Self-efficacy, depression and self-care activities of people with type 2 diabetes in Turkey.

Background: Self-efficacy related to self-care behaviors in people with type 2 diabetes has been well reported. However no work has been reported in Turkey that uses reliable instruments to examine the relationships among self-care activities, depression and self-efficacy. Aim: This study aims to investigate self-care activities, depression and self-efficacy among people with type 2 diabetes in Turkey. Methods: The sample included 200 patients with type 2 diabetes from an endocrinology outpatient clinic at a university hospital. Self-care activities, self-efficacy, and symptoms of depression were measured using established instruments: The Summary for Diabetes Self-Care Activities, the Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Beck Depression Inventory. Descriptive and correlational statistics were used in data analysis. Findings: One in three (37.5%) of participants had depression symptoms. Beck Depression Inventory scores were higher in women and in those with a lower education level, had diabetic complications and difficulty in meeting health care costs. The mean self-efficacy score was 66.5 ±â€…14.0; those who lived alone, were unemployed and knew their HbA1c level had significantly higher scores (p < .05). Demographic and diabetes characteristics including age, education, social support, diabetes complications, HbA1c level, and having diabetes education were found to be significantly associated with all self-care activities except smoking. Conclusion: The association between self-efficacy and self-care activities was positive. Interventions to improve patients' self-efficacy and self-care are needed in order to maximize diabetes self-management.

Potential relationship between BK virus and renal cell carcinoma.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the potential association between the presence of BK virus (BKV) DNA and mRNA and renal cell carcinoma and bladder transitional cell carcinoma. The formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue samples were obtained from 50 cancer patients with renal cell carcinoma, 40 cancer patients with bladder transitional cell carcinoma, 45 control patients with the benign renal pathology, and from another 25 control patients with benign bladder pathology. The samples were subjected to nested PCR for detection of BKV DNA and real-time reverse transcription PCR (real-time RT-PCR) for determining mRNA levels of BKV. The results of the nested PCR indicated that 23 (14.3%) of 160 samples were positive for BKV DNA. The relationship between the cancer and the presence of BKV DNA was significant (P < 0.05). The BKV DNA positivity was significantly associated with the histological diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma (P = 0.03), but not with that of bladder transitional cell carcinoma. The results of real-time RT-PCR showed that the mRNA of BKV VP1 was present in 69.5% of the BKV DNA positive samples. The levels of BKV mRNA were significantly higher in the renal cell cancer samples than in the control samples (P < 0.05). The results of the present study confirm the association between BKV and renal cell cancer. The findings also indicated that the presence of BKV DNA resulted in a fivefold increase in the risk of development of renal cell carcinoma.

Presence of herpesviruses in adenoid tissues of children with adenoid hypertrophy and chronic adenoiditis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of study was to determine the presence of some of the herpesviruses including herpes simplex virus (HSV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) in adenoid tissues of children with adenoid hypertrophy (AH) and chronic adenoiditis (CA) and to investigate the potential role of the herpesviruses in patogenesis of AH and CA. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 72 patients (41 boys, 31 girls; mean age 4 years and 2 months; range 2 to 9 years) who underwent adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy (with or without placement of a ventilation tube) in our clinic between October 2007 and May 2008, were included. The patients were divided into two groups, as AH group (n=42) and the CA group (n=30). Adenoid tissues collected from patients in both groups were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of HSV, EBV and CMV-DNA. RESULTS: The results of the PCR indicated that 33.3% in the AH group and 36.6% in the CA group were herpesvirus DNA positive. Among the herpesviruses studied, HSV-DNA was detected at the highest level (14.2% and 16.6%, respectively) in both groups, although the difference between the groups was not significant. EBV-DNA positiveness was 11.9% and CMV-DNA was 4.7% in the AH group, whereas, EBV-DNA positiveness was 13.3% and CMV-DNA was 6.6% in the CA group. CONCLUSION: Herpesviruses were determined at a high rate in adenoid tissue of children with AH and CA, suggesting that there may be a potential relationship between the presence of herpesviruses and occurrence of AH and CA in children. However, more extensive studies are required to elucidate the role of herpesviruses in the pathogenesis of AH or CA.

Equilibrium and thermodynamic studies on biosorption of Pb(II) onto Candida albicans biomass.

