ABSTRACT
To determine the hepatitis B virus [HBV] genotypes and subgenotypes in patients with HBV infection in the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey. One hundred and thirty-seven patients' samples collected over 5 years [January 2005 to January 2010] at Farabi Hospital in Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey were included in the study. All patients were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] and HBV DNA. The HBV genotypes were determined by the polymerase chain reaction - restriction fragment length polymorphism [PCR-RFLP] method using an amplified segment of the pre-S region of HBV. One hundred and twenty-five of the 137 HBV samples [91.3%] were identified as genotype D using the PCR-RFLP method. Twelve isolates had undefined patterns, 122 of the 125 samples [97.6%] were determined as subgenotype D2, 2 [1.6%] were subgenotype D1, and one [0.8%] was subgenotype D-del. Similar findings in the other parts of the Turkey, the predominant patterns of HBV prevailing among patients in the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey were of genotype D and subgenotype D2.
ABSTRACT
To determine predictive fatality criteria based on clinical and laboratory findings on admission to hospital in patients diagnosed with pandemic influenza A [H1N1] virus infection. The study was conducted at the School of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data for hospitalized cases with a diagnosis of A [H1N1] virus infection between October 2009 and May 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into 2 groups: fatal [group I] and non-fatal [group II]. The 2 group's demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were compared on admission. Ten [20%] of the 50 patients included in the study died. The average age of group I was significantly higher than that of the group II. No significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of underlying chronic diseases and pregnancy. Fever, phlegm, shortness of breath, tachypnea, cyanosis were observed at significantly higher levels in group I compared to group II. Serum hemoglobin, glucose, albumin levels, arterial oxygen saturation were significantly lower in group I compared to group II; aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, blood urea nitrogen levels, time between onset of symptoms and commencement of antiviral treatment were all significantly higher in group I. This study shows that in addition to demographic characteristics and clinical findings, prognosis of patients with A [H1N1] virus infection can be determined beforehand with various laboratory tests. But these parameters, which can guide the clinician in the prior identification of potentially fatal A [H1N1] cases will contribute to the provision of supporting treatment and, when necessary, intensive care services for such patients