INVESTIGATION OF ROTAVIRUS AND ENTERIC ADENOVIRUS ANTIGEN FREQUENCY IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE GASTROENTERITIS BY IMMUNOCHROMATOGRAPHIC METHOD: A SINGLE CENTER EXPERIENCE OF SEVEN YEARS

Objective: Most cases of acute gastroenteritis in children are caused by viral agents. Rarely, these viruses can also cause infections in adult patients. Rotaviruses and adenoviruses are the leading viral agents of infectious gastroenteritis. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus and/or adenovirus in patients who were admitted to our Materials and methods: Stool samples from 25530 patients admitted to our hospital with acute gastroenteritis in a seven-year period between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The presence of rotavirus and/or adenovirus antigens in stool samples was investigated by qualitative immunochromatographic test (VIKIA Rota-Adeno). The sensitivity of the test was 96-100% for Rotavirus, 87.4-99.6% for Adenovirus, and its specificity was 98.6-100%. Results: Of the stool samples, rotavirus were found to be positive in 3220 (12.6%), adenovirus in 670 (2.6%), and both rotavirus and adenovirus in 36 (0.14%). Rotavirus infection was more common in boys (13.7% vs. 11.7%; p:0.041). Viral antigen-positive cases were seen most frequently in the 7-24 month age group and the spring and winter months. Conclusion: Rotavirus is an essential agent of acute gastroenteritis in children under five years of age and should be investigated routinely, especially in spring and winter

Could Mean Platelet Volume Be Used as A Marker for Oral Aphthae and Activity of Behcet's Disease?

WOS: 000376296100003Objective: Behcet's disease is a common inflammatory disease in our country. We aimed to determine whether mean platelet volume can be used as a marker for oral aphthae and the activity of Behcet's disease, Methods: Between 04/01/2010 and 30/07/2010, 78 patients from the Ok-meydani Training and Research Hospital Dermatology Clinic were retrospectively enrolled in this study, of which 15 patients had active Behcet's disease and 37 had inactive Behcet's disease that were diagnosed according to the International Criteria for Behcet's Disease; 26 control patients without any inflammatory disease were also evaluated, Mean platelet volume and laboratory indicators of inflammation were compared between the patients and control groups. Results: There were no significant differences in the mean platelet volume values between the active Behcet's disease group, inactive Behcet's disease group, and control group (p=0.678). Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the mean platelet volume values between patients with oral aphthae, patients without oral aphthae, and control patients (p=0.637). Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that mean platelet volume values cannot be used as a marker for oral aphthae and activity of Behcet's disease. However, immunosuppressive agents, such as colchicine and corticosteroids that are used in treating Behcet's disease, could affect the mean platelet volume values in active or inactive Behcet's disease by suppressing the inflammatory process. Therefore, we believe that the evaluation of the mean platelet volume values in large-scale studies that include patients with newly diagnosed Behcet's disease, which have not been treated, would be useful

Evaluation of Cucurbita pepo L. seeds used in folk medicine for their anti-inflammatory and wound healing activity

Since Cucurbita pepo L. seeds have been reported to have beneficial effects in folk medicine for many years, in this study, in vivo wound healing activities of diethyl ether, chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts prepared from C. pepo seeds were evaluated by linear incision wound model, and hydroxyproline content. Furthermore, the extracts were screened for anti-inflammatory activity based on the inhibition of acetic acid-induced capillary permeability. The ethyl acetate extract had the highest inhibitory effect on acetic acid-induced capillary permeability, but the rest of the extracts didnt display significant anti-inflammatory activity. On the other hand, according to the activity using linear incision wound model as well as hydroxyproline content of the treated tissue, all three extracts did not indicate wound healing activity. [Med-Science 2020; 9(2.000): 381-4

Addition of Trichocladium canadense to an anaerobic membrane bioreactor: evaluation of the microbial composition and reactor performance

Membrane bioreactors are powerful systems for wastewater treatment and the removal of toxic compounds. However, membrane biofouling stands in the way of their widespread usage. In this study, the saprophytic fungus Trichocladium canadense was used as the bioaugmentor in an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) and its impact on membrane biofouling, biogas production, the microbial communities of the reactor and removal of the common antibiotics erythromycin (ERY), sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and tetracycline (TET) from synthetic wastewater was investigated. The results indicated that through bioaugmentation with 20% T. canadense, membrane biofouling was slowed by 25%, the chemical oxygen demand removal increased by 16% and a higher efficiency removal of ERY and SMX was achieved. The presence of T. canadense significantly increased the abundance and diversity of the biofilm archaeal community and the bacterial phylum Firmicutes, a known bio-foulant

Serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae and pneumococcal vaccine coverage in adults in Turkey between 2015 and 2018

AbstractObjective To evaluate the serotype distribution and antibiotic resistance in pneumococcal infections in adults and to provide a perspective regarding serotype coverage of both current and future pneumococcal vaccines.Patients and methods This passive surveillance study was conducted with the Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated from the specimens of patients with pneumonia (materials isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage), bacteraemia, meningitis, pleuritis and peritonitis between 2015 and 2018. Serogrouping and serotyping were performed by latex particle agglutination and by conventional Quellung reaction using commercial type-specific antisera, respectively. The strains were analysed for penicillin, cefotaxime, erythromycin and moxifloxacin susceptibilities by E-test.Results In the whole study group (410 samples from adults aged ≥18 years), the most frequent serotypes were 3 (14.1%), 19 F (12%) and 1 (9.3%). The vaccine coverage for PCV13, PCV15, PCV20 and PPV23 was 63.9%, 66.6%, 74.1% and 75.9%, respectively, in all isolates. Penicillin non-susceptibility in invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) was 70.8% and 57.1% in the patients aged <65 and ≥65 years, respectively. About 21.1% and 4.3% of the patients with and without IPD had cefotaxime resistance. Non-susceptibility to erythromycin and moxifloxacin was 38.2% and 1.2%, respectively.Conclusions The results revealed that novel PCV vaccines may provide improved coverage as compared with the currently available vaccine, PCV13. The significant antibiotic resistance rates imply the need to extend the serotype coverage of the vaccines. Continuing the surveillance in pneumococcal diseases is critical to explore the serotype distribution and incidence changes of IPD cases in the population and to inform policy makers to make necessary improvements in the national immunization programmes.Key messagesThis multicentre study demonstrated the most recent serotype distribution and antibiotic resistance in adult population in Turkey.Shifting from PCV13 to novel conjugated vaccines will significantly increase the coverage.Continuing the surveillance in pneumococcal diseases is critical to explore the serotype distribution changes and the incidence of cases with invasive pneumococcal disease in the population

Serotype distribution ofStreptococcus pneumoniain children with invasive disease in Turkey: 2015-2018

Objectives To determine the serotype distribution of pneumococcus causing invasive pneumococcal disease (meningitidis, bacteremia and empyema) in children in Turkey, and to observe potential changes in this distribution in time to guide effective vaccine strategies. Methods We surveyedS. pneumoniaewith conventional bacteriological techniques and with real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood and pleural fluid.S. pneumoniaestrains were isolated from 33 different hospitals in Turkey, which are giving health services to approximately 60% of the Turkish population. Results A total of 167 cases were diagnosed with invasive pneumococcal disease between 2015 and 2018. We diagnosed 52 (31.1%) patients with meningitis, 104 (62.2%) patients with bacteremia, and 11 (6.6%) patients with empyema. Thirty-three percent of them were less than 2 years old and 56% less than 5 years old. Overall PCV13 serotypes accounted for 56.2% (94/167). The most common serotypes were 19 F (11.9%), 1 (10.7%) and 3 (10.1%). Conclusions Besides the increasing frequency of non-vaccine serotypes, vaccine serotypes continue to be a problem for Turkey despite routine and high-rate vaccination with PCV13 and significant reduction reported for the incidence of IPD in young children. Since new candidate pneumococcal conjugate vaccines with more serotype antigens are being developed, continuing IPD surveillance is a significant source of information for decision-making processes on pneumococcal vaccination

Respiratory System Involvement in Brucellosis

Background Pulmonary involvement is a rare complication of brucellosis. We describe the largest series to date, to our knowledge, of patients with pulmonary brucellosis. Methods This 10-year, retrospective, descriptive study involved 27 centers in Turkey, including all patients with brucellosis with confirmed respiratory system involvement. Results Of 133 patients (67 men), 123 (92.5%) had acute infection (defined as < 2 months), with an overall mean ± SD duration of symptoms of 33.9 ± 8.5 days. The radiologic pattern of pulmonary disease was consolidation/lobar pneumonia in 91 patients (68.4%) and pleural effusion in 41 patients (30.8%), including 30 (22.5%) with both. Moreover, 23 patients (17.3%) had bronchitis (one with coexistent pneumonia), and 10 (7.5%) had nodular lung lesions (one with coexistent pneumonia and effusion). Blood culture results were positive in 56 of 119 patients, and all other cases were serologically confirmed. None of 60 sputum specimens and two of 19 pleural fluid samples (10.5%) yielded positive culture results for brucellosis. Other features of brucellosis, such as osteoarticular complications, were detected in 61 patients (45.9%); 59 (44.4%) had raised liver transaminase levels, and 59 (44.4%) had thrombocytopenia. Fifteen patients (11.3%) required management in an ICU for an average of 3.8 ± 2.2 days. All patients responded to standard combination antimicrobial therapy for brucellosis with no deaths, although treatment regimens required modification in seven patients. Conclusions Brucellosis with pulmonary involvement is rare but has a good prognosis following treatment with appropriate antibiotics. Many clues in the exposure history, presenting clinical features, and baseline blood tests should alert the clinician to consider brucellosis

Characteristics and outcomes of carbapenemase harbouring carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella spp. bloodstream infections: a multicentre prospective cohort study in an OXA-48 endemic setting

A prospective, multicentre observational cohort study of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella spp. (CRK) bloodstream infections was conducted in Turkey from June 2018 to June 2019. One hundred eighty-seven patients were recruited. Single OXA-48-like carbapenemases predominated (75%), followed by OXA-48-like/NDM coproducers (16%). OXA-232 constituted 31% of all OXA-48-like carbapenemases and was mainly carried on ST2096. Thirty-day mortality was 44% overall and 51% for ST2096. In the multivariate cox regression analysis, SOFA score and immunosuppression were significant predictors of 30-day mortality and ST2096 had a non-significant effect. All OXA-48-like producers remained susceptible to ceftazidime-avibactam