Sensitivity of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) cultivars from Turkey to bacterial speck (Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato)

The susceptibility of 93 different tomato cultivars that are commonly grown in greenhouses and field in the western Mediterranean region of Turkey have been assessed for resistance to bacterial speck disease caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato strains. The disease severity indexes (DSI) varied between zero and four for the tomato cultivars. Seven tomato cultivars showed hypersensitive reactions against strains of P. syringae pv. tomato carrying the avrpto1 gene. Six of these seven tomato cultivars had the PTO gene coding for resistance against bacterial speck. The PTO sequences from the tomato cultivars Atalay, Party, Petrus, Piccadilly, Prenses and Tyty had similarity of 94, 93, 94, 92, 95 and 94%, respectively, with the PTO sequence of Lycopersicon esculentum VFNT Cherry (AF220603), and had similarity of 98, 98, 96, 95, 100 and 98%, respectively, with the PTO sequence of Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium Rio Grande 76R (AF220602). These findings indicate a considerable variation in bacterial speck resistance and will aid in the choice of parental lines for breeding new tomato cultivars with resistance to bacterial speck.Keywords: avrpto, Mediterranean region, polymerase chain reaction, PTOAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(15), pp. 1793-180

Antimicrobial consumption at a university hospital in Turkey

Excessive antibiotic use is a challenging topic because of the total annual expenditure and the high resistance against antimicrobials in Turkey. A point-prevalence study was performed to evaluate the daily antibiotic consumption and the cost. Data were collected by infectious diseases consultants on 30 January, 2009 and 28 January 2010. Anatomical therapeutic chemical classification and the defined daily dose (DDD) methodology were used to calculate antibiotic consumption. On a specific day in 2009, 191 of 418 patients (45.6%) received antibiotics and on the specific day in 2010, 167 of 316 patients (52.8%) received antibiotics as well. With respect to the years antimicrobials were given empirically (41.9 and 38.3%, respectively). The percentage of antibiotics used appropriately was 70.2 and 71.3%, in 2009 and 2010 respectively. The mean total antibiotic consumption was 64.5 DDD/100 bed-days in 2009 and 70.46 DDD/100 bed-days in 2010. The most frequently used substance class was cephalosporins (16.75 and 24.14 DDD/100 bed-days, respectively). The cost of all used antibacterials during the study period in 2009 was 5,713.7 (sic) for all patients (29.9 (sic) per infected patient). In the study period of 2010, the total cost was 4,240.13 (sic) (25.39 (sic) per infected patient). The cost of all used antimycotics for the combined study periods of 2009 and 2010 was 623.74 and 920.62 (sic), respectively. Hospitals should follow and evaluate their antibiotics use as DDDs so they could compare their antibiotics use with hospitals from other countries

Plasma Apelin Levels and Thiol/Disulfide Balance in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

The main objective of this research is to investigate the relationship between the plasma apelin concentrations, oxidative stress biomarkers (dynamic thiol/disulfide balance), and albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: The study was carried out with 87 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 24 age- and sex-matched healthy control group. Serum apelin concentrations were studied using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Colorimetric method was used to determine native and total thiol levels. Concentrations of spot urine albumin and creatinine were measured to calculate the albumin creatinine ratio (mg/g). Results: Serum apelin concentrations were significantly lower in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus compared to the control group (P < .001). Native and total thiol ratios were also significantly lower in diabetic patients compared to healthy patients (P < .001). The calculated disulfide levels of the patients and control groups were similar (P = .182). A negative and significant correlation was detected between serum apelin concentrations, and glucose and hemoglobin A1c levels in diabetic patients (r = −0.272, P = .004, r = −0.280, P = .003, respectively). A negative and significant correlation was also observed between native and total thiol levels and albumin (r = −0.338, P = .001, r = −0.328, P = .001, respectively). Conclusion: We found significantly lowered serum apelin concentrations and native and total thiol levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. An association was also observed between serum apelin concentrations and glycemic control. The role of apelin and thiol/disulfide balance in diabetic kidney disease requires more detailed studies

Evaluation of febrile neutropenic attacks in a tertiary care medical center in Turkey.

