Polymicrobial bacteremia due to Lactobacillus jensenii and Veillonella montpellierensis in a pregnant patient; case report and review of literature.

Prompt and accurate diagnosis of polymicrobial bacteremia, which causes the difficulty in anti-infective treatments, poor treatment outcome and high mortality, is essential for initiating effective antimicrobial therapy. Here we present a case of bacteremia caused by two types of uncommon bacteria, Lactobacillus jenseniand and Veillonella montpellierensis in a 29-year-old pregnant woman at 33 weeks of gestation with anemia due to iron deficiency. She had no comorbidity or other chronic illnesses and was successfully treated with appropriate antibiotic use.

Clinical and laboratory awareness for an under recognized pathogen in newborn meningitis: Mycoplasma Hominis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Mycoplasma hominis is a well-known bacterium colonizing the genito-urinary tract. It may cause pneumonia, bacteremia, abscesses, chronic lung disease, and rarely meningitis during the newborn period. CASE: A preterm infant with a birth weight of 885 grams was born at 27 weeks of gestation and had respiratory distress syndrome needing mechanical ventilation. Spontaneous intestinal perforation and grade four intraventricular hemorrhage was diagnosed on day three. CONCLUSION: M. hominis was accepted as the causative agent of meningitis in this case report.

The relationship of serum SCUBE-1, -2 and -3 levels with clinical findings and ultrasonographic skin thickness in systemic sclerosis patients.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the level of serum signal peptide-CUB-EGF domain-containing protein (SCUBE)-1, SCUBE-2 and SCUBE-3 and clinical findings and ultrasonographic skin thickness in systemic sclerosis (SSc). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty patients who met the American College of Rheumatology/European League against Rheumatism 2013 SSc classification criteria and 44 healthy volunteers who were compatible with the patient group in terms of age and gender were included in the study. Serum SCUBE levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Ultrasonographic skin thickness measurements were simultaneously performed. RESULTS: No significant difference was found between the serum SCUBE levels of SSc patients and serum SCUBE levels of the control group. A negative correlation was detected between serum SCUBE-1 level and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1 ). While a positive correlation was detected between serum SCUBE-2 level and the Duruöz Hand Index and serum C4 level, a negative correlation was determined with the forced vital capacity (FVC) value. A negative correlation was determined between serum SCUBE-3 level and echocardiographic pulmonary artery pressure (PAP). A correlation could not be determined between serum SCUBE levels and ultrasonographic skin thickness. However, a positive correlation was observed between ultrasonographic skin thickness and the modified Rodnan skin score. CONCLUSION: In this study, a correlation was observed between serum SCUBE levels and some clinical and laboratory parameters (FEV1 , FVC, PAP, C4, and Duruöz Hand Index) in SSc patients. New clinical studies are needed to better understand the contribution of these molecules in the progression and pathogenesis of SSc.

Elevated serum levels of calprotectin (MRP8/MRP14) in patients with Behçet's disease and its association with disease activity and quality of life.

BACKGROUND: Behçet's disease (BD) is an inflammatory disease with multisystem chronic vasculitis. The disease is characterized by attacks of oral and genital ulcerations, skin lesions, arthritis, uveitis and deep vein thrombosis. The main histopathological feature is known to be vascular inflammatory change. Calprotectin (MRP8/MRP14) has been identified as an important alarmin that is expressed by activated phagocytes, granulocytes, monocytes and vascular endothelial cells, recognized by toll-like receptors, and induces a thrombogenic and inflammatory response in human microvascular endothelial cells. AIM: We aimed to investigate the serum levels of calprotectin in patients with BD and its association with disease activity and quality of life. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight patients (25 males and 23 females) and 47 healthy controls (29 males and 18 females) were included to study. BD Current Activity Form (BDCAF) was used to assess the disease activity of patients with BD. Quality of life was assessed by using the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). Depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed by using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Serum level of calprotectin was determined using an ELISA kit. Results. Serum levels of calprotectin was significantly higher in patients with BD compared to healthy controls (p = 0.001). Serum levels of calprotectin did not correlate with the sores of BDCAF, NHP and HADS. CONCLUSION: Calprotectin may play a significant role in the pathogenetic mechanisms of BD. Further insight into this area of research might provide opportunities to develop novel treatment strategies.