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Biomedical subjects

C Ustün

Publications and source records attributed to C Ustün.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Antibiotics prophylaxis in laparoscopy.

OBJECTIVE: This study was to determine which prophylactic antibiotic regimen is most effective in reducing the incidence of infectious morbidity in women undergoing laparoscopy. DESIGN: Randomized, nonblinded comparative study of a single preoperative dose of first generation cephalosporins vs. the control group which did not receive the antibiotic. METHODS: The operations were performed using standard technique. Women (n = 450) with indication for laparoscopy were randomly allocated to two groups. Group 1 (n = 200) received the single dose in first generation cephalosporins and group 2 (n = 250) did not receive it. Both groups were followed up during 7 days for detection of signs of wound infection, idiopathic fever, peritonitis and urinary tract infection, and respiratory tract. Prevalence of postoperative infection, mean hospital stay. RESULTS: Women completing the study (n = 450) were distributed into group 1 (n = 200) and group 2 (n = 250). No significant difference was found either in the prevalence of postoperative infection or in the mean hospital stay. No death occurred. Each patient was assessed daily until discharge to evidence wound infection, idiopathic fever, peritonitis and urinary tract infection, and respiratory tract. Hospital stay did not differ significantly between groups (p>0.005). CONCLUSION: In our setting, the administration of a single dose of 2 g of first generation cephalosporins before laparoscopy for prevention of infection is clinically equivalent to control group. Single dose of 2 g of first generation cephalosporins appears to offer no added benefit over control group.

Adult↗

In vivo use of all-trans retinoic acid prior to induction chemotherapy improves complete remission rate and increases rhodamine 123 uptake in patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia.

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is used in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia. Because ATRA has effects (increase in apoptosis, suppression of bcl-2), it has also been used for the treatment of other French-American-British (FAB) subtypes of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). To find out the in vivo and in vitro effects of ATRA in AML, we analyzed 37 patients with de novo AML. Twenty-seven patients received ATRA before remission-induction (RI) treatment (ATRA group). Results were compared to a control group (10 patients) that received induction without ATRA during the same time period. Bone marrow or peripheral blood samples were collected from all patients on d 0 and 4. The immunphenotype, myeloperoxidase (MPO), reac tion and the efflux uptake of rhodamine 123 (Rh123) were analyzed on myeloblasts in these samples. In the myeloblasts from patients treated with ATRA, the uptake of Rh123 was increased significantly (p = 0.026) from d 0 to d 4, and all other parameters remained unaltered. ATRA administration increased the complete remission (CR) rate (88%, 22/25 vs 55%, 5/9) significantly (p = 0.042). Logistic regression analysis revealed that ATRA administration was the important factor in CR, among other potential factors including age, white blood count, bcl-2 expression, and the uptake and efflux of Rh123 (p = 0.05). Estimated disease-free survival and overall survival were similar between these two groups (43% vs 37.5% and 51.2% vs 37.5%, respectively). In conclusion, ATRA treatment prior to RI treatment may improve the CR rate in patients with de novo AML, which seems to be related to its beneficial effect on multidrug resistance.

Acute Disease↗

Successful treatment of severe aplastic anemia associated with human parvovirus B19 and Epstein-Barr virus in a healthy subject with allo-BMT.

Several reports have noted pancytopenia associated with Human parvovirus B19 (PVB19) or Ebstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections in patients who have no history of immunodeficiency. To our knowledge, we report the first case of severe aplastic anemia associated with both EBV and PVB19 infections in a previously healthy 22-year-old man. He was admitted to our hematology service due to anemia and thrombocytopenia. He had no symptoms or signs of infections of these viruses. His bone marrow biopsy revealed a hypocellular marrow. Specific IgM and IgG antibodies to EBV and PVB19 were elevated. EBV and PVB19 virus genomes were detected by PCR in the bone marrow nucleated cells and the peripheral blood lymphocytes. Two months after treatment with prednisone, acyclovir, and intravenous immune globulin (IVIg), the genomes of both these viruses disappeared. However, his transfusion requirement for platelet suspensions and packed red blood cells persisted. The patient underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplant (allo-BMT) and has had an enduring complete hematological response for 8 months.

