The Role of Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in the Pathogenesis of Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are inflammatory bowel diseases with uncertain etiology. We aimed to determine the amounts of Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in the intestinal microbiota of these patients and to correlate their amounts with blood IL-8, IL-10, and IL-12 cytokine levels.

Methods: Thirty UC, 30 CDs, and 46 healthy controls were included.

The Relationship between Gastroduodenal Pathologies and Helicobacter pylori cagL (Cytotoxin-Associated Gene L) Polymorphism.

Background: The polymorphisms in the region between 58 and 62 amino acids of the 194-amino acid CagL protein (CagL hypervariable motif) affect the binding affinity of CagL to integrin α5β1 (ITGA5B1) receptor in host epithelial cells and have an effect on the development of various gastrointestinal diseases. We aimed to evaluate the associations of gastroduodenal pathologies, with the polymorphisms of cagL gene of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and also associations between vacA genotypes and cagL polymorphisms.

Humoral and Cellular Immunity to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 Vaccination in Patients with Sarcoidosis.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine induces both antibody and T-cell immune responses and has been proven to be effective in preventing coronavirus disease 2019, including its severe disease form, in healthy individuals. However, the details of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 immunoglobulin-G antibody responses and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 specific T-cell responses in patients with sarcoidosis are unknown.

Aim: To measure and compare antibody responses and T cell responses using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and interferon-gamma release assay in sarcoidosis patients infected with coronavirus disease 2019 and vaccinated with CoronaVac.

The Role of Adenovirus-36 in Adults with Obesity-Induced Type 2 Diabetes.

Background: Obesity may also develop due to a viral infection caused by adenovirus 36. We aimed to detect the presence of neutralizing antibodies against Ad-36 in adult patients who developed type 2 diabetes due to obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2).

Methods: The patient group (PG) was composed of 80 obese people with type 2 diabetes, the patient control group (PCG) was composed of 40 non-obese people with type 2 diabetes, and the healthy control group (HCG) was com-posed of 40 non-obese people without type 1 or type 2 diabetes in this case-control study.

Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Levels after a Third Heterologous and Homologous BNT162b2 Booster Dose.

This study aimed to determine the anti-S (receptor binding protein) RBD IgG antibody titers formed against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) and the neutralizing antibody inhibition percentages (nAb IH%) in blood samples taken after two doses of inactive or mRNA-based vaccine and a booster dose. Volunteers with two doses of inactivated CoronaVac (heterologous group; = 75) and BioNTech (BNT)162b2 mRNA vaccine (homologous group; = 75) were included in this study. All participants preferred the BNT162b2 vaccine as a booster dose.

Association of SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibody Levels with Clinical/Laboratory Characteristics in COVID-19 Patients: Data from a Turkish Study.

Background: COVID-19 causes clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic infection to multi-organ failure. It is reported that those with severe disease have higher anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers compared to asymptomatic or mild cases. We evaluated the correlation of antibody responses with laboratory and clinical indicators in COVID-19 patients.

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and Neutralizing Antibody Levels in Patients with Past COVID-19 Infection: A Longitudinal Study.

Background: Monitoring the longevity of immunoglobulin G (IgG) responses following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections is vital to understanding the role of antibodies in preventing infection.

Aims: To determine the quantitative IgG responses specific to the Spike-S1 (S1) receptor-binding domain (S1/RBD) region of the virus in serum samples taken between 4 weeks and 7 months after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positivity in patients who are diagnosed with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19).

Study Design: A longitudinal study.

Epstein-Barr Virus and Helicobacter pylori co-infection in patients with gastric cancer and duodenale ulcer.

We aimed to detect EBV/Hp (Epstein-Barr Virus/Helicobacter pylori) co-infection by determining the number of copies of EBV/EBER-1 in the gastric biopsy samples of the Hp (+) GC, peptic ulcer (PU), and non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) cases. The patient group (PG), with 34 patients (34 GC and 30 PU patients) and a control group with 40 NUD cases were included. All patients and controls were Hp positive.

Point Mutations at gyrA and gyrB Genes of Levofloxacin Resistant Helicobacter pylori Strains and Dual Resistance with Clarithromycin.

Background: Spontaneous point mutations in genes encoding gyrA/B subunits of DNA gyrase are responsible for fluoroquinolone resistance. We aimed to determine the clarithromycin and levofloxacin resistance phenotypically in H. pylori strains and to investigate the mutations responsible for levofloxacin resistance and the effects of these mutations on dual antibiotic resistance.

Association between human leukocyte antigen gene polymorphisms and multiple EPIYA-C repeats in gastrointestinal disorders.

Background: Polymorphisms of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes are suggested to increase the risk of gastric cancer (GC).

Aim: To investigate the HLA allele frequencies of patients with GC relative to a control group in terms of CagA+ multiple (≥ 2) EPIYA-C repeats.

Methods: The patient group comprised 94 patients [44 GC and 50 duodenal ulcer (DU) patients], and the control group comprised 86 individuals [(50 non-ulcer dyspepsia patients and 36 people with asymptomatic ()].

Evaluating the effectiveness of anti-tuberculosis treatment by detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis 85B messenger RNA expression in sputum.

