Alterations in vaginal microbiota among pregnant women with COVID-19.

The maintenance of vaginal microbiota is an important factor to achieve optimum pregnancy outcomes. The study aims to describe the alterations in the composition of vaginal microbiota in pregnant women with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This was a prospective case-control study. Vaginal swabs were collected from uninfected pregnant women (n = 28) and pregnant women with COVID-19 (n = 19) during the active phase of infection and within a month after recovering from infection. The vaginal microbiota on the swabs was examined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Shannon index indicates that alpha diversity is significantly higher in women with COVID-19 (p = 0.012). There was a significant decrease in Firmicutes (p = 0.014) with an increase in Bacteroidota (p = 0.018) phyla and a decrease in Lactobacillus (p = 0.007) genus in women with COVID-19 than those of uninfected pregnant women. The relative abundance of L. crispatus, L. iners, L. gasseri, and L. jensenii were lower in the COVID-19 group than in uninfected pregnant women. In subgroup analysis, the amount of Ureaplasma spp. was higher in women with moderate/severe than those of asymptomatic/mild disease (p = 0.036). The study revealed that vaginal dysbiosis with low abundance of Lactobacillus species occurred in pregnant women infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2. These findings may lead to new studies to elucidate the risk of pregnancy adverse outcomes related to COVID-19.

Candidemia Cases Caused by Candida parapsilosis Complex Species: Epidemiology and Antifungal Susceptibility of Strains.

BACKGROUND: Candida parapsilosis is a common non-albicans Candida species isolated from blood cultures. The increase in fluconazole-resistant C. parapsilosis complex isolates is worrying, especially in strains with Y132F changes in the ERG11 gene since this ultimately leads to outbreaks. This study aimed to investigate the distribution and antifungal susceptibility of C. parapsilosis complex species isolated from bloodstream, clinical characteristics of patients, prevalence of risk factors, and to determine ERG11 gene region mutations in strains that were not susceptible to fluconazole. METHODS: Between 2014 and 2018, 96 patients with C. parapsilosis candidemia were evaluated. Thermo Scientific SensititerTM YeastOneTM YO10 was used for antifungal susceptibility testing. The ERG11 gene region sequence analysis was performed for fluconazole non-susceptible isolates. RESULTS: All the strains were defined as C. parapsilosis sensu stricto. The rate of fluconazole resistance was 6.3%, and that of susceptibility to fluconazole at an increased dose was 2.1%. Two isolates showed Y132F or G458S ERG11 changes associated with azole resistance, with the most common change being identified as R398I, which was shown not to encode azole resistance. No resistance to echinocandins and amphotericin B was observed. The use of broad-spectrum antibiotics (83.3%) was the most common risk factor. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the importance of susceptibility testing when making a decision to use fluconazole in the treatment of C. parapsilosis candidemia. The presence of resistance associated with ERG11 Y132F changes indicated that azole resistance should be closely monitored. Increasing awareness of fluconazole-resistant C. parapsilosis candidemia will help identify strategies to overcome these infections.

Association of SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibody Levels with Clinical/Laboratory Characteristics in COVID-19 Patients: Data from a Turkish Study.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 causes clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic infection to multi-organ failure. It is reported that those with severe disease have higher anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers compared to asymptomatic or mild cases. We evaluated the correlation of antibody responses with laboratory and clinical indicators in COVID-19 patients. METHODS: Seventy-nine male and 66 female patients (mean age: 39) with at least one positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test and SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody result after acute infection were included. RESULTS: Seventy-six (52%), 45 (31%), and 24 (17%) patients had mild, moderate, and severe clinical findings, respectively. Patients with high body mass index and advanced age had significantly more severe disease (p < 0.001). A significant correlation was found between the increase in lymphopenia, C-reactive protein, ferritin, D-dimer, and lactate dehydrogenase and the severity of clinical findings (p = 0.0001). SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody test was positive in 128 (88.3%) patients. A significant correlation was found between disease severity and antibody levels in the comparison of all groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term monitoring of immune responses will be required to determine the appropriate time for the administration of new vaccines.

Plasma and Breast Milk Pharmacokinetics of Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate in Nursing Mother with Chronic Hepatitis B-Infant Pairs.

