Performance of the Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay in Diagnosis of HIV Infection; Comparative Evaluation with other Methods.

Background: Our study aimed to investigate the role of the enzyme linked fluorescent assay (ELFA) method in the diagnosis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection by comparing it with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and chemiluminescent microplate immunoassay (CMIA) methods and its role in the HIV diagnostic algorithm and to update the recommended algorithm for HIV testing.

Methods: We evaluated 101 HIV-reactive and 101 HIV-negative specimens. All samples were studied with the methods of anti HIV1/2 test micro-ELISA, ELFA, and CMIA.

As a Novel Procalcitonin Assay is Architect B∙R∙A∙H∙M∙S PCT; Comparison of Two Commercial Systems.

Background: Procalcitonin (PCT) is the precursor structure of the calcitonin hormone with 116 amino acids. The measurement of serum procalcitonin is currently being safely used in community-acquired pneumonia, bacterial peritonitis and sepsis in the diagnosis, decision on the initiation of treatment, and follow-up of the response to treatment. In this study, it is aimed to compare PCT results obtained by the VIDAS PCT that makes measurements by the enzyme-dependent fluorescence (ELFA) method and Architect PCT method, a chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) that has just been put into use, both of which are B∙R∙A∙H∙M∙S licensed and have method differences.

Comparison of the GeneXpert® MTB/RIF Test and Conventional Methods in the Diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Background: The objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of the GeneXpert MTB/RIF system in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) diagnosis and the detection of rifampicin resistance in pulmonary and extrapulmonary clinical samples.

Methods: A total of 849 samples (611 pulmonary and 238 extrapulmonary), which were sent to the laboratory of our hospital on suspicion of MTB, were included in the study. The samples cultured on Lowenstein Jensen medium and Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tubes.

Endocan, TGF-beta, and ADMA as Risk Factors for Endothelial Dysfunction and Possible Vascular Disease in Patients with Subclinical Hypothyroidism.

Purpose: Although the relationship between atherosclerosis and overt hypothyroidism has been confirmed, it remains controversial in cases of subclinical hypothyroidism. Higher TSH and similar T4 suggest differences in set-points or differences due to diagnostic limitations regarding subclinical hypothyroidism. Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is a marker rather than a precursor of cardiovascular disease.

Tuberculous arthritis of the elbow joint: A case report.

Tuberculous arthritis of the elbow joint is rare. A 57-year-old male patient presented with swelling, pain, and redness of the elbow. The symptoms first appeared one month ago; he was given antibiotic treatment after the diagnosis of septic arthritis at another center.

Comparison of fetuin-A and transforming growth factor beta 1 levels in patients with spondyloarthropathies and rheumatoid arthritis.

Aim: We investigated the serum transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1) and fetuin-A levels, and determined the relationships between these biomarkers and disease activity, mobility and radiologic progression in patients with spondyloarthropathy (SpA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Method: The study included 55 patients with SpA and 38 patients with RA, together with 28 healthy subjects. In AS patients, we assessed disease activity using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), functional ability using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), and mobility using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI), radiologic progression using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Index (BASRI).

Association of doripenem resistance with OXA-type carbapenemases in Acinetobacter baumannii isolates.

Objectives: To evaluate the in vitro activity of doripenem in Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) clinical isolates that possess different OXA-type carbapenemases, and to evaluate the roles of these enzymes in the development of carbapenem resistance.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted with 25 A.

Overlooked hematological markers of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between hematological markers and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Method: The study was designed and performed in the Department of Rheumatology of the Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine. In total, 102 patients with RA were retrospectively enrolled.

[Rare Case of Strongyloides stercoralis with Vitamin B12 Deficiency].

Strongyloidiyasis is endemic in tropical and subtropical regions, and mostly soil transmitted nematode disease that is seen as sporadic cases in Turkey. As may be asymptomatic in healthy individuals, it may even cause death in immunosuppressive people. We report a case of Strongyloides stercoralis infection in a patient, 29 years old young male was admitted to our institution with diarrhea who has got vitamin B12 deficiency and eosinophilia.

Roles of claudin-5 and von Willebrand factor in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects approximately 1% of the world's population. The pathogenesis of RA is not understood fully. It is assumed that endothelial function is associated with the proinflammatory state of RA.

Could a step in the isolation of mycobacteria from sputum samples be eliminated by new decontamination kits?

The efficacy of two mycobacterial homogenization, decontamination and concentration kits, Mycoprosafe and Decomics, were compared. A total of 146 sputum samples were examined in this study; 46 (31.5%) mycobacterial isolates were recovered with Mycoprosafe, while 39 (26.

Comparison of novel and familiar commercial kits for detection of C-reactive protein levels.

In this study, randomized patient sera were used to simultaneously evaluate an automated C-reactive protein (CRP) assay and a commercial semi-automated microCRP assay with respect to correlation, linearity, and accuracy. Patient specimens were analyzed; two independent assay runs were performed on i-CHROMA (Boditech Med Inc., Korea) and IMMAGE 800 (Beckman Coulter Inc.

Comparative evaluation of TK SLC-L, a rapid liquid mycobacterial culture medium, with the MGIT system.

Background: The present study was conducted to assess the efficiency of using TK SLC-L (Salubris, Inc.) for the primary isolation of mycobacteria from clinical samples by comparing it to the MGIT detection system (Becton Dickinson Diagnostic Instrument Systems). Although TK SLC, a biphasic medium, has been evaluated previously, this is the first study to evaluate TK SLC-L, a liquid medium.

Demodex spp. Infestation in a breast-cancer patient: A case report.

Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis are obligatory parasites that live in sebaceous glands and follicles. When immune system becomes suppressed by any reason, patients become vulnerable to obligatory parasites like D. folliculorum and D.

Associations between Demodex species infestation and various types of cancer.

Tumor-associated immune system cells secrete protease and cytokines that can inhibit the immune response. In particular, T-cell effector functions could be inhibited, potentially causing an increase in parasitic infestations. Demodex species are common inhabitants of normal hair follicles.

[Distribution of blaOXA genes in Acinetobacter baumannii strains: a multicenter study].

Acinetobacter baumannii is the most important agent of nosocomial infections within the Acinetobacter genus. This gram-negative coccobacillus is intrinsically resistant to many antibiotics used in antimicrobial therapy, and capable of developing resistance including carbapenems. The objective of this study was to develop a multiplex real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) kit for OXA subgroups in A.

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis: an autoimmune disease?

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the autoimmune basis of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) by determining the anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) and extractable nuclear antigen (ENA) levels of patients diagnosed with IGM.

Material And Methods: Twenty-six IGM patients were evaluated. Serum samples were analyzed for autoantibodies by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) using a substrate kit that induced fluorescein-conjugated goat antibodies to human immunoglobulin G (IgG).

Rapid detection of resistance in Staphylococcus aureus by using Quicolor ES.

Traditional microbiological methods are dependent on the growth of microorganisms, and hence require prolonged periods. The methods used to detect resistance in Staphylococcus aureus should have high sensitivity and specificity, yet provide results in a timely manner. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of Quicolor (QC) ES(®) agar for the rapid detection of resistance in S.