Susceptibilities of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to isoniazid and rifampin on blood agar

In this study, blood agar was used instead of 7H10 agar for the susceptibility testing of 34 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (RIF) in accordance with the NCCLS. The BACTEC 460 TB system (Becton Dickinson, Sparks, Md.) was used as a "gold standard." Results for both media were in agreement for RIF and INH at 100 and 94.1%, respectively. For INH, the specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were found to be 71.4, 100, 93.1, and 100%, respectively, while these values were 100% for RIF. In addition, the results of the susceptibility test performed with blood agar were obtained on day 14 of incubation. In conclusion, results were obtained much earlier with blood agar (2 weeks) than with 7H10 agar (3 weeks), and the results of this study suggest that blood agar may be used as an alternative medium for the susceptibility testing of M. tuberculosis to INH and RIF.     

A Comparative Study: Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity of Melatonin and Some Indole Derivatives

To understand antioxidant activity and the role played by melatonin, we have designed and tested several new compounds. We present the results in terms of structure-activity relationships, focusing on the lack of the methoxy group and the influence of the amide side chain. Antioxidant activity of melatonin and some new melatonin analogue indole derivatives were investigated, using lipid peroxidation and superoxide anion radical scavenger activity assays, in rat liver tissue homogenate. Most of the compounds were found to be very potent inhibitors of malondialdehyde (MDA) formation at 10⁻³M. Inhibition rates ranged from 75-44 %. However, no significant inhibitory effect was obtained on superoxide anion formation. Consequently, it can be concluded that these compounds exhibit important LP activity compared to melatonin.     

Protective effects of resveratrol on small intestines against intestinal ischemia–reperfusion injury in rats

Background and Aim:  The aim of this study was to determine whether resveratrol could prevent intestinal tissue injury induced by ischemia–reperfusion (I/R).
Methods:  Intestinal I/R was induced in rats' intestines by 60-min occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery, followed by a 60-min reperfusion. Thirty rats were divided into three groups as follows: sham (group 1), control (group 2), and the treatment groups (group 3). The rats in the treatment group received resveratrol both before ischemia and before reperfusion. In all groups, serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase levels were determined. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase, total oxidative status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in the intestinal tissue were measured. Intestinal tissue histopathology was also evaluated by light microscopy.
Results:  The levels of liver enzymes in group 3 were significantly lower than those in group 2 ( P  < 0.05). TAC in the intestinal tissue was significantly higher in group 3 than in group 2 ( P  < 0.05). TOS, OSI, and MPO in the intestinal tissue were significantly lower in group 3 than in group 2 ( P  < 0.05 for all). Histological tissue damage was milder in the resveratrol treatment group than in the control group.
Conclusions:  The results of this study indicated that resveratrol treatment limits the oxidative injury of the small intestine induced by I/R in rats. However, more precise investigations are required to evaluate the antioxidative effect of resveratrol on small intestine tissue damage in clinical and experimental models.     

Iron deficiency anemia in the elderly: prevalence and endoscopic evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract in outpatients

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA), mostly due to chronic occult bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, is a common problem in the elderly. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of IDA in the elderly and to investigate the gastrointestinal tract in elderly patients with IDA. 1,388 patients over 65 years were prospectively evaluated for IDA in our outpatient clinic. IDA was defined if decreased hemoglobin concentrations (<13 g/dl for men and <12 g/dl for women) were associated with low serum ferritin levels (<15 ng/ml in men and <9 ng/ml in women). We evaluated the gastrointestinal system of all patients with IDA by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy regardless of fecal occult blood loss. The prevalence of anemia was found to be 25% (n = 347) in our study population, and 30.5% (n = 106) of these patients with anemia had iron deficiency. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy were performed in 96 patients with IDA. Fifty-eight upper gastrointestinal system lesions (55 patients, 57.3%) and 27 colonic lesions (26 patients, 27.1%) were detected. We diagnosed gastrointestinal malignancy in 15 (15.6%) elderly patients with IDA (8 colon, 1 esophageal and 6 gastric cancers). IDA is a common problem in elderly patients; consequently, before iron replacement therapy, patients should be thoroughly investigated regarding a possible association with gastrointestinal malignancy.     

Levels of plasma fibrinogen and d-dimer in patients with impaired fasting glucose.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular risk associated with impaired fasting glucose has been examined in various studies with conflicting results. During the last 10 years, several risk markers for atherosclerosis such as fibrinogen and D-dimer have been identified. The present study was designed to evaluate plasma fibrinogen and D-dimer levels in patients with impaired fasting glucose compared with normal subjects and those with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Age-, sex-, and body mass index-matched 30 normal subjects, 30 patients with impaired fasting glucose (fasting glucose 110 to 125 mg/dl), and 30 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (fasting glucose >/= 126 mg/dl) were included in the study. RESULTS: The levels of plasma fibrinogen in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, impaired fasting glucose, and normal subjects were 449 (306 - 605) mg/dl, 348 (264 - 468) mg/dl, and 216 (179 - 260) mg/dl, respectively. Patients with impaired fasting glucose had significantly lower plasma fibrinogen levels than patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (p < 0.05). There were significantly higher plasma fibrinogen levels in patients with impaired fasting glucose than in normal subjects (p < 0.05). The levels of plasma D-dimer in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, impaired fasting glucose, and normal subjects were 615 (505 - 768) mg/l, 518 (412 - 664) mg/l, and 424 (356 - 557) mg/l, respectively. Patients with impaired fasting glucose had significantly lower plasma D-dimer levels than patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (p < 0.05). There were significantly higher plasma D-dimer levels in patients with impaired fasting glucose than in normal subjects (p < 0.05). The levels of plasma fibrinogen and D-dimer were related to fasting glucose in type 2 diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose groups (p < 0.05). We also detected positive correlation between plasma fibrinogen levels and age in study groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that patients with impaired fasting glucose pose a hypofibrinolytic status and cardiovascular risk, although this was lower than in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.