Search

The determination of the global gravity field has gained momentum due to high accuracy satellite-derived observations and development of forward gravity modelling. Forward modelling computes the global gravitational field from mass distribution sources instead of actual gravity measurements and helps improving and complementing the medium to high frequency components of the global gravity field models. In this study, we approximate the global gravity potential of the Earth’s upper crust based on ellipsoidal approximation and a mass layer concept. Lateral density variations within a sequence of thin volumetric shells bounded by confocal lower and upper shell ellipsoids are used in the computation of the ellipsoidal harmonic coefficients which are then transformed into spherical harmonic coefficients on the Earth’s surface in the final step. The main outcome of this research is a spectral representation of the Earth’s upper crust’s gravitational potential, computed up to degree and order 3660 in terms spherical harmonic coefficients (ROLI_EllApprox_SphN_3660).

The 15 year old ICGEM is one of the five services coordinated by the International Gravity Field Service (IGFS)of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG). The aim of the ICGEM service is to provide the scientificcommunity with a state of the art archive of static and temporal global gravity field models of the Earth in astandardized format with a possibility to assign DOI number and develop interactive calculation and visualisationservices of gravity field functionals. Development and maintenance of such a unique platform is crucial for thescientific community in geodesy, geophysics, oceanography and climatology and has a positive impact in thegovernmental organisations and industrial practice. In this presentation, we will cover the maintenance, and the newfeatures and future plans of the ICGEM Service. New features include the calculation of gravity field functionalsat a list of distributed points and new topographic gravity field models whereas the future plans aim to meet theneeds of the scientific community.

22nd Congress of the European-Hematology-Association -- JUN 22-25, 2017 -- Madrid, SPAIN, WOS: 000404127006027, European Hematol Assoc

Kedi tırmık hastalığı (Cat Scratch Disease, CSD), kedilerde görülen ve bütün dünyada halk sağlığı problemi olan önemli bir zoonozdur. Bu çalışmada, prospektif kesitsel tarama ile pet ve başıboş kedilerdeki Bartonella henselae antikorlarının seroprevalansı ve bölge sağlık kuruluşlarının CSD kayıtları üzerinden hastalığın halk sağlığı açısından durumu araştırıldı. Total B. henselae antikorları, Selçuk Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Hayvan Hastanesi ve Konya Büyükşehir Belediyesi Geçici Hayvan Bakımevi'nden 93 pet ve 93 başıboş kediden alınan serum örneklerinde indirekt flörosan antikor testi (IFAT) ile değerlendirildi. B. henselae seropozitifliği pet ve başıboş kediler (sırasıyla, %26.88 ve %41.94) arasında yapılan karşılaştırmada, başıboş kedilerde belirgin şekilde yüksekti. Çalışmada, B. henselae' nın total seroprevalansı %34.41 olarak bulundu. Bölge sağlık örgütlerinin 1.5 yıllık kayıtlarına göre Konya bölgesinde toplamda 438 CSD vakası görüldüğü tespit edildi. Başıboş kedilerde B. henselae seroprevalansının yüksek olması, başıboş kedilerin vektörlerle yoğun temasta olmalarına yorumlandı. Sonuç olarak, Konya bölgesinde CSD'nin halk sağlığı açısından önemli bir risk olduğu gözlendi. Bu çerçevede bölgedeki CSD prevalansını azaltmak ve insanlara geçişini önlemek için tek sağlık konsepti içerisinde bilgilendirme, tedavi ve koruma çalışmaları yapılması gerektiği sonucuna varıldı, Cat Scratch Disease (CSD) is an important zoonosis seen in cats and a public health problem in all over the world. In this study, prospective cross-sectional serologic survey and examination of local health authority records for CSD, the seroprevalence of antibodies against Bartonella henselae in pet and stray cats, and its public health aspect were investigated. Total antibodies to B. henselae were evaluated by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) in serum samples taken from 93 pet cats and 93 stray cats from the Selcuk University Veterinary Faculty Animal Hospital and Konya Municipality Stray Animal Shelter. Percentages of pet cats and stray cats seropositive for antibodies against Bartonella henselae (26.88% and 41.94%, respectively) were significantly higher than percentages of pet cats. Total seroprevalence of Bartonella henselae was found to be 34.41% in the study. A total of 438 CSD cases were identified in the Konya region according to the data received from local health authority records in the previous 1.5 years . Stray cats have higher seroprevalences of antibodies against Bartonella henselae, but this likely was related to greater exposure to vectors of these organisms. In conclusion, it was observed that CSD is an important risk for public health in Konya region. Therefore in order to decrease CSD prevalence in this region and prevent transmission of the disease to humans, information, treatment and prevention studies must be carried out within the One Health concept

Öz bulunamadı.

