Rapid detection of bacterial atypical pneumonia agents by multiplex PCR.

Approximately one third of community acquired pneumonia cases are caused by atypical pneumonia agents, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila, and Chlamydophila pneumoniae (formerly Chlamydia pneumoniae). The laboratory diagnosis of these organisms is difficult and time-consuming by conventional microbiological techniques. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is one of the important tools which can circumvent this problem. A multiplex PCR assay was developed to achieve the diagnosis of these three organisms in a single tube. Primers used in PCR were selected in a way that they amplified different length DNA fragments from different agents but they all worked at the same amplification conditions. Therefore the organisms could be diagnosed according to the length of amplified products by agarose gel electrophoresis without using any hybridization probes. After development of the multiplex PCR method, totally 309 clinical samples which were sent to our laboratory for single-agent PCR, were also evaluated by this technique. The results showed that the multiplex PCR assay is a sensitive, useful, cheap, and rapid diagnostic tool for the management of pneumonia patients.

In vitro adherence of bacteria to bleached or unbleached enamel surfaces.

The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effects of three 10% carbamide peroxide bleaching agents on adherence of bacteria to tooth enamel surface. Enamel specimens were subjected to one of three carbamide peroxide solutions for 8 h per day for 30 days. Control specimens were kept in saline solution. Profilometer evaluation of surface roughness was performed on all specimens. The adherence of Streptococcus mutans was determined bacteriologically. There was no significant difference in surface roughness between the untreated and treated enamel specimens but a statistically significant difference was found in the adherence of S. mutans to bleached and unbleached enamel specimens. Specimens treated with Opalescence showed the highest adherence.

Triterpene saponins from Cyclamen mirabile and their biological activities.

Six saponins, cyclaminorin (1), deglucocyclamin (2), cyclacoumin (3), cyclamin (4), isocyclamin (5), and mirabilin (6) were isolated from the tubers of Cyclamen mirabile. Compound 6 is a new natural compound, and its structure was established as 3-[O-beta-[[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)]- [beta-D-glycopyranosyl-(1-->6)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-[be ta-D- glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)]-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl]-3 beta,16 alpha,28-trihydroxyolean-12-en-30-oic acid (6). The structure elucidation of this compound was accomplished using both spectral and chemical methods. Antimicrobial and uterocontractile activities of the saponins were also investigated.

Antibacterial activity of 10% carbamide peroxide bleaching agents.

The antibacterial activity of three commercial 10% carbamide peroxide bleaching agents (Nite White, Karisma, and Opalescence) on Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus sanguis, Lactobacillus casei, and Lactobacillus acidophilus was examined. Chlorhexidine (0.2%) was used as a positive control. Test materials and control solution were inserted in wells punched on the surface of disk sensitivity agars seeded with bacteria. After incubation of 24 to 48 h, zones of inhibition were measured. All three of the test materials displayed greater inhibition than the control. The pH of the solutions did not effect the bacterial inhibition.

[Ultrastructure and properties of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans]. / Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans'in ince yapi ve özellikleri.

In this study, plaque samples taken from periodontal pockets were cultured on Tryptic-soy-serum-bacitracin-vancomycin agar and identified according to colony morphology, Gram stain, catalase reaction and nitrate reduction tests after an incubation of 48 hours in candle jar. Cells identified as Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans were evaluated under the transmission electron microscope for fine structure. Outer membrane was observed as an irregular structure containing microcapsules. Unlike previous studies, periplasmic space was observed separately from other layers. Cytoplasmic membrane was observed surrounded by an electron-opaque cytoplasm. Besides, extracellular vesicles were seen extending to the outer environment around cytoplasmic membrane. Pathogenic properties of organelles were discussed. As a result, it was concluded that, in the future studies, products released and structural alterations occurring during growth of the organism, their pathologic effects and ways to suppress them need to be investigated microbiologically, ultrastructurally and biochemically.

[Detection of secretory acid proteinase enzyme from Candida strains on protein supplemented agar media]. / Kandida suslarinda salgisal asit proteinaz enzim varliginin proteinli agar besiyerlerinde gösterilmesi.

