Species distribution, genetic diversity and antimicrobial susceptibility of Campylobacter isolates recovered from the preputial cavity of healthy rams in Turkey.

AIMS: Campylobacter sp. are important causes of reproductive disease in ruminants worldwide. Although healthy bulls are well-known carriers for infection of cows, the role of rams as a potential source for infecting ewes is unclear. This study aimed to determine prevalence, species distribution, genetic diversity and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Campylobacter sp. isolated from the preputial cavity of healthy rams. METHODS AND RESULTS: The material of this prospective study comprised 191 swab samples taken from the preputial cavity of healthy rams. Enrichment and membrane filtration were employed for the isolation of Campylobacter. Presumptive isolates were confirmed as Campylobacter by phenotypic and molecular tests. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis was used for the definitive identification of the isolates at species level, and genotyping was performed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The susceptibility of the Campylobacter sp. isolates to various antibiotics was determined by the disk diffusion test. In all, 27 of the 191 (14·13%) swab samples were found to be positive for Campylobacter sp. (28 isolates were recovered in total). Per phenotypic and genotypic analyses, one isolate was identified as Campylobacter mucosalis and the remaining 27 isolates were identified as Campylobacter sputorum bv. faecalis. The PFGE analysis of the C. sputorum biovar faecalis isolates produced 17 clusters and 24 different pulsotypes, indicating high genetic heterogeneity. All 28 isolates were found to be susceptible to all of the antibiotics tested. CONCLUSIONS: Healthy rams may be an important reservoir of different Campylobacter species in the preputium. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study demonstrated for the first time that healthy rams can carry different Campylobacter sp. including genetically diverse C. sputorum bv. faecalis and C. mucosalis in the preputial cavity. Further investigation on the potential implication of this finding on sheep reproductive health (e.g. infectious infertility, and abortion) and overall epidemiology of Campylobacter may be warranted.

Oral health related quality of life and disease severity in autoimmune bullous diseases.

BACKGROUND: There is an increased risk of long-term dental and periodontal disease in autoimmune bullous diseases (AIBD). AIMS: In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to determine whether the oral health-related quality of life status (OHRQoL) was associated with disease severity and activity in patients with AIBD. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 67 patients with AIBD were enrolled in this study. Autoimmune Bullous Skin Disorder Intensity Score (ABSIS) was used to evaluate the disease severity. The score was categorized as a significant course (≥17) and moderate course (<17). Oral health impact profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire was filled to assess the OHRQoL. Self-reported oral health status and oral lesion related pain score were also evaluated in the study group. RESULTS: OHIP-14 score was significantly higher in active patients (42.28 ± 13.66) than inactive patients (29.08 ± 12.25) (P = 0.004) and it was correlated with the pain score (6.33 ± 2.78; r = 0.409, P = 0.013). Furthermore, OHIP-14 score was higher in patients with a significant disease course (45.18 ± 15.08) (P = 0.010) than in patients with a moderate course (36.09 ± 9.73). CONCLUSIONS: OHRQoL may be useful in the disease management and treatment. Since it can be affected by both presence of oral erosions and disease severity, a collaboration between dermatologists and dentists could be crucial to the disease management in AIBD.

Nocturnal blood pressure dipping is similar in rheumatoid arthritis patients as compared to a normal population.

OBJECTIVE: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune inflammatory disorder which further doubles the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Some studies suggest that in RA patients, the prevalence of hypertension increases due to prednisolone use, clinical status, genetic factors, and physical inactivity. On the other hand, dipper and non-dipper status in RA patients compared to non-RA subjects has not been investigated to our knowledge. Purpose of the study is to investigate whether non-dipper status is more deteriorated in RA patients. METHODS: Sixty-five RA patients and 61 age-sex-matched control patients were evaluated in this cross-sectional study. Patients were classified according to 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring results. Patients with previous hypertension diagnosis, coronary artery disease, and abnormal kidney function were excluded. RESULTS: Mean age of the study sample was 53.7 ± 12.3 years and 40.5% were male. There was no significant difference between groups in terms of basic demographic characteristics. Leukocyte counts (p = 0.001), neutrophil counts (p = 0.001), and red cell distribution width (p = 0.000) were significantly higher in the RA group. ABPM results indicate no significant difference between RA patients and the control group in terms of daytime systolic and diastolic blood pressure, nighttime systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and average systolic and diastolic blood pressure results (p > 0.05). There was no statistical difference regarding the non-dipper status of patient groups (p = 0.412). Nocturnal blood pressure dipping was significantly similar between groups (p = 0.980). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, RA patients have similar values in terms of nocturnal blood pressure dipping and hypertension diagnosis as compared to normal population.