A rhizosphere isolate Streptomyces sp. CAH29 was found to possess potent antibacterial and antifungal activity against a variety of test organisms. Based on 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid sequence homology studies, this strain was found to be similar to Streptomyces stramineus (gene sequence similarity 99 %). The major bioactive metabolite produced by Streptomyces sp. CAH29 isolate was extracted, purified andidentified by nuclear magnetic resonance as tetrangomycin. This known anthraquinone-exhibited antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans with inhibition zones of 14, 10, 12 and 8 mm, respectively. Docking results demonstrate that tetrangomycin has a similar mode of action and a comparable docking score to bind to the dehydrosqualene synthase (CrtM) enzyme of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus compared to the current inhibitor. Hence, this suggests that tetrangomycin has a potential to be used as an anti-methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus agent. Tetrangomycin also showed moderate free radical scavenging activity with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazil. Tetrangomycin apparently decreased all of the studied cytokine (pro-inflammatory: interleukin 1B, interleukin 2, tumor necrosis factor and interleukin L6 and anti-inflammatory: interleukin 10) expression levels at IC50 concentrations in A459 (adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial) and LNCAP (human prostate adenocarcinoma) cell lines. In addition, it reduced Caspase 8 and 3 mRNA levels in LNCAP and A549 cells. This study describes for the first time novel in vitro immunosuppressive function of tetrangomycin by reducing the transcription of cytokine genes.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to determine the hepatitis B serological profiles, vaccination status, and prevalence of needlestick injuries (NSI) among HCWs in a tertiary hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. Methodology: This study was conducted from February to March 2013 in Haseki Hospital. The study undertook randomly 333 volunteer HCWs working in different departments of the hospital with more than 6 months of job experience. A structured questionnaire was used to collect individual demographic parameters, history of occupational exposures and HBV vaccination coverage status. Blood samples of participating HCWs were collected for HBV profiling. Results: Among the volunteer 333 subjects, 101 (69.7%) were male. Their age ranged between 19 and 62 years (mean 35.9 years) and the duration of their employment between 1 and 41 years (mean 16.9 years). Ninety-eight (29.4%) of the interviewed health-care workers reported that they had experienced at least one needlestick injury during their working life. Occupation and duration of employment were significantly associated with needlestick injury (P

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a threat to patient safety; however, there were no available data on SSI rates stratified by surgical procedure (SP) in Turkey. Methods: Between January 2005 and December 2011, a cohort prospective surveillance study on SSIs was conducted by the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) in 20 hospitals in 16 Turkish cities. Data from hospitalized patients were registered using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) methods and definitions for SSIs. Surgical procedures (SPs) were classified into 22 types according to International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision criteria. Results: We recorded 1879 SSIs, associated with 41,563 SPs (4.3%; 95% confidence interval, 4.3-4.7). Among the results, the SSI rate per type of SP compared with rates reported by the INICC and CDC NHSN were 11.9% for ventricular shunt (vs 12.9% vs 5.6%); 5.3% for craniotomy (vs 4.4% vs 2.6%); 4.9% for coronary bypass with chest and donor incision (vs 4.5 vs 2.9); 3.5% for hip prosthesis (vs 2.6% vs 1.3%), and 3.0% for cesarean section (vs 0.7% vs 1.8%). Conclusions: In most of the 22 types of SP analyzed, our SSI rates were higher than the CDC NHSN rates and similar to the INICC rates. This study advances the knowledge of SSI epidemiology in Turkey, allowing the implementation of targeted interventions. Copyright (C) 2015 by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a threat to patient safety; however, there were no available data on SSI rates stratified by surgical procedure (SP) in Turkey. Methods: Between January 2005 and December 2011, a cohort prospective surveillance study on SSIs was conducted by the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) in 20 hospitals in 16 Turkish cities. Data from hospitalized patients were registered using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) methods and definitions for SSIs. Surgical procedures (SPs) were classified into 22 types according to International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision criteria. Results: We recorded 1879 SSIs, associated with 41,563 SPs (4.3%; 95% confidence interval, 4.3-4.7). Among the results, the SSI rate per type of SP compared with rates reported by the INICC and CDC NHSN were 11.9% for ventricular shunt (vs 12.9% vs 5.6%); 5.3% for craniotomy (vs 4.4% vs 2.6%); 4.9% for coronary bypass with chest and donor incision (vs 4.5 vs 2.9); 3.5% for hip prosthesis (vs 2.6% vs 1.3%), and 3.0% for cesarean section (vs 0.7% vs 1.8%). Conclusions: In most of the 22 types of SP analyzed, our SSI rates were higher than the CDC NHSN rates and similar to the INICC rates. This study advances the knowledge of SSI epidemiology in Turkey, allowing the implementation of targeted interventions. Copyright © 2015 by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

