Assessment of the requisites of microbiology based infectious disease training under the pressure of consultation needs

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Training of infectious disease (ID) specialists is structured on classical clinical microbiology training in Turkey and ID specialists work as clinical microbiologists at the same time. Hence, this study aimed to determine the clinical skills and knowledge required by clinical microbiologists.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional study was carried out between June 1, 2010 and September 15, 2010 in 32 ID departments in Turkey. Only patients hospitalized and followed up in the ID departments between January-June 2010 who required consultation with other disciplines were included.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 605 patients undergoing 1343 consultations were included, with pulmonology, neurology, cardiology, gastroenterology, nephrology, dermatology, haematology, and endocrinology being the most frequent consultation specialties. The consultation patterns were quite similar and were not affected by either the nature of infections or the critical clinical status of ID patients.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results of our study show that certain internal medicine subdisciplines such as pulmonology, neurology and dermatology appear to be the principal clinical requisites in the training of ID specialists, rather than internal medicine as a whole.</p

Prediction of dry matter accumulation in bitter vetch

WOS: 000423970200009This study was carried out in Bingol province on eastern Anatolian Region between 2013 and 2015. In this study, we obtained 14 bitter vetch genotypes from different sources. The experiment was carried our in three replications in randomized block design. Each plant was weekly measured for 6 weeks starting from germination. For each plant, plant height, fresh and dry stem weight, fresh and dry leaf weights were determined. Logistic, Richards and Weibull growth models were fitted to describe the growth pattern of the genotypes. The best fitting model criteria used were coefficient of determination and mean squared. Richards's growth model was found to best fit the data for most of the genotypes. Logistic model was the worst fit. In Turkey, climate and soil properties have very large variations. For this, local genotypes showed large variation according to plating areas. YEREL LICE genotype showed more stable and it is the height identified all growth models than other local genotypes. However, IFVE 2923 SEL and IFVE 2977 SEL 2802 these genotypes gave positive results in different environmental conditions

Disseminated Cryptococcus Infections in Immunocompetent Patients: Two Cases

Cryptococcal infections usually manifest as sporadic infections in immunocompromised individuals. In this paper, two cases of disseminated cryptococcal infections in immunocompetent individuals have been presented. Both patients had meningitis, accompanied by pulmonary infection in one and fungemia in the other. Amphotericin B and fluconazole have been administered but both patients were lost despite pertinent antifungal treatment. Our objective was to point out the high mortality of cryptococcal infections even in immunocompetent patients and emphasize on the importance of early diagnosis and treatment

An Unusual Presentation of Falciparum Malaria As a Cause of Anemia

Malaria is a serious disease and may sometimes be fatal. The disease is seen in countries with tropical and subtropical climates. We report a clinical case of malaria from our country where only imported malaria cases are reported, but where the disease still continues to be a problem. Hepatosplenomegaly was the only positive physical examination fi nding of the 49-year-old male patient who had no any other symptom except for fatigue and palpitation. Hemoglobin level of the patient was 5.4 g/dL. He was admitted to the hospital for the investigation of the cause of anemia. It was found that he had recently arrived from Nigeria and got malaria, and therefore, treated about a month ago. Up on the visualisation of rounded trophozoites with ring forms and gametocytes in the stained blood smears of the patient, the patient was diagnosed with malaria and treated for it

Evaluation of Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) Cases

Introduction: The pandemic H1N1 virus has also affected our country between June 2009 and March 2010. This study aimed to evaluate the cases affected by the pandemic and hospitalized in one’s clinic. Materials and Methods: Demographic characteristics, risk factors, laboratory and radiological findings of the patients hospitalized with a provisional diagnosis of H1N1 influenza between October 2009 and March 2010 were retrospectively evaluated. Results: Seventy-five patients admitted to the study, 49 (65.3%) of them were female, and the mean age was 35.9 (18-80). Of the female patients, 13 (26%) were pregnant. The most obvious symptoms of referred patients were fever (98.6%), chills (89.3%), weakness (88%) and cough (85%). Bilateral involvement existed on direct chest X-ray examination during the first application of all patients who needed mechanical ventilation or died later. Forty three percent of the patients had at least one chronic disease. Five of the patients died. The presence of H1N1 was confirmed in 44 (58%) cases by polymerase change reaction (PCR). Exposure to a patient with influenza was positive in 45.5% of the cases (p= 0.019). Lymphopenia was the most common laboratory finding in all patients (64%). Monocyte values were significantly low in certain cases (p= 0.0016). Oseltamivir treatment was used in 72 (96%) patients. Antibiotics were added to treatment in 63 (84%) patients. The most common complication was pneumonia (82%). Conclusion: H1N1 pandemic showed a similar pattern of seasonal influenza but transmission from person to person had been more frequent. Mortality was more common in middle-aged population without underlying comorbid condition

Antioxidant enzyme response of sorghum plant upon exposure to Aluminum, Chromium and Lead heavy metals

Objective: Sorghum has received great interest for resistance to heavy metals. Therefore, effects of Aluminum (Al), Chromium (Cr) and Lead (Pb) concentrations (2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 ppm) on antioxidant enzyme systems of Sorghum in root and leaf tissues were investigated

Apoptosis-Related Gene Expression in an Adult Cohort with Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever.

