Antibody titers and immune response to diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis and measles-mumps-rubelia vaccination in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia

The objective of this study was to investigate the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis and/or measles-mumps antibody titers before and after vaccination at various time points of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) therapy and to Suggest an appropriate vaccination approach for ALL patients. The authors studied 37 ALL patients and 14 healthy control subjects, divided into three groups. In group I (newly diagnosed patients), baseline anti -diphtheria, anti-tetanus, and anti-pertussis titers were determined. Patients in group 2 (on maintenance chernotherapy) and group 3 (patients not receiving therapy for 3-6 months) were vaccinated with diphtheria-tetanus with or without acellular pertussis; group 3 and control subjects were also given measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. Preimmunization and 1-month postimmunization titers were drawn. Preimmunization antidiphtheria and anti-tetanus antibody titers between the groups and the controls were statistically similar. The seropositivity rate for anti-measles antibody in group 3 was significantly lower than controls. After vaccination, all of the patients developed protective antidiphtheria and anti-tetanus antibody titers. The seroconversion rates of group 3 and controls for anti-measles and anti-mumps antibodies were statistically similar. The results showed that patients on maintenance therapy and after cessation of therapy made good antibody responses to diphtheria and tetanus toxoids, but response to measles and mumps vaccines was not as sufficient as toxoid vaccines. Children with ALL can receive the appropriate vaccines during and after maintenance treatment

Von Willebrand's disease in German Shepherd Dogs in the Marmara region (Turkey)

Plasma von Willebrand factor antigen (vWf:Ag) concentrations were determined for 204 German Shepherd Dogs with the ELISA method using the Asserachrom test kit. Other hematological parameters, in particular platelet number, as well as additional parameters such as buccal mucosa bleeding time (BMBT) were evaluated. The Plasma vWF antigen concentration was found to be significantly reduced in dogs affected with von Willebrand's disease (vWD) while BMBT had increased. Plasma vWf:Ag concentration in all dogs ranged from 0.1 % to 180%

Hepatorenal syndrome and efficiency of aldosterone receptor blockade on hepatorenal system and systemic hemodynamics in dogs with experimentally induced hepatic cirrhosis

In this study, the clinical signs of hepatorenal syndrome that occurs during hepatic cirrhosis were investigated and a variety of diagnosis and therapy methods were investigated in the experimentally ligated bile ducts of dogs

Celiac disease in an adult Turkish population with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Celiac disease is a frequent cause of morbidity among patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. In this study our objective was to determine the prevalance of celiac diasease in a Turkish adult population with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Patients included 122 type 1 diabetes cases from adult diabetes clinic. Total IgA and IgA-antiendomysial antibody (AEA) assays were performed. Patients positive for IgA-AEA were asked to undergo small intestinal biopsy. Of the 122 patients, none was IgA deficient and 3 had positive IgA-AEA results (2.45%). All three of these patients had biopsies diagnostic of celiac disease. The body mass index (BMI) values of patients with positive AEA were significantly lower than normal (P = 0.024). Among the gastrointestinal complaints there was an association between early satiety and AEA positivity (P = 0.02). None of the other gastrointestinal complaints or age, duration of diabetes, glycosylated hemoglobin values, or insulin doses used were found to be related to AEA positivity. Celiac disease has a high prevalence among Turkish paients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Screening for IgA-AEA during routine investigations of type 1 diabetic patients is important to prevent celiac-associated symptoms