Preclinical efficacy and immunological safety of FR104, an antagonist anti-CD28 monovalent Fab' antibody.

Antagonist anti-CD28 antibodies prevent T cell costimulation and differentiate from CTLA4Ig since they cannot block CTLA-4 and PDL-1 coinhibitory signals. They demonstrated efficacy in suppressing effector T cells while enhancing regulatory T cells function and immune tolerance. However, anti-CD28 antibodies devoid of immunotoxicity and with a good pharmacokinetic profile have not yet been developed.

The time course of gastric methotrexate intolerance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and the time course of methotrexate (MTX)-associated gastric intolerance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.

Methods: Four hundred twenty subjects undergoing MTX treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (n = 346) and psoriatic arthritis (n = 74) were retrospectively assessed. The incidence and time course of gastric MTX intolerance resulting in treatment discontinuation were investigated.

Serologic diagnosis of syphilis: comparison of different diagnostic methods.

Diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in syphilis show wide variation. The use of only one type of serologic test is insufficient for diagnosis. However, current international recommendations cannot be applied due to various reasons (cost, availability, etc.

Impact of a multidimensional infection control strategy on catheter-associated urinary tract infection rates in the adult intensive care units of 15 developing countries: findings of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC).

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the impact of a multidimensional infection control strategy for the reduction of the incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) in patients hospitalized in adult intensive care units (AICUs) of hospitals which are members of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC), from 40 cities of 15 developing countries: Argentina, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, India, Lebanon, Macedonia, Mexico, Morocco, Panama, Peru, Philippines, and Turkey.

Methods: We conducted a prospective before-after surveillance study of CAUTI rates on 56,429 patients hospitalized in 57 AICUs, during 360,667 bed-days. The study was divided into the baseline period (Phase 1) and the intervention period (Phase 2).

Hydatidiform mole in Turkey: results from six centers.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical profile of gestational trophoblastic disease and to determine the incidence of hydatidiform mole (HM) from six centers in Turkey.

Study Design: A retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with HM in six medical centers in Turkey from 2000 to 2010 was undertaken. Patients' age, gravidity, parity and abortion, presenting signs, histopathological results and their follow-up were recorded.

Impacts of some antibiotics on human serum paraoxonase 1 activity.

Some enzymes are known to be drug target inhibitions of which can be critical for organisms. PON has a critical role to prevent atherogenesis by inhibiting lipid peroxidation. It is well known that paraoxonase 1 (PON1) plays an important function on high-density lipoprotein (HDL) structure to prevent lipid oxidation not only of low-density lipoprotein, but also of HDL itself.

Neuroprotective effect of neotrofin in a neonatal rat model of periventricular leukomalacia.

Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is the dominant form of brain injury in premature infants and no specific treatment is currently available. Neotrofin, a neurotrophin agonist, has been shown to provide neuroprotection in several in vivo and in vitro studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective effect of neotrofin treatment after endotoxin induced PVL in a rat model.

Renal transplantation in patients with familial Mediterranean fever.

Amyloidosis is the most common and devastating complication of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). Renal transplantation is the choice of treatment of in most end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We report our experience on the outcomes in eight patients who underwent renal transplantation for ESRD due to FMF secondary to amyloidosis, and we provide a discussion on the current evidence on this topic of study.

Diagnosis and endovascular treatment of acute thromboembolic renal artery occlusion presenting with abdominal pain.

Acute renal artery thromboembolic occlusion is seldomly encountered with respect to other central and peripheral ones. Patients may present with non-specific abdominal pain and renal colic. Organ functions can be preserved by means of endovascular treatment when early diagnosis is possible.

2.45-Gz wireless devices induce oxidative stress and proliferation through cytosolic Ca²⁺ influx in human leukemia cancer cells.

Purpose: Electromagnetic radiation from wireless devices may affect biological systems by increasing free radicals. The present study was designed to determine the effects of 2.45 GHz radiation on the antioxidant redox system, calcium ion signaling, cell count and viability in human leukemia 60 cells.

Relationship of the sexual functions with the clinical parameters, radiological scores and the quality of life in male patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

The aim of this study was to explore the impact of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and the disease-related variables on the patients' sexual function according to the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) scoring system. A total of 70 sexually active male AS patients and 60 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Their demographic data were evaluated, and the pain was assessed according to the visual analogue scale (VAS).

Control of transplant tolerance and intragraft regulatory T cell localization by myeloid-derived suppressor cells and CCL5.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are a heterogeneous population of immature cells that are believed to inhibit immune responses in the contexts of cancer and organ transplantation, in association with regulatory T cells (Treg). However, the way in which MDSC cooperate with Treg remains elusive. In this study, we used DNA microarrays to analyze gene expression in blood-derived MDSC from rat recipients of kidney allografts.