Background: The antigen 85 complex (85B) is secreted in large quantities from growing mycobacteria and the presence of bacterial mRNA is an indicator of cell viability. The quantitative detection of 85B mRNA expression levels can be used to assess the success of anti-tuberculosis treatment outcomes to detect viable mycobacteria cells. Therefore, we evaluated the levels of 85B mRNA of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

The Prevalence of Periodontal Pathogenic Bacteria in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease.

Background: A possible link between periodontal pathogenic bacteria and atherosclerosis may exist based on the inflammatory mechanisms initiated by bacteria found in periodontal lesions. Our aim was to investigate the presence of DNA originating from T. denticola, C.

Association between polymorphisms in HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-DR, and DQ genes from gastric cancer and duodenal ulcer patients and cagL among cagA-positive Helicobacter pylori strains: The first study in a Turkish population.

Colonization of the human gastric mucosa by H. pylori may cause peptic and duodenal ulcers (DUs), gastric lymphomas, and gastric cancers. The cagL gene is a component of cag T4SS and is involved in cagA translocation into host.

Evaluation of the possible involvement of Ad-36-induced adipogenesis and coronary artery disease development in mediastinal adipose tissue samples.

Mediastinal fat has been suggested to be associated with cardiovascular diseases such as carotid stiffness, atherosclerosis and coronary artery calcification. We investigated the possible role of Ad-36-induced obesity in the pathogenesis of the coronary artery disease (CAD). Ad-36 DNA was investigated in the anterior mediastinal fat tissue samples of obese adults with CAD.

Helicobacter pylori-miRNA interaction in gastric cancer tissues: First prospective study from Turkey.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is involved in the etiology of gastric cancer (GC). miRNAs are short RNAs that regulate gene expression by marking mRNAs for degradation.

Comparison of new and classical point mutations associated with clarithromycin resistance in Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from dyspeptic patients and their effects on phenotypic clarithromycin resistance.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the presence of three recently identified point mutations (A2115G, G2141A and A2144T) of the 23 S rRNA gene and compare them with the three most frequently encountered point mutations (A2142G, A2142C and A2143G) in Helicobacter pylori strains in Turkey.

Methodology: A total of 63 patients (mean 47.08±12.

Problems encountered in conventional HIV 1/2 Algorithms: lack of necessity for immunoblot assays to confirm repeated ELISA reactive results.

Background: The use of conventional (serologically based) HIV 1/2 diagnostic algorithms has become controversial in recent years.

Objectives: Sera from patients who underwent verification tests were evaluated because repeated ELISA-reactive results demonstrated a HIV1+HIV2 positive band pattern.

Methods: The line immunoassay (LIA) test was used for repeated HIV enzyme immunoassays (EIA)-reactive sera in patients at three centers.

A Retrospective Analysis of Anaerobic Bacteria Isolated in 236 Cases of Pleural Empyema and their Prevalance of Antimicrobial Resistance in Turkey.

Background: Parapneumonic effusions usually occur secondary to an infection and produce pus (empyema) that accumulates in the pleural space. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anerobes in patients with empyema and to assess their resistance patterns for seven antimicrobials.

Methods: Pleural fluid specimens from 236 patients were inoculated on Schaedler agar.

Diagnostic performance of the RT-qPCR method targeting 85B mRNA in the diagnosis of pulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

Background: Several nucleic acid amplification techniques (IS6110, 16S rRNA, and 85B mRNA) were developed for the rapid, direct detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of 85B mRNA-based RT-qPCR by comparing with the real-time PCR COBAS TaqMan MTB Kit while using the BACTEC MGIT 960 method as the gold standard.

Methods: 60 patients with confirmed pulmonary TB and 60 individuals without TB were included as the study and control groups, respectively.

The Prevalence of Cyclospora cayetanensis and Cryptosporidium spp. in Turkish patients infected with HIV-1.

Opportunistic infections such as cryptosporidiosis and cyclosporiasis are commonly encountered in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). We investigated the existence of opportunistic protozoans that significantly affect the quality of life in HIV-1 infected patients using conventional and molecular methods. The study group comprised 115 HIV-1 positive patients.

Evaluation of Adenovirus-36 (Ad-36) antibody seropositivity and adipokine levels in obese children.

Adenovirus 36 (Ad-36) has recently been suggested as a possible contributor to the current obesity epidemic. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Ad-36 antibodies in obese children, as well as investigate the role of serum leptin and lipid levels in Ad-36-obesity. Seventy-one obese children and 62 non-obese children were included as the patient group (PG), including the healthy control group (HCG), respectively.

The relationship of Chlamydophila pneumoniae with schizophrenia: The role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) in this relationship.

Several pathogens have been suspected of playing a role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Chronic inflammation has been proposed to occur as a result of persistent infection caused by Chlamydophila pneumoniae cells that reside in brain endothelial cells for many years. It was recently hypothesized that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) may play prominent roles in the development of schizophrenia.

Travel-associated infections caused by unusual serogroups of Legionella pneumophila identified using Legionella BIOCHIP slides in Turkey and Iraq.

Background: Although Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 is the common disease causing serogroup, rare serogroups can also may cause legionellosis. A 54-year-old male patient (index case) reported that he had been on a religious trip (for visiting, tomb of Ali, which is important for Shias) to Iraq with a large group (50 shia pilgrims from Kars city of Turkey) two weeks prior to admission. Due to civil war, the hotel where the patient stayed in Iraq lacked proper hygiene.