Adult↗

Subclinical chorioamnionitis as an etiologic factor in preterm deliveries.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to determine the possible relationship between histologic chorioamnionitis and genital tract cultures and their contribution to preterm delivery. METHODS: The study group consisted of 45 preterm and 37 term pregnancies. Cervico-vaginal cultures were obtained from all patients at admission and placentas were histopathologically evaluated and graded for inflammation of the chorial plate, amniochorionic membrane, umbilical cord and villi. Inflammation scores and presence of pathogenic bacteria were compared between the preterm and term patients. RESULTS: Severe chorionic plate inflammation was present in 35.5% of 45 preterm deliveries as compared to 5.4% of 37 term deliveries. Amniochorionic-decidual inflammation was not present in 14 of the term deliveries (38%), mild (Grade 1--2) in 20 (54%) and severe (Grade 3--4) in 3 (8%) as compared to 14 (31%), 17 (38%), and 14 (31%) in the preterm group, respectively (P<0.05). Pathogenic bacteria were isolated from the lower genital tracts of all patients who had severe chorionic plate (CP) and/or chorioamnionic (CA) inflammation while this was true only in 37.5% of the patients with no or only mild chorionic plate inflammation (P<0.001 for CP, P<0.01 for CA). CONCLUSION: Our results show that pathogenic bacterial colonisation of the cervicovaginal region is closely associated with placental inflammation, preterm labor and cervico-vaginal cultures which may be useful in determining the pregnancies at risk for preterm labor.

Adult↗

Aerobic bacterial and fungal infections in peripheral blood stem cell transplants.

Allogeneic and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplants are frequently complicated by infections. This study was performed to evaluate early and late infections in 74 patients who underwent peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). Fifty-eight patients received allogeneic and 16 autologous PBSCT. All patients received fluconazole, ciprofloxacin and acyclovir prophylaxis. 93.1% of alloPBSCT patients and 87.5% of autoPBSCT patients developed fever. Febrile episodes were commonly seen in the week of transplantation (66%). There was a median of 3 days with fever in alloPBSCT, and 2 days in autoPBSCT. Period of neutropenia was 15 days for AlloPBSCT and 12 days for AutoPBSCT. The microbiological identification rate was 47% (32/68). Gram-positive infections dominated the early period (50%) and Gram-negative bacterial infections dominated the late period (50%). All our patients had Hickman-type catheters and 26 infections involving catheters were seen. Sixteen occurred in the early, and 10 in the late period. Ten of 14 (71.4%) late bacterial infections were catheter-related. The dominance of Gram-positive infections and high rates of methicillin resistance warranted the use of vancomycin extensively. Surveillance cultures were found to be useful in selected patients. Although slime factor is an important virulence factor, there was no difference between slime factor positive and negative coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated during infections. In conclusion, febrile episodes are the most frequent complication of PBSCT and Gram-positive microorganisms remain the main pathogen in these patients because of catheter use, mucositis and ciprofloxacin prophylaxis. Methicillin resistance is increasing and glycopeptides remain the only choice for treating such infections. Although the infection rate is high, measures taken to prevent and treat infections result in very low rates of mortality from infection in PBSCT patients.

Adolescent↗

Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rh-G-CSF) may accelerate hematopoietic recovery after HLA-identical sibling allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

We studied the effects of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on hematopoietic recovery and clinical outcome in patients undergoing allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation. Fifty-six patients with hematological malignancies who underwent allogeneic PBSC transplantation between 1995 and 1998 were entered into this study. Twenty-eight patients who received daily G-CSF from day +1 after allogeneic PBSC transplantation until the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) reached >0.5 x 10(9)/l for 3 consecutive days were compared with 28 patients (control group) who did not receive G-CSF in a non-randomized manner. The study group and the control group were comparable with respect to baseline patient and transplantation characteristics. Median times to ANC of >0.5 x 10(9)/l and 1 x 10(9)/l with or without G-CSF were 12 days (range 8-21), 13 days (10-32) (P = 0.04) and 13 days (9-21), 15 days (11-44) (P = 0.02), respectively. Median times to reach a platelet count of >20 x 10(9)/l with and without G-CSF were 11 days (0-20) and 13 days (9-26), respectively (P = 0.03). The incidence of febrile episodes was significantly lower with G-CSF, 75% vs 100% (P = 0.008). Patients receiving G-CSF had less grade III-IV mucositis than those who did not receive G-CSF (P = 0.01). There was also no increase in the incidence and severity of acute GVHD in patients using G-CSF (P = 0.22). Although the number of relapsing patients was greater in the G-CSF group (seven vs three patients), this was not statistically significant (P = 0.24). Disease-free and overall survival rates did not differ between the two groups (P = 0.58 and 0.53, respectively). The administration of G-CSF after allogeneic PBSC transplantation provided faster neutrophil and platelet engraftment associated with less severe mucositis and less febrile episodes.

