Successful Treatment of Herpes Esophagitis With Ganciclovir in a Liver Transplant Patient

The presence of Herpes Simplex Virüs-1 (HSV-1) esophagitis in patients with liver transplantation has been reported rarely. Among the reports that are accessible in the literature, none could have shown tissue positivity for Herpes virus-1 DNA via Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in patients with liver transplantation. This case is presented as the patient was diagnosed with herpes esophagitis based on the histopathological findings and HSV-1 DNA positivity (detected by PCR) in the biopsy material and was treated with Ganciclovir. Due to the specific action of Ganciclovir against CMV infections, it is natural that the drug cannot use in the treatment of HSV infections. However it is reported that ganciclovir has been reduced the incidence of symptomatic HSV infections after liver transplantation. We report on a patient after liver transplantation with HSV-1 esophagitis, who was successfully treated with Ganciclovir. We assume that most transplant centers according to their protocols use ganciclovir for CMV prophylaxis, which may contribute to avoid HSV infection

The seroprevalence of diphtheria among adults in Izmir-Turkey.

A serological survey to determine the immunity to diphtheria in the adult population in Izmir-Turkey was conducted according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization. A total of 339 blood samples were collected from subjects aged between 20 and 81, and diphtheria antitoxin levels were measured by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method. Titers below 0.1 IU/ml were considered to show insufficient immunity. Of the studied population, 56.3% had showed insufficient immunity against diphtheria. Diphtheria protection rates showed a gradual age-related decrease. The lowest immunity rate was observed in 40-49-year age group (30.6%) (p 0.05). These results emphasize the need for booster immunization of adults. The present vaccination policy should include re-vaccinations of the adult population every 10 years in order to provide a complete protection of the population. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Utility of Serum and Urine uPAR Levels for Diagnosis of Breast Cancer

Malignant tumors have a capacity to degrade the extracellular matrix by controlled proteolysis. One system involved in these processes is the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) system. uPAR levels are elevated in tumors from several types of cancer. Our study was planned to investigate serum and urine levels of uPAR in breast cancer patients (n=180) and healthy controls (n=60) by ELISA. Serum (p<0.001) and urine (p<0.001) uPAR values in the patients were both significantly elevated. High serum and urine levels of uPAR can be used as diagnostic tools in lymph node positive patients

Utility of Serum and Urine uPAR Levels for Diagnosis of Breast Cancer

Malignant tumors have a capacity to degrade the extracellular matrix by controlled proteolysis. One system involved in these processes is the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) system. uPAR levels are elevated in tumors from several types of cancer. Our study was planned to investigate serum and urine levels of uPAR in breast cancer patients (n=180) and healthy controls (n=60) by ELISA. Serum (p<0.001) and urine (p<0.001) uPAR values in the patients were both significantly elevated. High serum and urine levels of uPAR can be used as diagnostic tools in lymph node positive patients

Heteroresistant vancomycin intermediate S. aureus (h-VISA) isolated from a patient with orthopedic implant infection treated with glycopeptides: A case report

© 2017 OMU.A 37-year old male patient who had and orthopedic implant after a traffic accident, presented to the Infectious Diseases Clinic. He was accepted as culture negative surgical site infection. Initial empirical treatment was started with clindamycin and then it was changed to the glycopeptides. During the follow-up, implant was removed. Intraoperative culture specimens revealed Methicilline Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). After antibiotic therapy, total hip prosthesis was implanted and was removed for two times. Wound discharge was continued despite restarted the antibiotic treatment and growth of heteroresistant-Vancomycin intermediate S. aureus was detected in the aspiration culture. All isolates shared the same clonal properties by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The strain was negative for Panton-Valentine-Leucosidine and were shown to carry carried a Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec type–III variant common. After a follow-up lasting eight years, the patient chose to continue his life without prostheses (Girdlestone method). This case was reported for emphasizing how difficult to manage medical treatment of prosthesis infections with developing resistant bacteria and the how important the surgical treatment was

Serum levels of angiogenic factors in early breast cancer remain close to normal

The study which we performed was to determine serum concentrations of angiogenic factors including VEGF, angiogenin and TGF-beta 1 in early stage breast cancer patients. These parameters were measured by ELISA in sera of 90 patients with breast cancer and 75 healthy controls. The mean serum VEGF concentration in patients compared to controls was not significantly different (0.33 ng/mL vs 0.43 ng/mL, respectively; p = 0.156). Likewise, the insignificant change in mean values in patients vs controls was also observed for serum TGF-beta 1 (0.19 ng/mL vs 0.19 ng/mL, respectively; p = 0.215) and serum angiogenin (243.24 ng/mL vs 244.5 ng/mL, respectively; p = 0.976). Statistically significant correlation was found only between the tests, Such as VEGF and angiogenin in patients who were included in the study (p < 0.001). In conclusion, we couldn't find any diagnostic value between the early stage breast cancer and the three angiogenic parameters. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

The diagnostic value of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in gastric cancer

The present study was conducted to investigate the sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and accuracy of serum MIF, CEA, CA 19-9 levels and their various combinations in patients with gastric cancer. Study group consists of pathologically verified, gastric cancer (n=63) and apparently healthy controls (n=50). Serum MIF concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum values of patients were significantly higher than the controls (p=0.011). Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, predictive values and accuracies were calculated for each marker and their various combinations. The best results were achieved with the marker combination of MIF-CEA-CA 19-9 and MIF-CEA combination. In our opinion, the combination of the markers MIF-CEA is a valuable diagnostic tool for gastric cancer

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor in cancer

The objective of this study was to investigate the expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in patients with colorectal cancer (GIS) and malignant melanoma (MM). The study group consists of pathologically verified colorectal cancer (n = 63) and malignant melanoma (n = 65) pateints and healthy controls (n = 25). Serum MIF concentrations were determined by enyzme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum values of the patients were significantly higher than the controls (p < 0.001 for GIS, p = 0.032 for MM). Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were calculated for MIF for colorectal and malignant melanoma. The results demonstrate that colorectal cancer express and secrete large amounts of MIF