Tenofovir use is associated with lower risk of mother-to-infant transmission of the virus, and discontinuation of the treatment is not safe. However, the safety of the drug during pregnancy and breastfeeding is not clear. In this study, we aimed to determine the tenofovir concentration in plasma of mother-infant pairs along with breast milk in chronic hepatitis B patients during the lactation period. A total of 11 mother-infant pairs were enrolled in the study. All the mothers received tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) 245 mg/day for at least 1 month because of chronic hepatitis B infection. Maternal blood, breast milk, and infant blood samples were obtained concomitantly. Tenofovir concentrations were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The median concentrations of tenofovir in maternal plasma and breast milk samples were 88.44 (interquartile range [IQR], 62.47 to 116.17) ng/ml and 6.69 (IQR, 4.88 to 7.03) ng/ml, respectively. Tenofovir concentrations were undetectable (<4 ng/ml) in all of the infant plasma samples. The ratio of tenofovir concentration in breast milk to that in maternal plasma was 0.07. Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate passes through the breast milk in a small amount. Infants had no detectable tenofovir level in their plasma. Our study suggests that tenofovir disoproxil fumarate treatment is safe during the breastfeeding period in chronic hepatitis B patients.

Can neutrophil-to-lymphocyte, platelet-to-lymphocyte and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratios be useful to the diagnosis of aseptic loosening after total knee arthroplasty?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to determine the role of hematological parameters - neutrophil/lymphocyte, platelet/lymphocyte, and monocyte/lymphocyte ratios - in the diagnosis of aseptic loosening after total knee arthroplasty. METHODS: This study retrospectively analyzed the data of 244 patients who had primary total knee arthroplasty and 66 patients with aseptic loosening developed after total knee arthroplasty. The white blood cell counts, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, platelet/lymphocyte ratio, monocyte/lymphocyte ratio and c-reactive protein levels in both groups were determined using the results of venous blood samples collected during preoperative preparation and compared between the groups. RESULTS: Our study findings reveal that the monocyte/lymphocyte ratio of the group with aseptic loosening was statistically significantly different from that of the patient group who had primary total knee arthroplasty (p=0.02). Furthermore, although c-reactive protein levels are not high enough to suggest systemic inflammation, the difference between the groups is statistically significant (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: No hematological parameter that could be used in the diagnosis of aseptic loosening has been defined in the literature so far. This study demonstrated that the monocyte/lymphocyte ratio could be a helpful parameter in the diagnosis of aseptic loosening (Tab. 1, Fig. 1, Ref. 28).

Evaluation of factors affecting the association between thickening of sinus mucosa and the presence of periapical lesions using cone beam CT.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of various parameters of periapical lesion(s) on the amount and type of mucosal thickening using cone beam CT images. METHODOLOGY: CBCT scans of 1000 patients were evaluated retrospectively for the presence of apical lesions in maxillary posterior teeth associated with sinus mucosal thickening. The number of cases with pathological mucosal thickening was recorded and classified according to the amount and type of mucosal thickening. The parameters evaluated as the cause of mucosal thickening were the type and number of posterior teeth, number of root(s), diameter of the periapical lesion and distance between maxillary sinus and lesion. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression was used for data analyses. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used for pair-wise comparisons. Intrarater reliability was tested by Cohen's kappa. RESULTS: Mucosal thickening associated with periapical lesions was determined in 48% of 202 cases. The most frequently detected extent of mucosal thickening was type 3 (42%), whereas flat type thickening (59%) was the most frequent type. The tooth most frequently associated with mucosal thickening was the maxillary first molar (44%). Parameters significantly affecting the extent of mucosal thickening were gender, number of roots, number of teeth with periapical lesions and diameter of periapical lesions (P < 0.05). The single parameter with an association with the type of mucosal thickening was the number of roots with an apical lesion (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Mucosal thickening associated with periapical lesions was observed in almost 50% of all mucosal thickening cases. Therefore, collaboration amongst endodontists and otolaryngologists is mandatory to provide successful treatment and prevent recurrence of maxillary sinusitis.

The clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of neuroinvasive listeriosis: a multinational study.