Influence of uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferases (1A9) polymorphisms on mycophenolic acid pharmacokinetics in patients with renal transplant.

BACKGROUND: There are differences in pharmacokinetic of mycophenolic acid among individuals. The UGT1A9 enzyme is of special interest since it is the main enzyme involved in the glucuronidation of MPA. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the UGT1A9 gene may be responsible for individual differences in the pharmacokinetics of MPA. The aim of this study was to explain MPA pharmacokinetics in UGT1A9 1399 C > T polymorphisms in Turkish renal transplant patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty-five living-donor transplant recipients and 100 healthy control subjects underwent UGT1A9 1399 C > T genotyping using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Concentrations of MPA were determined with Cloned Enzyme Donor Immunoassay (CEDIA). Besides that, all the patients were monitored for acute rejection and graft function during the study period. RESULTS: The UGT1A9 1399 C > T CC, CT, and TT genotype frequencies among patients were, respectively, 68.0%, 23.2%, and 8.8%. The CC, CT, and TT genotype frequencies among controls were, respectively, 63.0%, 23.0%, and 14.0%. There was no significant difference between patients and controls (p = .480, p = .999, p = .286, respectively). At first month, respectively, through blood concentrations of MPA were significantly higher in UGT1A9 1399 C > T TT carriers than in CT and CC carriers (p = .046). The doses for these patients were lower at first month (p = .021). Acute rejection episodes were not associated with the CC vs CT or TT genotypes (p = .064). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated a correlation between the UGT1A9 1399 C > T polymorphism and MPA pharmacokinetics among renal transplant patients. Determination of UGT1A9 polymorphism may help to achieve target of MPA blood concentrations.

Maternal and fetal Doppler velocimetry in women diagnosed with fear of childbirth.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate maternal and fetal Doppler flow parameters in term pregnant women diagnosed with fear of childbirth (FOC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Women between 20 and 40 years with full-term singleton pregnancies (≥37 gestational weeks) were included in the study. All patients were questioned with Turkish form of Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ) version A. Women with W-DEQ scores ≥85 were defined as FOC. Forty women diagnosed with FOC (FOC group) and 45 women with W-DEQ scores <85 (control group) underwent Doppler waveform analysis and the pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) values for uterine, umbilical, and mid cerebral arteries were recorded. RESULTS: Both groups had similar PI and RI values for umbilical and mid cerebral arteries (P > 0.05). However, PI and RI values for both right and left uterine arteries were higher in FOC group than control group (P < 0.05, for right uterine artery PI; P< 0.001, for left uterine artery RI; and P< 0.01, for others). CONCLUSION: It may be suggested that the presence of FOC in term pregnant women seems to have a negative effect on uterine blood flow parameters. When diagnosed with FOC, the women should be referred to a specialist for psychoeducation and psychosomatic support to decrease her fear and to minimize the negative impact of fear on the fetus.

DETERMINATION OF VOLUME OVERLOAD BY BIOELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE ANALYSIS AND NT-PROBNP IN DIABETIC PRE-DIALYSIS PATIENTS.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetic chronic kidney disease has more fatal clinical progresses and this situation can be related to volume overload, which is seen more commonly in diabetic chronic kidney disease patients than in non-diabetic chronic kidney disease patients. Therefore, we examined the effect of diabetes mellitus on volume overload in newly diagnosed stage 5 chronic kidney disease patients whose volume overloads were not showing signs of improvement from renal replacement therapy. METHOD: One hundred and five patients (46 diabetic, 59 non-diabetic) with end-stage chronic kidney disease, who had glomerular filtration rate (GFR) under 15 mL/min for at least three months were enrolled in this prospective study. We determined the body volume overload and configuration using a bioimpedance device. NT-proBNP levels were recorded. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between diabetic and non-diabetic groups according to overhydration (OH, p=0.003), extracellular water (ECW, p=0.045), intracellular water (ICW, p<0.001) and OH/ECW (p=0.003). In addition, there was a statistically significant difference between groups in terms of N-terminal Pro-brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP levels, p=0.008). DISCUSSION: We compared diabetic and non-diabetic end-stage chronic kidney disease patients who were not in renal replacement therapy yet. We found more volume overload and extracellular fluid volume in the diabetic group.

