Selcuk Kaya

ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF SOME ESSENTIAL OILS

In this study the composition and antimicrobial properties of essential oils obtained fromOriganum onites, Mentha piperita, Juniperus exalsa, Chrysanthemum indicum, Lavandula hybrida, Rosa damascena, Echinophora tenuifolia, Foeniculum vulgare were examined. To evaluate thein vitro antibacterial activities of these eight aromatic extracts; theirin vitro antimicrobial activities were determined by disk diffusion testing, according to the NCCLS criteria.Escherichia coli (ATTC 25922J,Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) andPseudomonas aeruginosa (ATTC 27853 were used as standard test bacterial strains.Origanum onites recorded antimicrobial activity against all test bacteria, and was strongest againstStaphylococcus aureus. ForRosa damascena, Mentha piperita andLavandula hybrida antimicrobial activity was recorded only toStaphylococcus aureus. Juniperus exalsa, and Chrysanthemum indicum exhibited antibacterial activities against bothStaphylococcus aureus andEscherichia coli. We also examined thein vitro antimicrobial activities of some components of the essential oils and found some components with antimicrobial activity.

Archwire Ligation Techniques, Microbial Colonization, and Periodontal Status in Orthodontically Treated Patients

Fixed or removable orthodontic appliances impede the maintenance of oral hygiene and result in plaque accumulation. Plaque retention surrounding orthodontic appliances leads to enamel demineralization caused by organic acids produced by bacteria in the dental plaque. Many studies have evaluated the effects of fixed orthodontic appliances on microbial flora and periodontal status, but only a few have evaluated the method of ligation as an additional factor. The aim of this study was to determine the changes in microbial flora and periodontal status after orthodontic bonding and to determine whether two different archwire ligation techniques affect these changes. A total of 21 orthodontic patients scheduled for fixed orthodontic treatment were selected for this split-mouth study. Two commonly used auxiliaries (elastomeric rings and ligature wires) for tying archwires were tested. Microbial and periodontal records were obtained before bonding (T0), one week later (T1), and five weeks after bonding (T2). Paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed rank test were used to compare the groups statistically. Although, teeth ligated with elastomeric rings exhibited slightly greater numbers of microorganisms than teeth ligated with steel ligature wires, the differences were not statistically significant and could be ignored. The two archwire ligation techniques showed no significant differences in the gingival index, bonded bracket plaque index, or pocket depths of the bonded teeth. However, teeth ligated with elastomeric rings were more prone to bleeding. Therefore, elastomeric ring use is not recommended in patients with poor oral hygiene.

Serum Levels of IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13 and IFN-gamma in Behçet's disease.

Behçets disease (BD) is an inflammatory disease of unknown etiology. Although its pathogenesis is not fully understood, recent studies have suggested that immunological abnormalities and neutrophil hyperfunction may be involved in its etiology and pathophysiology. The immune system in BD can be characterized as a divergent cytokine production profile of the mixed Th1/Th2 cell type. In this study, we investigated the levels of interleukin (IL)‐4, IL‐10, IL‐12, IL‐13 and interferon‐γ in the sera of patients with BD, in comparison with recurrent aphthous stomatitis and healthy controls, to determine the Th1/Th2 profile of the disease. The levels of IL‐4, IL‐10 and IL‐13 were found to be high in active BD patients, and IL‐12 and interferon‐γ levels were lower in active BD patients than in inactive BD, recurrent aphthous stomatitis, and control patients.

Comparison of the BACTEC blood culture system versus conventional methods for culture of normally sterile body fluids.

This study compared the BACTEC™ blood culture system (Becton Dickinson Diagnostic Instrument Systems, Sparks, Md) with conventional culture methods for recovery and time to detection of significant isolates from normally sterile body fluids. A total of 412 specimens were included in the study. Half of the specimens were inoculated directly into the automated blood culture system. The remaining specimens were centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 min and were inoculated onto conventional media. Clinically significant microorganisms were isolated from 41 specimens (10%) by both culture systems; however, for 62 specimens (14.9%), growth was detected only with the BACTEC system. No isolates were detected with only conventional culture methods. A significant difference was noted between the blood culture system and routine culture methods for recovery of pathogenic microorganisms that were from sterile body fluids. The most frequently isolated microorganisms recovered only with the blood culture system were gram-positive cocci; gram-negative bacilli were the most frequently isolated microorganisms that were recovered with both culture methods.Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus viridans,Aeromonas hydrophila, andBrucella were recovered only with the blood culture system. Furthermore, the mean time to detection of significant pathogens was significantly less with the blood culture system than with conventional media. The BACTEC blood culture system was found to improve the yield of clinically significant isolates from normally sterile body fluids with reduced time to detection; it may be advantageous for isolation of fastidious microorganisms, such asBrucella andS pneumoniae, especially from cerebrospinal and synovial fluid specimens.