The aim of this study was to determine the independent risk factors, morbidity, and mortality of central nervous system (CNS) infections caused by Listeria monocytogenes. We retrospectively evaluated 100 episodes of neuroinvasive listeriosis in a multinational study in 21 tertiary care hospitals of Turkey, France, and Italy from 1990 to 2014. The mean age of the patients was 57 years (range, 19-92 years), and 64% were males. The all-cause immunosuppression rate was 54 % (54/100). Forty-nine (49 %) patients were referred to a hospital because of the classical triad of symptoms (fever, nuchal rigidity, and altered level of consciousness). Rhombencephalitis was detected radiologically in 9 (9 %) cases. Twenty-seven (64 %) of the patients who had cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed had findings of meningeal and parenchymal involvement. The mean delay in the initiation of specific treatment was 6.8 ± 7 days. Empiric treatment was appropriate in 52 (52 %) patients. The mortality rate was 25 %, while neurologic sequelae occurred in 13 % of the patients. In the multivariate analysis, delay in treatment [odds ratio (OR), 1.07 [95 % confidence interval (CI), 1.01-1.16]] and seizures (OR, 3.41 [95 % CI, 1.05-11.09]) were significantly associated with mortality. Independent risk factors for neurologic sequelae were delay in treatment (OR, 1.07 [95 % CI, 1.006-1.367]) and presence of bacteremia (OR, 45.2 [95 % CI, 2.73-748.1]). Delay in the initiation of treatment of neuroinvasive listeriosis was a poor risk factor for unfavorable outcomes. Bacteremia was one of the independent risk factors for morbidity, while the presence of seizures predicted worse prognosis. Moreover, the addition of aminoglycosides to ampicillin monotherapy did not improve patients' prognosis.

Comparison of community-onset healthcare-associated and hospital-acquired urinary infections caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and antimicrobial activities.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare community-onset healthcare-associated (CO-HCA) and hospital-acquired (HA) urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli in terms of epidemiology, clinical outcomes and antimicrobial activities. METHODS: Patients from both groups with ESBL-producing E. coli detected by urine culture between January 2009 and January 2011 were included in this retrospective study. Relevant demographical, microbiologic and clinical data were obtained from case records. RESULTS: A total of 173 patients (mean age of 58 years, 74% female) were included, of whom 75 (43.4%) had a CO-HCA UTI and 98 (56.6%) had an HA UTI. Eighty (46.2%) patients had more than one comorbid disease, of whom 57 (32.5%) had urological problems. The most common clinical manifestations were pyelonephritis (43.9%) and urosepsis (16.2%). An age of > 65 years (p = 0.005) in addition to urinary catheterisation (p = 0.001), urosepsis (p = 0.001) and mortality (p = 0.001) were significantly more common in the HA UTI group. Acute cystitis (p = 0.027), complicated cystitis (p = 0.001) and non-urologic neoplasm (p = 0.032) were significantly more common in the CO-HCA UTI group. No isolate was resistant to carbapenems or fosfomycin. Sensitivities to nitrofurantoin, amikacin, trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole-trimoxazole and quinolones were 97.6%, 89%, 29.4% and 17.9% respectively. Both groups showed similar rates of antibiotic resistance. CONCLUSION: ESBL-producing E. coli should be taken into consideration in patients with a CO HCA UTI, not only in hospital settings but also in outpatient settings. We suggest ertapenem as a first-line empirical treatment for patients with an upper UTI and fosfomycin and nitrofurantoin for those with a lower UTI when ESBL-producing E. coli is suspected.

Community-acquired left-sided Pseudomonas aeruginosa endocarditis in a patient without intravenous drug use.

We present a case of community-acquired left-sided Pseudomonas aeruginosa endocarditis in a person without intravenous drug use. The patient presented with facial numbness and did not have any predisposing condition for endocarditis. He was treated successfully with valvular surgery, along with combination antibiotics.

Assessment of the diagnostic accuracy of noninvasive scoring tools in predicting moderate-to-severe steatohepatitis via ultrasonography in asymptomatic healthy subjects admitted to family medicine outpatient clinics.

OBJECTIVE: Efficacies of the noninvasive scoring tools in screening and diagnosing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remain controversial. Aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) ratio, AST-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), and fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index are the most frequently used parameters for differentiating moderate and severe steatohepatitis. In this context, the objective of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of noninvasive tools in predicting moderate-to-severe steatohepatitis via ultrasonography in asymptomatic healthy subjects admitted to family medicine outpatient clinics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The population of this retrospective study consisted of healthy individuals tested within the scope of a medical check-up program between January and July 2021. All participants included in the study underwent relevant laboratory tests and liver ultrasonography (US). Steatohepatitis was graded using the US images as normal (grade 0), mild (grade 1), moderate (grade 2), and severe (grade 3). The participants with grade 0 and 1 steatohepatitis were categorized as Group 1, whereas those with grade 2 and 3 steatohepatitis (NAFLD) were categorized as Group 2. Any relationship between the aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT), AST-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), and fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) parameters and the diagnostic powers thereof were analyzed based on the collected data. RESULTS: The mean age of the study sample (n=408) was 46.1±12.7 years. There were 352 (86.3%) and 56 individuals in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and AST/ALT values were significantly higher, whereas APRI values were significantly lower in Group 1 than in Group 2 (p=0.004, p<0.001, and p<0.001, respectively). There were significant correlations between the presence of NAFLD and PLR values of ≤90.78 [area under the curve (AUC)=0.619, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.570-0.666, p=0.007], AST/ALT values of ≤0.91 (AUC=0.802, 95% CI: 0.760-0.840, p<0.001), and APRI values of >0.22 (AUC=0.687, 95% CI: 0.640-0.732, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The composite noninvasive indices, including PLR, AST/ALT, and APRI, can be beneficial in predicting NAFLD in healthy individuals.

Potential benefits of combining two long-acting injectable antipsychotic: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of the combination of two long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIA) in psychiatric disorders, especially in schizophrenia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-three patients treated with dual LAIA were included in the study by retrospective screening from the hospital registration system. The present study was designed as an observational, retrospective, naturalistic mirror-image study. The number of hospitalizations before and after switching to dual LAIA was compared in patients who received oral antipsychotics and single LAIA during the study period. In addition, it was analyzed which was the preferred dual antipsychotic combination. RESULTS: Of the patients, 44.6% had schizophrenia, 41.0% had schizoaffective disorder, and 14.4% had other psychiatric disorders. The number of patients receiving oral treatment prior to dual LAIA use was 80 (96.4%). Data on dual LAIA regimens showed that 31.3% were receiving paliperidone and aripiprazole, 24.1% were receiving paliperidone and flupenthixol, 18.1% were receiving paliperidone and zuclopenthixol, and 26.5% were receiving the other combinations. After dual LAIA treatment, there was a significant decrease in the number of hospitalizations compared to before (from 5.95 to 0.99, p<0.001). In addition, while the number of patients who did not require hospitalization in the pre-treatment period was 10.8%, it reached 48.1% in the post-treatment period (p<0.001). No significant adverse effect related to the use of dual LAIA was observed in any patient during the treatment period. CONCLUSIONS: The use of dual LAIA instead of oral antipsychotics or single LAIA in chronic psychotic patients with poor social support and irregular medication use is thought to reduce hospitalization and related treatment costs and regularize medication use.

Evaluation of the BD Phoenix CPO Detect Test for the detection of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the BD Phoenix CPO Detect Test (BD Diagnostic Systems) for the detection and classification of carbapenemase-mediated carbapenem resistance. Methods: A total of 447 Enterobacterales strains were included in the study. All strains were tested with the BD Phoenix CPO Detect Test and the modified carbapenem inactivation method. Results: Carbapenemase production was detected in 157 of 159 carbapenemase producers, including 95.7% of class B and 99.2% of class D isolates using the BD Phoenix CPO Detect Test. BD Phoenix CPO Detect has a sensitivity of 98.7% and a specificity of 95.5% in detecting carbapenemase production. Conclusion: The classification of OXA-48 and class B carbapenemases, the most common carbapenemases circulating in Turkey, was highly accurate.

Enterobacterales are a type of bacteria that usually live harmlessly in the gut of humans. However, if the bacteria get access to the bladder or bloodstream, they can cause infection. Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) are a type of bacteria that can cause carbapenem antibiotic-resistant infections, a group of powerful antibiotics. The rapid spread of CPE will pose an increasing threat to public health and medical treatment practices; therefore, rapid detection of CPE is crucial. This study assessed the performance of the BD Phoenix CPO Detect Test for the detection of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales. The BD Phoenix CPO Detect Test offers both the detection of carbapenemase production and antimicrobial susceptibility testing simultaneously and can be clinically useful for determining possible treatment options.

The association between Acinetobacter baumannii infections and the COVID-19 pandemic in an intensive care unit.

