The initial detection of Toscana virus in phlebotomine sandflies from Turkey.

Toscana virus (TOSV) is a prominent arthropod-borne viral agent of human central nervous system infections occurring in the Mediterranean region. The main transmission route to susceptible individuals involves sandflies as vectors. Despite several reports revealing widespread TOSV activity in Turkey, vectors remained unidentified. A sandfly field survey was carried out in five provinces in Central, Southeast and Mediterranean Anatolia in 2017 to identify TOSV and related sandfly-borne phleboviruses and Leishmania parasites, with evidence for circulation in the region. A total of 7136 sandfly specimens, collected via standard methods, were evaluated in 163 pools. TOSV was detected in 11 pools (6.7%), comprising Phlebotomus major sensu lato, Sergentomyia dentata and Phlebotomus papatasi species. TOSV partial L and S segment sequences were characterized, that phylogenetically clustered with local and global genotype A strains. An amino acid substitution outside the conserved motifs of the viral polymerase, also present in previous TOSV sequences in endemic regions, was observed. Leishmania tropica was detected in a single pool of Ph. sergentii (0.6%). This is the first report of TOSV in sandflies from Turkey, and this study further provides evidence for additional sandfly species with the potential to transmit TOSV.

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.

Comparison of COVID-19 patients who underwent thrombectomy with those in the pre-pandemic period in terms of etiology and prognosis.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed at determining the effectiveness of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with major vessel occlusion and infected with COVID-19, evaluating its clinical outcome and comparing it with non-COVID patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During the pandemic, 729 patients who underwent MT in stroke centers due to Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS) with large vessel occlusion were evaluated. This study included 40 patients with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis by a positive PCR test between March 11, 2020, and December 31, 2020. These patients were compared to 409 patients who underwent MT due to major vessel occlusion between March 11, 2019, and December 31, 2019. RESULTS: Of the patients with AIS who are infected with COVID-19, 62.5% were males, and all patients have a median age of 63.5 ± 14.4 years. The median NIHSS score of the COVID-19 group was significantly higher than that of the non-COVID-19 groups. Dissection was significantly more in the COVID-19 group. The mortality rates at 3 months were higher in the COVID-19 groups compared to non-COVID-19 groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed an increased frequency of dissection in patients with COVID-19. COVID-19-related ischemic strokes are associated with worse functional outcomes and higher mortality rates than non-COVID-19 ischemic strokes.

Border disease virus (BDV) infections of small ruminants in Turkey: a new BDV subgroup?

Blood samples from sheep and/or goats from eight small ruminant flocks in the Turkish provinces of Aydin and Burdur were tested for the presence of Pestiviruses using an antigen-capture ELISA. From clinically affected animals, pathological and immunohistochemical findings were recorded. Post mortem examination of a virus-positive lamb showing abnormal fleece and paralysis of the hind legs revealed nonsuppurative meningoencephalomyelitis with hypomyelinogenesis. By immunohistochemistry Pestivirus antigen was detected in all parts of the brain including cerebellum, cerebral hemispheres and midbrain. Two Pestivirus isolates from a sheep and a goat kid, respectively, were isolated from samples that were positive in the antigen-capture ELISA. Genetic typing using the 5'-NTR (288bp) and N(pro) (738bp) showed that both were Border disease virus (BDV) isolates. By phylogenetic analysis, they formed a cluster clearly separated from the known clusters BDV-1 to BDV-6 and might therefore represent a new subgroup (BDV-7?). This is the first report confirming the occurrence and partial characterisation of BDV infection in small ruminants in Turkey.

