Self-efficacy, depression and self-care activities of people with type 2 diabetes in Turkey.

Background: Self-efficacy related to self-care behaviors in people with type 2 diabetes has been well reported. However no work has been reported in Turkey that uses reliable instruments to examine the relationships among self-care activities, depression and self-efficacy.

Aim: This study aims to investigate self-care activities, depression and self-efficacy among people with type 2 diabetes in Turkey.

Frequency of Hepatitis B and C Viruses, and HIV Among Drug Addicts in the Eastern Anatolia, Turkey.

Background: Hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV infections constitute serious healthcare problems worldwide.

Objectives: There are a limited number of studies regarding the prevalence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV infections among the drug addicts in Turkey; hence, the current study aimed to determine the frequency of these infections among 235 drug addicts treated in a drug addiction treatment centre/Elazig, Turkey.

Patients And Methods: HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HCV and anti-HIV tests in 235 drug addicts were studied by ELISA technique.

High genetic diversity of hepatitis delta virus in eastern Turkey.

Introduction: Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is a serious cause of liver-related mortality in patients infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Determination of genotypes of HDV and phylogenetic analysis are important for better understanding the pathogenesis of the liver diseases associated with HBV infection. The aim of this study was to determine the genotype or genotypes of HDV among chronically infected patients with HBV in eastern Turkey.

Dietary vitamin D restriction in pregnant female mice is associated with maternal hypertension and altered placental and fetal development.

Epidemiology has linked vitamin D deficiency with preeclampsia in humans. We hypothesized that low vitamin D status in pregnant mice may lead to symptoms of preeclampsia. Female BL6 mice were raised on vitamin D-sufficient or -deficient diets from weeks 4 of age and then mated with vitamin D-sufficient BL6 males at week 8.

Potential relationship between BK virus and renal cell carcinoma.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the potential association between the presence of BK virus (BKV) DNA and mRNA and renal cell carcinoma and bladder transitional cell carcinoma. The formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue samples were obtained from 50 cancer patients with renal cell carcinoma, 40 cancer patients with bladder transitional cell carcinoma, 45 control patients with the benign renal pathology, and from another 25 control patients with benign bladder pathology. The samples were subjected to nested PCR for detection of BKV DNA and real-time reverse transcription PCR (real-time RT-PCR) for determining mRNA levels of BKV.

Presence of herpesviruses in adenoid tissues of children with adenoid hypertrophy and chronic adenoiditis.

Objectives: The aim of study was to determine the presence of some of the herpesviruses including herpes simplex virus (HSV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) in adenoid tissues of children with adenoid hypertrophy (AH) and chronic adenoiditis (CA) and to investigate the potential role of the herpesviruses in patogenesis of AH and CA.

Patients And Methods: A total of 72 patients (41 boys, 31 girls; mean age 4 years and 2 months; range 2 to 9 years) who underwent adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy (with or without placement of a ventilation tube) in our clinic between October 2007 and May 2008, were included. The patients were divided into two groups, as AH group (n=42) and the CA group (n=30).

Identification and characterization of OXA-48 producing, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates in Turkey.

Carbapenem resistance in Enterobacteriaceae isolates has been reported from Turkey and is most often mediated by OXA-48 type carbapenemases. We report the identification and characterization of four carbapenem-resistant isolates (three Klebsiella pneumoniae and one Escherichia coli) among 515 clinical Enterobacteriaceae isolates collected during a 7-month study period in Ankara, Turkey. The four isolates were recovered from blood and urine specimens in patients with varied clinical manifestations.

Synthesis of clay-based superabsorbent composite and its sorption capability.

A novel superabsorbent composite was synthesized by copolymerization reaction of partially neutralized acrylic acid (AA) on bentonite micropowder using N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide as a crosslinker and ammonium persulfate as an initiator in aqueous solution. The superabsorbent composite (SAC) was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The water retention test of SAC was also performed.

[Investigation of the presence of human papillomavirus DNA in various gastrointestinal carcinoma samples].

The role of human papillomavirus (HPV) has been well established in the pathogenesis of cervical cancers. However, HPV-DNA has also been detected in tumor tissues of other malignancies. Recently, detection of HPV-DNA in gastrointestinal cancer tissues with in-situ hybridization and PCR technologies has suggested possible role of HPV in gastrointestinal cancers.

Equilibrium and thermodynamic studies on biosorption of Pb(II) onto Candida albicans biomass.

Biosorption of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solutions was studied in a batch system by using Candida albicans. The optimum conditions of biosorption were determined by investigating the initial metal ion concentration, contact time, temperature, biosorbent dose and pH. The extent of metal ion removed increased with increasing contact time, initial metal ion concentration and temperature.

Removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution by sawdust adsorption.

The adsorption of lead, cadmium and nicel from aqueous solution by sawdust of walnut was investigated. The effect of contact time, initial metal ion concentration and temperature on metal ions removal has been studied. The equilibrium time was found to be of the order of 60 min.

[Detection of Mycobacterium species distribution in the sputum samples of tuberculosis patients by PCR-RFLP method in Elazig province].

The aim of this study was to detect the Mycobacterium species in the sputum samples collected from tuberculosis patients in Elazig province (located in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey), by PCR-RFLP (Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) method. A total of 60 samples from patients (32 male, 28 female) who were diagnosed as tuberculosis by culture positivity at Elazig Tuberculosis Control Dispensary, were included to the study. After DNA extraction and isolation from the samples, gene region encoding for 65 kDa protein of mycobacteria was amplified with specific primers (first step primers: TB1; 5'-GAG ATC GAC TGG AGG ATC C-3' and TB2; 5'-AGC TGC AGC CCA AAG GTG TT- 3', second step primers: TB1 and TB3; 5'-GTG TTG GAC TCC TCG ACG GT-3') by using seminested PCR method.

The relationship of graft survival and herpes simplex virus latency in recipient corneal buttons.

Purpose: To demonstrate relationship between herpes simplex virus (HSV) corneal latency and graft survival.

Methods: Prospective case control study. 28 recipient corneal buttons and donor cornea-scleral remnants were examined for HSV DNA with polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Adsorption studies on ground shells of hazelnut and almond.

Adsorption behaviour of Ni(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) from aqueous solutions by shells of hazelnut and almond were investigated. The structural properties and surface chemistry of the shells were characterized using sorption of nitrogen and Boehm titration. The equilibrium time was found to be 120 min.

Removal of copper (II) from aqueous solution by adsorption onto low-cost adsorbents.

The use of low-cost adsorbents was investigated as a replacement for current costly methods of removing metals from aqueous solution. Removal of copper (II) from aqueous solution by different adsorbents such as shells of lentil (LS), wheat (WS), and rice (RS) was investigated. The equilibrium adsorption level was determined as a function of the solution pH, temperature, contact time, initial adsorbate concentration and adsorbent doses.

Presence of herpesviruses in middle ear fluid of children with otitis media with effusion.

Background: Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a disease that frequently occurs in children. Etiopathogenesis of the diseases has not been completely elucidated. There are limited numbers of studies on the presence of herpesviruses in otitis media cases with OME.

Equilibrium and kinetics studies for adsorption of direct blue 71 from aqueous solution by wheat shells.

This paper deals with the application of wheat shells (WS), an agricultural by-product, for the removal of direct blue 71 (DR) from aqueous solution. The characteristics of WS surface, such as surface area, Bohem titration and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were obtained. The removal of direct blue 71 onto WS from aqueous solution was investigated by using parameters, such as pH, temperature, adsorbent dose, contact time and initial concentration.

Association of cagA+ Helicobacter pylori with adenotonsillar hypertrophy.

Cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA) of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) encodes a highly immunogenic and virulence-associated protein. The presence of cagA(+) H.

The effects of low dose leukotriene receptor antagonist therapy on airway remodeling and cysteinyl leukotriene expression in a mouse asthma model.

Airway structural changes that occur in patients with asthma in response to persistent inflammation are termed airway remodeling. The cysteinyl leukotrienes (LTC(4), D(4) and E(4)) are known to play important roles in the pathobiology of asthma. To evaluate the effect of low dose montelukast (MK) on the development of airway remodeling using a chronic murine model of allergic airway inflammation with subepithelial fibrosis, BALB/c mice, after intraperitoneal ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization on days 0 and 14, received intranasal OVA periodically on days 14-75.

Detection of Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) subtype I as a single dominant virus subtype in Molluscum lesions from a Turkish population.

Background: Molluscum contagiosum has a worldwide occurrence and its primary mode of transmission is via direct human contact including sexual means. The aim of the study was to implement a polymerase chain reaction-based assay for detection and subtyping of Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) in skin lesions diagnosed with molluscum contagiosum in a large regional teaching hospital in Turkey.

Methods: For this purpose, a total of 61 patients were included in the study.

Combined branched-DNA and conventional HBV PCR assays for detection of serum HBV-DNA in hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.

Background/aims: Monitoring of HBV replication level is very useful for the management of patients with chronic HBV. However, the use of the correct tools to quantify HBV-DNA levels in serum and monitor the replication of HBV is of paramount importance in terms of diagnosis, and antiviral treatment of patients with chronic HBV infection. The aim of this study was to combine the bDNA assay and HBV PCR to improve detection of viremia the patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B infection.

Detection of human parvovirus B19 in children with acute hepatitis.

Parvovirus is a rare cause of acute hepatitis. Two children with non A-E acute hepatitis in whom human parvovirus B19 was detected by PCR are reported.

Multiple metastatic tuberculosis abscesses in a patient with Pott disease and lung tuberculosis: a case report.

The incidence of tuberculosis in Western countries is rising, and continued vigilance together with an awareness of its protean manifestations is essential. Cutaneous tuberculosis is a relatively rare manifestation of the disease, accounting for only 1% of extrapulmonary cases of tuberculosis and 0.14% of all reported cases of tuberculosis.