Evaluation of lymph node findings in patients with and without odontogenic infection: A clinical and ultrasonographic study.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to evaluate the ultrasonographic findings of submandibular and submental lymph nodes in patients with and without odontogenic infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Systemically healthy patients aged 18-30 years old with or without odontogenic infections were included in this study. Clinical examinations were performed on all patients; those with any odontogenic infection were placed in the study group, and those without were placed in the control group. Ultrasonographic examinations of bilateral submental and submandibular lymph nodes were performed for both groups. The data were statistically analyzed using Pearson's Chi-square test and Student's t-test. RESULTS: A total of 150 patients voluntarily participated (female: n=86 (57%), male: n=64 (43%)), 75 in the study group and 75 in the control group. During the ultrasonographic examination, patients in the study group had more than one lymph node the same patient was mostly detected, in the study group (right submandibular: n=42, 56%, and left submandibular: n=43, 57.3%). The long-axis diameter of the submandibular lymph nodes was 9.305.30 mm and 5.505.20 mm in the study and control groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasonography revealed that the presence, number, and long-axis diameter of the submandibular lymph nodes in the patients with and without odontogenic infection were statistically different.

Altered DNA methylation at age-associated CpG sites in children with growth disorders: impact on age estimation?

Age estimation based on DNA methylation (DNAm) can be applied to children, adolescents and adults, but many CG dinucleotides (CpGs) exhibit different kinetics of age-associated DNAm across these age ranges. Furthermore, it is still unclear how growth disorders impact epigenetic age predictions, and this may be particularly relevant for a forensic application. In this study, we analyzed buccal mucosa samples from 95 healthy children and 104 children with different growth disorders. DNAm was analysed by pyrosequencing for 22 CpGs in the genes PDE4C, ELOVL2, RPA2, EDARADD and DDO. The relationship between DNAm and age in healthy children was tested by Spearman's rank correlation. Differences in DNAm between the groups "healthy children" and the (sub-)groups of children with growth disorders were tested by ANCOVA. Models for age estimation were trained (1) based on the data from 11 CpGs with a close correlation between DNAm and age (R ≥ 0.75) and (2) on five CpGs that also did not present significant differences in DNAm between healthy and diseased children. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between the healthy group and the group with growth disorders (11 CpGs), the subgroup with a short stature (12 CpGs) and the non-short stature subgroup (three CpGs). The results are in line with the assumption of an epigenetic regulation of height-influencing genes. Age predictors trained on 11 CpGs with high correlations between DNAm and age revealed higher mean absolute errors (MAEs) in the group of growth disorders (mean MAE 2.21 years versus MAE 1.79 in the healthy group) as well as in the short stature (sub-)groups; furthermore, there was a clear tendency for overestimation of ages in all growth disorder groups (mean age deviations: total growth disorder group 1.85 years, short stature group 1.99 years). Age estimates on samples from children with growth disorders were more precise when using a model containing only the five CpGs that did not present significant differences in DNAm between healthy and diseased children (mean age deviations: total growth disorder group 1.45 years, short stature group 1.66 years). The results suggest that CpGs in genes involved in processes relevant for growth and development should be avoided in age prediction models for children since they may be sensitive for alterations in the DNAm pattern in cases of growth disorders.

Evidence for differences in DNA methylation between Germans and Japanese.

As a contribution to the discussion about the possible effects of ethnicity/ancestry on age estimation based on DNA methylation (DNAm) patterns, we directly compared age-associated DNAm in German and Japanese donors in one laboratory under identical conditions. DNAm was analyzed by pyrosequencing for 22 CpG sites (CpGs) in the genes PDE4C, RPA2, ELOVL2, DDO, and EDARADD in buccal mucosa samples from German and Japanese donors (N = 368 and N = 89, respectively).Twenty of these CpGs revealed a very high correlation with age and were subsequently tested for differences between German and Japanese donors aged between 10 and 65 years (N = 287 and N = 83, respectively). ANCOVA was performed by testing the Japanese samples against age- and sex-matched German subsamples (N = 83 each; extracted 500 times from the German total sample). The median p values suggest a strong evidence for significant differences (p < 0.05) at least for two CpGs (EDARADD, CpG 2, and PDE4C, CpG 2) and no differences for 11 CpGs (p > 0.3).Age prediction models based on DNAm data from all 20 CpGs from German training data did not reveal relevant differences between the Japanese test samples and German subsamples. Obviously, the high number of included "robust CpGs" prevented relevant effects of differences in DNAm at two CpGs.Nevertheless, the presented data demonstrates the need for further research regarding the impact of confounding factors on DNAm in the context of ethnicity/ancestry to ensure a high quality of age estimation. One approach may be the search for "robust" CpG markers-which requires the targeted investigation of different populations, at best by collaborative research with coordinated research strategies.

The outcome of a national MS-Covid-19 study: What the Turkish MS cohort reveals?

BACKGROUND: The pandemic of the new type of corona virus infection 2019 [Covid-19] also affect people with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS). Currently, the accumulating information on the effects of the infection regarding the demographic and clinical characteristics of the disease, as well as outcomes within different DMTs¸ enable us to have better practices on the management of the Covid-19 infection in pwMS. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) and to reveal the relationship between the demographic-clinical and therapeutic features and the outcome of Covid-19 infection in a multi-center national cohort of pwMS. METHODS: The Turkish Neurological Society-MS Study Group in association with the Italian MuSC-19 Study Group initiated this study. A web-based electronic Case Report Form (eCRF) of Study-MuSC-19 were used to collect the data. The demographic data and MS histories of the patients were obtained from the file tracking forms of the relevant clinics. RESULTS: 309 MS patients with confirmed Covid-19 infection were included in this study. Two hundred nineteen (219) were females (70.9%). The mean age was 36.9, ranging from 18 to 66, 194 of them (62.8%) were under 40. The clinical phenotype was relapsing-remitting in 277 (89.6%) and progressive in 32 (10.4%). Disease duration ranged from 0.2 years to 31.4 years. The median EDSS was 1.5, ranging from 0 to 8.5. The EDSS score was<= 1 in 134 (43%) of the patients. 91.6% of the patients were on a DMT, Fingolimod was the most frequently used drug (22.0%), followed by Interferon (20.1%). The comorbidity rate is 11.7%. We were not able to detect any significant association of DMTs with Covid-19 severity. CONCLUSION: The Turkish MS-Covid-19 cohort had confirmed that pwMS are not at risk of having a more severe COVID-19 outcome irrespective of the DMT that they are treated. In addition, due to being a younger population with less comorbidities most had a mild disease further highlight that the only associated risk factors for having a moderate to severe COVID-19 course are similar with the general population such as having comorbid conditions and being older.

Identification of candidate biomarkers in converting and non-converting clinically isolated syndrome by proteomics analysis of cerebrospinal fluid.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) often starts in the form of clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and only some of the CIS patients progress to relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). Biomarkers to predict conversion from CIS to MS are thus greatly needed for making correct treatment decisions. To identify a predictive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein, we analyzed the first-attack CSF samples of CIS patients who converted (CIS-MS) (n = 23) and did not convert (CIS-CIS) (n = 19) to RRMS in a follow-up period of 5 years using proteomics analysis by liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and verified by ELISA. Label-free differential proteomics analysis of CSF ensured that 637 proteins were identified and 132 of these proteins were found to be statistically significant. Further investigation with the ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) software led to identification of three pathway networks mostly comprised proteins involved in inflammatory response, cellular growth and tissue proliferation. CSF levels of four of the most differentially expressed proteins belonging to the cellular proliferation network function, chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1), tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 21 (TNFRSF21), homeobox protein Hox-B3 (HOXB3) and iduronate 2-sulfatase (IDS), were measured by ELISA. CSF levels of HOXB3 were significantly increased in CIS-MS patients. Our results indicate that cell and tissue proliferation functions are dysregulated in MS as early as the first clinical episode. HOXB3 has emerged as a potential novel biomarker which might be used for prediction of CIS-MS conversion.

Positive inotropic, positive chronotropic and coronary vasodilatory effects of rat amylin: mechanisms of amylin-induced positive inotropy.

