Browsing by Author "Ekici, Abdurrahman"

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Bibliometric Analysis of Neurocysticercosis Case Reports and Evaluation of Presented Cases
(Academic Press Ltd- Elsevier Science Ltd, 2025) Gurbuz, Esra; Aydemir, Selahattin; Barlik, Fethi; Saygin, Murat; Yildiz, Rahmi; Alkan, Sevil; Ekici, