Detection of Brucella melitensis by BACTEC NR 730 and BACTEC 9120 systems.

In many parts of the world, brucellosis has significantly decreased, but it is still a problem in some regions of Turkey. In our laboratory we have isolated 58 Brucella spp. through BACTEC NR 730 and 30 Brucella spp. through BACTEC 9120 systems. 31 of the 58 isolates were detected by BACTEC NR 730 system in 72 hours. The majority of the growth values were between 45-65. BACTEC 9120 system detected all the isolates in 84 hours.

Cerebrospinal fluid interleukin-1 beta/interleukin-1 receptor antagonist balance and tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentrations in tuberculous, viral and acute bacterial meningitis.

The levels of interleukin-1 beta, IL-1 receptor antagonist and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were analyzed in 19 cases of tuberculous, 14 cases of viral, and 22 cases of acute bacterial meningitis, and in 18 control subjects. 20 patients (91%) with acute bacterial and 8 (42%) with tuberculous meningitis had detectable amounts of TNF-alpha in the initial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample (mean 1044 +/- 131 pg/ml, range 95-1950, and mean 61 +/- 23 pg/ml, range 25-300, respectively), whereas TNF-alpha was not detectable in any of the patients with viral meningitis, or in any of the control subjects. IL-1 beta levels were 767 +/- 110 pg/ml (185-2000) in acute bacterial, 345 +/- 63 pg/ml (50-670) in tuberculous, 257 +/- 70 pg/ml (20-700) in viral meningitis, and 37 +/- 4 pg/ml (10-68) in control subjects. Il-1 receptor antagonist concentrations were significantly elevated in all meningitis groups, without significant differences between the groups. Il-1 receptor antagonist levels were 2487 +/- 62 pg/ml (2250-2950) in acute bacterial, 2216 +/- 82 pg/ml (1350-2550) in tuberculous and 1985 +/- 92 pg/ml (650-2500) in viral meningitis, and 154 +/- 26 pg/ml (20-245) in control CSF samples. A positive correlation was found between TNF and IL-1 beta levels (p < 0.01), and TNF levels and conscious state (p < 0.05). The ratio of concentrations of IL-1 receptor antagonist to IL-1 beta was 3.2 in acute bacterial meningitis, 6.9 in tuberculous meningitis and 8.3 in viral meningitis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Immunological evaluation of erythema nodosum in tularaemia.

During two tularaemia outbreaks in the Bursa region of Turkey in 1991, a total of 98 patients were diagnosed and evaluated. Thirteen of these patients had erythema nodosum, which is accepted as a secondary skin manifestation. The patients with erythema nodosum, 21 patients without any skin lesions, and 20 healthy controls were studied. Comparable elevations of levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM were detected in the two tularaemia groups. There was no difference in complement C3c and C4 levels between the groups. All of the patients with erythema nodosum had elevated circulating immune complex (CIC) levels, when compared with the patients without skin lesions and the control group. The acute phase response (C-reactive protein [CRP] and erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR]) of the erythema nodosum group was significantly higher than the patients with normal skin, and healthy controls (P < 0.001). Serum transferrin levels were significantly decreased in both of the tularaemia groups (P < 0.001). Serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels (SIL-2R) were significantly elevated in both tularaemia groups (P < 0.001), and the elevation was more marked in the erythema nodosum group (P < 0.05). Histopathological evaluation of biopsies from two patients with erythema nodosum showed dermal oedema, a perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate, and panniculitis. No immunoglobulin or complement deposits were detected on immunofluorescence. Erythema nodosum in the course of tularaemia is associated with many immunological changes, although it is not clear whether these findings are related to the increased tissue response, or whether they play a role in the pathogenesis of the erythema nodosum.

[Distribution characteristics of hepatitis B surface antigen positivity in Bursa]. / Bursa yöresindeki hepatit B yüzey antijen pozitifliginin dagilim özellikleri.

The ratio of HBsAg positivity among 9978 healthy blood donors by indirect hemagglutination (IHA) method was 4.8%. Positivity was 4.4% among donors coming from districts in Bursa. Positivity was higher among donors coming from boarding societies and villages (6.1% and 8.1%), they were significant (p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.001). The highest positivity was found at the age group between 16-25 years (6%). With older ages, positivity becomes less (at the age over 46 ratio was 2.5%) and it was significant (p less than 0.001).

[Salmonella typhimurium infections in the area of Bursa]. / Salmonella typhimurium enfeksiyonlarinin Bursa yöresindeki durumu.

Salmonella typhimurium infections encountered at the neighbourhood of Bursa since January 1987 were evaluated in regard to the antibiotic resistance and treatment. High proportion of resistance was determined to the antibacterial agents such as ampicillin, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline and more sensitivity to ofloxacin, amikacin, ceftriaxone and cefotaxime was established in 383 Salmonella typhimurium strains isolated within two years of period. No antibiotic therapy was required to adult uncomplicated patients. A combination therapy with cefotaxime and amikacin was found to be satisfactory in the newborn cases with septicemia.

[Distribution of Cryptococcus neoformans in pigeon feces]. / Cryptococcus neoformans'in güvercin diskilarindaki dagilimi.

