The Association between Plasma D-dimer Levels and Community-Acquired Pneumonia

BACKGROUND: Plasma D-dimer levels are directly related to the intra- and extra-vascular coagulation that occurs in acute and chronic lung damage in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). OBJECTIVES: This study examines the relationship between the severity of community-acquired pneumonia and D-dimer levels. In addition, the study examines the correlations among community-acquired pneumonia, the radiological extent of the disease and mortality. METHODS: The Pneumonia Severity Index was used to classify patients into five groups. Patients were treated at home or in the hospital according to the guidelines for community-acquired pneumonia. Blood samples were taken from the antecubital vein with an injector and placed into citrated tubes. After they were centrifuged, the samples were evaluated with the quantitative latex method. RESULTS: The study included 60 patients who had been diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia (mean age 62.5 ± 11.7) and 24 healthy controls (mean age 59.63 ± 6.63). The average plasma D-dimer levels were 337.3 ± 195.1ng/mL in the outpatient treatment group, 691.0 ± 180.5 in the inpatient treatment group, 1363.2 ± 331.5 ng/mLin the intensive care treatment group and 161.3 ± 38.1ng/mL in the control group (p<0.001). The mean D-dimer plasma level was 776.1 ± 473.5ng/mL in patients with an accompanying disease and 494.2 ± 280.1 ng/mL in patients without an accompanying disease (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma D-dimer levels were increased even in community-acquired pneumonia patients who did not have an accompanying disease that would normally cause such an increase

Antibiotic susceptibility patterns among respiratory isolates of Gram-negative bacilli in a Turkish university hospital

BACKGROUND: Gram-negative bacteria cause most nosocomial respiratory infections. At the University of Cumhuriyet, we examined 328 respiratory isolates of Enterobacteriaceae and Acinetobacter baumanii organisms in Sivas, Turkey over 3 years. We used disk diffusion or standardized microdilution to test the isolates against 18 antibiotics. RESULTS: We cultured organisms from sputum (54%), tracheal aspirate (25%), and bronchial lavage fluid (21%). The most common organisms were Klebsiella spp (35%), A. baumanii (27%), and Escherichia coli (15%). Imipenem was the most active agent, inhibiting 90% of Enterobacteriaceae and A. baumanii organisms. We considered approximately 12% of Klebsiella pneumoniae and 21% of E. coli isolates to be possible producers of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase. K. pneumoniae isolates of the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase phenotype were more resistant to imipenem, ciprofloxacin, and tetracycline in our study than they are in other regions of the world. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that imipenem resistance in our region is growing

Marker assisted selection (MAS) for downy mildew resistance in grapevines using Rpv3.1 associated markers

Powdery mildew and downy mildew are primary fungal diseases that cause significant damage in viticulture. Therefore, breeding powdery and/or downy mildew resistance is one of the priority subjects in grapevine breeding programs. This study aims to conduct early-selection by marker assisted selection (MAS) method among 869 genotypes obtained through crossbreeding 'Alphonse Lavallee' x 'Regent' cultivars using the markers (GF18-06 and GF18-08) associated with downy mildew resistance gene region Rpv3.1 to develop new grapevine cultivars resistant to downy mildew caused by Plasmopara viticola. A total of 869 hybrid plants which were obtained after crossing 'Alphonse Lavallee' x 'Regent' in a 3-year breeding program were used in the study. The hybrid plants were scored for the resistance level based on their sporulation intensity after artificial inoculation of P. viticola. DNA samples of the hybrid plants were amplified with GF18-06 and GF1808 markers in Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for MAS. The alleles which were associated to Rpv3.1 resistance locus and the results of resistance scoring were compared, and the applicability of the markers in MAS was verified. It was determined that the GF18-08/410 bp marker can be used successfully for MAS. Gf 18-06 marker 385 bp, 390 bp and 407 bp gave false positive results in our population, respectively 8.86%, 9.02% and 37.94%. Therefore, this may limit its use for MAS.National Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey [1150176]This work was supported by the National Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (grant number 1150176)

Retrospective analysis of antibiotic susceptibility patterns of respiratory isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a Turkish University Hospital

BACKGROUND: Lower respiratory tract infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa have a high mortality rate. Antibacterial activity of various antibiotics against P. aeruginosa isolated from each hospital depends on the variety or amount of antibiotics used in each hospital. METHOD: A total of 249 respiratory isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Sivas (Turkey) were included between January-1999 and January-2002. Isolates were tested against 14 different antibiotics by a disc diffusion method or standardized microdilution technique. RESULTS: Organisms were cultured from the following specimens: sputum (31.3%), transtracheal/endotracheal aspirates (37.8%), and bronchial lavage (30.9%). Isolates in bronchial lavage were highly susceptible to cefoperazone and aminoglycosides. Resistance to ampicillin/sulbactam was 98.8%, ticarcillin 40.1%, ticarcillin/clavulanic acid 11.2%, piperacillin 21.8%, aztreonam 66.6%, cefotaxim 75.4%, ceftriaxone 84.2%, cefoperazone 39.0%, ceftazidime 50.8%, gentamicin 57.5%, tobramycin 58.4%, amikacin 25.4%, ciprofloxacin 16.1%, and imipenem/cilastatin 21.6%. The term multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa covered resistance to imipenem, ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime, gentamicin, and piperacillin. 1.2% of isolates were multidrug-resistant. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that amikacin resistance increases progressively in Turkey. Piperacillin and ticarcillin/clavulanate were the most active agents against both imipenem- and ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates in our region

Pulmonary toxicity of chronic exposure to tobacco and biomass smoke in rats

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the separate and combined effects of tobacco and biomass smoke exposure on pulmonary histopathology in rats. INTRODUCTION: In addition to smoking, indoor pollution in developing countries contributes to the development of respiratory diseases. METHODS: Twenty-eight adult rats were divided into four groups as follows: control group (Group I, no exposure to tobacco or biomass smoke), exposed to tobacco smoke (Group II), exposed to biomass smoke (Group III), and combined exposure to tobacco and biomass smoke (Group IV). After six months the rats in all four groups were sacrificed. Lung tissue samples were examined under light microscopy. The severity of pathological changes was scored. RESULTS: Group II differed from Group I in all histopathological alterations except intraparenchymal vascular thrombosis. There was no statistically significant difference in histopathological changes between the subjects exposed exclusively to tobacco smoke (Group II) and those with combined exposure to tobacco and biomass smoke (Group IV). The histopathological changes observed in Group IV were found to be more severe than those in subjects exposed exclusively to biomass smoke (Group III). DISCUSSION: Chronic exposure to tobacco and biomass smoke caused an increase in severity and types of lung injury. CONCLUSION: Exposure to cigarette smoke caused serious damage to the respiratory system, particularly with concomitant exposure to biomass smoke

