Emergence of West Nile virus infections in humans in Turkey, 2010 to 2011.

In 2010, 47 human cases of West Nile virus (WNV)infection, including 12 laboratory-confirmed and 35 probable cases, were identified in Turkey. These were the first cases detected during routine surveillance.The patients were from 15 provinces, mainly located in the western part of the country. Incidence was 0.19/100,000 with a maximum of 1.39 in Sakarya province.Forty of the total 47 cases showed neuroinvasive manifestation. Median age was 58 years with a range of four to 86. Ten of the patients died. Enhanced surveillance in humans and animals and mosquito control measures were implemented. The WNV infections were included in the national notifiable diseases list as of April 2011. In 2011, three probable and two confirmed cases of WNV infection were diagnosed in provinces where infections had been detected in the previous year, supporting a lower activity than 2010. However,detection of WNV infections in humans in 2010 and 2011 consecutively, may indicate that WNV has become endemic in the western part of Turkey. Field epidemiological studies were undertaken to understand more about the nature of infection in Turkey.

Synthesis, characterization and mutagenicity of new cis-[Pt(2-substituted-benzimidazole)2Cl2] complexes.

In this study, four new platinum(II) complexes with the structures cis-[Pt(Ligand)2Cl2] (ligand = 2-(p-methoxy-/or-p-chlorobenzyl or p-methoxyphenyl)benzimidazol (1, 2, 4 respectively) and 5(6)-methyl-2-phenoxymethylbenzimidazole (3) were synthesized and characterized by their elemental analysis, and IR and 1H NMR spectra. The potentials of the Pt(II) complexes for short-term bacterial mutagenicity were tested in reverse-mutation assays using Salmonella typhimurium frame-shift strain T 98 and S. typhimurium TA 100 and TA 102 strains, which carry mutations particularly sensitive to reversion by DNA base-pair substitution. The tests were performed in the absence of S9 rat liver fraction. Among the complexes tested 1 had no mutagenic activity. Complex 4 was found to be weakly mutagenic in TA 98 only. The Pt(II) complexes 2 and 3 were found to be mutagenic in TA 98, TA 100 and TA 102.

Synthesis, characterization and in vitro cytotoxic, mutagenic and antimicrobial activity of platinum(II) complexes with substituted benzimidazole ligands.

In this study, six Pt(II) complexes bearing 5(6)-H or -CH(3)-2-phenyl or -(2'-pyridyl) or -mercaptomethylbenzimidazole ligands as 'carrier groups' were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and (1)H-NMR spectra and evaluated for their preliminary in vitro cytotoxic activity to the human RD Rhabdomyosarcoma cell line and mutagenic properties in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA 98 and TA 100 in the absence of the S9 rat liver fraction. The preliminary test results showed that the complexes had slightly greater cytotoxic activity on the RD cell line at 1 microM concentration than cisplatin. Among the compounds tested for their mutagenicity, Pt(II) complexes of 2-(2'-pyridyl)- and 5(6)-methyl-2-(2'-pyridyl)benzimidazoles were found to be mutagenic. A comparative study of the MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) values indicated that, in general, there were no differences between the poor antimicrobial activity values of the ligands and their Pt(II) complexes with respect to the tested microorganisms. These results suggest that the synthesized Pt(II) complexes should be considered for further antitumor activity studies.

Response in DNA ploidy of hepatocytes to tamoxifen and/or melatonin in vivo.

Tamoxifen is known to induce hepatocarcinogenesis in experimental animals and reversible chronic liver diseases in humans. Melatonin has been recently introduced as an oncostatic agent, especially for hormone-dependent tumors. This study was designed in order to investigate whether melatonin has an effect onthe tamoxifen-induced hepatotoxicity. Wistar albino rats were injected tamoxifen citrate intraperitoneally in three different doses (10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg bw for 26 days; and 45 mg/kg bw for three days). Another group of animals were treated with melatonin once a week in addition to daily tamoxifen injections, whereas the third group received melatonin only. The control animals were injected an equal volume of diluent at corresponding intervals. At the end of the experimental period, the animals were sacrificed and the livers were prepared for the flow cytometric DNA analysis. DNA histograms were analyzed using the multicycle program. In experimental groups, all animals had aneuploid cell population. The difference in the diploid/ aneuploid ratio of each experimental group as compared to the control group according to Fischer's exact test was found to be highly significant (p < 0.002 MEL vs control; and p < 0.0001 for both TAM vs control and MEL+TAM vs control). Among the tamoxifen-injected animals, the proportion of multiploidy to aneuploid cell population was 17, similar to those treated solely with melatonin. Although the melatonin plus tamoxifen group had higher multiploidy percentage (38%), the difference was not statistically significant as compared to the tamoxifen (or melatonin) groups. No significant difference was noted between the animals which were treated with three different doses of tamoxifen. S-phase fraction percentage was significantly different in melatonin- and melatonin plus tamoxifen-injected animals with regard to controls, the degree of significancy being < 0.05 for both. According to our data, tamoxifen injections induced DNA aneuploidy, but did not stimulate proliferation in the liver as estimated by S-phase fraction. Melatonin, whether alone or in combination with tamoxifen, stimulated cell proliferation and produced aneuploidy.