Infectious complications in febrile neutropenic patients are still major causes of morbidity and mortality despite significant advances in diagnostic techniques and antimicrobial therapy. In this study, we describe the characteristics of patients with hematological malignancies who were evaluated for suspected infection. This study was also conducted to assess the isolation rate of bacterial and fungal causative agents in febrile neutropenic attacks. The study was conducted at Pamukkale University Hospital, Turkey. In order to identify the characteristics of patients with hematological malignancies in the presence/suspicion of any accompanying infectious disease, patients' charts with hematological malignancies were reviewed for signs/symptoms of any infection between October 1, 2001, and May 31, 2005, retrospectively. Overall, 90 infectious episodes occurred in 59 patients. The most common underlying diseases were acute myelogenous leukemia (61.0%) and acute lymphocytic leukemia (15.3%). The absolute neutrophil count was lower than 100/mm(3) in 33 (36.7%) episodes. Microbiologically and clinically documented infections and fever of unknown origin were observed in 35.6%, 28.9%, and 35.6% of the participants, respectively. Bloodstream infections and pneumonia were detected in 21.1% and 18.9% of episodes, respectively. Gram negative organisms were most common (58.4%), followed by gram positive cocci. A combination of third generation cephalosporin and an aminoglycoside were used in 44.4% of episodes initially. Fever resolved in 24.4% of episodes using the initial therapy. The mortality rate was 15.6%. These results showed that infections with gram-negative bacteria continue to predominate in febrile neutopenic episodes in our center

Successful treatment of multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii meningitis.

Acinetobacter baumannii is a major cause of nosocomial infections in many hospitals and appears to have a propensity for developing multiple antimicrobial resistance rapidly. We report two cases with post-surgical meningitis due to multidrug resistant A. baumannii which were successfully treated with high-dose intravenous meropenem therapy. Multidrug resistant Acinetobacter spp. in intensive care units are a growing concern. High-dose meropenem is used in the treatment of these infections

Brucella Endocarditis Caused By Brucella Melitensis

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease endemically seen in Turkey, which occurs with various clinical findings. It can lead to complications affecting many systems. Endocarditis is an infrequent, but serious complication of brucellosis.The aim of this case presentation is to remind that endocarditis can be a complication of brucellosis and if is undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, progresses fatal in a high rate

Effects of vitamin A and E on arginase activity, ornithine and urea levels in brain tissues of rats on long-term alcohol administration

Amaç: Sıçanlarda uzun süreli alkol kullanımının beyin arjinaz enzim aktivitesi ve ornitin üzerine etkisi ile C ve E vitaminlerinin bu parametreler üzerindeki etkisi araştırıldı. Çalışma Planı: Çalışmada 4-6 aylık, 75 erkek Wistar Albino cinsi sıçan kullanıldı. On beşerlik gruplar halinde beş çalışma grubu oluşturuldu. Birinci gruba alkole eşit kaloride glukoz oral yoldan verilirken, 2. gruba alkol, 3. gruba alkole ek olarak C vitamini, 4. gruba alkole ek olarak E vitamini, 5. gruba alkole ek olarak C ve E vitaminleri 20 hafta süreyle verildi. Yirminci hafta sonunda sıçanlar sakrifiye edildi. Beyin dokusu örneklerinde arjinaz enzim aktivitesi, ornitin ve üre düzeyleri ölçüldü. Bulgular: Beyin dokusu arjinaz aktivitesi, ornitin ve üre düzeyleri tedavi alan gruplarda alkol grubuna oranla anlamlı olarak yüksek bulundu. Sonuç: Kronik alkol kullanımında arttığı bilinen nitrik oksit sentazın (NOS), L-arjinin havuzunun tükenmesine yol açarak arjinaz enzim aktivitesinde azalmaya neden olabileceği, antioksidan vitaminler olarak C ve E vitaminlerinin kullanımının, oksidatif stresi azaltıp arjinaz/NOS yolağını arjinaz lehine çevirebileceği ve olumsuz etkileri bilinen nitrik oksit üretiminin azalmasının söz konusu olabileceği düşünülmektedir. Aynı anda üretimi artan poliaminler bu olumlu etkiyi daha da artırabilecektir. Dolayısı ile kronik alkol kullanımının zararlı etkilerini azaltmada C ve E vitaminlerinden yararlanılabilir.Objectives: The effect of long-term alcohol administration on brain arginase enzyme activity, ornithine and urea levels and the changes induced by administration of vitamins C and E were investigated. Study Design: Seventy-five male Wistar Albino rats between 4-6 months of age were used. Five study groups, each consisting of 15 rats were formed. The first group received oral glucose with a calorie value equivalent to alcohol. The second group received alcohol, the third, fourth and fifth groups received vitamins C, E and C+E, respectively, in addition to alcohol, for 20 weeks. All animals were sacrificed by the end of 20 weeks and arginase activity, ornithine and urea levels were measured in brain tissue samples. Results: In the treatment groups, arginase activities, ornithine and urea levels were significantly higher than the alcohol group (group 2). Conclusion: These results suggest that the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzyme which isshown to have increased in chronic alcohol intake, may cause a decrease in arginase enzyme activity via depleting the L-arginine pool. Antioxidant replacement therapy may increase the arginase enzyme activity and therefore lead to a decrease in nitric oxide production which has been shown to have some negative effects. On the other hand, simultaneously increased polyamine production may potentiate the beneficial effects of these vitamins.Thus, vitamins C and E may prove to be effective in reducing the deleterious effects of chronic alcohol consumption

