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Coinfection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected individuals results in increased hepatic complications. HBV and HIV viruses are transmitted by blood and unprotected sexual intercourse. People with HIV and HBV coinfection are at increased risk for liver-related morbidity and mortality. HCV-related liver injury progresses more rapidly among people coinfected with HIV. HCV coinfection may also affect the management of HIV infection. This review aims to go over the management of HIV-HCV and HIV-HBV coinfections.

Objective: Most patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have abnormalities of lymphocyte subsets. This study aimed to determine the distribution of lymphocytes in patients with various severity levels of COVID-19 and to describe the relationship between the CD4+ T helper and prognosis. Materials and Methods: Adult (>18 years old) patients with COVID-19 who followed up in a tertiary hospital were included in the study prospectively. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were obtained from the hospital records. Peripheral flow cytometry was studied in patients with different severity of COVID-19 and different prognoses. Next, we analyzed the characteristics and predictive values of lymphocyte subsets in COVID-19 patients. Results: Totally 86 patients were included in the study, of which 21 (24.4%) had asymptomatic, 23 (26.7%) had mild/moderate, and 42 (48.8%) had severe/critical COVID-19. Severe/critical patients had lower lymphocyte levels and older age than asymptomatic patients (p

Objective: Many chronic diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, and coronary heart disease, paving the way for the disease to progress unfavorably in Covid-19. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin-2 receptor blockers (ARBs) can upregulate ACE2 receptors (which SARS-COV-2 uses to enter the host cell) or protect against infection by limiting the effects of Angiotensin 2. This study aimed to reveal the impact of antihypertensive drugs on the hospital staying, and mortality in Covid-19 patients followed in the hospital. Methods and Results: One hundred patients were randomly selected with hypertension, diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease hospitalized in Kayseri City Training and Research Hospital due to Covid-19 infection. Patients were grouped as taking ACEIs and ARBs group and not taking ACEIs and ARBs group. There were no differences among the groups in terms of the frequency of chronic disease and treatment modalities. The length of the hospital stays, bedding into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and mortality rates were higher in the group without ACEIs or ARBs. Mortality was significantly lower among patients who used ACEIs and ARBs (P=0.00, P=0.02, respectively) and incredibly high among beta-blocker users (P=0.00). It was found that the advanced age, male gender and use of beta-blockers were associated with mortality. Conclusion: Although antihypertensive medications are allegedly associated with increased mortality rates, the risk of mortality has not been detected in people taking ACEIs and ARBs. Further studies involving a greater number of patients are needed.

The isolation and spectroscopic data of a hitherto undescribed polyketide (

NMR data of 3′,4′,7-trihydroxyflavone. 1H NMR, 13C NMR spectra and chemical shifts of isolated compound. (DOCX 453 kb)

The effects of chronic morphine administration on the rat cerebellum and silver stained nucleolus organizer regions in Purkinje cells were investigated by means of histological, histochemical and histometrical techniques. Thirty-two young (30-32 days of age) Wistar rats (equal numbers of both genders) were randomly divided into 2 groups, as control and morphine-treated, each having equal numbers of both genders, a total of 16 animals. The control animals were injected subcutaneously with 1mL/kg physiological saline, and the morphine-treated rats received 5 mg/kg morphine hydrochloride subcutaneously at daily intervals for 30 days. The thickness of the molecular and granular layers of the cerebellum, the diameters of the nuclei and nucleoli of cerebellar Purkinje neurones, and the number and size of the silver staining nucleolus organizer regions of the Purkinje cell nuclei were determined histomorphometrically. The morphine administration caused slight histological changes in the cerebellum. The molecular layer thickness of the cerebellum was significantly (P, Učinci kronične primjene morfina na mali mozak štakora i na srebrom obojene regije nukleolusne organizacije Purkinjeovih neurona istraživani su histološkim, histokemijskim i histometrijskim tehnikama. Trideset i dva mlada Wistar štakora (dob 30 - 32 dana), u jednakom omjeru spolova, metodom slučajnog izbora podijeljena su u dvije skupine s po 16 jedinki u svakoj skupini. Životinjama u kontrolnoj skupini potkožno je primijenjen 1 mL/kg fiziološke otopine, dok su životinje u pokusnoj skupini dobile 5 mg/kg morfin hidroklorida, potkožno, svaki dan tijekom 30 dana. Za određivanje zadebljanja molekularnih i granulacijskih slojeva maloga mozga, promjera jezgre i nukleolusa Purkinjeovih neurona u malom mozgu te broja i veličine srebrom obojenih regija nukleolusne organizacije Purkinjeovih neurona primijenjena je histomorfometrijska metoda. Davanje morfina izazvalo je blage histološke promjene u malom mozgu. Debljina molekularnog sloja maloga mozga značajno je smanjena (P