Comparison of tumor markers and clinicopathological features in serous and mucinous borderline ovarian tumors.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess tumor markers and clinicopathological findings of patients with serous and mucinous borderline ovarian tumor (BOT) features.

Methods: The study consisted of 50 patients that were diagnosed with and treated for BOT between 2005-2010 in three centers. CA125, CA19-9, and CA125+CA19-9 levels and clinicopathological features were compared in serous and mucinous histotypes.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha antagonist therapy-induced psoriasis in Turkey: analysis of 514 patients.

Objectives: New adverse events are being reported with the increased use of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α therapy. We studied cases of anti-TNFα-induced psoriasis observed in our pool of 514 patients receiving anti-TNFα treatment in Turkey.

Methods: Three rheumatoid arthritis patients and 3 ankylosing spondylitis patients with anti-TNFα-induced psoriasis were included in the study.

Maternal prenatal omega-3 fatty acid supplementation attenuates hyperoxia-induced apoptosis in the developing rat brain.

Supraphysiologic amounts of oxygen negatively influences brain maturation and development. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether maternal ω-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (ω-3 FA) supplementation during pregnancy protects the developing brain against hyperoxic injury. Thirty-six rat pups from six different dams were divided into six groups according to the diet modifications and hyperoxia exposure.

Five methods for detection of Helicobacter pylori in the Turkish population.

Aim: To compare culture analysis, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) stool antigen (HpSA) test, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for H. pylori detection.

Xenotransplantation of galactosyl-transferase knockout, CD55, CD59, CD39, and fucosyl-transferase transgenic pig kidneys into baboons.

Galactosyl-transferase knockout (GT-KO) pigs represent the latest major progress to reduce immune reactions in xenotransplantation. However, their organs are still subject to rapid humoral rejection involving complement activation requiring the ongoing development of further genetic modifications in the pig. In a pig-to-baboon renal transplantation setting, we have used donor pigs that are not only GT-KO, but also transgenic for human CD55 (hCD55), hCD59, hCD39, and fucosyl-transferase (hHT).

Effects of electromagnetic radiation from 3G mobile phone on heart rate, blood pressure and ECG parameters in rats.

Effects of electromagnetic energy radiated from mobile phones (MPs) on heart is one of the research interests. The current study was designed to investigate the effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from third-generation (3G) MP on the heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP) and ECG parameters and also to investigate whether exogenous melatonin can exert any protective effect on these parameters. In this study 36 rats were randomized and evenly categorized into 4 groups: group 1 (3G-EMR exposed); group 2 (3G-EMR exposed + melatonin); group 3 (control) and group 4 (control + melatonin).

Lung tissue apoptosis in abdominal hypertension : Apoptosis and necrosis of lung tissue in abdominal hypertension.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate lung tissue histopathologic changes and the number of apoptosis with the increase of abdominal pressure.

Methods: The study rats were randomly assigned into the following five groups: a sham operated group and groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, in which the intra-abdominal pressure was increased to 11, 15, 18 and 22 mmHg for 60 min, respectively. Lungs were harvested for histopathologic changes and the tissue apoptotic analysis were carried out in a blinded manner.

4-aminophenylalanine as a biocompatible nucleophilic catalyst for hydrazone ligations at low temperature and neutral pH.

Hydrazone formation and similar reactions are highly versatile and specific, but their application to biological systems has been limited by their characteristically slow reaction kinetics at neutral pH. Catalysis of these reactions through imine formation with aromatic amines such as aniline has broadened the applicability of these reactions to biomolecular labeling. High concentrations of the catalyst are necessary, which may be incompatible with the native structure of certain proteins.

Maternal omega-3 fatty acid supplementation protects against lipopolysaccharide-induced white matter injury in the neonatal rat brain.

Objectives: Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is the predominant form of brain injury in premature infants, and no specific treatment currently exists for this condition. We have evaluated whether maternal omega-3 fatty acid (ω3 FA) treatment reduces endotoxin-induced PVL in the developing rat brain.

Methods: Wistar rats with dated pregnancies were fed a standard diet or a diet enriched in ω3 FA (70% docosahexaenoic acid + 30% eicosapentaenoic acid mixture) during gestation.

Preliminary experience with dexmedetomidine in neonatal anesthesia.

Background: In paediatric patients dexmedetomidine has been reported to be effective in various clinical settings including provision of sedation during mechanical ventilation, prevention of emergence delirium after general anaesthesia, sedation during non invasive radiological procedures. However very few data of its use in newborn is available. PATIENTS #ENTITYSTARTX00026;

Methods: Sixteen new born patients of age 2-28 days were studied.