Adolescent↗

Allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for severe aplastic anemia.

Allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) is rarely applied for the treatment of severe aplastic anemia (SAA) because of questionable durability of engraftment and increased risk of graft versus host disease (GVHD). We performed allogeneic PBSCT in 3 SAA patients from their human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical siblings. One received bone marrow after conditioning with cyclophoshamide (Cy) plus antithymocyte globulin. He had a second transplant with peripheral blood stem cells from the original donor because of a graft failure (GF). Two other patients received PBSCT as a first option, with Cy as the only conditioning drug. The 3 patients received short-term methotrexate and cyclosporine as a postgrafting immunosupression. In the latter 2 cases, no GF has been observed, and a successful and complete hematological recovery was achieved and maintained for 28 and 25 months, respectively. In conclusion, PBSCT provides a quick and complete hematological recovery in SAA patients.

Adolescent↗

Treatment of chronic anovulation resistant to clomiphene citrate (CC) by using gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) ovarian suppression followed by recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (r-hFSH) treatment (Suprecur, Puregon).

We performed a prospective study to assess the effects of a starting dose of 50 units of recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (Puregon) during gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist therapy (Suprecur) on follicular development in patients with clomiphene citrate-resistant polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In a prospective clinical trial, 25 women with clomiphene citrate-resistant PCOS who wanted to become pregnant were treated by a low-dose step-up protocol of SC recombinant follicle stimulating hormone administration during gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist therapy, monitored by transvaginal ultrasonography and retrospectively by serum endocrine assays taken at each monitoring visit. Cancellation of cycles, ovulation, rate and size of follicles growth, serum E2 concentration and pregnancy were recorded. All patients exhibited a response: 22 patients ovulated, of whom 10 conceived. Using the low-dose protocol during gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist therapy permitted induction of ovulation safely and successfully in patients with clomiphene citrate-resistant PCOS who were patients previously difficult to treat with the conventional ovulation induction protocol.

Journal Article↗

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation without myeloablative conditioning for patients with advanced hematologic malignancies.

BACKGROUND: The effect of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) on hematologic malignancies is based on the graft-versus-malignancy effect. Obtaining this effect with reduced toxicity has been possible by non-myeloablative (NMA) alloHCT. Once mixed chimeric status, and host versus graft with graft versus host tolerance are achieved, further strengthening of chimerism and graft-versus-malignancy effect can be obtained by donor lymphocyte infusions (DLIs) when needed. METHODS: The patient group consisted of 13 patients with advanced hematological malignancies: seven had CML, four of them in blastic-, two in chronic- and the remainder in accelerated-phase; four patients with AML, refractory or in second remission state; one patient with primary refractory secondary AML; and one patient with ALL relapsed after alloHCT. Conditioning regimen consisted of fludarabine 30 mg/m(2)/day for 6 days and anti-T-lymphocyte globulin (ATG) 10 mg/kg/day for 4 days as immunosuppressive. Ara-C or Bu or melphalan were used as the cytoreductive component. All transplants were performed using HLA-identical sibling donors' peripheral blood hematopoietic cells, after priming with filgrastim. Post-transplant GvHD prophylaxis was achieved with CsA alone in 10 patients, and with CsA plus mycophenolate mofetil in the last three patients. RESULTS: Median follow-up is 3 months (range, 0-20) for all the patients and 6 months (range, 2-15) for the live patients. Donor chimerism was shown in 10 patients, not regarding any pretransplant feature. DLIs were performed in seven patients after transplantation and two of them achieved complete chimeric status and molecular remission. Two CML patients in blastic phase (CML-BP), and the primary refractory secondary AML patient did not respond to procedure. In four patients, drug therapy in conventional doses was added to post-transplant DLIs for their relapsed or refractory diseases. Two patients with AML in second CR, and another CML-BP patient, relapsed or progressed after transplantation. A patient with CML-BP achieved CR and full donor chimerism after transplantation, but developed refractory post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease in the 19th month. Two patients with refractory AML, one patient with relapsed ALL and two patients with CML in chronic phase were in complete chimeric status and free of disease signs. Acute GvHD, Grade II-III, was observed in five patients, and two of them developed secondary progressive chronic GvHD subsequently. We observed one early death in a platelet transfusion refractory blastic phase CML patient due to intracranial hemorrhage. Procedure-related severe toxicity was not observed, either in standard-risk patients or stem-cell donors. DISCUSSION: Establishing engraftment with donor chimerism was the first successful step in this approach. The second step, which was the result of the graft-versus-malignancy effect, could be seen in most of the patients, but was not sustained in all of them because of the aggressiveness of their malignancy. It can be suggested that the immunotherapeutic efficacy of this approach could be more successful, and with acceptable toxicity, when performed in patients with minimal residual disease. The role of NMA conditioning, and of the treatment in standard disease indications, remains to be determined in further studies.

