The determination of the protective role of sildenafil administration in rats with sepsis-induced liver injury.

Background: Sepsis is a complex syndrome which comes out after infection, characterized by activation of inflammation and infection and has a high morbidity and mortality. Sildenafil (SLD) is a selective phosphodiesterase Type 5 enzyme inhibitor and is used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction effectively all over the world. In this study, we investigated whether SLD had protective effect or not by studying the effect of SLD on reactive oxygen species and antioxidants in cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) polymicrobial sepsis model in rat liver histopathologically and biochemically.

Serum TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels in chronic HBV-infected patients.

Background: The objective of the study was to evaluate the serum levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 in chronic HBV-infected patients.

Methods: The present study was a single centre, prospective and randomised controlled trial. Twenty healthy volunteers and thirty HBeAg-negative patients with planned liver biopsy and treatment-naive diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) were included in the study.

Prognostic value of Golgi P 73 and Beta 2-microglobulin in patients with Viral Hepatitis B.

Previous studies detected higher Golgi protein 73 levels in the serum of patients with chronic liver disease. The Beta-2 microglobulin levels were also observed to be higher in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection compared to the inactive carriers and the protein plays an important role in the response to viral infections. The aim of the present study was to assess the liver fibrosis through non-invasive methods in chronic hepatitis B patients.

HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HIV seroprevalence among blood donors in Southeastern Anatolia, Turkey, 2011-2015.

Transmission of infections through blood and blood product transfusion is a serious healthcare problem. There are insufficient up-to-date data about seroprevalence of HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HIV ½ among healthy blood donors in Turkey. We aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HIV ½ in Southeastern Anatolia, Turkey.

Cytopenia in adult brucellosis patients.

Background & Objectives: Brucellosis can lead to haematological abnormalities including cytopenia confusing with haematological malignancies. The aim of this study was to compare the main characteristics of brucellosis patients without cytopenia (Group 1) and with cytopenia (Group 2).

Methods: This five-year period study which was performed in two referral hospitals in Turkey, included all adult brucellosis patients.

Use of carbapenems and glycopepdides is significant risk for multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections.

Introduction: Multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-Ab) infections are an important healthcare problem globally. The aim of this study was to evaluate risk factors associated with MDR-Ab infections in hospitalized patients in Turkey.

Methodology: A case-control study was performed in a tertiary care 1,303-bed university hospital, among case patients with MDR-Ab infections.

Antifungal Susceptibility and Risk Factors in Patients with Candidemia.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the antifungal susceptibility, typology, and risk factors of candidemia among adult and pediatric inpatients at a university hospital.

Materials And Methods: A case-control study was designed, and data collected between December 2013 and December 2014 were retrospectively evaluated. The case group consisted of patients with candidemia.

UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS and GC-MS Analyses on Phenolic, Fatty Acid and Essential Oil of with Antioxidant, Anticholinesterase, Antimicrobial and DNA Damage Protection Effects.

This paper is the first phytochemical and ABTS cation radical decolorisation activity, cupric reducing antioxidant capacity, anticholinesterase and DNA damage protection effect of endemic (Boiss.) O. Kuntze.

For reliable urine cultures in the detection of complicated urinary tract infection, do we use urine specimens obtained with urethral catheter or a nephrostomy tube?

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the results of urine cultures obtained either from urethral, and percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) catheters.

Materials And Methods: This study included 328 consecutive patients that underwent PCN at our institution with complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) between July 2010 and April 2015. Results of urine cultures obtained from the urethral and nephrostomy catheters were compared.

Comparison of culture and PCR methods in the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis.

Our aim in this study is to compare the standard culture method with the multiplex PCR and the Speed-Oligo Bacterial Meningitis Test (SO-BMT) - a hybridization-based molecular test method - during the CSF examination of the patients with the pre-diagnosis of acute bacterial meningitis. For the purposes of this study, patients with acute bacterial meningitis treated at the Dicle University Medical Faculty Hospital, Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Clinic between December 2009 and April 2012 were retrospectively evaluated. The diagnosis of bacterial meningitis was made based on the clinical findings, laboratory test anomalies, CSF analysis results, and the radiological images.

Hydrocephalus and vasculitis delay therapeutic responses in tuberculous meninigitis: Results of Haydarpasa-III study.

Aims: There is no report on the factors affecting the resolution of symptoms related to meningitis during treatment of tuberculous meningitis (TBM). Thus, we examined the factors associated with early therapeutic responses.

Materials And Methods: This multicenter study included 507 patients with microbiologically confirmed TBM.

Activation of toxoplasma retinochoroiditis during pregnancy and evaluation of ocular findings in newborns.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate patients with activation of toxoplasma retinochoroiditis during pregnancy and ocular findings in newborns. A total of 17 pregnant patients who were clinically and serologically diagnosed with ocular toxoplasmosis were retrospectively reviewed. After birth, ocular findings for all infants were recorded.

