Prevalence of cagA and vacA genotypes of Helicobacter pylori isolated from Turkish patients with active or non-active chronic gastritis.

Several virulence factors of Helicobacter pylori may contribute to gastric mucosal damage. In this study, the prevalence of cagA and vacA genotypes of H. pylori was examined in different patterns of chronic gastritis. Oesophagogastroendoscopy was performed in 147 dyspeptic patients. Antrum biopsies were obtained for isolation of H. pylori and for histopathological assessment. H. pylori vacAs1 and cagA genes were directly genotyped in the gastric biopsy specimens by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 102 dyspeptic patients, all H. pylori-positive by PCR, were included in the study. Of these, 59 had active chronic gastritis and 37 had non-active chronic gastritis. The prevalence of cagA and vacAs1 was higher among patients with active chronic gastritis than among those with non-active chronic gastritis (45.8% vs 21.6% (p = 0.02) and 78.0% vs 40.5% (p < 0.001), respectively). In conclusion, both cagA and vacAs1 genotypes are associated with the activity of chronic gastritis.

The effects of caspofungin and voriconazole in an experimental fungal infection of the ear due to Aspergillus.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of caspofungin and voriconazole in the treatment of experimental Aspergillus otitis media in an experimental rabbit model. A total of 30 New Zealand white rabbits were divided into four treatment groups and one control group. The rabbits were immunosuppressed by cyclophosphamide and triamcinolone acetonide. The right ear of each rabbit was infected by an injection of the inoculum of 0.1 ml (8.6 x 103 CFU/0.1 ml) of Aspergillus fumigatus into the middle ear cavity. At 72 h after the inoculation, amphotericin B 1 mg/kg per day (n = 6), itraconazole 10 mg/kg per day (n = 6), voriconazole 10 mg/kg per day (n = 6) and caspofungin 5 mg/kg per day (n = 6) were injected to each treatment group. No antifungal drug was administered to the control group (n = 6). Clinical and histopathological examination scores and microbiological analysis of middle ear mucosa were compared.There was statistically significant difference in the clinical scores, histopathological scores, and mean CFU/g between the treatment and control groups (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference among the treatment groups in the clinical and histopathological scores, whereas there was statistically significant difference in the mean CFU/g (P < 0.05). The mean CFU/g of amphotericin B and caspofungin groups were similar and both were lower than the itraconazole and voriconazole groups. Also, the mean CFU/g of voriconazole group was lower than the itraconazole group (P < 0.05). Caspofungin and voriconazole were demonstrated at least as effective as amphotericin B and itraconazole. We suggest that caspofungin and voriconazole may be considered for the treatment of fungal infection of the ear.

[Cystic echinococcosis in Turkey from 2001-2005]. / Türkiye'de 2001-2005 Yillari Arasinda Kistik Ekinokokkozis.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) caused by the metacestode form of Echinococcus granulosus is a major public health problem especially in animal-raising regions of the world. In the present study, CE cases were determined during 2001-2005 by investigating different hospital and health directorship documents and Health Ministry documents, retrospectively. Our results show that there were 2534 (13.13%) cases in the Marmara region; 2114 (16.94%), in the Aegean region; 2578 (16.09%), Mediterranean region; 5404 (38.57%), in the Middle Anatolian region; 428 (5.70%), in the Black Sea region; 844 (6.80%), in the eastern Anatolian region; and 887 (2.75%), in the southeastern Anatolian region making a total of 14,789 CE cases. Finally, it has been determined that the patients were hospitalized for a total of 149,464 days.

Clinical importance of Demodex folliculorum in patients receiving phototherapy.

