Immunochromatographic tests detecting Helicobacter pylori antigen in stool: Comparison of the results of eight different commercial kits

Ülkemizde Helicobacter pylori infeksiyonlarının tanısında sıklıkla kullanılan sekiz farklı immunokromatografik yöntem temelli hızlı tanı kitinin duyarlılık ve özgüllükleri kültür, hızlı üreaz testi, ELISA ve PCR yöntemlerinin kombinasyonundan oluşan altın standart kriterine göre karşılaştırılmıştır. Hızlı tanı kitlerinin duyarlılıklarının % 57.8-% 95.5, özgüllüklerinin ise % 81.5-% 96.3 arasında değiştiği saptanmıştır. Sekiz farklı kitten beşinin duyarlılıklarının % 71.1 veya daha düşük olduğu belirlenmiştir. Bu nedenle, laboratuvarda sadece hızlı tanı kitleri kullanıldığında bu kitlerin tanısal doğruluklarının bilinmesi ve sonuçların bu testlerin duyarlılık ve özgüllüklerine göre değerlendirilmesi çok önemlidir.The sensitivities and specificities of eight different immunochromatography based rapid diagnostic kits, which are frequently used in our country in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infections, were compared according to the gold standard criterion consisting of a combination of culture, rapid urease test, ELISA and PCR. It was found that the sensitivities and specificities of these rapid diagnostic kits vary between 57.8 %-95.5 % and 81.5 %-96.3 % respectively. The sensitivities of five tests out of eight were found to be 71.1 % or lower. For this reason, when only rapid diagnostic tests are used in the laboratory, it is very important to know the diagnostic accuracies of rapid tests and to evaluate the results according to sensitivities and specificities of these tests

The effect of probiotic and omega-3 supplements on total oxidant and total antioxidant levels in experimental colitis

Objective: Treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) usually involves medical therapy. For this reason, it is recommended to seek alternative treatment methods such as nutritional therapy. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of probiotics and omega-3 fatty acids on total oxidant and total antioxidant levels in an experimental colitis model. Methods: Mice were randomly divided into five groups (n= 10/group) as healthy group, colitis group, group treated with probiotics (VSL#3), group treated with omega-3 (w-3), and group treated with both probiotics and omega-3. To induce experimental colitis, 200 mg/kg dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS) + 30% ethanol combination was rectally administered to anesthetized mice. Total oxidant (TOS) and total antioxidant (TAS) levels were measured at the tissue level. Results: Lower concentrations of TOS were observed in the probiotics groups (2.11 +/- 0.23 mmol H2O2 Eq/L), probiotics+omega-3 (2.56 +/- 1.18 mmol H2O2 Eq/L), and omega-3 (3.02 +/- 1.88 mmol H2O2 Eq/L) groups compared to the colitis group (3.11 +/- 0.91 mmol H2O2 Eq/L) (p>0.05). Higher TOS and TAS level were observed in the control colitis group compared to other groups; however, the differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Our findings showed that TAS and TOS levels were positively affected by the use of probiotic supplements in IBD. It was determined that using w-3 alone was ineffective in decreasing TOS levels. Studies with higher dosages and longer treatment periods are needed to better observe the effects of nutritional supplements on TOS and TAS parameters in inflammatory bowel diseases

Combined therapy with probiotic VSL#3 and Omega-3 fatty acids attenuates colonic injury and inflammation in chronic DNBS-induced colitis in mice

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a progressive chronic inflammatory disease affecting the gastrointestinal tract with a chronic relapsing and remitting disease course. While there are a number of therapeutic strategies available to treat IBD, a definitive treatment still hasn't been defined, leading to alternative treatment options including nutritional support. Herein, we planned to investigate the combined impact of probiotics and omega-3 (omega-3) fatty acids on inflammatory response and intestinal epithelium in chronic colitis induced by 2,4-Dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (DNBS). Fifty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into five groups: non-colitis control, colitis with no treatment applied (control colitis), colitis treated with probiotics (VSL#3), colitis treated with omega-3, and colitis treated with both VSL#3 and omega-3. Colitis was induced by intrarectal administration of 2,4-Dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (DNBS) in all groups but the non-colitis control group. Ten days after the DNBS period, phosphate-buffered saline (for both the non-colitis control and colitis control groups), VSL#3, omega-3, or VSL#3 + omega-3 treatments were administered intragastrically to their respective groups for 10 days. By analyzing the colonic expression of interleukin IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17A, and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) levels, results revealed that levels of IFN-gamma IL-17, and TNF-alpha were significantly higher in the control colitis group when compared with the other groups. The control colitis, colitis +VSL#3, and colitis + omega-3 groups exhibited higher scores of microscopic damage compared to the non-colitis control and colitis + VSL#3 + omega-3 groups. The closest histological image to the non-colitis control group was presented in the colitis + VSL#3 + omega-3 group. The findings indicate that the combined effect of probiotics and omega-3 fatty acids might have a protective effect against colon injury and inflammation by creating synergistic effects. However, more research is needed to understand the exact mechanism of this synergistic effect and to examine how this therapeutic approach can be used in inflammatory bowel diseases

