Clinical follow-up of patients with HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B infection: A long-term observational study

Background and Aim: We aimed to analyze the demographic, laboratory, and clinical characteristics of patients with HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B infection in tertiary care centers in Istanbul. Materials and Methods: We conducted an observational cohort with >= 18-year-old patients with HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B infection, who were followed up in three tertiary care centers in Istanbul between January 2000 and August 2018, were evaluated by reviewing electronic and recorded files. The Ethical Committee of Istanbul Medipol University approved this study (Protocol no: 10840098-604.01.01-E.44136). During the polyclinic interview, consent was obtained from patients for analysis and publication. Results: The mean age of the 64 patients was 30 (range 18-39) years, and 50% (32) of them were males. The mean follow-up period of the patients was 67 (18-180) months. Twenty-four patients were treated with at least one antiviral in their follow-up, and only 2 (3.1%) of these patients developed HBeAg seroconversion without antiviral treatment. HBeAg (+) chronic hepatitis B developed in 4 of the patients after the immune-active period. None of the patients and first-degree relatives had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Conclusion: The rationality of antiviral treatment and HCC development risk in these patients still remains elusive

An analysis of the characteristics of technique, pattern and composition in Kırşehir hand-knotted carpets

Bu araştırmanın amacı; Kırşehir ilinde var olan el dokuması halıları belgelemek ve özelliklerini ortaya koymaktır. Kırşehir il merkezinde özel arşivlerden, müzeden ve satış yerlerinden halılar belirlenmiş, Kırşehir il merkezi araştırma kapsamında ulaşılabilen eski ve yeni örneklerden oluşan 116 adet el dokuması halı örneklem olarak alınmıştır. Bu gruptaki halıların teknik, renk, desen, motif ve kompozisyon özelliklerinin en iyi şekilde belirlenmesi için birçok açıdan fotoğrafları çekilerek kaydedilmiştir. Bu doğrultuda örneklem grubundan elde edilen yargısal bilgilerin düzenli kayıt altına alınması için halı bilgi formu geliştirilmiştir. Yöre halılarının özelliklerine ait genel bir değerlendirilme yapılabilmesi için, tablolar elde edilmiş, frekans analizleri yapılmış ve ilgili bölümde verilmiştir. Kırşehir ilinde el dokuması halı üretiminin yapılmadığı tespit edilmiştir. İncelenen eski örneklerde 1910-1950 yılları arasında ıstar tezgâhlarında, atkısı, çözgüsü ve ilme iplikleri yün olarak üretilmiştir. Son dönem örnekler germe tip tezgahlar da üretilmiş, çözgüsü pamuk, atkı ve ilmesi ise yün olarak dokunmuştur. Halılar genellikle 5mm hav yüksekliğinde, 27x33 orta kalitede dokunmuştur. Kullanım alanlarına göre farklı ende ve boyda dokuma yapılmış, namazlık, minder, yastık ve seccade tipi ürün çeşitlerini tercih edilmiş, minder ve yastıklar madalyonlu, namazlık ve seccade halıları ise mihraplı kompozisyonlu şeklinde dokunmuştur. Zemin renklerinde genellikle kırmızı, zemin deseninde ve bordürde kahverengi ve tonları kullanılmıştır. Bu halılarda, geometrik, bitkisel, sembolik ve nesneli bezemeler yoğun olarak kullanılmıştır. Yöreye ait olarak köşelerini süsleyen bitkisel bezemelerden salkım söğüt motifi, sembolik bezemelerden top motifleri, müftü topu, ayna, arapeli, havabaşı, gelinağlatan, ev, bahçe ve elma motifleri, özellikle Mucur halı yastığında görülen el, ayak motifleri, figürlü bezemelerden ejder ve sinek motifleri kullanılmıştır. Örneklem olarak alınan halıların eski örnekler ile günümüze yaklaşan örnekleri arasında yozlaşma tespit edilmemiştir.The purpose of this study is to document the hand-knotted carpets in Kırşehir and to present their characteristics. Carpets were detected from special archives, the museum and carpet sellers and 116 old and new hand-knotted carpets which were found within the context of the research made in the city center of Kırşehir were taken as the sample. The carpets in this group were photographed from many different angles and recorded so that their technique, color, motif and composition characteristics could be determined in the best way. Accordingly, a carpet information form was developed to record the judgmental information from the sample group regularly. For a general evaluation of the characteristics of the carpets of the region; tables were formed, frequency analysis was performed and they were presented in the relevant section. It has been found out that hand-knotted carpets are not produced in Kırşehir. The old samples which were analyzed were knotted between the years 1910-1950 on ıstar and their woofs, warps and pile yarn were woven from wool. Recent samples were knotted on vertical looms and their wraps were woven from cotton while their woofs and piles were woven from wool. Carpets were generally woven of 5mm pile height, 27 x33 medium quality. They were woven in different widths and lengths depending on their area of use; prayer rugs, cushion and pillow types were preferred; cushions and pillows were woven with patterns of medallion and prayer rugs were woven with patterns of mehrab. Red was generally used for background color while brown and its shades were used for patterns and borders. Geometrical, plantal, symbolic patterns and patterns depicting objects were intensively used in these carpets. For plantal patterns decorating the corners of the carpet, weeping willow motif was used; for symbolic decorations, ball motifs, müftü topu, mirror, arapeli, havabaşı, gelinağlatan, house, garden and apple motifs were used; especially Mucur carpet pillows used hand and foot motifs and dragon and fly motifs. No deterioration was found between the old examples and more recent examples of the carpets taken as samples

Tick-related facial cellulitis caused by francisella tularensis

Tick-borne illnesses have diverse biological and clinical features that make recognition and appropriate treatment challenging. Arthropod-transmitted (ticks, fleas and deer flies) tularaemia remains a concern worldwide. Generally, two kinds of tularaemia manifestations, namely ulceroglandular and glandular infections, can arise from the bite of an infected arthropod vector. If the ulceroglandular or glandular form is not treated, suppuration can arise from the gland. In addition, cellulitis is rarely observed around the ulcers. In our case, with the knowledge of tick exposure to the scalp, tularaemia was not initially considered for facial cellulitis without regional lymphadenopathy and also due to apparent failure to respond to doxycycline and gentamicin therapy. Serological confirmation in the late stages of the disease suggests the importance of clinical suspicion in such rare conditions

Single Dose Benzathine Penicillin G in the Treatment of Acute Tonsillopharyngitis Due to Group A Beta-Hemolytic Streptococci

The success rate of single dose benzathine penicillin G intramuscular (IM) injection in the treatment of tonsillopharyngitis caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) was investigated. Totally 179 patients in the acute phase of tonsillopharyngeal infection with physical findings of; tonsillar redness, edema, grayish white exudate, enlarged lymph nodes were enrolled into this prospective study. Throat cultures and rapid immunoassay test for the qualitative detection of group A streptococcus antigen was used for all patients. Throat cultures were found positive in 74 (41.4%) patients, whereas rapid immunoassay test was found positive in 69 (38.5%) patients. Single injection dose of benzathine penicillin G was administered to the patients with positive antigen test. Patients were checked with throat samples at 3 and 17 days after injection. The failure rate of this treatment was found as 5% at the end of 17 days