Simkania negevensis: Is it a real respiratory pathogen?

Simkania negevensis, a recently discovered Chlamydia-like organism, has been associated with respiratory infections such as pneumonia, bronchiolitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in children and adults. The aim of the present study was to evaluate S. negevensis in the etiology of pediatric community-acquired pneumonia, bronchiolitis and asthma exacerbation in our region. Overall, 102 patients and 46 healthy controls were included in the study. S. negevensis was investigated by real time PCR (Primer Design, UK) in nasopharyngeal swab samples. It failed to be detected in either the study or control group. In conclusion, our results suggest that S. negevensis is not an important respiratory pathogen in our region

Investigation of the effects of mir-219-1 gene variants on the development of disease in non-small cell lung cancer patients

Background: Various variants of the miR-219-1 gene are one of the first genes associated with NSCLC prognosis in the literature. Objectives: We aimed to genotype two different variants of the miR-219-1 gene and to investigate to using of the result as a biomarker in the diagnosis and treatment of NSCLC. Materials and Methods: The patients were chosen according to International NSCLC criteria and genomic DNA was isolated from blood (138 patients and 100 healthy individuals). Then qRT-PCR was applied to determine the rs213210 and rs421446 variants of miR-219-1 gene polymorphisms. Allele and genotype frequencies were compared using Pearson’s chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests test. Results: We found that TT genotype (p=0,381) in rs213210 compared with CC genotype (p=0,165) and CC genotype (p=0,823) in rs421446 compared with TT genotype (p=0,537) did not show a significantly increased risk of NSCLC. There is no relationship between polymorphisms in miR-219-1 and the outcome of NSCLC. Conclusion: miRNA single nucleotide polymorphisms can be used as genetic biomarkers to predict cancer susceptibility, early diagnosis, and prognosis. Our study has shown that two variants of miR-219-1 were not related to NSCLC in the Turkish population. The reason for this can be differences in ethnicity, regions, and background of population and these differences could lead to various outcomes. Keywords: NSCLC; miR-219-1 gene; single-nucleotide polymorphisms

Protective Effects of Ramelteon on Acute Lung Injury in Endotoxin-Induced Sepsis in Rats

INTRODUCTION: Sepsis is a life-threatening excessive systemic inflammatory reaction syndrome to infection that usually occurs in patients with bacteremia. The respiratory system is one of the structures most affected by acute organ damage. Melatonin plays an important role in regulating various physiological functions of the body, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Ramelteon (RAME) is the first melatonin receptor agonist confirmed for clinical use. The goal of this study is to determine the effects of RAME on endotoxin-induced septic lung injury in rats. METHODS: Thirty-two female rats were separated randomly into four groups (n=8). Group healthy received intraperitoneal normal saline, group sepsis received intraperitoneally 10 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS), group sepsis+RAME2 received 10 mg/kg LPS plus 2mg/kg RAME, and group sepsis+RAME4 received 10 mg/kg LPS plus 4mg/kg RAME. RAME was administered by oral gavage 1 hour before LPS administration. The lung tissues were collected 12 hours after LPS administration and investigated molecularly (qRT-PCR analyses of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, nuclear factor kappa-β, and interleukin 1-beta mRNA expression) and histopathologically (staining with Harris Hematoxylin and Eosin Y). RESULTS: TNF-α, NF-κβ, and IL-1β levels significantly decreased dose-dependent in the septic rats following RAME administration. RAME administration ameliorated histopathological injury in lung tissues due to sepsis. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: RAME ameliorated the inflammatory response in endotoxin-induced sepsis. These findings suggest that RAME can be a promising agent by contributing to alternative preventive treatment methods for sepsis with its anti-inflammatory effect

A Multi-National Multi-Institutional Educaiton Framework: APSCO SSS-2B CubeSat Project

Initiated in early 2015 and officially started by the end of 2016, Asia Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) Student Small Satellite (SSS) program aims student and faculties training from Member States (Bangladesh, China, Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan, Peru, Thailand and Turkey) by involving them in a real satellite design project where they can experience the whole life cycle of a space mission. With this, the program also targets capacity building and human resource development. Within the scope of the program, a constellation of three satellites, one micro satellite (SSS-1) and two 3U cube satellites (SSS-2A and SSS-2B), will be designed, manufactured and operated. In this paper, educational and technical activities of the APSCO SSS project will be presented from the perspective of SSS-2B cube satellite. The framework for an effective education program will be discussed considering the dynamics and common interests between the international actors ranging from governmental and public institutions to universities and non-governmental organizations. First, the education approach and programs such as three-week long summer camps will be presented. Next, the preliminary design outputs of SSS-2B satellite including mission and system specifications will be summarize

Prognostic value of plasma soluble CD40 ligand in patients with chronic non-valvular atrial fibrillation

Aims We aimed to clarify whether determination of levels of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) could predict subsequent thrombo-embolic events in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF)

Isolated renal intravascular lymphoma: a case report and review of the literature

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a very rare subtype of extranodal large B-cell lymphoma. It may involve various organ systems such as skin, liver, lung or kidney. Isolated kidney involvement of IVLBCL is also very rare. Herein we report a very rare case of isolated renal IVLBCL presented with fever of unknown origin, acute kidney injury and nephrotic syndrome. Diagnosis was suspected with isolated high renal F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in positron emission tomography and confirmed with renal biopsy. Complete remission was obtained with combined chemotherapy including rituximab. We reviewed the English literature in terms of IVLBCL with renal involvement and we could only find 16 such cases. Accordingly, fever, AKI and nephritic syndrome are the most common presenting symptoms in renal intravascular lymphoma

The determination of asthma, rhinitis, eczema, and atopy prevalence in 9-to 11-year-old children in the city of Izmir

The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) phase II was designed to allow comparisons between populations in different countries and to investigate possible etiologic factors. This study was conducted to better delineate the prevalence and etiologic factors of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema in Izmir (Turkey) and to be included in the international comparisons by using a standard methodology of ISAAC phase II. The questionnaire was distributed to 2112 students in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades of 12 selected primary schools in urban and rural boroughs of Izmir. One thousand two hundred seventeen of these questionnaires were evaluated and physical examinations and skin-prick tests were performed on 1098 of these children. The prevalence values were 15.9% for recent wheezing and 4.8% for physician-diagnosed asthma. The prevalence of sneezing or runny or blocked nose in the past 12 months when the child did not have a cold or flu was 30%. The prevalence of physician-diagnosed allergic rhinitis was 17%. The prevalence of an itchy rash that was coming and going for at least 6 months was 7.2% and the prevalence of physician-diagnosed eczema was 4.9%. Atopic sensitization prevalence in the population was 8.8% with house-dust mite sensitization being the most frequent one. Secretion rales and sibilant -wheezing rhoncus were detected in 2.7% of children by chest auscultation. In 1.1% of children flexural dermatitis was detected. Objective tests are necessary for epidemiologic studies of the aforementioned diseases