A case report of bilateral atypical origin of pectoralis minor.

Purpose: In the existing literature, various insertion variations and classifications for the Pectoralis Minor (PMi) muscle have been reported. However, there is limited information on inferior origin variations of the PMi muscles and a certain classification is lacking.

Case Presentation: During routine cadaver dissection of an adult male, variations in the origin of the bilateral PMi muscles were identified.

Investigation of efflux pump genes in isoniazid resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most important infectious diseases worldwide. Resistance to antituberculosis drugs develops because of genetic mutations that render drug-activating enzymes inactive, changes in cell wall permeability, and increased expression of efflux pump genes and also combination therapy with efflux pump inhibitors may be more effective in drug-resistant TB patients.

Aims: To investigate the effect of verapamil (VR) on isonicotinic acid hydrazide (INH) resistance and the expression of 21 efflux pump genes in INH monoresistant MTBC clinical isolates.

[Investigation of Efflux Pump Genes in Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex Clinical Isolates Exposed to First Line Antituberculosis Drugs and Verapamil Combination].

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, still one of the most common life-threatening infectious diseases worldwide. Although drug resistance in M.tuberculosis is mainly due to spontaneous chromosomal mutations in genes encoding drug target or drug activating enzymes, the resistance cannot be explained only by these mutations.

Amplicon-based next-generation sequencing for comparative analysis of root canal microbiome of teeth with primary and persistent/secondary endodontic infections.

Objectives: To compare the root canal microbiome profiles of primary and persistent/secondary infections using high-throughput sequencing with the help of a reliable bioinformatics algorithm.

Materials And Methods: Root canal samples of 10 teeth in the primary endodontic infection (PEI) group and 10 teeth in the persistent/secondary endodontic infection (SEI) group were included resulting in a total of 20 samples. After DNA extraction from the samples, sequencing was performed on the Illumina MiSeq platform.

[The Mutations on embA, embB and embC Gene Region in Ethambutol-Resistant and Susceptible Clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex Isolates].

Ethambutol (EMB) is one of the first-line drugs used in the standard combination therapy for tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC), and resistance to drugs that play a key role in treatment is increasing worldwide. Mutations in the embCAB operon that have been confirmed to be associated with resistance are responsible for EMB resistance. In this study, it was aimed to determine the frequency and patterns of mutations in embA, embB and embC gene regions in clinical MTC isolates found to be phenotypically resistant and susceptible to EMB.

Platelet Indexes for Predicting Disease Severity and Prognosis in Elderly Patients with Coronavirus Disease-19.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the usefulness of platelet indices in predicting prognosis in coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19).

Methods: Patients aged ≥ 65 years who presented to the emergency department with a positive polymerase chain reaction test were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: Significant differences were found in the mean values of platelet (PLT) and plateletcrit (PCT) parameters in those with severe disease, those who died, and those who required intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

Possible relation between expression of circulating microRNA and plasma cytokine levels in cases of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is a life-threatening infection and early diagnosis is critical for treatment and prevention of transmission. There is evidence of correlation between miRNA expression and cytokine regulation during TB infection. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between expression levels of miRNAs in plasma and cytokine levels as a potential biomarker for genetic predisposition and/or early diagnosis of TB infection.

Determination of genetic diversity of multidrug-resistant strains in Turkey using 15 locus MIRU-VNTR and spoligotyping methods.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains the leading cause of deaths from infectious disease worldwide. Nowadays, the tendency of complex (MTBC) to spread between continents due to uncontrolled migration movements shows that TB is a global health problem. The number of studies for the detection of MTBC strains' epidemiological features in areas with TB spread risk using molecular-based methods such as spoligotyping and Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive Unit (MIRU) Variable Number Tandem Repeats (VNTR) at the clonal level is insufficient.

[Investigation of pncA, rpsA and panD Gene Mutations Associated with Resistance in Pyrazinamide-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Isolates and Spoligotyping].

Pyrazinamide (PZA) is one of the first-line anti-tuberculous drugs used in the treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Considering the ability of PZA to shorten the treatment period from 9-12 months to six months by eliminating persistent bacilli, it appears to be an important cornerstone of TB therapy. While the main mechanism causing the PZA resistance is pncA mutations at a rate of 70-97%, it has been determined that rpsA and panD mutations can also cause resistance.

[Longitudinal Monitoring of Seroconversion Status in SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Positive Healthcare Workers].

The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) still continues. The duration of the immune response in individuals recovering from COVID-19 and its protection against future SARS-CoV-2 infection are not fully understood. This study aimed to longitudinally evaluate anti-SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion status in healthcare workers with positive SARS-CoV-2 Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR), test in Mersin University Hospital.

[Legionella Species Isolated in the Water Systems of Ships and Their Molecular Characterization].

Legionella species are generally found in nature and in water resources, and they are gram negative bacilli that can cause pneumonia by being transmitted from water systems to humans via aerosol or aspiration. Legionnaires' disease caused by this agent continues to be a public health problem in cruise ships. In this study, it was aimed to determine the prevalence of the colonization of Legionella species by culture method and to determine the molecular characterization of the isolated Legionella in water samples taken from the water systems of the ships docking in Mersin International Port.

Multicenter evaluation of AYC.2.2 agar for the isolation of mycobacteria from clinical samples.

Purpose: The aim of this multicenter study is to evaluate AYC.2.2 agar for the isolation of mycobacteria from clinical samples.

The Prevalence of Hepatitis E Virus Infection in the Adult Turkish Population: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Prevalence Study in Blood Donors in Mersin Province.