Genetic association of interleukin-2, interleukin-4, interleukin-6, transforming growth factor-ß, tumour necrosis factor-α and blood concentrations of calcineurin inhibitors in Turkish renal transplant patients.

Cytokines are essential for the control of the immune response as most of the immunosuppressive drugs target cytokine production or their action. The calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) cyclosporine (CsA) and tacrolimus are immunosuppressive drugs widely used after renal transplantation to prevent allograft rejection. They are characterized by large interindividual variability in their pharmacokinetics; therefore, monitoring their blood concentrations is important to predict their optimal dosage following transplantation. Calcineurin inhibitors inhibit the phosphatase activity of calcineurin, thereby suppressing the production of other cytokines such as transforming growth factor (TGF-ß), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-2, and IL-4. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between polymorphisms of cytokines and blood concentrations of CNIs in renal transplant patients. The study included 53 CsA-treated renal transplant patients and 37 tacrolimus-treated renal transplant patients. Cytokine polymorphisms were analysed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sequence-specific primers with the cytokine CTS-PCR-sequence-specific primers Tray Kit; University of Heidelberg. Blood concentrations of CNIs were determined with Cloned Enzyme Donor Immunoassay (CEDIA) method. Patients with TC genotype of TGF-ß at codon 10 had lower CsA blood concentrations than the TT and CC genotypes (P = 0.005) at 1 month in CsA treatment group. The ratio of blood concentration/dose of CsA for patients with TGF-ß1-codon 10 TC genotype was lower than for patients with TT, CC genotypes, and the dose given to these patients was higher in the first month (P = 0.046). The ratio of blood concentration/dose of CsA for patients with IL-2-330 GG genotype was higher than for patients with GT, TT genotypes, and the dose given to these patients was lower at first month and sixth months (P = 0.043, P = 0.035 respectively). The tacrolimus blood concentrations were significantly higher in patients with the genotype GG of IL-2-330 (P = 0.012) at the third month. Patients who had the TC genotype TGF-ß codon 10 had lower CsA blood concentrations and this group had higher acute rejection (P = 0.033). These results suggest that the genotyping for TGF-ß-codon 10, IL-2-330 and IL-6-174 polymorphisms may help individualized immunosuppressive dosage regiments.

Nailfold capillaroscopy in Behçet disease, performed using videodermoscopy.

BACKGROUND: Nailfold capillaroscopy is used for the identification of microvascular involvement in many rheumatic and extrarheumatic diseases. AIM: To determine the nailfold capillary changes in patients with Behçet disease (BD) by videodermoscopy, i.e. nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC). METHODS: We used a videodermatoscope (Molemax II, × 30 magnification) to perform nailfold capillaroscopy on 40 patients with BD and 40 healthy controls (HC). All nailfold images were evaluated for capillary density, distribution and morphology, assessing features such as enlargement or tortuosity of the capillaries, microhaemorrhages and avascular areas. RESULTS: Enlarged capillaries were detected in 14 patients, microhaemorrhages in 6 patients, and avascular area in 3 patients. There was a statistically significant difference between patients with BD and healthy controls for capillary dilatation and microhaemorrhages (P < 0.05). Capillaroscopic changes were not associated with sex or clinical characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Using NVC, nailfold capillary changes were apparent in patients with BD, but not in HC. NVC could be a useful technique for evaluating microvascular damage in BD.

Depletion of florfenicol and florfenicol amine residues in chicken eggs.

