Recurrent Staphylococcus warnerii prosthetic valve endocarditis: A case report and review

To our knowledge, there have been only six S. warneri endocarditis cases reported in the English-language literature (Medline: 1966 to April 2011). We report a case of recurrent S. warneri endocarditis in a patient with prosthetic valve and silicon mammoplasty and we also review the relevant literature

Comparison of CYFRA 21-1, CEA, CA 19-9 and CA 72-4 levels in gastric cancer

Objective: Gastric cancer is the fourth most common malignancy,and the second most common cause of cancermortality worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigatethe role of biomarkers CYFRA 21-1, CA 19-9, CEA,CA72.4 at diagnosis and throughout the follow-up in patientswith gastric cancer.Methods: 30 patients with gastric cancer diagnosed and31 healthy people as a control group were included in thisstudy. According to the TNM staging system, there were16 patients with stage II and 14 patients with stage III inthe group of patients with gastric cancer. CEA, CA 19-9,CA 72-4 and CYFRA 21-1 levels were studied by elektrochemiluminescenceimmunasay (ECLIA) method in theCobas e 601 instrument.Results: Statistically the level of CA 72-4, CA 19-9, CEAand CYFRA 21-1 gastric cancer groups was found significanthigh accaording to healthy control group (p<0.01).Statistically compared with II stage patient group, the levelof CA 19-9, CEA and CYFRA 21-1 of III stage patientgroup was found significant high (p<0.01). The diagnosticcut-off, sensitivity and specificity for CEA were 4.15 ng/mL, 46 % and 96%, respectively; for CA 19-9 were 24.50U/mL, 17 % and 96 %; for CA 72-4 were 2.46 U/mL, 53% and 96% and for CYFRA 21-1 were 3.36 ng/mL, 46%and 100%.Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that the associationof biomarkers CYFRA 21-1, CEA, and CA72.4 providesa valuable contribution in the follow-up of gastriccancer patients.Key words: Gastric cancer, tumor markers, CYFRA 21-

The effect of different final irrigation regimens on the dentinal tubule penetration of three different root canal sealers: A confocal laser scanning microscopy study in vitro

This study evaluated the effects of different final irrigation regimens on the dentin tubule penetration of three different root canal sealers using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). A total of 160 single-rooted extracted mandibular premolar teeth were divided into five groups (n=32 each) according to the solution used in the final rinse protocol, as follows: 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) (group 1), 17% EDTA and 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) (group 2), 7% maleic acid (MA) (group 3), 7% MA and 2% CHX (group 4), and 5.25% NaOCl (group 5). Two roots from each group were examined under scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to visualize smear layer removal. Experimental groups were then split randomly into three subgroups (n=10) and obturated using a cold lateral condensation technique with 0.1% rhodamine B-labelled sealers [either AH Plus (group A), EndoREZ (group E), or Tech BioSealer Endo (group T)] and gutta-percha. Specimens were sectioned and observed by CLSM to evaluate the percentage and maximum depth of sealer penetration at the apical, middle, and coronal levels. Statistical comparison was performed on grouped (apical, middle, and coronal segments) and ungrouped data using two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc test (p<0.01). AH Plus showed the greatest tubule penetration while Tech BioSealer Endo showed the least. Resin-based sealers displayed deeper and more consistent penetration. CHX irrigation positively influenced sealer tubule penetration

Standardization and performance evaluation of manual measurement method for paraoxonase activity

Objectives: We hypothesised that using the traditionallaboratory methods for preparing the kit with chemicalsmay represent sufficient analytic performance with commercialkits, because of the fresh reagents and cost effective.We aimed to apply the paraoxonase (PON1) studyprocedure to the autoanalyser and evaluate the analyticperformance of the study.Methods: Thirty five healthy individuals were includedin the study. A total of 100 mL serum pool was createdafter centrifugation of venous blood samples. To assessthe intra-assay variations of PON1 enzyme activities 20samples and for inter-assay variations 30 samples wereprepared from the serum pool and PON1 enzyme activitieswere studied. As well as, 30 samples were studied toevaluate the correlation between the commercial kit andthe manual prepared kit from chemicals.Results: In this study, the mean, standard deviation (SD),percent coefficient of variation (% CV) values of PON1enzyme activities for intra-assay (72.70 U / L, 0.43, 0.59)and inter-assay (74.24 U / L, 3.00, 4.04) were determined.The correlation coefficient between the manual methodand the commercial kit were r = 0.92 and r2 = 0.84.Conclusion: The results of manual kit were showed goodanalytical performance with commercial kit. Therefore,the serum pool which was partially standardized in thisstudy was portionized for using as an internal quality controlserum for future studies in our laboratory. However,the use of standardized control sera, is considered to bemore reliable in routine laboratories.Key words: Paraoxonase, standardization, internal qualitycontro

The Microorganisms Isolated from the Blood Cultures in an Intensive Care Unit

Bacteremia is one of the most frequently diagnosed hospital infections in Intensive Care Units (ICU). To determine agents causing bacteremia in our ICU, a total of 1090 hemocultures from 402 febrile episodes of 331 patients in one year were evaluated. Bacteremia was detected in 216 (53.7%) of the episodes of which 58 (26.8%) were found to be polymicrobial. The most frequent agents were; coagulase-negative staphylococci, Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas spp. Rate of methicilline resistance were 96.8% and 91.6% in the coagulase-negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus species respectively. The diversity of causative agents and their resistance patterns shows the difficulty of empirical antibiotic therapy in ICU and the necessity of an active screening and acceleration of precautions

Primary Influenza A Pneumonia: Report of Two Cases

Flu is a highly contagious, acute respiratory disease that may spread easily. Influenza viruses are the only agent of the flu. These viruses are known to cause pneumonia and mortality especially in immunocompromised patients. In this report, two influenza pneumonia cases were reported. The first case was a 22 years old women with systemic lupus erythematosus receiving immunosupressive treatment. The second case was a 76 years old women. In this paper we aimed to emphasize the importance of influenza viruses in community- acquired pneumonia especially in immunocompromised and/or elderly patient populations