Increased serum procalcitonin levels in pregnant patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria

Background: Among the pregnancy urinary tract infections, asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) is the most common one. Untreated ASB can progress to pyelonephritis in 30-50% of the patients and can also result in prematurity in 27% of the pregnancy so it needs immediate diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we wanted to evaluate procalcitonin levels, compared to other inflammatory in pregnant women with ASB.Methods: The study was designed between the period of January 2012 and February 2013 at Sakarya University School of Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics. The study population included 30 pregnant patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria and 39 healthy pregnant controls.Results: Mean age was 28 (SD, 5.5) of the study population; mean maternal weight was 70 (SD, 8) kilogram. There were no statically significant differences between the groups according to the routine biochemical parameters, but gestational age was significantly lower in the ASB group compared to the controls (20.4 vs 28.6, respectively; p 0.05 ng/ml and 21(70%) patients had negative procalcitonin levels (Chi-squrae, p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of procalcitonin assay for ASB was calculated as 30% and 100%, respectively. The positive predictive value was 100% and the negative predictive value was 65%. The most frequent microorganisms in the urine culture were Escherichia coli (26 patients, 87%), Proteus mirabilis (3 patients, 10%) and Klebsiella (1 patient, 3%) in the ASB group. We experienced four (44%) recurrences among nine positive procalcitonin in ASB patients after completion of treatment of the first ASB diagnosis.Discussion: Procalcitonin levels were significantly higher in ASB group than the control group and serum procalcitonin levels were higher in pregnant women with recurrent ASB. This finding is an important result revealed that high procalcitonin level can predict the further urinary tract infection risk. Finally, serum procalcitonin levels were normal in healthy pregnant women while other inflammatory markers such as WBC, ESR and CRP levels were higher. © 2013 Bilir et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

The relationship between nomophobia level and worry severity in future healthcare professional candidates

Purpose This descriptive study was conducted to determine the relationship between nomophobia level and anxiety severity among university students. Design and Methods The study was completed with a total of 745 students. A descriptive questionnaire and the nomophobia questionnaire and measure of worry severity. Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses were used. Finding It was found positive correlation was determined between the nomophobia level and severity of anxiety. Practical Implications Individuals with nomophobia should be given the necessary assistance before the current situation worsens. Information about the correct use of the smartphone should be provided

COVID-19 cases with acute necrotizing pancreatitis

COVID-19 is a multisystemic condition that presents with different signs and symptoms. Studies conducted have shown that it shows its effect on different tissues through Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 receptors. In particular, gastrointestinal system symptoms have started to attract more attention. We present two COVID-19 cases, aged 82 and 70, presenting with acute pancreatitis without any other risk factors. An 82-year-old female patient had a fatal outcome despite the treatment, while a 70-year-old female patient was discharged for outpatient follow-up. While COVID-19 patients are typically admitted with symptoms of respiratory system, some patients may have symptoms such as nausea-vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain

Prognostic value of systemic inflammation response index in patients with persistent human papilloma virus infection

Objectives: Persistent human papilloma virus (HPV) infection is a risk factor for the progression of cervical neoplasia into invasive carcinoma. Many inflammatory markers obtaining from hemogram parameters as platelets, monocytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils or their ratios are still under investigation in recent decades, especially in the oncology era. Indeed, there have not been enough data about the relationship between these parameters and cervical cancer in the literature. Our primary aim was to investigate the possible relationship between the persistent HPV, which is one of the significant risk factors of cervical cancer, and these inflammatory markers. Further, we can add an easy follow-up parameter in women with persistent HPV infection. Material and methods: The study included patients between 30–65 years old, tested positive for HPV, and afterward had an HPV control test between January 2015 and June 2020. Results: The study included 114 HPV DNA-positive patients. The mean age was 43 (standard deviation 8.7), and 41 of them (36%) had persistent HPV, but the remaining 73 (64%) did not. The baseline neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) value was 2.1, platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) was 133, monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR) was 0.28, and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) was 0.9. All the parameters were significantly higher in the persistent HPV group compared to the non-persistent group. Patients who had 0.65 and under this had a significantly lower risk of persistent HPV. Conclusions: Persistent HPV disease can be predicted with an elevated SIRI, NLR, and other hematologic parameters. So, we can closely follow up with these patients with different algorithms to prevent cervical cancer

A catalog of chromospherically active binary stars (third edition)

Chromospherically Active Binaries (CAB) catalogue have been revised and updated. With 203 new identifications, the number of CAB stars is increased to 409. Catalogue is available in electronic format where each system has various number of lines (sub-orders) with a unique order number. Columns contain data of limited number of selected cross references, comments to explain peculiarities and position of the binarity in case it belongs to a multiple system, classical identifications (RS CVn, BY Dra), brightness and colours, photometric and spectroscopic data, description of emission features (Ca II H&K, $H_{\alpha}$, UV, IR), X-Ray luminosity, radio flux, physical quantities and orbital information, where each basic entry are referenced so users can go original sources.Comment: 5 pages, including 2 figures and 3 tables, accepted for publication in MNRA

Metastatik Böbrek Hücreli Karsinomda Ardışık İnterferon, Sunitinib, Sorafenib ve Everolimus tedavilerine Uzun Dönemli Cevap; Vaka Sunumu

Son yıllarda vasküler büyüme faktörleri, reseptörleri ve memeli rapamisin yolağına karşı geliştirilen hedefe yönelik moleküller metastatik böbrek hücreli karsinoma tedavisinde önemli bir yer tutmaktadır. Biz de; interferon alfa 2b, sunitinib, sorefenib ve everolimus ile uzun süreli sağkalım sağlanmış bir metastatik böbrek tümör vakası sunduk. 48 yaş erkek hastaya Nisan 2007’de metastatik böbrek tümörü tanısı konuldu ve yaklaşık 50 ay boyunca tedavi edildi. Hastada tirozin kinaz inhibitörleri (TKI) ile 44 ay genel sağkalım sağlandı (sırasıyla 5 ay sunitinib, 24 ay sorafenib ve 15 ay everolimus). Metastatik böbrek tümörü sıklıkla kür edilemeyen, dekadlar boyunca kötü prognozlu olup az sayıda tedavi seçeneği mevcuttur. Randomize kontrollü çalışmalarda ise daha önceden hem tedavi almış hemde tedavi almamış metastatik böbrek kanserlerinde hedefe yönelik ajanların etkinliği gösterilmişti. Metastatik böbrek tümörünün TKI ve mTOR inhibitörleri ile tedavisi ardı sıra kullanılmadığı taktirde 12 aydan az sağkalım sağlarken bizim vakamızda sırası ile kullanımda 44 aylık ilave bir sağkalım elde edildi.In recent years, targeted therapies directed against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor (VEGFR), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways have replaced immunotherapy in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). We reported a case who treated with mRCC and had long term survival with interferon alpha 2b, sunitinib, sorafenib, and everolimus sequentially. On April 2007, a 48 year-old man diagnosed with RCC. To date, the patient has received 50 months of treatment. The patients had 44 months of overall survival with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), 5 months with sunitinib, 24 months with sorafenib and 15 months for everolimus respectively. Metastatic RCC is commonly incurable and, for decades, patients with this disease had a poor prognosis due to few treatment choices. Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated the clinical benefits of targeted agents in mRCC, for both previously treated and treatment-na&iuml;ve patients. Metastatic RCC treatment with TKIs and mTOR inhibitors usually provide less than 12 months without sequentially design but in this case we had had 44 months of overall survival

Macrolide-Lincosamide-Streptogramin B (Mlsb) Resistance Phenotype in Staphylococcal Isolates

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLSB) resistance in staphylococcal isolates from various clinical samples. Methods: In this study, we included a total of 100 staphylococcal isolates, 35 Staphylococcus aureus and 65 coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), from specimens obtained from patients followed up in our hospital between 2009 and 2010. Methicillin resistance of these isolates was determined using cefoxitin disc diffusion method. MLSB resistance was investigated by D-test method using erythromycin and clindamycin disks. Results: Of 35 S. aureus isolates, 14 were methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and 21 were methicillin-sensitive (MSSA). Of 65 CNS isolates, 41 were methicillin-resistant (MRCNS) and 24 were methicillin-sensitive (MSCNS). In 79 strains, there was at least one MLSB resistance phenotype. The most frequent resistance phenotypes were inducible (35%) and constitutive (30%) among all isolates, while the constitutive one was more common in S. aureus strains (62%). Conclusion: Since the resistant community- and hospitalacquired staphylococcal infections have become a therapeutic problem, it is very important to detect MLSB resistance routinely in microbiology laboratories. D-test is a cheap and reliable diagnostic method which can be performed in every laboratory. In order to prevent treatment failure, D-test should be routinely used and the results should be reported to the clinician before starting a therapy with MLSB group of antibiotics. (The Me di cal Bul le tin of Ha se ki 2011; 49: 102-4

