Transcription and Translation Products of the Cytolysin Gene psm-mec on the Mobile Genetic Element SCCmec Regulate Staphylococcus aureus Virulence

The F region downstream of the mecI gene in the SCCmec element in hospital-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (HA-MRSA) contains two bidirectionally overlapping open reading frames (ORFs), the fudoh ORF and the psm-mec ORF. The psm-mec ORF encodes a cytolysin, phenol-soluble modulin (PSM)-mec. Transformation of the F region into the Newman strain, which is a methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) strain, or into the MW2 (USA400) and FRP3757 (USA300) strains, which are community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) strains that lack the F region, attenuated their virulence in a mouse systemic infection model. Introducing the F region to these strains suppressed colony-spreading activity and PSMα production, and promoted biofilm formation. By producing mutations into the psm-mec ORF, we revealed that (i) both the transcription and translation products of the psm-mec ORF suppressed colony-spreading activity and promoted biofilm formation; and (ii) the transcription product of the psm-mec ORF, but not its translation product, decreased PSMα production. These findings suggest that both the psm-mec transcript, acting as a regulatory RNA, and the PSM-mec protein encoded by the gene on the mobile genetic element SCCmec regulate the virulence of Staphylococcus aureus

The effect of peritoneal wrapping on colonic anastomosis healing in rats with impaired wound healing due to superior mesenteric artery occlusion

45th Congress of the European-Society-for-Surgical-Research -- JUN 09-12, 2010 -- Geneva, SWITZERLANDWOS: 000281136400435…European Soc Surg Re

An evaluation of civilian aviation accidents in Turkey from 1955 to 2004

PubMed: 16341970BACKGROUND: Documentation and analysis of aviation accidents is very important to improve aviation safety and post-accident survival. In this study we aimed to evaluate the civilian aviation accidents between 1955 and 2003 in Turkey to identify the risk factors for fatal and non-fatal injuries. METHODS: Records of Civilian Aviation Office of The Turkish Ministry of Transportation were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 562 aviation accidents occurred within the boundaries of Turkey in the 48-year study period. There was at least one casualty in 237 of these accidents. There were 27 major accidents with more than 5 casualties. There were more major accidents with survivors than without survivors. Major accidents occurred more frequently within the near vicinity of an airport. There are significantly more accidents with survivors in the accidents occurring near the airports. The mean number of accidents with more than 50 casualties is 0.167 (8/48) per year. CONCLUSION: Accidents occurring near the airports have a more chance of having survivors. Emergency disaster preparedness plans should be on hand and drills with no more than 50 injured should be regularly exercised in all airports

Case report: Intramesocolic malposition of the gallbladder

[No abstract available

Affinity of Staphylococcus epidermidis to various prosthetic graft materials

yerdel, mehmet ali/0000-0002-4044-076XWOS: 000169838100010PubMed: 11421606Background. Abdominal wall hernias have always been a major problem for general surgeons. The techniques of repairing primacy, recurrent, and incisional hernias have evolved throughout the years at an accelerating trend, especially after production of prosthetic graft materials. Although looked upon with suspicion due to infection, fistula formation, and foreign body reaction, prosthetic graft materials are used deliberately in primary and recurrent hernias. The present study was,designed to evaluate bacterial adherence to frequently used prosthetic graft materials. Materials and methods. The study was carried out in five different groups with each group consisting of 10 identical samples of the same kind of prosthetic graft material. The prosthetic graft materials used in the study were polypropylene, polyglactin 910, polyester fibers, steel, and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). These prosthetic graft materials were incubated in vitro with a Staphylococcus epidermidis strain which was ++++ adhesion positive. The degree of adhesion of S. epidermidis to prosthetic graft materials was assessed by the ELISA. method. Results. Vicryl grafts showed significantly minimal bacterial adhesion whereas PTFE grafts tended to have more adhesion but this did not reach a statistical significance. Other graft materials did not show any difference for bacterial adhesion (Table 3). Conclusion. These results suggest that in vitro S. epidermidis adhesion to Vicryl grafts is less than other types of prosthetic graft materials (P 2001 Academic press

The epidemiology of the railway related casualties

PubMed: 16850363BACKGROUND: Railway related accidents and incidents account for 150-200 deaths per 100 million passengers annually in Turkey. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological aspects of these casualties. METHODS: The data about railway related casualties between January 1997 and December 2003 were retrospectively analyzed in Turkey. RESULTS: Railway related accidents and incidents resulted in 213,3 deaths per year per 100 million passengers during the study period. Train-pedestrian accidents caused highest number of mortality and level crossing accidents caused highest numbers of casualty. Furthermore, suicide attempts had highest mortality ratio in railway related accidents. The majority of the fatalities and injuries occured in males for every type of incident and most of the injuries have taken place in the 25-60 age group. Summer time was the season with the highest number of fatalities and injuries. CONCLUSION: Measures should be taken to improve railway safety. These include prevention of direct exposure of pedestrians to the railway tracts and conditioning the level crossings

No association of the CAG repeat length in exon 1 of the androgen receptor gene with idiopathic infertility in Turkish men: implications and literature review.

