Molecular genotyping of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto from human Echinococcal cysts in Hatay, Türkiye.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is one of the zoonotic infections in human, an important global health problem. It was aimed to determine the molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of isolates obtained from patients diagnosed with CE in Hatay province, according to the cox1 gene region. A total of 31 patients, 14 males and 17 females, with a mean age of 35.19 (±14.28) years were included in the study. 35 cyst materials obtained from patients were studied. DNA isolation was performed from the samples with protoscoleces determined in the cyst fluid. One-way DNA sequencing was performed with the Sanger Sequencing Protocol through the obtained PCR products. In the study, 35 hydatid cysts of human origin were examined and protoscoleces was detected in 11 (31.43%) of them. Twenty of the patients had liver involvement, seven had lung involvement, and four had both liver and lung involvement. All the samples with protoscoleces detected were observed of PCR product with a size of approximately 446 bp. When the sequence results of the isolates were evaluated within themselves, it was seen that there were three different sequences with 99% similarity to each other. As a result, of the phylogenetic analysis, it was determined that the isolates were identified in the Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto (E. granulosus s. s.) (G1-G3) complex. This study is thought to contribute to the epidemiology, parasite control, effective diagnosis and treatment techniques, eradication, vaccine and drug development studies of E. granulosus s. s in Türkiye.

Biochemical Analysis of Germinal Membrane and Cyst Fluid by Raman Spectroscopy in Echinococcosis

Objective: Hydatidosis is a zoonotic parasitic infection caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus. The aim of this study was to investigate the biochemical structures of germinal membrane and cyst fluids obtained from patients with liver involvement during surgery, by Raman spectroscopy at the molecular level. Methods: Molecular characterization of germinal membrane and cyst fluid according to mitochondrial gene region was determined and phylogenetic analysis was performed. Raman spectroscopy was used in samples and spectral bands between 300 and 1800 cm-1 were examined. Results: As a result of PCR, approximately 400 bp DNA band was obtained from germinal membranes and cyst fluids gathered from patients. Peaks were observed at 780, 880, 970, 1151, 1200, 1270 cm-1 for germinal membrane and at 780 and 1200 cm-1 for cyst fluid. The highest spectral bands were obtained at 1333-1335 cm-1 and were determined to be modes indicating the CH3CH2 collagen and polynucleotide chain. Conclusion: In the identification of microorganisms and biochemical analysis of biological tissues; different diagnostic methods such as molecular, serological and conventional methods are used. In addition to these methods, Raman spectroscopy has been shown in studies to be a fast, non-destructive and noninvasive method. Therefore, it is thought to be an alternative method for analyzing the basic biochemical components of microorganisms at molecular level.

Effects of surgical and percutaneous tracheotomy on thyroid hormones.

AIM: To evaluate the effects of surgical and percutaneous tracheotomy on thyroid hormones. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Sixty patients with respiratory problems who underwent surgical tracheotomy and percutaneous tracheotomy between December 2012 and December 2016 were divided into 2 groups. FT3, FT4, thyroglobulin and TSH levels of the groups were statistically evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS: The effects of surgical and percutaneous tracheotomy on free thyroxin (FT4), serum thyroglobulin (TG) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were found to be statistically significant. Although free triiodothyronine (FT3) slightly elevated in both groups, it was not statistically significant. DISCUSSION: Today, percutaneous tracheotomy (PCT) and conventional surgical tracheotomy (CT) have been widely used in intensive care units on patients who are expected to be connected to mechanical ventilation for a long time. Because of the anatomy of the surgical site, tracheotomy may cause damage to the adjacent thyroid gland and tracheal rings CONCLUSION: Surgeons should keep in mind that serum thyroid hormone levels may increase postoperatively. Particularly the patients with cardiac rhythm problems should be followed after surgical and percutaneous tracheotomy due to the systemic effects of thyroid hormones. KEY WORDS: Tracheotomy, Thyroid hormones.