Population dynamics of two diplectanid species (Monogenea) parasitising sparid hosts (Sparidae).

Economically important sparid fish species, gilthead (Sparus aurata) and white seabream (Diplodus sargus) (Sparidae) are frequently parasitised by diplectanid monogeneans, known to induce severe losses in farming conditions. We have analysed population dynamic of two diplectanid species, Lamellodiscus echeneis and Lamellodiscus ignoratus (Monogenea: Diplectanidae) collected from two bream species in the Beymelek Lagoon (southwest coast of Turkey), comparing it between different host variables (fish size, age and sex) in order to have insight in parasites' ecology, important for managing parasitosis in the intensive aquaculture system. In seabream (N = 127), L. echeneis prevalence was 46.5 % (exact 95 % confidence limits 38.90-54.14), mean abundance 5.64 (bootstrap 95 % confidence limits 4.20-7.65) and mean intensity 12.14 (bootstrap 95 % confidence limits 9.49-15.59). In white seabream (N = 102), L. ignoratus prevalence was 24.5 % (exact 95 % confidence limits 16.53-34.03), mean abundance 1.73 (bootstrap 95 % confidence limits 0.98-3.21) and mean intensity 7.04 (bootstrap 95 % confidence limits 4.60-11.40). Parasites' parameters differed only between seasons in both hosts and between age categories in gilthead, but not in white seabream.

The effect of alginate scaffolds on bone healing in defects formed with drilling model in rat femur diaphysis.

Alginate (ALG) is a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer. Mechanical weakness is one of the main problems for the alginate-based scaffolds. Various plasticizer additives or modifications tested to improve the mechanical properties. In the presented study, ALG plasticized with triacetin (TA), and tributyl citrate (TBC) than tested on bone healing. In the presented study, the alginate modified with triacetin or tributyl citrate. In-vitro, and in-vivo efficiency of the scaffolds tested on bone tissue regeneration. Scaffolds fabricated by solvent casting, and physicochemical characterizations performed. Monocytes (THP-1) cultured with scaffolds, and macrophage-released cytokines was determined. In-vivo efficacy of the scaffolds was tested in the rat drill hole model. Alginate and tributyl citrate-modified scaffolds have no cytotoxic effect on osteoblastic cells (MC-3T3). Tributyl citrate modification increased tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) level but did not increase interleukin -1 beta (IL-1 beta) level. In vivo studies showed that osteoblastic growth was significant in alginate and triacetin-modified scaffolds. However, the best values for osteoclastic activity and osteoid tissue formation seen in the triacetin modification. The results demonstrated that the modified alginate scaffolds were more successful than non-modified alginate scaffolds and can used as long-term bone repairing treatments.

Pomphorhynchidae and quadrigyridae (Acanthocephala), including a new genus and species (Pallisentinae), from freshwater fishes, Cobitidae and Cyprinodontidae, in Turkey.

During a survey of freshwater fishes from Turkey two species of Acanthocephala, one of them new, were found. Pomphorhynchus tereticollis (Pomphorhynchidae) is reported at 24% prevalence in 37 Cobitis bilseli (Cobitidae) from Lake Beysehir, Konya, for the first time. The eoacanthoacaphalan Triaspiron aphanii gen. n. et sp. n. (Quadrigyridae), at a prevalence of 90%, is described from 29 Aphanius mento (Cyprinodontidae), from Kirkgöz Springs, Antalya. The new genus most closely resembles Raosentis Datta, 1947, both having a small spindle shaped trunk, and Acanthogyrus Thapar, 1927, both having a proboscis armature of three circles of hooks. Triaspiron differs from Raosentis in proboscis shape, cylindrical not globular, proboscis armature, three circles, a total of 16 hooks in all, not four circles, a total of 26-30 hooks in all, and trunk spination, two fields of spines in the anterior field with spines arranged in up to 40 circular rows, not a single field with 9-17 rows of spines. Triaspiron differs from Acanthogyrus in having fewer proboscis hooks, 16 compared with 18-24, arranged in three circles, one anterior and two posteriorly placed, with an unarmed region between, not three circles of hooks evenly spaced, and two fields of trunk spines, not one.

Does Body Mass Index Cause a Clinical Difference in Simultaneous Bilateral and Unilateral Knee Arthroplasty?