WOS: 000310091000001, The level structures of the N = 50 As-83, Ge-82, and Ga-81 isotones have been investigated by means of multi-nucleon transfer reactions. A first experiment was performed with the CLARA PRISMA setup to identify these nuclei. A second experiment was carried out with the GASP array in order to deduce the gamma-ray coincidence information. The results obtained on the high-spin states of such nuclei are used to test the stability of the N = 50 shell closure in the region of Ni-78 (Z = 28). The comparison of the experimental level schemes with the shell-model calculations yields an N = 50 energy gap value of 4.7(3) MeV at Z = 28. This value, in a good agreement with the prediction of the finite-range liquid-drop model as well as with the recent large-scale shell model calculations, does not support a weakening of the N = 50 shell gap down to Z = 28. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved., NSF [PHY0244389, PHY0555396]; European Commission within the Sixth Framework Programme through I3-EURONS [RII3-CT-2004-506065]; DGF (Germany) [DE 1516/-1]; Science and Technology Facilities Council [ST/G000689/1 NuSTAR, ST/F004052/1, ST/G000689/1, ST/J000108/1], We thank O. Sorlin for the useful discussions and the accelerator crews of LNL for the excellent support. A.F.L. acknowledges partial support of this work from NSF grants PHY0244389 and PHY0555396. This work has been partially supported by the European Commission within the Sixth Framework Programme through I3-EURONS (contract No. RII3-CT-2004-506065) and the DGF (Germany under contract No. DE 1516/-1).

Experimental liquid-liquid equilibria of the water-acetic acid-butyl acetate system were studied at temperatures of 298.15± 0.20, 303.15± 0.20 and 308.15± 0.20 K. Complete phase diagrams were obtained by determining solubility and tie-line data. The reliability of the experimental tie-line data was ascertained by using the Othmer and Tobias correlation. The UNIFAC group contribution method was used to predict the observed ternary liquid-liquid equilibrium (LLE) data. It was found that UNIFAC group interaction parameters used for LLE did not provide a good prediction. Distribution coefficients and separation factors were evaluated for the immiscibility region.

Background: Device-associated healthcare-acquired infections (DA-HAI) pose a threat to patient safety, particularly in the intensive care unit (ICU). We report the results of the International Infection Control Consortium (INICC) study conducted in Turkey from August 2003 through October 2012. Methods: A DA-HAI surveillance study in 63 adult, paediatric ICUs and neonatal ICUs (NICUs) from 29 hospitals, in 19 cities using the methods and definitions of the U.S. NHSN and INICC methods. Results: We collected prospective data from 94,498 ICU patients for 647,316 bed days. Pooled DA-HAI rates for adult and paediatric ICUs were 11.1 central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) per 1000 central line (CL)-days, 21.4 ventilator-associated pneumonias (VAPs) per 1000 mechanical ventilator (MV)-days and 7.5 catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) per 1000 urinary catheter-days. Pooled DA-HAI rates for NICUs were 30 CLABSIs per 1000 CL-days, and 15.8 VAPs per 1000 MV-days. Extra length of stay (LOS) in adult and paediatric ICUs was 19.4 for CLABSI, 8.7 for VAP and 10.1 for CAUTI. Extra LOS in NICUs was 13.1 for patients with CLABSI and 16.2 for patients with VAP. Extra crude mortality was 12% for CLABSI, 19.4% for VAP and 10.5% for CAUTI in ICUs, and 15.4% for CLABSI and 10.5% for VAP in NICUs. Pooled device use (DU) ratios for adult and paediatric ICUs were 0.54 for MV, 0.65 for CL and 0.88 for UC, and 0.12 for MV, and 0.09 for CL in NICUs. The CLABSI rate was 8.5 per 1,000 CL days in the Medical Surgical ICUs included in this study, which is higher than the INICC report rate of 4.9, and more than eight times higher than the NHSN rate of 0.9. Similarly, the VAP and CAUTI rates were higher compared with U. S. NHSN (22.3 vs. 1.1 for VAP; 7.9 vs. 1.2 for CAUTI) and with the INICC report (22.3 vs. 16.5 in VAP; 7.9 vs. 5.3 in CAUTI). Conclusions: DA-HAI rates and DU ratios in our ICUs were higher than those reported in the INICC global report and in the US NHSN report.