Adult↗

A phase I dose escalation study of high-dose thiotepa, melphalan and carboplatin (TMCb) followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) in patients with solid tumors and hematologic malignancies.

The purpose of this study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose of carboplatin administered with 500 mg/m2 thiotepa and 100 mg/m2 melphalan followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) infusion in patients with refractory malignancies. Twenty-eight patients with refractory malignancies received high-dose thiotepa (500 mg/m2, melphalan (100 mg/m2) and escalating doses of carboplatin 900-1500 mg/m2) followed by infusion of cryopreserved autologous PBSCs. The maximum tolerated doses were determined to be 500 mg/m2 thiotepa, 100 mg/m2 melphalan and 1350 mg/m2 carboplatin. Two consecutive patients receiving 1500 mg/m2 carboplatin experienced grade 3 mucositis and colitis. Ten patients were enrolled at the maximum tolerated dose and none had grade 3-4 regimen-related toxicity and mortality. All patients at this level experienced grade 1-2 mucositis, 90% grade 1-2 gastrointestinal toxicity, 30% grade 1-2 cardiac and renal toxicity, and 10% experienced grade 1 hepatic toxicity. The median time to achieve a granulocyte count of 0.5x10(9)/l was 9 days (range 7-12 days) and platelet count of 20x10(9)/l was 10 days (range 7-15 days). Of eight patients with stage IV refractory breast cancer, even were evaluable for response, one patient on day 75 will be evaluated soon. Five of seven (71.5%) evaluable patients achieved a complete remission (CR) and two had no response. Of seven patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (n = 4) or Hodgkin's disease (n = 3), five achieved a CR (71.5%). Thiotepa, melphalan and carboplatin can be administered in high doses with tolerable mucositis as the major side-effect. This combination has significant activity in patients with breast cancer, and phase II studies in patients with breast cancer and other chemotherapy-sensitive malignancies are warranted.

Adult↗

Allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for standard risk leukemia: experience of Ibni Sina Hospital.

Fifty-three patients with standard risk leukemia who underwent allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (alloPBSCT) from their HLA-identical siblings were analyzed for engraftment, incidence and severity of GVHD, and relapse rate. Standard risk leukemia was defined as AML in first complete remission or CML in first chronic phase within the first year after diagnosis. The median age was 34.5 years (range 13-47). Stem cells were mobilized by using 10 microg/kg G-CSF subcutaneously for 5 days. A median of 5. 7 (2.1-21.4) x 106/kg CD34+ cells was collected over a median of 2 (range 1-5) apheresis procedures. Cyclosporin A (CsA) plus short-course MTX were used for GVHD prophylaxis. Recovery to granulocytes >0.5 x 109/l and platelets >20 x 109/l occurred at a median of day +13 (range 8-32) and +13 (range 8-51), respectively. Day +100 transplant-related mortality was 13.2% (7/53). Acute GVHD occurred in 20 of 49 (41%) evaluable patients and only six (12.3%) of them had severe disease (grade III-IV). Chronic GVHD occurred in 30 of 42 (71.4%) evaluable patients. Relapse rate at 2 years was 7. 5%. The median overall and leukemia-free survivals were 22 (4-44) and 20 (3-44) months, respectively. Estimated 4 year leukemia-free and overall survival rates were 60% and 62%, respectively. In conclusion, alloPBSCT in standard risk leukemia seems to be associated with a low relapse rate and no increased risk of acute GVHD, but there is a trend for higher incidence of cGVHD. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000) 25, 1229-1232.

Adolescent↗

Febrile neutropenia in allogeneic and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation and conventional chemotherapy for malignancies.

