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Biomedical subjects

S Badur

Publications and source records attributed to S Badur.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Is severe cryptogenic chronic hepatitis similar to autoimmune hepatitis?

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It has been reported that severe cryptogenic chronic hepatitis may be a subgroup of autoimmune hepatitis. The aims of this study were to investigate the clinical features, liver function tests, human leukocyte antigens and response to immunosuppressive therapy in severe cryptogenic chronic hepatitis, and to compare the findings in such patients with those in patients with autoimmune hepatitis. METHODS: History of alcohol and hepatotoxic drug intake, markers of metabolic liver disease, autoantibodies (antinuclear antibody, smooth muscle antibody, antibody to liver/kidney microsome type 1), and viral markers (HBsAg, HBV DNA, anti-HCV, HCV RNA) were negative in all severe cryptogenic chronic hepatitis patients (histological activity index > 9 and alanine aminotransferase level > 2 x normal). Fifteen cryptogenic patients (13 women; mean age, 33 +/- 16 years) and seven autoimmune patients (seven women; mean age, 28 +/- 3.9 years; five type 1; two type 2a) received prednisolone and azathioprine for at least 2 years. RESULTS: Cryptogenic chronic hepatitis patients were similar to patients with autoimmune hepatitis with respect to age, sex, clinical presentation, liver function tests and Knodell scores at admission. HLA phenotype frequencies were comparable between cryptogenic and autoimmune groups: BW6 (77% vs. 100%), DR4 (62% vs. 57%), and HLA B8 (15% vs. 43%). The rates of complete and partial remissions achieved during therapy were 87% vs. 57% and 13% vs. 29%, respectively (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical, biochemical and HLA phenotypic features, and the responsiveness to immunosuppressive therapy in severe cryptogenic chronic hepatitis support the idea that it may be an autoimmune liver disease similar to autoimmune hepatitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Analysis of peripheral blood leukocytes in patients with cyclosporine A-induced gingival hyperplasia.

BACKGROUND: Gingival overgrowth is one of the major adverse effects of the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporine A (CsA). Although several studies have attempted to determine the immunological mechanisms of gingival hyperplasia (GO) due to CsA therapy, the pathogenesis remains unclear. In this study, the distribution of the peripheral blood leukocytes in a group of renal transplant patients undergoing CsA therapy was analyzed and possible correlations of periodontal and pharmacological variables to lymphocyte subpopulations, natural killer cells, and monocytes investigated. METHODS: Thirty-six patients were classified into 2 groups of 18 each according to the degree of gingival overgrowth. The periodontal evaluation included plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), gingival overgrowth (GO), calculus index (CI), and probing depth (PD). The pharmacological variables of current doses of the therapeutic serum levels of CsA were investigated. The peripheral blood leukocytes were studied by 2-color flow cytometric analysis using anti-human CD2, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD11b, CD11c, CD16, CD19, HLA-DR, and CD3+HLA-DR+ monoclonal antibodies. RESULTS: Statistical evaluation revealed that none of the pharmacological variables varied between the 2 groups. Responders (GO >30%) had significantly higher GI, PD, and GO scores compared to nonresponders (GO < or =30%). Of the immunological parameters studied, only CD2 was higher in the responder group. None of the clinical parameters correlated to the immunological values. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study may be useful in explaining the underlying mechanisms of drug-induced gingival overgrowth. Several previously unsuspected cells and accessory activation mechanisms for T lymphocytes could play a role in the pathogenesis.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Selective unresponsiveness to HBsAg vaccine in newborns related with an in utero passage of hepatitis B virus DNA.

Thirty four out of 158 (22%) newborns to mothers chronically infected by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) did not produce antibodies (Ab) to HBsAg 1 month after the last injection of the HBV vaccine supplemented with HBV specific immunoglobulins. At birth, HBV genome was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of a large majority (28 out of 34) of these non-responder newborns but never in the other newborns who responded to the HBsAg vaccine. HBV genome was detected in serum, only in some cases (nine out of 34) and never in the absence of HBV DNA in PBMC. For nine out of 14 followed newborns, the absence of response was transitory since anti-HBs Abs appeared after 15 months, without booster, while the HBV genome had disappeared. Unresponsiveness was specific to the HBV envelope protein since all late responders and 15-months-non-responders to the HBsAg vaccine produced normal levels of Abs to the three poliovirus serotypes, to tetanus toxoid and to the pneumococcus polysaccharides. An in utero induced immune tolerance to low doses of HBsAg appears as the most plausible hypothesis to explain this unresponsiveness to HBV vaccine.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1997

Screening of sex workers in Turkey for Chlamydia trachomatis.

