Can neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin be a novel and efficient marker to predict the clinical course of acute pancreatitis?

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the value of serum Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) levels to predict the severity of the disease and to identify its correlation with White Blood Cell (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in acute pancreatitis (AP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study sample included 86 AP-diagnosed patients in the study group and 77 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers with no comorbidity in the control group. The WBC, CRP, hs-CRP, and NGAL levels were examined at the time and 24 hours after diagnosis. RESULTS: Between the control group and the study group, a significant difference with and without necrosis in terms of NGAL averages (p=0.003) at the time of admission was observed. The mean level of the 24th-hour NGAL in the study group with necrosis (132.7±11.7 ng/ml) was found to be higher than the mean of the 24th-hour NGAL (117.5±22.6 ng/ml) in the study group without necrosis (p=0.032). Additionally, a significant difference was observed between the control group and the study group with and without necrosis in terms of CRP averages evaluated at admission. When the correlation of NGAL levels with WBC, CRP, and hs-CRP levels at the admission (r=0.224, p=0.038) and at the 24th h (r=0.389, p<0.001) are evaluated, weak correlations between NGAL and WBC levels were identified, but no correlation between NGAL and CRP and hs-CRP levels were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The usability of serum NGAL levels to predict the development of necrotizing pancreatitis in the early period was evaluated. Serum NGAL levels were found to be higher in the study group than in the control group, but there was no statistically significant difference between the mean values of 0th and 24th h NGAL values in any of the groups with/without pancreatic necrosis and the total study group was observed. More research is needed on the subject, with larger sampling sizes.

Effects of hyper- and hypo- thyroidism on oxidative stress of the eye in experimental acute anterior uveitis.

Glutathione peroxidase activities and malondialdehyde levels were measured in the homogenated anterior segment of rat eyes with endotoxin induced acute anterior uveitis in euthyroid, hyperthyroid and hypothyroid rats. Malondialdehyde concentrations were found to be significantly increased (p < 0.0005) and glutathione peroxidase activities significantly decreased (p < 0.01) in the hyperthyroid group when compared with controls. Malondialdehyde concentrations of the hypothyroid rat eyes were higher than the control group (p < 0.05), but glutathione peroxidase activities of the same group showed no difference with controls (p > 0.05). These results suggest that excess or deficiency of the thyroid hormones cause alterations in the malondialdehyde levels and glutathione peroxidase activities of the rat eyes in endotoxin induced uveitis, and hyperthyroidism may increase the oxidative stress in endotoxin induced acute anterior uveitis.

The effect of nifedipine on secretory diarrhea in mice.

The aim of this study was to determine whether castor oil-induced secretory diarrhea in mice could be ameliorated by nifedipine, a calcium channel blocking agent in mice. Ten animals received nifedipine in a dose of 1 mg/30 g/body weight and another ten animals received only distilled water via an orogastric feeding tube. Fifteen minutes after the administration of the drug or the distilled water, castor oil was given to all animals. The mean body weight loss was found to be higher in the control group than in the nifedipine treated group two hours after the administration of castor oil. These findings indicate that nifedipine may have a therapeutic role in castor oil-induced secretory diarrhea.

Colonization of infant mice with flagellar variants of Campylobacter jejuni.

The role of flagella in the colonization of the intestine by Campylobacter jejuni was investigated by challenging infant mice with two flagellated strains and their nonflagellated variants. The intestinal tracts of infant mice were regularly colonized with motile strains, but not by nonmotile variants. Colonization of mice with motile C. jejuni occurred with as few as 1000 bacteria per mouse.

Campylobacter and enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) associated gastroenteritis in Turkish children.

From May 1989 to April 1990, stool specimens of 677 children less than 15-years old who were admitted to the Hacettepe University outpatient department of Pediatrics with acute enteritis were collected to search for four common enteric pathogens: Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, and enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). At least one of the three bacteria was detected in 107 (15.8%) of the patients. Campylobacter was found in 72 (10.6%) of the samples. Shigella and Salmonella spp. were isolated in 26 (3.8%) and 11 (1.6%) children respectively. EHEC was not isolated from any of the stool samples. None of the 100 healthy children examined as a control group yielded any of the four pathogens in their stools. Campylobacter should be considered as an important aetiological agent of diarrhoeal diseases in Turkey, where EHEC is not a common pathogen.

Bovine diarrhea associated with Campylobacter hyointestinalis.

An enteric disease affected 16 ruminating calves. The disease was characterized by a nonspecific, mild to severe diarrhea and wasting. Two calves died during the course of disease. C. hyointestinalis was isolated from 12 to 14 calves. The antibody titers of affected calves to C. hyointestinalis varied from 1:20 to 1:160. The disease was successfully treated with chloramphenicol.

[In vitro susceptibility of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli to quinolone antibiotics]. / Campylobacter jejuni ve Campylobacter coli'nin quinolone grubu antibiyotiklere in vitro duyarliliklari.

In this study, in vitro susceptibilities of 24 campylobacter strains isolated from fecal samples were tested for quinolone antibiotics. 13 of the strains were identified as C. jejuni and 11 of them were C. coli. Antibiotics which were included in this study were ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, pefloxacin and fleroxacin. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed on Mueller-Hinton agar (supplemented with 5% sheep blood) using the agar dilution method. Results showed that quinolone antibiotics are very active against Campylobacter species. There was not any marked difference between the susceptibility patterns of C. jejuni and C. coli.

[Antibody levels to B. abortus, B. canis and C. burnetti in the sera of patients with brucellosis-like symptoms]. / Brucellosis benzeri semptomlari olan hastalarin serumlarinda B. abortus, B. canis ve C. burnetti antikor düzeylerinin gösterilmesi.

The serum specimens of patients attending clinics and polyclinics of our hospital and suspected of having brucellosis were evaluated for B. abortus, B. canis and C. burnetti by Wright agglutination, 2ME. TAT (2 mercaptoethanol Tube Agglutination) and KBR (Complement Fixation reaction) tests. A total of 514 sera was examined gram 296 men and 218 women. We detected antibody to C. burnetti 156 (30,39%) of the sera and B. canis in 43 (8.3%) and to B. abortus in 32 (6.2%).

[The hyperglycemic effect of N-methylglucamine antimonate (glucantime)]. / N-methylglucamine antimoniate (Glucantime)'in hiperglisemik etkisi.

We applied meglumine antimonate (Glucantime) to 10 albino mice in a dose of 15-30 mg/kg for first three days and then 60 mg/kg for twelve days intramuscularly, and double dose to another 10 mice. No drug was administered to 9 mice which were control group. On 16th day, there were hyperglycemia, parenchymal degeneration and inflammation in liver which were more marked in double dose group. The monitoring of blood glucose of the patients with kala-azar receiving Glucantime, was suggested.

[A serologic study of human Brucella canis infections in the bursa region]. / Bursa bölgesindeki insanlarda Brucella canis infeksiyonlari uzerinde serolojik bir inceleme.

Serum samples of 123 patients of various ages and both sexes from Bursa area were tested by Mercaptoethanol Tube Agglutination Test on a random basis for Br. canis antibodies. Two patients, one male and one female, showed high titers (1:400) in mercaptoethanol tube agglutination test. A titer of 1:200 or higher was considered significant and indicative of active infection. Br. canis infection in man in Turkey is reported for the first time.

[Campylobacter jejuni gastroenteritis]. / Campylobacter jejuni gastroenteriti.

Acute gastroenteritis is a major cause of hospital admission with attendant morbidity and occasional mortality. Campylobacter jejuni recently has been recognized as a common cause of acute bacterial gastroenteritis in children and adults. Its frequency of isolation is comparable to and in many studies exceeds that of Salmonella isolations from diarrheal stools of hospitalized patients. Medical workers in many parts of the world confirmed that Campylobacter jejuni was found more commonly in feces in diarrheic than in non-diarrheic people. The feces is loose to watery and commonly contains blood and leukocytes. Although, Campylobacter jejuni has been isolated from feces and gallbladder of healthy and diarrheic animals, until now, to our knowledge, there is no report on the isolation of the microorganism from healthy or diarrheic subjects in Turkey. This paper reports three human infections found to have Campylobacter jejuni in their stools as part of our ongoing investigation of the incidence of diarrheal disease due to this organism.