QT and JT dispersion in children with familial mediterranean fever

Objectives: This study aims to determine QT dispersion and JT dispersion, and their relationship with conventional echocardiography values in a group of children with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). Patients and methods: The study included 48 FMF patients (26 males, 22 females, mean age 11.10±3.42 years; range 5 to 18 years) as the FMF patients and 31 healthy children (17 males, 14 females, mean age 9.61±2.83 years; range 5 to 17 years) as the healthy controls. Electrocardiography and conventional echocardiography were performed on the FMF patients and healthy controls. Both groups were evaluated with a standard 12-lead electrocardiography. QT, JT and RR distances were measured in both groups. The corrected QT (QTc) and corrected JT (JTc) were calculated. QTcd and corrected JT dispersion (JTcd) were detected. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the FMF patients and healthy controls in terms of RR, QT, QTd, QTcd, JT, JTc, JTd, and JTcd measurements and echocardiography parameters. QTc value was higher in the FMF patients than the healthy controls. Conclusion: QTc value indicates increased ventricular sensitivity and is an important marker of cardiovascular mortality. It has an important effect on sudden cardiac death and arrhythmia. Our study results suggest that electrocardiographic monitoring may be useful in patients with FMF

Evaluation of potential novel variations and their interactions related to bipolar disorders: Analysis of genome-wide association study data

Background: Multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) is a nonparametric approach that can be used to detect relevant interactions between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The aim of this study was to build the best genomic model based on SNP associations and to identify candidate polymorphisms that are the underlying molecular basis of the bipolar disorders. Methods: This study was performed on Whole-Genome Association Study of Bipolar Disorder (dbGaP [database of Genotypes and Phenotypes] study accession number: phs000017.v3.p1) data. After preprocessing of the genotyping data, three classification-based data mining methods (ie, random forest, naïve Bayes, and k-nearest neighbor) were performed. Additionally, as a nonparametric, model-free approach, the MDR method was used to evaluate the SNP profiles. The validity of these methods was evaluated using true classification rate, recall (sensitivity), precision (positive predictive value), and F-measure. Results: Random forests, naïve Bayes, and k-nearest neighbors identified 16, 13, and ten candidate SNPs, respectively. Surprisingly, the top six SNPs were reported by all three methods. Random forests and k-nearest neighbors were more successful than naïve Bayes, with recall values >0.95. On the other hand, MDR generated a model with comparable predictive performance based on five SNPs. Although different SNP profiles were identified in MDR compared to the classification-based models, all models mapped SNPs to the DOCK10 gene. Conclusion: Three classification-based data mining approaches, random forests, naïve Bayes, and k-nearest neighbors, have prioritized similar SNP profiles as predictors of bipolar disorders, in contrast to MDR, which has found different SNPs through analysis of two-way and three-way interactions. The reduced number of associated SNPs discovered by MDR, without loss in the classification performance, would facilitate validation studies and decision support models, and would reduce the cost to develop predictive and diagnostic tests. Nevertheless, we need to emphasize that translation of genomic models to the clinical setting requires models with higher classification performance

Comparison of Culture and PCR Methods in Detection of Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Moraxella catarrhalis in Children with Otitis Media with Effusion

The etiology and pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion (OME) is still unclear despite many studies within the last four decades. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based procedures are suggested for detection of the causative bacteria supposed to inflict multiple infections. In the current study, culture and PCR based approaches were used to detect the frequency of Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Moraxella catarrhalis, which have been known as common pathogens in middle ear effusions (MEE) of patients with otitis media. Material and Methods: The DNAs of these three bacteria were detected by standard and multiplex PCR techniques in MEE specimens and their diagnostic values were evaluated in comparison to the conventional culture method. Results: Samples from 67 OME suspected children were analysed retrospectively. Two H. influenzae and two M. catarrhalis isolates were recovered by conventional culture method (6.0%; 4/67). Out of the 67 samples, seven S. pneumoniae, nine H. influenzae, and eleven M. catarrhalis isolates were detected vith PCR. In five samples, two concurrent bacteria were detected in following combinations: two S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae, two S. pneumoniae and M. catarrhalis, and one H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value rates of the PCR technique were 100.0%, 71.4%, 18.2% and 100.0%, respectively. The difference between culture and PCR was statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: Although the specificity and positive predictive values are low, PCR, which allows rapid screening is feasible for detecting the most common fastidious bacteria that lead to OME

Comparison of culture and PCR methods in detection of haemophilus influenzae, streptococcus pneumoniae and moraxella catarrhalis in children with otitis media with effusion Efüzyonlu orta kulak iltihabi olan çocuklarda haemophilus influenzae, streptococcus pneumoniae ve moraxella catarrhalis saptanmasinda, kültür ve pzr yöntemlerinin karsilastirilmasi

The etiology and pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion (OME) is still unclear despite many studies within the last four decades. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based procedures are suggested for detection of the causative bacteria supposed to inflict multiple infections. In the current study, culture and PCR based approaches were used to detect the frequency of Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Moraxella catarrhalis, which have been known as common pathogens in middle ear effusions (MEE) of patients with otitis media. Material and Methods: The DNAs of these three bacteria were detected by standard and multiplex PCR techniques in MEE specimens and their diagnostic values were evaluated in comparison to the conventional culture method. Results: Samples from 67 OME suspected children were analysed retrospectively. Two H. influenzae and two M. catarrhalis isolates were recovered by conventional culture method (6.0%; 4/67). Out of the 67 samples, seven S. pneumoniae, nine H. influenzae, and eleven M. catarrhalis isolates were detected vith PCR. In five samples, two concurrent bacteria were detected in following combinations: two S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae, two S. pneumoniae and M. catarrhalis, and one H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value rates of the PCR technique were 100.0%, 71.4%, 18.2% and 100.0%, respectively. The difference between culture and PCR was statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: Although the specificity and positive predictive values are low, PCR, which allows rapid screening is feasible for detecting the most common fastidious bacteria that lead to OME