Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, rubella and Cytomegalovirus among pregnant females in north-western Turkey

WOS: 000369183700003PubMed: 25923505Objective: To examine the sero-prevalence rates of Toxoplasma gondii, rubella and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) among pregnant women in different age groups in the context of a comparison with nationwide and international data previously reported. Methods: Females of reproductive age attending to our hospital between 1 January 2012 and 1 January 2014 were included in this study. Antibodies against T. gondii, rubella and CMV were assayed using chemiluminescence immunoassay methods. The test results were evaluated retrospectively. Results: Of the participants, 2.5 and 43.9% were seropositive for Toxoplasma IgM and IgG, respectively. The corresponding figures for rubella and CMV were 1.5 and 93.8%, and 2 and 91.5%, respectively. Conclusion: The high rates of immunity against rubella and CMV infections among pregnant females in our region call into question the routine screening of pregnant females for these two diseases. On the other hand, the high rate of seronegativity for T. gondii warrants such a routine practice

A guide on how to build a novel home-made part task training simulator for cervical cerclage training

Cervical cerclage is a experience demanding procedure and which is difficult for most of the residents and maternal fetal medicine fellows to have the first experience on real patients. In this study we presented an in-expensive and easy to build model for cervical cerclage training. © 2016 by De Gruyter 2016

A case report: antiviral triple therapy with telaprevir in a haemodialysed HCV patient in Turkey

WOS: 000369185300011PubMed: 26790555A 49-year-old woman was diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C 7 years ago. She began haemodialysis at the same time. She was on the waiting list for kidney transplantation (KTx). The real-time PCR technique revealed an HCV RNA viral load of 212 000 IU/ml, genotype 1a, IL28B the rs12979860 minor allele heterozygous CT (rs8099917 TT homozygous). She had a history of first antiviral treatment for 48 weeks of PEG-IFN-alpha 2a, 135 mu g/week in 2011, but the HCV infection relapsed. Considering her relatively young age, candidacy for renal transplant, and the heterozygous pattern of IL28B, we decided to proceed with a second (and last) antiviral treatment using triple therapy with telaprevir at the regular dose of 750 mg every 8 hours + PEG-IFN-alpha 2a 135 mg/week sc + 200 mg RBV three times a week. At the end of 6-month therapy, HCV RNA was found to be negative at months 3, 5, and 6. The patient has reached the sustained virological response (SVR) and is ready for KTx. All renal transplant candidates (dialysis-dependent, or not) with HCV should be assessed for antiviral treatment given the increased risk of progressive liver disease due to immunosuppressive therapy, increased life expectancy compared to other HCV-positive patients on dialysis, and the inability to receive interferon after transplantation

Contribution to Determination of hepatitis C virus genotypes in black sea region: Data from single high volume center in Zonguldak, Turkey [Karadeniz bölgesi hepatit C virus genotip belirlenmesine katki: Yüksek Hasta kapasiteli tek merkez verileri, Zonguldak]

We've read with great interest the article entitled "Determination of hepatitis C virus genotypes among hepatitis C patients in Eastern Black Sea Region, Turkey" by Buruk et al. published in Mikrobiyol Bul 2013; 47(4): 650-7. In that study, the authors described the determination and distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in Eastern Black Sea Region comprehensively. According to the current information, the determination of HCV genotypes is the most important factor for the management of therapy and virus-related complications, such as chirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The distribution of HCV genotypes varies geographically throughout the world. Therefore every country and even each region within the country should know the distribution of HCV genotypes to determine the appropriate treatment strategy. Herein we would like to contribute the data about distribution of HCV genotypes in whole Black Sea Region by presenting our current results obtained from Zonguldak province, where maximum number of chronic hepatit C patients have already been identified in Eastern Black Sea Region. A total of 53 chronic hepatitis C patients (26 female, 27 male; mean age: 57.1 ± 14.3, age range: 21-82 years) who were admitted to Zonguldak Ataturk State Hospital between January 2012-December 2013 were evaluated. Genotype analysis was performed by RealTime HCV Genotype II (Abbott Molecular, ABD) system. Genotype-1 was found to be the most frequently detected type with a rate of 96.2% (51/53). The prevalences of genotype-2 (1/53) and genotype-4 (1/53) were same, with a rate of 1.9%, in our study. Subtyping of genotype-1 strains yielded 52.9% (27/51) genotype-1 b, 3.9% genotype-1 a (2/51) and 47% untypeable genotype-1 (24/51). The present study was the second study from the Western Black Sea Region in our country, regarding HCV genotypes. In conclusion, considering entire Black Sea Region, genotyp'e-1 is the most common genotype (96.2%), and 1b (52.9%) is the most common subtype, in parallel to the data reported from the other regions of Turkey