Even though there are a few studies dealing with the cardiac effects of amylin, the mechanisms of amylin-induced positive inotropy are not known well. Therefore, we investigated the possible signaling pathways underlying the amylin-induced positive inotropy and compared the cardiac effects of rat amylin (rAmylin) and human amylin (hAmylin).Isolated rat hearts were perfused under constant flow condition and rAmylin or hAmylin was infused to the hearts. Coronary perfusion pressure, heart rate, left ventricular developed pressure and the maximum rate of increase of left ventricular pressure (+dP/dtmax) and the maximum rate of pressure decrease of left ventricle (-dP/dtmin) were measured.rAmylin at concentrations of 1, 10 or 100 nM markedly decreased coronary perfusion pressure, but increased heart rate, left ventricular developed pressure, +dP/dtmax and -dP/dtmin. The infusion of H-89 (50 µM), a protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor did not change the rAmylin (100 nM)-induced positive inotropic effect. Both diltiazem (1 µM), an L-type Ca2+ channel blocker and ryanodine (10 nM), a sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ release channel opener completely suppressed the rAmylin-induced positive inotropic effect, but staurosporine (100 nM), a potent protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor suppressed it partially. hAmylin (1, 10 and 100 nM) had no significant effect on coronary perfusion pressure, heart rate and developed pressure, +dP/dtmax and -dP/dtmin.We concluded that rAmylin might have been produced vasodilatory, positive chronotropic and positive inotropic effects on rat hearts. Ca2+ entry via L-type Ca2+ channels, activation of PKC and Ca2+ release from SR through ryanodine-sensitive Ca2+ channels may be involved in this positive inotropic effect. hAmylin may not produce any significant effect on perfusion pressure, heart rate and contractility in isolated, perfused rat hearts.

The incidence of the foramen thyroideum in Turkish population.

This study was undertaken to investigate the incidence and characteristics of the foramen thyroideum (FT) in Turkish population. A total of 50 cadaver specimens were dissected which were a randomly selected sample of population from the criminal laboratory of the Republic of Turkey's Ministry of Justice (Istanbul). Larynges were dissected with a surgical SMZ 10 Nikon stereomicroscope. Six of the 50 specimens dissected had distinctly identifiable foramina with neurovascular component. One specimen had bilateral foramina, five specimens had unilateral foramina, and two had it in the left side, three in the right. One specimen had a double foramen in the left side. All of them were male and contained neurovascular components. Our data showed 12% incidence of FT in Turkish population.

Evaluation of hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-hepatitis C virus and anti-human immunodeficiency virus antibodies and syphilis seropositivity in blood donors: six years' seropositivity.

This retrospective study was carried out to evaluate the seropositivity of hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg), anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV), anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis in blood donors in Manisa Government Hospital. Data were evaluated in 10,189 blood donors between April 1, 1997, which is the time from which regular records began to be collected, and April 1, 2003. The blood samples of the blood center from April 1, 1997, to January 1, 1998, were examined via the card method, those between January 1, 1998, and January 1, 2002, were examined via micro enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method and the rest were evaluated with macro ELISA methods. In blood donors, the positivity of HbsAg, anti-HCV anti-HIV and the rapid plasmin reagin test were 2.95%, 0.68%, 0.00% and 0.16%, respectively.

Analysis of job-related risks faced by hospital nurses.

The aim of this study was to analyze the job-related risks nurses face during training such as needle-stick injuries, contaminated blood and infectious fluids. From May to July 2003 we conducted a survey of a sample of 242 nurses who were working in the the Pediatric Hospital, Government Hospital, the Training Hospital of Celal Bayar University, the Gynecology Hospital and the Psychiatric Hospital in Manisa City in Turkey. Two hundred sixteen nurses (89.3%) had needlestick injuries and 107 (44.2%) had injuries by contaminated cutting utensils. A total of 104 nurses (43.0%) used gloves, while 65 (26.9%) used gloves and mask. In medical and surgical staff nurses, injuries due to contaminated cutting utensils were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Awareness of accidents was significant between the two groups (p < 0.05).

The resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains to fluoroquinolone group of antibiotics.

Fluoroquinolones are antibiotics that are very effective against many gram negative microorganisms, including P. aeruginosa. However, resistance to these antibiotics has been reported in recent years as well. In this study, the sensitivity of 136 P. aeruginosa strains, isolated from various clinical materials, to fluoroquinolones has been investigated. The lowest resistance rate was in ciprofloxacin with 12.5%. The resistance rates of the others were as follows: norfloxacin 14.7%, levofloxacin 16.9%, ofloxacin 19.9% and pefloxacin 28.7%. The 88.2% of the resistant strains to all fluoroquinolones were originated from intensive care unit.

