Is procalcitonin valuable in the differential diagnosis of testicular torsion and epididymo-orchitis.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of procalcitonin (PCT) in the differential diagnosis of testicular torsion and epididymo-orchitis.

Methods: This experimental study was performed in the research laboratory of Dicle University, School of Medicine, Diyarbakir, Turkey between March and June 2008. The study included 24 male rats randomized equally in 3 groups: sham, epididymo-orchitis, and torsion groups.

Screening for Celiac disease in Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients.

Background/aims: Celiac disease is an abnormal T cell-mediated immune response against dietary gluten in genetically predisposed individuals. The aim of our prospective study was to evaluate the frequency of Celiac disease in patients with lymphoma and to determine the usefulness of the anti-gliadin and anti-endomysial antibodies (EMA) for diagnosis of Celiac disease in this patient group.

Methods: We studied 119 patients with previously or newly diagnosed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 60 patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma who presented at the hematology and medical oncology divisions of Dicle University Hospital in Turkey between December 2002 and January 2006.

Prevalence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody positivity in patients with Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a single center experience.

Hematological malignancies are associated with the release of different autoantibodies and rheumatological manifestations. Systemic vasculitides are rare in hematological malignancies, and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) have not been described sufficiently in hematological malignancies. In this present prospective study, we examined the prevalence of ANCA and related disease in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients in the southeast region of Turkey.

Hereditary thrombophilic factors in stroke due to cerebral infarct.

Background: The stroke is the third most common cause of all deaths. In new studies, the importance of hereditary thrombophilic factors on stroke is emphasized. The aim of this study is to determine the role of hereditary thrombophilic factors including factor V Leiden A1691G (FVL), prothrombin G20210A, and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T gene mutations in patients with stroke because of cerebral infarct.

Thrombophilias and arteriovenous fistula dysfunction in maintenance hemodialysis.

Most episodes of fistula thrombosis are consequences of underlying physioanatomic abnormalities. However, some dialysis access thrombosis develops independent from any obvious anatomic cause. We aimed to clarify the role of thrombophilias in primary and secondary AVF failure.

Familial Mediterranean fever gene mutations in the Southeastern region of Turkey and their phenotypical features.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by recurrent inflammatory attacks of serosal membranes. Several studies have focused on the differences between frequency of the mutations and their phenotypical manifestations. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether or not this phenotypical variation is associated with the existence of particular mutations.

Factor V Leiden G1691A, prothrombin G20210A, and MTHFR C677T mutations in Turkish inflammatory bowel disease patients.

Background/aims: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an increased risk for thromboembolic complications. We investigated the incidence of factor V Leiden G1691A, methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T, and prothrombin G20210A mutation in 27 Turkish IBD patients with no history of thromboembolic disease.

Methodology: Twenty-seven patients, 22 with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 5 with Crohn's disease (CD), and 47 healthy were included to the study.

Factor V Leiden and G20210A prothrombin mutations in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss: data from the southeast of Turkey.

Factor V Leiden (FV-Leiden) and prothrombin gene mutations (FII G20210A) are well-established independent risk factors for thrombosis. In the recent years, many studies have suggested that these mutations are associated with an increased risk of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). We aimed to investigate the prevalence of these molecular defects in subjects with a history of early RPL.

A comprehensive analysis of 12 thrombophilic mutations and related parameters in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: data from Turkey.

Background: Possible association of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with the most common inherited prothrombotic conditions has been the focus of many investigations. Advance in modern molecular biology is expanding the thrombophilia evaluation steadily. We tried to put forward a comprehensive thrombophilic profile in IBD and to see the probable role of this profile in pathogenesis.

Could platelet aggregation ratio be an indicator for differential diagnosis of transient ischemic attack and cerebral ischemic stroke?

Background: Platelet aggregation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of thromboembolic cerebrovascular disease. Platelet aggregation ratio (PAR) and its derivates have been used successfully to identify the effectiveness of antiplatelet agents and their optimum dosage in patients suffering from stroke. However, we failed to find any study using PAR as a predictive factor in differential diagnosis of ischemic cerebrovascular diseases.

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.

Cerebrospinal fluid prostate specific antigen (CSF PSA) in prostate cancer patients with lower spine metastasis.

Aim: In this prospective study, our aim was to investigate the CSF PSA levels and CSF/Serum PSA ratios in patients with prostate cancer with lower spine metastasis.

Methods: The study involved patients with prostate cancer (n = 15), benign prostatic hyperplasia (n = 17) and non-prostatic disease (n = 9). Serum and CSF were obtained prior to spinal anesthesia for urological surgery.

Prevalence of factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A gene mutation.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of factor V Leiden (FVL) and prothrombin gene (PG) 20210A mutations in patients who attended the outpatient clinic and do not have a family history of thrombosis.

Methods: We researched FVL and PG20210A mutations in 151 outpatients (92 males and 59 females) who attended the Pediatrics Polyclinic, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Turkey between May 2002 and July 2002. Peripheral venous bloods (2 cc) with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid were used to isolate DNA by high pure polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

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.

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).

Effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on hematologic and immunologic parameters in welders.

Background: Electric arc welding is known to cause considerable exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields. Although some studies of exposure to magnetic fields and epidemiologic studies have included groups of welders, typically little information is available concerning the hematologic and immunologic effects of ELF electromagnetic fields on welders. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to investigate whether or not extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMF) emitted from electric arc welding affect some hematologic and immunologic parameters of welders.