We aimed to describe the increased rate of Acinetobacter baumannii infections during the COVID-19 pandemic and define its significance within the last five years. This study was performed in a tertiary hospital with 280 beds and included all patients infected with A. baumannii in the intensive care unit between January 1, 2018, and June 30, 2022. A. baumannii-infected patients in the intensive care unit 27 months before the pandemic and 27 months during the pandemic were included. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was performed to assess clonal relatedness. The infection control measures were specified based on the findings and targeted elimination. In total, 5718 patients were admitted to the intensive care unit from January 1st, 2018, to June 30th, 2022. A. baumannii infection was detected in 81 patients. Compared to the pre-pandemic era, the rate of A. baumannii infection during the pandemic was 1.90 times higher (OR: 1.90, 95% CI: [1.197, 3.033]). Clonality assessment of multidrug-resistant A. baumannii samples revealed eight clusters with one main cluster comprising 14/27 isolates between 2021 and 2022. The case fatality rate of the pre-pandemic and pandemic era was not different statistically (83.33% vs. 81.48%, p = 0.835). Univariate analysis revealed the association of mechanical ventilation (p = 0.002) and bacterial growth in tracheal aspirate (p = 0.001) with fatality. During the COVID-19 pandemic, potential deficits in infection control measures may lead to persistent nosocomial outbreaks. In this study, the introduction of enhanced and customized infection control measures has resulted in the containment of an A. baumannii outbreak.

Analysis of the involvement of the thyroid gland using computed tomography in patients with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: SARS-CoV-2 primarily infects the respiratory tract and leads to severe pneumonia by binding to the ACE-2 receptor. The virus can also interact with ACE-2 receptors expressed in other tissues as in thyroid. This study predicted the complications involving the thyroid in patients with suspected SARS-CoV-2. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection between March 11, 2020-May 31, 2020 were retrospectively evaluated. Sixty-nine patients who were radiologically diagnosed as COVID-19 according to thoracic CT and had previously performed thoracic CT before November 2019 were included in the study according to the exclusion and inclusion criteria. Age and gender-matched controls (No. 69) were selected with normal thoracic CT whose PCR tests were also negative. Thyroid densities of participants were calculated and compared from the previous and current thoracic CTs. Results were also compared with the control group. RESULTS: Participants were composed of 69 patients (39 male, mean age 64.35 years). Thyroid densities were significantly decreased from 89HU to 76HU for whole gland, from 88HU to 76HU for right lobes and from 87.5HU to 75.5HU for left lobes at current thoracic CTs performed during COVID-19 (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001 respectively). The decrease in densities of the whole thyroid gland, both left and right lobes, was correlated with mortality (p<0.001). The changes in thyroid densities were not correlated with age nor gender. The decreases in HU values of thyroid densities for whole gland, left and right lobes, were correlated with mortality (p<0.001, p<0.001, and p<0.001 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 is a multi-systemic disease that threatens vital organs, including the thyroid. Future studies are needed to investigate the association between SARS-CoV-2 and other complications.

Clinical benefits and effectiveness of static computer-aided implant surgery compared with conventional freehand method for single-tooth implant placement.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of static computer-aided surgery technique with the conventional freehand method to assess the role of the surgical template in terms of duration of operation and postoperative pain levels. METHODS: Total of 26 implants were placed: 13 using tooth-supported surgical templates; and 13 using the conventional freehand method. Duration of the surgery was recorded for all operation sites. After implant insertion, all patients were asked to evaluate two separate visual analog scales (VAS) at regular intervals for 1 week. All patients underwent cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) evaluation to assess the depth of deviation of the planned and placed implants. RESULTS: The deviation of implants inserted using the computer-aided surgical technique and conventional freehand technique demonstrated no significant differences (P<0.05). However, the computer-aided surgery technique significantly decreased the duration of the surgery and post-op pain levels. CONCLUSION: Tooth supported surgical templates had no particular effect on the accuracy of single implant placement. Nevertheless, this procedure allows flappless surgery with minimal invasive approach, reduce operation time and post-op pain levels. If further studies with larger study samples confirm the abovementioned results, surgical templates may be recommeded even in patients with single tooth loss.

Non-HACEK Gram-negative bacillus endocarditis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of clinical data using 26 diagnosed non-HACEK Gram-negative infective endocarditis cases from nine hospitals in Turkey. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 53 (28-84) years, with a 23% case fatality. Nineteen (73%) of the 26 patients had at least one predisposing factor. The presence of a central venous catheter was the most common predisposing factor (7/26 patients). Pseudomonasaeruginosa (7/26 patients) and Escherichiacoli (7/26 patients) were the most common pathogens. The median duration of the antibiotic therapy was 42 days (range 3-84 days). Surgical procedures were performed in 10 patients. The case fatality was similar in patients who did or did not undergo surgery (20% vs. 25%).

Chronic hepatitis C responds poorly to combination therapy in chronic hepatis B carriers.

