Ihsan Hakki Ciftci

Clinical importance of Demodex folliculorum in patients receiving phototherapy.

Background  Patients with immunodeficiency are prone to infestation with Demodex folliculorum mites. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation can lead to immunosuppression and sebaceous gland hyperplasia. Although some cases of demodicidosis related to UV radiation exposure have been reported, no studies have been performed on the incidence of D. folliculorum and its clinical characteristics in patients receiving phototherapy.

Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus in 4–6 age groups in healthy children in Afyonkarahisar, Turkey

Aim: Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of disease, particularly for colonized persons. Although methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infection has frequently reported, population‐based S. aureus and MRSA colonisation estimates are lacking. Our objective in this report is to present the prevalance of S. aureus carriage among 4–6 age groups healthy children in our region.

In vitro anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of usnic acid.

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori is an important objective in overcoming gastric diseases. Many regimens are currently available but none of them could achieve 100% success in eradication. Medicinal lichen is used in the treatment of gastric ulcer in local folk medicine in Anatolia (Turkey). The present study was performed to assess the in vitro effects of usnic acid from Usnea dasypoga against clinical isolates and standard H. pylori strains and their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). A total of 38 strains was assayed for anti‐H. pylori activity. The agar dilution method was used for the determination of usnic acid and clarithromycin resistance.

Effect of diphenhydramine on myocardial injury caused by organophosphate poisoning

Background. The aim of this experimental study was to investigate whether diphenhydramine could prevent or diminish myocardial injury caused by organophosphate poisoning as defined by histologic findings and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels. Methods. Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into equal three groups. Group 1 did not receive any agent during the experiment. Group 2 received 0.8 g/kg fenthion subcutaneously followed by normal saline (3 ml/kg) intramuscularly 30 minutes later. Group 3 received 0.8 g/kg fenthion subcutaneously, followed by diphenhydramine 30 mg/kg (in 3 ml/kg) intramuscularly 30 minutes later. All rats underwent laparotomy and thoracotomy while under anesthesia at 24 hours. Results. Treatment with diphenhydramine significantly decreased the blood cTnI levels. Additionally, diphenhydramine significantly reduced myocardial injury, including edema, inflammation, vacuolization and necrosis, as determined by pathologic scoring. Conclusion. Organophosphate poisoning can cause myocardial injury as determined by measurement of I cTnI levels. Our study demonstrates that this injury can be attenutated by the administration of diphenydramine.

Effects of human milk fortifier on the antimicrobial properties of human milk

Objective:To evaluate the effects of addition of human milk (HM) fortifier and iron on the anti-infective properties of HM.Study design:HM samples were collected from 28 lactating mothers who delivered prematurely, within the first week of post-natal life. HM fortifier Eoprotin was used. The effects of this fortifier against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans were evaluated using a filter paper method. The measurements were repeated with pure HM, fortified HM and iron-added HM.Results:HM inhibited the growth of S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa and Candida. Addition of HM fortifier did not result in any significant difference on this effect. The addition of iron to HM reduced antimicrobial effect against all three bacteria and the Candida.Conclusion:Premature HM has strong antimicrobial activity and addition of the milk fortifier Eoprotin does not change this effect, but addition of iron reduces this antimicrobial activity.

Five methods for detection of Helicobacter pylori in the Turkish population

AIM To compare culture analysis, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) stool antigen (HpSA) test, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for H. pylori detection. METHODS One hundred and thirty-two consecutive adult dyspeptic patients receiving diagnostic endoscopy at the department of gastroenterology were enrolled in this study. Culture and histological examination were performed on biopsy specimens. PCR and FISH tests were applied to histopathological samples. Stool samples that were simultaneously collected were tested for the H. pylori antigen using the HpSA test and bacterial DNA using stool PCR. RESULTS H. pylori was positively identified by histological examination in 85/132 (64.4%) of the patients, while positive samples were found in 56 (42.4%), 64 (48.5%), 98 (74.2%), 28 (21.2%) and 81 (61.4%) of the patients by culture, HpSA, PCR, stool PCR and FISH methods, respectively. The results of the culture, biopsy PCR, HpSA and FISH tests, with the exception of the stool PCR, were found to correlate with the histological examination as a gold standard. CONCLUSION The HpSA test is a rapid, simple, and noninvasive test for monitoring therapy. FISH is an accurate, rapid, cost-effective, and easy-to-use test for H. pylori detection.

