Protease Inhibitors Drug Resistance Mutations in Turkish Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C.

Background: Drug resistance development is an expected problem during treatment with protease inhibitors (PIs), this is largely due to the fact that Pls are low-genetic barrier drugs. Resistance-associated variants (RAVs) however may also occur naturally, and prior to treatment with Pls, the clinical impact of this basal resistance remains unknown. In Turkey, there is yet to be an investigation into the hepatitis C (HCV) drug associated resistance to oral antivirals.

Evaluation of Dual Therapy in Real Life Setting in Treatment-Naïve Turkish Patients with HCV Infection: A Multicenter, Retrospective Study.

Background: Before the introduction of direct-acting antivirals in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C patients, the combination of peginterferon alpha and ribavirin was the standard therapy. Observational studies that investigated sustained virological response (SVR) rates by these drugs yielded different outcomes.

Aims: The goal of the study was to demonstrate real life data concerning SVR rate achieved by peginterferon alpha plus ribavirin in patients who were treatment-naïve.

Cutaneous anthrax in an unusual location: case report.

Cutaneous anthrax is well known, unlike anthrax of the lumbar region, which is not reported elsewhere. We present a case of anthrax of the lumbar region in a 50-year-old man. The infection was characterised by a wide, black eschar and oedema on an erythematous ground.

Evaluation of hepatitis B virus transmission and antiviral therapy among hepatitis B surface antigen-positive pregnant women.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess the potential risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vertical transmission among Turkish parturient women and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of antiviral agents.

Material And Methods: Data were collected retrospectively from 114 HBV-infected pregnant women and their infants in eight health institutions in Turkey.

Results: The baseline characteristics of the women were: mean age, 28.

Retreatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Infection with Telaprevir: Preliminary Results in Turkey.

Background: The use of pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin (PegIFN/RBV) for the retreatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection without a sustained virological response (SVR) prior to PegIFN/RBV treatment has resulted in low success rates.

Aims: To investigate the efficacy and safety of telaprevir (TVR) in combination with PegIFN/RBV in patients infected with HCV genotypes 1 and 4 who were previously treated with PegIFN/RBV and failed to achieve SVR.

Study Design: Multi-center, retrospective, cross-sectional study.

Assessment of Growth and Development in Children With Hepatitis B Positivity.

Background: Chronic infections and liver diseases may influence the growth and development of children by leading to malnutrition. In this study, demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements and laboratory findings for children with hepatitis B positivity were analyzed.

Methods: A total of 43 cases were admitted to our clinic between January 2012 and February 2013 and detected to have HBsAg positivity.

Transmitted antiretroviral drug resistance mutations in newly diagnosed HIV-1 positive patients in Turkey.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to determine the transmitted drug resistance mutations (TDRMs) in newly diagnosed HIV-1 positive patients in Turkey.

Materials And Methods: The study was carried out between 2009 and 2014 and antiretroviral naïve 774 HIV-1 infected patients from 19 Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Departments in Turkey were included; gender: 664 (86%) male, median age: 37 (range; 1-77), median CD4+T-cell: 360 (range; 1-1320) count/mm(3), median HIV-RNA load: 2.10+E6 (range; 4.

Risk factors for occupational brucellosis among veterinary personnel in Turkey.

Veterinarians and veterinary technicians are at risk for occupational brucellosis. We described the risk factors of occupational brucellosis among veterinary personnel in Turkey. A multicenter retrospective survey was performed among veterinary personnel who were actively working in the field.

Periprosthetic tuberculosis of the knee joint treated with antituberculosis drugs: a case report.

We report a 55-year old man with periprosthetic tuberculosis infection following a total knee arthroplasty surgery performed during an active tuberculosis infection. The patient was conservatively treated with anti-tuberculosis drugs and retention of prosthesis. There was no recurrence during an 18-month follow-up period.

The characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis B in Turkey.

Aim: To evaluate the characteristics of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and summarize the treatment modalities.

Methods: By September 30, 2011 the data of 7871 HBsAg (+) patients were complied and analysed according to demographic and medical records (age, sex, laboratory tests, treatment with antiviral agents) in thirty centres of Turkey.

Results: Of the 7871 patients 3078 (39.

The activity of paraoxonase and arylesterase in patients with osteomyelitis.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate oxidative stress and to determine the activity of paraoxonase and arylesterase in patients with osteomyelitis compared to healthy controls.

Method: In total, 30 patients diagnosed with osteomyelitis and 30 healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study. Paraoxonase and arylesterase activities were measured spectrophotometrically.

Review of 17 cases of neurobrucellosis: clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and management.

Background: Neurobrucellosis (NB) is a rare, but important complication of brucellosis. The clinical features vary greatly and, in general, tend to be chronic. Many laboratory procedures are usually employed in the diagnosis of NB.

Prolidase and oxidative stress in chronic hepatitis C.