BACKGROUND: Increasing migration of sex workers across East European borders into Turkey has resulted in increased arrests of unregistered sex workers. There is concern regarding the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) such as C. trachomatis in this unregulated group. OBJECTIVE: To measure the prevalence of C. trachomatis infection and selected related demographic and behavioral factors among registered and unregistered sex workers in Istanbul, Turkey. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, the prevalence of C. trachomatis infection was studied by direct fluorescent antibody testing in 248 sex workers: 158 presented for routine medical screening and 90 who were arrested for lack of registration. All subjects were interviewed regarding demographic factors, sexual activity, and antibiotic and drug use. RESULTS: The overall C. trachomatis prevalence was 12.9% (12.0% registered and 14.4% unregistered). There was a strong association between never using condoms and chlamydia positivity (odds ratio 8.9 [95% confidence interval 3.7 to 21.6]). CONCLUSIONS: The high rate of C. trachomatis among all tested sex workers and the lack of regular condom use, particularly among unregistered sex workers, indicate that there is an urgent need for safe sex education and continued STD screening of unregistered sex workers.

Chlamydia Infections↗
PubMed1997

The effects of interferon-alpha on serum lipid peroxidation and total thiol content in patients with chronic active hepatitis-C.

Chronic hepatitis develops in at least half of the patients with acute hepatitis C. Although there is currently no effective therapy for chronic hepatitis C (CHC), it is reported that Interferon-alpha (IFN alpha) has some beneficial effects. It has been suggested that changes in the oxidant-antioxidant balance may take decisive role in the progression of liver damage in viral hepatitis and IFN alpha might be effective in the treatment of liver damage by improving the antioxidant system. In the present study, when the patients with chronic active hepatitis-C (CAH-C) were compared to controls, serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity as well as transaminase activities were increased, but total sulfhydryl (t-SH) contents were decreased Following IFN alpha treatment three times a week for a period of 6 months, it has been observed that elevated TBARS levels and GPx activity were decreased and reduced t-SH contents were increased significantly in patients with chronic active hepatitis-C (CAH-C). According to our results, these findings suggests that oxidative stress may play an important role in HCV induced liver injury and IFN alpha may be useful in treatment by reducing the oxidative stress.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Antibodies reactive with HIV-1 antigens in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Antibodies reactive with retroviral gag proteins have been detected in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We investigated the immune responses against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1 antigens in the sera of 44 Turkish patients with SLE. Serum samples were tested by using two different commercial enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kits and by Western blotting. EIA studies revealed positive results in 12 patients (27%) for HIV-1 antigens by one of the kits that coated with purified viral antigens. Immunoblot analysis showed antibodies mainly to retroviral gag proteins in 23 patients (52%). The most frequent reactivity was against the p18 gag protein (n = 9). Although antibodies reactive particularly with p24 antigen were described in the previous reports, antibodies to p24 were found in only two patients. These findings might reflect a serologic diversity in different ethnic groups and also suggest the involvement of different triggers in the etiopathogenesis of SLE.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Clinical and immunological findings in 2 siblings with Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome.

Rapid and severe destruction of periodontal tissues in early childhood has been reported both in systemically healthy children and in children with systemic disorders. In this study, the clinical and immunological findings of two siblings in a family with Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome are presented. The peripheral blood lymphocytes were analyzed using a double colored flow cytometry and adequate monoclonal antibodies to CD2, CD3, CD4, CD5, CD8, CD11b, CD16, CD19, and HLA-DR receptors. CD11b expression was found to be higher in both siblings (35% and 37%). The elevated CD11b expression may be related to a defect in neutrophils. The expression of natural killer cells was found to be higher in one patient but the results were in normal range. The CD2+, CD3+, CD4+, CD5+, CD8+, and CD19+ lymphocytes were in normal range in both patients. We think that the depressed chemotaxis of peripheral neutrophils, and higher expression of HLA-DR and CD11b molecules in peripheral leukocytes were useful in explaining the pathogenesis of the Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1995

[Treatment of chronic viral hepatitis B in children with moderate doses of alpha interferon].

AIM: The alpha interferon treatment criteria have not been established in children with chronic hepatitis B. We report the results of a prospective study. METHODS: Between 1988-1992 14 children (2 girls and 12 boys) with chronic hepatitis B received 3 million U/m2 of interferon alpha three times a week for 6 months. All patients underwent a liver biopsy that showed a pattern of chronic active hepatitis. One patient had cirrhosis. Hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis Be antigen and hepatitis B virus DNA had been positive in the serum in all for at least 6 months and anti-delta antibodies were negative in all. Pretreatment aminotransferase levels were at least 1.5 times the upper limit of normal. RESULTS: After treatment patients were followed up for at least one year (mean: 21.5 +/- 8.3 months). At the end of treatment HBV DNA was negative in 13 out of 14 patients and reappeared in one; HBeAg seroconversion was observed in 11 patients with the appearance of anti-HBe antibodies. Six patients lost the HBs antigen within 1 to 14 months after treatment. Anti-HBs antibodies did not appear in any patients and aminotransferase level normalized in 13 patients. Thirteen patients underwent liver biopsy after treatment which showed improvement in 12. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with alpha interferon at doses of 3 MU/m2 is effective in children with active hepatitis B. Long-term follow up is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of this therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Importance of serum anticardiolipin antibody levels in coronary heart disease.