Background: Device-associated healthcare-acquired infections (DA-HAI) pose a threat to patient safety, particularly in the intensive care unit (ICU). We report the results of the International Infection Control Consortium (INICC) study conducted in Turkey from August 2003 through October 2012. Methods: A DA-HAI surveillance study in 63 adult, paediatric ICUs and neonatal ICUs (NICUs) from 29 hospitals, in 19 cities using the methods and definitions of the U.S. NHSN and INICC methods. Results: We collected prospective data from 94,498 ICU patients for 647,316 bed days. Pooled DA-HAI rates for adult and paediatric ICUs were 11.1 central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) per 1000 central line (CL)-days, 21.4 ventilator-associated pneumonias (VAPs) per 1000 mechanical ventilator (MV)-days and 7.5 catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) per 1000 urinary catheter-days. Pooled DA-HAI rates for NICUs were 30 CLABSIs per 1000 CL-days, and 15.8 VAPs per 1000 MV-days. Extra length of stay (LOS) in adult and paediatric ICUs was 19.4 for CLABSI, 8.7 for VAP and 10.1 for CAUTI. Extra LOS in NICUs was 13.1 for patients with CLABSI and 16.2 for patients with VAP. Extra crude mortality was 12% for CLABSI, 19.4% for VAP and 10.5% for CAUTI in ICUs, and 15.4% for CLABSI and 10.5% for VAP in NICUs. Pooled device use (DU) ratios for adult and paediatric ICUs were 0.54 for MV, 0.65 for CL and 0.88 for UC, and 0.12 for MV, and 0.09 for CL in NICUs. The CLABSI rate was 8.5 per 1,000 CL days in the Medical Surgical ICUs included in this study, which is higher than the INICC report rate of 4.9, and more than eight times higher than the NHSN rate of 0.9. Similarly, the VAP and CAUTI rates were higher compared with U.S. NHSN (22.3 vs. 1.1 for VAP; 7.9 vs. 1.2 for CAUTI) and with the INICC report (22.3 vs. 16.5 in VAP; 7.9 vs. 5.3 in CAUTI). Conclusions: DA-HAI rates and DU ratios in our ICUs were higher than those reported in the INICC global report and in the US NHSN report. © 2014 Leblebicioglu et al.

