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In recent studies, it was shown that blood agar can be used at least as effectively as Löwenstein-Jensen medium for growing Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It was also shown that susceptibility testing can be performed on blood agar. Additional validation of blood agar was performed on regional M. tuberculosis isolates from Turkey to determine critical concentrations of isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RIF), ethambutol (ETM), and streptomycin (STR). In the current study, 40 M. tuberculosis clinical isolates were tested. H37Rv, which is susceptible to all antituberculosis agents, ATCC 35822 (INH-resistant), ATCC 35838 (RIF-resistant), ATCC 35837 (ETM-resistant), and ATCC 35820 (STR-resistant) quality control strains were used as control strains. Proportion method on 7H11 agar was considered as gold standard in the study. MIC values of the control strains and clinical isolates were detected on blood and 7H11 agar. Categorical agreements were 100% for each antibiotic, and essential agreements were 100%, 97.5%, 82.5%, and 95% for INH, RIF, ETM, and STR, respectively. According to the data, 0.2 µg/mL for INH, 1 µg/mL for RIF, 4 µg/mL for ETM, and 2 µg/mL for STR were appropriate breakpoint values for susceptibility testing on blood agar. Blood agar may be recommended for use in both developed and developing countries for the susceptibility testing of M. tuberculosis isolates to primary antituberculosis drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the frequency and type of chromosome segregation patterns in cleavage stage embryos obtained from male carriers of Robertsonian (ROB) and reciprocal (REC) translocations undergoing preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) at our reproductive center. We used FISH to analyze chromosome segregation in 308 day 3 cleavage stage embryos obtained from 26 patients. The percentage of embryos consistent with normal or balanced segregation (55.1% vs. 27.1%) and clinical pregnancy (62.5% vs. 19.2%) rates were higher in ROB than the REC translocation carriers. Involvement of non-acrocentric chromosome(s) or terminal breakpoint(s) in reciprocal translocations was associated with an increase in the percent of embryos consistent with adjacent 1 but with a decrease in 3:1 segregation. Similar results were obtained in the analysis of nontransferred embryos donated for research. 3:1 segregation was the most frequent segregation type in both day 3 (31%) and spare (35%) embryos obtained from carriers of t(11;22)(q23;q11), the only non-random REC with the same breakpoint reported in a large number of unrelated families mainly identified by the birth of a child with derivative chromosome 22. These results suggest that chromosome segregation patterns in day 3 and nontransferred embryos obtained from male translocation carriers vary with the type of translocation and involvement of acrocentric chromosome(s) or terminal breakpoint(s). These results should be helpful in estimating reproductive success in translocation carriers undergoing PGD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the results of a retrospective study on the features of the Lenke 1A curves, the most frequently evaluate curve type in adolescent idiopathic curves. The aim of this study is to determine the optimum distal fusion level selection by investigating the radiographic features of the subtypes of Lenke 1A. The study concludes that in type 1A-A and type 1A-D curves, the distal fusion level should be extended to at least lower end vertebra (LEV).

In this study, the effects of 1-(1-naphtylmethyl)-piperazine (NMP), an efflux pump inhibitor, on antimicrobial drug susceptibilities of 42 clinical Acinetobacter baumannii isolates were investigated by the disc diffusion method. The inhibition zone diameters of antibiotic discs were tested in the presence and absence of NMP and then these zone diameters were compared. Presence of NMP restored ciprofloxacin susceptibility in 15 intermediate and 2 resistant isolates. One ciprofloxacin resistant isolate became intermediate in the presence of NMP. One isolate resistant to gentamicin became intermediate with NMP. Interestingly, one isolate susceptible to meropenem became resistant in the presence of NMP. Although NMP increased the inhibition zone diameters of some of the tested antibiotics against the resistant isolates, the increase was not enough to restore susceptibility. In conclusion, the presence of NMP increases the zone diameters of ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin. Intermediate strains become susceptible but the resistant isolates do not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nitrate reductase assay (NRA) was evaluated for susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis using 80 clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis and H37Rv as a control strain. All isolates were tested by the proportion method and the NRA for isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RIF), streptomycin (STR) and ethambutol (ETM). The proportion method was carried out according to NCCLS on Löwenstein-Jensen (LJ) medium and the NRA on LJ medium containing 1000 μg/ml potassium nitrate (KNO3). After incubation for 7, 10, 14 and 21 days, Griess reagent was added to each LJ medium and nitrate reduction was determined by a colour change. Comparing the NRA with the proportion method, sensitivities were 100, 100, 82.1 and 92.2% for INH, RIF, STR and ETM, respectively. Specificities were 100, 100, 92.3 and 100% for INH, RIF, STR and ETM, respectively. The results of 2, 22 and 56 isolates were obtained after 7, 10 and 14 days, respectively. The proportion method result were read at 21–28 days. The NRA is rapid, inexpensive and easy to perform. Our results indicated that the NRA is suitable for the early determination of INH and RIF resistance in countries where sophisticated procedures are not always available. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background Colistin-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates are extremely important pathogens for hospital-acquired infections. Objective To investigate the effectiveness of the resazurin microplate assay (REMA) for the rapid determination of colistin resistance. Methods Susceptibility for colistin was investigated in vitro by the broth microdilution method (BMD) and the resazurin microplate assay (REMA) on 106 carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates. Results The results of both test methods were compared, and the categorical agreement between them was found to be 100%. No minor, major, or very major discrepancy was observed between the 2 methods. Conclusions The most important advantages of REMA are that the results are obtained within 6 hours compared to the reference method, that it is easy to evaluate because it is colorimetric, and that the susceptibility result can be reported to the clinician on the same day as bacterial identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the performance of nitrate reductase assay (NRA), a rapid, colorimetric method for the determination of methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus isolates obtained from the culture collection of the Akdeniz University Hospital Central Laboratory, Antalya, Türkiye. Materials and Methods Identification for all 290 S aureus isolates at the species level was performed via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight. Isolates were tested with NRA for methicillin resistance. The cefoxitin broth microdilution (BMD) method recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute was used as the reference method in the study. S aureus ATCC 29213 and S aureus ATCC 43300 strains were used for quality control. Results According to Food and Drug Administration criteria, the category agreement between NRA and BMD was found to be 100%. The essential agreement between both methods was determined to be 96.20%. There is no minor, major, or extremely major discrepancy between both methods. Conclusion The results show that NRA is a rapid, practical, and reliable colorimetric method for detecting MRSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this multicenter study was to evaluate the performance of the crystal violet decolorization assay (CVDA) for detection of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). This study was performed in 11 centers in two phases. A total of 156 isolates were tested for INH and RIF resistance. In the phase I, 106 clinical isolates were tested in the Center 1-7. In the phase 2, 156 clinical isolates were tested in the center 1-6, center 8-11. Eighty six of 156 tested isolates were the same in phase I. Agreements were 96.2-96.8% for INH and 98.1-98.7% for RIF in the phase I-II, respectively. Mean time to obtain the results in the phase I was 14.3 ± 5.4 days. In the phase II, mean time to obtain the results was 11.6 ± 3.5 days. Test results were obtained within 14days for 62.3% (66/106) of isolates in the phase I and 81.4% (127/156) of isolates in the phase II. In conclusion, CVDA is rapid, reliable, inexpensive, and easy to perform for rapid detection of MDR-TB isolates. In addition, it could be adapted for drug susceptibility testing with all drugs both in developed and developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis is a major global health problem caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the increase in drug resistance is driving the need for new treatments. Today, various approaches are being applied in the development of drugs for the treatment of tuberculosis. Computer-aided drug design (CADD) enables the prediction of pharmacological efficacy for potential drug molecules during the design process. Thus, new therapeutic compounds can be developed that are more potent, less toxic and have fewer side effects than existing drugs. In this study, we investigated the in vitro activities of AKVUAM-1 and AKVUAM-2 synthetic peptides designed in silico by computer-aided drug design method to inhibit the interaction between M. tuberculosis outer membrane protein Cpn T and macrophage surface receptor CR-1 and Surfactant D protein. Notably, these synthetic peptides do not show cytotoxic effect on normal lung tissue and do not kill M. tuberculosis directly. The MIC values for AKVUAM-1 were higher than 512 μg/ml for all bacterial strains except IST-16 strain (128 μg/ml). According to our results, AKVUAM-1 and AKVUAM-2 synthetic peptides have the potential to be successful candidates for investigating their potential to block macrophage entry of bacilli as targeted. [Display omitted] • AKVUAM-1 designed for disrupt the interaction between Cpn T and CR-1. • AKVUAM-2 designed for interrupt the interaction between Cpn T and SD. • AKVUAM-1 and AKVUAM-2 synthetic peptides have no cytotoxic effect on MRC5 cells. • AKVUAM-1 and AKVUAM-2 synthetic peptides have no significant anti-TB activity. • The MIC values were higher than 512 μg/ml for all bacterial strains except IST-16. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Increasing drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains continues to be an important public health problem. • Rapid and reliable detection of drug resistance is important to prevent tuberculosis. • New methods are needed for detection of drug resistance. • Modified nitrate reductase assay (MONRA) is a colorimetric method developed to determine first and second-line drug susceptibilities performed in AYC.2.1 broth. • With MONRA, MDR and Pre-XDR M. tuberculosis strains can be detected in a short time. • MONRA is highly compatible with reference methods such as BACTEC MGIT 960. In this study, we developed a modified NRA (MONRA) to determine the first and second-line drug susceptibilities of 5 reference ATCC strains and 42 clinical M. tuberculosis isolates. Unlike conventional NRA, which is often performed in solid media or 7H9 broth, the MONRA is performed in a different medium, AYC.2.1 broth, using lyophilized antibiotic tubes to determine drug susceptibility. The MONRA results were compared with BACTEC MGIT 960 method as the reference method for first-line drugs and conventional NRA performed in 7H9 broth for second-line drugs. The agreement between the MONRA and the reference method was determined as 97.62, 100, 97.62, and 100 % for streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampicin, and ethambutol, respectively. When the results were compared with convantional NRA, the agreement was determined as 100 % for all second-line antibiotics including levofloxacin, ofloxacin, and kanamycin. MONRA has the potential to eliminate challenges in implementing drug susceptibility testing in resource-limited settings. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Objective: We aimed to elucidate the effects of exogenous nitric oxide application via myrigotomized rat tympanic membranes on tympanosclerosis. Materials and methods: Forty male rats were included in the study. After myringotomy, nitric oxide was given to the left tympanic cavities and saline was given to the right as the control group. The procedure was repeated 3 times with weekly intervals. Three months after the first procedure, otomicroscopic examination was made and the rats were sacrificed for histologic examination. Results: Neither otomicroscopic examination, nor histologic examination of middle ears and tympanic membranes revealed any significant difference between the right and left sides. Tympanic membrane thicknesses were also similar on both sides without showing any significant difference. Conclusions: Data from this study indicate that exogenous nitric oxide application did not change the occurence of tympanosclerosis in the rat model. Other cytokine interactions are needed to start the reaction sequence leading to tympanosclerosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Chemokines and their receptors play important roles in host defense, organogenesis, hematopoiesis, and neuronal communication. Forty-two chemokines and 19 cognate receptors have been found in the human genome. Prior to this report, only 11 chicken chemokines and 7 receptors had been reported. The objectives of this study were to systematically identify chicken chemokines and their cognate receptor genes in the chicken genome and to annotate these genes and ligand-receptor binding by a comparative genomics approach. Results: Twenty-three chemokine and 14 chemokine receptor genes were identified in the chicken genome. All of the chicken chemokines contained a conserved CC, CXC, CX3C, or XC motif, whereas all the chemokine receptors had seven conserved transmembrane helices, four extracellular domains with a conserved cysteine, and a conserved DRYLAIV sequence in the second intracellular domain. The number of coding exons in these genes and the syntenies are highly conserved between human, mouse, and chicken although the amino acid sequence homologies are generally low between mammalian and chicken chemokines. Chicken genes were named with the systematic nomenclature used in humans and mice based on phylogeny, synteny, and sequence homology. Conclusion: The independent nomenclature of chicken chemokines and chemokine receptors suggests that the chicken may have ligand-receptor pairings similar to mammals. All identified chicken chemokines and their cognate receptors were identified in the chicken genome except CCR9, whose ligand was not identified in this study. The organization of these genes suggests that there were a substantial number of these genes present before divergence between aves and mammals and more gene duplications of CC, CXC, CCR, and CXCR subfamilies in mammals than in aves after the divergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The in vitro antimicrobial activity of Ankaferd Blood Stopper® (ABS) was assessed on 102 clinical isolates from both Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria and four standard strains, including MRSA ATCC 43300, MSSA ATCC 25923, P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and E. coli ATCC 35218. ABS was significantly active against all bacteria investigated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, it was aimed to investigate that whether any change in activity of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), lipid peroksidase and nitric oxide (NO) over time, and whether any difference between the different doses by giving different doses of aspirin to endothelial cells. Endothelial cells (HUVEC) in 24 wells microplates used in this study and 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 750, 1000 and 1500 μM aspirin to 2 of 4 wells at each row were given, the other 2 wells were included as controls. Accordingly, while CAT, SOD, GSH-Px levels and lipid peroxidation were being measured, NO