Preparation of cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.) essential oil loaded poly(lactic acid) nanofibers

This study investigated the production of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanofibers containing cypress (CUP) essential oil (EO) via electrospinning. The nanofibers were produced from polymer solution prepared with different percentages of cypress EO. Cypress EO-containing PLA nanofibers were characterized and some mechanical and thermal properties were examined using thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and dynamic mechanical analysis. The thermal stability of the nanofibers was reduced depending on the percentage of the cypress EO. As the ratio of the cypress EO to polymer matrices was increased, it was observed that the glassy transition temperatures of the nanofibers decreased and their flexibility increased. The T g value was determined to be 53.74°C for the neat PLA nanofiber, while 51.83°C for the PLA-CUP nanofiber (containing 15% cypress EO). According to the results of releasing trial, the increased amount of cypress EO resulted in less cypress EO releasing from polymer matrices. The nanofibers were observed to exhibit antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The inhibition zone diameter of the nanofibers containing 10% cypress EO was 20 mm for S. aureus and 16 mm for E. coli, while 10 mm in the presence of Kanamycin.

Increasing challenges of inflammatory bowel disease in a Turkish cohort (2006-2016)

BACKGROUND

We aimed to describe the natural course of inflam-matory bowel disease (IBD) in adult Turkish patients during the past decade.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective investigation in total 508 patients with IBD between 2006 and 2016. The severity of IBD was assessed by the need for hospitalization, biological therapy and surgery. The study consisted of 304 (59.8%) patients with UC, 180 (35.4%) with CD and 24 (4.7%) IBD unclassified patients. The ratio of severe disease for both CD and UC was as follows: hospitalization in 71 (39.4%) and 37 (12.2%), biological therapy received in 20 (11.1%) and 3 (1.0%), and surgery in 23 (12.8%) and 2 (0.7%) respectively. Patients were divided into two groups based on the date of disease onset. Earlier group includes the patients followed-up between 2006-2011 and later group, between 2011-2016. Our results revealed that the proportion of patients receiving biological therapies was significantly higher and the rate of surgery was significantly lower in the later group compared to the earlier group (14.5% to 0%, 9.4 to 23.8, respectively). The hospitalization rate was lower in the later group compared to earlier group but did not reach a significant difference (37.7% to 45.2% respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The course of IBD in Turkish patients appears to be between that of Europe and Asia. In patients with CD, proportion of patients receiving biologic therapy has increased while rate of surgery has decreased.

A Macro-Anatomical Investigation of the Some Skull Bones of Nehring's Blind Mole Rats (Spalacidae: Nannospalax nehringi)

This study was aimed to demonstrate the specific anatomical features of the skull bones of Nehring's blind mole rats. Eight skulls, belonging to animals of both sexes, were used. The occipital squama contributed to the formation of the caudal portion of the skull roof. The foramen magnum was quite large. The external occipital crest was present only in the males. The parietal bones formed the middle portion of the skull roof together with the well-developed inter-parietal bones. The zygomatic process of the temporal bone formed the zygomatic arch by extending to the temporal process of the zygomatic bone. The zygomatic process of the frontal bone and the frontal process of the zygomatic bone laterally bordered the orbit. There was a single septal process of the nasal bone. Each ramus of the mandibula had four processes. The mandibular ramus had an angular process on its caudal rim, which extended dorsolaterally. The dorsal free end of the mandibular ramus possessed a coronoid process. In the back, there were two other processes, situated medially and laterally. The medially situated process was referred to as a condylar process, and the laterally situated process was referred to as an alveolar process. The alveolar process detected on the mandibular ramus has not been reported in any rodent species, other than those of the family Spalacidae. Blind mole rats can be a real eye-opener for evolutionary science. The burrowing rodents are key to answering a controversial question about how new species arise.

The effect of rapid diagnostic testing for influenza on the reduction of antibiotic use in paediatric emergency department

AIM

To determine the influence of rapid diagnosis of influenza on antibiotic prescribing to children presenting with influenza-like illness in the emergency department in a inner city hospital in Istanbul, Turkey.

