Spontaneous Gastrosplenic Fistula in Primary Gastric Lymphoma: Surgical Management

Gastrosplenic fistula formation resulting from primary gastric malignancy is rare and should be managed as a matter of emergency. We report a patient who was diagnosed with primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and who underwent surgical treatment for gastrosplenic fistula

Seroprevalence of enzootic bovine leukosis in Trakya district (Marmara region) in Turkey

In this study, 481 cattle belonging to 77 farms from nine localities in Trakya district in the Marmara region of Turkey were blood sampled and serologically tested for enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL). Antibodies to bovine leukosis virus (BLV) were detected in 51 cattle sera (11%) belonging to nine farms in five localities. Cattle tested were mostly female Holstein or Brown Swiss of ages ranging between 18 months and 10 years. Analysis of the relationships between age, breed or sex and seropositivity to EEL in seropositive herds indicated no significant associations (p>0.05). The relationship between seropositivity and haematological changes was also studied, and seropositive cattle had higher lymphocyte percentage and lower neutrophil percentage than seronegative cattle (p<0.001), (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

Genotypes of hepatitis a virus in Turkey: first report and clinical profile of children infected with sub-genotypes IA and IIIA

Background: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a food and water-borne virus causing clinical (mainly hepatitis) and subclinical disease in humans. It is important to characterize circulating strains of HAV in order to prevent HAV infections using efficacious vaccines. The aim of this study was the detection and characterization of the circulating strains of HAV in Turkey by performing serology, RT-PCR, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis

Genotypes of hepatitis a virus in Turkey: first report and clinical profile of children infected with sub-genotypes IA and IIIA

Abstract Background Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a food and water-borne virus causing clinical (mainly hepatitis) and subclinical disease in humans. It is important to characterize circulating strains of HAV in order to prevent HAV infections using efficacious vaccines. The aim of this study was the detection and characterization of the circulating strains of HAV in Turkey by performing serology, RT-PCR, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Methods In this study, 355 HAV suspected cases were analysed by ELISA for the presence of antibodies to HAV. RNA was extracted from 54 HAV IgM positive human sera. None of the suspect cases were vaccinated against HAV and they never received blood transfusions. Samples found positive by RT-PCR using primers targeting the VP1/VP2A junction and VP1/VP3 capsid region of HAV, were subjected to sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. Results IgM type antibodies to HAV were detected in 54 patients. Twenty one of them were students. The age of IgM positive cases was between 3 and 60 years. IgM positivity differed in age groups and was higher in the age group 3 to 10 years. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the majority of HAV strains detected in this study belong to the “HAV 1B” cluster. In addition, the HAV sub-genotypes IA (KT874461.1) and IIIA (KT222963.1) were found in 2 children. These sub-genotypes were not previously reported in Turkey. The child who carried sub-genotype IIIA travelled to Afghanistan and presented with abdominal pain, icterus and vomitus. He was positive for anti-HAV IgM and IgG but negative for hepatitis B and C. Liver enzymes like aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase and lactate dehydrogenase were severely elevated. Bilirubin levels were also increased. White blood cells, neutrophils and hemoglobin were decreased while lymphocytes and monocytes were increased. Similar clinical signs and laboratory findings were reported for the child infected with sub-genotype IA but aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were not severely elevated. Conclusions The results indicate that molecular studies determining the HAV genotype variation in Turkey are timely and warranted. The majority of IgM positive cases in 3–10 year old patients indicate that childhood vaccination is important. Sub-genotype IB is the most prevalant genotype in Turkey. Surprisingly, sub-genotype IA and IIIA are also present in Turkey; future diagnostic efforts need to include diagnostic methods which can identify this emerging HAV genotypes. Our results also show that one important risk factor for contracting hepatitis A virus is international travel since genotype IIIA was detected in a child who had travelled to Afghanistan

Modified myocardial performance index is not affected in fetuses with an isolated echogenic focus in the left ventricle

Objectives: We prospectively investigated the efficacy of modified myocardial performance index (mod-MPI) in the assessment of cardiac functions in fetuses with and without an isolated hyperechogenic focus (IHF) in the left ventricle and compared with conventional fetal echocardiography

Increased susceptibility of serum amyloid A 1.1 to degradation by MMP-1: potential explanation for higher risk of type AA amyloidosis.

Contains fulltext : 69749.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)OBJECTIVE: Genetic polymorphisms in serum amyloid A (SAA) have been shown to substantially influence the risk of developing type AA amyloidosis. Recently, a role for MMP-1 has been suggested in the pathogenesis of AA amyloidosis. Therefore, we investigated if the SAA1 isotypes are differentially degraded by MMP-1. METHODS: Degradation of different SAA isotypes by MMP-1 was assessed by immunoblotting. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry was used to identify degradation fragments. RESULTS: We found that SAA1.5 is more resistant to degradation by MMP-1 than SAA1.1. This difference is caused by the capacity of MMP-1 to cleave at the site of the polymorphism at position 57. CONCLUSION: These results may explain the higher risk of amyloidosis in patients with a SAA1.1/1.1 genotype vs SAA1.5/1.5 or SAA1.1/1.5 genotype. In addition, the impaired degradation of SAA1.5 by MMP-1 could also explain the higher serum SAA concentrations in persons with a SAA1.5 genotype.4 p