AMAÇ: Antiretroviral tedavinin (ART) kullanıma girmesiyle HIV'e bağlı ölümler azalmış, HIV/AIDS hastalarının yaşam kaliteleri artmıştır. Bununla beraber ART yan etkiler, tedaviye uyum problemleri, ilaç etkileşimleri ve direnç sorunu ile oldukça karmaşıktır. Bu çalışmada, polikliniğimizde takip edilen HIV/AIDS hastalarında ART'ye bağlı gelişen yan etki prevalansını belirlemeyi amaçladık.YÖNTEMLER: Enfeksiyon Hastalıkları ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji HIV/AIDS Polikliniğinde Ocak 2006- Aralık 2011 tarihleri arasında takip edilen 260 hasta çalışma kapsamına alındı. Tedavi alan hastalarda gelişen yan etkilerin sıklığı, nedenleri ve sonuçları takip dosyalarının retrospektif incelemesi ile elde edildi.BULGULAR: Polikliniğimizden takipli 260 HIV/AIDS hastasının 171'i (%65.7) ART kullanmakta idi. ART altındaki olguların 123’ünde (%72) tedaviye bağlı yan etkiler gözlendi.En sık görülen yan etkiler nöropsikiyatrik komplikasyonlar (%30.4), ishal (%9.3) ve hiperlipidemi (%16.9) idi.. ART'ye bağlı yan etki gelişen tüm hastaların yalnızca 13 'ünün (%7.6) tedavisi değiştirildi.SONUÇ: ART ile ilişkili yan etki prevalansı yüksektir ve tedavi uyumunu bozabilmektedir. Bu nedenle ART altındaki HIV/AIDS hastalarında yan etkilerin yakın takibi son derece önemlidir.., OBJECTIVE: Since introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV-related mortality has decreased and quality of life in HIV/AIDS patients has improved. ART is quite complicated due to side effects, drug interractions, adherence and drug resistance problems. In this study, we aimed to determine the side effects related to ART among HIV/AIDS patients followed by our Outpatient Clinic. METHODS: HIV/AIDS patients followed by the Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology HIV/AIDS Outpatient Clinic between January 2006 and December 2011 were included in this study. Medical records were reviewed to determine the prevalence of side effects, causes and results in HIV/AIDS patients on ART.RESULTS: Of 260 HIV/AIDS patients 171(%65.7) were under ART. Of these, number of patients with ART related side effects 123 (%72). The most frequent side effects were neuropsychiatric complications (%30.4), diarrhea (%9.3) and hyperlipidemia (%16.9). ART regimen was changed in 13 (%7.6) of the patients had ART related side effects.CONCLUSION: The prevalence of ART related side effects are common and it may decrease drug adherence. Hence, close monitoring of ART toxicities in HIV/AIDS patients on ART assumes great importance.

Amaç: Antiretroviral tedavinin (ART) kullanıma girmesiyle HIV'e bağlı ölümler azalmış, HIV/AIDS hastalarının yaşam kaliteleri artmıştır. Bununla beraber ART yan etkiler, tedaviye uyum problemleri, ilaç etkileşimleri ve direnç sorunu ile oldukça karmaşıktır. Bu çalışmada, polikliniğimizde takip edilen HIV/AIDS hastalarında ART'ye bağlı gelişen yan etki prevalansını belirlemeyi amaçladık. Gereç ve yöntem: Enfeksiyon Hastalıkları ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji HIV/AIDS Polikliniğinde Ocak 2006 - Aralık 2011 tarihleri arasında takip edilen 260 hasta çalışma kapsamına alındı. Tedavi alan hastalarda gelişen yan etkilerin sıklığı, nedenleri ve sonuçları takip dosyalarının retrospektif incelemesi ile elde edildi. Bulgular: Polikliniğimizden takipli 260 HIV/AIDS hastasının 171'i (%65.7) ART kullanmakta idi. ART altındaki olguların 123’ünde (%72) tedaviye bağlı yan etkiler gözlendi.?En sık görülen yan etkiler nöropsikiyatrik komplikasyonlar (%30.4), ishal (%9.3) ve hiperlipidemi (%16.9) idi. ART'ye bağlı yan etki gelişen tüm hastaların yalnızca 13 'ünün (%7.6) tedavisi değiştirildi. Sonuç: ART ile ilişkili yan etki prevalansı yüksektir ve tedavi uyumunu bozabilmektedir. Bu nedenle ART altındaki HIV/AIDS hastalarında yan etkilerin yakın takibi son derece önemlidir., Purpose: Since introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV-related mortality has decreased and quality of life in HIV/AIDS patients has improved. ART is quite complicated due to side effects, drug interractions, adherence and drug resistance problems. In this study, we aimed to determine the side effects related to ART among HIV/AIDS patients followed by our outpatient clinic. Materials and methods: HIV/AIDS patients followed by the Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology HIV/ AIDS Outpatient Clinic between January 2006 and December 2011 were included in this study. Medical records were reviewed to determine the prevalence of side effects, causes and results in HIV/AIDS patients on ART. Results: Of the 260 HIV/AIDS patients 171(65.7%) were under ART. Among these, the number of patients with ART related side effects was 123 (72.0%). The most frequent side effects were neuropsychiatric complications (30.4%), diarrhea (9.3%) and hyperlipidemia (16.9%). ART regimen was changed in 13 (7.6%) of the patients had ART related side effects. Conclusion: The prevalence of ART related side effects are common and it may decrease drug adherence. Hence, close monitoring of ART toxicities in HIV/AIDS patients on ART assumes great importance.