Fournier Gangrene Caused by Migration of Foreign Body from Rectum to Bladder

Fournier gangrene is a serious infectious disease with high mortality and morbidity rates characterized by rapidly progressive skin necrosis. Immediate debridement of infected necrotic tissue and broad spectrum antibiotic therapy are the main principles of the treatment. Size of the debrided area, advanced age, colorectal predisposition and renal insufficiency are the factors affecting the mortality. In this case report, we present a rare case of Fournier gangrene caused by migration of foreign body from rectum to bladder

The Effect of Probiotic and Omega-3 Supplements on Total Oxidant and Total Antioxidant Levels in Experimental Colitis

Objective: Treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) usually involves medical therapy. For this reason, it is recommended to seek alternative treatment methods such as nutritional therapy. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of probiotics and omega-3 fatty acids on total oxidant and total antioxidant levels in an experimental colitis model. Methods: Mice were randomly divided into five groups (n= 10/group) as healthy group, colitis group, group treated with probiotics (VSL#3), group treated with omega-3 (w-3), and group treated with both probiotics and omega-3. To induce experimental colitis, 200 mg/kg dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS) + 30% ethanol combination was rectally administered to anesthetized mice. Total oxidant (TOS) and total antioxidant (TAS) levels were measured at the tissue level. Results: Lower concentrations of TOS were observed in the probiotics groups (2.11 +/- 0.23 mmol H2O2 Eq/L), probiotics+omega-3 (2.56 +/- 1.18 mmol H2O2 Eq/L), and omega-3 (3.02 +/- 1.88 mmol H2O2 Eq/L) groups compared to the colitis group (3.11 +/- 0.91 mmol H2O2 Eq/L) (p>0.05). Higher TOS and TAS level were observed in the control colitis group compared to other groups; however, the differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Our findings showed that TAS and TOS levels were positively affected by the use of probiotic supplements in IBD. It was determined that using w-3 alone was ineffective in decreasing TOS levels. Studies with higher dosages and longer treatment periods are needed to better observe the effects of nutritional supplements on TOS and TAS parameters in inflammatory bowel diseases

Plasmid-Mediated Quinolone Resistance Genes in Escherichia coli Urinary Isolates from Two Teaching Hospitals in Turkey: Coexistence of TEM, SHV, CTX-M and VEB-1 Type β-lactamases

Purpose: To evaluate the occurrence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes and the prevalence of extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) types in Escherichia coli clinical isolates. Methods: Sixty-one ESBL-producing urinary E. coli isolates were studied. An antibiotic susceptibility test was performed using the disc diffusion method. ESBL production was determined using a double-disc synergy test for all isolates; E-test and Vitek 2 were used for plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR)-positive isolates and their transconjugants. The presence of PMQR and β-lactamase genes was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: The strains displayed high rates of resistance to norfloxacin (80 %). The most frequent PMQR gene was aac(6’)-Ib-cr (45.9 %). In all, one qnrA1 (1.6 %), one qnrS1 (1.6 %), and two qepA1-positive isolates (5.7 %) were identified. The genes, qnrS1+aac(6’)-Ib-cr and qepA1, were co-expressed with blaCTX-M-15 gene, while qnrA1 occurred with blaTEM-1, blaSHV, and blaVEB-1 genes. The most frequent β-lactamase type was cefotaximase (CTX-M), which generally hydrolyzes cefotaxime (92 %) more than it does ceftazidime; followed by temoneira (TEM, 39 %); sulfhydryl variable (SHV, 5 %), and Vietnamese extended-spectrum beta– lactamase (VEB, 1.6 %). Conclusion: A high prevalence of aac(6’)-Ib-cr and CTX-M type β-lactamase was detected in ESBLproducing E. coli strains. This study also identified the co-expression of qnrA1 and blaVEB-1 genes and of qnrS1+aac(6’)-Ib-cr in E. coli isolates. The co-existence of PMQR genes with ESBLs may lead to a serious public health problem