İbrahim Erayman

Tularemia presenting with tonsillopharyngitis and cervical lymphadenitis : Report of two cases

Tularemia is a zoonotic disease caused by Francisella tularensis. Francisella tularensis is transmitted to humans by direct contact or ingestion of infected animal tissues, through the bite of infected arthropods, by consumption of contaminated food or water, or from inhalation of aerolized bacteria. In this report we describe 2 cases with oropharyngeal tularemia who presented with tonsillopharyngitis and cervical lymphadenitis.

The roles of BDNF, S100B, and oxidative stress in interferon-induced depression and the effect of antidepressant treatment in patients with chronic viral hepatitis: A prospective study

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to research the relationship between interferon (IFN) induced depression and sociodemographic characteristics, neurotrophic factors and oxidative stress. METHODS Sixty four cases, 34 with Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) and 30 with Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC), were included in the study. The patients were assessed with Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) at baseline on the 2nd and 6th weeks of treatment. S100 calcium binding protein B (S100B), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidative stress (TOS) levels were measured at the same visits. RESULTS In total, 20 patients were diagnosed with major depression (MD) on the sixth week. A significant relationship was found between depression developed after IFN therapy and baseline HARS scores and the type of IFN-α. When the pretreatment levels of HDRS, HARS, S100B, BDNF, TAS, and TOS were compared to those after treatment on the 2nd week, there was a significant increase in HDRS and HARS levels and a significant decrease in the levels of S100B and BDNF. No significant change was determined for TAS and TOS levels. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that the pathogenesis of IFN induced depression may involve neurotrophic factors.

Primary spinal hydatid cyst in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Spinal hydatid cyst is a serious and unusual infectious disease. There is little information on infections caused by cestodes in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Although infrequent, infections by cestodes constitute a cause of disease in HIV-infected patients, especially in endemic areas. This report presents, for the first time in the literature, primary spinal cyst hydatid in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

A new neuroimplantable device: the tulgar implant. Initial results of animal testing.

A new neuroimplant system, namely the Tulgar implant, developed to solve the practical problems encountered with the presently available implants, was tested as a spinal cord stimulator in ten sheep. The response of living tissue and technical performance of the new system were evaluated. Electrodes implanted in the low thoracic (T9–10) vertebral levels by means of hemilaminectomy were subcutaneously connected to the passive coil receiver element located in the anterior‐inferior chest wall for 28 days. Laboratory parameters including hematology, biochemistry, and microbiology were investigated over the study, and histopathologic examinations were done by the end of study. Animal tests showed that the new system could reliably be implantable in the living tissue. Intra‐operative radicular stimulation of the right dorsal root in T13–L1 levels, by means of burst mode of signals, resulted in observable contractions of hip muscles in the right upper leg.

Thoracic Compression Fracture Due to Primary Spinal Hydatidosis

Hydatid cyst is a contagious disease formed by the pathogen Echinococus granulosus. Pulmonary and liver hydatidosis is the common form of the disease. However primary spinal hydatid cyst is rarely seen and compromise less than 1% of all hydatid cases. Primary spinal hydatid cyst and vertebral compression fracture association is very unusual. In this report we present a case of thoracic vertebral compression due to primary spinal hydatid cyst and discuss the important features of