Table S1. Bacterial strains used and their features. (DOCX 2625 kb)

Background/aim: Broad-spectrum antibiotics have become available for use only with the approval of infectious disease specialists (IDSs) since 2003 in Turkey. This study aimed to analyze the tendencies of doctors who are not disease specialists (non-IDSs) towards the restriction of antibiotics., Materials and methods: A questionnaire form was prepared, which included a total of 22 questions about the impact of antibiotic restriction (AR) policy, the role of IDSs in the restriction, and the perception of this change in antibiotic consumption. The questionnaire was completed by each participating physician., Results: A total of 1906 specialists from 20 cities in Turkey participated in the study. Of those who participated, 1271 (67.5%) had 5 years of occupational experience in their branch expressed that they followed the antibiotic guidelines more strictly than the JSs (P < 0.05) and 755 of physicians (88%) and 720 of surgeons (84.6%) thought that the AR policy was necessary and useful (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: This study indicated that the AR policy was supported by most of the specialists. Physicians supported this restriction policy more so than surgeons did.

WOS: 000386954300001, PubMed: 27809934, Background: The aim of this study was to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients in Turkey and to study related factors. Methods: This multicenter study was carried out between January 01 and April 15, 2015 in Turkey in 57 centers. Adults were enrolled and studied in three groups. Group 1: Inactive HBsAg carriers, Group 2: CHB patients receiving antiviral therapy, Group 3: CHB patients who were neither receiving antiviral therapy nor were inactive HBsAg carriers. Study data was collected by face-to-face interviews using a standardized questionnaire, Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Hepatitis B Quality of Life (HBQOL). Values equivalent to p < 0.05 in analyses were accepted as statistically significant. Results: Four thousand two hundred fifty-seven patients with CHB were included in the study. Two thousand five hundred fifty-nine (60.1 %) of the patients were males. Groups 1, 2 and 3, consisted of 1529 (35.9 %), 1721 (40.4 %) and 1007 (23.7 %) patients, respectively. The highest value of HRQOL was found in inactive HBsAg carriers. We found that total HBQOL score increased when antiviral treatment was used. However, HRQOL of CHB patients varied according to their socio-demographic properties. Regarding total HBQOL score, a higher significant level of HRQOL was determined in inactive HBV patients when matched controls with the associated factors were provided. Conclusions: The HRQOL score of CHB patients was higher than expected and it can be worsen when the disease becomes active. Use of an antiviral therapy can contribute to increasing HRQOL of patients.

EASL International Liver Congress -- APR 13-17, 2016 -- -- Barcelona, SPAIN, WOS: 000398711700582, …, EASL

The effects of experimentally induced high incubation temperature on the embryonic development of growth plate of the chicken were investigated by means of histological and enzyme histochemical methods. In the experiments, 250 fertile eggs of Ross-308 broiler strain were divided into two groups, the control eggs were maintained under optimal conditions (37.8°C and 65% ± 2% relative humidity, rh) during the whole incubation period. Heat-stress imposed eggs were maintained under normal conditions (37.8°C and 65% ± 2% rh) until the 10th day of incubation, and then, continuously (24 h per day) exposed to high temperature (38.8°C and 65% ± 2% rh). Tissue samples were taken from 10 animals of each group at the 11th, 13th, 15th, 18th, 21st days of incubation. Tissue samples were processed by enzyme histochemical methods in addition to routine histological techniques. The relative tibia weights and tibia length were lower in the heat-stress group compared to the control group. The results of the measurements of the growth plate showed that the proliferative zone was narrowed whereas, the transitional and hypertrophic zone were thickened in the heat stress group. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) density was significantly decreased in the heat-stress group compared to the control group. In conclusion, bone formation and growth plate formation are crucial for embryo development and 1°C higher from optimum may increase the incidence of skeletal disorders and leg problems in broiler chickens which is one of the major animal welfare concerns for the poultry industry.

The aim of the present study was to investigate immunohistochemical distribution of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the mouse placenta at different gestational stages. For this purpose a total of 18 Swiss albino female mice at 12-14 weeks of age were used. Females were sacrificed on days 3 (early), 10 (mid-), and 17 (late) of pregnancy and the implantation sites of the pregnant uterus were sampled. The sections were made transversely through the central region of the implantation site and stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histological examination. PCNA and Hsp70 was stained immunohistochemically. Since the definitive placenta was not still formed on day 3 of pregnancy, Hsp70 and PCNA positivity were evaluated in only luminal epithelium and decidual-stromal cells. On days 10 and 17 of pregnancy, Hsp70 and PCNA positivity were evaluated in labyrinth zone, junctional zone and decidual layer of placenta. Hsp70 expression was observed trophoblast cells and decidual cells and was relatively constant throughout the pregnancy. This protein was strongly labeled in the trophoblast cells; while decidual cells were displayed moderate staining. In early pregnant mouse uteri, PCNA was mainly localized in decidual-stromal cells. The trophoblast cells and decidual cells displayed highly proliferative activity at the midgestational period. However there was a significant decrease in the percentage of PCNA positive cells in late gestation.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a fatal systemic viral infection which is an important health problem in Turkey. Many systemic symptoms have been reported including fever, hemorrhage, headache, fatigue, muscle ache, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. A 45-year-old male farmer with CCHF presented with massive peritoneal effusion and hyperbilirubinemia. To our knowledge, this is the first case of peritoneal effusion and hyperbilirubinemia in an adult patient with CCHF. His clinical symptoms successfully improved with supportive therapy. In patients who live in endemic areas with atypical presentation for the diagnosis of CCHF should be kept in mind.

