Alper Akcali

P(4-VP) based nanoparticles and composites with dual action as antimicrobial materials

Polymeric 4-VP (p(4-VP)) particles were synthesized in an oil-in-water microemulsion system using various amounts of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as crosslinker. The prepared p(4-VP) particles were chemically modified to obtain positively charged particles as polyelectrolytes. Furthermore, these p(4-VP) particles were used for in situ Ag and Cu metal nanoparticle syntheses to provide dual action with an additional advantage as bactericidal particles. The synthesized p(4-VP) particles with positive charges and metal constituents were tested for potential antibacterial action against various bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus ATCC6538, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC9027, Bacillus subtilis ATCC6633, Escherichia coli ATCC8739. It was found that p(4-VP) particles, especially the positively charged forms had potential as antibacterial materials. The synthesized particle dimensions were characterized with TEM, and DLS measurements. Chemical modification of the particles was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy and zeta potential measurements, and the metal nanoparticle contents were determined with thermogravimetric (TGA) studies.

Novel hydrogel particles and their IPN films as drug delivery systems with antibacterial properties

Poly(acrylonitrile) (p(AN))-based materials such poly(acrylonitrile-co-(3-acrylamidopropyl)-trimethylammonium chloride (p(AN-co-APTMACl)), poly(acrylonitrile-co-4-viniyl pyridine) (p(AN-co-4-VP)) and poly(acrylonitrile-co-N-isopropylacrylamide) (p(AN-co-NIPAM)) core-shell nanoparticles were prepared. The core materials, AN, in p(AN-co-4-VP) nanoparticles, were amidoximated and the shell materials, 4-VP, were quaternized to generate p(AN-co-4-VP)(+) and p(AN-co-4-VP)(++), single and double positively charged core-shell nanoparticles, respectively. Furthermore, interpenetrating microgels-hydrogel (IPN) polymeric networks were prepared by mixing double quaternized p(AN-co-4-VP)(++) core-shell particles with acrylamide (AAm) and 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) before polymerization. A model drug, fluorescein sodium salt (FSS) was used in absorption/release studies from these IPNs. Moreover, the prepared and chemically modified particles were tested against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC6538, Pseduomonas aeruginosa ATCC9027, Bacillus subtilis ATCC6633, and Escherichia coli ATCC8739, and found that some of these particles had antibacterial properties against tested bacteria.

Genotyping of mumps virus circulating in Turkey in the 2006-2007 winter season

In the winter of 2006–2007, several parotitis cases were reported in different provinces of Turkey. Serological and virological studies were undertaken to investigate these cases with the aim of determining the genotype of the mumps virus (MuV) circulating in Turkey. Samples from 23 cases—Ankara (n:5), Kırklareli (n:4), Mugla (n:10), Isparta (n:3), Trabzon (n:1)—with a diagnosis of clinical parotitis were investigated. Serum samples were tested against mumps IgM and IgG, nested PCR amplification of a 639-bp fragment encompassing the entire SH gene was performed using buccal swabs, and PCR products were sequenced. Of 18 serum samples, 16 (88.9%) were positive for mumps IgM. Seven (30.4%) of 23 buccal swab samples were positive by PCR. In five PCR-positive cases, the sample was also positive for mumps IgM, and serum samples were not available from two of the PCR-positive cases. There was 98% identity between the different sequences, and all were identified as genotype H. The sequences were most similar to sequences identified in Spain, Japan, Switzerland and the UK, and less closely related to the H strains identified in Belarus, Korea and Russia. This is the first report of the mumps virus genotypes circulating in Turkey. Turkey is, geographically, a bridge between Europe and Asia, and therefore, a better understanding of the molecular epidemiology of MuV in Turkey may led to improved tracking of the circulation of strains between the two continents. Moreover, there is a need to further investigate the existence of other genotypes in Turkey.

Relationship between Helicobacter pylori Adenotonsillar Colonization and Frequency of Adenotonsillitis in Children.

BACKGROUND There are insufficient data in the literature on the presence of Helicobacter pylori in tonsil and adenoid tissue of patients with only airway obstruction. This study examined the presence of H. pylori in surgical cases with airway obstruction or recurrent infection. AIMS To investigate the relationship between H. pylori adenotonsillar colonisation and the frequency of adenotonsillitis and to compare paediatric and adult patients according to H. pylori tonsillar colonisation. STUDY DESIGN Prospective clinical trial. METHODS PATIENTS SCHEDULED FOR ADENOIDECTOMY OR TONSILLECTOMY WERE CLASSIFIED INTO THREE GROUPS BASED ON INDICATIONS: paediatric infection (n=29), paediatric obstruction (n=29) and adult infection (n=12). Tissue samples obtained from patients were examined for the presence of H. pylori by culture, rapid urease test and polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS Forty-nine tonsil tissues were examined. Positive results were found in two specimens with the rapid urease test (4.1%) and three with polymerase chain reaction examination (6.1%). Only three positive polymerase chain reaction results (5.8%) were identified in 52 adenoid tissue samples. There were no statistically significant differences in the presence of H. pylori between paediatric infection and obstruction groups or between paediatric infection and adult infection groups. CONCLUSION In our study, there was a low incidence of H. pylori colonisation in tonsil and adenoid tissues. Regarding H. pylori colonisation, there was no significant difference between paediatric infection and obstruction groups. Also, no significant difference was found between adult and paediatric cases.