While the correlation between the CAG repeat length of the androgen receptor (AR) gene and idiopathic male infertility is still unclear, ethnic background of the population studied may play an important role in this association. The objective of this study was to determine whether changes in the CAG repeat length are associated with spermatogenic defects in Turkish infertile men. Reproductive hormone concentrations and the CAG repeat length in exon 1 of the AR gene in 47 idiopathic infertile men and 32 fertile controls were analyzed. The mean serum luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were significantly higher in the infertile group than those of the control group (p or = 24) was also comparable between the infertile patients and fertile controls (31.9% vs 40.6%, respectively; p = 0.21). In conclusion, reproductive hormones with elevated LH and FSH, and normal or low testosterone levels were suggestive of partial impairment of testicular function. However, no statistically significant relationship between the length of the CAG repeat and idiopathic impaired sperm production was observed in the Turkish population studied. These results support the findings of previously published European studies, but are contrary to the findings from Caucasian and North American population studies. Thus, ethnicity and genetic backgrounds seem to be important in this association, and studies from a variety of different ethnic and genetic backgrounds using comparable patient subgroups are valuable to further evaluate this association

A rat model of polypropylene graft infection caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis

WOS: 000237738500023PubMed: 16768701Background: The aim of this study was to constitute a valid graft infection model with Staphylococcus epidermidis in rats. Method: Rats were divided into seven groups. In groups 1 and 2, 2 cm x 2 cm polypropylene grafts were incubated with 10(8) c.f.u./mL slime-positive S. epidermidis at 37 degrees C for 2 and 24 h and were then placed subfascially to the groins of rats. In the third group, naive grafts were placed and 0.5 mL of 3 x 10(7) c.f.u. slime-positive S. epidermidis were injected on the inside of the wounds. Rifampicin (30 mg/kg) in group 4 and teicoplanin (20 mg/kg) in group 5 were applied i.p. to rats with 2-h incubated grafts for prophylaxis. The same prophylactic regimens were given to groups 6 and 7 in which rats were incubated for 24 h. At eighth day, rats were killed and wounds were assessed with macroscopic evaluation and cultures. Results: No death occurred in any of the groups. In groups 1 and 2, 100% infection rates were achieved. However, graft infection was detected in only two (20%) of the rats in group 3 (P = 0.001). Prophylactic application of teicoplanin or rifampicin decreased the infection rates significantly in the short-incubation groups. Conclusion: Incubation of polypropylene grafts with slime-producing S. epidermidis for 2 and 24 h in the pre-application period achieved the occurrence of a standardized graft infection. Prophylactic use of teicoplanin and rifampicin decreased the infection rates. We propose to use this reproducible and reliable animal model of graft infection in future studies

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome: CT and ultrasonography findings

PubMed: 15957095Purpose: The purpose of the study was to describe-computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography findings in superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS). Materials and methods: The study was performed on 89 CT examinations. Ultrasonography was performed on 32 and barium study was performed an four of these subjects. Group A consisted of cases with one or more of the following complaints: postprandial epigastric pain, weight loss and vomiting. Group B consisted of the remaining cases. Cases who had all of the above-mentioned clinical findings and duodenal dilatation, to-and-fro barium movement and SMA indentation in barium study were diagnosed as having SMAS. Body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) was calculated. The distance between SMA and aorta, at the location where the duodenum passes from, was measured on CT and ultrasonography. The angle between SMA and aorta was measured on ultrasonography images. Group and gender differences were analyzed with t-test, the relationship between clinical and CT findings was analyzed with Mann Whitney U test and the relations between BMI-CT and CT-ultrasonography measurements were analyzed with Pearson coefficients. Results: Of 13 cases in Group A, 3 were diagnosed as SMAS. Eight of the cases showed gastric and/or duodenal dilatation. In 6 cases, antrum had an abnormally high location at portal hilus. In Group A, the SMA-aorta distance was 6.6 ± 1.5 mm and the SMA-aorta angle was 18.7 ± 10.7°. In Group B, these values were 16.0 ± 5.6 mm and 50.9 ± 25.4°, respectively (p<0.001). Cut-off values between SMAS and Group B were 8 mm (100% sensitivity and specificity), and 22° (42.8% sensitivity, 100% specificity). CT and ultrasonography measurements (p<0.001) and SMA-aorta distance and BMI (p=0.004) were significantly correlated. The SMA-aorta distance was significantly shorter in females (p=0.036). Conclusion: Gastric and/or duodenal dilatation and a diminished SMA-aorta distance have a significant correlation with clinical symptoms of SMAS that include postprandial pain, vomiting and weight loss. © Turkish Society of Radiology 2005