Biosorption of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solutions was studied in a batch system by using Candida albicans. The optimum conditions of biosorption were determined by investigating the initial metal ion concentration, contact time, temperature, biosorbent dose and pH. The extent of metal ion removed increased with increasing contact time, initial metal ion concentration and temperature. Biosorption equilibrium time was observed in 30min. The Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption models were used for the mathematical description of biosorption equilibrium and isotherm constants were also evaluated. The maximum biosorption capacity of Pb(II) on C. albicans was determined as 828.50+/-1.05, 831.26+/-1.30 and 833.33+/-1.12mgg(-1), respectively, at different temperatures (25, 35 and 45 degrees C). Biosorption showed pseudo second-order rate kinetics at different initial concentration of Pb(II) and different temperatures. The activation energy of the biosorption (Ea) was estimated as 59.04kJmol(-1) from Arrhenius equation. Using the equilibrium constant value obtained at different temperatures, the thermodynamic properties of the biosorption (DeltaG degrees , DeltaH degrees and DeltaS degrees ) were also determined. The results showed that biosorption of Pb(II) ions on C. albicans were endothermic and spontaneous. The optimum initial pH for Pb(II) was determined as pH 5.0. FTIR spectral analysis of Pb(II) adsorbed and unadsorbed C. albicans biomass was also discussed.

[Investigation of the presence of human papillomavirus DNA in various gastrointestinal carcinoma samples]. / Cesitli gastrointestinal karsinom örneklerinde insan papillomavirus dna varliginin arastirilmasi.

The role of human papillomavirus (HPV) has been well established in the pathogenesis of cervical cancers. However, HPV-DNA has also been detected in tumor tissues of other malignancies. Recently, detection of HPV-DNA in gastrointestinal cancer tissues with in-situ hybridization and PCR technologies has suggested possible role of HPV in gastrointestinal cancers. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the presence of HPV in the tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues of gastrointestinal cancers and to determine the types of HPV in positive cases. The study included a total of 106 (59 male, 47 female, age range: 25-80 years, mean age: 57.03 +/- 1.29 years) patients, of them 38 had gastric, 42 colon, 20 rectal, 4 esophageal and 2 small intestinal cancers. Genomic DNAs were isolated from the parafin embedded specimens of tumor and tumor-adjacent normal tissues and the performance of the extraction process was controlled with PCR using beta-globin primer. DNA extraction was achieved in 100 of the tumor tissues and in all of the tumor adjacent normal tissues (n=106). HPV-DNA was searched by,using GP5/GP6 primers and concensus PCR method. HPV-positive DNA samples were further typed by using HPV-11, 16, 18, 33 specific primers. HPV-DNA was detected in 41% (41/100) of tumor tissue samples and 31% (33/106) of tumor-adjacent normal tissue samples. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of HPV-DNA positivity between tumor and tumor-adjacent normal tissues (p > 0.05). HPV-DNA was detected in 44.7% (33/106) of gastric samples, 35.1% (13/37) of colon samples, 47.3% (9/19) of rectal samples, 25% (1/4) of esophagus samples and 50% (1/2) of small intestine samples. Eight of the HPV positive tumor tissues revealed HPV type 16, three type 18 and five type 33, while three of normal tissue samples revealed type 18 and two type 33. Two different HPV types together were detected in two tumor samples, one being type 16 + type 33 and the other being type 18 + type 33. Although these results indicating the presence of HPV-DNA in gastrointestinal tumor and adjacent normal tissues, suggest a possible role of HPV in gastrointestinal tumors, further studies are necessary for the establishment of a definite causative role.

Adsorption studies on ground shells of hazelnut and almond.

Adsorption behaviour of Ni(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) from aqueous solutions by shells of hazelnut and almond were investigated. The structural properties and surface chemistry of the shells were characterized using sorption of nitrogen and Boehm titration. The equilibrium time was found to be 120 min. The equilibrium adsorption capacity of shells were obtained by using linear Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. The equilibrium adsorption level was determined to be a function of the solution contact time, concentration and temperature. The thermodynamic parameters have been determined. The negative values of free change (DeltaG) indicated the spontaneous nature of the adsorption of Ni(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) onto shells of hazelnut and almond and the positive values of enthalpy change (DeltaH) suggested the endothermic nature of the adsorption process. The best correlation coefficients were obtained for the pseudo second-order kinetic model. Ion exchange is probably one of the major adsorption mechanisms for binding divalent metal ions to the shells of hazelnut and almond. The selectivity order of the adsorbents is Pb(II)>Cd(II)>Ni(II).

