Ibrahim Silfeler

Protective effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on dose-dependent intoxication of rats with paraquat

Purpose: Paraquat (PQ; 1,1′dimethyl-bipyridilium 4,4′-dichloride), which is used extensively throughout the world, is highly toxic to humans. We aimed to investigate the protective effects of different doses of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on PQ-intoxicated rats. Materials and methods: A total of 80 rats were divided into the following eight groups, comprising 10 rats in each group: group 1: control; group 2: administered with CAPE (10 µmol/kg); group 3: administered with 15 mg/kg PQ (PQ15 group); group 4: administered with 30 mg/kg PQ (PQ30 group); group 5: administered with 45 mg/kg PQ (PQ45 group); group 6: administered with 15 mg/kg PQ + CAPE; group 7: administered with 30 mg/kg PQ + CAPE and group 8: administered with 45 mg/kg PQ + CAPE. Both PQ and CAPE were injected intraperitoneally. Pancreatic tissue was examined with both haematoxylin and eosin and immunochemical staining. Results: The ratio of the immunohistochemical staining area to the total pancreatic area of the β cells revealed that statistically significant differences were observed only between the PQ and PQ + CAPE groups (p < 0.05). Discussion: The evaluation of the data suggests that CAPE can be used to prevent acute effects of PQ intoxication.

Determination of hearing levels in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever

OBJECTIVE Familial Mediterranean Fever is the most common congenital, periodic fever condition that affects over 100,000 people worldwide. In the literature, there is limited number of studies about hearing levels in children with Familial Mediterranean Fever. In the present study, we aimed to investigate hearing levels and cochlear functions by using Distortion product Otoacoustic Emission and High Frequency Audiometry (250-20,000 Hz) in pediatric patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever. METHODS The study included 62 children with Familial Mediterranean Fever and 27 healthy children with similar age and gender. After otoscopic examination, both groups underwent audiological evaluation including High Frequency Audiometry (250-20,000 Hz) and Distortion product Otoacoustic Emissions. The results obtained were assessed among groups. In addition, these results were compared regarding colchicine use, age at the onset of disease and duration of the diseases in the Familial Mediterranean Fever group. RESULTS Of the Familial Mediterranean Fever patients, 93.5% were on colchicine therapy and mean duration of colchicine use was 19.9 ± 13.9 months. The mean age at diagnosis was 6.57 ± 2.86 years (min-max: 2-14) and mean duration of disease was 23 ± 17 months (min-max: 6-84). Pure tone audiometry values, and hearing levels between 9000 and 20,000 Hz were similar and within normal range in both groups. The Distortion product Otoacoustic Emissions responses at the frequencies of 1020, 2040, 3000, 4080 and 5040 Hz were similar for both groups. CONCLUSION To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating hearing levels at the frequencies of 18k Hz and 20k Hz in children with Familial Mediterranean Fever in the literature. In children with Familial Mediterranean Fever, Pure tone audiometry values, hearing values obtained at all frequencies from 250 to 20,000 Hz, and Distortion product Otoacoustic Emissions levels were within normal range. Furthermore, hearing levels were found to be similar to those in healthy children.

[The case of Henoch-Schönlein Purpura associated with Blastocystis hominis].

Blastocystis hominis (B. hominis) is a parasite that often causes gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with immune deficiency and has a controversial pathogenicity in healthy people, although some symptoms are reported outside of the gastrointestinal system in healthy persons. Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP) vasculitis is an acute autoimmune disease characterised by IgA storage of small vessels that is believed to include infectious factors in its aetiology. A 30-month follow-up with a boy diagnosed with HSP being treated with steroid therapy showed that he had recurrent symptoms within two days, and B. hominis was detected in the faecal analysis. His symptoms including rash, abdominal pain, and arthritis improved after treatment with steroid and co-trimaksazol. This paper is the first to present a case of HSP associated with B. hominis.

The Incidence of RSV Infection in the Cases Hospitalized with Bronchiolitis Diagnosis and the Relevant Clinical Particulars

Abstract Aim: This study aims to investigate the incidence and clinical particulars of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection in infants hospitalized with bronchiolitis diagnoses between the years of 2006 and 2009. Material and method: From October 2006 to October 2009, the registers of a total of 112 patients (< 2 years old) who were diagnosed with bronchiolitis and for whom RSV antigen was scanned in the nasopharyngeal swab sample were screened retrospectively and their clinical and laboratory particulars were evaluated. RSV antigen was sought through the enzyme immunoassay method by using Respi-Strip RSV (Coris Bioconcept). Results: RSV infection was detected in 31 (27.6%) cases. The families of the RSV-positive patients were larger and their parents were older. The CRP positivity of RSV-positive cases was of a higher rate than that of RSV-negative patients. RSV infection was most frequently detected in January. The rate of hospitalization and treatment of RSVinfected infants in the intensive care unit was statistically and significantly higher than that of the RSV negative patient group. Conclusion: We have detected a high rate of RSV infection in the cases hospitalized with bronchiolitis diagnosis, which is in line with the literature. The detection of RSV infection in these patients will prevent unnecessary antibiotic. In addition, virus-related hospital infections will be controlled more easily.