Antituberculosis drug resistance patterns in adults with tuberculous meningitis: results of haydarpasa-iv study.

Background: Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistant to antituberculosis drugs is an increasingly common clinical problem. This study aimed to evaluate drug resistance profiles of TBM isolates in adult patients in nine European countries involving 32 centers to provide insight into the empiric treatment of TBM.

Methods: Mycobacterium tuberculosis was cultured from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 142 patients and was tested for susceptibility to first-line antituberculosis drugs, streptomycin (SM), isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RIF) and ethambutol (EMB).

Risk Factors for Colistin-Associated Acute Kidney Injury: A Multicenter Study from Turkey.

The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and risk factors due to colistin use in patients infected with multidrug-resistant pathogens. This multicenter, retrospective, observational study was conducted in Turkey, at 5 different research and university hospitals. Cox regression analyses were performed, to determine independent predictors of AKI.

Fibromyalgia incidence among patients with hepatitis B infection.

Aim: The purpose of our investigation was to evaluate the incidence of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and identify FMS-related clinical symptoms in hepatitis B virus (HBV) patients.

Methods: One hundred and eighteen HBV surface antigen (HbsAg)-positive patients (40 with chronic active hepatitis B, 40 hepatitis B carriers and 38, all of whom had been antiretroviral-treated for at least 3 months) were included in this study. In addition, 60 age- and gender-matched HbsAg-negative healthy controls were included in the study.

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate treatment in HbeAg-positive patients.

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Tenofovir DF) is a nucleotide analogue. This multicentre study reports retrospectively the long-term efficacy and safety data with tenofovir DF treatment in nucleosid(t)e-naive, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B patients. Thirty-one patients (11 females, 20 males) received 245 mg tenofovir DF per diem.

Hamsi scoring in the prediction of unfavorable outcomes from tuberculous meningitis: results of Haydarpasa-II study.

Predicting unfavorable outcome is of paramount importance in clinical decision making. Accordingly, we designed this multinational study, which provided the largest case series of tuberculous meningitis (TBM). 43 centers from 14 countries (Albania, Croatia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Hungary, Iraq, Italy, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Syria, Turkey) submitted data of microbiologically confirmed TBM patients hospitalized between 2000 and 2012.

In vitro susceptibility to methicillin, vancomycin and linezolid of staphylococci isolated from bloodstream infections in eastern Turkey.

Staphylococcus species are one of the major causes of bacterial bloodstream infections. Multi-resistant staphylococci infections are major therapeutic problems. This study was aimed to detect methicillin, linezolid and vancomycin susceptibilities of Staphylococcus isolates.

[Fascioliasis and brucellosis in same patient].

Brucellosis is a zoonotic infectious disease that can affect many organs and systems and leads to very different clinical circumstances. Brucellosis is rare in association with various infectious agents. Fascioliasis is a zoonotic disease caused by Fasciola hepatica, popularly referred to as a large leaf-shaped liver fluke.

Cutaneous anthrax in Southeast Anatolia of Turkey.

Context: Anthrax is a rare disease cause by Bacillus anthracis, a Gram-positive, rod-shaped endospore-forming capsuled bacterium. Anthrax is manifest in three primary forms: cutaneous, respiratory, and gastrointestinal. Cutaneous anthrax accounts for approximately 95% of all cases of anthrax in humans.

Analysis of antimicrobial consumption and cost in a teaching hospital.

Background: The aim of this study is to compare the periods before and after the intervention applied using the ATC/DDD method in order to ascertain the rational use of antibiotics in a newly established hospital.

Method: The appropriateness of the hospital's antibiotic use, consumption rates and the costs were calculated and compared with other hospitals. Based on these data, an intervention has been planned in order to raise the quality of antibiotic use.

Assessment of perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis using ATC/DDD methodology.

Objectives: In the light of international experience and guidelines and in order to improve the quality of perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis (PAP), various hospitals have set up their own multidisciplinary healthcare teams and have evaluated the density of PAP through close supervision and interventions. The aim of the present study was to compare the density, quality, and cost of PAP before and after an intervention implemented at our hospital in order to increase the quality of PAP.

Methods: PAP was monitored using a form prepared in line with the international guidelines, which was completed by the infection control nurse under the supervision of the infectious diseases specialist.

Respiratory system involvement in brucellosis: the results of the Kardelen study.

Background: Pulmonary involvement is a rare complication of brucellosis. We describe the largest series to date, to our knowledge, of patients with pulmonary brucellosis.

Methods: This 10-year, retrospective, descriptive study involved 27 centers in Turkey, including all patients with brucellosis with confirmed respiratory system involvement.