Seroprevalence of anti- Toxoplasma gondii and anti- Borrelia species antibodies in patients with schizophrenia: a case - control study from western Turkey

Abstract Objectives. We examined IgG antibody seroprevalence and risk factors for anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Borrelia sp. in schizophrenic patients. Methods. This case–control study included 30 schizophrenic patients and 60 healthy individuals. Serological analyses were identified by using ELISA technique. Results. In the case group the Toxoplasma seropositivity was 33.3% and Borrelia seropositivity was 13.3%, while in the control group the Toxoplasma positivity was 21.7% and Borrelia seropositivity was 15.0%. There was no significant difference with regard to seroprevalence between the groups (P = 0.232; P = 0.832, respectively). There was statistically significant difference between case and control groups related to hand and kitchen utensil hygiene after dealing with raw meat (P = 0.001). Conclusions. Our data showed the rate of Toxoplasma antibodies was higher in the case group, while the rate of Borrelia antibodies was higher in the control group. In both groups the high rates of seropositivity for Toxoplasma gondii and Borrelia sp. is thought to be due to neglect of personal hygiene. The present study also is the first to examine the association between Borrelia sp. and schizophrenia. Further studies are needed to determine whether there is an association between Borrelia sp. and schizophrenia or not.

Conjunctivitis due to Neisseria sicca: a case report.

We report the first case, in Medline-based literature, of conjunctivitis caused by gram negative diplococcus, Neisseria sicca. Although it is not widely accepted as such, isolation from cultures of repeated eye swab samples suggests that N. sicca may be a pathogen in conjunctival infections. Positive culture for this organism should not be readily dismissed. Such conjunctivitis responded favorably to treatment with netilmicin eye drops.

Chronic dacryocystitis secondary to Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Staphylococcus aureus mixed infection

A 40-year-old woman with a history of recurrent attacks of dacryocystitis for 2 years developed a lacrimal sac abscess. β-Lactam antibiotics, considered the first-line treatment for dacryocystitis, were ineffective. She underwent dacryocystorhinostomy. Cultures from the lacrimal sac demonstrated the presence of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, both of which are sensitive to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. This rare and antibiotic-resistant bacterial species should be considered in atypical cases of dacryocystitis, and appropriate antibiotics should be started immediately.

Evaluation of tuberculosis laboratory results in Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University Research and Education Hospital for 2009-2011

Objective: Tuberculosis microbiological laboratory diagnosis was firstly started in year 2009, in Microbiology Laboratory of Onsekiz Mart University Research and Education Hospital in Canakkale. We aimed at this study to present our laboratory data and to evaluate the methods which were used for the diagnosis of micobacteria. Method: Samples sent to our laboratory for tuberculosis culture were stained by Ehrlich-ZiehlNeelsen (EZN) method and evaluated microscopically. After processing of samples, each sample was inoculated to Lowenstein-Jensen medium (LJ) and BACTEC MGIT 960 (Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube, Becton Dickinson, USA) liquid based medium. If suspected growth was detected, Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) typing was made and if requested antituberculosis drug susceptibility for streptomycin (STR), isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RF) and ethambutol (ETM) tested. Samples from normally sterile body sites cultured directly, others were firstly decontaminated and concentrated. Results: During the study period 1.048 samples from 667 patient has been processed. Seventy eight samples (7.44%) from 54 patients were found positive OZET Amac: Canakkale Ilinde tuberkuloz kultur

Ocular aspergillosis: Obtaining a specimen is crucial for diagnosis. A report of three cases.

Aspergillus species have been implicated in a wide variety of primary ocular conditions, characterized by either slow and asymptomatic infection, or rapid, uncontrollable progression and sometimes death. The study design is a case series including chronic asymptomatic dacryocystitis, dacryocystitis with dacryoliths and endogenous endophthalmitis. Due to this variable clinical presentation of aspergillosis a high level of suspicion must be maintained as fulminant aspergillosis may lead to a rapidly progressive infection which may result in death.