Detection of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus genome in saliva and urine.

Background: The Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus is transmitted by tick bites and by contact with the blood or tissues of infected patients and livestock. This study was designed to investigate the genome of CCHF virus in saliva and urine samples of patients with CCHF.

Methods: Eight patients with laboratory-confirmed CCHF were included in the study.

Molecular characterization of rotaviruses circulating in the population in Turkey.

Of a total of 508 stool specimens from children with acute diarrhoea, mostly under the age of 5 years, collected in nine cities in the western and southeastern regions of Turkey between May 2000 and October 2002, 119 (23.4%) were found positive for rotaviruses (RV) by ELISA. Positive samples were characterized by electropherotyping and G and P genotyping.

Presence of drug resistance in intestinal lactobacilli of dairy and human origin in Turkey.

The prevalence of different resistance genes was investigated in lactobacilli of human and dairy origin by PCR. The presence of erm, van, tet, and cat-TC genes were determined in 16 raw milk, 15 cream, 10 yogurt, 50 hand-made cheese, and 20 industrially produced white-cheese samples of dairy origin and 16 mouth, 32 fecal, and 36 vaginal samples from different subjects of human origin. Lactobacilli of dairy and human origin were found to carry only erm(B) and tet(M) genes.

GJB2 gene mutations causing familial hereditary deafness in Turkey.

Mutations in Connexin 26 (Cx26) play an important role in autosomal non-syndromic hereditary hearing loss. In this study, our objective was to find out the significance of Cx26 mutations in Turkish families who had hereditary deafness. Fourteen families who had at least two prelingually deaf children per family were included in the study.

Evaluation of a polymerase chain reaction amplification method for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex on samples from different sources.

Using primers specific for the IS6110 region of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, successful amplification by the polymerase chain reaction was demonstrated in 81 of 84 archive specimens from patients who had been clinically diagnosed 2 months to 16 y previously as having tuberculosis. Depending on the time of storage of the specimens, extra DNA bands were found in addition to the IS6110 region band.

Formalin fixing and paraffin embedding may lead to extra band development in PCR.

The molecular biological analysis of infectious agents requires the availability of a reliable source of microorganisms to be used to recover DNA. Clinical samples can be obtained directly from infected patients or can be propagated using in vitro or in vivo systems. However, repeated sampling from patients is not always possible as the procedure may be invasive or unpleasant, or it is not possible to catch the same agent at the time of second sampling.

Possible association of temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction with a polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction and serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene polymorphism. Forty-eight patients with temporomandibular joint pain and 111 healthy control subjects were examined. The results for the patients and control subjects were not significantly different (P >.

Significance of serotonin transporter gene polymorphism in migraine.

Objective: To elucidate significance of the serotonin transporter gene (STG) polymorphism in migraine, and to address the polymorphic patterns of STG, both in the migraineurs and healthy people in this country.

Study Design: A PCR study of STG in 52 migraineurs and 80 healthy controls.

Methods: Using the PCR technique, STG polymorphism was studied in the DNA obtained from leukocytes of the patients and healthy controls.