The results of a surveillance study conducted by the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) from January 2004 through December 2009 in 422 intensive care units (ICUs) of 36 countries in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe are reported. During the 6-year study period, using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN; formerly the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance system [NNIS]) definitions for device-associated health care-associated infections, we gathered prospective data from 313,008 patients hospitalized in the consortium's ICUs for an aggregate of 2,194,897 ICU bed-days. Despite the fact that the use of devices in the developing countries' ICUs was remarkably similar to that reported in US ICUs in the CDC's NHSN, rates of device-associated nosocomial infection were significantly higher in the ICUs of the INICC hospitals; the pooled rate of central line-associated bloodstream infection in the INICC ICUs of 6.8 per 1,000 central line-days was more than 3-fold higher than the 2.0 per 1,000 central line-days reported in comparable US ICUs. The overall rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia also was far higher (15.8 vs 3.3 per 1,000 ventilator-days), as was the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (6.3 vs. 3.3 per 1,000 catheter-days). Notably, the frequencies of resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates to imipenem (47.2% vs 23.0%), Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates to ceftazidime (76.3% vs 27.1%), Escherichia coli isolates to ceftazidime (66.7% vs 8.1%), Staphylococcus aureus isolates to methicillin (84.4% vs 56.8%), were also higher in the consortium's ICUs, and the crude unadjusted excess mortalities of device-related infections ranged from 7.3% (for catheter-associated urinary tract infection) to 15.2% (for ventilator-associated pneumonia). Copyright © 2012 by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The level structures of the N = 50, 83As, 82Ge, and 81Ga isotones have been investigated by means of multi-nucleon transfer reactions. A first experiment was performed with the CLARA–PRISMA setup to identify these nuclei. A second experiment was carried out with the GASP array in order to deduce the γ -ray coincidence information. The results obtained on the high-spin states of such nuclei are used to test the stability of the N = 50 shell closure in the region of 78Ni (Z = 28). The comparison of the experimental level schemes with the shell-model calculations yields an N = 50 energy gap value of 4.7(3) MeV at Z = 28. This value, in a good agreement with the prediction of the finite-range liquid-drop model as well as with the recent large-scale shell model calculations, does not support a weakening of the N = 50 shell gap down to Z = 28.

Ozdemir H, Candir MO, Karbuz A, Belet N, Tapisiz A, Ciftci E, Ince E. Chickenpox complications, incidence and financial burden in previously healthy children and those with an underlying disease in Ankara in the prevaccination period. Turk J Pediatr 2011; 53: 614-625.

The aim of this study is to document the clinical characteristics and outcomes of Acinetobacter baumannii infections in pediatric patients in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in Turkey. The ages ranged from 1 month to 16 years with a mean age of 55.5 months, and the male-to-female ratio was 1:1.5. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (10 patients) was the leading diagnosis, followed by catheter-related blood stream infection (4 patients), and bacteremia and ventilator-associated pneumonia associated with meningitis (1 patient) due to A. baumannii. Mechanical ventilation (93.3%), central venous catheter (73.3%), urinary catheter (93.3%), and broad spectrum antibiotic usage (80%) were the frequently seen risk factors. Neuromuscular (40%) and malignant (26.7%) disorders were the most common underlying diseases. Nosocomial A. baumannii is commonly multidrug-resistant, prolongs the length of stay in the PICU and increases the mortality rates in pediatric critical care.

WOS: 000208479701301

Aim: Varicella is predominantly a childhood disease in non-vaccinated populations. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the indications of hospital admissions, complications of varicella infection and their clinical characteristics among previously healthy and children. with underlying illness Material and Methods: Hospital records of children hospitalized for varicella between January 2000 and August 2007 were reviewed. Results: A total of 34 children were hospitalized during the study period, 38% of the patients were previously healthy and 62% were previously ill patients. Previously well children were hospitalized because of varicella-related complications and previously ill children were usually hospitalized for antiviral therapy or for observation. There were 25 complications in 21 patients. The most common complication was secondary bacterial infections reported in 8 children (23%) and was more common in healthy children (p