Biomedical subjects

Deniz Gökengin

Publications and source records attributed to Deniz Gökengin.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Efficacy of oral levofloxacin and dirithromycin alone and in combination with rifampicin in the treatment of experimental murine Brucella abortus infection.

The efficacy of levofloxacin and dirithromycin, alone and in combination with rifampicin in the treatment of experimental brucellosis was investigated. Seventy adult white male mice were infected intraperitoneally with Brucella abortus S544 standard strain. Four of the animals were sacrificed on the 21st day of inoculation for infection control. The remaining 66 mice were randomised into treatment and control groups. Following 14 days of treatment the animals were sacrificed and spleen cultures were made. The cure rates were 36.4% for levofloxacin, 27.3% for dirithromycin, 72.7% for rifampicin, 72.7% for levofloxacin + rifampicin and 81.8% for dirithromycin + rifampicin. The results of this study indicate that levofloxacin and dirithromycin are ineffective in the treatment of experimental murine brucellosis as monotherapy or in combination with rifampicin.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Sexual knowledge, attitudes, and risk behaviors of students in Turkey.

This survey produced baseline information about student knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), their sexual attitudes, and their behavior to help establish control and education programs. The study was conducted at Ege University, Izmir, Turkey, during the 1999-2000 academic year. A total of 2,217 first- and fourth-year students determined by stratified sampling constituted the study group. All students who volunteered to participate completed a questionnaire assessing sociodemographic and knowledge factors, sexual attitudes, behavior, and history of STDs. The rate of students having had sexual experience was 36.6%. Males were more sexually active than females. Most students (71.4%) began sexual activity at ages 15-19 without any difference by gender. Males reported significantly more sexual partners than females. Similarly, the rate of male students never using condoms was significantly higher than females. Condom was the most frequent contraception method, followed by oral contraceptives and withdrawal. Mean score on the knowledge questions was 16.29 (highest score 30). The most widely known STD was HIV infection and AIDS. Students' knowledge of transmission routes, signs and symptoms, and risk groups of STDs was insufficient. Main sources of knowledge were visual and print media, and friends. Most students (84.7%) viewed prevention from STDs as a person's own responsibility. Young people in Turkey are sexually active and tend to engage in high-risk behavior. However, their knowledge on sexual health and sexually transmitted diseases is insufficient. Study results suggest a need for implementation of STD control programs and provision of school sexuality education for adolescents and young adults.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Brucellosis: a retrospective evaluation.

One hundred and sixty-six presumed brucellosis patients were included in the study. These patients were classified as primary (91), relapse (18) and suspected (57) cases according to their clinical presentations, and serologic and microbiologic test results. Primary and relapse cases were evaluated retrospectively according to age, sex, residence, routes of transmission, clinical and laboratory findings, treatment regimens, duration of treatment, and relapse rates. Of the 109 primary and relapse patients, 57 were male and 52 female. The ages of the patients ranged between 16-75 (mean age 40.2). The percentages of the urban and rural residence of the patients were 41.3% and 58.7%, respectively. The most common mode of transmission was consumption of unpasteurized milk and milk products (67.9%). Malaise, fever and sweating were the most frequently observed symptoms (96.3%, 95.4%, 91.7%, respectively). The most common signs were fever (97.2%), splenomegaly (59.6%), and hepatomegaly (37.6%). The liver was the most frequently involved organ (21.1%). Almost all (99.1%) patients were serologically positive. However, the positivity rate of culture was low (15.6%). The most frequently preferred antimicrobial regimen was rifampin and doxycycline combination. The relapse rate was 8.3%. Brucellosis is still prevalent in Turkey as in many other countries in the Mediterranean basin. The clinical presentation of the disease may show regional variations. Patients with a history of occupational or nutritional contact with the bacterium and with a compatible clinical picture should be examined using appropriate diagnostic techniques before any attempt to prescribe an antimicrobial.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Hepatic adverse events during highly active antiretroviral therapy containing nevirapine: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Hepatotoxicity is one of the most serious complications of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The aim of this report is to analyse an HIV infected patient on HAART including nevirapine and taking antidepressive agents, with acute toxic hepatitis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 39 year old patient diagnosed as HIV positive one month ago administered to the clinical ward of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology in Ege University Medical School with high fever, malaise, nausea, diarrheae and elevated liver enzymes (ALT 1558 U/L, AST 4288 U/L). He has been using HAART including zidovudine+lamivudine (2 x 1/day) and nevirapine (2 x 200 mg/day, following dose escalation) for 22 days, sertralin and diazepam for 12 days and lithium for 10 days. The patient was hospitalized. Antiretroviral and antidepressant treatments were stopped. The day after admission, his fever dropped and his symptoms improved. Clinical improvement continued on the following days. The patient was discharged upon his request on the 14th day of hospitalization. The liver function tests returned to normal levels in two weeks following discharge. CONCLUSION: Close monitoring of liver enzymes during the first 12 weeks of nevirapine therapy is critical to prevent life threatening events.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

In vitro activities of various antimicrobials against Brucella melitensis strains in the Aegean region in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: To study in vitro activities of three quinolones (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin), four macrolides (erythromycin, dirithromycin, azithromycin, clarithromycin) and doxycycline against 44 clinical isolates of Brucella melitensis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four B. melitensis strains were isolated from blood cultures of adult patients with acute brucellosis who were hospitalized in the clinical ward of the Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the tested antimicrobials were measured by the agar dilution method. MIC90 and MIC50 values were defined as the lowest concentration of the antibiotic at which 90 and 50% of the isolates were inhibited, respectively. RESULTS: Doxycycline (MIC50: 0.25 microg/ml, MIC90: 0.50 microg/ml) had the lowest MIC in vitro against the B. melitensis strains. Among the quinolones, ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin had similar activities (MIC50: 0.5 microg/ml, MIC90: 2 microg/ml), whereas MIC of moxifloxacin (MIC50: 1 microg/ml, MIC90: 8 microg/ml) was higher than both antibiotics in this group. Clarithromycin and azithromycin were the most active macrolides (MIC50: 8 microg/ml and MIC90: 32 microg/ml), followed by erythromycin (MIC50: 16 microg/ml, MIC90: 32 microg/ml) and dirithromycin (MIC50: 64 microg/ml and MIC90: 64 microg/ml). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the conventional agent doxycycline is more active than quinolones and macrolides against the B. melitensis in vitro.

Acute Disease↗