Correlation of Hepatitis C Antibody Levels in Gingival Crevicular Fluid and Saliva of Hepatitis C Seropositive Hemodialysis Patients

Search for hepatitis C virus (HCV) in body fluids other than blood is important when assessing possible nonparenteral routes of viral transmission. However, the role of oral fluids in HCV transmission remains controversial. Our aim was to compare the prevalence of HCV antibody (HCV Ab) levels in saliva, and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of HCV seropositive hemodialysis patients. Serum, saliva and GCF samples were collected from thirty-nine patients. Samples were analyzed for HCV Ab using the Ortho HCV 3.0 SAVe enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). HCH Ab levels in saliva and GCF of all HCV-seropositive patients were statistically compared. Reported here are the results of the study designed to determine the correlation between HCV-RNA positivity in serum and the detection of antibodies in GCF and saliva. One hundred percent (100%) of the 39 patients have antibodies to HCV in their serum, 15.4% have antibodies to HCV in GCF, and saliva found out. HCV Ab seropositivity in GCF and saliva was significantly correlated (kappa = 0.462; P < .001). This study supports the concept that GCF may be a significant source of HCV in saliva

Association of angiotensin converting enzyme gene polymorphism and affective disorders in Turkish patients

[No abstract available

Analysis of glomerular filtration rate, serum cystatin C levels, and renal resistive index values in cirrhosis patients

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) to serum cystatin C levels, renal resistive index (RRI), serum creatinine and creatinine clearance in patients with different stages of cirrhosis. Methods: The study sample was 25 cirrhotic patients (10 females and 15 males; mean age 57.3±2.04 years), 10 in the compensated stage without ascites and 15 in the decompensated stage with new-onset ascites. None had azotemia nor were on diuretic treatment. The control group comprised 25 healthy adults (11 female and 14 men; mean age 56.56±1.91 years). Serum cystatin C, RRI, serum creatinine and creatinine clearance were measured. GFR was determined by technetium99m- diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid renal scintigraphy. Results: Cirrhosis cases had lower mean scintigraphic GFR than controls (64.5±4.03 vs. 87.96±4.16 mL/min, p&lt;0.05). Serum cystatin C and RRI were significantly higher in the cirrhotic group compared to controls (1.16±0.09 mg/L and 0.68±0.01 vs. 0.86±0.03 mg/L and 0.64±0.01, respectively; p&lt;0.05). Subgroup comparative analysis showed that only two parameters, scintigraphic GFR and serum cystatin C, were significantly different between compensated and decompensated cirrhotics (75.62±4.9 mL/min and 0.89±0.07 mg/L vs. 57.23±5.14 mL/min and 1.34±0.13mg/L, respectively; p&lt;0.05). Scintigraphic GFR showed significant correlation with cystatin C, but not with serum creatinine or creatinine clearance (r=-0.877, p&lt;0.05) in decompensated patients. No correlation was observed between scintigraphic GFR and RRI or between serum cystatin C and RRI in all subjects. A receiver operator characteristics curve showed that cystatin C at a cutoff value of 1.01 mg/L can significantly differentiate patients with GFR &lt;70 mL/min with 80% sensitivity and 80% specificity. Conclusions: Serum cystatin C, but not serum creatinine or RRI measurement, correlates with GFR in each stage of liver failure and has a significant diagnostic advantage in detecting lower GFR in such cases. © 2007 by Walter de Gruyter

Helicobacter pylori seroprevalance in patients with vitamin B12 deficiency

Amaç: Vitamin B12 eksikliğinde Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) enfeksiyonunun rolü güncel çalışmalarda ileri sürülmektedir. H. pylori’nin atrofik gastrit yaparak vitamin B12 eksikliğine neden olduğu düşünülmesine rağmen, yapılan çalışmalarda H. pylori’nin atrofik gastrit yapmadan da başka mekanizmalarla vitamin B12 eksikliğine neden olduğu ileri sürülmektedir. Çalışmamızda bölgemizde vitamin B12 eksikliği saptanan olgularda H. pylori enfeksiyonu prevelansını serolojik olarak araştırdık. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Hastanemiz kayıtlarında vitamin B12 düzeyi ve H. pylori IgG bakılan olgular çalışmaya alındı. Daha önce vitamin B12 tedavisi almamış toplam 482 olgu tespit edildi. Vitamin B12 seviyesi düşük 148 olgu çalışma grubunu oluşturdu. Vitamin B12 seviyesi normal 334 olgu ise kontrol grubu olarak çalışmaya alındı. Bulgular: Çalışma grubunun yaş ortalaması 38±12, kontrol gurubunda ise 40±12 saptandı (p> 0.05). Çalışma grubunda olguların 114 (%77)’ünde, kontrol grubunda ise 229 (%68.6)’unda H. pylori IgG pozitif tespit edildi. Vitamin B12 seviyesi düşük olgu grubunda H. pylori IgG pozitifliği kontrol grubuna göre yüksek saptanmış olsa da oranların istatistiksel değerlendirmesinde fark anlamlı tespit edilmedi (p= 0.058). Sonuç: Bölgemizde vitamin B12 eksikliği olan ve olmayan olgular arasında H. pylori pozitifliği yönünden istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark tespit edilmemiştir. Verilerimiz H. pylori enfeksiyonunun B12 eksikliğine neden olduğu yolunda son zamanlarda yapılan çalışmalarla çelişmektedir. Ancak bulgularımızın daha geniş olgu gruplarında yapılacak olan endoskopik çalışmalarla desteklenmesi gereklidir.Objective: An association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and vitamin B12 deficiency has been recently reported. Though its thought that H. pylori leads to vitamin B12 deficiency by causing atrophic gastritis, recent studies suggested that H. pylori can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency by different mechanisms other than the induction of atrophic gastritis. We investigated the seroprevalance of H. pylori infection in our vitamin B12 deficient cases. Material and Methods: We used our hospital records to cover the patients with known vitamin B12 and anti H. pylori IgG serum levels. A total 482 patients with no previous history of vitamin B12 replacement therapy were enrolled into the study. One hundred forty-eight patients with low levels of vitamin B12 formed the study group. Three hundred thirty-four patients with normal serum vitamin B12 levels were taken as controls. Results: The mean ages of the study and the control group were as follows; 38 ± 12, 40 ± 12, respectively (p> 0.05). H. pylori IgG was positive in 114 cases (77%) and 229 (68.6%) in the study and control groups. In the group with low vitamine B12 levels despite the H. pylori IgG pozitivity was higher than control group infact there was no meaningful difference in the assesment of rates statistically (p= 0.058). Conclusion: In our region, H. pylori seroprevalence ratio between vitamin B12 deficient and normal population is not statistically significant. Our data contradict with the recent findings about H. pylori producing vitamin B12 defficiency. However our findings must be supported by endoscopic studies performed on a bigger population