Central region morphometry in a child brain; Age and gender differences

Background: Data on central region morphometry of a child brain is  important not only in terms of providing us with information about central region anatomy of the brain but also in terms of the help of this  information for the plans to be applied in neurosurgery.Objective: In the present study, central region morphometry of a child  brain in mid.sagittal MR images was analyzed in age and gender groups.Materials and Methods: Different points determined previously,  commissura posterior (PC) and the distances between cerebral cortex point (VCS) vertical to commissura anterior. commissura posterior line, sulcus centralis (CS), sulcus marginalis (MS), and the angle (α) between   CS-PC-MS were determined and measured together with difference of gender in three different age groups (aged 6.9, 10.13, and 14.17).Results: Central region measures of the brains of boys aged 6.17 are  higher than girls except for MS.PC distance. While VCS.PC, CS.PC, and MS-PC measures display a significant difference in the girls aged 14.17  when compared to the other age groups of 6.9 and 10.13 (P < 0.05), angle α is not significantly different in age and gender groups (P > 0.05). However, while VCS-PC, CS-PC and MS-PC distances show a significant  increase in girls beginning from the age of 14, this increase is limited in boys.Conclusion: Morphometric differences observed in different age groups in boys and girls shall contribute our evaluation of the alterations in brain development in both of genders and shall be useful in preparation of  surgical operation plans to be applied to the central region.Key words: Brain, central region, child, morphometry, magnetic resonance Imagin

Nosocomial bloodstream infections with Burkholderia stabilis

Burkholderia stabilis was grown from blood cultures of seven patients presenting with signs and symptoms of septicaemia in the intensive care unit at Mersin University Hospital, Mersin, Turkey between July and October 2002. Four patients had one B. stabilis-positive blood culture, two patients had two, and one patient had four. Isolates from six of seven patients had the same resistotype and random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis type. Despite treatment with ciprofloxacin and imipenem, to which the strains were susceptible, all patients died one to eight days after isolation of B. stabilis from their blood. B. stabilis should be regarded as an opportunistic pathogen that may cause nosocomial bloodstream infections. (C) 2004 The Hospital Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

An outbreak of Dipodascus capitatus infection in the ICU: Three case reports and review of the literature

A mini epidemic of Dipodascus capitatus (teleomorph of Geotrichum capitation) involving three cases is reported. The index case was pulmonary infection and a fulminant course of fungal infection, which resulted in the patient's death with acute myelocytic leukemia. In the other cases, the patients were simultaneously hospitalized, the first in the intensive care unit. In all cases, D. capitatus was identified in different samples (sputum, deep tracheal aspiration, blood, and urine) from each of the patients. Growing evidence indicates that D. capitatus should be added to the lengthening list of opportunistic fungal pathogens that can cause infection in people of all ages and particularly in those who are immunocompromised. Further, the danger of cross-contamination and potential "outbreak" should be kept in mind during hospital management

Investigation of the presence of cryptosporidium spp. in different water sources in mersin province, Turkey [Mersin ilinde Farkli Su Kaynaklarinda Cryptosporidium spp. Varliginin araştirilmasi]

PubMed ID: 22399176Cryptosporidium is an intracellular protozoon that causes enteritis in human and animals. Contaminated water and food are the major sources for the transmission of oocysts via oral-fecal route. It is reported that the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis is higher in developing countries than developed countries because of inefficient sanitation and disinfection facilities for drinking water. The most frequently detected species is Cryptosporidium parvum leading to high morbidity in healthy subjects and also fatal infections in immunocompromised patients. The acid-fast staining method is widely used in the diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis. Nowadays, Cryptosporidium could easily be detected in water supplies and asymptomatic carriers by molecular techniques to obtain epidemiological data. In this study it was aimed to detect and identify Cryptosporidium oocysts in different water sources in Mersin province, Turkey. A total of 135 water samples (70 taps, 50 wells and 15 sewage) collected from city center (n= 25) and from Tarsus (n= 32), Mezitli (n= 33) and Karaduvar (n= 45) counties between March 2007 and May 2009 were included in the study. Water samples in 10 liter volumes, were filtered by 0.45 urn pore-sized membrane filter vacuum/ pressure pumping technique. Cryptosporidium oocysts in filtrates were detected by modified cold Kinyoun acid-fast stain (MCK) technique and also identified and typed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. MCK yielded three and PCR yielded seven positive results. All the strains were identified as C.parvum by PCR-RFLP method. All of the three MCK-positive samples were also found positive with PCR, however four PCR positive samples were MCK-negative. Thus, the prevalence of Cparvum was estimated as 5.2% (7/135) in our region. Of seven positive samples, one was a sewage water sample collected from the city center, while the remaining (two tap water, two well water and two sewage water samples) belonged to the samples collected from Karaduvar county, interestingly. It was thought that deficient infrastructure and use of well water as drinking water supply in Karaduvar region might be the cause of high rate of Cryptosporidium (6/45; 13.3%). Further studies which will determine the genotypes and investigate the phylogenetic relationship between these Cryptosporidium spp., might aid to the epidemiology of cryptosporidiosis in our region

The influence of donor and recipient gender incompatibility on corneal transplant rejection and failure

In vascularized organ transplants, gender mismatches have higher rates of immunological rejection. We investigated the influence of gender incompatibility, including H-Y incompatibility, on corneal transplant graft rejection and failure. Patients were included who had undergone a first corneal transplant for keratoconus (KC), Fuchs endothelial dystrophy (FED), pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK), infection and other indications. A Cox regression model was fitted for each indication to determine factors affecting graft failure and rejection at 5 years. The impact of gender, including H-Y, matching was analyzed after accounting for other factors, including known risk factors. Of 18 171 patients, 4314 had undergone a transplant for FED, 4783 for KC, 3669 for PBK, 1903 for infection and 3502 for other disorders. H-Y mismatched (male [M]→female [F]) corneas were at greater risk of graft failure or rejection. For FED, F→F were 40% less likely to fail (p < 0.0001) and 30% less likely to reject (p = 0.01); M→M were 20% less likely to fail (p = 0.04) and 30% less likely to reject (p = 0.01). For KC, M→M matched corneas were 30% less likely to fail (p = 0.05) and 20% less likely to reject (p = 0.01) compared with H-Y mismatches. H-Y antigen mismatched (M→F) patients were at greater risk of rejection or graft failure

Molecular Identification, Genotyping, And Drug Susceptibility Of The Basidiomycetous Yeast Pathogen Trichosporon Isolated From Turkish Patients

Deep-seated infections due to Trichosporon species are emerging mycoses that have a very poor prognosis in patients with persistent neutropenia. This study elucidated the mycological characteristics of Trichosporon strains obtained from deep-seated infections in Turkish patients and identified by DNA sequence analysis of intergenic spacer (IGS) region 1 of the rDNA locus. In addition, we genotyped the major causative agent, T asahii, and evaluated the in vitro drug susceptibility of the isolates. While 87 (81.3%) of the 107 isolates were T asahii, the remaining 20 were T. faecale (14.0%), T asteroids (0.9%), T. coremiiforme (0.9%), T japonicum, (0.9%), T. lactis (0.9%), and a new species (0.9%). In addition to the eight known T. asahii genotypes, one novel genotype was identified. The distribution of the T. asahii genotypes in this study were genotype 1 (79.3%), followed by 5 (8.0%), 3 (6.9%), 6 (3.4%), 4 (1.1%), and 9 (1.1%). Turkish isolates showed low susceptibility to amphotericin 13, 5-flucytosine, and fluconazole. Although relatively low minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were found with all drugs, voriconazole appeared to be the most active. The MICs of the non-Trichosporon asahiiTrichosporon species were similar to those of the T. asahii strains. Our findings suggest that Trichosporon species isolated from Turkish patients are more diverse than those reported from other countries.WoSScopu