Glutathione and malondialdehyde levels in patients with hydatid cyst

To investigate the levels of glutathione [GSH], and malondialdehide [MDA] in the sera of patients diagnosed with cyst hydatid. Forty-six hydatid cyst patients who were indirect hemaglutination [IHA] and indirect fluorescence antibody [IFA] test positive constituted our study group in 2007. Patients diagnosed with hydatid cyst in the Inonu University School of Medicine, Department of Parasitology were re-called for the study. Forty healthy subjects who were negative for hydatid cyst by IHA and IFA methods, and who did not have any parasites on stool inspection formed the control group. The MDA level was analyzed in the sera by Uchiyama and Mihara method. The GSH activity was measured by the Ellman method. The GSH level was 11.31 -/+ 3.80 umol/L and the MDA level was 67.94 -/+ 106.70 umol/L in the study group, while they were 24.95 -/+ 6.55 umol/L and 26.52 -/+ 19.42 umol/L in the control group. An increase in MDA levels and a decrease in GSH activity in patients with hydatid cyst was observed

House dust mite fauna in western Anatolia, Turkey

House dust mites play an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. Many factors may influence mite growth. The presence of mites is related to mean temperature and humidity as well as altitude. The aim of this study was to analyze the mite fauna in 5 regions of western Anatolia, Turkey, that have similar climatic properties with low mean temperature and humidity, but differ in altitude. During the period October-November 2004, house dust was collected from 290 homes in 5 different cities. House dust mites were isolated in 67 (23.1%) of 290 samples. The family Pyroglyphidae (Astigmata) was present in all positive samples. This study suggests that the selected western Anatolian regions that share similar environmental conditions host similar dust mite populations.