Comparison of the predictive value of plateletcrit with various other blood parameters in gestational diabetes development

Gestational diabetes is the most encountered metabolic disease in pregnancy and affects both the mother and fetus adversely. Low-grade subchronic inflammation is associated with gestational diabetes development. Platelets (PLT) play role in blood coagulation and inflammatory process. We aimed to compare the various platelet indices in patients with GDM and healthy pregnant controls and to determine whether PLT indices are useful in Gestational diabetes diagnosis. The present study was performed at the Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Statistically significant relationships with plateletcrit, mean platelet volume, and platelet distribution width and patients with GDM were found (p < 0.001). Plateletcrit had higher sensitivity and specificity than other platelet indices. Although plateletcrit is a largely unknown or an underestimated parameter in complete blood count, it gives more precise information than platelet count and mean platelet volume. Platelet-related indices and their determination are inexpensive and routinely ordered markers, the significance of which is often ignored. They may be useful in screening for gestational diabetes as an adjunct to oral glucose tolerance test. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Effect of intraabdominal administration of Allium sativum (garlic) oil on postoperative peritoneal adhesion

Objective(s) Peritoneal adhesion is a serious problem that develops after most abdominopelvic surgeries. Allium sativum (garlic) has been used for centuries as both a nutrient and a traditional medicine. The anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, fibrinolytic, and wound-healing properties of garlic are well-recognized. We evaluated the effect of garlic on formation of postoperative adhesions in rats. Study design Thirty Wistar-Albino female rats weighing 200-250 g were randomly divided into three groups (10 rats/group). Group 1 rats received 5 ml/kg garlic oil intraperitoneally and no surgery was performed. The ceca of Group 2 rats (controls) were scraped, to trigger adhesion formation, and no treatment was given. In Group 3 rats, 5 ml/kg garlic oil was added to the peritoneal cavity immediately after the cecum was scraped. All animals were sacrificed 10 d after surgery and adhesions graded in terms of severity and histopathologic characteristics. Results All animals tolerated the operations well. No adhesions were evident upon laparotomy of Group 1 animals. In Group 2 three rats had an adhesion grade 2 and seven rats had an adhesion of grade 3, whereas in Group 3 no adhesions were found in four rats, five rats had an adhesion grade of 1. Only one rat had a grade 2 adhesion. Macroscopic adhesions and mean adhesion scores of Group 3 were significantly lower than Group 2 (p < 0.001). Histopathologic evaluation of the specimens also revealed a statistically significant differences in inflammation, fibrosis, and neovascularization scores between Group 2 and 3 (p = 0.001, p = 0.001, and p = 0.011, respectively). Inflammation, fibrosis and vascularization scores in Group 3 were found significantly lower than Group 2. Conclusion The anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, fibrinolytic, antithrombotic, and wound-healing effects of garlic likely prevent formation of peritoneal adhesions in a rat model, and garlic may be effective and cheap when used to prevent such adhesions in humans. © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd

Does anticoagulant therapy improve adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients with history of recurrent pregnancy loss?

Objectives: Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a serious problem in the reproductive age women. We aimed to study the role of anticoagulant therapy on pregnancy complications and perinatal outcomes in pregnant patients with histories of RPL. Material and methods: One hundred fifty-three pregnants, with RPL history and thrombophilia positivity, were grouped into two as 89 treated with anticoagulant therapy and 64 non-treated. Treated and untreated groups were compared for pregnancy complications, delivery weeks, abortion rates, fetal birth weights, APGAR scores, live birth rates, and newborn intensive care admission rates. Results: Of the total 153 pregnant patients (63%) 97 developed pregnancy complications; 55 (56.7%) were in the untreated group and 42 (43.3%) were in the treated group, which was statistically significant (p = 0.003). The differences in pregnancy complications were produced by differences in the numbers of IUFDs and anembryonic fetuses among the groups. The average neonatal birth weights of infants whose mothers had taken LMWH + ASA were significantly higher (p=0.011). The prematurely delivered infants were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and the NICU requirements were not statistically different between the groups (p = 0.446). However, live birth rates were significantly higher in the treated group than in the untreated group (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Anticoagulant therapy improves pregnancy complications and live birth rates in patients with RPL and hereditary thrombophilia. © 2016 Via Medica