Prevalence of Transmitted Drug Resistance among HIV-1 Patients in the Aegean Region: Results from the Western Part of Turkey.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the antiretroviral drug resistance in antiretroviral treatment-naïve HIV-positive patients in the Aegean Region of Turkey from 2012 to 2019.

Methods: The study included 814 plasma samples from treatment-naïve HIV-positive patients. Drug resistance analysis was performed by Sanger sequencing (SS) between 2012-2017 and by next-generation sequencing sequencing (NGS) between 2018-2019.

Predictive value of FibroScan in detecting liver fibrosis in HBeAg negative patients with chronic hepatitis B whose HBV DNA 2000-20000 IU/ml with ALT 1-2 times the upper limit of normal and those with HBV DNA >20000 IU/ml and normal ALT.

Objective: In hepatitis B infection, it is difficult to make a treatment decision in patients with slightly elevated transaminases and HBV DNA level between 2000 and 20000 IU/ml, and in those with normal ALT, despite high levels of HBV DNA. Objectives: In HBeAg negative patients whose HBV DNA levels were between 2000 and 20000 IU/ml with ALT 1-2 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) and those with HBV DNA >20000 IU/ml and normal ALT, the concordance between liver fibrosis in biopsy and liver stiffness measured by transient elastography with FibroScan (FS) was investigated, and diagnostic value of FS to predict the liver fibrosis was tested.

Methods: The patients were selected from the outpatient hepatology clinics between the dates of November 2014 and October 2016 among those who were taken liver biopsy.

Significance of detectable hepatitis B virus DNA in liver allograft tissue in long-term follow-up of liver transplant recipients.

Background And Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the liver grafts of liver transplant patients who received hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIg) plus oral antiviral hepatitis B virus prophylaxis and had negative HBV serum markers.

Materials And Methods: Patients aged 18 years or older who underwent liver transplantation for HBV-related liver disease, had negative serum viral markers, and had a liver biopsy at least 3 years after liver transplantation were eligible for this study. Clinical, serological, and pathological data were retrospectively obtained from medical records.

Investigation of drug resistance against protease, reverse transcriptase, and integrase inhibitors by next-generation sequencing in HIV-positive patients.

Our aim was to investigate the mutations in protease (PR), reverse transcriptase (RT), and integrase (IN) gene regions in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) using a single amplicon via next-generation sequencing (NGS). The study included plasma samples from 49 HIV-1-positive patients, which were referred for HIV-1 drug resistance testing during 2017. A nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed after the RNA extraction and one-step reverse transcription stages.

[SARS-CoV-2 and Microbiological Diagnostic Dynamics in COVID-19 Pandemic].

We have been introduced to "Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)" disease with high mortality and transmission rate caused by a novel human coronavirus, in December 2019 and the microbiological diagnosis of the infection has been in the center of the focus to control the pandemic. It is necessary to understand the dynamics of the virus which was classified among the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) related coronaviruses and named as SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), to manage testing in the right strategy and for interpretation of the results. However, much remains unclear about the virus and the immune response.

[Investigation of congenital CMV infection with the presence of CMV DNA in saliva samples of new born babies].

Cytomegalovirus (CMV), is the most common cause among congenital infections and is the most seen etiology in long-term sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and neurological impairment. Congenital CMV infection (CCMV) was reported in 0.15-2.

The association between Cytomegalovirus co-infection with Pneumocystis pneumonia and mortality in immunocompromised non-HIV patients.

Introduction: Impact of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) co-infection pneumonia in non-HIV patients with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is unclear.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to determine whether CMV co-infection is associated with an increased risk of mortality.

Methods: Our study was conducted at Ege University Hospital, Turkey.

[Analysis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) preS1, preS2 and S gene regions from patient groups infected with HBV genotype D].

Mutations in preS and S gene regions of hepatitis B virus genome may cause immune escape and diagnostic escape HBV mutants. The aim of this study was to determine preS1, preS2 and S gene regions of HBV from HBV infected patient groups by sequence analysis and contribute to the relevant literature. Nucleic acid sequence analysis of preS and S genes of HBV PCR products from 56 archived plasma samples sent to Ege University Faculty of Medicine Medical Microbiology Department Molecular Virology laboratory, for HBV tests were determined by chain termination reaction.

[Evaluation of viral etiology in central nervous system infections from a university hospital point of view in Izmir based on seven years data].

The serious diseases of the central nervous system (CNS); encephalitis and meningitis, have high mortality and morbidity rate especially not diagnosed and treated in time. Nucleic acid testing (NAT) is the tool of choice for viral diagnosis in CNS infections. In this study, viral etiological agents found in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples sent to our university hospital virology laboratory for laboratory diagnosis of CNS infections were retrospectively evaluated and results were compared with other reports from our country.

[Identification of enteroviruses from central nervous system infections by RT-PCR and cell culture methods].

Viruses are the major causes of aseptic meningitis and encephalitis. Enteroviruses account for more than 80% of the aseptic meningitis cases for which an etiologic agent is identified. The aims of the present study were to identify agents of enteroviral meningitis by viral culture and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods, to evaluate the appropriateness of a commercial RTPCR kit for its use in routine laboratory, and to obtain epidemiological data about enteroviral meningitis.