BACKGROUND: The effect of conventional interferon-based therapy of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) dual infection is controversial. Yet, no studies have been carried out into pegylated interferon treatment for chronic HBV/HCV coinfection. We aimed to evaluate the response rate and side effects of conventional or pegylated interferon combined with ribavirin on chronic HBV/HCV coinfection therapy. METHODS: The study included 36 chronic hepatitis patients (M/F: 28/8, mean age 47+/-12 years) who were positive for HBsAg and anti-HCV. They were tested for the presence of HBV-DNA by hybridisation assay, and the samples giving negative results were retested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All patients were tested for HCV-RNA using PCR, and the HCV genotype was determined. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were given standard interferon either alone or in combination with ribavirin, whereas 17 were given pegylated interferon and ribavirin combination therapy. None of the patients had HBV-DNA positivity; however, all had HCV-RNA detectable by PCR. All the patients had HCV genotype 1b. The mean alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were 118+/-65 U/l and 90+/-95 U/l respectively. Five patients in each group discontinued the treatment due to side effects. Only two patients (one from each group) reached sustained virological response. CONCLUSION: Neither pegylated nor conventional interferon based regimes were effective for HBV/HCV coinfection, in which the dominant virus was HCV. Pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy was not superior to conventional interferon based regimes in the treatment of HBV/HCV coinfection.

Candida krusei arthritis in a patient with hematologic malignancy: successful treatment with voriconazole.

Here, we report a case of disseminated Candida krusei infection in a patient who presented with arthritis. The infection was successfully treated with voriconazole after amphotericin B deoxycholate therapy had failed.

Erythema nodosum: an evaluation of 100 cases.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we investigated the clinical features, etiology, and also predictive factors of secondary erythema nodosum (EN) in patients with EN. METHODS: A total of 100 patients (mean age: 37 years) diagnosed with EN between 1993 and 2004 in our clinic were included in the study prospectively. A skin biopsy was performed in 46 of the patients. Patients were considered to have secondary EN when an underlying condition was found, and to have primary EN when no such condition was found. For the diagnosis of the underlying diseases, the pertinent diagnostic criteria and/or diagnostic methods were used. Categorical and continuous variables were compared by using chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests respectively. Multiple regression analysis was applied to the significantly different variables. RESULTS: The majority of the patients were female (female/male: 6/1) and nearly half (47%) of the cases had a determined etiology. The leading etiology was poststreptococcal (11%), followed in decreasing order by primary tuberculosis (10%), sarcoidosis (10%), Behçet's syndrome (BS) (6%), drugs (5%), inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) (3%), and pregnancy (2%). Fifteen (15%) patients complained of cough; the diagnosis was primary tuberculosis in eight cases and sarcoidosis in seven. Four patients with arthritis were diagnosed as having BS (in 3) and Crohn's disease (in 1). All the patients were followed for a mean duration of 4.5 years. The nodosities relapsed annually in 62% (33/53) of idiopathic EN patients but in only one (BS) in the secondary EN group. The histology was consistent with EN in all biopsied patients. Our study revealed that fever, leukocytosis, elevated CRP level, accelerated ESR, presence of cough, sore throat, diarrhea, arthritis, and pulmonary pathology were predictors of secondary EN. Recurrence in EN significantly predicted primary EN. All of the patients had bed rest and the majority was given an anti-inflammatory agent (naproxen sodium). The outcomes were usually favorable within 7 days. The patients with an underlying disease were given the specific treatment. CONCLUSION: EN has been associated with numerous diseases. In order to reduce cost and duration of diagnosis, every centre should determine its own most frequent etiologic factors. Predictive variables for secondary EN should also be determined and an optimum management for such patients should be clarified. Our study revealed streptococcal pharyngitis, primary tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, IBD, and BS as the main etiologies of EN.

Abdominal actinomycosis: a report of two cases.

Actinomyces spp. cause a chronic suppurative, granulomatous disease which is characterized clinically by extensive abscess formation, recurrent draining of sinuses and fistulae and histologically by the presence of the so-called "sulphur granules". Colonic actinomycosis is a relatively rare infection and its diagnosis is difficult. We report the case of a female patient who was operated on for ovarian cyst and the case of another female patient operated on for a mass in the transverse colon. In both cases the pathology of the excised tissues revealed actinomycosis. Actinomycosis must be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients who present with abdominal pain, fever, leucocytosis and intestinal wall thickness and/or abdominal mass.