Cytokine response in crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever virus infection.

We described the predictive role of cytokines in fatality of Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV) infection by using daily clinical sera samples. Consequent serum samples of the selected patients in different severity groups and healthy controls were examined by using human cytokine 17-plex assay. We included 12 (23%) mild, 30 (58%) moderate, 10 (19%) severe patients, and 10 healthy volunteers.

Characteristics of cutaneous anthrax in Turkey.

Background: Incidence of anthrax is diminishing in developed countries; however, it remains a public health problem in developing countries, especially those whose main source of income is farming.

Methodology: Charts of patients hospitalized between 1992 and 2008 in the Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Department of Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital were reviewed.

Results: Fifty-eight cases with cutaneous anthrax were reviewed.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus on hospital admission in Turkey.

A total of 900 patients were screened for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on hospital admission, and 11 MRSA strains (1.2%) were detected. All 11 MRSA strains were positive for the mecA and PVL genes.

Epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of HIV/AIDS patients in Turkey, where the prevalence is the lowest in the region.

The authors describe the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of 97 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, who were followed between 1993 and 2006. Seventy-two percent of the patients were male, and median age at diagnosis was 36 years (range, 13-71 years). The mean years of survival was 3, and maximum length of life after diagnosis was 9 years.

Measles, rubella, mumps, and varicella seroprevalence among health care workers in Turkey: is prevaccination screening cost-effective?

Background: To investigate the immune status of health care workers (HCWs) against measles, rubella, mumps, and varicella zoster (MMRV) in Turkey and to define an appropriate vaccination program among HCWs.

Methods: Voluntary HCWs from a children's hospital and a general hospital were included in the study between March and May 2005. The specific IgG antibodies against MMRV viruses were screened by ELISA.

[Malaria in Turkey and 14 years of clinical experience].

In this retrospective study, the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of 105 adult malaria patients, who had been hospitalized between the period of 1992 and 2006 were evaluated. Nineteen percent of the patients were female, and the mean age was 28 +/- 10 years. Fifty percent of the patients acquired the infection in Southeastern Anatolia, while they were on military duty.

Cognitive and emotional changes in neurobrucellosis.

Objective: To determine cognitive and emotional changes among neurobrucellosis patients.

Methods: The patients with neurobrucellosis and controls with brucellosis without neurologic involvement were included in the study. Neurobrucellosis was diagnosed by the following criteria: (i) symptoms or clinical findings compatible with neurobrucellosis, including headache, confusion, mental and emotional changes; (ii) isolation of Brucella spp.

[Two leptospirosis cases and review of the national literature].

In this report, two cases of leptospirosis admitted to our clinic in the same periods, have been presented. The first patient was a 29 years old male farmer, and the other was a 44 years old male prisoner. Both of them were from Middle Anatolian Region with the similar clinical findings (subfebrile fever, gastrointestinal complaints, ichterus in sclera, leucocytosis, and increased levels of liver enzymes, urea and creatine).

[Case report: cutaneous tuberculosis and tuberculous osteomyelitis].

In this report, a 27 years old male patient diagnosed to have skin and bone tuberculosis (TB) has been presented. The patient admitted to the hospital with the complaints of fever, weight loss and night sweats. Patient's history revealed that following a trauma a skin lesion in the right ankle was developed and this was followed by the development of many lesions in different parts of the body.

Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever infection simulating acute appendicitis.

An unusual cause of acute abdominal pain simulating acute appendicitis is presented. The patient was admitted with complaints of fever, malaise, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and severe bleeding. Based on the clinical and epidemiological findings, a diagnosis of Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever virus infection was suspected, and ribavirin therapy was started.

[A case report: Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease].

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis) which presents with fever and lymphadenopathy, should be considered in differential diagnosis of fever with unknown origin. We presented a 19 years old male patient with complaints of fever and lymphadenopathy. The case was diagnosed as Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease by histopathological evaluation.

Risk of tuberculous infection among healthcare workers in a tertiary-care hospital in Ankara, Turkey.

Objective: To determine risk factors for tuberculin skin test (TST) positivity among healthcare workers (HCWs).

Design: Two-step TST was performed in 2002.

Setting: Tertiary-care hospital in Ankara, Turkey.

Characteristics of B. melitensis versus B. abortus bacteraemias.

Objective: To determine the epidemiological and the clinical characteristics of bacteremic brucellosis.

Methods: A prospective study, performed in the First Infectious Diseases Clinic of Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital. All the patients had positive culture result for Brucella spp.

Characteristics of patients with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in a recent outbreak in Turkey and impact of oral ribavirin therapy.

We describe the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory findings and the role of ribavirin therapy for 35 patients who received a diagnosis of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF). All patients had immunoglobulin M antibodies and/or PCR results positive for CCHF virus in blood or tissue specimens. Eighty-six percent of the patients were considered to have severe cases of CCHF.

In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of Brucella species.

MIC50 and MIC90 values of doxycycline, rifampicin, ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole and ceftriaxone for 42 blood isolates of Brucella species were determined using the Etest. Thirty-seven isolates were identified as B. melitensis and five as B.