release from cell media was observed. The significant differences were not found between the baseline (0 hour) CAT, SOD, GSH-Px and lipid peroxidase levels measured from lisates that obtained from the cells that different drug doses given and controls (p>0.05). Also, CAT, SOD, GSH-Px and lipid peroxidase levels at 24 (p>0.05), 48 and 72 hours did not show any difference among different drug doses and control (p>0.05). In the control group significant differences were found between CAT, SOD and GSH-Px levels measured at 0, 24, 48, 72 hours (p<0.05, p<0.05 and p<0.05 respectively) but lipid peroxidase activity and NO levels showed no difference. Increase in antioxidant enzyme activity in the cells that aspirin was not given, caused by raised free radical formation due to increase in number of cells by time was observed. Aspirin prevented the increase in reactive enzyme activity which increases by time. These results suggest that nontoxic doses of aspirin might protect the cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essential oil obtained from the dried flowering aerial parts of Achillea phrygia Boiss & Bal. by hydrodistilation was analysed by gas chromotography-mass spectrometry. Camphor (35.55%), 2- furaldehyde (16.59%) and 1,8-cineol (eucalyptol) (10.12%) were detected as the major components of the essential oil. Essential oil of the plant was also tested for antimicrobial activity using the disc-diffusion method against 6 reference bacterial strains and 65 clinical bacterial isolates. Essential oil of A. phrygia showed antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA), Acinetobacter baumannii and bacterial strains as S. aureus ATCC 25923, S. aureus ATCC 43300, Acinetobacter baumannii ATCC 19606. In additionally, the essential oil were not effective against bacterial strains as Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212. Morover, the total antioxidant capacity and the scavenging effect on 2,2diphenil-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals of the essential oil were also evaluated. The radical scavenging activity of A. phrygia essential oil was 40.43%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To perform a multicentre study evaluating the performance of the direct nitrate reductase assay (NRA) for the detection of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis in sputum samples. Methods The study was conducted in six laboratories performing tuberculosis diagnosis that were located in six different countries. The NRA was performed directly on sputum samples in parallel with the reference method used at each site. Detection of resistance was performed for rifampicin, isoniazid, ofloxacin and kanamycin. Results Excellent agreement was obtained for all drugs tested at the majority of sites. The accuracy was 93.7%–100% for rifampicin, 88.2%–100% for isoniazid, 94.6%–100% for ofloxacin and 100% for kanamycin. The majority of NRA results were available at day 21 for sites 1, 2 and 5. Site 3 had a turnaround time of 13.9 days, at site 4 it was 18.4 days and at site 6 it was 16.2 days. The contamination rate ranged between 2.5% and 12%. Conclusions Rapid detection of drug resistance by the direct NRA on sputum smear-positive samples was accurate and easy to implement in clinical diagnostic laboratories, making it a good alternative for rapid screening for MDR and XDR tuberculosis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents s study which investigates the role of neopterin (NT) and procalcitonin (PCT) as a prognostic factor in patients with sepsis. It mentions the use of immunoluminometric method in examining the blood samples taken from patients hospitalized at the Department of the Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology and/or Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation. Results show that PCT is a prognostic factor in sepsis but not with NT.

Primary muscular Echinococcus infection is very rare without involvement of thoracic and abdominal organs. In this case a 31-year-old man who had a growing mass in the postero-medial part of his right thigh was examined. The mass was diagnosed as hydatid cyst using ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and serological tests. It was removed surgically and there has been no recurrence one year after the surgery. The MRI imaging characteristics may differ depending on the life cycle stage of the parasite. In this case report, we discuss the imaging characteristics of the muscular hydatid cyst with special emphasis on the MRI findings. In regions where hydatidosis is endemic, a mass found in body muscles should be considered as a muscular hydatid cyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although hypothyroid myopathy is seen frequently and the relationship with autoimmune hypothyroidism and myasthenia gravis is well known, specific forms of hypothyroid myopathy such as Hoffman's syndrome (HS) are rarely described. Here we describe a 40-year-old patient with Hashimoto thyroiditis showing symptoms and signs of two discrete forms of hypothyroid myopathy (HS and myasthenic syndrome) together. To our knowledge this is the first reported case with features of both of these syndromes. We discuss the diagnosis, speculate whether this patient may represent a unique form of hypothyroid myopathy, and report the 6-month follow-up of the patient both clinically and electrophysiologically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case of a 41-year-old man who was hospitalized due to tripleright coronary artery accompanied by an ectopic circumflex artery arising from a right sinus of valsalva.