[Serological investigation of phlebovirus exposure in blood donors from the Mediterranean Province of Mersin, Turkey].

Phleboviruses are enveloped segmented RNA viruses, capable of inducing febrile disease and/or meningoencephalitis in exposed individuals, according to the infecting strain, following transmission via arthropods. Prototype medically-important phlebovirus strains responsible for sandfly fever are sandfly fever Sicilian virus (SFSV) and sandfly fever Naples virus (SFNV), where the SFSV variant sandfly fever Cyprus virus (SFCV) is also detected in individuals with febrile disease. Toscana virus (TOSV) is unique among phleboviruses as the cause of infections involving central nervous system.

[Characterization of basal core promoter/precore gene mutations in chronically infected patients with hepatitis B virus genotype D in Mersin Province, Turkey].

The basal core promoter (BCP) and precore (PC) gene regions of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome are important for the viral replication and synthesis of "e" antigen. Genetic variability has been described in PCP and PC gene regions, commonly in HBeAg negative patients. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of the predominant mutation patterns of BCP/PC gene regions and their correlations with HBeAg status, HBV-DNA levels, and liver biochemical profiles in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients infected with genotype D, in Mersin province which is located at Mediteranean part of Turkey.

Isolation, genetic characterization, and seroprevalence of Adana virus, a novel phlebovirus belonging to the Salehabad virus complex, in Turkey.

Unlabelled: A new phlebovirus, Adana virus, was isolated from a pool of Phlebotomus spp. (Diptera; Psychodidae) in the province of Adana, in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. Genetic analysis based on complete coding of genomic sequences indicated that Adana virus belongs to the Salehabad virus species of the genus Phlebovirus in the family Bunyaviridae.

[Flavivirus seroepidemiology in blood donors in Mersin province, Turkey].

Among the vector-borne flaviviruses, West Nile virus (WNV), tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and Dengue virus (DENV) constitute the most frequently-observed pathogens with significant public health impact in endemic regions throughout the globe. This seroepidemiological study was undertaken to investigate human exposure to DENV, WNV and TBEV, as well as other flaviviruses via various serological assays in the Mediterranean province of Mersin, Turkey, where scarce data is currently present for the circulation of these agent. A total of 920 sera were collected after informed consent from asymptomatic blood donors (all were male; age range: 18-63 yrs, mean age: 35.

Serum microRNAs; miR-30c-5p, miR-223-3p, miR-302c-3p and miR-17-5p could be used as novel non-invasive biomarkers for HCV-positive cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Recently, serum miRNAs have been evolved as possible biomarkers for different diseases including hepatocellular carcinoma and other types of cancers. Investigating certain serum miRNAs as novel non-invasive markers for early detection of HCV-positive cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The expression profiles of 58 miRNA were analyzed in patient's plasma of chronic hepatitis C (CHC), HCV-positive cirrhosis and HCV-positive HCC and compared with control group samples.

Serological, molecular and entomological surveillance demonstrates widespread circulation of West Nile virus in Turkey.

West Nile virus (WNV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus with significant impact on human and animal health, has recently demonstrated an expanded zone of activity globally. The aim of this study is to investigate the frequency and distribution of WNV infections in potential vectors and several mammal and avian species in Turkey, where previous data indicate viral circulation. The study was conducted in 15 provinces across Turkey during 2011-2013.

Human papillomavirus genotype distribution and E6/E7 oncogene expression in Turkish women with cervical cytological findings.

Background: Infection with certain human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes is the most important risk factor related with cervical cancer. The objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of HPV infection, the distribution of HPV genotypes and HPV E6/E7 oncogene mRNA expression in Turkish women with different cervical cytological findings in Mersin province, Southern Turkey.

Materials And Methods: A total of 476 cytological samples belonging to women with normal and abnormal cervical Pap smears were enrolled in the study.

[Investigation of the clonal relationship between nosocomial Acinetobacter baumannii isolates by Rep-PCR].

Acinetobacter spp. are opportunistic bacterial pathogens primarily associated with hospital-acquired infections and the spread of multidrug resistant Acinetobacter strains is a growing problem in terms of infection control. The aim of this study was to determine the clonal relationship between strains of nosocomial Acinetobacter baumannii by using rep-PCR method.