BACKGROUND: Patients with immunodeficiency are prone to infestation with Demodex folliculorum mites. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation can lead to immunosuppression and sebaceous gland hyperplasia. Although some cases of demodicidosis related to UV radiation exposure have been reported, no studies have been performed on the incidence of D. folliculorum and its clinical characteristics in patients receiving phototherapy. Objective To investigate the effects of phototherapy on the density of D. folliculorum infestation and its clinical characteristics. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. Forty-five patients receiving phototherapy and 43 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled to the study. The sociodemographic characteristics, occupational information, and skin types (2, 3, 4, or 5) of both patients and controls were carefully recorded. The dermatologic diseases requiring phototherapy, type and number of phototherapy treatments, and cumulative UV doses of all patients were noted. The clinical findings that may relate to demodicidosis were recorded. Standardized skin surface biopsies were taken from three anatomic regions (forehead, cheek, and nasal dorsum) and suspected lesions; five or more D. folliculorum mites per square centimeter of skin was defined as demodicidosis. RESULTS: Twelve (26.7%) patients received psoralen plus UV-A (PUVA) and 33 (73.3%) received narrow-band UV-B. Demodicidosis was detected in 13 (28.9%) patients and three (7%) controls. The difference in the demodicidosis rate between patients and controls was statistically significant (P = 0.01). In eight of the 13 patients (61.5%) with demodicidosis, clinical demodicidosis was present. Demodicidosis was present in seven of the 12 patients (58.3%) receiving PUVA and in six of the 33 patients (18.2%) receiving narrow-band UV-B. The difference in demodicidosis rates between patients receiving PUVA and those receiving narrow-band UV-B was statistically significant (P = 0.02). A statistically significant difference was also found between the mean D. folliculorum densities of patients and controls in all anatomic regions. CONCLUSION: Demodicidosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of facial eruptions in patients receiving phototherapy.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester reduces mortality and sepsis-induced lung injury in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Sepsis and ensuing multiorgan failure continue to be the major causes of mortality in intensive care units. Nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activation is supposed to be one of the targets in the treatment of sepsis. We studied the effectiveness of caffeic phenethyl ester (CAPE), a known NF-kappaB inhibitor, in cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis and lung injury. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled animal study. SETTING: Research laboratory of an academic institution. SUBJECTS: Female Sprague-Dawley rats. INTERVENTIONS: CLP was performed in all rats except the rats in control and sham+CAPE groups. CAPE was administered to rats at the time of operation in sham+CAPE and CAPE+sepsis 0 groups. CAPE was administered to rats in the CAPE+sepsis12 group 12 hrs after CLP. Eight rats from each group were killed 24 hrs after CLP. Blood was taken for assessment of interleukin-1, interleukin-6, interleukin-10, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha; the right lung was removed for histopathologic examination and the left lung for biochemical examination. Apoptosis, inducible nitric oxide synthase, heat shock protein 70, malondialdehyde, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase were studied. The rest of the rats were observed for mortality. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Mortality was significantly decreased in groups that received CAPE compared with the sepsis group. All cytokine levels were similar to control levels only in the CAPE+sepsis12 group. Apoptosis, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and heat shock protein 70 evaluation were significantly changed between all groups in the following order: control < sham+CAPE< CAPE+sepsis12 < CAPE+sepsis 0 < sepsis. Malondialdehyde and catalase were increased in the sepsis group. CONCLUSIONS: CAPE reduced mortality in sepsis and improved histopathologic variables best when it was administered after the onset of sepsis.

[Investigation of hemodialysis patients in terms of the presence of occult hepatitis B]. / Hemodiyaliz hastalarinin gizli hepatit B varligi yönünden arastirilmasi.

The presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in case of negative HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) in serum is known as "occult hepatitis B". There are many reports indicating that occult HBV infections are more frequently encountered in case of hepatocellular carcinoma, hemodialysis practice and co-infections with hepatitis C virus (HCV). The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of HBV-DNA in HBsAg negative hemodialysis. patients and subjects who had never experienced hemodialysis. A total of 226 HBsAg negative sera were included to the study, of which 153 were from hemodialysis patients (97 male, 56 female; mean age: 41.3 +/- 5.8 years), and 73 were from non-hemodialyzed individuals (46 male, 27 female; mean age: 36.5 +/- 6.9 years) who had serological evidence of previous HBV and HCV infections. Of these 73 subjects, 41 were anti-HCV positive, 22 were "anti-HBc IgG positive alone", seven were anti-HBc IgG and anti-HBs positive, and three were anti-HBc IgG and anti-HBe positive, while 40 of 153 (26.1%) hemodialysis patients were anti-HCV positive. HBV and HCV markers were detected by commercial enzyme immunoassays (bioMerieux, France and Murex, UK, respectively), and HBV-DNA testing was performed by a commercial real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR; 5700 and 7700 Sequence Detection System, Applied Biosystems, UK) assay. Nineteen (12.4%) of HBsAg-negative hemodialysis patients and five (6.8%) of the non-hemodialyzed subjects were found positive for HBV-DNA (viral loads were > or =10(4) copies/ml, and 10(3)-10(4) copies/ml, repectively). The rates of occult HBV infection in the anti-HCV positive hemodialysis patients and anti-HCV positive non-hemodialyzed subjects were detected as 27.5% (11/40) and 2.4% (1/41), respectively. These rates in the other groups were found as follows; 7.1% (8/113) in the anti-HCV negative hemodialysis patients, 9.1% (2/22) in the "anti-HBc positive alone" subjects, and 20% (2/10) in the subjects positive for anti-HBc+anti-HBs or anti-HBe. The results of this study indicated that the prevalence of HBV viremia (12.4%) in hemodialysis patients being more prominent in those of anti-HCV positive patients (27.5%) should not be overlooked. In conclusion, the hemodialysis patients should be screened by sensitive PCR-based methods for occult HBV infections, even if they were negative for HBsAg, in order to prevent or at least to decrease the transmission risk of HBV infection which is still an important health problem in dialysis units.