During the past 10 years it has been shown that some patients with antibodies to phospholipids develop recurrent venous and arterial thromboses, repeated fetal loss, and thrombocytopenia. The aim of this study is to determine the importance of levels of serum anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). The study population consisted of 76 CHD patients (Group 1) and 22 healthy subjects (Group 2). Group 1 comprised three subgroups: (1a) 32 patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI), (1b) 22 patients with chronic CHD and a history of MI, and (1c) 22 patients with CHD but without previous MI. Immunoglobulin G anticardiolipin antibodies (IgG ACA) and immunoglobulin M anticardiolipin antibodies (IgM ACA) were detected by ELISA. High IgG ACA levels were found in 36 patients (47%) in Group 1, but no high levels were found in the control group. IgM ACA levels showed no significant difference between the two groups. The ACA (IgG and IgM) levels showed no correlation with age, gender, risk factor profiles, platelet counts, coronary artery lesions, left ventricular function, and morbidity and mortality rates during the follow-up period of 22 months. As a result, measurement of ACA in CHD patients is unlikely to yield information that is diagnostically or prognostically important. The importance of serum anticardiolipin antibody levels in the natural history and prognosis of CHD is still undetermined and remains to be clarified.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Epidemiology of hepatitis E virus infection in Turkey.

The seroprevalence and risk factors for infection with hepatitis E virus (HEV) were analysed in five regions of Turkey, where one-third of acute hepatitis cases are non-A, non-B. Antibodies to HEV (anti-HEV) were found in 80 (5.9%) of 1350 subjects. Independent predictors of anti-HEV were age over 25 years, less than elementary education, antibodies to hepatitis C virus, and residence in the warmest region (Adana). Whereas none of 105 subjects in the second decade of life were HEV seropositive, 17 (3.7%) of 464 and 28 (9.1%) of 308 of those in the third and fourth decades of life, respectively, had anti-HEV (p < 0.001). These data demonstrate that in Turkey HEV is more prevalent in warmer regions and in adults, beginning in the third decade of life.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Epidemiology of rotavirus infantile diarrhea in Istanbul using virus genome RNA electrophoresis].

Rotaviruses were detected using ELISA and latex agglutination, in 210 of 826 (25.4%) stool specimens collected from children with gastroenteritis between October 1984 and August 1990. In 82 of the 85 specimens (96%), Rotavirus specific RNA pattern was detected with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining. In 44 of the 56 strains with long migration pattern, 20 different electropherotypes and in 25 of the 26 strains with short migration pattern, 9 different electropherotypes were seen, respectively. Of the remaining strains, 3 were accepted as having mixed RNA pattern since 15 or 16 bands were detected in electrophoresis and 2 strains (one from long; one from short migration pattern) showed an extra RNA band.

Diarrhea, Infantile↗
PubMed1992

HBsAg in urine: a new approach for the detection of urinary antigens.

In order to define the optimal conditions for detection of microbial antigens in urine, urinary HBsAg excreted during hepatitis B was chosen as a model. Using commercial kits, which mainly involve anti-discontinuous epitopes, we found urinary HBsAg in only 50% of patients with HBsAg in their sera. In contrast, with an inhibition method involving a monoclonal antibody recognizing a continuous epitope, urinary HBsAg was found in 100% of these patients. Structural analysis of HBsAg showed that urinary HBsAg is denatured; it can escape detection by commercial kits well fitted for detection of native serum HBsAg. General implications for the revelation of urinary microbial antigens are discussed.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1988

Cellular and humoral immunity in prostitutes in Istanbul.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) can be transmitted through heterosexual intercourse and prostitutes may be responsible for this form of transmission. Thirty-four prostitutes were included in this study and their humoral and cellular immunological parameters were compared with control group. Prostitutes were divided in two subgroups according to their sexual practice and the use of illicit drugs and compared with each other. The only immunological parameter that is significantly different from the control group was the serum IgM level. In prostitutes who have more than 11 partners in a week, the mean number of E rosettes, EAC rosette forming cells and cells expressing surface immunoglobulins were significantly higher than prostitutes who have 0-10 sexual partner in a week.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