Synthesis and antimicrobial activities of 2-[(alpha-methylbenzylidene)-hydrazino]benzoxazoles.

New 2-[(alpha-methylbenzylidene)hydrazino]benzoxazole derivatives have been synthesized by reacting ortho or para substituted acetophenones with 2-hydrazinobenzoxazole in ethanol. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by microanalysis, IR and NMR spectral data. Antimicrobial activities of the compounds were investigated by the microdilution susceptibility test in Mueller-Hinton broth and Sabouraud liquid medium. Test organisms: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 as Gram (+) bacteria, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, ATCC 27853 as Gram (-) bacteria, and Candida albicans, Candida stellatoidea, Candida parapsilosis and Candida pseudotropicalis as yeasts. Among the compounds tested 2-[(alpha-methyl-4-chlorobenzylidene)hydrazino]benzoxazole (compounds 4) and 2-[(alpha-methyl-4-nitrobenzylidene)hydrazino]benzoxazole (compound 8) showed the most favorable activity.

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of beta-[(2-benzimidazolyl)thio]-beta-benzoyl styrene derivatives.

In this study some new beta-[(2-benzimidazolyl)thio]-beta-benzoyl styrene derivatives have been synthesized by reacting 2-(phenacetylthio)benzimidazole and substituted benzaldehydes in piperidine/dry benzene. Structures were verified by microanalysis, IR and NMR spectral analysis. Antimicrobial activities of the compounds were investigated by the microdilution susceptibility test; Muller-Hinton Broth and Sabouraud Dextrose Broth were used for the determination of antibacterial and antifungal activity. Test organisms: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 as Gram (+) bacteria, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATTC 27853 as Gram (-) bacteria, and Candida albicans, Candida pseudotropicalis, Candida parapsilosis and Candida stellatoidea as yeast-like fungi. All the compounds showed good antimicrobial effect, especially against gram (+) bacteria. Among the compounds tested beta-[(2-benzimidazolyl)thio]-beta-benzoyl-4-chloro styrene (compound 9), beta-[(2-benzimidazolyl)thio]-beta-benzoyl-4-nitro styrene (compound 10) and beta-[(2-benzimidazolyl)thio]-beta-benzoyl-4-acetylamino styrene (compound 11) showed the most favorable activity.

Synthesis and activities of 5-substituted-2-(p-substituted phenyl)-1-dialkylaminomethyl benzimidazole derivatives.

Nine 1,2,5-trisubstituted benzimidazole derivatives were prepared and their structure have been elucidated by IR, NMR spectral data and elemental analyses. Analgesic activity of the compounds prepared was investigated in mice by modified KOSTER test. Anti-inflammatory activity of these compounds was investigated by a carregeenan-induced hind paw edema model in mice. Their antibacterial activities were examined against S. aureus, E. faecalis, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and antifungal activity against three kinds of yeast-like fungi (C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. stellatoidea).

In vitro tuberculostatic activities of some 2-benzylbenzimidazole and 2-phenoxymethylbenzimidazole derivatives.

Some 2-benzylbenzimidazole and 2-phenoxymethylbenzimidazole derivatives were synthesized and tested for in vitro tuberculostatic activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H 37 Rv. and human type wild strain (protocol n degrees.4186). The synthesized compounds have one of the CH3, Cl, NO2 or OCH3 groups at position 5 and 4' and are prepared by heating appropriate o-phenylenediamines with the carboxylic acids in the presence of 4.5N HCl. The experiments indicate that 2-phenoxymethylbenzimidazoles were more active than the corresponding 2-benzylbenzimidazoles. The most active compound was 5-chloro-2-phenoxymethylbenzimidazole (IIc) (MIC: 125 micrograms/ml).

Hair manganese concentrations in newborns and their mothers.

The study was designed to investigate the manganese (Mn) status of mothers and their offspring at delivery. Hair Mn concentrations in 31 full-term, 18 preterm and 12 newborn infants with congenital malformations and their mothers were determined by the flameless atomic absorption technique. Both in infants with congenital malformations and their mothers, hair Mn levels were significantly lower than the full-term and preterm infant-mother pairs. With the exception of mothers of infants with congenital malformations, hair Mn concentrations in mothers were significantly higher as compared with their infants. Low hair Mn concentrations of infants with congenital malformations and their mothers may possibly reflect a state of Mn deficiency in these women. These results imply that 1) Mn deficiency may play a role as one potential factor in intrauterine malformations, 2) Mn is supplied to the fetus by a homeostatic mechanism which is mainly dependent on the Mn status of the mother, 3) prenatal Mn analysis in maternal hair may prove to be a reliable indicator for the risk of intrauterine malformations.