Germinating in Box: An Effective and Practical Method for Grape Seed Germination

Asma ıslahında en önemli engellerden biri, iki üzüm çeşidinin melezlenmesi sonucu elde edilen melezçekirdeklerin çimlenme oranının düşük olmasıdır. Çimlenmeyi etkileyen en önemli faktörler arasında;ortam ve tohum nemi gelir. Ayrıca büyümeyi düzenleyici maddeler (BDM)de, çimlenmeyi olumluetkilemektedir. Bu çalışmada, melez üzüm çekirdeklerine BDM uygulamak ve kapalı ortamlarda kararlı birnem düzeyinde çimlendirilmek suretiyle çimlenme oranını arttırmak amaçlanmıştır. Alphonse Lavalle ×Regent melezlemesinden elde edilen F? melez çekirdekleri, nemlendirilmiş perlitte 4 ay süreyle, +5?’dakatlamayı takiben; torf: perlit (1:1) harç ortamı içeren 5 cm çapındaki torf saksılara ekilmiştir. Çimlenmeyiteşvik etmek için, çekirdekler ekimden önce 24 saat gibberellik asit (GA?, 1000 ppm, benzil aminopurin(BAP, 1000 ppm), GA?+BAP (1000 ppm+1000 ppm), hidrojen peroksit (H?O?, 1 M) çözeltisinde ve suda(kontrol) tutulmuştur. Saksılar, bağıl nem miktarı sürekli %99 düzeyinde olan kapaklı plastik kutularakonulmuş ve bu kutular sıcaklığı 27? olan çimlendirme odalarına alınmıştır. Çimlenen çekirdekler yineplastik kutulara konularak sıcaklığı 25? olan ve kutuların hemen üstü LED lambalar ile aydınlatılmış(PAR=135–317 ?mol m?² s?¹) bitki gelişme odalarına yerleştirilmiştir. Kutuların kapakları her iki odada dakapalı tutulmuştur. Bitkicikler 3–5 gerçek yaprak oluşunca, plastik torbalara alınmış ve daha sonra ısıtmalıseraya alınmıştır. Uygulamalar sonucunda çimlenen çekirdek ve elde edilen bitki yüzdesi kontrolde %60.39iken, 1000 ppm GA? uygulanmış çekirdeklerde %78.32’ye kadar yükselmiştir. Üzüm çekirdeklerinin 24saat GA? çözeltisine batırılmasından sonra plastik kutularda çimlendirilmesi ve bunu takiben yine plastikkutularda geliştirilmesi, asma ıslahı çalışmalarında başarıyı arttıracak etkin bir yöntemdir.One of the main problems of grape breeding is low germination rate of hybrid seeds obtained by crossing of grape varieties. Humidity in grape seeds and germination media have extremely important for germination. In addition, some plant growth regulators (PGR) have positive effects on germination. Hybrid seeds obtained by Alphonse Lavallee and Regent grape cultivars were straficated at 5? for 4 months in damp perlite. Seeds were immersed in PGR solutions such as Gibberellic Acid (GA?, 1000 ppm), Benzyl aminopurine (BAP, 1000 ppm), Hydrogen peroxide (H?O?, 1 M), GA? + BAP (1000 ppm + 1000 ppm) and water as a control. Then, they were sown in torf pots with 5cm diameter containing perlite: torf (v/v, 1:1) mixture. Pots were put in plastic boxes with lid containing humidity 99%. All boxes were placed to germination room with temperature 27? and in dark condition. Germinated seeds were transferred another plastic box and put in growth room illuminated by LED lamps (PAR=135–317 ?mol m?² s?¹) and heated to 25?. Lids of boxes were closed position in both rooms. Seedlings with 3–5 true leaves were transferred to plastic seedling bags containing perlite: torf (v/v, 1:1) and then they were moved to greenhouse. Germination rate and obtained seedling rate were increased up to 78.32%at 1000 ppm GA? application when compared to control (60.39%). Germinating grape seeds after immersing in GA? for 24 hours and thereinafter growing seedlings in plastic boxes are an effective method for hybrid seed germination in grape breeding

1,4-Dihydroxy­quinoxaline-2,3(1H,4H)-dione

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C8H6N2O4, contains one half-mol­ecule; a twofold rotation axis bisects the molecule. The quinoxaline ring is planar, which can be attributed to electron delocalization. In the crystal structure, inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into R 2 2(10) motifs, leading to layers, which inter­act via phen­yl–phenyl inter­actions (C⋯C distances in the range 3.238–3.521 Å)

Ratlarda laminektomi sonrası gelişen peridural fibroziste biyofiziksel bariyerlerin etkinliğinin değerlendirilmesi

Tez (Tıpta Uzmanlık) -- Kırıkkale Üniversitesi109178