Evaluation of monocyte to HDL cholesterol ratio and other inflammatory markers in patients with psoriasis.

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease frequently associated with serious comorbidities.

Objectives: To investigate the systemic inflammatory burden in psoriasis and to assess the correlation between traditional and novel inflammatory markers and the severity of the disease.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 60 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 50 healthy volunteers.

The Serum Levels of Resistin and Its Relationship with Other Proinflammatory Cytokines in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease.

Objective: The present study aims to analyze the levels of resistin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-), interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-18, and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and also investigate a potential relationship between resistin levels and TNF-, IL-1, IL-6, IL-18, and CRP levels in patients with AD.

Methods: The study included fifty patients with AD and 30 healthy controls with normal cognitive functions. The serum resistin, TNF-, IL-1, IL-6, IL-18, and CRP levels were assessed.

Comparison of HCV core antigen and anti-HCV with HCV RNA results.

Background: The measurement of anti-HCV antibodies using immunological methods and the confirmation of viral nuclear acid based on molecular methods is important in diagnosis and follow-up of the HCV infection.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to analyse HCV core Antigen positivity among anti-HCV antibody positive sera to determine the significance of testing of HCV core Ag for the laboratory diagnosis of HCV infection, by considering the correlation between serum HCV core Ag and HCV RNA levels.

Methods: 115 patients suspected of having hepatitis C and who were positive for anti-HCV antibody were investigated using chemiluminescent and molecular methods.

Determination of in vitro activities of polymyxin B and rifampin in combination with ampicillin/sulbactam or cefoperazone/sulbactam against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii by the E-test and checkerboard methods.

The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro activities of polymyxin B (PB) and rifampin (RIF) in combination with ampicillin/sulbactam (AS) or cefoperazone/sulbactam (CS) against 20 multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-AB) isolates by the checkerboard and E-test methods. Fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) values were defined as synergy, FICI ≤ 0.5; additivity, 0.

Effect of probiotics on aspirin-induced gastric mucosal lesions.

Background/aims: We aimed to investigate the role of a probiotic mixture, including 13 different bacteria, in the prevention of aspirin-induced gastric mucosal injury.

Methods: Forty rats were allocated into 4 groups: normal control, aspirin, probiotic control, and probiotic plus aspirin. Normal control and aspirin groups received 0.

Preventive effect of probiotics and α-tocopherol on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats.

The protective effect of a probiotic mixture of 13 different bacteria and α-tocopherol on 98% ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury was evaluated. Levels of gastric mucosal pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, malondialdehyde, and secretory immunglobulin A were measured. Rats were allocated into four groups: control, ethanol, probiotic, and α-tocopherol.

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.

[The role of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies in serologic diagnosis and evaluation of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis].

Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies are used as highly specific and sensitive markers in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), in recent years. The aim of this prospective and cross-sectional study was to measure the levels of anti-CCP and rheumatoid factor (RF) in patients with RA and osteoarthritis, and healthy volunteers to evaluate the specificity and possible diagnostic value of anti-CCP and RF, as well as their correlations with parameters of disease activity. Thirty-four patients with RA (mean age: 53.

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.

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.

Distribution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes among HBV carriers in Isparta.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes in Isparta, Southwest of Turkey, as well as the clinical features and transmission route for patients with HBV infections.

Methods: Patients (n = 135) with HBV infection were included in the study. Epidemiological and clinical data were obtained.

Pathogenicity of Blastocystis hominis, a clinical reevaluation.

Blastocystis (B.) hominis was considered to be a member of normal intestinal flora in the past, but in recent years it has been accepted as a very controversial pathogenic protozoan. In this study, 52 individuals whose stool examination revealed B.

Adenosine deaminase activity in serum of patients with hepatitis -- a useful tool in monitoring clinical status.

Background And Purpose: The evaluation of adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in sera of patients with hepatitis should be considered a useful tool in the monitoring of their clinical status. In this study, we aimed to determine the relationship between viral load, transaminase levels, and serum ADA levels in hepatitis B virus (HBV)- and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients.

Methods: Seventy three patients with hepatitis B, 71 patients with hepatitis C and 40 healthy individuals were included.

Seroprevalence of fasciolosis and the difference of fasciolosis between rural area and city center in Isparta, Turkey.

Objective: To investigate the seroprevalence of fasciolosis and the possible causes of differences between rural and city center.

Methods: We undertook a multi-stage sampling analysis of data from Isparta, Turkey, between March and June 2004. Four hundred and fifteen individuals participants from Isparta center and 171 from Asagi Gokdere village were included in the study.

Lipid peroxidation level and antioxidant enzyme activities in the blood of patients with acute and chronic fascioliasis.

Objective: In this study, we investigated the relationship between fascioliasis and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities. We also investigated whether there are significant differences in MDA levels and antioxidant enzymatic activities between acute and chronic fascioliasis.

Methods: Forty fascioliasis patients who were diagnosed by ES-ELISA positivity were included in this study.

Eosinophil cationic protein in patients with fascioliasis: its probable effects on symptoms and signs.

Eosinophilia is 1 of the most common signs of fascioliasis especially during acute stage. In this study, our aim was to determine eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in the sera of patients with fascioliasis and to investigate the likely relation between ECP and symptoms and signs of fascioliasis. Presence of high liver enzyme levels, eosinophilia, abdominal pain or urticaria was not found to be significantly associated with ECP positivity (p>0.

Infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae but not Helicobacter pylori is related to elevated apolipoprotein B levels.

Objective: Results of many studies show that apolipoprotein B (apo B) is a better marker of risk of vascular disease than other lipid markers including LDL and HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides. We investigated the association between two infectious agents: C. pneumoniae and H.

Detection of Helicobacter pylori and Chlamydia pneumoniae DNA in human coronary arteries and evaluation of the results with serologic evidence of inflammation.

Objective: Atherosclerosis is pathologically similar to a chronic inflammatory response. Recent reports have suggested that Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) and Helicobacter pylori (H.

The demonstration of serum interleukin 6-8, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, complement, and immunoglobulin levels in Behçet's disease with ocular involvement.

Purpose: To investigate whether there are alterations in the humoral immune system in patients with Behçet's disease (BD) with ocular involvement.

Methods: Twenty-four BD patients with active uveitis and without any other manifestations of the disease were included in Group I-a. The same patients were reassessed during the convalescence period and assigned to Group I-c.

Tissue parasites in patients with chronic urticaria.

Chronic urticaria is an important diagnostic and therapeutic problem. We aimed to investigate the sero-prevalence of tissue parasites causing toxocariasis and fasciolosis in patients with chronic urticaria. All cases were analyzed for antibodies against Toxocara canis and Fasciola hepatica by modified (homemade) ELISA.

Pansclerotic morphea treated with UVA: a case report.

We present an 8-year-old girl with pansclerotic morphea of childhood, a rare, severe variant of localized scleroderma. Various systemic agents and PUVA are used in the treatment of this disease. We used UVA therapy in the treatment of this case.

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

Behçet's 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.

Antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of some essential oils.

In this study the composition and antimicrobial properties of essential oils obtained from Origanum onites, Mentha piperita, Juniperus exalsa, Chrysanthemum indicum, Lavandula hybrida, Rosa damascena, Echinophora tenuifolia, Foeniculum vulgare were examined. To evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activities of these eight aromatic extracts; their in vitro antimicrobial activities were determined by disk diffusion testing, according to the NCCLS criteria. Escherichia coli (ATTC 25922), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATTC 27853 were used as standard test bacterial strains.