9 research outputs found
Evaluation of the Protective Effect of Silibinin in Rats with Liver Damage Caused by Itraconazole
No full textAksozek, Alper/0000-0003-4044-9702WOS: 000349241400093PubMed ID: 25395192Itraconazole (ITZ) belongs to the triazole group of antifungals with potent keratinophilic and lipophilic features. Hepatotoxicity is one of its most remarkable features. Silibinin (SIL) is a plant used worldwide which is used in the treatment of many liver diseases and it is especially very well known for its hepatoprotective-cytoprotective effect. The aim of our study was to research the protective effect of SIL in ITZ-induced hepatotoxicity using biochemical and pathological tests. Liver enzymes and antioxidant enzyme activities were measured spectrophotometrically by using commercial kits. ALT and AST levels in ITZ group were significantly increased compared to the group, while the activities of GSH-Px and SOD had decreased (p 0.05) in hepatocyte degeneration and multinuclear giant cell formation. According to the evaluation performed with comet assay method, ITZ leads to DNA damage, and the use of SIL significantly decreases DNA damage (p < 0.05). We have detected that the use of ITZ increases oxidative stress (MPO, NO), decreases antioxidant activity (SOD and GSH-Px), and leads to DNA damage and histopathological liver damage, whereas the use of SIL has a cytoprotective effect on the liver by increasing the antioxidant effect (SOD, GSH-Px) and by decreasing the oxidative stress (NO, MPO). ITZ causes the generation of ROS and leads to DNA damage and liver damage. SIL has a cytoprotective effect on the liver by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities, preventing the formation of ROS
Brucella Seropositivity in Veterinarians in Mugla, Turkey
No full textWOS: 000420961400004Objective: This investigation has been planned in order to complete the lack of information about seropositivity of brucellosis in veterinarians and veterinary technicians in non-endemic counties of Mugla, Turkey. Methods: The study was carried out in districts (Yatagan, Koycegiz, Marmaris, Milas, Fethiye, Bodrum) and the city center of Mugla. A total of 125 veterinarians and veterinary technicians were included in the study. A structured questionnaire was applied to the volunteers and their approximately 10 ml blood samples were collected. Serum samples were investigated using rose Bengal test, and positive samples were investigated via standard tube agglutination test. Samples = 1/160 titers in the tube agglutination test were accepted as positive, whereas results = 1/320 titers were accepted as positive in the Coombs test. Results: At the end of the evaluation, we found Brucella seropositivity in 3 of 125 subjects and the seroprevalence in veterinarians and veterinary technicians was found to be 2.4% in Mugla region. There was no statistically significant relationship between seropositivity and different age groups or lengths of time in the occupation (p>0.05). History of brucellosis treatment were reported by 7.2% (n=9) and exposure to Brucella vaccines by needle-stick injuries or splashes or injuries to mucosal surfaces were reported by 8.8% (n=11) of participants. Conclusions: This study is important for being the first study in recent years that demonstrates the seropositivity rates in veterinarians in Mugla. We believe that more comprehensive well-controlled studies are required in order to further explain seroprevalance and epidemiological characteristics of brucellosis in professions at risk in Mugla
Clinical and Economic Outcomes Associated with Urinary Tract Infections Caused by Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase Producing Bacteria in a Tertiary Care Hospital
No full textDeliktas, Hasan/0000-0002-0973-2318; Aksozek, Alper/0000-0003-4044-9702WOS: 000362696200003Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common community-acquired infections. Increasing antibiotic resistance rates have resulted in challenges of their treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of UTIs caused by pathogens producing ESBL and ciprofloxacin-resistant bacteria during hospitalization and the cost of antibiotic treatment. ESBL production was present in 51.1 percent of bacterial isolates, and resistance to ciprofloxacin in 54.5 percent. Whereas the in cases where ESBL-producing hospital stay duration was approximately 9 days and non-ESBL-producing bacteria about 5 days, statistically significant differences were found (p=0.001). Whereas the average cost of antibiotics used in treatment was USD 37.5, in cases involving ESBL-producing bacteria, approximately USD110.6, the difference was statistically significant (p=0.001). Resistance to antibiotics is a major problem in the treatment of UTIs. Resistance to ciprofloxacin and b-lactam antibiotics, which are the preferred empiric treatment, prolongs hospitalization and increases the cost of antibiotic treatment
HEPATITIS C TESTING AMONG ADULTS BORN BETWEEN 1945 AND 1965 IN TURKEY: A MULTICENTRE STUDY