Fascioliasis in eosinophilic patients in the Isparta region of Turkey

Abstract.Background: The aim of this study was to investigate fascioliasis in a group of eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic patients in the Isparta region of Turkey. Patients and Methods: All cases were examined for antibodies against Fasciola hepatica by the modified ES-ELISA method. Seropositive patients with fascioliasis were investigated by radiological and laboratory evaluations. Results: Of the 756 eosinophilic patients, 6.1% were found to be positive for fascioliasis by ES-ELISA, while the rate was only 0.9% among the non-eosinophilic group (statistically significant, p < 0.001). Among the seropositives, 19 cases were evaluated further. Ultrasonographic findings were found in 14 of the 19 cases. In six of nine cases, computed tomography findings were related to fascioliasis. F. hepatica eggs were found in ine of the 19 cases. Conclusion: Fascioliasis was demonstrated in the Isparta region of Turkey for the first time. The higher prevalence of fascioliasis among patients with eosinophilia indicates the importance of this sign for this infection.

Distribution of genes encoding resistance to macrolides, lincosamides and streptogramins among clinical staphylococcal isolates in a Turkish university hospital.

This study investigated the prevalence of genes encoding resistance to macrolides, lincosamides and streptogramins (MLS(B)) among staphylococci in a series of 301 erythromycin-resistant clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS). Erythromycin-resistance phenotypes were determined according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines and specific resistance genes erm(A), erm(B), erm(C), msr(A) and msr(B) were identified using polymerase chain reaction. Two hundred of 301 (66.5%) erythromycin-resistant staphylococcal isolates exhibited resistance to MLS(B) antibiotics. Of these, 127 (63.5%) exhibited a cMLS(B) resistance phenotype (resistant to both erythromycin and clindamycin), whereas 73 (36.5%) expressed the iMLS(B) resistance phenotype (resistant to erythromycin and susceptible to clindamycin). The most prevalent resistance determinants were erm(A) (62%) among S. aureus and erm(C) (30%) among CoNS isolates. Combinations of resistance mechanisms were rarely seen, and occurred most often in oxacillin-resistant isolates. The results of the present study support the idea that there are geographical differences in the prevalence of erythromycin resistance mechanisms among staphylococci, therefore local surveillance studies are important tools for guiding therapy and in the promotion of judicious use of antimicrobial agents.

Macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B resistance phenotypes in clinical staphylococcal isolates

The prevalence of macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLSB) resistance as well as the MLSB resistance phenotypes were investigated by the double-disk diffusion test among 532 clinical staphylococci isolates in a Turkish university hospital. The activity of other antimicrobials, including trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, telithromycin, quinupristin/dalfopristin, linezolid, gentamicin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin and vancomycin, was also evaluated. Of 532 isolates, 38.5% were resistant to MLSB antibiotics; 63.9% of the resistant isolates exhibited a constitutive phenotype (cMLSB) whereas 36.1% expressed an inducible resistance phenotype (iMLSB). MLSB resistance was more prevalent among coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) strains. Oxacillin-resistant strains exhibited significantly higher MLSB resistance rates compared with oxacillin-susceptible strains (P<0.0001). The most frequently detected resistance phenotype among the total staphylococcal isolates was the constitutive type and this phenotype was more frequently encountered among oxacillin-resistant strains. With the exception of the fully active agents such as vancomycin, linezolid and quinupristin/dalfopristin, the most effective antibiotics were telithromycin and chloramphenicol among all isolates. Susceptibility rates to other antibiotics tested were higher among isolates without MLS(B) resistance than isolates with MLSB resistance. The detection of a considerable rate (43.5%) of iMLSB resistance among erythromycin-resistant/clindamycin-susceptible strains suggests that the true percentage of clindamycin resistance may be underestimated if testing for inducible resistance is not performed.

Epidemiologic characterization of nosocomial Acinetobacter baumannii infections in a Turkish university hospital by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.