This study aims to investigate clinical and functional factors in patients undergoing unilateral and simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) who were classified into subgroups of nonobese, obese, and morbidly obese, and to determine perioperative and postoperative complications. We conducted an evaluation of 489 nonobese, obese, and morbidly obese patients who underwent TKA due to primary knee osteoarthritis between January 2006 and December 2013. The arthroplasties were performed by three different surgeons. Patients who underwent unilateral (group 1) or simultaneous bilateral (group 2) TKAs were divided into subgroups in accordance with BMI levels, that is, (a) nonobese (BMI < 30 kg/m2), (b) obese (BMI = 30-34.9 kg/m2), and (c) morbidly obese (BMI ≥35 kg/m2). Clinical and functional assessments were performed using Knee Society Scores (KSSs), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index (WOMAC), and range of motion (ROM) values. Perioperative and early postoperative complications were assessed. The mean follow-up period was 46.65 months (minimum: 24 months; maximum: 84 months). There were no significant differences between the patients undergoing unilateral or simultaneous bilateral TKA procedures regarding postoperative ROM, WOMAC indices, and KSSs (p > 0.05), except for morbidly obese patients. Most intraoperative and early postoperative complications occurred in the morbidly obese group, especially in those undergoing simultaneous bilateral TKA procedures (p < 0.001). Unilateral and simultaneous bilateral TKA procedures showed no differences regarding ROM, clinical scores, and perioperative and early postoperative complications in nonobese and obese patients. A moderate increase was detected in complication rates in the unilateral TKA morbidly obese patients (group 1c); however, morbidly obese patients constituted the major risk group in simultaneous bilateral TKA patients (group 2c) regarding clinical scores (lower WOMAC scores and KSSs) and the development of complications.

Rhythm and orthopedics: The effect of music therapy in cast room procedures, a prospective clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Cast room procedures generally cause anxiety in patients. Anxiety complicates the procedure as well as increases the risk of a complication. Listening to music was found to be the safest and most common non-drug treatment method. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of listening to music on adult patients in cast room procedures. This study points out the relation between anxiety and anxiety relevant cardiac arrhythmia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was performed on 199 patients with stable general condition, aged above 18. The patients were divided into two groups. Randomization method used in the study was coin flip. The first group (Group 1) listened to music during cast room procedures whereby the second group (Group 2) did not listen to music. Length of the procedure, complication, blood pressure and heart rate evaluations before and after the procedure, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS scores for pain), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) anxiety score, patient satisfaction, willingness of the patient to repeat the procedure, P wave dispersion (Pd) and corrected QT interval dispersion (QTcd) as electrocardiographic arrhythmia predictors were evaluated. The Clinical Research Ethics Committee approval was obtained for this study. RESULTS: Significant difference was shown between the two groups for the following criteria: VAS scores (p = 0.005), anxiety scores (p = 0.032), processing time (p = 0.027), and QTcd values (p = 0.031). Patient satisfaction (p < 0.001) and willingness to repeat the procedure (p < 0.001) were higher for the group who listened to music. No significant difference in Pd values, blood pressure and heart rate was reported within the groups. CONCLUSION: Music therapy is a non-invasive, safe, nonpharmacologic, anxiolytic, and analgesic treatment. Music therapy should become standard protocol in cast room procedures. One of the most important achievements of this study was the fact that music decreases anxiety and anxiety-related cardiac arrhythmia. Therefore, conducting further prospective studies including high cardiac risk patients especially with arrhythmia is crucial.

Epicardial fat thickness and oxidative stress parameters in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism.

INTRODUCTION: Thyroid disorders are known to be a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Epicardial fat thickness (EFT) and oxidative stress are also believed to be major risk factors for cardiovascular events. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible relationship between oxidative stress parameters and EFT in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 60 individuals (30 patients with SCH and 30 healthy controls) were recruited for the study. The EFT and oxidative stress parameters of all participants were analyzed at baseline; the same were analyzed in SCH patients after achievement of a euthyroid state. RESULTS: Compared to healthy subjects, SCH patients had significantly higher EFT and oxidative stress parameters (p < 0.05 for all). EFT and oxidative stress parameters both decreased after treatment, but only the decrease of EFT levels was statistically significant after thyroid hormone replacement (p < 0.05). Serum EFT levels were not significantly correlated with oxidative stress index (r = 0.141, p = 0.458). CONCLUSIONS: Previous studies have demonstrated that visceral adipose tissue and oxidative stress are major risk factors for cardiovascular events; our study demonstrated that EFT, a visceral adipose tissue, and oxidative stress parameters were higher, and could be used as an indicator for cardiovascular diseases in patients with SCH.

