Impact of graft width and chondrolabral junction preservation on labral suction seal integrity in bovine hip models.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the biomechanical effects of graft width and chondrolabral junction (CLJ) preservation on the labral suction seal in a bovine hip model and aims to validate this model as a practical alternative for hip biomechanical research by comparing it with human cadaver studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty hips from two-year-old male bovines were divided into two main groups: CLJ preserved (CLJ+) and CLJ excised (CLJ-). These groups were further divided into eight subgroups: Group 1 with an intact labrum; Group 2 with labrum excision preserving CLJ; Groups 3 and 4 with labral reconstruction on preserved CLJ using 4.5 mm and 9 mm grafts, respectively; Group 5 with a labral tear at 12 to 3 o'clock position without CLJ preservation; Group 6 with complete labrum excision without CLJ preservation; and Groups 7 and 8 with labral reconstruction on excised CLJ using 4.5 mm and 9 mm grafts. Mechanical tests measuring compression and distraction forces were conducted, recording force-displacement values. RESULTS: Both CLJ+ and CLJ- groups showed that labrum excision resulted in the lowest distraction forces, emphasizing labral integrity. Notably, reconstruction with 9 mm grafts improved distraction forces more than 4.5 mm grafts (p<0.001). The change in distraction forces from intact to excised stages was nearly significant between CLJ+ and CLJ- groups (Δ Intact-excised: CLJ+ vs. CLJ-: 92 N vs. 105 N, p=0.08). Distraction forces were measured at 206±27 Newtons in the CLJ preserved group and 186±24 Newtons in the resected group. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that increasing the width of the graft, despite being approximately half and a quarter of the native labrum's size, significantly enhances the distraction force in labral reconstruction within a bovine hip model. This improvement is more pronounced than the effects of preserving the CLJ, highlighting the critical role of graft size in maintaining the biomechanical integrity of the labral suction seal.

Evaluation of plateletcrit level from platelet indices as a prognostic marker in COVID-19 patients.

OBJECTIVE: COVID-19 disease bears similarities to a wide range of diseases, from simple flu infections to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome and is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). In this study, we aimed to elucidate the plateletcrit levels in patients with and without mortality who had been admitted to the intensive care unit because of pneumonia associated with SARS-CoV-2. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In total, 434 patients were evaluated in this retrospective analysis. Their demographic data, comorbid diseases, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores, platelet, lymphocyte, white blood cell (WBC) and neutrophil counts; mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), plateletcrit (PCT), hemoglobin and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratios (NLRs) were obtained from the hospital's electronic database on the days of the patients' intensive care unit admissions. Afterwards, their PLR, PNR, and MPV/PLT ratios were calculated. RESULTS: APACHE II score, length of hospital stay, WBC count, PCT, PLR, NLR, and CRP levels affected mortality. Increases in hospital stay duration, APACHE II score, platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and CRP, as well as decreases in PCT percentage, were associated with mortality. ROC curve analysis was performed to determine the success of PCT, PLR, and NLR in predicting mortality in COVID-19 patients and to determine cut-off values for mortality. It was determined that PCT, PLR, and NLR could correctly classify patients at rates of 58.9%, 59.2%, and 66.8% (moderate), respectively. The risk of mortality was higher in patients with PCT values of 0.188 or less, PLR values greater than 293.46, and NLR values greater than 9.49. CONCLUSIONS: In the COVID-19 patients evaluated in this study, plateletcrit indices could be utilized to predict mortality.

Daptomycin versus teicoplanin in the treatment of osteomyelitis: Results of the Göztepe retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Daptomycin is highly effective against Gram-positive multidrug-resistant bacteria. Publications on daptomycin in osteomyelitis treatment are limited. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this multicenter retrospective cohort study, the aim was to evaluate the outcomes of osteomyelitis cases having received daptomycin or teicoplanin. This multicenter retrospective cohort study gathered data from seven centers located in five cities of Turkey. Study inclusion criteria were as follows: (a) magnetic resonance imaging and/or direct X-ray revealed osteomyelitis or biopsy pathologic examination results concomitant with osteomyelitis. Chi-squareand Student t-tests were used for statistical comparison. RESULTS: A total of 72 patients, 38 cases in the daptomycin group and 34 cases in the teicoplanin group diagnosed with osteomyelitis fulfilling the study inclusion criteria, were included in the study. Clinical success at the end of induction therapy was achieved in 32/38 cases in the daptomycin cohort vs. 30/34 cases in the teicoplanin cohort (p: 0.73). CONCLUSION: Although this is a limited experience in a small but well-defined cohort, our data suggest that daptomycin may be a safe alternative to glycopeptides in osteomyelitis treatment. A randomized controlled clinical study involving larger cohorts may increase the available evidence.

