Diagnostics of intestinal parasites by light microscopy among the population of children between the ages of 4-12 in eastern Turkey.

Intestinal parasitic infections are among important health problems in developing countries. In societies living in low socioeconomic conditions, it has been neglected and mostly affects children. It is important to determine the prevalence and type of intestinal parasites in order to determine the intervention strategies for these infections. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate intestinal parasite prevalence and IgE levels and the factors associated with the region in which the children population live, in Sirnak province, in the eastern of Turkey. A total of 357 symptomatic children aged 4 to 12 years, who were admitted to the Paediatric Polyclinic of Sirnak State Hospital, were examined prospectively. The collected stool samples were examined with direct wet-mount and concentration method under light microscope. In addition, total serum IgE levels were compared among 223 children with parasitic disease and 134 children without parasitic disease. One or more intestinal parasites were detected in 223 out of the 357 children participating in the study. The ratio of single, double, and triple parasitic infections in children was 32.5 %, 22.4 % and 7.6 %, respectively. The most common parasites determined in the study were Taenia spp. (39.9%), Enterobius vermicularis (38.6%) and Giardia intestinalis. (30 %). The difference between IgE levels determined in both groups was not regarded to be statistically significant. This study indicated that that intestinal polyparism is very common in children living in the province of Sirnak, which is located in the east of Turkey, neighbouring Iraq and Syria in the South. For this reason, sustainable control measures are urgently needed to improve personal hygiene and sanitation, to provide a healthy infrastructure and to improve the quality of existing water resources.

Diagnostics of intestinal parasites by light microscopy among the population of children between the ages of 4-12 in eastern Turkey

@#Intestinal parasitic infections are among important health problems in developing countries. In societies living in low socioeconomic conditions, it has been neglected and mostly affects children. It is important to determine the prevalence and type of intestinal parasites in order to determine the intervention strategies for these infections. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate intestinal parasite prevalence and IgE levels and the factors associated with the region in which the children population live, in Sirnak province, in the eastern of Turkey. A total of 357 symptomatic children aged 4 to 12 years, who were admitted to the Paediatric Polyclinic of Sirnak State Hospital, were examined prospectively. The collected stool samples were examined with direct wet-mount and concentration method under light microscope. In addition, total serum IgE levels were compared among 223 children with parasitic disease and 134 children without parasitic disease. One or more intestinal parasites were detected in 223 out of the 357 children participating in the study. The ratio of single, double, and triple parasitic infections in children was 32.5 %, 22.4 % and 7.6 %, respectively. The most common parasites determined in the study were Taenia spp. (39.9%), Enterobius vermicularis (38.6%) and Giardia intestinalis. (30 %). The difference between IgE levels determined in both groups was not regarded to be statistically significant. This study indicated that that intestinal polyparism is very common in children living in the province of Sirnak, which is located in the east of Turkey, neighbouring Iraq and Syria in the South. For this reason, sustainable control measures are urgently needed to improve personal hygiene and sanitation, to provide a healthy infrastructure and to improve the quality of existing water resources.

Infections related to Granulicatella adiacens: Report of two cases and review of literature.

Infections due to nutritionally variant streptococci are diagnosed rarely due to difficulties encountered during identification and isolation. Mortality rate in these infections is high therefore appropriate supplemented media and reliable detection systems should be implemented to isolate these fastidious organisms. Here, we describe two cases of Granulicatella adiacens infections. All microbiologic identifications were made with MALDI-TOF Vitek MS (BioMerieux, France), and the results confirmed by 16S ribotyping.

Importance of myocardial damage in acute decompensated heart failure: changing the paradigm from a passive to an active process.

Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is a highly prevalent condition, with elevated short and longterm morbidity and mortality. Clinical deterioration is triggered by many factors that could promote minor myocardial damage (MMD), and the main tools for diagnosis are cardiac troponins T and I. The aim of this article is to review of the current knowledge about the prevalence and prognostic role of MMD in ADHF. Increased levels of troponins has been reported in up to half of patients admitted for ADHF, and they were associated with higher in-hospital incidence of refractory heart failure and death, as well as with poor longterm outcome. Moreover, MMD was an independent prognostic marker of events. The availability of MMD markers has changed the risk stratification in ADHF. Among the emerging approach applying this thought is the combined use with natriuretic peptides as marker of ventricular overload, which has improved the risk-stratification. The concept that an active process, either primary or secondary, has a prognostic implication during ADHF must be incorporated to the clinical practice.