Carcass and meat quality characteristics of lambs reared in different seasons

Thirty-six Kivircik male lambs were used to determine the effects of rearing season (winter rearing - WR; spring-summer rearing - SSR; and autumn rearing - AR) on carcass and meat quality characteristics. Average daily gain in the period 0-134 days, final weight, cold carcass weight and real dressing percentage were higher in WR lambs than lambs from SSR and AR groups. Furthermore, SSR and AR lambs did not show significant differences for these traits (P > 0.05). WR lambs had the highest values in terms of back fat thickness, subjective carcass fatness score and fat percentage in pelvic limb, which gives information about the carcass fatness. Final meat pH, expressed juice and meat lightness 1 h after cutting were higher for SSR lambs than for WR and AR lambs. SSR lambs had the lowest scores in terms of flavour intensity, flavour quality and overall acceptability in the sensory evaluation panel. In conclusion, WR lambs yielded better carcass quality than SSR and AR lambs. When the rearing season is to be decided, the higher carcass quality of WR lambs and the lesser appreciation of meat of SSR lambs by consumers should be considered

A rare large mutation involving two exons of the SP-B gene in an infant with severe respiratory distress

Hereditary surfactant protein-B (SP-B) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disease of newborn infants causing severe respiratory failure and death within the first year of life. The most common cause of SP-B deficiency is a frameshift mutation in exon 4 (121ins2) in the gene encoding SP-B. We report a term infant with unremitting respiratory distress who was unresponsive to all treatment modalities. The parents were consanguineous and a term sibling of the infant had died due to respiratory failure without a certain diagnosis. In the first step of the diagnostic work-up, common genetic mutations for SP-B, surfactant protein C and ATP-binding cassette s3 were absent, however sequencing of SP-B gene revealed a large homozygous genomic deletion covering exon 8 and 9. In this case report, we aimed to emphasize further genetic evaluation in all cases suggestive of surfactant dysfunction, even if common mutations are absent

Hepatoprotective And Antioxidant Effects Of Lycopene In Acute Cholestasis

Background/aim: Lycopene, which is suggested to be a potent antioxidant, may play a protective role in diseases related to oxidative stress. In order to understand the effects of lycopene in the pathogenesis of cholestasis, we investigated the effects of lycopene on oxidative stress parameters and DNA damage induced by experimental biliary obstruction in the liver tissues and the lymphocytes of Wistar albino rats. Materials and methods: The animals were randomized into 3 groups. The sham group was subjected to a sham operation, the BDL group was subjected to bile duct ligation (BDL), and the BDL+L group was subjected to BDL and treated with 10 mg/kg body weight of lycopene. After 7 days of treatment, the liver functions, oxidative stress parameters, and DNA damage were evaluated. Results: The lycopene treatment significantly ameliorated the liver function parameters in BDL rats. It significantly reduced malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels and enhanced reduced glutathione levels and catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione S transferase activities in the BDL rats. The lycopene treatment also decreased DNA damage as assessed by comet assay in the lymphocytes and hepatocytes of the BDL rats. Conclusion: These results suggest that lycopene might have protective effects on acute cholestasis

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of lycopene in acute cholestasis

Background/aim: Lycopene, which is suggested to be a potent antioxidant, may play a protective role in diseases related to oxidative stress. In order to understand the effects of lycopene in the pathogenesis of cholestasis, we investigated the effects of lycopene on oxidative stress parameters and DNA damage induced by experimental biliary obstruction in the liver tissues and the lymphocytes of Wistar albino rats. Materials and methods: The animals were randomized into 3 groups. The sham group was subjected to a sham operation, the BDL group was subjected to bile duct ligation (BDL), and the BDL+L group was subjected to BDL and treated with 10 mg/kg body weight of lycopene. After 7 days of treatment, the liver functions, oxidative stress parameters, and DNA damage were evaluated. Results: The lycopene treatment significantly ameliorated the liver function parameters in BDL rats. It significantly reduced malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels and enhanced reduced glutathione levels and catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione S transferase activities in the BDL rats. The lycopene treatment also decreased DNA damage as assessed by comet assay in the lymphocytes and hepatocytes of the BDL rats. Conclusion: These results suggest that lycopene might have protective effects on acute cholestasis

Diagnosis, Treatment And Prevention Of Infective Endocarditis: Turkish Consensus Report