Bordetella Pertussis Infection in Hospitalized Infants with Acute Bronchiolitis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency of B. pertussis infection among young infants hospitalized with acute bronchiolitis and to determine whether B. pertussis infection affects the clinical course of acute bronchiolitis. METHODS: A total of 172 infants <6 months of age hospitalized with acute bronchiolitis were tested for B. pertussis and respiratory viruses with real-time PCR. Cases were divided into 2 groups according to B. pertussis positive or negative. Clinical parameters, clinical severity scores and laboratory characteristics of the pertussis-positive and pertussis-negative cases were compared. RESULTS: Bordetella pertussis infection was detected in 44 (25.6%) of the 172 infants hospitalized for acute bronchiolitis, and as co-infection with respiratory viral agents in 27 (61.4%) infants. Of the 44 pertussis-positive infants, only 17 (38.6%) experienced a paroxysmal cough, 13 (29.5%) had whooping and 15 (34.1%) had post-tussive vomiting. There was no significant difference between pertussis-positive and pertussis-negative infants according to Wang clinical score at admission (4.9 ± 1.5 vs. 5.2 ± 2.5; p = 0.689). The overall disease severity score was also similar between the two groups (6.5 ± 1.4 vs. 6.9 ± 1.6; p = 0.095). CONCLUSIONS: Bordetella pertussis infection is common in young infants hospitalized for acute bronchiolitis, mostly as co-infection with respiratory viruses. The clinical features of pertussis in the infants are not characteristic. Viral bronchiolitis and pertussis cases could not be differentiated by clinical findings. Co-infection with pertussis did not affect the clinical outcome in infants hospitalized with acute bronchiolitis.

Results from the Survey of Antibiotic Resistance (SOAR) 2011-13 in Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: Data are presented from the Survey of Antibiotic Resistance (SOAR) for respiratory tract infection pathogens collected in 2011-13 from Turkey. METHODS: MICs were determined using Etest(®). Susceptibility was assessed using CLSI, EUCAST and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) interpretive criteria. RESULTS: Rates of antibiotic susceptibility were very low among 333 isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae tested: penicillin 38% using CLSI (oral) and EUCAST breakpoints; erythromycin 51% using CLSI and EUCAST criteria; and cefuroxime 64.6% using CLSI and PK/PD and 46.9% using EUCAST. Of the isolates, >90% were susceptible to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ceftriaxone (except using EUCAST criteria: 76%), levofloxacin and high-dose intravenous penicillin. Among 339 Haemophilus influenzae isolates, 6.8% were ß-lactamase positive while 9.1% were ß-lactamase negative but ampicillin resistant (BLNAR) by CLSI (14.7% by EUCAST) criteria. Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid susceptibility was ∼90% by CLSI (with or without BLNAR adjustment, EUCAST and high-dose PK/PD) but lower, at 82.9%, by EUCAST with BLNAR adjustment. Levofloxacin susceptibility was 96% using all three breakpoints. Dramatic differences in rates of susceptibility, depending on the breakpoints used, were seen for cefaclor [94% by CLSI (86.4% BLNAR adjusted), 23% by PK/PD] and cefuroxime [97% by CLSI (89.1% BLNAR adjusted), 85% by PK/PD, 15% by EUCAST (13.0% BLNAR adjusted)]. Streptococcus pyogenes (n = 222) and Moraxella catarrhalis (n = 40) isolates remained highly susceptible to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, cephalosporins and levofloxacin, with only erythromycin susceptibility dropping below 95% for S. pyogenes. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and levofloxacin were the most active antibiotics based on all three breakpoints against these pathogens. Although susceptibility was not universally low in Turkey, high resistance rates were found in S. pneumoniae and, when using PK/PD and EUCAST breakpoints, in other respiratory pathogens.

Role of milk protein-based products in some quality attributes of goat milk yogurt.

Goat milk yogurts were manufactured with the fortification of 2% (wt/vol) skim goat milk powder (SGMP), sodium caseinate (NaCn), whey protein concentrate (WPC), whey protein isolate (WPI), or yogurt texture improver (YTI). Yogurts were characterized based on compositional, microbiological, and textural properties; volatile flavor components (with gas chromatography); and sensory analyses during storage (21d at 5 °C). Compared with goat milk yogurt made by using SGMP, the other goat milk yogurt variants had higher protein content and lower acidity values. Goat milk yogurts with NaCn and WPC, in particular, had better physical characteristics. Using WPI caused the hardest structure in yogurt, leading to higher syneresis values. Acetaldehyde and ethanol formation increased with the incorporation of WPI, WPC, or YTI to yogurt milk. The tyrosine value especially was higher in the samples with NaCn and YTI than in the samples with WPC and WPI. Counts of Streptococcus thermophilus were higher than the counts of Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, possibly due to a stimulatory effect of milk protein-based ingredients other than SGMP on the growth of S. thermophilus. Yogurt with NaCn was the best accepted among the yogurts. For the parameters used, milk protein-based products such as NaCn or WPC have promising features as suitable ingredients for goat milk yogurt manufacture.

The effect of melatonin on spinal cord after ischemia in rats.

STUDY DESIGN: Experimental animal model to assess ischemic spinal cord injury (SCI) following occlusion of the thoraco-abdominal aorta. OBJECTIVES: In the present study, we aimed to investigate the role of melatonin on SCI induced by ischemia and following reperfusion. SETTING: Animal Research Laboratory, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey. METHODS: We evaluated oxidative damage and caspase-3 activity. In total, 32 adult Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups: Group 1, control (n=8); Group 2 (n=8), those subjected to ischemia/reperfusion (IR) by clamping the thoraco-abdominal aorta; Group 3 (n=8), melatonin (50 mg kg(-1)) treated; and Group 4 (n=8), melatonin (50 mg kg(-1)) followed by ischemia. All animals were kept alive for 48 h, and then spinal cord samples were removed. We assayed oxidative damage by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA), apoptosis by measuring activated caspase-3 (using immunoblots) and intrinsic antioxidative capacity by measuring reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in the spinal cord. RESULTS: The results indicated a significant decrease in activity of caspase-3 in SCI animals after treatment with melatonin, as it significantly decreased the formation of MDA and decelerated the loss of GSH. CONCLUSION: This study suggested that melatonin could be an effective neuroprotective agent for treatment of SCI.

Use of proton pump inhibitors in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation does not increase the frequency of febrile neutropenia.

OBJECTIVE: Despite the fact that proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use is a risk factor for infections in heterogeneous groups of patients, there are only a limited data related to PPI use and febrile neutropenic episodes (FNEs) in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a 7-year period, we retrospectively reviewed 145 HSCT data to identify a risk factor for PPI use for febrile neutropenia. The follow-up process of 125 (86.2%) of the HSCTs was complicated with FNEs. RESULTS: A multivariate analysis indicated that PPI use was not significantly associated with FNEs (Odds ratio [OR]: 0.46; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.12-2.16; p = 0.24) or bacterial culture positivity (OR: 1.37; 95% CI 0.45-4.18; p = 0.58). CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that PPI use does not appear to be a risk factor for FNE or bacterial culture positivity for HSCT patients but further studies are needed.

Leukoclastic vasculitis extending from esophagus to terminal ileum.

Leucocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV) is commonly presented as a skin disease by affecting the small vessels of targeted area. Containing loops of vessels with end- capillaries makes the small intestine villus potantially target area of LcV, when obstructed with immune complexes.

Determination of Nutrient Contents and In vitro Gas Production Values of Some Legume Forages Grown in the Harran Plain Saline Soils.

