An investigation of the relation between catalase gene polymorphism and catalase enzyme activity in leukemia patients.

Introduction: Catalase (CAT), an antioxidant enzyme, catalyzes conversion of hydrogen peroxide to water and molecular oxygen, protecting cells against oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association between polymorphism in the promoter region of the gene and leukemia risk and to determine the relationship between genotypes and CAT enzyme activities.

Material And Methods: Genotypes of 102 cases and 112 healthy controls' genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism methods.

A National Registry of Thalassemia in Turkey: Demographic and Disease Characteristics of Patients, Achievements, and Challenges in Prevention.

Objective: The Turkish Society of Pediatric Hematology set up a National Hemoglobinopathy Registry to demonstrate the demographic and disease characteristics of patients and assess the efficacy of a hemoglobinopathy control program (HCP) over 10 years in Turkey.

Materials And Methods: A total of 2046 patients from 27 thalassemia centers were registered, of which 1988 were eligible for analysis. This cohort mainly comprised patients with β-thalassemia major (n=1658, 83.

Change in plasma a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type-1 repeats-13 and von Willebrand factor levels in venous thromboembolic patients.

Objectives: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. A disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type-1 repeats-13 (ADAMTS-13) is a metalloprotease that cleaves plasma von Willebrand factor (VWF) multimers. The presence of large VWF multimers in the plasma due to ADAMTS-13 deficiency is the main factor in the pathogenesis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

[Flavivirus seroepidemiology in blood donors in Mersin province, Turkey].

Among the vector-borne flaviviruses, West Nile virus (WNV), tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and Dengue virus (DENV) constitute the most frequently-observed pathogens with significant public health impact in endemic regions throughout the globe. This seroepidemiological study was undertaken to investigate human exposure to DENV, WNV and TBEV, as well as other flaviviruses via various serological assays in the Mediterranean province of Mersin, Turkey, where scarce data is currently present for the circulation of these agent. A total of 920 sera were collected after informed consent from asymptomatic blood donors (all were male; age range: 18-63 yrs, mean age: 35.

Mean platelet volume and related factors in patients at different stages of diabetic nephropathy: a preliminary study.

Introduction: Mean platelet volume (MPV) is an independent cardiovascular disease predictor, and characteristics of MPV in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) are not well known.

Aim: To determine the MPV levels in patients at different stages of DN.

Patients And Methods: The MPV levels were investigated in healthy participants (group 1, n = 157), patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus without complication (group 2, n = 160), diabetic patients with clinical proteinuria (group 3, n = 144), and in patients with chronic kidney disease due to DN (group 4, n = 160).

Bloodstream infections and mortality-related factors in febrile neutropenic cancer patients.

Background: We performed a prospective observational cohort study to evaluate the causative bacteria and to identify risk factors for mortality in febrile neutropenic (FN) patients with blood stream infection (BSI).

Material/methods: We conducted a prospective data collection on all patients with bacteremia or fungemia. The patients were assigned into low-risk and high-risk groups in accordance with the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) Risk Index.

Serum stem cell factor level in renal transplant recipients with posttransplant erythrocytosis.

The etiology of posttransplant erythrocytosis (PTE) remains unclear, and the most frequently suggested causative factors are still a matter of controversy. We aimed to investigate serum-soluble stem cell factor (sSCF) along with serum erythropoietin (EPO) levels in renal transplant recipients (RTRs) with PTE. Thirteen RTRs with PTE, 42 RTRs without PTE, and 42 healthy controls were included.

[Investigation of SEN virus genotypes D and H among blood donors in Mersin University Medical School Hospital].

SEN virus is a recently discovered DNA virus, and eight genotypes (A to H) were detected by phylogenetic analysis. Genotype D (SENV-D) and H (SENV-H) are thought to be associated in the etiology of post-transfusion hepatitis. Although no strong association was revealed between liver pathology and SEN virus, the viral replication in hepatocytes and transmission by blood transfusions were well characterized.

Factor V Leiden mutation in venous thrombosis in southeast Turkey.

Venous thrombosis (VT) is a common disease, with an annual incidence in the general population of approximately 1 per 1,000. Factor V Leiden mutation (G1691A) (FVL) is the most common risk factor in venous thrombosis. The prevalence of FVL for thrombosis varies greatly in different regions of the world.

The effect of cromoglycate on time-dependent histamine and serotonin concentrations in stored blood products.

Biogenic amines, having vascular and inflammatory effects, are accepted as a potential threat for some non-hemolytic transfusion reactions. The aim of this study was to investigate time-dependent histamine/serotonin levels in stored blood products and to see whether cromoglycate has any effect on these mediators. Either for platelet or whole blood, 10-fold concentrations of cromoglycate (1 microg ml(-1), 10 microg ml(-1), 100 microg ml(-1)) with controls prepared as pairs of replicate bags collected from two healthy subjects, separately.

Relationship between ABO blood groups and skin cancers.

Studies of associations between various cancers and the ABO blood groups have shown elevated relative risks for some categories of disease. To date, no report has evaluated the relationship between the ABO blood groups and the skin cancers. To investigate this association, we conducted a retrospective study of premalignant and malignant tumors diagnosed in Turkey.

Prothrombin G20210A gene mutation with LightCycler polymerase chain reaction in venous thrombosis and healthy population in the southeast of Turkey.

Venous thrombosis (VT) is a common disease, with an annual incidence in the general population of approximately 1 per 1000. The prevalence of genetic risk factors for thrombosis varies greatly in different parts of the world. Prothrombin G20210A (PT G20210A) gene mutation has been recently identified as a common risk factor in venous thrombosis.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in southeast Turkey: clinicopathologic features of 490 cases.

We have carried out a retrospective analysis of 490 non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs), followed at our clinic, with the purpose of evaluating the clinicopathologic features of these patients. The patients were assessed with regard to their characteristics including age, gender, histologic distribution, stage, extranodal involvement, presenting symptoms, and biopsied site. Of the patients 314 (64%) were male and 176 (36%) were female.

Hepatitis C virus in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in southeastern Anatolia region of Turkey: a prospective case-control study of 119 patients.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been associated with several extrahepatic disorders including mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC), autoimmune thyroiditis, Sjogren's syndrome. Such associations have led to the suggestion that HCV may participate in the development of various immunmediated disorders. Recently, it has been hypothesised that HCV might act as a trigger for the development of monoclonal B-cell disorders such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

Sickle cell anemia connected with chronic intrahepatic cholestasis: a case report.

Sickle cell anemia is a disease caused by production of abnormal hemoglobin, which binds with other abnormal hemoglobin molecules within the red blood cell to cause rigid deformation of the cell. This deformation impairs the ability of the cell to pass through small vascular channels. Sludging and congestion of vascular beds may result, followed by tissue ischemia and infarction.

Serum levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and nitric oxide in patients with chronic hepatitis related to hepatitis C virus: connection fibrosis.

Background/aims: Chronicity of inflammation or fibrosis of liver parenchyma in patients with hepatitis C virus infection can be related to features of immunological responses in the liver. Adhesive interactions and free radicals are two important aspects of this inflammatory response. The aim of this study was to investigate serum sICAM-1 and nitric oxide levels in the sera of patients with post-hepatitis C chronic hepatitis.