1. The aim of this study was to develop a suitable method for the analysis of florfenicol (FF) and its metabolite florfenicol amine (FFA) in chicken eggs and to determine FF and FFA residue depletion in eggs of laying hens. 2. The analytes were extracted from yolk, albumen and whole egg by phosphate buffer and ethyl acetate. Following purification, samples were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography. 3. Fifty laying hens were divided into 5 groups, and each hen received doses of 20 mg/kg FF: Group 1 (received a single oral dose by gavage); Group 2 (a single intramuscular dose); Group 3 (a single subcutaneous dose); Group 4 (multiple oral doses for 3 d) and Group 5 (multiple oral doses for 5 d). 4. Limits of detection and of quantitation values were 1.94 and 6.45 g/10(9) g (ppb) for FF, respectively, and 0.48 and 1.58 ppb for FFA, respectively. Relative standard deviation values of intra-day and inter-day variation below 11% also confirmed the usefulness of the method for analysing FF and FFA in eggs. 5. From the first day of both oral and parenteral administration, FF and FFA were detected at 0.1% and 0.08% of dosage, respectively, and 57% of the drugs were eliminated from the egg yolk. Elimination time of FF was 8 d in Groups 1, 2 and 3; 9 d in Group 4 and 10 d in Group 5.

A pilot study of Helicobacter pylori genotypes and cytokine gene polymorphisms in reflux oesophagitis and peptic ulcer disease.

Helicobacter pylori causes various diseases such as chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric cancer. While majority of the people infected with H. pylori is asymptomatic, 15-20 % of them develop such diseases. The main factors, which determine the development of H. pylori related diseases might be bacterial virulence, host genetic and environmental factors.The aim of this study was to reveal the factors that play a role in the disease development in patients with reflux esophagitis and peptic ulcer, infected with Helicobacter pylori. Environmental factors such as medical agents, smoking and body mass index were evaluated. The factors specific to bacteria such as vacA, CagA, babA and iceA virulence genotypes and the host factors such as IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, interferon-γ, TNF-α, ve TGF-ß1 gene polymorphisms were compared between the two groups.H. pylori infected twenty five patients with reflux esophagitis and peptic ulcer were enrolled in the study. There was no statistical difference between the two groups regarding environmental factors. IL-2 -330T +166T (p=0.037) and IL10 -1082A; -819C (p=0.049) gene polymorphisms were significantly more common in the group of patients with peptic ulcer compared to the group with reflux esophagitis. In both groups of patients, either with reflux esophagitis or peptic ulcer, multiple H. pylori virulence genotypes (cagA, vacA, babA) (mean values 74 %, 78 %, 54 % respectively) were observed.In this study, we revealed that cytokine gene polymorphisms may play a role in the development peptic ulcer while H. pylori virulence genotypes seem to be crucial for the development of associated diseases (Tab. 4, Ref. 51).

A multinational survey of companion animal veterinary clinicians: How can antimicrobial stewardship guidelines be optimised for the target stakeholder?

Antimicrobial stewardship initiatives are widely regarded as a cornerstone for ameliorating the global health impact of antimicrobial resistance. Within companion animal health, such efforts have largely focused on development and dissemination of antimicrobial stewardship guidelines (ASGs). However, there have been few attempts to understand veterinarian attitudes towards and knowledge of ASGs or to determine how awareness regarding ASGs might best be increased. An online survey regarding ASGs was formulated for veterinarians who treat companion animals. The survey was distributed across 46 European and associated countries between 12 January and 30 June, 2022. In total, 2271 surveys were completed, with 64.9% of respondents (n = 1474) reporting awareness and usage of at least one ASG. Respondents from countries with greater awareness of ASGs tended to report more appropriate use of antimicrobials (Spearman's rank coefficient = 0.6084, P ≤ 0.001), with respondents from countries with country-specific ASGs tending to score highest across both awareness and appropriate use domains. Respondents prioritised guidance around antimicrobial choice (82.0%, n = 1863), duration of treatment (66.0%, n = 1499), and dosage (51.9%, n = 1179) for inclusion in future ASGs, with 78.0% (n = 1776) of respondents preferring ASGs to be integrated into their patient management system. Awareness of ASGs and their use in companion animal veterinary practice appears to be greater than previously reported, with respondents tending to report antimicrobial prescription decision making broadly in line with current clinical recommendations. However, further initiatives aimed at maximising accessibility to ASGs both within countries and individual veterinary practices are recommended.

Investigation of mutations in the synaptonemal complex protein 3 (SYCP3) gene among azoospermic infertile male patients in the Turkish population.