No full textConclusions: We determined that the anti-HCV seropositivity rate is significantly higher in adults born between 1945-1965 compared to the younger adults as indicated in the literature. According to data from this study together with the WHO and CDC suggestions, we believe that it is appropriate to offer anti-HCV serology testing for people over 50 years of age since the anti- HCV seroprevalence in this age group is relatively high
HEPATITIS C TESTING AMONG ADULTS BORN BETWEEN 1945 AND 1965 IN TURKEY: A MULTICENTRE STUDY
No full textAltindis, Mustafa/0000-0003-0411-9669; ALTINDIS, Selma/0000-0003-2805-5516; Ozdemir, Mehmet/0000-0002-9316-771X; Aksozek, Alper/0000-0003-4044-9702WOS: 000446082400002PubMed ID: 30102494Objective: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health problem and affects large populations all over the world. Serum anti-HCV level is a valuable marker to determine HCV infection. Anti-HCV testing has been recommended for high-risk population. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention in the United States proposed a new high-risk population group - adults born between 1945-1965. Under this perspective, we designed a multicentre retrospective study to determine the seropositivity of anti-HCV among adults born between 1945 and 1965 and adults born after 1965 in Turkey. With the data collected, we aimed to determine whether there was a need for anti-HCV testing especially in people born between 1945 and 1965. Methods: We requested data from ten different medical centres in ten different provinces. Each medical centre collected the anti-HCV test results of adult patients for five-year period between 2009 and 2014 from hospital records. Results: A total of 974,449 anti-HCV test results were included in this study. When the seropositivity rates in the two groups of adults were compared, anti-HCV seropositivity rates were higher in nine medical centres out of ten. Anti-HCV seropositivity in adults born between 1945-1965 was significantly higher than in adults born after 1965 (p <0.05). Conclusions: We determined that the anti-HCV seropositivity rate is significantly higher in adults born between 1945-1965 compared to the younger adults as indicated in the literature. According to data from this study together with the WHO and CDC suggestions, we believe that it is appropriate to offer anti-HCV serology testing for people over 50 years of age since the anti- HCV seroprevalence in this age group is relatively high
Clinical and Economic Outcomes Associated with Urinary Tract Infections Caused by Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase Producing Bacteria in a Tertiary Care Hospital
No full textSerologic response to Epstein-Barr virus antigens in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a controlled study
No full textPrevious studies showed a link between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. We sought to determine the features of serologic response to EBV in SLE patients and whether this response differs from those of systemic sclerosis (SSc) and primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) patients as well as healthy individuals. Sera from 198 consecutive SLE patients have been tested to detect IgG antibodies to EA/D, EBNA-1, VCA P18 and for comparison, cytomegalovirus (CMV) using commercially available ELISA kits (Trinity Biotech, USA). Forty-six SSc patients and 38 PAPS patients were enrolled as diseased control groups and sixty-five individuals as healthy controls. Significantly more SLE (54%, P = 0.001, OR 5.77, 95% CI 2.8-11.6), SSc (41.3%, P = 0.005, OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.4-8.2) and PAPS sera (36.8%, P = 0.023, OR 2.86, 95% CI 1.14-7.22) reacted against EA/D than healthy controls (16.9%). The mean age of anti-EA/D-positive SLE patients was significantly higher, and their disease duration was longer compared to anti-EA/D-negative SLE patients (41 +/- 14 vs. 33.8 +/- 10.8 years, P < 0.001 and 100 +/- 73 vs. 71 +/- 62 months, P = 0.003). In SLE patients, EA/D reactivity was associated with Raynaud's phenomenon and the presence of any anti-ENA antibodies. Although it did not reach a statistical significance, anti-EBNA-1 reactivity was slightly lower in patients with SLE. The frequency of anti-CMV Ig G positivity was found significantly higher in SLE patients (100%) when compared to patients with SSc (95.7%), PAPS (94.7%) and healthy controls (95.4%) (P = 0.035, P = 0.025 and P = 0.015 respectively). Our results support the proposed link between EBV and SLE. The finding that SSc and PAPS patients also have increased frequency of anti-EA/D response has revealed that this immune interaction may not be unique to patients with SLE, and there may be a common mechanism involving EBV in these autoimmune diseases
Evaluation of 2015-2016 MOTAKK HBV DNA and HCV RNA External Quality Assessment National Program Results