Effects of vitamin C and N-acetylcysteine against cyclophosphamide-induced genotoxicity in exfoliated bladder cells of mice in vivo.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of vitamin C and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) against cyclophosphamide (CP) -induced genotoxic damage in exfoliated bladder cells of mice by micronucleus (MN) assay. METHODS: For each experimental step, 6-8 Swiss albino balb/c male mice were used. CP was used as positive control. Vitamin C (10, 30 and 60 mg/kg) and CP (51.6 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally to the experimental animals. Vitamin C was administered twice, one dose 24 h prior to the CP administration and the second dose simultaneously with the CP. NAC (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg) was administered by gavage for 7 consecutive days before the injection of CP. Distilled water and normal saline as negative controls I and II were used, respectively. Ten days after CP treatment, the mice were sacrificed and bladders were isolated and cut, and exfoliated cells were scraped from the bladder walls. Air-dried smears were stained by Feulgen reaction. MN frequencies were scored in 1000 epithelial cells per animal and defined as MN per thousand (per thousand). RESULTS: Three doses of vitamin C (10, 30 and 60 mg/ kg) showed a significant inhibitory effect on MN frequencies in mouse bladder cells when compared with those of positive control group (p <0.05). Dose-dependent inhibitory effect of vitamin C was observed only between the doses of 10 and 60 mg/kg (p <0.05). Histopathological changes that depended on CP- induced inflammatory infiltration and haemorrhage in mucosa propria were not observed in all 3 vitamin C doses. Three doses of NAC (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg) inhibited the CP-induced genotoxicity (p <0.05), however, the antigenotoxic effect of NAC was not dose-dependent. Histopathological changes that depended on CP-induced inflammatory infiltration and haemorrhage in mucosa propria were not observed in 200 and 400 mg/kg NAC dosage. The extent of desquamation in bladder was similar in all 3 doses of NAC when compared with the positive control group. CONCLUSION: Our study indicated that vitamin C and NAC reduced the CP-induced MN frequencies in target (bladder) cells of mice by 41-71% in all cases. The modifying effects of vitamin C and NAC against CP-induced genotoxic damage may be due to their antioxidant, nucleophilic properties and to the ability to act as precursors of glutathione.

A sheeppox virus outbreak in Central Turkey in 2003: isolation and identification of capripoxvirus ovis.

Poxvirus epidemics occur almost every year and cause significant economic losses for small-scale animal producers in Turkey. In this study, the causative agent of the most recent epidemic in Central Anatolia was detected in clinical samples using electron microscopy (EM) and amplified using an in house polymerase chain reaction procedure for the first time. Additionally, the aetiological agent was isolated from a sheep and identified using EM and PCR.

Synthesis, in vitro cytotoxic and antiviral activity of cis-[Pt(R(-) and S(+)-2-alpha-hydroxybenzylbenzimidazole)2Cl2] complexes.

A pair of enantiomeric platinum(II) complexes of cis-[Pt(R(-) and S(+)-HBB)2Cl2] (HBB=2-alpha-hydroxybenzylbenzimidazole) was synthesized and evaluated for its preliminary in vitro cytotoxic activity on the human MCF-7 breast cancer and HeLa cervix cancer cell lines and antiherpes virus activity against bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1). In general, it was found that Pt(II) complexes were less cytotoxic on both cell lines than cisplatin and were comparable to carboplatin. There was no significant difference in cytotoxicity between two enantiomers, and the antiviral test results showed that the Pt(II) complexes and their carrier ligands R(-) and S(+) HBB had no effects inhibiting replication of BHV-1.

Selective apoptotic behaviour of bovine herpesvirus 1 in an epithelial-like microenvironment.

Apoptosis seems to play an important role in the pathogenic profile of bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) infection. Nitric oxide (NO) is also important as a signal molecule. In this study, apoptosis was selectively induced in HEp-2 cells in the early stage [1-3 h postinfection (PI)] of BHV-1 multiplication, and this apoptotic process was realised through the caspase-8, and partially through the caspase-3, pathway. BHV-1 infection inhibited staurosporine- (SS-) induced apoptosis only if the SS was added at 6 h PI. The results of this study showed that the 'NO-apoptosis' relation was realised through the caspase-8 pathway ('outer membrane receptor' pathway) at a later stage of infection in apoptosis induced by BHV-1 + SS. Our previous report (Yazici et al., 2004) and this study together showed that BHV-1 might induce and inhibit cell-type-specific pathways of apoptosis.

Cerebral vasculitis as a major manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Cerebral vasculitis (CV) is a rare described complication of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although the most frequent neurological manifestations of RA are peripheral neuropathy and cervical spinal cord compression due to subluxation of the cervical vertebrae, CV can be seen especially in patients with seropositive and long-standing RA. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: We report two cases of CV associated with RA. Both patients had no extraarticular manifestations and RA clinics were under control. Our first case is a 30-years-old woman with seropositive RA for 15 years who had suddenly onset left facial and upper extremity weakness. In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) DWI, hyperintensity in frontotemporal region due to acute ischaemia was detected. The new lacuner acute ischaemic lesions in right precentral gyrus, bilateral frontoparietal and corpus callosal region were detected in the control MRI. The cerebral MR angiography and transcranial doppler findings were consistent with CV. The patient responded favourably to pulse methylprednisolone and oral azathiopurine treatments. The second patient is a 52-year-old man who had been RA for 29 years. He admitted to our neurology clinic with speech difficulty and right upper extremity minimal weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging DWI showed left parietooccipital acute ischaemia which was progressed within a week and a new right parietooccipital ischaemia was added. His cerebral MR angiography and cerebral angiography were concordant with CV. The cyclophosphamide therapy was started since the cerebral ischaemia was progressed during pulse methylprednisolone and he responded well to this therapy. CONCLUSION: CV due to RA is an uncommon serious complication which can be life-threatening. Therefore clinicians should be aware of the possibility of CV especially in progressive strokes in RA.

Vacuolating cytotoxic activity of 40 Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from Turkish patients.

In this study we examined the in vitro vacuolating cytotoxic activity of Helicobacter pylori, which is a gram-negative microaerophilic curved bacterium and a causative agent of gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric ulcer. A vacuolating cytotoxin assay was performed to assess the vacuolating activity of 40 strains (20 gastritis, 11 gastric ulcer, and 9 duodenal ulcer), which were obtained from patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The Vero cell line was used in the cytotoxic assay. Of the 40 isolates, 24 (12 gastritis, 6 gastric ulcer, 6 duodenal ulcer) were cytotoxic for the Vero cell line at 1:4 and 1:8 dilutions. Thus, vacuolating cytotoxin of H. pylori affects the Vero cell line, but it seems there is no correlation between the positivity of the strains and the risk of any particular H. pylori disease.

Bone generation on PHBV matrices: an in vitro study.

Bone formation was investigated in vitro by culturing rat marrow stromal osteoblasts in biodegradable, macroporous poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid-co-3-hydroxyvaleric acid) (PHBV) matrices over a period of 60 days. Foams were prepared after solvent evaporation and solute leaching. PHBV solutions with different concentrations were prepared in chloroform: dichloromethane (1:2, v/v). In order to create a matrix with high porosity and uniform pore sizes, sieved sucrose crystals (300-500 microm) were used. PHBV foams were treated with rf-oxygen plasma (100 W 10 min) to modify their surface chemistry and hydrophilicity with the aim of increasing the reattachment of osteoblasts. Osteoblasts were isolated from rat bone marrow and seeded onto PHBV foams. The cell density on and in the foams was determined with MTS assay. MTS results showed that osteoblasts proliferated on PHBV. Twenty-one days after seeding of incubation, growth of osteoblasts on matrices and initiation of mineralization were observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Increasing ALP and osteocalcin secretion during 60 days confirmed the osteoblastic phenotype of the derived stromal cells. SEM, histological evaluations and confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that osteoblasts could grow inside the matrices and lead to mineralization. Cells exhibited spindle-like morphology and had a diameter of 10-30 microm. Based on these, it could confidently be stated that PHBV seems to be a promising polymeric matrix material for bone tissue engineering.

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.

Effect of intratympanic steroid application on the development of experimental cholesteatoma.

By introducing certain irritants into the middle ear it is possible to produce cholesteatoma. Propylene glycol, the main agent used for this purpose, produces a long-standing inflammation that causes hyperplasia and migration of the epithelium through an intact tympanic membrane. In the present investigation topical prednisolone was used in order to inhibit the production of cholesteatoma. The results indicate that there is a marked decrease in inflammation and hence experimental cholesteatoma production when prednisolone is administered into the middle ear.

Chlamydia and atherosclerotic coronary arterial disease in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: Chlamydia pneumoniae, which is a Gram(-) intracellular bacteria, besides being a respiratory pathogen, is thought to play an active role in the progress of acute myocardial infarction and chronic coronary artery disease. In this study we aim to determine the frequency of C. pneumoniae in coronary artery lesions of Turkish people. METHODS AND RESULTS: The atherosclerotic material taken from 8 cases by directional atherectomy and from 23 cases by surgical endarterectomy and examined by indirect immunofluorescence (IIFA) test and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). C. pneumoniae positivity was 32.3% (10/31) by IIFA and 29.0% (9/31) by PCR while the evaluation of the methods together yield a positivity of 35.5% (11/31). CONCLUSIONS: A statistically significant difference could not be established between C. pneumoniae positive and negative groups according to age and the classical atherosclerotic risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, smoking, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension, family history; besides, a statistically significant difference could not be found between the presence of C. pneumoniae and the severity and clinical picture of coronary artery disease.

Biotypic characterisation of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in clinical samples.

In this study, bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) was detected and bio-typically characterised in clinical samples using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The RT-PCR technique produced two different amplicons (402 and approx. 680 bp in size) in case of the presence of both biotypes (cp and ncp) in the sample. The mixture of the biotypes as detected by RT-PCR was verified by the immunoplaque assay (IPA). Purification of biotypes was carried out by native plaque isolation and subsequent RT-PCR revealed single products (402 or approx. 680 bp in size) in each clone. The results showed that RT-PCR can be used for accurate molecular differentiation between the BVDV biotypes.

Determination and phylogenetic analysis of canine distemper virus in dogs with nervous symptoms in Turkey.

In the present study, canine distemper virus (CDV) was investigated in 20 dogs having nervous signs arousing the clinical suspicion of canine distemper (CD). A total of 13 animals (65%) were stray dogs and had no accurate record about the vaccination history. Clinical examinations revealed that the majority (85%) of the animals showed systemic form characterised by predominantly nervous symptoms accompanied by mild respiratory system signs whilst the remaining cases (15%) recorded mainly respiratory distress. CDV RNA was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) only in 45% of the suspected cases. Phylogenetic analysis of partial nucleotide sequence of the P gene coding region revealed that the virus is closely related to European strains. Immune responses in 13 cases (65%), which were detected by dot-ELISA, indicated inefficient levels for neutralising functions against CDV. It was postulated that this response could have been mediated by either previous vaccination or mild infection with field strains.

Study of programmed cell death in bovine herpesvirus 1 infected MDBK cells and the possible role of nitric oxide in this process.

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) is the aetiological agent of many disease types and may predispose infected animals, possibly through immunosuppression, to secondary bacterial infections. Immunosuppression may directly be associated with the induction of programmed cell death (PCD) in some virus-infected cells. Nitric oxide (NO) has an important mediating role against fungal, bacterial, protozoal, viral pathogens and tumours. BHV-1 induced apoptosis between 0.5-3 h postinfection (PI) in MDBK cells; however, between 3 and 6 h PI the PCD response was found to be decreased. It was interesting to see that BHV-I inhibited staurosporin-induced PCD after 1 h. These results showed similarities with those obtained from herpes simplex type I infections in human epithelial cells. PCD response decreased 1 h following caspase-3 inhibitor applications, whereas NO response increased 3 h following infection in the presence of caspase-8 and -9 inhibitory peptides. In conclusion, BHV-1 inhibited the staurosporin-induced apoptotic response and also the NO response. We propose that this inhibition is caspase-3 dependent.

[Respiratory syncytial virus antibody levels in the 13-25 age group of healthy people using a microneutralization test]. / 13-25 yas grubundaki saglikli kisilerde respiratory syncytial virus antikor düzeylerinin mikronötralizasyon testi ile arastirilmasi.

In this study antibody levels to Respiratory Syncytial virus were investigated in 181 serum samples obtained from healthy individuals by using microneutralization test. 25 out of 181 sera (13.8%) were found positive at 1/5 dilution. Serum neutralization50 (SN50) value of these sera were detected at different titers which varied from 1/7.08 to 1/79.5.

Detection by cultural isolation of bovine virus diarrhoea (BVD) virus following field infections in cattle and their fetuses in Turkey.

Cultural isolation, identification and biotype characterization of BVD virus is based on monolayer tissue culture techniques using mainly organs of, e.g., bovine fetuses. These might have experienced a transplacental transmission and are therefore of no use for tissue cultures produced, e.g., from kidneys of such fetuses. In order to rule out BVD virus infections, fetuses must be tested for BVD virus, viral antigen or specific nucleotide sequences. BVD virus and other ruminant pestiviruses have been detected in Turkey by cultural isolation. In bovine fetuses BVD virus has not been demonstrated so far. Cultural isolation was attempted in the present investigation in 50 randomly selected pregnant cows which were brought to an abattoir. Of these cows serum samples were assayed for neutralizing antibodies to BVD virus and 40 (80%) found positive with titres > or = 1:40. In contrast fetuses 120 days of ontogenic age and therefore supposedly immunocompetent were derived from seropositive dams (n = 16) but did not show any neutralizing antibodies to BVD virus. Leucocyte fractions of peripheral blood samples of the 50 cows as well as 353 fetal blood and organ samples were inoculated and submitted to three passages in fetal calf kidney cell cultures before testing for BVD viral antigen by immunofluorescence technique. BVD virus was thus detected in the fetus of one seropositive cow and also in the leucocyte fraction of one seronegative dam including organs of her fetus. The number of fetuses found positive for BVD virus amongst fetuses collected in abattoirs corresponds well to figures gained by other investigators outside Turkey.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antibody prevalence of caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) in goats in Turkey.

In this study, a serological survey in goat herds for antibodies against Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus (CAEV) in Turkey is described. 808 serum samples were collected from three state farms and seven private flocks in different regions of Turkey. The serologic examination was performed by Agar Gel Immunodiffusion (AGID) technique. 16 (1.9%) out of 808 sera deriving from two state farms (n = 14) and one private herd (n = 2) were found to be serologically positive. The findings are discussed with regard to the relatively low prevalence of CAEV in Turkey, age and race dependency and the kind of origin of the serologically screened animals.