Surveillance of Device-associated Nosocomial Infections in an Intensive Care Unit at a 550-Bed Research Hospital during 2009

Aim: Nosocomial infections that cause high mortality rates are most frequently observed in intensive care units (ICUs). In this study, device-associated nosocomial infections in Anesthesia and Reanimation Unit of our hospital during 2009 are studied. Methods: ICU serves as a third-level treatment unit with 22 beds out of the total 550 beds in the training hospital. Nosocomial Infections are monitored by infectious disease and clinical microbiology specialists and infection control nurses using laboratory- and patient-based active surveillance method and diagnosed according to the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention criteria. Results: 109 nosocomial infection attacks were detected in ICU. Among them, 28 were catheter-associated urinary tract infection, 26 were ventilator-associated pneumonia, and the rest 55 were circulatory system infection. Central line-associated bloodstream infection rate was 0.45%, urinary catheter-associated urinary tract infection rate - 3.82%, and ventilator-associated pneumonia infection rate was 4.33%. Conclusion: Since bacteria causing infection in ICU are more resistant, the condition of the patients is more severe. Surveillance is of great importance for nosocomial infection control and monitoring. (The Medical Bulletin of Haseki 2011; 49: 30-3

Eğitimli Gençlerin Benlik Saygısı ile Kadına Yönelik Şiddete Karşı Tutumları Arasındaki İlişki

Amaç: Bu araştırma, eğitimli gençlerin benlik saygısı ile kadına yönelik şiddete karşı tutumları arasındaki ilişkinin belirlenmesi amacıyla yapılmıştır. Yöntem: Tanımlayıcı olarak gerçekleştirilen araştırmanın örneklemini Hasan Kalyoncu Üniversitesi Meslek Yüksekokulu’nda öğrenim gören 437 öğrenci oluşturmuştur. Veriler 4-10 Mart 2019 tarihlerinde toplanmıştır. Verilerin toplanmasında Sosyo-Demografik Bilgi Formu, Rosenberg Benlik Saygısı Ölçeği Kısa Form (RBS-10) ve Kadına Yönelik Şiddet Tutum Ölçeği (İSKEBE) kullanılmıştır. Verilerin analizinde sayı, yüzdelik, ortalama, ki-kare, korelasyon analizi kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Araştırmaya katılanların %66,8’inin kadın, %87,2'sinin gelirinin giderine denk olduğu, %20,4’ünün adalet bölümünde öğrenim gördüğü, %71,4'ünün aile içi sorunlarda anne babasının birlikte karar verdiği, %18.1'inin babasının yalnız karar verdiği, %12,4’ünün bu güne kadar en az bir defa şiddete maruz kaldığı belirlenmiştir. Araştırmaya katılan kadınların %60,3’ü ve erkeklerin %44,1’i kadına yönelik şiddeti önlemede kanunların yeterli düzeyde mevcut olmadığını; kadınların %67,1’i ve erkeklerin %49,7’si şiddeti önleme yöntemlerinin yeterli olmadığını ifade etmişlerdir (p<0,0,05). Öğrencilerin şiddete ilişkin tutum ölçeği genel puan ortalamasına (122,60±22,3) göre şiddete karşı geleneksellikten uzak ve çağdaş bir görüşe eğilimli oldukları aynı zamanda benlik saygısı yüksek olan öğrencilerin şiddete karşı (r=0,118, p<0.05) bir tutum gösterdikleri belirlenmiştir. Sonuç: Benlik saygısı yüksek olan eğitimli gençlerin, kadına yönelik şiddete karşı oldukları saptanmıştır