[Investigation of anti-HTLV I/II seroprevalence in healthy blood donors in Izmir region, Turkey].

Almost 10-20 million people in the world are thought to be infected by human deltaretroviruses, namely human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) type I and II, recently. HTLV-I is endemic in southwestern Japan, the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa, whereas HTLV-II is more prevalent in intravenous drug addicts, and in American indian populations, endemically. HTLV-I is mainly responsible for adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), however, HTLVII is not clearly associated with a known clinical disease.

Electrochemical DNA biosensor for the detection of TT and Hepatitis B virus from PCR amplified real samples by using methylene blue.

DNA biosensors based on nucleic acid hybridization processes are rapidly being developed towards the goal of rapid and inexpensive diagnosis of genetic and infectious diseases. Electrochemical transducers are often being used for detecting the DNA hybridization event, due to their high sensitivity, small dimensions, low cost, and compatibility with microfabrication technology. In this study, an electrochemical biosensor for the voltammetric detection of DNA sequences related to the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and TT virus (TTV) from polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified real samples is described for the first time.

Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and direct sequencing for determination of HBV genotypes in a Turkish population.

The aim of this study was to analyze the restriction fragment length polymorphism and direct sequencing results in genotyping of hepatitis B virus from a Turkish population in a clinical virology laboratory. Serum samples of 54 chronic hepatitis B patients attending the Ege University Hospital were studied. Sequences of partial S gene PCR products were analysed and RFLP was performed.

Distribution of hepatitis C virus genotypes in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection in Western Turkey.

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to determine the recent distribution of various genotypes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in patients with chronic HCV infection in Western Turkey. Additional objectives were to determine whether there are any associations of genotype with gender and age, and to determine the nucleotide similarities and risk factors of non-1 HCV genotypes.

Methods: Serum samples from 345 patients (176 male, 169 female; mean age 53.

[A case of chronic hepatitis B with primary adefovir resistance].

Implementation of antiviral therapy leads to the emergence of mutant strains during the treatment in chronic hepatitis B. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) with primary antiviral resistance may be rarely encountered. In this report, a chronic hepatitis B case who had never received adefovir dipivoxil but had primary adefovir resistance, was presented.

Electrochemical probe DNA design in PCR amplicon sequence for the optimum detection of microbiological diseases.

Direct electrochemical genosensor was developed for the detection of a probe sequence relative position in a PCR amplicon for the optimum detection of bacterial and microbiological diseases, in this study. The genosensor relies on a label-free electrochemical detection. The amino-linked inosine modified (guanine-free) coequal capture probes which were chosen from different parts of a PCR amplicon, immobilized on to disposable pencil graphite electrodes (PGE) by electrostatically and covalently.

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) genotypes in patients with chronic hepatitis: molecular epidemiology of HDV in Turkey.

Objective: Analysis of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) isolates from around the world has indicated that there are at least three phylogenetically distinct genotypes with different geographic distributions. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of HDV genotypes by direct sequencing in patients with chronic delta hepatitis in Izmir, Turkey.

Design And Methods: Serum samples from 32 chronic hepatitis patients (21 males, 11 females; mean age 44.

[Investigation of Epstein-Barr virus DNA and RNA in tissues of patients with lymphoma].

Relation between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and nasopharyngeal carsinoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, and lymphomas in immunosupressed patients have been shown previously in different studies. The same relationship was also shown in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) by some researchers. The aim of this study was to demonstrate EBV nucleic acids in tissue sections of adult patients with lymphoma.

Investigation of herpes simplex virus DNA in pityriasis rosea by polymerase chain reaction.

Background: Pityriasis rosea (PR) is an acute, inflammatory disease of unknown cause. Clinical and experimental findings indicate an infectious etiology of PR. Our purpose is to examine the skin lesions and blood samples of PR patients by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of HSV type 1 and 2 DNA.

Rotavirus gastroenteritis among children under five years of age in Izmir, Turkey.

Little is known about the epidemiology of rotavirus infection in Turkey. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence and clinical significance of rotavirus gastroenteritis, in view of the potentially available prevention by rotavirus vaccination. The study also sought to determine possible risk factors for rotavirus gastroenteritis.

Anti-HTLV-I/II Seroprevalence in Healthy Blood Donors in İzmir, Turkey.

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) is the first human retrovirus to be associated with malignant disease-namely, adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma. HTLV-I has also been associated with several diseases. HTLV-I has a worldwide distribution with major endemic foci in the Caribbean and Southern Japan.

Clinicopathological features of hepatitis C virus infection in dialysis and renal transplantation.

Background: Liver biopsy (LB) gives an accurate picture of the severity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in end-stage renal disease. The aim of this study was to find out whether clinical and histopathological course of HCV infection in renal transplant (RT) patients (pts) is different from dialysis (Dx) pts.

Methods: Forty Dx and 46 RT pts underwent LB.