Relationship between neutrophil functions and severity of periodontitis in obese and/or type 2 diabetic chronic periodontitis patients.

OBJECTIVES: Obesity and diabetes are the most common nutritional and endocrine disorders in developed and developing countries and are related to immune response alterations. Recent studies suggest an association among diabetes, obesity, and periodontitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between neutrophil function alterations and periodontal disease severity of type 2 diabetic chronic periodontitis patients with and without obesity. METHOD AND MATERIALS: A total of 39 chronic periodontitis patients participated in the study. The study population was divided into 4 groups according to body mass index and type 2 diabetes status: (1) 8 type 2 diabetic obese patients, (2) 12 type 2 diabetic patients, (3) 8 obese patients, and (4) 11 systemically healthy patients as a control group. Neutrophil chemotaxis and phagocytosis functions and periodontal status were evaluated. RESULTS: No differences in age, Gingival Index, Plaque Index, percentage of phagocytosis, phagocytic efficiency, and intracellular killing were observed among the groups, but chemotaxis was significantly lower in diabetic groups than the control group and probing depth was significantly higher in diabetic groups than the control group. Obesity did not seem to affect the results significantly for all parameters evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike in patients with type 2 diabetes, neither neutrophil functions nor periodontitis severity seemed to change in obese patients. However, in type 2 diabetic patients, neutrophil chemotaxis alterations seem to affect probing depth measurements.

Prevalence of intestinal parasites in three socioeconomically-different regions of Sivas, Turkey.

The study was carried out to determine the prevalence of parasites in three socioeconomically-different regions (Alibaba, Esentepe, and Cayboyu) of Sivas, Turkey, to determine the most accurate method for the diagnosis of taeniasis and enterobiasis, to determine the importance of household visits in primary healthcare to control parasitic diseases, and to treat intestinal parasitic diseases in those regions. Both stool specimens and cellophane tape (CT) samples were taken from 1,864 participants during 641 household visits in the three regions. The age groups included were pre-school [(0-6 year(s)], primary school (7-15 years), and the upper age group (16 years and above). The total prevalence of intestinal parasites in the three regions was 37.2%. Eleven intestinal parasite species were detected in both stool specimens and CT samples. Giardia intestinalis and Enterobius vermicularis were the most frequent species identified in all the three regions. Region I (Alibaba) had a higher prevalence of parasites compared to the other two regions. There was no significant difference between Region II (Esentepe) and Region III (Cayboyu) in isolation of intestinal parasites. There were statistically significant differences between the age groups when the rates of parasitic infection were compared. The highest prevalence of parasitosis was observed among the age group of 7-15 years and in the socioeconomically lowest one of the three regions. While the most accurate way of diagnosis for taeniasis was the combined usage of the CT and direct preparation methods, the CT method was the best method for the diagnosis of enterobiasis. Thus, the local administrators in cities need to pay more attention to the prevention of parasitic infections along with improvements in educational, environmental and sanitary conditions.

Molecular genotyping of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains in a teaching hospital in Turkey.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the major causes of nosocomial infections in our hospital. Therefore, we aimed to characterize MRSA isolates phenotypically from patients with nosocomial infections at Cumhuriyet University Hospital between December, 1999, and June, 2001, in Sivas by analysis of antibiotic patterns and genotypically using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and repetitive element sequence-based polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR). Forty-three nosocomial isolates were collected from various wards. All isolates were resistant to penicillin, tetracycline, oxacillin, and gentamicin. By rep-PCR and by separation of SmaI fragments of genomic DNA using PFGE, one major type (eight subtypes with PFGE) was identified among the strains. This clone was found to be different than some clones such as Iberian, Brazilian, and a major clone that was found in another Turkish University Hospital in Ankara. According to our results, there is a major MRSA clone with a potential to spread in our hospital. Infection control measures should be directed toward restricting the further spread of this clone. Therefore, in accordance with these findings, a surveillance culturing program should be established.