reduce systemic inflammation, without reducing myocardial oxidative stress and inflammation.     

Reliability of reference distances used in photogrammetry

Objective:To determine the reliability of the reference distances used for photogrammetric assessment.Materials and Methods:The sample consisted of 100 subjects with mean ages of 22.97 ± 2.98 years. Five lateral and four frontal parameters were measured directly on the subjects'' faces. For photogrammetric assessment, two reference distances for the profile view and three reference distances for the frontal view were established. Standardized photographs were taken and all the parameters that had been measured directly on the face were measured on the photographs. The reliability of the reference distances was checked by comparing direct and indirect values of the parameters obtained from the subjects'' faces and photographs. Repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bland-Altman analyses were used for statistical assessment.Results:For profile measurements, the indirect values measured were statistically different from the direct values except for Sn-Sto in male subjects and Prn-Sn and Sn-Sto in female subjects. The indirect values of Prn-Sn and Sn-Sto were reliable in both sexes. The poorest results were obtained in the indirect values of the N-Sn parameter for female subjects and the Sn-Me parameter for male subjects according to the Sa-Sba reference distance. For frontal measurements, the indirect values were statistically different from the direct values in both sexes except for one in male subjects. The indirect values measured were not statistically different from the direct values for Go-Go. The indirect values of Ch-Ch were reliable in male subjects. The poorest results were obtained according to the P-P reference distance.Conclusions:For profile assessment, the T-Ex reference distance was reliable for Prn-Sn and Sn-Sto in both sexes. For frontal assessment, Ex-Ex and En-En reference distances were reliable for Ch-Ch in male subjects.     

IVM is an alternative for patients with PCO after failed conventional IVF attempt

Purpose  

To determine if IVM of oocytes from unstimulated cycle is a treatment option for patients who did not deliver after standard IVF-ET.     

Protective effect of erythropoietin pretreatment in testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

Background/Purpose

This study was designed to investigate the effects of recombinant erythropoietin (EPO), a hormone widely used for treatment of uremic anemia, in rats subjected to testicular ischemia and reperfusion (I/R).

Methods

Thirty-five male rats were divided into the following: control, sham operated, ischemia (I), I/R, and I/R + EPO groups. In the I group, 2 hours of left unilateral testicular torsion were performed, and in the I/R and I/R + EPO groups, an additional 2 hours of testicular detorsions were performed. The I/R + EPO group was pretreated intraperitoneally with EPO (500 IU/kg) before reperfusion. Testicular tissue samples were examined for biochemical and histopathologic parameters. Apoptotic cells in all testes were detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling technique and caspase 3 immunohistochemistry.

Results

At histopathologic examination, ischemic changes in primary spermatocytes were noted in all torted testes. Cellular damage and apoptosis were more severe in ischemic groups than the EPO-pretreated group. There were statistically significant differences in tissue biochemical parameters in the I and I/R groups compared with the I/R + EPO group.

Conclusions

The results of the present study suggest that EPO exerts protective effects against I/R injury via the modulation of free radical scavenger's activities, which decreases lipid peroxidation levels and attenuation of apoptosis.     

The relationship between the MEFV genotype, clinical features, and cytokine-inflammatory activities in patients with familial mediterranean fever

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by periodic attacks of fever and polyserositis. The effects of the MEFV genotype differences on clinical picture and inflammatory activity have not been well documented. The aim of this study was to investigate levels of conventional inflammation markers, procalcitonin, interleukin levels, TNF-alpha, and C5a levels in patients with FMF who had different MEFV genotypes and compare them with those of healthy subjects. The study consisted of 41 patients with FMF (F/M: 23/18), and 31 healthy subjects (F/M: 18/13). Tests were performed during the attack-free period. White-blood cell count, CRP and IL-8 levels were higher in patients with FMF than in healthy subjects (p < 0.05) and also higher in M680I carriers than in the patients with M694V allele carriers. However, ESR, fibrinogen, procalcitonin, IL-6, C5a, TNF-alpha, and IgD levels were not significantly different between patients and healthy subjects (p > 0.05). Arthralgia or arthritis was significantly higher in M694V carriers than in non-M694V carriers (p < 0.05). It is concluded that the clinical features and inflammatory-cytokine activities were higher in patients with FMF during the attack-free period than in healthy subjects, and the different genotype might be related to different clinical pictures.