Equilibrium and kinetics studies for adsorption of direct blue 71 from aqueous solution by wheat shells.

This paper deals with the application of wheat shells (WS), an agricultural by-product, for the removal of direct blue 71 (DR) from aqueous solution. The characteristics of WS surface, such as surface area, Bohem titration and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were obtained. The removal of direct blue 71 onto WS from aqueous solution was investigated by using parameters, such as pH, temperature, adsorbent dose, contact time and initial concentration. The adsorption process attains equilibrium within 36 h. The extent of dye removal decreased with increasing adsorbent dosage and also increased with increasing contact time, temperature, in solution concentration. Optimum pH value for dye adsorption was determined between 6 and 8. The experimental data were analysed by the Langmuir and Freundlich models of adsorption. It was found that the Langmuir equation fit better than the Freundlich equation. Maximum adsorption capacity (Q(m)) was calculated as at different temperatures (293, 303 and 313 K) 40.82, 45.66 and 46.30 mgg(-1), respectively. In addition, the adsorption data obtained at different temperatures of DR by WS were applied to pseudo first-order, pseudo second-order and Weber-Morris equations, and the rate constants of first-order adsorption (k(1)), the rate constants of second-order adsorption (k(2)) and intraparticle diffusion rate constants (k(3)) at these temperatures were calculated, respectively. The rates of adsorption were found to conform to pseudo second-order kinetics with good correlation (R(2)>or=0.9904). Also, free energy of adsorption (DeltaG degrees), enthalpy (DeltaH degrees), and entropy (DeltaS degrees) changes were determined to predict the nature of adsorption. Furthermore, the results indicate that WS could be employed as a low-cost alternative to other adsorbents in the removal of direct blue 71 from aqueous solution.

[Detection of Mycobacterium species distribution in the sputum samples of tuberculosis patients by PCR-RFLP method in Elazig province]. / Elazig yöresinde tüberkülozlu hastalarin balgam örneklerinde mikobakteri tür dagiliminin PCR-RFLP yöntemi ile belirlenmesi.

The aim of this study was to detect the Mycobacterium species in the sputum samples collected from tuberculosis patients in Elazig province (located in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey), by PCR-RFLP (Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) method. A total of 60 samples from patients (32 male, 28 female) who were diagnosed as tuberculosis by culture positivity at Elazig Tuberculosis Control Dispensary, were included to the study. After DNA extraction and isolation from the samples, gene region encoding for 65 kDa protein of mycobacteria was amplified with specific primers (first step primers: TB1; 5'-GAG ATC GAC TGG AGG ATC C-3' and TB2; 5'-AGC TGC AGC CCA AAG GTG TT- 3', second step primers: TB1 and TB3; 5'-GTG TTG GAC TCC TCG ACG GT-3') by using seminested PCR method. According to hsp65 gene region amplification, 51 (85%) samples yielded positive results, while nine (15%) samples could not be identified. Of 51 samples, 44 (86.3%) were identified as M. tuberculosis complex, four (7.8%) were M.scrofulaceum, two (3.9%) were M. avium and one (1.9%) was M. intracellulare, in the restriction assay by Haelll of the PCR products. In order to identify the species of M. tuberculosis complex, gyrB gene region was amplified in those of 44 samples with specific primers (MTUB-f; 5'-TCG GAC GCG TAT GCG ATA TC-3' and MTUB-r; 5'-ACA TAC AGT TCG GAC TTG CG-3'), and the PCR products were restricted by Rsal and Taql enzymes. In this assay, 34 (77.3%), eight (18.2%), one (2.3%) and one (2.3%) of the 44 M. tuberculosis complex samples were detected as M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. microti and M. africanum, respectively. Our data indicated that at least seven different Mycobacterium species were the causative agents of tuberculosis in our region. As a result, researching for species distributions of mycobacteria in all of the parts of Turkey by molecular methods and clarifying their resistance patterns against antituberculous drugs are needed for the effective control of tuberculosis.

Removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution by sawdust adsorption.

