Comparison of intra-assay and inter-assay reproducibility and positive detection times of two different (BacT/Alert 3D and Autobio BC) commercial blood culture systems.

Purpose: In our study, we aimed to compare the performance of the BacT/Alert 3D (bioMerieux, France) system, which is currently used in our laboratory, and the Autobio BC (Autobio, China) system, which was newly introduced in our country, using standard and clinical isolates.

Methods: Bacterial suspension was prepared by two technicians on the same day and three consecutive days from five different standard strains with 0.5 McFarland turbidity, then serial dilution to a final concentration was adjusted and was simultaneously inoculated in aerobic blood culture bottles.

Prediction of visceral adipose tissue magnitude using a new model based on simple clinical measurements.

Aims: Waist circumference (WC) is a reliable obesity surrogate but may not distinguish between visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue. Our aim was to develop a novel sex-specific model to estimate the magnitude of visceral adipose tissue measured by computed tomography (CT-VAT).

Methods: The model was initially formulated through the integration of anthropometric measurements, laboratory data, and CT-VAT within a study group (n=185), utilizing the Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS) methodology.

Identifying risk factors for blood culture negative infective endocarditis: An international ID-IRI study.

Background: Blood culture-negative endocarditis (BCNE) is a diagnostic challenge, therefore our objective was to pinpoint high-risk cohorts for BCNE.

Methods: The study included adult patients with definite endocarditis. Data were collected via the Infectious Diseases International Research Initiative (ID-IRI).

Is increased activator protein 1 in cerebrospinal fluid as a potential biomarker that distinguishes idiopathic intracranial hypertension from multiple sclerosis?

Objectives: To distinguish whether idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a condition predisposing to multiple sclerosis (MS) or an isolated disease, the current gene transcription factor Activator Protein-1 (AP-1) was evaluated with its potential to differentiate both diseases.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the use of AP-1 as biomarkers for the discrimination of IIH and MS.

Methods: AP-1, TNF-α, and IL-6 protein values in the CSF of the cases were evaluated by the ELISA method.

Risk factors for carbapenem-resistant infections in Intensive Care Units: a multicentre case-control study with a competing-risks analysis.

Aim: This study investigated the risk factors for the development of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) infections in adult patients in Intensive Care Units (ICUs).

Methods: A multicentre case-control study was conducted in ICUs in three tertiary hospitals in Turkey. The cases were patients culture-confirmed CRKP and a condition associated with healthcare-associated infections.