Angiosarcoma of the liver with metastasis to the cervical spine cured with the treatment of thalidomide and radiotherapy

PubMed: 21997379[No abstract available

Benzoic acid formation and its relationship with microbial properties in traditional Turkish cheese varieties

2-s2.0-85104049551Benzoic acid, the simplest member of the aromatic carboxylic acid family, is a weak acid that is a precursor to the synthesis of many important organic compounds. In addition to being used to prevent microbial spoilage in foods, it can also form due to different factors in foods. Hippuric acid found in the natural content of milk can be converted into benzoic acid naturally and can be found in different levels in dairy products. The present study aimed to determine the naturally-forming benzoic acid values in fresh and ripened traditional type cheese varieties and to determine the effect of some physicochemical and microbiological changes of cheeses on the amount of benzoic acid. In this research, benzoic acid levels of six different cheese types (White pickled cheese (traditional-industrial), Tulum cheese (canned or goat skin-packed), and Kashar cheese (fresh and ripened)) were determined. As a result of the analysis performed by HPLC, the amount of benzoic acid in cheese samples varied between 5.95 and 55.72 mg/kg, and it was determined that the microbiota of cheese significantly affected the formation of benzoic acid (p < 0.05). Especially, a lower benzoic acid level was observed in fresh Kashar and industrial White pickled cheeses with short shelf life, whereas a higher shelf-life was observed in cheese types such as ripened traditional White pickled and skin-packed Tulum cheese (p < 0.05). Although there is a difference according to the cheese types, especially between hippuric acid content and changes in pH, and Lactococcus and Enterococcus, a correlation was found between benzoic acid content and yeast-molds changes. © 2021 Elsevier LtdTarimsal Araştirmalar ve Politikalar Genel Müdürlüğü, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Tarim Ve Orman Bakanliği: TAGEM/HSGYAD/14/A05/P01/57Researchers would like to thank contributed to the support of the project, Republic of Turkey Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (Project number: TAGEM/HSGYAD/14/A05/P01/57)

Fatal necrotizing pneumonia caused by group A streptococcus

Group A streptococcus (GAS) causes invasive, non-invasive and non-suppurative diseases. Pneumonia is one of the invasive infections caused by GAS. Although GAS is a significant and serious cause of childhood pneumonia, it is often overlooked clinically. Similarly, the recent literature is surprisingly scant on reports of GAS pneumonia and concentrates mainly on varicella-associated invasive GAS diseases. In this case report, we present a previously healthy 7-year-old child with community-acquired pneumonia that progressed rapidly and resulted in sepsis, respiratory failure and death. In both blood and pleural fluid cultures, Streptococcus pyogenes were isolated. On autopsy, macroscopic examination revealed that the lung tissue appeared to have lost its normal architecture. Necrosis was present and the lung had a spongy appearance with some solid areas. The light microscopy revealed massive oedema, haemorrhages, intense inflammatory cell infiltration and necrosis. This case report highlights the need for consideration of invasive GAS infection in the event of severe, rapidly progressing pneumonia in children

Zellweger syndrome with unusual findings: non-immune hydrops fetalis, dermal erythropoiesis and hypoplastic toe nails

The peroxisomal biogenesis disorders (PBDs) comprise the Zellweger spectrum disorders (i.e., Zellweger syndrome, neonatal adrenoleukodystrophy, and infantile Refsum disease) and rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata. Peroxisomal biogenesis disorders can be caused by mutations in any of 13 currently known PEX genes, which encode peroxins involved in peroxisomal protein import and/or assembly of the organelle. We report here on a Turkish patient who presented with unusual clinical findings, that included non-immune hydrops, dermal erythropoiesis and hypoplastic toenails, as well as common dysmorphic features of Zellweger syndrome. The patient has also pulmonary hypoplasia, which has been reported in only a few patients with Zellweger syndrome. A peroxisomal biogenesis disorder was confirmed by enzyme analysis and abnormal very long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA) profiles in plasma and fibroblast and immunofluorescence microscopy studies. Subsequent molecular genetic analysis revealed a homozygous c.856C>T mutation (R268X) in the PEX3 gene, which made this patient the third to have a defect in this gene. In contrast to those of the two previously reported patients, the cells of this patient still contained peroxisomal membrane structures (ghosts), seen by immunofluorescence microscopy analysis. The case presented here and the two previously reported cases point out that a PEX3 gene defect may present with fairly heterogeneous clinical findings. This case also raises a possibility that hydrops fetalis may be associated with a PEX3 gene defect and that peroxisomal disorders can be considered in the etiology of hydrops fetalis as well as other cell organelle disorders when one is considering yet undiscovered complementation groups in peroxisomal disorder

Activated protein C resistance in Turkish women with severe preeclampsia

The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence rate of APC resistance (APC-R) with severe preeclampsia in Turkish women. Thirty-two consecutive women having severe preeclampsia were included in the study. Thirty-two healthy pregnant women served as the control group. APC-R assays were performed in the third trimester of pregnancy, and 3 and 9 months after delivery. APC-R was demonstrated in the third trimester, 3 months and 9 months after delivery in 27 (84.4%), 23 (71.9%) and 5 (15.6%) of 32 preeclamptic patients, respectively. APC-R rates were significantly higher in preeclamptic group than in normal pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy (p < 0.05). Decreased mean APC activity and also increased APC-R rate was still persisting in preeclamptic group for 3 months after delivery. Nine months after delivery, the mean APC activity and also APC-R rates approached to the normal pregnant women; however, there was a significant difference between both groups (p < 0.05). Our results indicate that acquired APC-R may be a contributory factor in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Copyright (C) 2001 S, Karger AG, Basel