Detection of Blastocystis sp. and Dientamoeba fragilis using conventional and molecular methods in patients with celiac disease.

Blastocystis sp. and Dientamoeba fragilis are intestinal protists, which are common worldwide, but the pathogenic role of these organisms in gastrointestinal diseases is still controversial. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of Blastocystis sp. and D. fragilis in stool samples from adult patients with celiac disease (CD) by using conventional and molecular methods. A total of 75 patients with CD and 75 healthy individuals were included in this study. Fresh stool specimens collected from each individual were analyzed by conventional and molecular methods. The overall prevalence of Blastocystis sp. and D. fragilis was 41.3% (31/75) and 24% (18/75) in patients with CD, and 46.7% (35/75) and 13.3% (10/75) in healthy controls, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of Blastocystis sp. and D. fragilis between CD patients and healthy individuals. Blastocystis sp. subtypes were identified in 20 CD and 16 control patients and the overall subtype distribution was observed as ST1 13.9%, ST2 30.6%, and ST3 55.6%. The prevalence of Blastocystis sp. and D. fragilis in adults with CD is similar to the prevalence of protozoa in healthy adults. In this study, the most prevalent Blastocystis subtype was ST3 and the most frequent allele was a34 in both CD patients and healthy individuals. No significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of the detection rates of Blastocystis sp. and D. fragilis, and it is thought that both protists may be colonisers of the intestinal microbiome.

[Purple Urine Bag Syndrome: A Rare Clinical Case]. / Mor Idrar Torbasi Sendromu: Nadir Bir Klinik Olgu.

Purple urine bag syndrome (PUBS) is a rare syndrome characterized by production of indigo (blue) and indirubin (red) pigments due to bacterial colonization in urinary catheter. The pathogenesis of PUBS is related to the combination of these two pigments produced from the metabolism of tryptophan. Tryptophan turns into indole by deamination, indole turns into indoxyl sulphate by hepatic conjugation and indoxyl sulphate is secreted into urine. Sulphatases and phosphatases enzymes produced by bacteria like Providencia stuartii and Providencia rettgeri, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp., Morganella morganii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter spp. and group B streptococci convert indoxyl sulphate to indoxyl. In the urinary tract, oxidation of indoxyl results in the production of indigo and indirubin pigments. These pigments react with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) lining of the urinary catheter bag and the reaction results purple discoloration of urine. Urine discoloration is very important clinical sign in the differential diagnosis of several pathological conditions such as hematuria, urinary system tumors and drug side effects and may be disquieting for patients, families and healthcare workers. Purple urine discoloration is rarely reported in the literature and it is generally associated with urinary tract infection. In this report, a 60 years old woman with a past medical history of significant chronic kidney disease undergoing regular hemodialysis, chronic constipation and hepatitis B was admitted to our neurology clinic because of acute intracerebral hemorrhage. She had confusion and right hemiplegia in her neurological examination and required urinary catheterization due to immobilization. Red coloration was observed in urine on the tenth hospital day. Although this coloration was thought to be hematuria, according to urine examination it was not hematuria. Then urine color turned into purple within two days. The next day, because of fever, full blood count and other blood investigations were performed and urine was sent to the laboratory for culture. Empirical piperacillin-tazobactam and teicoplanin antibiotic treatments were commenced. In the urine culture, 105 cfu/ml Enterococcus faecalis was isolated. According to the antibiotic susceptibility results the therapy was changed and meropenem was added to the treatment. For her constipation, supportive managements such as hydration, nutrition and laxative treatment were applied. After all the treatments, the patient's constipation regressed, the urine had become normal colored and the following urine cultures were not revealed any bacterial growth. As in this case, when the urine discoloration occurs, PUBS should be kept in mind which is especially seen in elderly female patients with chronic constipation, urinary catheterization, urinary tract infection and renal failure.