Markers of autoimmune liver diseases in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis

INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis is a common complication of chronic liver diseases. However, there is limited information about autoimmune liver diseases as a factor of secondary osteoporosis. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the autoantibodies of autoimmune liver diseases in patients with osteoporosis. METHODS: One hundred fifty female patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis were included. Bone mineral density was measured by dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry. We analysized autoantibodies including antinuclear antibodies, liver membrane antibodies, anti‐liver/kidney microsomal autoantibodies1, liver‐specific protein, anti‐smooth muscle antibodies, and anti‐mitochondrial antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence. Serum was assayed for the levels of aminotransferases. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 63,13±8,6 years. The mean values of L1‐L4 T‐scores and femur total T‐scores were ‐3,08±0,58 and ‐1,53±0,81, respectively. Among the 150 patients with osteoporosis, 14 (9.3%) were antinuclear antibodies, four (2.7%) were liver membrane antibodies, three (2.0%) were anti‐liver/kidney microsomal autoantibodies1, and two (1.3%) were liver‐specific protein positive. None of the patients had anti‐mitochondrial antibodies or smooth muscle antibodies positivity. The mean values of levels of aminotransferases were within normal range. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of liver membrane antibodies, liver‐specific protein, and anti‐liver/kidney microsomal autoantibodies1 has permitted us to see that there may be some suspicious clues of autoimmune liver diseases in patients with osteoporosis as a secondary risk factor. On the other hand, there is a need for comprehensive studies with a larger sample size and studies designed to compare the results with a normal population to understand the clinical importance of our findings.

Demodex folliculorum in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence and density of Demodex folliculorum in the patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Forty-one patients with RA and twenty-seven age and sex matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Disease Activity Score (DAS 28) was used for the assessment of disease activity. Out of 41 patients, 33 were females and 8 males. The mean disease duration was 10.9 ± 8.2 years. The mean DAS 28 was 3.8 ± 1.2. No statistically significant differences in the incidence and density of Demodex mites were found between patients with RA and controls. Although immunosuppression is thought to be a risk factor for the D. folliculorum infestation no such correlations could be found in the 41 immunosuppressed patients with RA, therefore, further studies with larger groups are needed.

Prevalence of cagA and vacA genotypes of Helicobacter pylori isolated from Turkish patients with active or non-active chronic gastritis

Abstract Several virulence factors of Helicobacter pylori may contribute to gastric mucosal damage. In this study, the prevalence of cagA and vacA genotypes of H. pylori was examined in different patterns of chronic gastritis. Oesophagogastroendoscopy was performed in 147 dyspeptic patients. Antrum biopsies were obtained for isolation of H. pylori and for histopathological assessment. H. pylori vacAs1 and cagA genes were directly genotyped in the gastric biopsy specimens by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 102 dyspeptic patients, all H. pylori-positive by PCR, were included in the study. Of these, 59 had active chronic gastritis and 37 had non-active chronic gastritis. The prevalence of cagA and vacAs1 was higher among patients with active chronic gastritis than among those with non-active chronic gastritis (45.8% vs 21.6% (p = 0.02) and 78.0% vs 40.5% (p < 0.001), respectively). In conclusion, both cagA and vacAs1 genotypes are associated with the activity of chronic gastritis.

Comparison of FISH, RFLP and agar dilution methods for testing clarithromycin resistance of Helicobacter pylori

BACKGROUND/AIMS Clarithromycin resistance is an important factor of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication failure in adults and children. There are some tests to determine resistance such as restriction fragment length polimorphism (RFLP), fluorescence in situ hibridisation (FISH), PCR and (culture) agar dilution. Clarithromycin resistance is reported between 16.8%-48.2% in Turkey using PCR, 18% in Japan using RFLP. The aim of the study is to compare the efficacy of FISH, RFLP and culture. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients with gastric complaint underwent endoscopic examination. H. pylori status of all patients was tested with urea breath test. Gastric biopsy samples obtained from adult patients and children were studied. Each tissue was analised with FISH, PCR-RFLP anda gar dilution. RESULTS A total 100 patients were positive by UBT and histology for H. pylori. Tissues from 89 adults and 11 children were evaluated. According to FISH and RFLP clarithromycin resistance was 26% and 16% respectively. Among 100 patients H. pylori was cultured in 52 tissue samples, among these samples 7 were resistant to clarithromycin. There was strong correlation between the results of FISH and RFLP; RFLP and culture; and FISH and culture. CONCLUSION There is a high ratio of clarithromycin resistance in the studied population. All 3 tests are valuable, but FISH seems to be more sensitive among these tests. We suggest FISH should be used for detecting clarithromycin resistance among H. pylori infected patients before eradication therapy.