Although infective endocarditis (IE) is rare, it is still important as an infectious disease because of the resulting morbidity and substantial mortality rates. Epidemiological studies in developed countries have shown that the incidence of IE has been approximately 6/100 000 in recent years and it is on the fourth rank among the most life-threatening infectious diseases after sepsis, pneumonia and intraabdominal infections. Although IE is not a reportable disease in Turkey, and an incidence study was not performed, its incidence may be expected to be higher due to both more frequent presence of predisposing cardiac conditions and higher rates of nosocomial bacteremia which may lead to IE in risk groups. Additionally, while IE generally affects elderly people in developed countries it still affects young people in Turkey. In order to reduce the mortality and morbidity, it is critical to diagnose the 1E, to determine the causative agent and to start treatment rapidly. However, most of the patients cannot be diagnosed in their first visits, about half of them can be diagnosed after 3 months, and the disease often goes unnoticed. In patients diagnosed as IE, the rate of identification of causative organisms is more than 90% in developed countries, while it is around 60% in Turkey. Furthermore, some important microbiological diagnostic tests are not performed in most of the centers. Some antimicrobials that are recommended as the first option for treatment of IE, particularly antistaphylococcal penicillins, are unavailable in Turkey. These problems necessitate to review the epidemiological, laboratory and clinical characteristics of IE in the country, as well as the current information about its diagnosis, treatment and prevention together with local data. Patients with IE can be followed by physicians in many specialties. Diagnosis and treatment processes of IE should be standardized at every stage so that management of IE, a setting in which many physicians are involved, can always be in line with current recommendations. From this point of view, Study Group for Infective Endocarditis and Other Cardiovascular Infections of the Turkish Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases has called for collaboration of the relevant specialist organizations to establish a consensus report on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of IE in the light of current information and local data in Turkey. In the periodical meetings of the assigned representatives from all the parties, various questions were identified. Upon reviewing related literature and international guidelines, these questions were provided with consensus answers. Several of the answers provided in the report are listed below: [1] IE is more frequent in patients with a previous episode of IE, a valvular heart disease, a congenital heart disease, any intracardiac prosthetic material, an intravenous drug addiction, chronic hemodialysis treatment, solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as compared with normal population. [2] The most frequent causative organisms are Staphylococcus aureus, streptococci, coagulase-negative staphylococci, and enterococci, respectively, both in Turkey and globally. Brucella spp. is the fifth common causative agent of IE in Turkey. [3] The echocardiography is the imaging modality of choice to define cardiac lesions in patients with suspected IE. Both transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography are generally necessary in almost all patients. Both are inconclusive approximately in 15% of total IE cases whereas the percentage is up to 30% in patients with intracardiac prosthetic devices. In these instances, multi-slice (MS) computed tomography (CT) should be the imaging modality in patients with native valve IE, whereas MS-CT or radiolabelled leukocyte scintigraphy with single-photon emission tomography/CT should be choosen for patients who have prosthetic valve IE within the first 3 months of surgery, and MS-CT or positron-emission tomography/CT should be chosen for patients with prosthetic valve IE after 3 months of surgery. [4] Blood cultures should be taken without any delay to catch-up the febrile period as 3 sets with 30-minute intervals (3 aerobic and 3 anaerobic bottles, totally 6 bottles) in patients with suspected IE. Each set, comprised of 1 aerobic and 1 anaerobic bottle, should be inoculated with 18-20 ml of blood (9 -10 ml blood per bottle). Totally 60 ml of blood should be taken from one patient with suspected IE. Two sets of control blood cultures should be repeated in every 48 hours after initiation of therapy in order to show blood sterility. If causative organism do not grow in the usual blood culture bottles, additional three mycobacterial blood culture bottles should be inoculated in patients with suspected prosthetic valve IE and who had a cardiac surgery in the last decade. [5] The excised valvular tissue from patients with suspected IE should be evaluated both microbiologically and histopathologically.[6] First of all, Wright agglutination test (if negative, by adding Coombs' serum) and indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test to investigate Coxiella burnetii phase I IgG antibodies should be done in culture-negative patients. If these two tests are negative, IgG antibodies for Bartonella spp., Legionella spp., Chlamydia spp., and Mycoplasma spp. should be tested respectively and preferably by IFA test. [7] Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests should be used to identify the pathogen in whole blood in a culturenegative patient who has received previous antibiotic therapy. If the blood cultures are negative in a patient who has not received previous antibiotic therapy, PCR tests for 16S rRNA gene analysis and Tropheryma whipplei should be performed on the resected valve obtained during surgery. [8] Histopathological examination of resected valvular tissue in patients with suspected IE give valuable information about the activation and degree of the inflammation. Moreover, histopathological examination with appropriate routine and immunohistochemical staining, aid to identify especially intracellular pathogens like C. burnetii, Bartonella spp. and T. whipplei in blood culture-negative patients. [9] Bactericidal agents given parenterally for long duration is the general principle of antimicrobial treatment of IE. The pathogenic organism, presence of prosthetic material and duration of symptoms specifies the duration of treatment. The therapy duration is generally 4-6 weeks for native valve IE and >6 weeks for prosthetic valve IE. [10] As the efficacy and feasibility of oral antimicrobial choices of left-sided IE are not well defined in Turkey and it is related with substantial mortality, parenteral route should be preferred for the complete duration of antimicrobial treatment of left-sided IE in Turkey. In case of unavailability of intravenous access or outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy, oral agents may be feasible to complete the therapy duration in stable patients with uncomplicated native valve IE due to drug-susceptible viridans streptococci, provided that initial two weeks should be completed parenterally, and the patient should give an informed consent after notifying all possible risks, and regular post-discharge follow-up should be possible. The decision for oral maintenance therapy has to be given by the IE team. [11] The appropriate antimicrobials should be initiated without any delay as it reduces not only the risk of an embolic event in patients with either acute or subacute IE, but also decreases the mortality associated with sepsis in acute IE. Therefore, the empirical antimicrobials should be promptly initiated after blood cultures are taken. [12] Ampicillin-sulbactam +/- gentamicin can be initiated empirically in the treatment of community-acquired, both acute and subacute types of native and late prosthetic valve IE in adults whereas either vancomycin + ampicillin-sulbactam or ceftriaxone +/- gentamicin can be the choice for acute types. Vancomycin + cefepime +/- gentamicin combination can be initiated empirically in the treatment of nosocomial native, early and late prosthetic valve IE in adults. Gentamicin should be avoided initially in patients with impaired renal function. Rifampin can be added to initial empirical treatment of early prosthetic valve IE. Daptomycin alone is not a drug of choice for initial empirical treatment of IE because of its suboptimal efficacy for streptococci and enterococci in which resistance can easily develop during therapy.WoSScopu

