Custody and prison deaths autopsied in Istanbul between 2010 and 2012.

The occurred death of a convict in prison, police custody cell or in a hospital always attracts public attention and can be considered as a complex phenomenon. The aim of this study is to evaluate the data obtained from autopsies performed to the custody and prison deaths in Istanbul and to discuss the possible solutions by comparing with the literature. It is also aimed to discuss the postponement of the sentence and presidential amnesty facts in Turkey.

Is the extraction by Whatman FTA filter matrix technology and sequencing of large ribosomal subunit D1-D2 region sufficient for identification of clinical fungi?

Although conventional identification of pathogenic fungi is based on the combination of tests evaluating their morphological and biochemical characteristics, they can fail to identify the less common species or the differentiation of closely related species. In addition these tests are time consuming, labour-intensive and require experienced personnel. We evaluated the feasibility and sufficiency of DNA extraction by Whatman FTA filter matrix technology and DNA sequencing of D1-D2 region of the large ribosomal subunit gene for identification of clinical isolates of 21 yeast and 160 moulds in our clinical mycology laboratory.

Can Helicobacter pylori cause inflammation in the middle ear?

Objectives: To investigate whether Helicobacter pylori causes inflammation in the normal middle ear and in the middle ear with effusion.

Methods: Sixteen adult New Zealand white rabbits were divided into two gropus equally. Group I was representing histamine-induced middle ear inflammation and Group II was representing normal middle ear.

The probable relation between Toxoplasma gondii and Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD), a chronic progressive neurodegenerative disorder, has a mainly unknown multifactorial etiology. Neuroinflammatory mechanisms might contribute to the cascade of events leading to neuronal degeneration. Toxoplasmosis can be associated with various neuropsychiatric disorders.

Prevalence of cagA and vacA genotypes of Helicobacter pylori isolated from Turkish patients with active or non-active chronic gastritis.

Several virulence factors of Helicobacter pylori may contribute to gastric mucosal damage. In this study, the prevalence of cagA and vacA genotypes of H. pylori was examined in different patterns of chronic gastritis.

In vitro anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of usnic acid.

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori is an important objective in overcoming gastric diseases. Many regimens are currently available but none of them could achieve 100% success in eradication. Medicinal lichen is used in the treatment of gastric ulcer in local folk medicine in Anatolia (Turkey).

The effects of caspofungin and voriconazole in an experimental fungal infection of the ear due to Aspergillus.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of caspofungin and voriconazole in the treatment of experimental Aspergillus otitis media in an experimental rabbit model. A total of 30 New Zealand white rabbits were divided into four treatment groups and one control group. The rabbits were immunosuppressed by cyclophosphamide and triamcinolone acetonide.

[Cystic echinococcosis in Turkey from 2001-2005].

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) caused by the metacestode form of Echinococcus granulosus is a major public health problem especially in animal-raising regions of the world. In the present study, CE cases were determined during 2001-2005 by investigating different hospital and health directorship documents and Health Ministry documents, retrospectively. Our results show that there were 2534 (13.

[Short communication: Determination of methicillin resistance in staphylococci with different methods and detection of multiple antibiotic resistance].

The aims of this study were to determine the methicillin resistance of a total of 256 staphylococcus strains [213 Staphylococcus aureus and 43 coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS)], isolated from different clinical samples and hospital environmental specimens by different methods and to detect multiple antibiotic resistance in these isolates. Methicillin resistance of staphylococci was investigated by using oxacillin agar screening (OAS), oxacillin disk diffusion (ODD), cefoxitin disk diffusion (CDD), PBP2a latex agglutination (LA) and microdilution tests. The resistance of the strains against penicillin G, amoxycillin/clavulanate, cephalothin, tetracycline, erythromycin, fusidic asid, ofloxacin, vancomycin, co-trimoxazole and gentamicin was investigated by standard disk diffusion method.

Clinical importance of Demodex folliculorum in patients receiving phototherapy.

Background: Patients with immunodeficiency are prone to infestation with Demodex folliculorum mites. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation can lead to immunosuppression and sebaceous gland hyperplasia. Although some cases of demodicidosis related to UV radiation exposure have been reported, no studies have been performed on the incidence of D.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester reduces mortality and sepsis-induced lung injury in rats.

Objective: Sepsis and ensuing multiorgan failure continue to be the major causes of mortality in intensive care units. Nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activation is supposed to be one of the targets in the treatment of sepsis. We studied the effectiveness of caffeic phenethyl ester (CAPE), a known NF-kappaB inhibitor, in cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis and lung injury.