Titrations in non-aqueous media: potentiometric investigation of symmetrical and unsymmetrical tetra-aryl porphyrins with 4-nitrophenyl and 4-aminophenyl substituents in nitrobenzene solvent.

The basicity of the symmetrical and unsymmetrical tetraphenylporphyrins, namely 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin (I) (references), 5-(4-nitrophenyl)-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin (II), a mixture of 5,10-bis(4-nitrophenyl)-15,20-diphenylporphyrin and 5,15-bis(4-nitrophenyl)-10,20-diphenylporphyrin (III), 5,10,15-tris(4-nitrophenyl)-20-phenylporphyrin (IV), 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-nitrophenyl)porphyrin (V), 5-(4-aminophenyl)-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin (VI), a mixture of 5,10-bis(4-aminophenyl)-15,20-diphenylporphyrin and 5,15-bis(4-aminophenyl)-10,20-diphenylporphyrin (VII), 5,10,15-tris(4-aminophenyl)-20-phenylporphyrin (VIII) and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-aminophenyl)porphyrin (IX), was investigated potentiometrically in nitrobenzene solvent. This investigation showed that these compounds are basic rather than acidic. Although they can not be titrated even with tetrabuthylammonium hydroxide, they can easily be titrated with perchloric acid to give well shaped and stoichiometric end-points. In addition they all undergo two proton reactions per porphyrin molecule. However, compounds VI, VII, VIII and IX each shows a second end-point to give three, four, five and six proton reactions, respectively, per porphyrin molecule. Half neutralization potentials (measures of their basicity) of these compounds are: I=368, II=409, III=432, IV=461, V=520, VI=340, VII=302, VIII=238 and IX=225 mV versus Ag/AgCl in methanol. These potentials clearly indicate that, if para-hydrogen with respect to the porphyrin core of tetraphenylporphyrin (I) is replaced with an acidifying nitro group (II, III, IV and V) the basicity of I decreases. This decrease is approximately proportional to the number of nitro groups. Each nitro group decreases the half neutralization potential by about 35 mV. On the other hand, if para-hydrogen indicated above is replaced with a basifying amino group (VI, VII, VIII and IX) the basicity increases. This increase is also approximately proportional to the number of amino groups. Each amino group increases the half neutralization potential by about 36.7 mV. The values 35 and 36.7 mV indicate that in nitrobenzene solvent the electron releasing power of an amino group to the porphyrin system is a little stronger than the electron withdrawing power of a nitro group from the porphyrin system. All these observations reveal that the nitrogen atoms at the core of the porphyrin molecules are strongly influenced by changes at the periphery of the molecules, which is a very good indication that the substituted phenyl groups and the cores of the porphyrins are nearly in the same plane.

Thermometric titrations of amines with nitrosyl perchlorate in acetonitrile solvent.

Thirteen aliphatic and four aromatic amines, namely diethylamine, triethylamine, n-propylamine, di-n-propylamine, tri-n-butylamine, isopropylamine, di-isopropylamine, n-butylamine, di-n-butylamine, tri-n-butylamine, isobutylamine, sec-butylamine, tert-butylamine, aniline, N,N-dimethylaniline, 2-nitroaniline and 4-nitroaniline were titrated thermometrically with nitrosyl perchlorate in acetonitrile solvent. All the aliphatic amines gave very well-shaped thermometric titration curves. The calculated recovery values of the amines were very good. In comparison, the aromatic amines, aniline and N,N-dimethylaniline gave rather well-shaped titration curves, but the recovery values were fairly low. 2-Nitro- and 4-nitro anilines gave no thermometric response at all. The heats of reaction of the amines with nitrosyl perchlorate are rather high. However, the average heat of reaction of the aromatic amines is approximately two-thirds that of the average heat of the aliphatic amines. To support this method all the amines were also titrated potentiometrically and very similar results to those obtained with the thermometric method are seen. The nitrosyl ion is a Lewis acid, strong enough to titrate quantitatively aliphatic amines in acetonitrile solvent, but not strong enough to titrate aromatic amines at the required level in the same solvent.

Potentiometric determination of urea with perchloric acid in acetic anhydride.

A potentiometric method for the quantitative determination of urea is proposed. Urea is titrated with perchloric acid in acetic anhydride solvent. This method is rapid and less costly than the semi-micro Kjeldahl method. In addition, its accuracy is nearly identical with that of Kjeldahl's method. An analysis of a given sample is completed in about 30 min.