Prevalence of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus infection in pediatric patients receiving multiple transfusions in Southern Turkey.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of GB virus C (GBV-C) infection in pediatric patients receiving multiple blood transfusions in Turkey where HBV and HCV infections are common. Sera of a total of 148 children, of whom 85 had cancer and 63 hemoglobinopathies, were tested for GBV-C RNA and HCV RNA by RT-PCR and for antibodies to HBV and HCV. Demographic and clinical information as well as laboratory results were recorded for the patients (81 boys, 67 girls, aged 1-19 years). HBsAg positivity was found in 23 (15.5%) patients, HBV DNA positivity in 12 (8.1%), HCV RNA positivity in 9 (6.7%), and GBV-C RNA positivity in 4 (2.7%). There was no significant difference in the GBV-C RNA positivity between patients with cancer (3.2%) and patients with hemoglobinopathies (2.4%) (p > 0.05). GBV-C RNA was found in 4 (3.1%) out of 127 patients who had received transfusions, but it was not found in any of 21 patients who had not received transfusions. However, there was no relationship between GBV-C RNA positivity and the number of transfusions. Two of the patients with GBV-C RNA had high levels of ALT (ALT > 40 IU). In these two patients, neither HBV DNA nor HCV RNA were detected by PCR, and serological tests were also negative for these agents. We concluded that pediatric patients who had multiple transfusions in Turkey are at risk of being infected with GBV-C, in addition to HBV and HCV. Investigation of GBV-C RNA in patients with high ALT levels in the absence of other viral markers may be useful.

Hepatitis B and C virus infections in Turkish children with haemophilia.

We examined 41 Turkish children with haemophilia for evidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hepatitis B surface antigen was found to be positive in 11 patients (26.8%) and HCV-specific antibody (anti-HCV) was detected in 10 (24.4%) patients. There was a close relationship of the number of transfusions of blood plasma to the presence of HCV specific antibody, but not to the serum markers of HBV infection. In countries where HBV infection is commonly seen and problems in transfusion practice continue, as in Turkey, children with haemophilia are at greater risk for HBV and HCV infections.

Hepatitis B and C virus infections in Turkish children with cancer.

In this study, we tested 137 Turkish children with cancer (51 with acute leukemia, 48 with lymphoma, 38 with solid tumors) while they were undergoing chemotherapy, and a control group of 45 for evidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The control group included children with other disease who had applied to the outpatient clinic during the study period and had no history of jaundice or transfusion. Sixty-five (47.4%) patients with cancer and 7 (20%) children in the control group were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) (p < 0.01). HBV DNA was detected in 59 (43.1%) patients and in 9 (20%) controls (p < 0.01). HCV specific antibody (anti-HCV) was detected in 8 (5.8%) patients and in 1 (2.2%) control (p > 0.05). Eight patients (5.8%) had circulating HCV RNA, but none had in the control group (p = 0.09). Ten (13.9%) of the 72 patients who were negative for HBsAg had circulating HBV DNA, and 7 (5.4%) of the 129 patients who were negative for anti-HCV had circulating HCV RNA. We concluded that HBV and HCV infections are common among Turkish children with cancer. In countries where HBV infection is widespread among the general population as in Turkey, children with cancer are under greater risk for HBV infection.

[Incidence of Mycoplasma and group B streptococci in the genitourinary system of pregnant women and their effect on pregnancy]. / Gebe kadinlarin genitoüriner sistemlerinde Mycoplasma ve B grubu streptokoklarin insidansi ile gebelige etkileri.

This study included 59 pregnant women and their mature infants born in term in order to establish the incidence of potential microorganisms that may transmit through the birth canal to infant and the evidence for vertical transmission in pregnancy. Using isolation studies based on selective methods, it was found that U.urealyticum had the highest incidence with 26 (44%) and Diphtheroid was isolated from 19 (32.2%), Staphylococcus from 17 (28.8%), M.hominis from 16 (27.1%), group B Streptococcus from 8 (13.6%) of genital canal specimens, respectively. It was also found that E.coli with a carriage rate of 6 (50%), M.hominis with 4 (25%) and Diphtheroid with 4 (21%) were transmitted through the birth canal to infant and colonized the conjunctiva and face of infant at birth.