To investigate possible mutations and/or single nucleotide polymorphisms in the synaptonemal complex protein 3 (SYCP3) gene among nonobstructive azoospermic infertile males in a Turkish population, 75 nonobstructive azoospermic infertile male patients were included in the study. These patients were unrelated to each other and had 46,XY chromosome structure without Y microdeletion. In addition, 75 individuals whose fertility was proven by reproduction were enrolled in the study as controls. Nine exon deep intronic primers belonging to the SYCP3 gene were designed and amplified by PCR, and the nucleotide sequences were identified by DNA sequence analysis. DNA sequence analysis was used to detect mutations and/or single nucleotide polymorphisms in the SYCP3 gene. No mutations were detected in the 9 exons of SYCP3. A total of eleven variations, however, were detected: seven have been identified in the NCBI SNP database, whereas four have not. On the basis of the results, we agree with the idea that SYCP3 mutations are not associated with the genetic susceptibility for meiotic arrest in infertile male patients with nonobstructive azoospermia in the Turkish population and that further studies investigating the other components of the synaptonemal complex protein (SYCP1, SYCP2) should be conducted.

Molecular epidemiology and the clinical significance of Acinetobacter baumannii complex isolated from cerebrospinal fluid in neurosurgical intensive care unit patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study was intended to investigate the clinical significance and molecular epidemiology of Acinetobacter baumannii complex (ABC) isolated from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in neurosurgical intensive care unit (NSICU) patients, particularly comparing isolates from healthcare workers' (HCW) hands. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 30 patients with CSF cultures positive for ABC seen at our NSICU from the date it first opened, January 2007, to September 2010. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing was performed on 68 strains isolated from 32 patients' CSF and 36 HCWs' hands. RESULTS: ABC isolates were considered to be clinically significant in 21 (70.0%) patients but insignificant in the other nine (30.0%) patients. The prolonged (>7 days) use of cephalosporins was more common in patients with clinically significant ABC isolates (p = 0.049). Multiple drug resistance (MDR) was observed in 12 (57.1%) clinically significant isolates. Empirical antimicrobial therapies were not appropriate for nine of these 21 patients (42.8%). Mortality was significantly higher in the clinically significant group than in the clinically insignificant group (18/21 vs. 3/9; p = 0.008). Fifty-three isolates (77.9%) were grouped into 15 clusters, three of which contained possibly related isolates from patients' CSF and staff members' hands. CONCLUSIONS: The fact that ABC isolates grown from CSF cultures do not always exhibit infection and have high multiple antibiotic resistance, including to carbapenems, should be borne in mind when planning treatment for these patients. In addition, HCWs' hands may play a significant role in transmission to patients, and compliance with infection control procedures, especially hand washing, must be enhanced in order to avoid ABC infections.

Increased ischemia-modified albumin levels in patients with gastric cancer.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are found in the development stages of carcinogenesis. Fifty two patients with gastric cancer and 35 controls were enrolled in this trial. IMA, MDA, Total Oxidant Status (TOS), Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) and Oxidative Stress Index (OSI) were evaluated. There was a significant increase in IMA and MDA levels in the patient group (0.405±0.111, 0.271±0.066; p= 0.0001 and 0.207±0.251, 0.077±0.103; p= 0.004 respectively). TOS was also higher in the patient group but it was not statistically different. TAS was statistically lower and there was significant difference in OSI (0.621±0.394, 0.996±0.37; p=0.0001 and 9.68±18.2, 2.9±3.85; p=0.001 respectively). The areas under receiver operating characteristics curves for the determination of gastric cancer were 0.842 for IMA and 0.708 for MDA. Increased levels of IMA, MDA and oxidative stress index were detected and this condition is associated with the impairment of oxidant-antioxidant balance.