Two new Dactylogyrus species (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) D. angorae and D. turcicus from Capoeta angorae and C. mauricii endemic fishes in Turkey.

Two new Dactylogyrus spp., D. angorae and D. turcicus have been described from the gills of the endemic cyprinid fishes, Capoeta angorae and C. mauricii from the Anatolian Region of Turkey. The shape of the anchors, hooks and the copulation organ of both species differ from those of the Dactylogyrus spp. found on other Capoeta species known from the Ponto-Caspian and Tigris-Euphrates regions.

Molecular evidence of cryptic diversity in Paracaryophyllaeus (Cestoda: Caryophyllidea), parasites of loaches (Cobitidae) in Eurasia, including description of P. vladkae n. sp.

Molecular phylogenetic analysis of an extensive collection of monozoic tapeworms of the genus Paracaryophyllaeus Kulakovskaya, 1961 (Cestoda: Caryophyllidea), parasites of loaches (Cypriniformes: Cobitidae) in Eurasia, has revealed cryptic species diversity within this long-time monotypic genus, especially in the Paracaryophyllaeus gotoi (Motomura, 1927) species complex [syn. Paracaryophyllaeus dubininorum (Kulakovskaya, 1961); type species]. Three independent, well-supported clades were discovered on the basis of molecular data: (i) specimens from Misgurnus anguillicaudatus and Cobitis lutheri from China, Russian Far East and Japan - called herein P. cf. gotoi 1, which may be conspecific with P. gotoi (Motomura, 1927), although in the absence of sequence data for P. gotoi from its type locality (basin of the River Kumkan in Korea), no certain inferences about their identity can currently be made; (ii) specimens from M. anguillicaudatus from China and Japan - P. cf. gotoi 2, which are morphologically indistinguishable from those of P. cf. gotoi 1; and (iii) morphologically distinct tapeworms from the endemic loach Cobitis bilseli from southwestern Turkey (Beysehir Lake), which are described herein as a new species. Paracaryophyllaeus vladkae Scholz, Oros and Aydogdu n. sp. differs from the remaining species of the genus in the following characteristics: the testes begin anterior to the first vitelline follicles (versus posterior), the body is short and robust (versus more elongate and slender), and the scolex is wide, rounded or apically tapered (versus claviform to truncate). Species composition of the genus, host specificity of species and geographical distribution are briefly discussed.

[Helminth parasites of white bream (Blicca bjoerkna L. 1758) from Kocadere stream, Bursa]. / Kocadere Deresi (Bursa)'ndeki Tahta Baliklari (Blicca bjoerkna L. 1758)'nin Helmint Parazitleri.

Aim of this study was to investigate the helminths and their monthly prevalence in 120 Blicca bjoerkna (white bream) in the Kocadere stream (Bursa province) from February 2005 to January 2006. As a result, 98.3% of B. bjoerkna were found to be infected with one or more helminth species and a total of 5 different helminth species were identified. The distribution of these parasites in B. bjoerkna and the average prevalence (annually) were as follows: Dactylogyrus sphyrna (24.2%), D. distinguendus (30.8%), Diplostomum spathaceum metacerceria (95.8%), Caryophyllaeus laticeps (2.5%) and Eustrongylides sp. larvae (8.3%).

Helminth parasites found in hedgehogs (Erinaceus concolor) from Turkey.

Hedgehog diseases are becoming important issues for veterinary surgeons due to growing interest in this animal species among pet owners and an increase in cases of rescued hedgehogs requiring veterinary care. A parasitological study was carried out on hedgehogs (Erinaceus concolor) in the Bursa province of Turkey, found dead mainly due to road casualties, to determine their helminth parasite burden. The detected helminths and their prevalences were as follows: Physaloptera clausa (72.2%), Crenosoma striatum (55.5%), Aonchotheca erinacei (55.5%), Hymenolepis erinacei (55.5%), Nephridiorhynchus major (50%) and Eucoleus aerophilus (22.2%). The number of parasites in infected animals varied from 1 to 203. The highest mean intensity of infection was observed with C. striatum, and the lowest was observed with N. major. The mean abundance of different species varied from 0.7 to 41.8, where E. aerophilus and C. striatum had the lowest and highest abundance, respectively. This study represents the first time N. major and E. aerophilus have been reported in hedgehogs in Turkey. The presence of E. aerophilus and its potential role as a zoonotic agent are discussed.