No full textMOTAKK, as a national external quality control program has been launched to evaluate the molecular detection of viral infections including HBV DNA and HCV RNA in molecular microbiology diagnostic laboratories in Turkey. This program is prepared in compliance with ISO 17043:2010 (Conformity assessment general requirements for proficiency testing) standards, and aims to take the place of external quality control programs from abroad, contributing to standardization and accuracy of molecular diagnostic tests in our country. The aim of this study was to evaluate 2015 and 2016 results of the MOTAKK External Quality Control Program for HBV DNA and HCV RNA viral load. The calls were announced on the web page of MOTAKK (www.motakk.org). The quality control samples were sent to participating laboratories in 2015 and 2016. Main stocks were prepared from patients with chronic hepatitis B and C who had viral load detection with reference methods according to WHO reference materials for viral load studies to improve quality control sera. From these main stocks, samples with different viral loads were prepared from dilutions of plasma with HBV, HCV, HAV, HIV, Parvovirus B19 and CMV negative serologic markers. Quality control samples were sent to the participating laboratories along with the negative samples in the cold chain. The laboratories accomplished the related tests within 2-3 weeks and entered their results on the MOTAKK web page. These results were analysed according to ISO 13528 (Statistical methods for use in proficiency testing by interlaboratory comparison) and scoring reports were created by a software developed by MOTAKK and sent to participating labs. Each laboratory evaluated their own results in comparison with the other laboratory results, reassessed the tests via observing the distance from the mean result and the reference values. The number of laboratories participating in the HBV DNA and HCV RNA external quality control program was 70-73 in 2015-2016. Participants were able to comply with the program tools, registering, entering results and receiving the results reports problem. In HBV panel, 72.6-89.1% and 84.7-90.3% of the participant laboratories were in 1 standard deviation (SD) in 2015-2016, respectively. In HCV panel, 70.8-89.1% and 84.7-90.3% of the participant laboratories were in 1 SD in 2015-2016, respectively. A national external quality control program for HBV DNA and HCV RNA in Turkey has been prepared for the first time with this project and implemented successfully. All the data provided in the MOTAKK external quality control program final report, compensate all the data provided by the quality control program final reports from abroad; additionally, the report allows comparison of used technologies and commercial products
Evaluation of 2015-2016 MOTAKK HBV DNA and HCV RNA External Quality Assessment National Program Results
No full textWOS: 000454987700003PubMed ID: 30522421MOTAKK, as a national external quality control program has been launched to evaluate the molecular detection of viral infections including HBV DNA and HCV RNA in molecular microbiology diagnostic laboratories in Turkey. This program is prepared in compliance with ISO 17043:2010 (Conformity assessment general requirements for proficiency testing) standards, and aims to take the place of external quality control programs from abroad, contributing to standardization and accuracy of molecular diagnostic tests in our country. The aim of this study was to evaluate 2015 and 2016 results of the MOTAKK External Quality Control Program for HBV DNA and HCV RNA viral load. The calls were announced on the web page of MOTAKK (www.motakk.org). The quality control samples were sent to participating laboratories in 2015 and 2016. Main stocks were prepared from patients with chronic hepatitis B and C who had viral load detection with reference methods according to WHO reference materials for viral load studies to improve quality control sera. From these main stocks, samples with different viral loads were prepared from dilutions of plasma with HBV, HCV, HAV, HIV, Parvovirus B19 and CMV negative serologic markers. Quality control samples were sent to the participating laboratories along with the negative samples in the cold chain. The laboratories accomplished the related tests within 2-3 weeks and entered their results on the MOTAKK web page. These results were analysed according to ISO 13528 (Statistical methods for use in proficiency testing by interlaboratory comparison) and scoring reports were created by a software developed by MOTAKK and sent to participating labs. Each laboratory evaluated their own results in comparison with the other laboratory results, reassessed the tests via observing the distance from the mean result and the reference values. The number of laboratories participating in the HBV DNA and HCV RNA external quality control program was 70-73 in 2015-2016. Participants were able to comply with the program tools, registering, entering results and receiving the results reports problem. In HBV panel, 72.6-89.1% and 84.7-90.3% of the participant laboratories were in 1 standard deviation (SD) in 2015-2016, respectively. In HCV panel, 70.8-89.1% and 84.7-90.3% of the participant laboratories were in 1 SD in 2015-2016, respectively. A national external quality control program for HBV DNA and HCV RNA in Turkey has been prepared for the first time with this project and implemented successfully. All the data provided in the MOTAKK external quality control program final report, compensate all the data provided by the quality control program final reports from abroad; additionally, the report allows comparison of used technologies and commercial products