Serum galectin-3 levels in patients with Behçet's disease: association with disease activity over a long-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: There is a need for a laboratory marker that correlates with the clinical activity of Behçet's disease (BD). OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate whether serum galectin-3 (Gal-3) levels were affected during the course of the disease with regard to disease activity. METHODS: A total of 131 subjects were involved in the study as follows: Group 1: BD active (n = 39); Group 2: BD inactive (n = 31); Group 3: Disease controls with leucocytoclastic vasculitis confirmed with a skin biopsy (n = 22); and Group 4: Healthy control subjects (n = 39). The BD patients were followed regularly and samples were taken in their active and inactive periods of the disease over a 2-year period. RESULTS: Serum Gal-3 levels were significantly higher in active BD patients (mean 2.38) than inactive BD patients (mean 0.63; P < 0.0001) and the healthy control subjects (mean 0.75; P < 0.0001). There was no significant difference between the leucocytoclastic vasculitis and active BD patients (P = 0.093). Serum Gal-3 levels were positively correlated with clinical activity scores of active BD patients (r = 0.66, P < 0.0001). In addition, the Gal-3 levels were significantly higher in the active disease period when compared with the inactive period during the follow-up. There were no significant differences between the two inactive periods of the disease among the same patients. Further analyses revealed that patients with vascular involvement had significantly higher Gal-3 levels than the other active BD patients (mean 7.57; P = 0.007). LIMITATIONS: The limitation of the study is the small number of patients with vascular involvement in the active BD patient group. CONCLUSION: Gal-3 levels are correlated with the activity of Behçet's disease especially with the vascular involvement.

Clinicopathologic characteristics and BRCA-1/BRCA-2 mutations of Turkish patients with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 are two major susceptibility genes for breast cancer. Between 30-70 % of hereditary breast cancers are thought to be attributed to mutations in BRCA-1 or BRCA-2. The aim of our study was to investigate the clinicopathologic characteristics and BRCA mutations of patients with breast cancer living in the northeast region of Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred eleven patients diagnosed with breast cancer were enrolled in the present study. All patients provided their demographic, environmental, family, and reproductive traits. Patients were screened for mutations of BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 with multiple ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) test. RESULTS: In the present study, the mean age of breast cancer patients was 50.7 years and the mean age at first delivery was 21.8 years. Large genomic rearrangements in BRCA-1 were detected in 4 (1.9 %) patients; 2 of them had exon 21 deletions and the remaining 2 patients had exon 18 and 19 deletions. No BRCA-2 rearrangements were detected in the study population. CONCLUSIONS: Different mutation analyses results were detected in different countries by using different testing techniques. The characteristics and sensitivities of patients as determined by all methods were different in these studies. Due to these factors, BRCA mutation rates were different. This is the first study where MLPA was used to screen BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 mutations in Turkish population (Tab. 1, Ref. 10).

The effect of prenatal factors on the development of colon cancer.

BACKGROUND: There is some evidence that prenatal factors can play a role in the development of colon cancer. Children with an old parent age at the time of birth were observed to develop certain childhood cancers more frequently. OBJECTIVE: This trial was designed to investigate the effects of some prenatal factors on colon cancer risk. Particularly, investigation of the effect of advanced parent age on colon cancer development risk was targeted. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study 117 in or out patients diagnosed with colon cancer and 234 control subjects were included. Definitive diagnostic results and dates of diagnosis were determined from pathological reports. Groups were asked for the parent age, smoking habits, sociodemographic, environmental, familial and reproductive traits. The results were compared between the patients and the control group. RESULTS: It was determined that children may have higher risk if mother and father are more than 30 at birth (p = 0.018, p = 0.020). While the mean mother age at birth was 25.6 +/- 5.72 in patients, it was 24.7 +/- 6.90 in the controls. The difference was not statistically significant (p < 0.056). The mean father age at birth was 29.4 +/- 6.58 in patients and 27.4 +/- 7.47 in the controls. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Smoking of mother was one of the important risk factors of colon cancer (p = 0.044). CONCLUSION: Our data supports that some prenatal factors such as high parental age at birth and mother -smoker may be risk factors for some cancers in children. This is the first study to report that high parental age at birth and exposure to smoke prenatally increase the risk or colon cancer (Tab. 7, Ref. 28).

Sinonasal teratocarcinosarcoma mimicking chronic invasive fungal disease of paranasal sinuses.

Sinonasal teratoid carcinosarcoma or teratocarcinoma is an extremely rare aggressive tumour. It usually arises in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. In this study, the authors described magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography findings from a patient with sinonasal teratocarcinoma. Computed tomography of the sinonasal teratoid carcinosarcoma can mimic paranasal fungal infections. Magnetic resonance imaging is a very useful tool for making a differential diagnosis between the sinonasal teratoid carcinosarcoma and paranasal sinusitis.