Background: The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an RNA virus that causes acute hepatitis, and can become chronic in immunocompromised patients, though this is rare. The frequency of HEV infection varies, depending on factors such as geographical region, socioeconomic level, and age. Despite limited studies on the adult population in Turkey, there is no current information about HEV frequency in our country.

[Comparison of Real Time PCR Cycle Threshold Values in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic COVID-19 Patients].

Patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) show different clinical courses ranging from asymptomatic to severe infection requiring intensive care treatment and death. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR), used in the diagnosis, screening and surveillance of coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19), provides the viral load as a cycle threshold (Ct) value. It has been reported that the Ct value may be related to the course of the infection and the clinical condition of the patient.

[Assessment of COVID-19 Risky Contact of Healthcare Workers in an University Hospital].

Healthcare workers are the group with the highest risk of COVID-19 transmission. The illness of healthcare workers poses a risk to patients admitted to the hospital, colleagues and households besides their own health. In this study, it was aimed to determine the risk assessment and the factors associated with risk status of an university hospital healthcare workers after risky COVID-19 contact.

Association of cytokine gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to cutaneous leishmaniasis in a Turkish population.

Aims: The objective of this study was to determine the association of TNF-α -308 G/A, IFN-γ +874 T/A, IL-12B + 1188 A/C, IL-10 -1082 G/A and IL-4 -590 C/T polymorphisms with susceptibility to CL.

Methods And Results: A total of 55 CL patients and 110 controls from Sanlıurfa province of Turkey were included to this study. Polymorphisms were genotyped by 'polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP)' and 'amplification refractory mutation system-PCR (ARMS-PCR)' methods.

Serological evidence of Rift Valley fever virus among humans in Mersin province of Turkey.

Background & Objectives: Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a vector-borne pathogen that causes serious outbreaks among livestock, and severe symptoms and mortality in humans. The virus is known to be widespread throughout African countries and Arabian peninsula. The aim of the present study was to investigate the seroprevalence of RVFV infection among human populations of Mersin province, Turkey.

[Detection and Molecular Characterization of Human Adenoviruses from Acute Conjunctivitis Cases].

Human adenoviruses (hAdV) can cause a wide range of clinical diseases in children and adults that mainly affect respiratory, eye and gastrointestinal systems. Ocular hAdV infections have various clinical manifestations such as epidemic keratoconjunctivitis, pharyngoconjunctival fever and non-specific follicular conjunctivitis. The hAdV genotypes which can cause conjunctivitis vary according to geographic distribution.

A new colorimetric method for rapid detection of ethambutol and streptomycin resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis: crystal violet decolorization assay (CVDA).

Streptomycin (STR) and ethambutol (EMB) are important drugs used for the treatment of tuberculosis. There is a need for fast, reliable and inexpensive methods for detecting resistance to these drugs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the crystal violet decolorization assay (CVDA) for the detection of STR and EMB resistance that is important drugs in tuberculosis treatment.

Female genital tuberculosis cases with distinct clinical symptoms: Four case reports.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Genital TB (GTB) is a form of extrapulmonary TB that occurs more frequently in women, in whom it classically presents in association with menstrual irregularity, pregnancy loss and short and long-term sequelae especially infertility in infected women. Patients with GTB are usually young women diagnosed during workup for infertility.

The value of acute phase reactants and LightCycler® SeptiFast test in the diagnosis of bacterial and viral infections in pediatric patients.

Introduction: This study was performed to investigate the value of acute phase reactants and LightCycler® SeptiFast test to differentiate bacterial and viral infections.

Population And Methods: Children with fever were enrolled to this prospective study. Peripheral white blood cell (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) were studied from all patients on day 1, 3 and 7.

Design of potent fluoro-substituted chalcones as antimicrobial agents.

Owing to ever-increasing bacterial and fungal drug resistance, we attempted to develop novel antitubercular and antimicrobial agents. For this purpose, we developed some new fluorine-substituted chalcone analogs (3, 4, 9-15, and 20-23) using a structure-activity relationship approach. Target compounds were evaluated for their antitubercular efficacy against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv and antimicrobial activity against five common pathogenic bacterial and three common fungal strains.

Multicenter evaluation of crystal violet decolorization assay (CVDA) for rapid detection of isoniazid and rifampicin resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The aim of this multicenter study was to evaluate the performance of the crystal violet decolorization assay (CVDA) for detection of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). This study was performed in 11 centers in two phases. A total of 156 isolates were tested for INH and RIF resistance.

Comparison of brucellar and tuberculous spondylodiscitis patients: results of the multicenter "Backbone-1 Study".

Background Context: No direct comparison between brucellar spondylodiscitis (BSD) and tuberculous spondylodiscitis (TSD) exists in the literature.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare directly the clinical features, laboratory and radiological aspects, treatment, and outcome data of patients diagnosed as BSD and TSD.

Study Design: A retrospective, multinational, and multicenter study was used.

[Characterization of basal core promoter/precore gene mutations in chronically infected patients with hepatitis B virus genotype D in Mersin Province, Turkey].

The basal core promoter (BCP) and precore (PC) gene regions of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome are important for the viral replication and synthesis of "e" antigen. Genetic variability has been described in PCP and PC gene regions, commonly in HBeAg negative patients. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of the predominant mutation patterns of BCP/PC gene regions and their correlations with HBeAg status, HBV-DNA levels, and liver biochemical profiles in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients infected with genotype D, in Mersin province which is located at Mediteranean part of Turkey.