[The occurrence of helminth parasites in Vimba (Vimba vimba L. 1758) of Golbasi (Bursa) Dam Lake, Turkey]. / Gölbasi Baraj Gölü (Bursa)'ndeki Egrez Baliklari (Vimba vimba L. 1758)'nda Görülen Helmint Parazitler.

In this study, the occurrence of helminth parasites in Vimba of Golbasi Dam Lake was investigated monthly from May 2003 to April 2004. During the study, a total of 62 Vimba specimens were examined for helminth parasites. A total of 4 species of helminth parasites were found on 43 fish examined as follows: (Dactylogyrus sphyrna (Monogenea), Diplostomum sp. (Digenea), Caryophyllaeus laticeps (Cestoda), Contracaecum sp. (Nematoda). D. sphyrna seen on gills of host fish was the dominant parasite species found in Vimba. A total of 308 parasites were recorded on 30 of the 62 fish examined (48.39%). The second dominant species was Diplostomum sp. of which 233 were found in the eye lens of 29 of the 62 hosts examined (46.77%). C. laticeps was the third dominant parasite in this study and a total of 37 parasites were recorded in 8 of 62 fish (12.90%). As to Contracaecum sp., only 4 specimens were found in 3 fish (4.84%).

[An investigation of helminth fauna of the bleak (Alburnus alburnus L.) from the Mustafakemalpasa stream, Bursa, Turkey]. / Mustafakemalpasa deresi (Bursa)'ndeki Inci baliginin (Alburnus alburnus L.) helmint faunasi üzerine bir arastirma.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the helminth fauna of the bleak (Alburnus alburnus L.). According to the results obtained, a total of 6 species of helminth parasites were encountered on the bleak. These parasites include Dactylogyrus alatus, D. fraternus and Diplozoon homoion (Monogenea) on the gills; Bothriocephalus acheilognathi (Cestoda) and Rhapdochona denudata (Nematoda) in the intestine; and Diplostomum sp. (Digenea) in the eyes, on the surface of body and on the fins.

[Occurrence of helminths during spring and autumn months on rudd (Scardinus erythrophthalmus L. 1758) from Kocadere stream (Bursa)]. / Kocadere deresi (Bursa)'ndeki kizilkanat baliklari (Scardinus erythrophthalmus L. 1758)'nda ilkbahar ve sonbahar aylarinda görülen helmintler.

The aim of this study was to determine the rate of helminth infection in rudd, (Scardinus erythrophthalmus L. 1758) between spring and autumn seasons. A total of 87 rudd fish were investigated. Of these, 66 were infected with four species [Dactylogyrus difformis (Monogenea), Diplostomulum spathaceum metacerceria with Asymplodora markewitschi (Digenea), and Hysterothylacium sp. (Nematoda)]. During the study, it was noted that 46 out of 87 hosts were infected with D. difformis . The level of infection for this species was found to be 93% in the spring but it was 13% in the autumn. For D. spathaceum which was the second dominant species, 365 para-sites were found on 71 of 87 hosts. The maximum infection level for this species was 95% in the autumn. A total of 55 A. markewitschi could be found on 3 fish only during the spring. During the study, the lowest infection rate of the four species was that of Hysterothylacium sp. of which only 8 specimens were found on 7 fish.

Redescriptions of Aphanurus stossichii (Monticelli, 1891) and A. virgula Looss, 1907 (Digenea: Hemiuridae).

Aphanurus stossichii (Monticelli, 1891) is redescribed from Boops boops (L.) from various localities in the NE Atlantic region (off Spain), the Mediterranean (off Spain and Turkey) and the Black Sea (off Bulgaria). The material from the Atlantic coast of Spain showed differences in egg-size and shape and a characteristic ornamentation of the anterior third of the hermaphroditic duct. A comparison with samples from B. boops collected off Antalya (Turkey) and off the Bulgarian Black Sea coast revealed a considerable size variation and confirmed the presence of tubercles in the terminal part of the hermaphroditic duct. A. virgula Looss, 1907, previously considered a synonym of A. stossichii, is redescribed on the basis of voucher material from Engraulis encrasicolus ponticus Alexandrov collected off the Bulgarian Black Sea coast and previously identified as A. stossichii. A. virgula can be distinguished from A. stossichii by its smaller size and substantially lower range limits for all metrical features, the more posterior position of the base of sinus-sac, and the eggs being less numerous and larger in relation to the size of the body and gonads.