[Determination of the frequency of human bocavirus and other respiratory viruses among 0-2 years age group children diagnosed as acute bronchiolitis].

Acute bronchiolitis, mostly seen in infants and younger children, is a lower respiratory tract infection frequently caused by viral agents. We aimed to determine the frequency of a broad panel of respiratory viruses including human bocavirus (HBoV) and to assess the clinical characteristics of acute bronchiolitis in a group of children under 24 months of age. A total of 62 children (45 male, 17 female; age range: 0-2 years) with the initial diagnosis of acute bronchiolitis and 33 healthy children (21 male, 12 female; age range: 0-2 years) as control group who were admitted to the Pediatrics Department of Mersin University Hospital, southern Turkey, from January to July 2010 were included in the study.

Profiles of serum microRNAs; miR-125b-5p and miR223-3p serve as novel biomarkers for HBV-positive hepatocellular carcinoma.

Recently, circulating miRNAs have been reported as promising biomarkers for various pathologic conditions including cancer. Certain microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown early diagnostic potential for many types of cancer. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of certain serum/plasma miRNAs as novel non-invasive biomarkers for early diagnosis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

[Investigation of the presence of human metapneumovirus in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma and its relationship with the attacks].

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV), an enveloped RNA virus classified in Paramyxoviridae family, was first characterized in 2001 from children with acute respiratory tract infection. Recent studies have suggested hMPV to play a role in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma attacks. The aims of this study were to investigate the frequency of hMPV in patients with COPD and asthma, its effects on the severity of the attacks and the relationship between demographical and clinical factors.

Detection of hepatitis B virus X gene and PreC promoter mutations from chronic hepatitis B patients in the south of Turkey.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global health problem with more than 2 billion infected individuals. HBV infection leads to diverse outcomes ranging from acute to chronic hepatitis, which may result in severe complications as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBV is one of the most important human DNA viruses having strong oncogenic potential.

[Determination of hepatitis C virus genotype distribution in Mersin province, Turkey].

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a member of the Flaviviridae family and the RNA genome e x hibit high genetic heterogeneity. Six major genotypes were phylogenetically determined and each genotype contains different subtypes. The distribution of HCV genotypes varies geographically throughout the world.

[Determination of the cytokine gene polymorphism and genetic susceptibility in tuberculosis patients].

Tuberculosis (TB) is a complicated disease in which biological, socioeconomical and environmental factors play role. Since only 10% of the individuals infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis develop active disease, it has been suggested that host genetic factors may influence the risk for the development of TB. In this study, we aimed to investigate the presence and role of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the gene regions responsible for cytokine production, since these factors are considered to be associated with susceptibility or resistance to disease development.

Concurrent occurrence of human and equine West Nile virus infections in Central Anatolia, Turkey: the first evidence for circulation of lineage 1 viruses.

Background: West Nile fever is an important zoonotic infection caused by West Nile virus (WNV), a member of the Flaviviridae. Previous serological data from Turkey suggest widespread WNV circulation. This report includes cases of human and equine WNV infections occurring concurrently, and manifesting as central nervous system infections, in two neighboring provinces of Central Anatolia, Turkey.

[Genotyping of Vaginal Candida glabrata Isolates Using Microsatellite Marker Analysis and DNA Sequencing to Identify Mutations Associated with Antifungal Resistance].

Vulvovaginal candidosis is the second most common cause of vaginitis (17-39%) after bacterial vaginosis (22-50%). Since the diagnosis of vulvovaginal candidosis mainly depends on clinical findings without mycologic confirmatory tests and treated empirically, the actual incidence rate of vulvovaginal candidosis is unknown. Approximately 70-90% of vulvovaginal candidosis cases are caused by Candida albicans, however the increasing incidence of C.

[Determination of hepatitis B virus genotypes in chronic hepatitis B patients in Mersin province, Turkey].

Currently, ten genotypes (A-J) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) are identified based on the nucleic acid sequence heterogeneity, and these genotypes have been shown to have distinct geographic distribution. Reports of previous studies indicated that the genotype D is the predominant type among hepatitis B patients in different regions of Turkey, however there is no data for HBV genotypes to date from Mersin region. The aim of this study was to investigate the HBV genotypes by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in chronic hepatitis B patients in Mersin province (located in the Mediterranean region of Turkey).

