Decreased serum profile of the interleukin-36α in polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the serum adiponectin and interleukin-36 alpha (IL-36α) levels in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and their relationship with obesity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This observatory study included 80 PCOS patients and 58 controls. The clinical, biochemical, and hormonal parameters, and serum adiponectin and IL-36α levels of the patients were evaluated. RESULTS: The serum IL-36α levels of the PCOS patients were significantly lower when compared to the control group, despite a similar mean body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.000). The adiponectin levels were significantly lower in the obese PCOS group when compared to the obese control group (P = 0.03). The plasma IL-36α level was positively correlated with adiponectin level, but negatively correlated with the serum LH level (P = 0.000 and P = 0.004, respectively). Using receiver operating characteristic analysis, the cut-off value of IL-36α was calculated as 0.815 for PCOS. In the multiple binary logistic regression analysis, IL-36α (OR [95% CI] 0.432 [0.303, 0.616], P < 0.001) and adiponectin (OR [95% CI] 1.044 [1.005, 1.084], P = 0.028) were determined to be significantly associated with PCOS. CONCLUSION: A reduced IL-36α level may play a role in the pathogenesis of ovulatory disfunction and insulin resistance in PCOS patients. Further studies are needed to understand the pathogenic and clinical significance of the IL-36 system in PCOS.

Adenovirus-36 infection and obesity: A case control study of Turkish women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Adenovirus-36 (Ad-36) seropositivity has been shown to be involved in the aetiology of obesity. The aim of this study was to examine Ad-36 positivity in obese and normal-weight patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: There were two groups including 92 and 110 subjects. This study was a prospective case-control study. The enzyme-immunoassay method was used to quantitatively determine antibodies (Abs) specific to human Ad-36 in the serum samples. Age, body mass index (BMI), fasting glucose levels and insulin levels of the participants were recorded. The PCOS and control group patients were divided into two groups: the overweight group with BMI ≥25 kg/m2 and non-obese group with BMI <25 kg/m2. RESULTS: Ad-36 Ab positivity in the PCOS group was found to be significantly higher than that in the control group (p < 0.001). Ad-36 Ab positivity was significantly higher in the PCOS obese group than in the control obese group (p < 0.001). Ad-36 Ab positivity and BMI ≥25 kg/m2 were identified as independent predictors of PCOS in logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Ad-36 Ab positivity was significantly higher in the obese/overweight PCOS patients. Obesity can be prevented in patients with PCOS by treating Ad-36.

High prevalence of TEM, VIM, and OXA-2 beta-lactamases and clonal diversity among Acinetobacter baumannii isolates in Turkey.

INTRODUCTION: Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen that causes nosocomial infections with high mortality. Treatment options are limited owing to its resistance to numerous antibiotics. Here, we sought to determine the antibiotic susceptibilities of A. baumannii isolates, investigate clonal relationship among the strains, and determine the frequency of beta-lactamase resistance genes. METHODOLOGY: The identification and antibiotic susceptibilities of 69 A. baumannii strains were determined using a BD-Phoenix automated system. The presence of blaOXA-2, blaOXA-10, blaOXA-23, blaOXA-24/40, blaOXA-51, blaOXA-58, blaTEM, blaSHV, blaIMP, blaVIM, and blaGIM genes were investigated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and clonal relatioships among the isolates were determined using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). RESULTS: All strains were resistant to ampicillin-sulbactam, gentamicin, cefepime, ciprofloxacin, and ceftriaxone. While 65 of the 69 strains (94.2%) were resistant to piperacillin-tazobactam, amikacin, imipenem, and meropenem, all strains were susceptible to tigecycline and colistin. The frequencies of blaOXA-51, blaOXA-23, blaTEM, blaOXA-2, blaVIM, and blaSHV were 100%, 94.2%, 53.6%, 21.7%, 14.5%, and 2.9%, respectively. Based on PFGE results, 56 of the 69 strains were clonally related, and the clustering rate was 81.2%. No common outbreak isolate was detected. CONCLUSIONS: The most prevalent OXA genes were blaOXA-51, blaOXA-23, and blaOXA-2. Furthermore, blaTEM, blaSHV, and blaVIM, which are common in Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas spp, were detected, suggesting horizontal gene transfer had occurred between bacteria. No single clone outbreak was detected by PFGE. However, multiclonal spread and the high clustering rate suggest cross-contamination. Therefore, in future, more effective infection control measures must be implemented.

An unusual location of squamous cell carcinoma and a rare cutaneous infection caused by serratia marcescens on the tumoral tissue: A case report.

RATIONALE: Serratia marcescens (S. marcescens) is an opportunistic pathogen of the Enterobacteriaceae family. Although S. marcescens is known to cause sepsis, meningitis, endocarditis, urinary system and ocular infections, skin infections are sporadic. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most aggressive skin cancer type that is often located in the head and neck region, and rarely in the scalp tissue. PATIENT CONCERNS: An 89-years-old male patient was diagnosed with SCC three years ago. The frontal region of the skull showed an ulcerated tumor, irregular borders, and exophytic growth pattern. The destruction of the frontal bone made the vibrating brain tissue visible, and the lower part had haemopurulent flow. DIAGNOSES: Gram staining showed the proliferation of gram (-) bacilli. Bacteria were identified as non-pigmented S. marcessens in the wound culture. To the best of our knowledge, there have not been any cases reported with S. marcescens causing cutaneous infections on SCC. Therefore, our report is the first case in the literature. INTERVENTIONS: According to the culture antibiogram, S. marcescens was ciprofloxacin sensitive. Consequently, 1000 mg/day ciprofloxacin was initiated for 14 days. OUTCOMES: Purulent exudate in skin cancers may be caused by the nature of carcinoma tissue as well as the colonization of opportunistic pathogen microorganisms as seen in our patient. LESSONS: Examination of the wound cultures and elimination of infections are critical in these cases.

Are human adenovirus-5 and 36 associated with obesity in children?

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to determine the association between adenovirus-5- and adenovirus-36-specific antibodies and obesity in children and to investigate their relationship with serum lipid and leptin levels. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed on a total of 120 children who were divided into subgroups according to body mass index percentile as obese (≥ 95th percentile) or nonobese (<95th percentile). The presence of adenovirus-36 and adenovirus-5-neutralizing antibodies was investigated by using the serum neutralization assay. Serum leptin levels were determined by microenzyme immonoassay; high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels were measured by chemiluminescence method. RESULTS: The presence of adenovirus-5-specific antibodies was 28.3% and 6.6% in the obese children and in non-obese children, respectively (P = 0.02). The frequency of adenovirus-36-specific antibodies was significantly greater (P = 0.018) in the obese children (26.6%) than in the non-obese children (10.0%). Serum leptin level of the obese group were significantly higher than that of the non-obese group (P = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Our data support the association between obesity and the presence of specific antibodies to adenovirus-36 and adenovirus-5 in children. Our research has the feature of being the first national study to indicate the relationship between adenovirus-36 and human obesity as well as the first international study to indicate the relationship between adenovirus-5 and human obesity.