The adsorption of lead, cadmium and nicel from aqueous solution by sawdust of walnut was investigated. The effect of contact time, initial metal ion concentration and temperature on metal ions removal has been studied. The equilibrium time was found to be of the order of 60 min. Kinetics fit pseudo first-order, second-order and intraparticle diffusion models, hence adsorption rate constants were calculated. The adsorption data of metal ions at temperatures of 25, 45 and 60 degrees C have been described by the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models. The thermodynamic parameters such as energy, entropy and enthalpy changes for the adsorption of heavy metal ions have also been computed and discussed. Ion exchange is probably one of the major adsorption mechanisms for binding divalent metal ions to the walnut sawdust. The selectivity order of the adsorbent is Pb(II) approximately Cd(II)>Ni(II). From these results, it can be concluded that the sawdust of walnut could be a good adsorbent for the metal ions from aqueous solutions.

The effects of low dose leukotriene receptor antagonist therapy on airway remodeling and cysteinyl leukotriene expression in a mouse asthma model.

Airway structural changes that occur in patients with asthma in response to persistent inflammation are termed airway remodeling. The cysteinyl leukotrienes (LTC(4), D(4) and E(4)) are known to play important roles in the pathobiology of asthma. To evaluate the effect of low dose montelukast (MK) on the development of airway remodeling using a chronic murine model of allergic airway inflammation with subepithelial fibrosis, BALB/c mice, after intraperitoneal ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization on days 0 and 14, received intranasal OVA periodically on days 14-75. MK treated mice received montelukast sodium intraperitoneally on days 26-75. The OVA sensitized/challenged mice developed an extensive eosinophil cell inflammatory response, goblet cell hyperplasia, mucus occlusion, and smooth muscle hypertrophy of the airways. In addition, in OVA sensitized/challenged mice, dense collagen deposition/fibrosis was seen throughout the lung interstitium surrounding the airways, blood vessels, and alveolar septae. The cysteinyl leukotriene 1 (CysLT1) receptor antagonist, MK significantly reduced the airway eosinophil infiltration, goblet cell hyperplasia, mucus occlusion, and lung fibrosis except airway smooth muscle hypertrophy in the OVA sensitized/challenged mice. The OVA sensitized/challenged mice had significantly increased epithelial desquamation compared with control mice. MK markedly reduced epithelial desquamation of airways in OVA/MK treated animals compared with OVA sensitized/challenged mice. MK treatment did not affect the levels of CysLT in lung tissue. Our results show that the important role of cysteinyl leukotrienes in the pathogenesis of asthma. Lower dose of CysLT1 receptor antagonism has a significant anti-inflammatory effect on allergen-induced lung inflammation and fibrosis but not airway smooth muscle hypertrophy in an animal model of asthma.

Detection of Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) subtype I as a single dominant virus subtype in Molluscum lesions from a Turkish population.

BACKGROUND: Molluscum contagiosum has a worldwide occurrence and its primary mode of transmission is via direct human contact including sexual means. The aim of the study was to implement a polymerase chain reaction-based assay for detection and subtyping of Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) in skin lesions diagnosed with molluscum contagiosum in a large regional teaching hospital in Turkey. METHODS: For this purpose, a total of 61 patients were included in the study. Randomly selected single lesion from each patient was used to extract DNA material and a specific PCR reaction amplifying 393-bp- and 575-bp-long regions from MCV genome was used in the detection. Subtyping was carried out by digestion of the amplified 575-bp product with restriction endonuclease enzyme BamHI. Both amplified and restriction enzyme digested products visualized on agarose gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: All 61 molluscum cases (100%) included in the study contained MCV genetic material as demonstrated by the presence of 393- and 575-bp-long PCR amplified products. Restriction enzyme BamHI digestion of the 575-bp-long amplicon indicated that the infecting subtype in all the cases (100%) was MCV subtype I. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study demonstrate that subtype I is the only infecting strain dominant in our region. Because the only consecutive molluscum patients admitted to our hospital were included in the study, our data do not rule out the possibility that other genotypes might be present in the Turkish population. However, it is not unreasonable to conclude that similar trends exist in the rest of the country. Results also show that a molecular-based diagnostic assay would be feasible in cases where diagnosis was deemed necessary.

Combined branched-DNA and conventional HBV PCR assays for detection of serum HBV-DNA in hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Monitoring of HBV replication level is very useful for the management of patients with chronic HBV. However, the use of the correct tools to quantify HBV-DNA levels in serum and monitor the replication of HBV is of paramount importance in terms of diagnosis, and antiviral treatment of patients with chronic HBV infection. The aim of this study was to combine the bDNA assay and HBV PCR to improve detection of viremia the patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B infection. METHODOLOGY: In this study, 67 HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients were analyzed to determine viremia level using bDNA and HBV PCR assays. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B showed positivity by conventional HBV PCR, whereas 56 subjects with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B showed HBV-DNA levels by bDNA. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that it is reasonable to use the bDNA assay to determine HBV replicative activity first, and use conventional HBV-PCR for HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patient samples that are negative in bDNA assay.