[Detection of Helicobacter pylori and antimicrobial resistance in gastric biopsy specimens].

Helicobacter pylori is reported as the etiological agent of gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcer, gastric adenoid carcinoma and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. In the diagnosis of H.pylori infections invasive (culture, histopathological examination, rapid urease test and molecular tests) and non-invasive (urea breath test, serological tests, stool culture and stool antigen/nucleic acid tests) methods may be used.

[Evaluation of penicillin-binding protein genotypes in penicillin susceptible and resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates].

Penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) are the natural targets of beta-lactam antibiotics and mutations in pbp1a, pbp2b, and pbp2x genes, which encode PBPs, are responsible for resistance to beta-lactams in Streptococcus pneumoniae. In the present study, we intended to determine how often the common mutation patterns occurred within the pbp1a, pbp2b, and pbp2x PBP gene regions and evaluate the PBP genotype mutations which were associated with penicillin resistance in several penicillin-susceptible and - resistant S.pneumoniae isolates in Mersin, Turkey.

Synthesis, characterization, cytotoxicity, and DNA binding of some new platinum(II) and platinum(IV) complexes with benzimidazole ligands.

In this study, two Pt(II) and three Pt(IV) complexes with the structures of [PtL(2)Cl(2)] (1), [PtL(2)I(2)] (2), [PtL(2)Cl(2)(OH)(2)] (3), [PtL(2)Cl(2)(OCOCH(3))(2)] (4), and [PtL(2)Cl(4)] (5) (L = benzimidazole as carrier ligand) were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro antiproliferative activities against the human MCF-7, HeLa, and HEp-2 cancer cell lines. The influence of compounds 1-5 on the tertiary structure of DNA was determined by their ability to modify the electrophoretic mobility of the form I and II bands of pBR322 plasmid DNA. The inhibition of BamH1 restriction enzyme activity of compounds 1-5 was also determined.

[Evaluation of the genotype MTBDR assay for rapid detection of rifampin and isoniazid resistance in clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex clinical isolates].

Rapid identification of resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolates is quite important for the establishment of early and appropriate therapy. The Genotype MTBDR (Hain Lifescience, Nehren, Germany) is a commercially available DNA strip assay designed for the rapid detection of rpoB and katG gene mutations in clinical isolates. This study was conducted to determine the mutation types of phenotypically drug resistant 26 M.

[Investigation of rpsL and rrs gene region mutations in streptomycin resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolates].

Streptomycin (SM) displays antimicrobial activity via inhibition of protein synthesis in bacteria and it is one of the major antituberculous drugs used in chemotherapy of tuberculosis (TB). The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of mutations in rpsL and rrs gene regions responsible for SM resistance using DNA sequencing system in SM resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) isolates detected by a phenotypic drug susceptibility test. Ten SM resistant and 10 SM sensitive MTC strains isolated between 2003-2007, in Mersin University Medical Faculty Department of Medical Microbiology Laboratory, were included to this study.

Detection of point mutations on 23S rRNA of Helicobacter pylori and resistance to clarithromycin with PCR-RFLP in gastric biopsy specimens in Mersin, Turkey.

Background/aims: Helicobacter pylori infection has a high prevalence and is considered an important health problem in Turkey. Unfortunately, an effective treatment has not yet been found for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection, at least in our country. Standard therapies recommended for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori have failed in the province of Mersin, Turkey.

Genotypic analysis of isoniazid and rifampin resistance in drug-resistant clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolates in southern Turkey.

In this study we aimed to learn about the nature and frequency of katG, inhA, and rpoB gene mutations underlying isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (RMP) resistance in clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolates. The Silver Sequence DNA sequencing method was used to detect the resistance condition of 22 INH, 6 RMP, and 13 INH and RMP in previously determined drug-resistant clinical M. tuberculosis isolates.

Detection of parvovirus B19 in synovial fluids of patients with osteoarthritis.

We aimed to determine the possible role of parvovirus B19 (PVB19) in the etiology of osteoarthritis. PVB19 DNA, anti-VP1 IgM and IgG, and interleukin IL-6 levels were also assayed in synovial fluids of 42 patients with osteoarthritis and 10 controls. PVB19 DNA was detected in 28 of 42 (66.