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Arils from six pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) varieties grown in the Mediterranean region of Turkey were tested for their antimicrobial properties by the agar diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) methods against seven bacteria: (Bacillus megaterium DSM 32, Pseudomonas aeruginosa DSM 9027, Staphylococcus aureus Cowan 1, Corynebacterium xerosis UC 9165, Escherichia coli DM, Enterococcus faecalis A10, Micrococcus luteus LA 2971), and three fungi (Kluvyeromyces marxianus A230, Rhodotorula rubra MC12, Candida albicans ATCC 1023). It has been observed that the pomegranate aril extracts had antimicrobial effect on all microorganisms, giving inhibition zones ranging in size from 13 to 26 mm. The MIC values for active pomegranate extracts ranged between 30 and >90 μg/mL. The results obtained appeared to confirm the antimicrobial potential of the Punica granatum varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aims: This study was undertaken to evaluate changes in the seroepidemiological pattern of Helicobacter pylori in a group of Turkish children over a span of 10 years., Methods: A total of 403 (219+184) serum samples were obtained from a primary school located in the urban part of Ankara in 1990 and 2000. All of the samples were from healthy students aged 7-14 (in 1990, n= 219, 109 females; and in 2000, n= 184, 90 females)., Results: All serum samples were assayed for Helicobacter pylori IgG by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The overall prevalence of Helicobacter pylori antibodies was 78.5% in 1990 and 66.3% in 2000. The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori was found to be decreasing over a time span of 10 years (p<0.01). While the most susceptible age group to Helicobacter pylori in 1990 was 10 years (89.5%), in 2000 the susceptible age group was 8 years (85.0%)., Conclusions: Our data suggest that the seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection seems to have decreased during the last 10 years in Turkey. This change may be attributable to the changes in environmental condition and socioeconomic development that have taken place in the country.