Detection of Helicobacter pylori in children with otitis media with effusion: a preliminary report.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the presence of Helicobacter pylori in the middle ear effusion of patients with otitis media with effusion (OME) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study in patients with OME. METHODS: The study was performed in 38 patients with OME who were admitted to the ENT Clinic, Firat University from June 2003 to April 2004. In all cases, a myringotomy operation (with or without placement of a ventilation tube) was carried out. The effusion samples aspirated from the middle ear were analyzed with PCR assay. RESULTS: A total of 55 aspiration samples collected from 38 children ranging in age from 2 to 12 were included in the study. Fifteen of the subjects were girls, and 23 were boys. In 17 patients, both ears demonstrated effusions, whereas in 21 patients, only one ear had effusions. Nine (16.3%) of 55 the middle ear effusion samples were shown to be H. pylori positive by PCR. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori was detected in the middle ear effusion of some patients with OME. These results may have interesting implications for a possible role of H. pylori in OME. In addition, these results suggest that further studies are needed to investigate the role of H. pylori in the etiology of OME.

Prevalence and genotypic distribution of hepatitis GB-C/HG and TT viruses in blood donors, mentally retarded children and four groups of patients in eastern Anatolia, Turkey.

We investigated the prevalence and genotypic distribution of GB virus-C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) and TT virus (TTV) in blood donors, mentally retarded children and four groups of patients living in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey. The prevalence and genetic analysis of TTV were determined by using the primers of the UTR and ORF1 regions of TTV, respectively. Reverse transcription nested (RT-n)-PCR was used to amplify 5' UTR of GBV-C/HGV. Genotyping of HGV was carried out by PCR-based genotyping assay while RFLP was conducted to determine the genotypes of TTV. TTV DNA was detected in 118 of 410 sera tested, giving an overall prevalence of 28.7%; GBV-C/HGV-RNA was detected in only 17 cases, giving an overall prevalence of 4.1%. No significant differences were observed in the number of positive or negative tests for GBV-C/HGV and TTV according to duration of illness or mean duration of institutionalization in any of the groups studied. Although all samples from the study population belonged to genotypes 1 and 4, the most common TTV genotype is G2. In conclusion, our results indicate a low endemicity of GBV-C/HGV and TTV infection in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey. The presence of G2 strains reveals the limited genetic diversity of the GBV-C/HGV circulating in Turkey. We suggest that TTV infection of genotypes 1 and 4 is prevalent in the same region.

In vitro activity of three different antimicrobial agents against ESBL producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae blood isolates.

Extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) usually associated with multiple drug resistance, including beta-lactam and non-beta-lactam antibiotics. This resistance can cause Limitation in the choice of drugs appropriate for using in clinical practice, especially in life-threatening infections. In this study we aimed to investigate in vitro activity of meropenem, ciprofloxacine and amikacin against ESBL-producing and non-producing blood isolates of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains. Fifty-eight E. coli (21 ESBL-producing, 37 non-ESBL producing) and 99 K. pneumoniae (54 ESBL-producing, 45 non-ESBL producing) strains were included in the study. The presence of ESBL was investigated by double disk synergy test and E-test methods. Antibiotic susceptibility test was done by microdilution method according to NCCLS guideline. In vitro susceptibilities of ESBL producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae strains were found as 100% for meropenem, 33.3% and 25.9% for ciprofloxacine, 94.5% and 83.3% for amikacin. It was observed that; meropenem was equally active agent in both ESBL-producing and non-producing strains, and its activity was not affected by ESBL production. Whereas amikacin activity was minimally affected and ciprofloxacine activity was markedly decreased by ESBL production. In conclusion, meropenem seems to be better choice of antibiotic should be used for ESBL positive life-threatening infections, because of remaining highest activity.

Identification of Chlamydia trachomatis with polymerase chain reaction in middle ear fluid in otitis media with effusion.

In this study, 78 middle ear aspiration samples from 59 children between the ages of 2 14 who have undergone myringotomy under general anesthesia were included. The presence of DNA genome of Chlamydia trachomatis was analyzed with polymerase chain reaction in the aspiration material. The relationship between the nature of the effusion fluid and the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis was investigated. Of the seventy eight middle ear effusions, 26 (33.3%) were serous, 31 were (39.7%) mucoid and 21 (26.9%) were sero mucoid in nature. Chlamydia trachomatis DNA genome was identified in seven (8.9%) effusion samples. Of these, three were mucoid (42.8%), three were serous (42.8%) and one was sero mucoid (14.2%) in character. We think that during the bacteriological analyses carried out for the cases of otitis media with effusion, Chlamydia trachomatis should be taken into consideration both at the time of diagnosis and the treatment.

[Molecular identification of Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis strains isolated from clinical samples]. / Klinik orneklerden izole edilen Candida albicans ve Candida dubliniensis suslarinin moleküler olarak tanimlanmasi.

Candida dubliniensis is a recently identified opportunistic pathogen, which has close phylogenetic relation with Candida albicans. The aim of this study was the genotypic differentiation of 55 germ tube-positive Candida strains isolated from clinical specimens (30 blood, 25 throat swab specimens). The isolates were phenotypically identified by API ID 32C system, and genotypically identified by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment lenght polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Initially ITS2 region has been amplified by using universal fungal primers with PCR. After amplification and purification of approximately 340 base pair products, they were treated with species-specific restriction enzymes (MspA1 I and BsmAI for C. albicans and C. dubliniensis, respectively). As a result, API ID 32C system identified 52 (94.5%) isolates as C. albicans and 3 (5.5%) isolates as C. dubliniensis, whereas PCR-RFLP analysis yielded 50 (90.9%) C. albicans and 5 (9.1%) C. dubliniensis. It can be concluded that PCR-RFLP method may be used for the differentiation of C. dubliniensis and C. albicans isolates in clinical samples.

Frequency of Hepatitis B and C Viruses, and HIV Among Drug Addicts in the Eastern Anatolia, Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV infections constitute serious healthcare problems worldwide. OBJECTIVES: There are a limited number of studies regarding the prevalence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV infections among the drug addicts in Turkey; hence, the current study aimed to determine the frequency of these infections among 235 drug addicts treated in a drug addiction treatment centre/Elazig, Turkey. PATIENTS AND METHODS: HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HCV and anti-HIV tests in 235 drug addicts were studied by ELISA technique. Urine samples obtained from drug addicts were analyzed for cannabis, opiate and cocaine metabolites. RESULTS: All the 235 drug users were males, and their mean age was 30.69 ± 9.494 years; 112 (47.7%) of them were in the age group ranging 20 - 29 years (P < 0.05). Of 235 drug addicts, 113 (48.1%) and 115 (48.9%) were only cannabis and opiate users, respectively. In urine samples of seven (3%) drug addicts both cannabis and opiate metabolites were detected. Cocaine was detected in none of the urine samples. The frequencies of HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HCV among drug addicts were 2.6%, 38.3%, and 9.4%, respectively. None of the drug addicts was positive for HIV. Anti-HCV was more prevalent in opiate users than in cannabis users: 15.7% vs. 1.8% (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results showed that HCV infection was an alarming problem among opiate users in the eastern part of Turkey. It is suggested to rapidly diagnose the infected persons; thus preventive measures and appropriate control may limit further transmission of these infections.

[Cloning and expression of the hepatitis B virus HBcAg gene in eukaryotic cells]. / Hepatit B virusu HBcAg geninin klonlanmasi ve ökaryotik hucrelerde ekspresyonu.

In the present study, cloning of hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) gene and expression of the gene in eukaryotic cells have been reported. For this purpose, initially, HBcAg gene which was previously cloned into pUC19 plasmid, was excised by EcoRI ve HindIII from this plasmid and inserted into an eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3. Afterwards, the resulting recombinant plasmid (pcDNA-HBc) was transfected into Vero cells, and the stable transfected cells (Vero-HBc) were selected in geneticin containing culture medium. The presence of HBcAg gene in Vero-HBc cells were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and, the expression of HBcAg gene by Vero-HBc cells were tested in Western Immunoblotting assay. As a result, a 21 kDa protein reacting with anti-HBc antibodies which Vero-HBc cells indeed expressed, were detected at the end of this assay.