The aim of this study was to determine the nutritive value of some legume species in salt-affected soils of South-East Anatolian region using chemical composition and in vitro gas production kinetics. In this study, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium alexandrinum, Medicago sativa were sown and tested in four different locations. A 3 by 4 factorial design with 3 legume species and 4 salt levels (non salty electrical conductivity (EC)<4 dS/m; low salt: 4 dS/m>EC<8 dS/m, medium saline: 8 dS/m>EC<16 dS/m and high salt: 16 dS/m>EC) was used in the study. Results indicated that salinity and plants had no significant effect on ash and ether extract. Dry matter (DM), acid detergent fiber, digestible dry matter, dry matter intake (DMI) were affected by plant, salinity and plant×salinity interaction. On the other hand neutral detergent fiber, relative feed value (RFV), and DMI were affected by salinity and plant×salinity interaction. Mineral contents were affected by plant species, salinity and salinity×plants interactions. In vitro gas production, their kinetics and estimated parameters such as were not affected by salinity whereas the gas production up to 48 h, organic matter digestibility, metabolizable energy (ME), and net energy lactation (NEL) were affected by plant and plant×salt interaction. Generally RFVs of all species ranged from 120 to 210 and were quite satisfactory in salty conditions. Current results show that the feed value of Medicago sativa is higher compared to Lotus corniculatus and Trifolium alexandrinum.

Preauricular sinus, nephrolithiasis, infantine eczema and natal tooth: a new association.

Preauricular sinuses (ear pits) are common congenital abnormalities. The incidence of preauricular sinus is widely varied. Usually asymptomatic, they manifest as small hollows adjacent to the external ear near the anterior margin of the ascending limb of the helix, most frequently on the right side. Preauricular sinuses can be either inherited or sporadic. They may be bilateral, increasing the likelihood of being inherited, in 25-50% of cases. Preauricular sinuses are features of other conditions or syndromes in 3-10% of cases, primarily in association with deafness and branchio-oto-renal (BOR) syndrome. When other congenital anomalies coexist with these sinuses, auditory testing and renal ultrasound should be considered. A girl, who was three months and 20 days old, was presented because of the co-existence of a right infected preauricular sinus, nephrolithiasis, infantile eczema and a natal tooth.

Is tigecyclin a good choice in the treatment of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii pneumonia?

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of tigecycline in multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii pneumonia. We retrospectively evaluated the outcome of adult patients with culture proven MDR A. baumannii pneumonia treated with tigecycline between January 2009 and March 2011. The study comprised a total of 72 MDR A. baumannii pneumonia cases (44 men, mean age 65.9±15.0). Tigecycline was used for a mean duration of 10.7±4.8 days. Microbiological eradication was observed in 47 cases (65.3%). Overall mortality was 55.5% and was lower in cases with microbiological eradication vs others (15/47 32% vs 25/25 100%, p<0.0001). Mortality and microbiological eradication rates were not different with monotherapy vs combination therapy (p>0.05). Patients who died had lower albumin levels, higher APACHE-II scores and CRP levels. The microbiological eradication rate of tigecycline in MDR A. baumannii was considerable. However, eradication of A. baumannii did not result in favorable clinical outcomes in those patients with low albumin, higher APACHE-II scores and CRP levels.

Role of exogenous melatonin on adriamycin-induced changes in the rat heart.

AIM: The protective effect of melatonin on adriamycin (ADM)-induced cardiotoxicity was investigated in the rat heart. Melatonin is a pineal hormone with free radical scavenging activity on oxidants; therefore it may decrease the ADM-induced oxidative stress and cardiotoxicity so that therapeutic efficacy might be enhanced. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wistar rats in 4 groups were treated with saline (control), melatonin (MEL), adriamycin (ADM) and melatonin plus adriamycin (MEL+ADM). RESULTS: Adriamycin given at a single dose of 15 mg/kg significantly increased lipid peroxidation products as measured by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Melatonin (5 mg/kg bw) given 2 days before and 7 days after ADM treatment reduced TBARS level. Adriamycin significantly reduced superoxide dismutase activity which was elevated by melatonin treatment. Additionally, ADM significantly increased catalase enzyme activity while melatonin normalized the ADM induced alteration in activity of catalase. CONCLUSIONS: The combined use of ADM and melatonin reduces the threat of cardiomyopathy. Melatonin seems to hold promise as a therapeutic treatment and can be recommended as an adjunct in antitumor therapy as a safe and effective protection against acute ADM-induced cardiotoxicity.

Genotypic identification of some lactic acid bacteria by amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis and investigation of their potential usage as starter culture combinations in Beyaz cheese manufacture.

In this study, 2 different starter culture combinations were prepared for cheesemaking. Starter culture combinations were formed from 8 strains of lactic acid bacteria. They were identified as Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis (2 strains), Lactobacillus plantarum (5 strains), and Lactobacillus paraplantarum (1 strain) by amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis. The effects of these combinations on the physicochemical and microbiological properties of Beyaz cheeses were investigated. These cheeses were compared with Beyaz cheeses that were produced with a commercial starter culture containing Lc. lactis ssp. lactis and Lc. lactis ssp. cremoris as control. All cheeses were ripened in brine at 4 degrees C for 90 d. Dry matter, fat in dry matter, titratable acidity, pH, salt in dry matter, total N, water-soluble N, and ripening index were determined. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE patterns of cheeses showed that alpha(S)-casein and beta-casein degraded slightly during the ripening period. Lactic acid bacteria, total mesophilic aerobic bacteria, yeast, molds, and coliforms were also counted. All analyses were repeated twice during d 7, 30, 60, and 90. The starter culture combinations were found to be significantly different from the control group in pH, salt content, and lactobacilli, lactococci, and total mesophilic aerobic bacteria counts, whereas the cheeses were similar in fat, dry matter content, and coliform, yeast, and mold counts. The sensory analysis of cheeses indicated that textural properties of control cheeses presented somewhat lower scores than those of the test groups. The panelists preferred the tastes of treatment cheeses, whereas cheeses with starter culture combinations and control cheeses had similar scores for appearance and flavor. These results indicated that both starter culture combinations are suitable for Beyaz cheese production.

In vitro activity of fluoroquinolones against common respiratory pathogens.

The treatment of respiratory infections is often empiric, necessitating the use of agents with a broad range of antimicrobial activity. The fluoroquinolones, having activity against common respiratory pathogens, fit this description. New fluoroquinolones have been developed in an attempt to improve the in vitro activity against a wide variety of respiratory tract pathogens. The objective of the study is to compare in vitro activity of newest fluoroquinolones, gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin, with levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin using three major respiratory pathogens, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of four fluoroquinolones were tested against 93 S pneumoniae, 62 H influenzae and 60 M catarrhalis, ie 215 isolates by the E-test method. National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS)-approved interpretive criteria were used throughout. All isolates were susceptible to the tested fluoro-quinolones. Ninety per cent of S pneumoniae strains were inhibited by ciprofloxacin at concentrations of 2 mg/L. The gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin MICs were lower than the ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin MICs against S pneumoniae. In contrast to S pneumoniae, in vitro activities of gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin offered no apparent advantages over ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin for H influenzae and M catarrhalis.

In vitro activity of daptomycin alone and in combination with various antimicrobials against Gram-positive cocci.

The increasing prevalence of resistant Gram-positive cocci requires the need to search for more effective agents and synergistic combinations. Forty-two vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF), 30 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and 36 Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) strains were studied. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined and synergy testing was performed by using E test for daptomycin, ampicillin-sulbactam, piperacillin-tazobactam and ticarcillin-clavulanate against staphylococci; for daptomycin, ampicillin, rifampin, and gentamicin against enterococci. Daptomycin in combination with ampicillin, rifampin, and gentamicin was tested against enterococci; daptomycin in combination with ampicillin-sulbactam, piperacillin-tazobactam, and ticarcillin-clavulanate was tested against staphylococci. Interaction categories were defined by the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index. All strains of staphylococci and enterococci were susceptible to daptomycin. All three combinations showed synergy against more than 70% of the MRSA strains. Daptomycin in combination with ampicillin, rifampin, and gentamicin against enterococci showed synergies of 64.2%, 57.1% and 21.4%, respectively. This study indicates that daptomycin alone and combined with beta-lactams seems to be effective against MRSA, but further in vitro and in vivo studies on the subject are required before clinical use can be recommended.

In vitro activity of fluoroquinolones against common respiratory pathogens / La actividad in vitro de las fluorquinolonas contra los patógenos respiratorios

The treatment of respiratory infections is often empiric, necessitating the use of agents with a broad range of antimicrobial activity. The fluoroquinolones, having activity against common respiratory pathogens, fit this description. New fluoroquinolones have been developed in an attempt to improve the in vitro activity against a wide variety of respiratory tract pathogens. The objective of the study is to compare in vitro activity of newest fluoroquinolones, gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin, with levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin using three major respiratory pathogens, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of four fluoroquinolones were tested against 93 S pneumoniae, 62 H influenzae and 60 M catarrhalis, ie 215 isolates by the E-test method. National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS)-approved interpretive criteria were used throughout. All isolates were susceptible to the tested fluoro-quinolones. Ninety per cent of S pneumoniae strains were inhibited by ciprofloxacin at concentrations of 2 mg/L. The gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin MICs were lower than the ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin MICs against S pneumoniae. In contrast to S pneumoniae, in vitro activities of gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin offered no apparent advantages over ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin for H influenzae and M catarrhalis.

La terapia de las infecciones respiratorias es a menudo empírica, y exige por ende el uso de agentes con un amplio espectro de actividad antimicrobiana. Por su actividad contra los patógenos respiratorios comunes, las fluorquinolonas se ajustan a esta descripción. Nuevas fluorquinolonas han sido desarrolladas, en un intento por mejorar la actividad in vitro contra una variedad de patógenos de las vías respiratorias. El objetivo de este estudio es comparar la actividad in vitro de las fluorquinolonas más recientes – la gatifloxacina y la moxifloxacina – con la levofloxacina y la ciprofloxacina, usando tres de los más importantes patógenos respiratorios: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae y Moraxella catarrhalis. Las concentraciones inhibitorias mínimas (CIMs) de las cuatro fluorquinolonas fueron sometidas a prueba contra 93 S pneumoniae, 62 H influenzae y 60 M catarrhalis, para un total de 215 aislados mediante el método de E-test. En todos los casos se aplicaron criterios interpretativos aprobados por el Comité Nacional para Normas del Laboratorio Clínico (NCCLS). Todos los aislados resultaron sensibles a las fluorquinolonas ensayadas. El noventa por ciento de las cepas de S pneumoniae fueron inhibidas por la ciprofloxacina a concentrationes of 2 mg/L. Las CIMs de la gatifloxacina y la moxifloxacina fueron más bajas que las CIMs de la ciprofloxacina y la levofloxacina contra S pneumoniae. En contraste con S pneumoniae, la actividad in vitro de la gatifloxacina y la moxifloxacina no ofrecieron ventajas aparentes por encima de la ciprofloxacina y la levofloxacina frente a H influenzae y M catarrhalis.

Effect of hyperthyroidism and propylthiouracil treatment on liver biochemical tests.

Liver biochemical test (LBT) changes can be commonly observed in hyperthyroid patients. Those kinds of changes could also be observed because of propylthiouracil (PTU) therapy. We prospectively evaluated LBT changes because of PTU use for 1 year in patients who had been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism first. We studied 64 patients who had been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. These patients took at least 1-year PTU treatment. We analysed LBT at diagnosis and after 2 and 12 months of treatment with PTU. Prior to PTU treatment, 30 (46.8%) of the 64 patients had at least one LBT abnormality. We observed at least one LBT abnormality in 11 (32%) patients after 2 months and nine (26%) patients after 12 months of treatment with PTU in 34 patients whose CBT were normal before treatment. We did not observe any deterioration in clinical picture and bilirubin levels. Elevated serum LBT during the pretreatment and PTU treatment period is common and usually transient and asymptomatic. PTU could be used for long times by lowering the dose and close follow-up in patients who have elevated LBT during the pretreatment and after PTU treatment period.