Search

Human bocavirus (HBoV) which was described in 2005 by molecular techniques, is a member of Parvoviridae. The role of HBoV is being questioned in acute respiratory diseases (ARD) in many recent studies. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of HBoV DNA in the respiratory specimens of patients with ARD. A total of 155 throat swab and/or washing specimens from 76 children and 79 adults with ARD were examined. HBoV DNA was investigated by single step in-house polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using NS1 primers (5- 'TATGGCCAAGGCAATCGTCCAAG-3', 5'-GCC GCGTGAACATGAGAAA-CAG-3') which amplify the 290 base pair region of NS1 gene located between nucleotides 1545-1835 of prototype HBoV st1 strain. HBoV DNA was detected in 5 (6.5%) of 76 children and 2 (2.5%) of 79 adults. Three sequenced samples showed 100% homology with the reference sequences. This study in which HBoV DNA was detected in children and adults with ARD, is the first HBoV prevalence study in Turkey. Larger scale prospective clinical and molecular studies are required to explain the association between HBoV and respiratory disease.

A survey of ticks from domestic ruminants, together with a serosurvey in humans was conducted in Thrace (northwestern Turkey) to evaluate the prevalence of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) in ticks and humans. More prevalent ticks were Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma aegyptium, Rhipicephalus bursa, and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus, with low numbers of Dermacentor marginatus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus group, and Ixodes ricinus. No differences in the tick faunal composition were found among surveyed provinces. CCHFV was detected using specific primers for strains belonging to both Europe 1 and Europe 2 clades in a total of 15 pools of ticks collected in nine localities. The maximum likelihood estimate of infection rate was calculated as 0.72/100 ticks (95% CI=0.42-1.16). Viral RNA was observed only in H. marginatum, R.(B.) annulatus, and R. bursa with overall maximum likelihood estimate infection rates being 0.93 (95% CI=0.35-2.05), 0.74 (95% CI=0.24-1.78), and 1.67 (95% CI=0.69-3.46), respectively. The surveyed region is the only place where both viral strains are circulating together in nature in Turkey. Results from serosurvey on 193 samples from three localities in the region showed that immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G rates are compatible with an epidemiological situation in which the virus has been present for a long time and is not the result of a recent invasive event from the main epidemic center in Anatolia (north-central Turkey). Seropositivity rates cannot be compared against the tick faunal composition, because of the homogeneity in the results about tick surveys. The high rate of seropositivity, and the prevalence of CCHFV in both Europe 1 and 2 clades among the ticks, but few clinical cases suggest that the circulation of both viral strains may confer protection against the CCHFV infection. © Copyright 2011, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

Congenital leukemia is a rare disease. The majority of cases of this disease are acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Congenital acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is rare and most often is of B cell lineage. Rarely, some cases have been designated biphenotypic or mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL). Herein, we report a preterm newborn referred to us as a result of the appearance of blue-violaceous dermal nodules on her body at birth. She was a twin and the product of an in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancy. Physical examination showed jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, and peripheral facial nerve palsy in addition to dermal nodules. Bone marrow aspiration showed 40% blasts of lymphoid lineage; skin biopsy and its immunohistochemistry revealed myeloblastic infiltration of the dermis. Cytogenetic analysis (46,XX), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis, and cranial magnetic resonance were normal. The patient was diagnosed with congenital MPAL, and an association between IVF and congenital leukemia was suggested. Copyright (C) 2013, Taiwan Pediatric Association. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC. All rights reserved.

Consumption of the epidermis associated with effacement of the rete ridge pattern has been cited as a useful criterion in the diagnosis of melanoma, but the significance of consumption in the absence of rete ridge effacement is unknown. We evaluated 701 melanocytic neoplasms for presence and 'grade' of consumption by melanocytic nests relative to diagnosis, body location, gender and age. We defined 1+ consumption as collections of melanocytes occupying greater than two thirds of the viable epidermis, with or without loss of the rete ridge pattern. Nests extending to the bottom of, within, and through the granular layer were graded 2+, 3+ and 4+, respectively. Consumption was more frequent and higher grades were found in melanomas followed by Spitz nevi compared with conventional melanocytic nevi (p< 0.001). Melanomas with higher Breslow thickness showed higher grades (p< 0.05). In conventional nevi, consumption occurred most frequently in back (13.7%), acral (11.9%) and scalp (9.8%) locations. Consumption without the requirement for rete ridge effacement occurs more frequently and at higher grades in melanoma. Higher grades correlate with higher Breslow thickness. Consumption is also common in Spitz nevi and occurs at lower grades in conventional (non-Spitz) nevi, especially on the back, the scalp and at acral sites.

The aim of this work was to determine the seasonal changes in the activities of selected biomarkers in Capoeta umbla (Heckel, 1843) caught from Uzuncayir Dam Lake (Tunceli, Turkey) and to evaluate the effects of environmental factors on these activities. Fish were sampled on seasonal basis, and superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase activities and levels of glutathione and malondialdehyde in gills were determined. Significant variations of oxidative stress biomarkers were observed between seasons and sites. The results of this study show that seasonal variations of oxidative stress responses and lipid peroxidation in gills of C. umbla are sensitive to the contaminants present in water of Uzuncayir Dam Lake and selected parameters are in valuable biomarkers for monitoring of water systems, since they give an early warning signal of effects of xenobiotics on aquatic organisms at molecular levels which help to prevent their effects at organismal level.

… European Soc Clin Virol

BACKGROUND: Acne vulgaris is a multifactorial disease of the skin. Several studies have shown that elevated levels of serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) correlate with overproduction of sebum and acne. Recently functional relationship between IGF-I (CA) polymorphism and circulating IGF-I levels in adults has been reported. AIMS: The aim of our study was to investigate for the first time whether IGF-I (CA) polymorphism might be involved in the pathogenesis of acne or not. METHODS: We included 115 acne patients and 117 healthy subjects to the study. The clinical grade of acne was assessed based on the Global Acne Grading System. Participants were questioned about diabetes mellitus, PCOS and other systemic disease. We searched for the IGF-I (CA) 19 polymorphism in this study. The IGF-I (CA) 19 polymorphism was performed by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: We categorized the IGF-I (CA) 19 polymorphism area into three groups as lower than 192 bp, 192–194 bp and higher than 194 bp. We found that the frequency of genotype IGF-1 (CA) 19 gene was significantly different between control and acne patients (P = 0.0002). A significant association between IGF-I (CA) genotypes and severity of acne was found (P = 0.015). No significant difference was found between male and female patients (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that IGF-I (CA) 19 polymorphism may contribute to a predisposition to acne in Turkish patients.