The risk and outcome of infection in febrile neutropenic patients is mainly determined by the duration of neutropenia, the underlying disease or the treatment. This study was undertaken to compare infections and the outcome after conventional chemotherapy (CCT), allogeneic PBSC transplantation (alloPBSCT) or autologous PBSC transplantation (autoPBSCT), during the period of neutropenia, in a single center. A total of 145 patients (50 in CCT group, 50 in alloPBSCT and 45 in autoPBSCT) were evaluated. In the alloPBSCT group, 86% of the patients (43/50), in the autoPBSCT group 93% of the patients (42/45) and in the CCT group 92% (46/50) of the patients had at least one febrile episode during their neutropenic period (P > 0.05). Microbiologically and/or clinically documented infection rates were 50% (25/50), 42% (19/45) and 48% (24/50) respectively. Gram-positive pathogens, mostly coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most frequent cause of bacteremias in all groups. The frequency of CNS infections was significantly higher in the alloPBSCT and autoPBSCT groups compared to the CCT group (P < 0. 008 and P < 0.04, respectively). Catheter infections were frequent in the PBSCT groups and pulmonary infections were more frequent in the CCT group (P < 0.05). The CCT group needed longer antibiotic usage compared to the alloPBSCT group (P < 0.006). The duration of neutropenia and the type of treatment given, does not affect the rate of febrile episodes, but affects the type of infections in febrile neutropenic patients.

Adolescent↗

Comparison of the efficacy of medium chain triglycerides with long chain triglycerides in total parenteral nutrition in patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The purpose of this randomized study was to compare the efficacy of medium chain triglycerides (MCT) plus long chain triglycerides (LCT) with LCT alone in total parenteral nutrition (TPN) solutions in patients with various hematologic malignancies who underwent a hematopoietic peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation. METHODS: Of 36 patients entering into this study, 18 received MCT + LCT (group I) and the remaining 18 received LCT alone (group II) in TPN solutions. Patients were comparable regarding age, gender, donor-recipient gender, diagnosis, body weights, blood group differences and number of infused CD34(+) cells/kg. Post - transplant parameters such as duration of platelet and neutrophil engraftment, coagulation parameters, number of days of febrile neutropenia and antibiotic administration, plasma glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol and albumin levels, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and first 100 day mortality were compared in both groups. RESULTS: Median days of neutrophil >0.5 x 10(9)/l and platelet of >20 x 10(9)/l in group I and group II were 15 (range, 8-21), 11 (10-29) and 14 (range, 9-31), 13 (9-18) respectively (P>0.05). Median days of febrile neutropenia in group I and II were 10 (range, 4-23) and 7 (2-13) respectively (P=0.01). Median days of antibiotic administration in group I and II were 12 (range, 6-22) and 8 (4-25) respectively (P=0.04). Pre, peri- and post-transplant coagulation parameters such as PT, aPTT, and fibrinogen did not differ significantly between two groups (P>0.05), as well as plasma glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, albumin levels, GVHD and first 100 day mortality. CONCLUSION: There was no difference between patients receiving MCT + LCT (group I) and LCT alone (group II) in TPN solutions regarding duration of engraftment and coagulation parameters, but numbers of median days of febrile neutropenia and days of antibiotic administration were significantly shorter in patients receiving LCT alone (group II) than those receiving MCT + LCT (P<0.01 and 0.04 respectively).

Adolescent↗

Effects of Seprafilm (sodium hyaluranate-based bioresorbable), Sepracoat (0.4% hyaluronic acid), and Ringer's lactate on the prevention of postsurgical adhesion formation in rat models.

Forty adult female rats were randomly divided into four groups. Before the standard surgical procedure which consisted of creating a lesion with a lancet over the right uterine horn. Group I received no medication. Ringer's lactate (RL) solution was applied intraperitoneally to Group II at the end of the surgery. Sepracoat solution was applied intraperitoneally to Group III at the onset of the surgery. Group IV randomly received Seprafilm wrapped over the entire right uterine horn. Re-laparotomy was performed 3 weeks later to evaluate the adhesions. The mean adhesion scores were (mean+/-SD) 2.90+/-0.18, 1.00+/-0.36, 0.50+/-0.17 and 0.40+/-0.16 in Groups I, II, III, IV, respectively. The postsurgical adhesions were significantly less in the groups treated with Seprafilm and Sepracoat.

Journal Article↗