METHODS

Patients aged 3 to 14 years presenting to an urban children's teaching hospital emergency department were screened for fever and cough, coryza, myalgias and/or malaise. After obtaining informed consent, patients were allocated into two groups. Group 1: patients were prescribed antibiotics after only physical examination; or Group 2: patients were prescribed antibiotics after rapid influenza testing. Nasopharyngeal swabs obtained from all patients were immediately tested in a single-blind manner with Influenza A/B Rapid Test(R) for influenza A and B.

RESULTS

A total of 97 patients were enrolled, and 33 (34%) of these tested positive for influenza. Although frequency of positive results for influenza between the groups was similar (36% vs 32%, respectively), patients in Group 2 were less likely to be prescribed antibiotics when compared to those in Group 1 (32% vs 100%, respectively, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Rapid diagnosis of influenza in the paediatric emergency department may allow a significant reduction in the over-prescription of antibiotics.

Mediators of inflammation in children with type I diabetes mellitus: cytokines in type I diabetic children

OBJECTIVES

Recent evidence favors primary role of cellular autoimmunity and its humoral mediators in pathogenesis and following Type I diabetes mellitus (DM). The present study was carried out to investigate serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in children with type I DM. Potential role of lipid metabolism, glycemic control, body mass index (BMI) and disease duration were evaluated.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Thirty-five children with type I DM and 30 age and gender matched nondiabetic controls were recruited for this study.

RESULTS

Circulating IL-8 levels were elevated in children with type I DM (12.7 +/- 1.7 pg/mL) compared with nondiabetic controls (5.5 +/- 0.3 pg/mL) and the difference remained significant after adjustment for cofactors and covariates (p: 0.033). Although statistically insignificant serum CRP concentrations were slightly higher in diabetic children (p: 0.075). Serum TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels were comparable in diabetic and nondiabetic groups. However newly diagnosed (<1 yr) cases had higher TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels compared to cases with longer standing DM. In diabetic children BMI was independently associated with an increase in serum IL-8 levels. Serum CRP, lipids, apolipoproteins and glycemic control were not significant predictors of cytokine concentrations in children with type I DM.

CONCLUSION

Circulating levels of IL-8 were elevated and were correlated with BMI in children with type I DM, hinting perhaps at adipose tissue as a site of production. Elevated systemic IL-6 and TNF-alpha were limited to newly diagnosed cases suggesting activation of the inflammatory immune response system at early stages of the disease.

Immunoglobulin isotypes and IgG subclasses in recurrent infections

The frequency of major immunoglobulin isotype and IgG subclass deficiencies among 74 children aged six months to 14 years with recurrent infections was studied. All children had at least five to six episodes of respiratory tract infections, while recurrent diarrhea had occurred in eight. Two selective and six partial IgA deficiencies were detected. IgG4, IgG3 and IgG2 deficiencies, either isolated or combined, were found in 13, nine and one patient respectively. Among these there were two combined deficiencies of IgA + IgG4, three of IgA + IgG3, one of IgA + IgG2 + IgG4, one of IgG1 + IgG3 and two of IgG1 + IgG4. There was one patient with panhypogammaglobulinemia. Our results, similar to those of other studies, showed that the occurrence of the Ig isotype, particularly subclass deficiencies, is not uncommon in children with frequent infections.

Unusual malformations in occult spinal dysraphism

Two cases of occult spinal dysraphism with different clinical symptoms, signs and congenital pathologies are presented. One had malformations including scoliosis, dermoid tumor, hydromyelia, diastematomyelia, dermal sinus, low conus, vertebrae anomalies and dextrocardia. The occurrence of dextrocardia in association with occult spinal dysraphism was found to be extremely unusual. The second case is presented in relation to the rarity of teratoma with dermal sinus and tethered cord in the lumbar area. Myelography, computed tomography, (CT), Myelo CT and magnetic resonance were used in making a diagnosis.

Kawasaki disease associated with gallbladder hydrops

Kawasaki disease is an acute, febrile, systemic syndrome of unknown etiology which principally affects young children. We present a five-year-old boy, who developed an unusual finding, acute hydrops of the gallbladder, in addition to the characteristic signs and symptoms of Kawasaki disease. Clinical features of the disease and treatment regimens, including early administration of intravenous gamma globulin (IVGG), which prevents cardiac complications, are discussed.

Kidney pathology in a patient with severe combined immunodeficiency disease

A 2-month-old SCID patient with mesangial sclerosis of the kidney is presented. Although the ADA status of the patient is unknown, the parents' RBC-ADA levels seemed to be in the heterozygote range.

Whistling face (Freeman-Sheldon) syndrome in two siblings

Two siblings with typical manifestations of whistling face (Freeman-Sheldon) syndrome (WFS) born to unaffected parents are presented. In Case 1, deep-set eyes, epicanthus, blepharophimosis, right lid ptosis, strabismus, anti mongoloid slant, small mouth, mask-like face, high-arched palate, nasal speech, dysphagia, kyphosis and minimal scoliosis were noted, while Case 2 displayed blepharophimosis, mask-like face, long philtrum, high-arched palate, scoliosis, bilateral post-axial polydactyly of the feet and pes varus. We corrected the blepharophimosis in Case 1 by bilateral canthotomy and canthoplasty. This syndrome is usually inherited as an autosomal dominant trait; however, some authors have reported an autosomal an autosomal recessive form of this syndrome similar to our cases. Nevertheless, this could be explained by genetic expression of the mutant gene.

Neutrophil and lymphocyte locomotion in patients with selective IgA deficiency

Neutrophil chemotaxis was studied in 14 patients, twelve with selective and two with partial IgA deficiency. Twelve of the 14 patients were also evaluated for lymphocyte locomotion. Zymosan activated serum was used to stimulate cell migration, and Boyden chambers were used for both neutrophil and lymphocyte chemotaxis assays. Evaluation of the results of neutrophil and lymphocyte locomotion showed that chemotaxis to ZAS, random migration and chemotactic index values were not significantly different when comparing the patients with the controls.

Fatal infectious mononucleosis in a family

Two male siblings, one aged five and a half months (SB), and the other aged six months (VB), with fatal infectious mononucleosis phenotype of the X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome, which resulted in the death of both infants, are presented. Both patients had been healthy, one until the age of five and a half months, and the other until the age of six months. Then, they developed a maculopapular rash, hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenopathy. In one sibling, the serum IgG level was low, the IgM and IgA levels were high, and the proportion of E-rosette forming cells (E-RFC) and in vitro proliferative response to PHA were normal. In the other sibling, however, the serum IgG level was normal, the IgM and IgA levels were high and the stimulation index for proliferative response to PHA was reduced due to increased spontaneous blastogenesis. Anti-EBV antibodies were negative in both siblings, except for the IgM anti-VCA in V.B. A lymph node specimen could be studied in one infant and was found to be positive for the EBV genome. Postmortem histopathological findings included the absence of cortico-medullary differentiation and identifiable Hassal's corpuscles in the thymus and depletion of T-dependent regions of lymph nodes and spleen in V.B. Atypical mononuclear cell infiltration was detected in the portal areas of the postmortem liver biopsy in S.B.

Clinical and immunological evaluation of patients with selective IgA deficiency

The clinical and immunological features of 14 patients including 12 with selective and two with partial IgA deficiency are presented. One patient was asymptomatic, six patients had allergic diseases, three patients had hematologic disorders and the remaining patients had chronic-recurrent infections. The IgG and IgM serum concentrations were high in four and two patients, respectively. Delayed hypersensitivity skin tests were applied to seven patients, and were found positive in all. E-rosette forming cells were within the normal range. In vitro lymphoblastic transformation with PHA was normal in all the patients, except for one. Two patients had no sIgA+ B cells. The percentage of CD+4 T cells was decreased in one patient and the percentage of CD+8 T cells was increased in another, both of whom had a low CD4/CD8 ratio. The heterogeneity of clinical and immunological features in these patients suggests that various mechanisms may be responsible for the immunopathogenesis of IgA deficiency.