Antifungal efficacy of voriconazole, itraconazole and amphotericin b in experimental fusarium solani keratitis.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of topical voriconazole in an experimental rabbit model of Fusarium keratitis.

Methods: Fungal keratitis was induced in the right eyes of 24 New Zealand rabbits. 8.

Evaluation of bacteremias in a Turkish university hospital: 3-year outcomes.

In this retrospective study, the investigators examined blood cultures from patients that had been diagnosed with bacteremias over a 3-y period. The study was conduced at Kocatepe University Hospital (Middle Anatolia, Turkey). Blood samples that arrived at the university's microbiology laboratory between 2002 and 2005 were evaluated retrospectively.

[Investigation of hemodialysis patients in terms of the presence of occult hepatitis B].

The presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in case of negative HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) in serum is known as "occult hepatitis B". There are many reports indicating that occult HBV infections are more frequently encountered in case of hepatocellular carcinoma, hemodialysis practice and co-infections with hepatitis C virus (HCV). The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of HBV-DNA in HBsAg negative hemodialysis.

Efficacy of topical caspofungin in experimental fusarium keratitis.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of caspofungin in an experimental rabbit model of Fusarium keratitis and to compare it with amphotericin B.

Methods: Eighteen New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 2 treatment groups and 1 control group. One cornea of each rabbit was inoculated with Fusarium solani spores.

Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus in 4-6 age groups in healthy children in Afyonkarahisar, Turkey.

Aim: Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of disease, particularly for colonized persons. Although methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infection has frequently reported, population-based S.

Effects of intravitreal moxifloxacin and dexamethasone in experimental Staphylococcus aureus endophthalmitis.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of intravitreal moxifloxacin and moxifloxacin and dexamethasone combination in an experimental rabbit model of Staphylococcus aureus endophthalmitis.

Methods: The right eyes of 24 rabbits weighing 2 to 3 kg were used. Ten thousand colony-forming units (CFU) of S.

[Short communication: determination of hepatitis C virus genotypes by INNO-LIPA and sequence analysis methods].

The detection of genotypes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) which exhibit very high genetic variability, has a great impact for the therapy and follow-up of the chronicity of infections. The aim of this study was to detect the genotypes of HCV strains by using two different methods. Thirty patients (5 hemodialysis patients, 9 chronic hepatitis C patients, 5 blood donors, 1 hospital staff) who were positive for both anti-HCV (Vitros, Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics) and HCV-RNA (Rotorgene, Artus) were included to the study.

[Investigation of the presence of Clostridium difficile in antibiotic associated diarrhea patients by culture and toxin detection methods].

Clostridium difficile-associated disease can be observed especially in hospitalized patients who use broad-spectrum antibiotics. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of C. difficile as the causative agent of diarrhea in outpatients and inpatients.

Anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in patients with schizophrenia--preliminary findings in a Turkish sample.

Schizophrenia is a serious neuropsychiatric disease of uncertain etiology. We investigated the seropositivity rate for anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in patients with schizophrenia to ascertain a possible relationship between Toxoplasma gondii and schizophrenia. We selected 100 patients with schizophrenia, 50 with depressive disorder, and 50 healthy volunteers to investigate the seropositivity rate of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies by ELISA.

The effects of caspofungin and voriconazole in experimental Candida endophthalmitis.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of newly developed antifungal agents caspofungin and voriconazole in Candida albicans endophthalmitis in rabbit eyes.

Methods: Thirty New Zealand white rabbits were divided into four treatment groups and one control group. One eye of each rabbit was infected by inoculation of 1 x 10(4) CFU/ml of C.

[Evaluation of the level of knowledge of medical secretaries about clinical specimens].

The rapid development of medical industry in the last 5 years in Turkey led to an increased demand for medical technicians and secretaries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge of students in Occupational School of Medical Documentation and Secretary about the clinical specimens, and to estimate the need for an additional education on clinical specimens. Four hundred and forty eight students from eight universities were participated to this questionnaire survey.

House dust mite fauna in western Anatolia, Turkey.

House dust mites play an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. Many factors may influence mite growth. The presence of mites is related to mean temperature and humidity as well as altitude.

Prevalence of pediculosis and scabies in preschool nursery children of Afyon, Turkey.

Scabies and pediculosis are ubiquitous, contagious, and debilitating parasitic dermatoses. The tendency of high prevalence of pediculosis and scabies among school and preschool age children has prompted us to conduct a head louse and scabies prevalence survey among preschool nursery children in our district. A school-based, crosssectional study was performed, with 1,134 children chosen for evaluation.