In this study, we identified the species of 130 candida strains isolated from various clinical specimens, and we also investigated the secretory acid proteinase activity of these strains on hemoglobin, albumin and casein containing agar media. In 65 of 75 C. albicans, 8 of 15 C. tropicalis, 5 of 15 C. pseudotropicalis, in 3 C. stellatoidea and in 2 C. glabrata strains enzyme activity was shown. We couldn't detect proteinase activity in any of the 7 C. krusei, 7 C. parapsilosis and in 6 C. guilliermondii strains. Enzyme activity was shown to be inhibited when proteolytic strains were treated with specific inhibitor pepstatin-A.

[In vitro sensitivity of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans to various antibiotics]. / Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans'in çesitli antibiyotiklere in vitro duyarliligi.

In this study, 7 strains of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (A.a.) were isolated from Localized juvenile periodontitis (LJP) patients and antibiotic susceptibility test by disc diffusion method was utilized. The purpose of this study is to find out the most useful antibiotic against A.a. which is the most important microbial agent in LJP. All seven strains of A.a. were found susceptible to tetracycline, doxycycline, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin and cefuroxime. Two strains were found intermediate susceptible to cephradine. One strain was found resistant to penicillin and another one was found resistant to ampicillin.

[E. coli strains producing heat labile enterotoxin on Vero cells]. / Isiya duyarli enterotoksin yapan E. coli suslarin Vero hücrelerinde arastirilmasi.

In this study heat-labile toxin (LT) producing strains of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) have been investigated by using Vero cell-line, which were isolated predominantly from the cultures of stool samples of 100 infants, aged between 0-2, with diarrhea. Among these strains 3% were found as toxin producers. These 3 strains were also detected as toxin producers and serotyped as O?:H12,LT(+); O?:H53,LT(-); (0126):H27,(LT)(-) at Statens Serum Institute (Denmark) International Escherichia and Klebsiella Centre.

Aminoglycoside resistance patterns in Turkey.

Resistance of gram-negative aerobic bacteria to aminoglycoside antibiotics differs by region and country. It is known that 54% of gram-negative bacilli in Turkey are resistant to gentamicin, 32% to netilmicin, 35% to tobramycin, and only 0.9% to amikacin. Resistance to these antibiotics is generally caused by aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes. The resistance mechanisms of 300 aminoglycoside-resistant gram-negative bacteria were evaluated by determination of susceptibility to selected aminoglycosides. Comparison of strains isolated from community acquired infections and hospital acquired infections was made. Of the strains from community, 45.4% had an aminoglycoside resistance pattern indicative of 2''-adenyltransferase [ANT(2'')]. This was found in 44.4% of the hospital isolates. In both groups the second common enzyme was the 3-acetyltransferase [AAC(3)-II], in 20.8% and 23.3% respectively. Overall, most strains had an aminoglycoside resistance pattern indicative of ANT(2''), followed by AAC(3)-II and AAC(3)-I. Among bacteria tested, AAC(3)-II was the most common enzyme in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results of this study suggest that local antibiotic prescribing patterns play an important role in regional resistance mechanisms.

[Determination of caries activity levels in children aged 4-6 years by the modified Snyder test]. / 4-6 yas arasindaki çocuklarda modifiye Snyder testi ile dis çürük aktivitesinin saptanmasi.

Modified Snyder Test, which is a good instrument in motivating the patient and determining the effectiveness of preventive programs, is used commonly in Public Health Research programs for measuring the the caries activity levels. In our study, by using modified Snyder Test instead of Snyder Test, which is more preferable because of its' simplicity in application, we determined the caries activity levels of the children, aged between 4-6 years, which remained as an unexamined group in our population up to date. In our study, consisting of fifty children, caries rate was found to be 36% depending on WHO's criteria, while caries percentile for each tooth was 5.8% and df index was 1.18. According to the modified Snyder Test results, 46% of the children had positive results at the end of the 48 hours, which indicates a mild caries activity degree. This result is also in accordance with the caries of the group.

[Levels of S. mutans and Lactobacilli in the dental plaque of caries-prone and caries-free persons]. / Cürüge egilimli ve cürüksüz bireylerdeki dis plaginda S. mutans ve laktobasil düzeyleri.