The aim of the present study is to examine how melatonin supplementation affects plasma glucose and liver glycogen levels in rats subjected to acute swimming exercise. Sprague-Dawley species thirty adult male rats were allocated to 3 groups with equal number of animals: general control group which was not subjected to any procedure (Group 1), the group subjected to a 30-minute acute swimming exercise (Group 2), and the group subjected to a 30-minute acute swimming exercise after intraperitoneal (i.p.) melatonin supplementation (3 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks (Group 3). Blood samples collected from the experimental animals by decapitation method were analyzed in terms of plasma glucose, and glycogen levels were determined in liver tissue samples by histological method. The highest plasma glucose levels were obtained in group 2 (p0.05). Plasma glucose levels in groups 1 and 3 were not different. Mean liver glycogen level in group 3 was significantly higher than those in the other groups (p0.01), while there was no significant difference between group 1 and group 2 in terms of this parameter. Results of the study demonstrate that melatonin supplementation can have a protective effect on liver glycogen reserves in rats subjected to acute swimming exercise.

To compare the effectiveness of bioactive glass (BG), natural hydroxyapatite (HA), and demineralized freeze-dried bone (DFDB) in bone defects.All animal experiments were conducted in Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey, under the Selcuk University Guidelines for Animal Experimentation, in 2005. Eighteen New Zealand rabbits were used for the experiment. Four cavities were prepared on right and left tibias. The cavities on the right tibia were filled with either BG, HA or DFDB. One cavity was left empty as a control. The cavities on the other tibial bone were grafted with HA(+)BG, HA(+)DFDB, BG(+)DFDB and HA(+)BG(+)DFDB composites. Histological examinations were performed at first, third, and sixth postoperative months.According to histomorphometric findings, the mixture containing HA(+)BG(+)DFDB obtained the best histological results (p0.05).The composite graft of HA, BG and DFDB is more effective than when used as individual agents.

We aimed to investigate the effects of weak extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) on the nucleus size, the silver staining nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs), the frequency of micro nucleated peripheral blood lymphocytes (MPBLs) and the micro nucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MPCEs).One hundred and twenty Swiss albino mice were equally divided into 6 groups. The study groups were exposed to 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 microT 50 Hz-EMFs for 40 days. Micronucleus number (MN) per PBL was determined..ELF-EMF exposure caused a nonlinear decline of nucleus area. A sharp drop occurred in AgNOR area of 1 microT group, and following it gained an insignificantly higher level than that of the control group. The field did not change mean AgNOR numbers per nucleus of the groups. Relative AgNOR area had the highest level in 1 microT-exposure group, and the level was quite similar to that of the 5 microT-exposure group. The remaining groups had significantly lower values quite similar to that of the control level. The field exposure at any intensity did not affect significantly the frequency of either MPBLs or MPCEs. The number of MN per PBL in the 4 and 5 microT-exposure groups were significantly higher than those of the lower intensity exposure groups. The males in 4 microT-exposure group displayed the highest MN number per PBL, whereas values changed in a nonlinear manner.The results of the present study suggest that/=5 microT intensities of 50 Hz EMFs did not cause genotoxic effect on the mouse.