BACKGROUND Although members of the Acinetobacter genus are not commonly part of the human flora, their relatively high prevalence in hospital environment frequently results in colonization of the skin and respiratory tract. OBJECTIVES The present investigation was carried out to elucidate epidemiologic characteristics of nosocomial Acinetobacter baumannii infections in a teaching hospital. METHODS Epidemiologic, clinical, and demographic features of the 66 patients with A baumannii infection during a 14-month period were recorded. Antibiotic susceptibilities of the isolates were determined by the standardized disk-diffusion method, and the clonal relationship of the isolates was analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). RESULTS The incidence of A baumannii infection was especially high in January, April, May, and June 2006. The isolates were most frequently obtained from blood and tracheal aspirates sent from the intensive care unit and neurosurgery ward. Although the most frequently identified predisposing factors were cerebrovascular disease and surgical operation, the main risk factors identified in these patients were catheterization and mechanical ventilation. Genotype analysis of the 66 A baumannii strains by PFGE revealed the circulation of 36 different PFGE types, of which type A (12) and K (17) accounted for 44% of the isolates. We found high clonal relationship (80.3%) among the typed strains. Thirteen antibiotypes were observed. Most of the isolates were multidrug resistant. Resistance to imipenem, meropenem, gentamicin, amikacin, tobramycin, netilmicin, ampicillin-sulbactam, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, piperacillin-tazobactam, cefoperazone-sulbactam, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin were found in 44%, 47%, 47%, 84.8%, 21.2%, 3%, 62.1%, 57.6%, 94%, 62.1%, 95.5%, and 95.5% of the isolates, respectively. CONCLUSION The epidemiologic data obtained suggested that the increase in the number of A baumannii infections in our hospital was caused by the interhospital spread of especially 2 epidemic clones. We determined that clonally related strains can survive for a long time in our hospital and cause nosocomial infections in the predisposed patients.

Relationship between Toxocara seropositivity and allergic rhinitis.

Background Allergic rhinitis is the most common chronic disease in the upper respiratory tract, requiring better diagnostic methodology to counteract its onslaught. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between Toxocara seropositivity and allergic rhinitis. Methods Sixty-four consecutive patients with allergic rhinitis and 61 healthy volunteers in the control group were included in this study. The diagnosis of allergic rhinitis was defined by positive epicutaneous prick test. The diagnosis of toxocariasis was established by IgG and specific IgE antibodies against Toxocara by ELISA method. All cases were examined for intestinal parasites also. The seropositive cases with Toxocara were reevaluated for symptoms and signs of toxocariasis. Results Higher toxocariasis seropositivity (ELISA IgG; 28.1%) rate was determined in the patients with allergic rhinitis and compared with the control groups (11.5%; p < 0.05). Specific IgE seropositivity (17.2%) was high for the patients with allergic rhinitis compared with the control group (3.3%; p < 0.05). Conclusion Our results show that there was a possible causal relationship between Toxocara infection and allergic rhinitis. Patients with allergic rhinitis from a region with high prevalence for this parasitic infection should be evaluated for Toxocara infection.

Effect of bracket type on halitosis, periodontal status, and microbial colonization

OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of bracket type on halitosis, periodontal status, and microbial colonization. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty-six patients scheduled for fixed orthodontic treatment (age 11-16 years) were selected from the orthodontic department of Suleyman Demirel University. Patients were divided into two groups with random distribution of brackets; 23 patients were treated with self-ligating brackets (group SLBs), the others with conventional brackets (group CBs). Halitosis measurements and periodontal and microbial records were obtained before the placement of brackets (T0), 1 week later (T1), and 5 weeks after bonding (T2). Periodontal parameters, including plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), and bleeding on probing index (BOP), were obtained from all the bonded teeth. Halitosis measurements were performed at the same time. Microbial samples were obtained from the buccal surfaces of all the bonded teeth. Data were analyzed by using a repeated-measurement analysis of variance test for the comparison of parameters between groups and times. RESULTS Periodontal parameters and halitosis results were higher in the CBs group than in the SLBs group (P<.05). In the SLBs group, halitosis and BOP values revealed no pronounced changes between T1 and T2 (P>.05). Intra- and intergroup comparisons showed that there were no statistically significant differences for microbial colonization between all the time intervals (P>.05). CONCLUSION Bracket type has an effect on halitosis and periodontal status. Therefore, self-ligating brackets may be advised in order to prevent patients from developing halitosis and to increase the likelihood of good oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment.