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Fatma Sirmatel

Publications and source records attributed to Fatma Sirmatel.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

[Parasitic fauna and the frequency of Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar detected by ELISA in stool samples in Sanliurfa, Turkey].

Amoebiasis is a significant health problem in developing countries. Humans are infected by two morphologically identical species of Entamoeba. Entamoeba histolytica causes amebic colitis and liver abscess, and Entamoeba dispar is noninvasive. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the E. histolytica/E. dispar complex using the ELISA method on stools of patients. A total of 1600 stool specimens were examined using Lugol preparations and the modified Ritchie method. A total of 583 (36.4%) of the stool specimens were found to be positive for one or more than one parasite. Twenty two subjects (3.8%) of the study population with intestinal parasites harbored two parasites and one subject (0.2%), three parasites. A total of 87 stool specimens that were doubtful using the Lugol method were examined by the E. histolytica specific sensu-lato antigen based ELISA test and the trichrome staining method. Of these 87 specimens, 23 (26.4%) specimens were positive for E. histolytica/E. dispar trophozoites/cysts microscopically using trichrome staining and 19 (21.7%) of the stool specimens were found to be positive for the E. histolytica/E. dispar complex by the ELISA test.

Adolescent↗

Chlamydia trachomatis antigen positivity in women in risk groups and its relationship with the use of antibiotics.

The present study examined the use of antibiotics with respect to the rate of Chlamydia trachomatis positivity. Our subjects were 282 sexually active Turkish females between the ages of 15 and 42. Endocervical samples were investigated in 60 women with pelvic inflammatory diseases (PIDs), 90 infertile patients (IPs), 92 registered commercial sex workers (CSWs), and 40 intrauterine device (IUD) users. All samples were analyzed using direct immunofluorescence test techniques for the presence of C. trachomatis antigen, which was found in 12.7% of our subjects, with positive results as high as 26% in patients between 21 and 30 years of age. C. trachomatis positivity was found to be 16.6% in PID patients, and 23.3% in IPs, and 5.4% in CSWs; however, it was not found among IUD users. The rate of positivity was highest in IPs; and lowest in registered CSWs (P < 0.05), who are periodically examined for the presence of sexually transmitted diseases, as required by Turkish authorities. Interestingly, the usage of therapeutic or prophylactic antibiotics such as tetracycline and ceftriaxon was found to be quite high among IUD users (90% use of tetracycline) and CSWs (100% use of both antibiotcs). Our results show that C. trachomatis positivity in the southeast region of Turkey is not significantly higher than that found in previous studies on sex workers of other countries. Additionally, our results indicate the use of prophylactic antibiotics decreases the rate of chlamydial infections.

Adolescent↗

Plasma copper and zinc levels in chronic viral hepatitis.

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between chronic hepatitis and trace metals has not been understood clearly. Copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are essential trace elements for several metabolic processes. Overload or deficiency of these elements can lead to metabolic disorders and some other diseases. In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship between chronic hepatitis and plasma Cu and Zn levels. METHODS: Forty-three patients with chronic viral hepatitis (CVH) and 30 healthy controls were included in this study. The patients were consecutively admitted to the Department of Infectious Disease and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep University, Turkey, between January 2000 and November 2000. Plasma Cu and Zn levels, and hepatic function test results of the patients and controls were compared. Serologic and virologic markers, and histopathologic assessments were performed for confirmation of CVH. Plasma Cu and Zn concentrations were determined with Bathocuproin, using deproteinization method and 5-Br-PAPS methods. RESULTS: Patients plasma Cu level was 16.0 +/- 2.8 and plasma Zn level was 26.0 +/- 7.3. The corresponding values were 12.2 +/- 5.4 and 26.6 +/- 5.6 in the healthy controls. The patients with CVH had a higher plasma Cu level than the controls (p<0.05) while the Zn levels were similar in both groups (p>0.08). CONCLUSION: Although there is an increased plasma Cu level in CVH, its mechanism is unclear. However, this condition may have clinical importance as Cu is a hepatotoxic element.

Adolescent↗

Chlamydia pneumoniae seropositivity in patients with cerebral ischemic attack with or without silent brain infarcts.

PURPOSE: We examined the seropositivity of specific antibodies IgG and IgA to Chlamydia pneumoniae in the patients with ischemic stroke and examined if it has a notability in stroke patients with or without silent brain infarcts. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The clinical, laboratory and radiological findings of 26 cases with silent brain infarcts (SBI) without acute stroke and 26 cases with acute ischemic stroke without SBI (30 male, 22 female) were prospectively gathered. Risk factors were noted in all subjects. Control group was consisted of fifty-three healthy volunteer blood donors (40 male and 13 female). The presence of C. pneumoniae specific IgG antibody in serum samples was determined by indirect micro-immunofluorescence test according to the method of Wang and Grayston (Euroimmun GmbH in Deustchland) and of specific IgA antibody in serum samples was determined by indirect micro-immunofluorescence test with the manufactured kit Orgenium-Helsinki. The results were evaluated according to the groups and to the risk factors. RESULTS: There was not any correlation between risk factors and C. pneumoniae seropositivity. Seropositivity for specific IgG antibody for C. pneumoniae was observed as 73.8% in SBI, as 61.5% in stroke and as 56.3% in control groups. Seropositivity for specific IgA antibody for C. pneumoniae was observed in 7 out of 16 SBI cases (43.8%) SBI and in 9 out of 19 stroke cases (47.3%) with positive IgG antiobodies. CONCLUSION: We could not confirm a relation of C. pneumoniae seropositivity neither with SBI nor with acute stroke.

Aged↗

[Evaluation of the methods used for the serologic diagnosis of brucellosis].

Serological tests are the most widely used methods for the diagnosis of Brucella infections, since bacterial isolation techniques are time consuming. The conventional serological methods are the tube and slide agglutination tests, however enzyme immunoassays (ELISA) have gained importance recently as rapid diagnostic techniques. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performances of standard tube agglutination (STA, Wright test), slide agglutination (Rose-Bengal, RB) and ELISA-IgG and -IgM methods, in the serological diagnosis of brucellosis. For this purpose, Brucella antibodies have been searched in the serum samples of 184 patients (92 acute and 92 chronic brucellosis cases, of these 21 had positive blood cultures) and 20 healthy blood donors, who inhabit in the same region, as the control group. The positivity rates of STA (titers > or = 1/160), ELISA-IgG and -IgM in the patient group were found 83.7%, 61.9% and 49.5% respectively, while RB positivities for Brucella abortus and B. melitensis were 61.9% and 67.9%, respectively. In the control group STA and ELISA tests showed negative results, but RB for B. abortus and B. melitensis were positive in 25% and 30% of controls, respectively. Since ELISA and RB were found less sensitive than STA, it was concluded that STA is still the most reliable method for the serological diagnosis of brucellosis.

Acute Disease↗

[Case report: A brucellosis case with subacute thyroiditis].

Brucellosis is a systemic infectious disease, and multi-organ involvement is commonly seen. However, thyroid gland involment is a rare complication of brucellosis. In this report, a 34 years old male patient who had been followed up with the complaints of malaise, pain in front of the neck, throat pain, joint pains and fever, was presented. This case was diagnosed as brucella subacute thyroiditis by serological and histological findings. The patient was succesfully treated with rifampicin (300 mgr/day) plus doxycycline (200 mgr/day) therapy for eight weeks. The aim of this presentation was to discuss subacute thyroiditis, as a rare complication of brucellosis, and to withdraw the attentions of the clinicians on this subject.

Adult↗