Consensus Report on Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Infective Endocarditis by Turkish Society of Cardiovascular Surgery (TSCVS), Turkish Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (KLIMIK), Turkish Society of Cardiology (TSC), Turkish Society of Nuclear Medicine (TSNM), Turkish Society of Radiology (TSR), Turkish Dental Association (TDA) and Federation of Turkish Pathology Societies (TURKPATH) Cardiovascular System Study Group

Infective endocarditis (IE) is rare, but associated with significant morbidity and mortality rates. Estimates of the incidence of IE in Turkey are compromised by the absence of population-based prospective studies. Due to the frequent presence of predisposing cardiac conditions and higher rates of nosocomial bacteremia in high-risk groups, the incidence of IE is expected to be higher in Turkey. Additionally, while IE generally affects older people in developed countries, it still affects young people in Turkey. In order to reduce the mortality and morbidity, it is critical to diagnose the IE to determine the causative agent and to start treatment rapidly. However, most of the patients cannot be diagnosed in their first visits, about half of them can be diagnosed after three months, and the disease often goes unnoticed. In patients diagnosed with IE, the rate of identification of causative organisms is significantly lower in Turkey than in developed countries. Furthermore, most of the centers do not perform some essential microbiological diagnostic tests as a routine practice. Some antimicrobials that are recommended as the first-line of treatment for IE, particularly antistaphylococcal penicillins, are not available in Turkey. These problems necessitate reviewing the epidemiological, laboratory, and clinical characteristics of IE in our country, as well as the current information about its diagnosis, treatment, and prevention together with local data. Physicians can follow patients with IE in many specialties. Diagnosis and treatment processes of IE should be standardized at every stage so that management of IE, a setting in which many physicians are involved, can always be in line with current recommendations. Study Group for Infective Endocarditis and Other Cardiovascular Infections of the Turkish Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases has called for collaboration of the relevant specialist organizations to establish a consensus report on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of IE in the light of current information and local data in Turkey

Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Infective Endocarditis: Turkish Consensus Report

Although infective endocarditis (IE) is rare, it is still important as an infectious disease because of the resulting morbidity and substantial mortality rates. Epidemiological studies in developed countries have shown that the incidence of IE has been approximately 6/100 000 in recent years and it is on the fourth rank among the most life-threatening infectious diseases after sepsis, pneumonia and intraabdominal infections. Although IE is not a reportable disease in Turkey, and an incidence study was not performed, its incidence may be expected to be higher due to both more frequent presence of predisposing cardiac conditions and higher rates of nosocomial bacteremia which may lead to IE in risk groups. Additionally, while IE generally affects elderly people in developed countries it still affects young people in Turkey. In order to reduce the mortality and morbidity, it is critical to diagnose the 1E, to determine the causative agent and to start treatment rapidly. However, most of the patients cannot be diagnosed in their first visits, about half of them can be diagnosed after 3 months, and the disease often goes unnoticed. In patients diagnosed as IE, the rate of identification of causative organisms is more than 90% in developed countries, while it is around 60% in Turkey. Furthermore, some important microbiological diagnostic tests are not performed in most of the centers. Some antimicrobials that are recommended as the first option for treatment of IE, particularly antistaphylococcal penicillins, are unavailable in Turkey. These problems necessitate to review the epidemiological, laboratory and clinical characteristics of IE in the country, as well as the current information about its diagnosis, treatment and prevention together with local data. Patients with IE can be followed by physicians in many specialties. Diagnosis and treatment processes of IE should be standardized at every stage so that management of IE, a setting in which many physicians are involved, can always be in line with current recommendations. From this point of view, Study Group for Infective Endocarditis and Other Cardiovascular Infections of the Turkish Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases has called for collaboration of the relevant specialist organizations to establish a consensus report on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of IE in the light of current information and local data in Turkey. In the periodical meetings of the assigned representatives from all the parties, various questions were identified. Upon reviewing related literature and international guidelines, these questions were provided with consensus answers. Several of the answers provided in the report are listed below: [1] IE is more frequent in patients with a previous episode of IE, a valvular heart disease, a congenital heart disease, any intracardiac prosthetic material, an intravenous drug addiction, chronic hemodialysis treatment, solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as compared with normal population. [2] The most frequent causative organisms are Staphylococcus aureus, streptococci, coagulase-negative staphylococci, and enterococci, respectively, both in Turkey and globally. Brucella spp. is the fifth common causative agent of IE in Turkey. [3] The echocardiography is the imaging modality of choice to define cardiac lesions in patients with suspected IE. Both transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography are generally necessary in almost all patients

Prevalence of Anosmia in 10.157 Pediatric COVID-19 Cases: Multicenter Study from Turkey.

Introduction: COVID-19-related anosmia is a remarkable and disease-specific finding. With this multicenter cohort study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of anosmia in pediatric cases with COVID-19 from Turkey and make an objective assessment with a smell awareness questionnaire. Material and Methods: This multicenter prospective cohort study was conducted with pediatric infection clinics in 37 centers in 19 different cities of Turkey between October 2020 and March 2021. The symptoms of 10.157 COVID-19 cases 10-18 years old were examined. Age, gender, other accompanying symptoms, and clinical severity of the disease of cases with anosmia and ageusia included in the study were recorded. The cases were interviewed for the smell awareness questionnaire at admission and one month after the illness. Results: Anosmia was present in 12.5% (1.266/10.157) of COVID-19 cases 10-18 years of age. The complete records of 1053 patients followed during the study period were analyzed. The most common symptoms accompanying symptoms with anosmia were ageusia in 885 (84%) cases, fatigue in 534 cases (50.7%), and cough in 466 cases (44.3%). Anosmia was recorded as the only symptom in 84 (8%) of the cases. One month later, it was determined that anosmia persisted in 88 (8.4%) cases. In the smell awareness questionnaire, the score at admission was higher than the score one month later (P < 0.001). Discussion: With this study, we have provided the examination of a large case series across Turkey. Anosmia and ageusia are specific symptoms seen in cases of COVID-19. With the detection of these symptoms, it should be aimed to isolate COVID-19 cases in the early period and reduce the spread of the infection. Such studies are important because the course of COVID-19 in children differs from adults and there is limited data on the prevalence of anosmia