The ratio of Streptococcus mutans to the total streptococci and lactobacilli to the total plaque bacteria in dental plaque (smooth-pits and fissures) of 10 caries-prone, mean, number of decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) 13, and 10 caries-free mean DMFT 1.7, Hacettepe University Faculty of Dentistry students ages 19-22 is investigated. The ratio of S. mutans to the total streptococci in the smooth-surface plaque was found lower than pits and fissures in the caries-prone and caries-free groups. The ratio of S. mutans to the total streptococci in the smooth surface and pit and fissures plaques in the caries-prone group was found higher than caries-free group.

[Bacteriological investigation of the cariogenic effects of sugar alcohols and sucrose]. / Seker alkolleri ve sukrozun çürük yapici etkilerinin bakteriyolojik yöntemlerle arastirilmasi.

Considerable evidence indicates that the disaccharide, sucrose is probably the major dietary factor in dental caries formation and much subsequent research has gone into the search for another sweetener to replace sucrose. Currently, there is much interest in the development of new sweeteners and the cariogenic properties of sugar alcohols. The present study aimed to examine the cariogenic properties of sugar alcohols (xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol) and sucrose on growth pattern and acid production of S. mutans, S. mitis, S. salivarius, S. sanguis, S. faecalis, S. viridans, L. casei and L. acidophilus in vitro by using Photo Electrical Colorimeter and pH meter. In conclusion the results in this study showed that out of sugar alcohols, xylitol is the only compound which, depending on its concentration, significantly did not affect the growth and acid production of all tested micro organisms.

[Antibody titers in the serum of patients suspected of typhoid using the classical Widal and microagglutination tests]. / Tifo kuskulu hastalarin serumlarinda klasik widal ve mikroaglütinasyon yöntemleri ile antikor aranmasi.

Blood serum samples taken from typhoid fever suspected patients during the last typhoid fever epidemic in Ankara in 1981 were tested comparatively with classical Gruber-Widal test and microagglutination technique using safranin-stained Salmonella typhi O and H antigens. Results showed that microagglutination technique was more reliable, less time and antigen consuming and permitted a more objective evaluation of agglutinin titers.

Cytomegalovirus antibodies in epileptics receiving diphenylhydantoin.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibodies were determined by indirect haemagglutination in 53 epileptics receiving long-term diphenylhydantoin (DPH) therapy and in 53 matched controls. Absorption of serum IgG, IgA and IgM performed in 12 sera showed that the antibodies were of the IgG class. A decreased incidence of high CMV antibody titres (greater than or equal to 320) was found in epileptics (11.3%) compared with controls (34.0%) (0.02 greater than P greater than 0.01), whereas antibody titres greater than or equal to 40 were found in 37.7% of epileptics and in 45.3% of controls (n.s.). The CMV antibody incidence and titre range were similar in patients with symptomatic (37.9%) and idiopathic (37.5%) epilepsy, suggesting that the DPH treatment was responsible for the decreased antibody occurrence in patients. No correlation between CMV antibody titres and the serum immunoglobulin levels or the DPH concentration or clearance could be established in the epileptics.

[A study on the prevalence of cytomegalovirus complement-fixing antibodies in the Turkish population (author's transl)]. / Toplumumuzda cytomegalovirus kompleman birlesmesi antikor dagiliminin arastirilmasi.

The prevalence of cytomegalovirus (Ad 169) antibodies in the Turkish population is studied by complement fixation techniques in 692 sera obtained from various age groups. The titer of 1:8 or higher antibody levels detected in 68% of 0-5 age groups and in 93% of 55 and above ages. Our findings proved that cytomegalovirus infections are frequent and recurrent in Turkish community like other countries which have low living and socio-economical standards.

Purification of human interferons by antibody affinity chromatography.

Human Leukocyte Interferon, Human Fibroblast Interferon and Namalva-interferon was purified on an antibody affinity colomn up to 2-20 X 10 IFU/mg protein with recoveries in the 80-120% range. The colomn was made by coupling highly absorped anti-leukocyte interferon immunoglobulins to Sepharose 4B. The absorption was performed by means of crude human leukocyte interferon covalently bound to Sepharose 4B.