Background: Hepatitis C infection represents a common healthcare issue worldwide. The present trial was designed to investigate the role of prolidase, an enzyme that is significantly involved in the biosynthesis of collagen, and of the oxidative stress that is considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases, in the chronic hepatitis C infection. The trial was performed to assess the serum prolidase enzyme level and the oxidative-antioxidative status and to determine the relation between the serum prolidase activity and the oxidative stress parameters.

Management of Brucella endocarditis: results of the Gulhane study.

Brucella endocarditis (BE) is a rare but life-threatening complication of human brucellosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the course of BE along with the therapeutic interrelations. A total of 53 patients with BE hospitalised in 19 health institutions between 2006 and 2011 were included in the Gulhane study.

Assessment of the requisites of microbiology based infectious disease training under the pressure of consultation needs.

Background: Training of infectious disease (ID) specialists is structured on classical clinical microbiology training in Turkey and ID specialists work as clinical microbiologists at the same time. Hence, this study aimed to determine the clinical skills and knowledge required by clinical microbiologists.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out between June 1, 2010 and September 15, 2010 in 32 ID departments in Turkey.

Efficacy and tolerability of antibiotic combinations in neurobrucellosis: results of the Istanbul study.

No data on whether brucellar meningitis or meningoencephalitis can be treated with oral antibiotics or whether an intravenous extended-spectrum cephalosporin, namely, ceftriaxone, which does not accumulate in phagocytes, should be added to the regimen exist in the literature. The aim of a study conducted in Istanbul, Turkey, was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of ceftriaxone-based antibiotic treatment regimens with those of an oral treatment protocol in patients with these conditions. This retrospective study enrolled 215 adult patients in 28 health care institutions from four different countries.

Serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities in various forms of hepatitis B virus infection.

The aim of this study was to determine and evaluate the activity of paraoxonase and arylesterase enzymes in various clinical forms of hepatitis B infection and to investigate the correlation between these parameters and chronic disease course/fibrosis. Overall, 40 patients diagnosed as hepatitis B carriers (CIHBV), 40 chronic active hepatitis B (CAHBV) patients, and 40 healthy adults (control group) between 18 and 65 years of age were enrolled the study. Serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities were measured spectrophotometrically.

Comparative analysis of cerebrospinal fluid adenosine deaminase activity in meningitis.

Aim: The purpose is to determine the cut-off value of adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with tuberculous and non-tuberculous meningitis, and to assess its value in differential diagnosis.

Material And Methods: This study was conducted in 91 patients with meningitis in two university hospitals in Turkey. 24 patients had tuberculous meningitis (TBM), 25 purulent meningitis (PM), 25 aseptic meningitis (AM) and 17 neurobrucellosis (BM).

Where do we stand in the control of rabies? Knowledge and practices among physicians in a health district in Turkey.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge of rabies transmission and control among physicians practicing in healthcare centers in Sanliurfa, Turkey where 2 cases of human rabies were reported in the past 12 months. Implementation issues regarding the current guidelines will also be discussed.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 84 physicians practicing in healthcare centers in Sanliurfa, located in the Southeastern Anatolian region of Turkey.

Decreasing oxidative stress in response to treatment in patients with brucellosis: could it be used to monitor treatment?

Objectives: The aims of this study were to evaluate oxidant and antioxidant status in patients with acute brucellosis before and after therapy, and to determine whether this index could be used to monitor the treatment of brucellosis.

Methods: Thirty patients with a diagnosis of acute brucellosis and 37 healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study. Total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS) were measured in patients before and after therapy, and an oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated.

A rare case of seronegative neurobrucellosis.

Neurobrucellosis is one of the complications of brucellosis. We report a rare case of a 17-year-old girl with seronegative neurobrucellosis and depression and diplopia. Results of agglutination tests for Brucella both in serum and CSF were negative.

[A human rabies case with antemortem diagnosis].

Rabies, which is an acute, progressive, fatal zoonotic infectious disease, is almost always caused by the bite of rabid animals containing rabies virus in their saliva. Since there is no established specific therapy for rabies, preventive and prophylactic measures are of critical importance. In this report a case of human rabies diagnosed antemortem, was presented.

[Post-operative bacteremia caused by multidrug-resistant Aerococcus viridans in a patient with gall bladder cancer].

Aerococcus viridans is a gram-positive, catalase and oxidase negative, microaerophylic and non-motile coccus which is rarely associated with human infections such as endocarditis, meningitis, artritis and bacteremia. We report a case of bacteremia due to A. viridans in a 61-years-old man with malignant gall bladder neoplasm.

[A rare cause of nosocomial bacteremia: Sphingomonas paucimobilis].

Sphingomonas paucimobilis, is a yellow-pigmented, aerobic, non-fermentative, non-spore-forming, gram-negative bacillus. Infections by S. paucimobilis which is widely found in nature and hospital environments are rarely serious or life threatening.