Arzu Ertürk

The role of CD14 gene promoter polymorphism in tuberculosis susceptibility.

BACKGROUND CD14 is expressed principally by cells of monocyte/macrophage lineage and plays a pivotal role in the innate immunity to intracellular infections. Recent research findings have revealed an association between the CD14 gene promoter polymorphism and several major infectious diseases. OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between the CD14-159C/T polymorphism and tuberculosis in a Turkish population. METHODS For this purpose, 88 consecutive patients with tuberculosis (63 pulmonary, 25 extrapulmonary) and 116 control subjects were enrolled into a prospective study. We determined CD14-159 genotypes by polymerase chain reaction - restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and also measured serum concentrations of soluble CD14 (sCD14) by using a quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique. RESULTS There was no significant difference in terms of genotype distribution between patients with tuberculosis (CC 18.2%, CT 48.9%, TT 33.0%) and controls (CC 12.9%, CT 50.9%, TT 36.2%) or between patients with pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Serum levels of sCD14 were significantly increased in patients with active tuberculosis compared to those with inactive tuberculosis and healthy controls (p<0.001). However, levels of sCD14 were not associated with any genotypes of CD14-159. CONCLUSION The genotyping findings of the present study do not support a role for the CD14-159C/T polymorphism in the development of tuberculosis, at least in the geographical region of central Anatolia. Significantly elevated serum sCD14 levels in patients with active disease reflect the importance of the mononuclear phagocytic system activation in tuberculosis.

Disseminated tuberculosis with lymphatic, splenic and scrotal abscesses: a case report

IntroductionDisseminated tuberculosis can involve several organs and clinically present with a potpourri of signs and symptoms. Early diagnosis and timely initiation of proper treatment are of great importance in preventing the later complications of the disease.Case presentationWe report a case with disseminated tuberculosis who exhibited a wide spectrum of extrapulmonary involvement. The present case had lung and lymph node tuberculosis with abscess formation and remained undiagnosed for two years. Thereafter, multiple splenic abscesses developed that necessitated splenectomy, and at the final stage, he presented with scrotal abscesses.ConclusionThis paper highlights the diverse clinical appearances of disseminated tuberculosis and the significant importance of early diagnosis and treatment.

Correlation of plasma transforming growth factor beta 1 with asthma control test.

Assessment of asthma with a control test is suggested as a relevant approach for recent years. Ideally, an asthma control test should apply not only to clinical manifestations but also to laboratory markers of inflammation as well. Until now, this could not be performed because of the lack of a confirmed marker which indicates inflammation. A fibrotic mediator TGF-beta 1 has been reported as a key mediator of remodeling in asthma. The aim of this study is to evaluate plasma TGF-beta 1 level in stable asthmatic sufferers and to investigate its correlation with the asthma control test. Stable asthmatic sufferers and healthy controls were recruited for this study. After obtaining demographic information, skin prick and asthma control tests were performed. Blood samples were collected for plasma TGF-beta 1 level. Any contributing factors that may affect plasma TGF-beta 1 level were excluded from both groups. Thirty-five atopic, 35 nonatopic asthmatic sufferers and 15 healthy control subjects were included for this study. The mean age was 38 +/- 10 (years) and 61% were female. When the asthmatic group compared with the control group, plasma TGF-beta 1 level was significantly higher in the asthmatic group (41.7 +/- 12.6 ng/mL versus 27.6 +/- 13 ng/mL) (p < 0.05) whereas it was similar among the atopic and nonatopic groups (41.8 +/- 14.2 ng/mL versus 41.6 +/- 11 ng/mL) (p > 0.05). Spearman Correlation Analysis results pointed positive correlation between uncontrolled asthma and plasma TGF-beta 1 level. This study shows that plasma TGF-beta 1 level may be a systemic marker of asthma control.

Pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis: a rare case.

Abstract Lymphangioleiomyomatosis is an uncommon lung disease primarily affecting women of childbearing age. It is characterized by the progressive proliferation and infiltration of smooth muscle-like cells, which lead to cystic destruction of the lung parenchyma; obstruction of airways, blood vessels, and lymphatics; and loss of pulmonary function. We present the case of a 46-year-old female patient with chest pain, cough, sputum, and dyspnea on exertion for three weeks. Minimal pneumothorax was noted, and the patient was referred to our center for further investigation and treatment. High-resolution computed tomography revealed numerous bilateral thin-walled air cysts and interstitial thickening affecting the central and peripheral part of the upper zone of the lung. We performed an open-lung biopsy to confirm lymphangioleiomyomatosis. Our aim is to discuss the pathogenesis and other lesions noted in the differential diagnosis of this rare disease. Öz Pulmoner lenfanjioleiomyomatozis primer olarak reproduktif donem kadınları etkileyen nadir gorulen bir hastalıktır. Duz kas benzeri immatur hucrelerin progressif proliferasyonu ve infiltrasyonuyla karakterizedir, akciğer parankiminde kistik destruksiyona yol acarak havayolu kan damarları ve lenfatiklerde obstruksiyon ve pulmoner fonksiyon kaybına neden olur. Burada, oksuruk, balgam cıkarma ve 3 haftadır eforla artan nefes darlığı yakınması ile başvuran 46 yaşındaki kadın hastayı sunuyoruz. Sınırlı pnomotoraks saptanan hasta, ileri tetkik ve tedavi amacıyla merkezimize yonlendirilmiştir. Yuksek rezolusyonlu bilgisayarlı tomografi’de her iki akciğerde ust zonlarda belirginleşen, santrali ve periferi etkileyen cok sayıda hava kistleri ve interstisiyel kalınlaşmalar saptandı. Acık akciğer biyopsisi ile lenfanjioleiomyomatozis tanısı teyit edildi. Bu nadir olguyu patogenezi ve ayırıcı tanıda yer alan diğer lezyonları tartışmak icin sunuyoruz.