To determine the effects of very weak, extremely low frequency (50 Hz) electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) on the relative spleen weight, lymphoid organ histology, peripheral blood leukocyte and alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase positive (ANAE- positive) lymphocyte percentages of the mouse.The study was carried out in Scientific Research and Application Center of Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey in 2005. A total of 120 Swiss albino mice were divided into 6 groups (20 in each group). The experimental animals were exposed to 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 microT flux intensities (rms) of EMF at 50 Hz for 40 days.In the exposure groups with 20 animals, the body weight (BW) increased gradually in higher field intensities and reached at peak level in the 4 microT, and then slightly decreased. The relative spleen weight (% of the BW) was not affected. The ELF-EMF treatment did not cause any significant change in lymphocyte, monocyte and ANAE-positive lymphocyte ratios, whereas percentages of neutrophils and basophiles changed non-linearly. Any change in the lymphoid organ histology, which is attributable to the field effect, was not observed in the exposure groups.Extremely low frequency-EMF exposure with the flux intensities between 1-5 microT for 40 days did not cause any effect on the relative spleen weight, lymphoid organ histology, leukocyte and ANAE-positive lymphocyte percentages of the mouse.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of ibuprofen on plasma nitrite/nitrate levels, as indirect indicators of nitric oxide, in correlation with blood pressure in a rabbit model of endotoxin-induced shock.A total of 28 rabbits were randomly divided into four groups. Control group received physiological saline, while endotoxin (ETX, E. Coli, 055:B5, 2 mg/kg, i.v.) was administered to the rabbits in the other groups: group II receiving only ETX, in addition to ETX group III received ibuprofen (30 mg/kg) 30 minutes after ETX administration, whilst the group IV received ibuprofen (30 mg/kg) 30 minutes before ETX. Arterial blood pressure and plasma levels of nitrite/nitrate were determined immediately before (time 0) and 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, and 300 minutes after ETX administration.ETX administered groups had significantly higher plasma levels of nitrite/nitrate than the control group, at all consecutive measurements except at time O. Treatment with ibuprofen, either before or after ETX, partly restored the elevated levels of nitrite/nitrate. ETX also caused a significant decrease in blood pressure which was prevented in ibuprofen treated groups.Results from this study indicate that administration of ibuprofen prevents sudden reductions in blood pressure by inhibiting excessive production of nitric oxide in rabbit model of endotoxin-induced shock and this may be of importance for providing crucial time for therapeutic intervention and survival in septic shock.

In this study, embryotoxic effects of five commercially available dental alloys were investigated by using fertilized hens' eggs. One sample of each alloy was conditioned in one of the conditioning media, physiological saline (PS), 0.1 M phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4), and 0.1 M protein (3% bovine serum albumin, BSA) containing PBS (pH 6.8), respectively. The test solutions were injected into the fertilized hen's eggs via air sac at the beginning of the incubation. Various concentrations of a highly embryotoxic substance, AFB1, was also used as positive control test material. Mortality of the AFB1 treatment groups increased with increasing concentrations of AFB1 and the mortality values were significantly (p0.05) higher than those of the controls and eluent injected groups. The eluents of five commercially available dental alloys tested in the study did not have significant embryotoxic effects. Cu- and Pd-containing alloys displayed relatively high but statistically insignificant embryotoxic effects. Chick embryo might be used in determination of the embryotoxic effects of the dental alloys with its several advantages. Nevertheless, the test should be further standardized and new methods such as micronucleus test showing possible genotoxic effects of the materials should be used.

It is determinate that oxidant-antioxidant imbalance is responsible for pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and smoking is playing a part in the pathogenesis. It was aimed to investigate the oxidant-antioxidant imbalance in smokers and pathogenesis of COPD and their relations with lung functions. This study was done prospectively in Firat University Medical Faculty, Department of Chest Diseases. The levels of plasma malonyldialdehyde (MDA), erythrocyte reducted glutathione (GSH) and erythrocyte catalase were studied in 20 patients with COPD, in 20 smokers and in 20 nonsmokers. All of the cases were male. Pulmonary function tests were done to all cases and the predicted values of FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC were measured. The levels of plasma MDA: 1.44 +/- 0.23 nmol/mL, 1.51 +/- 0.27 nmol/mL and 1.29 +/- 0.13 nmol/mL, the levels of erythrocyte GSH: 0.33 +/- 0.13 micromol/g.Hb, 0.34 +/- 0.17 micromol/g.Hb and 0.44 +/- 0.14 micromol/g.Hb and the levels of catalase were 22.82 +/- 17.47 k/g.Hb, 32.88 +/- 22.36 k/g.Hb and 55.73 +/- 26.56 k/g.Hb in patients with COPD, smokers and healthy nonsmokers respectively. There was no significance in each three parameters between smokers and patients with COPD. A significant difference was observed in each three parameters between nonsmokers and patients with COPD (MDA: p= 0.001, GSH: p= 0.028 and catalase: p0.001) and between smokers and nonsmokers (MDA: p= 0.035, GSH: p= 0.016 and catalase: p= 0.005). In all three groups, no significant correlation was found between FEV1 (predicted %), FEV1/FVC (predicted %) and the values of erythrocyte catalase, GSH and plasma MDA. In this study, there was an oxidant-antioxidant imbalance systemically in smokers and in patients with COPD. However, decreasing in the antioxidant capacity and/or increasing in the oxidant capacity either not correlate with spirometric measurements of airway obstruction in smokers or in patients with COPD were observed. We concluded that the use of cigarette increased oxidative stress by causing plasma lipid peroxidation and imbalance in erythrocyte antioxidant capacity.