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a life threatening acute viral infection characterized by fever, bleeding, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. It is a major emerging infectious diseases threat, but its pathogenesis remains poorly understood and few data exist for the role of apoptosis in acute infection. We aimed to assess apoptotic gene expression in leukocytes in a cross-sectional cohort study of adults with CCHF. Twenty participants with CCHF and 10 healthy controls were recruited at a tertiary CCHF unit in Turkey; at admission baseline blood tests were collected and total RNA was isolated. The RealTime ready Human Apoptosis Panel was used for real-time PCR, detecting differences in gene expression. Participants had CCHF severity grading scores (SGS) with low risk score (10 out of 20) and intermediate or high risk scores (10 out of 20) for mortality. Five of 20 participants had a fatal outcome. Gene expression analysis showed modulation of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic genes that facilitate apoptosis in the CCHF patient group. Dominant extrinsic pathway activation, mostly related with TNF family members was observed. Severe and fatal cases suggest additional intrinsic pathway activation. The clinical significance of relative gene expression is not clear, and larger longitudinal studies with simultaneous measurement of host and viral factors are recommended

Determination of Herbage Yield and Quality of Some Bitter Vetch [Vicia ervilia (L.) Willd] Genotypes in Bingöl Ecological Conditions

This research was conducted to determine herbage yield and some quality characteristics of bitter vetch genotypes grown at Bingöl ecological conditions. The study was conducted at the Research and Application fields of Faculty of Agriculture at Bingol University during 2014-2015 summer growing seasons. In the study, 14 different bitter vetch genotypes (IFVE 248-SEL 2785, IFVE 973-SEL 2795, IFVE 2698-SEL 2798, IFVE 2920-SEL 2801 IFVE 3977-SEL 2802, IFVE 3351- SEL 2804, Yerel Lice, D-357, MP, HAT-3, HAT-9, HAT-13, HAT-14 ve HAT-17) were used as plant material. The study was conducted according to randomized complete blocks design with 3 replications. In the study, plant height, green herbage yield, dry yield, crude ash ratio, crude protein ratio, crude protein yield, acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), digestible dry matter ratio, dry matter consumption and relative feed value characteristics were investigated. Statistically significant differences were found between the genotypes in all traits examined in the study, except for the plant height. According to the results of two-year research, IFVE 248-SEL 2785, IFVE 3977-SEL 2802 and HAT-14 genotypes were prominent when dry herbage and crude protein yield and ADF and NDF ratios were considered; It has been suggested that these genotypes should be considered in breeding projects to contribute to the forage production of the region

Can hantavirus infections be predicted on admission to hospital?

The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive factors which contribute to diagnosis of hantavirus infection. One hundred patients from rural areas hospitalized with a preliminary diagnosis of hantavirus infection from different hospitals in Turkey were investigated. Hantavirus infection was confirmed in 20 patients (Group 1) using immunofluorescence and immunoblot assays at the Refik Saydam National Public Health Agency. Hantaviruses were not detected in the serum of the remaining 80 patients, other infectious and non-infectious diseases being diagnosed in this group (Group 2). Patients' demographic characteristics and clinical and laboratory data on admission were examined and compared between the two groups. Fever, proteinuria, hematuria, lethargy-weakness, and nausea-vomiting were the most frequent symptoms and findings in Group 1, seen in almost all patients. Proteinuria, hematuria, muscle pain, diarrhea/abdominal pain, hypotension, shock, and sweating were observed at significantly higher levels in Group 1 compared to Group 2. Serum urea, creatinine, uric acid, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly higher, but serum platelet counts were lower in Group 1 patients. Area beneath the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis was used to calculate the discriminative ability of various laboratory values to identify patients with hantavirus infection. This analysis revealed that, serum CRP had a 100% negative predictive value, whilst, platelet, and creatinine had 75% and 70% positive predictive values for the diagnosis of hantavirus infection. In summary, laboratory markers used in clinical practice are of great importance predicting hantavirus infections. J. Med. Virol. 84:17901796, 2012. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Direct healthcare costs for patients hospitalized with Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever can be predicted by a clinical illness severity scoring system.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is endemic in Turkey, with peak incidence of hospital admissions in the summer months. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the role of the severity grading score (SGS) in predicting length of hospital stay, laboratory usage, need for blood products, and hence total costs of patients. Thirty-five patients admitted to one specialist center in Turkey in 2013 and 2014 with PCR-proven CCHF. The mean (SD) age was 55 (±14) and 63% of the patients were male, with 8 (22.9%) mortality. Patients were classified by SGS into three groups with mortality as follows: low risk (0/19); intermediate (6/14); and high (2/2). The direct hospital cost of these admissions was at least $41 740 with median (range) of$1210 ($97-$13 054) per patient. There was a significant difference between low-risk and combined (intermediate-high) risk groups as 635 (97-1500) and 2264.5 (154-13 054), respectively (p = 0.012). In conclusion, a clinical grading score can be used to predict illness severity and to predict associated health care costs