Treatment of Staphylococcus epidermidis endophthalmitis with intravitreal moxifloxacin in a rabbit model.

Staphylococcus epidermidis is one of the most common causes of postoperative infectious endophthalmitis, which is a serious complication of ocular surgery and penetrating trauma. Moxifloxacin is a newly developed fluoroquinolone with a potent antimicrobial activity. Corticosteroids are used in endophthalmitis to suppress devastating intraocular inflammatory response. This study was designed to assess the efficacy of intravitreal moxifloxacin alone and in combination with intravitreal dexamethasone. To the best of our knowledge, there is no published report demonstrating the effect of intravitreal moxifloxacin on bacterial endophthalmitis. One eye of each rabbit (n=24) was infected by inoculation of 10(5) colony-forming units (CFU) of S. epidermidis into the vitreus cavity. Rabbits received intravitreal injection of moxifloxacin (50 microg) or a combination of moxifloxacin (50 microg) and dexamethasone (400 microg). No treatment was given to control group. Clinical and histopathological examination scores and microbiological analysis of vitreus aspirates were compared. In the treatment groups, the clinical and histopathological scores and mean CFU were significantly lower than those in the control group (p <0.05) but showed no significant difference between the treatment groups. These results suggest that intravitreal injection of moxifloxacin is effective against S. epidermidis in this experimental rabbit model. Moxifloxacin may be a promising agent in the treatment of bacterial endophthalmitis.

Octenidine hydrochloride in hydatid disease.

Hydatid disease is still endemic in many devoloping countries and continues to be an important cause of morbidity. The objective of this study was to determine the in vitro scolicidal effects of octenidine hydrochloride in different concentrations using different exposure times. After hydatid cyst liquid was left to precipitate for 1 h to obtain cystic sand, various concentrations of octenidine (undiluted, 1% and 0.1% diluted) were added to concentrated hydatid cyst sediments for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, and 60 min, and scolicidal effects of octenidine were compared with 20% saline and control group for the same times. It was found that undiluted octenidine had a strong scolicidal effect at 15 min compared to saline at 20%. One percent octenidine had a scolicidal effect at 30 min. However, 0.1% octenidine did not have enough scolicidal effect in 1 h. It was concluded that undiluted and 1% diluted octenidine might be used for scolicidal purpose in the treatment of hydatid disease.

Octenidine Hydrochloride in Hydatid Disease.

Hydatid disease is still endemic in many devoloping countries and continues to be an important cause of morbidity. The objective of this study was to determine the in vitro scolicidal effects of octenidine hydrochloride in different concentrations using different exposure times. After hydatid cyst liquid was left to precipitate for 1 h to obtain cystic sand, various concentrations of octenidine (undiluted, 1% and 0.1% diluted) were added to concentrated hydatid cyst sediments for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, and 60 min, and scolicidal effects of octenidine were compared with 20% saline and control group for the same times. It was found that undiluted octenidine had a strong scolicidal effect at 15 min compared to saline at 20%. One percent octenidine had a scolicidal effect at 30 min. However, 0.1% octenidine did not have enough scolicidal effect in 1 h. It was concluded that undiluted and 1% diluted octenidine might be used for scolicidal purpose in the treatment of hydatid disease.

Octenidine Hydrochloride in Hydatid Disease.

Hydatid disease is still endemic in many devoloping countries and continues to be an important cause of morbidity. The objective of this study was to determine the in vitro scolicidal effects of octenidine hydrochloride in different concentrations using different exposure times. After hydatid cyst liquid was left to precipitate for 1 h to obtain cystic sand, various concentrations of octenidine (undiluted, 1% and 0.1% diluted) were added to concentrated hydatid cyst sediments for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, and 60 min, and scolicidal effects of octenidine were compared with 20% saline and control group for the same times. It was found that undiluted octenidine had a strong scolicidal effect at 15 min compared to saline at 20%. One percent octenidine had a scolicidal effect at 30 min. However, 0.1% octenidine did not have enough scolicidal effect in 1 h. It was concluded that undiluted and 1% diluted octenidine might be used for scolicidal purpose in the treatment of hydatid disease.