C neoformans has been investigated in fecal droppings obtained from pigeon coops that placed in several suburbs of Bursa City. In sixteen of the 115 samples (13.9%), C neoformans strains has been isolated and studied their morphological and biochemical properties. But no isolation has been obtained from 8 soil samples and 14 samples of chicken dung.

High risk subgroup of acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AMML) with orbito-ocular granulocytic sarcoma (OOGS) in Turkish children. Retrospective analysis of clinical, hematological, ultrastructural and therapeutical findings of thirty-three OOGS.

Thirty-three patients presenting with orbito-ocular granulocytic sarcoma (OOGS) and acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AMML) were diagnosed in Turkish children from 1963 to 1983. OOGS, characterized by exophthalmos, chemosis and orbital masses, was observed in 33 (27.2%) of 121 AML patients compared with 41 children of AMML without ophthalmic tumors during the same period. Eye tumor and bone marrow aspirates were also studied under light and electron microscopies. The comparison of the hematological parameters did not indicate any statistical difference between the groups. Despite similar chemotherapy regimens administered to all patients, the mean survival time was 8.7 months in the OOGS group, which is significantly shorter compared to those without OOGS (28.6 months) (p less than 0.01). These cases may be classified as a "high risk" subgroup of childhood AMML.

[The distribution of clostridia in soil samples from Bursa]. / Bursa'da toprak örneklerinde Klostridium'larin dagilimi.

In the soil samples taken from different places of Bursa, distribution of the Clostridia were searched by anaerobic jar and immunofluorescence reaction (FAT). In our study, 122 bacteria belonging to 11 Clostridium species were isolated in 35 soil samples. These strains were identified by studying morphological and biochemical properties, lecithinase C and lipase activities, toxin neutralization characteristics. In addition, FAT were used for 4 Clostridium species.

Ultrastructural studies on AMML and ocular granulocytic sarcoma.

The ultrastructural analysis of the leukemic cells in twelve cases with AMML was considered a valuable tool in the diagnosis of this type of leukemia. Furthermore intracytoplasmic structure resembling virus like particles were observed in three bone marrow and one eye sample of the patients studied. The role of C-type RNA viruses in the etiology of leukemia was discussed.

[Serological relationship between candida and salmonella]. / Candida'larla Salmonella'lar arasindaki serolojik iliskiler.

To investigate the reported relationship among certain candida and Salmonella C1 group O antigen, an antigen and antiserum from C. albicans strain, isolated in our institute from patient, and another antigen and antiserum prepared from S. cholera suis strain were used. On the other hand C. melinii, which does not share any antigen with Salmonella, and S. newport antigen and antiserum, sharing no antigen with C. albicans were used as negative controls. C. albicans antigen and antiserum available in our institute, gave positive results with Salmonella C1 group O antigen and antiserum. The same titers were obtained as in the literature reports.

[Magnius' E-antigen]. / Magnius'un "e" sistemi hakkinda.

The "e" Ag/Ac system found by Magnius in 1972 is discussed briefly. The new antigen has the same immologic and physiochemical characteristics of HBs and HBc of the hepatitis virus. Its existence shows the chronic evolution of the disease in Ag HBs carriers. Therefore the "e" antigen has a prognostic value in Ag HBs carries.

[The results in our tuberculosis laboratory with penicillin blood agar medium]. / Tüberküloz laboratuvarimizda penisilinli kanli agar ile elde ettigimiz sonuçlar

A comparison of Löwenstein - Jensen and penicillin blood agar media, which can be prepared in small laboratories, is made in routine diagnostic cultivations of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis. Tubercle bacilli grown in Löwenstein - Jensen medium were inoculated in Löwenstein - Jensen and penicillin blood agar media in numbers of 100.000, 10.000, 1000 and 100 bacilli and their growth was detected in each medium. It was found that the growth in both media was the same Inoculations were made from 153 sputum specimens to each medium and 5 positive growth were obtained. 3 out of positive cultures were grown on both media, the other 2 positives were grown only on penicillin blood agar. None of the media showed contaminations. These findings suggest that the penicillin blood agar medium has at least the same, or even better qualities than the Löwenstein - Jensen medium.

[Identification of mycobacteria strains isolated in our laboratory 1972-1975]. / 1972 - 1975 yillarinda laboratuvarimizda izole ettigimiz Mikobakteri suslarinin idantifikasyonu

111 (3,34%) acid-fast bacteria were found by direct, and 128 (3.86%) acid-fast bacteria by homogenisation methods, in 3315 specimens sent to the tuberculosis laboratory of our institute from various clinics of Gülhane Military Medical Academy, between October 11, 1972 and December 31, 1975. It was found that there was no great difference between the direct and the homogenisation methods, provided that these tests are carried out with great care. After the isolation of 128 mycobacteria from 3315 specimens by culturing in Löwenstein-Jensen medium they were typed by niacin, nitrate reduction, catalase, and peroxydase reactions. It was found that 124 out of 128 strains were M. tuberculosis var. bovis, atypical and saprophytic mycobacteria (3.125%).