Diagnostic value of combined serum biomarkers for the evaluation of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C infection: A multicenter, noninterventional, observational study

Background/Aims: The hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is important cause of chronic hepatitis. Liver biopsy is considered the gold standard for assessment of fibrosis but this procedure is an invasive procedure. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of non-invasive serum biomarkers, separately and in combinations, on liver fibrosis in treatment-naive chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and sixteen treatment-naive CHC patients were enrolled from 32 locations across Turkey in this open-labelled, non-interventional prospective observational study. FibroTest®, aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index(APRI), aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase ratio (AAR), fibrosis index based on four factors (FIB-4), Age-platelet(AP) index and Forns index were measured and compared with Metavir scores got from liver biopsies. Results: Data from 182 patients with baseline liver biopsy were suitable for analysis. One hundred and twenty patients (65.9%) had F0-F1 fibrosis and 62 patients (34.1%) had F2-F4 fibrosis. APRI 0.732 area under the curve(AUC) indicated advanced fibrosis with 69% sensitivity and 77% specificity. FIB-4 0.732 AUC and FibroTest 0.715 AUC indicated advanced fibrosis with 69% and 78.4% sensitivity, and 75% and 71.4% specificity, respectively. The combined use of tests also led to an increase in AUC and specificity. Combinations of FibroTest with APRI and/or FIB-4, and FIB-4 with APRI were optimal for the evaluation of liver fibrosis. Conclusion: Fibrotest, FIB-4, APRI, AP index and Forns index exhibit good diagnostic performance for determining liver fibrosis in CHC patients, and the use of at least two tests together will increase their diagnostic value still further. © Copyright 2018 by The Turkish Society of Gastroenterology

International nosocomial infection control consortium (INICC) report, data summary of 36 countries, for 2004-2009

The results of a surveillance study conducted by the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) from January 2004 through December 2009 in 422 intensive care units (ICUs) of 36 countries in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe are reported. During the 6-year study period, using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN; formerly the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance system [NNIS]) definitions for device-associated health care-associated infections, we gathered prospective data from 313,008 patients hospitalized in the consortium's ICUs for an aggregate of 2,194,897 ICU bed-days. Despite the fact that the use of devices in the developing countries' ICUs was remarkably similar to that reported in US ICUs in the CDC's NHSN, rates of device-associated nosocomial infection were significantly higher in the ICUs of the INICC hospitals; the pooled rate of central line-associated bloodstream infection in the INICC ICUs of 6.8 per 1,000 central line-days was more than 3-fold higher than the 2.0 per 1,000 central line-days reported in comparable US ICUs. The overall rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia also was far higher (15.8 vs 3.3 per 1,000 ventilator-days), as was the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (6.3 vs. 3.3 per 1,000 catheter-days). Notably, the frequencies of resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates to imipenem (47.2% vs 23.0%), Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates to ceftazidime (76.3% vs 27.1%), Escherichia coli isolates to ceftazidime (66.7% vs 8.1%), Staphylococcus aureus isolates to methicillin (84.4% vs 56.8%), were also higher in the consortium's ICUs, and the crude unadjusted excess mortalities of device-related infections ranged from 7.3% (for catheter-associated urinary tract infection) to 15.2% (for ventilator-associated pneumonia). Copyright © 2012 by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Artificial Intelligence Algorithms Inspired By Life Sciences

Nature and life include many mysterious events, behaviors and format within themselves. There is harmony between the environmental conditions, behavior and forms of all living organism. Computer science, especially data and information science, is based on the structure or behavior of living things in the creation of many artificial intelligence algorithms by examining this attitude of life. The rapid progress of the developing artificial intelligence and information technology has increased the data and hidden data in our lives many times and has tried to solve (1). Artificial intelligence has examined many areas or environments and has developed approaches based on it. Expert systems, artificial neural networks, genetic algorithms, inductive learning, explanation based learning, similarity based learning, common sense information processing, database based reasoning, model based reasoning, rational protection mechanism, distributed artificial intelligence, natural language processing, chaos theory, logic programming are the artificial intelligence algorithms used for these approaches (2). Among artificial intelligence algorithms; The ant colony algorithm imitates the behavior and direction of ants, and artificial neural networks imitates the behavior and functions of neurons in the nervous system and genetic algorithms imitates the theoretical form of genetic science (3, 4). Many algorithms such as these algorithms are based on the vital form and behavior of living things. The purpose of this review is the relations between the mentioned algorithms and the living science are examined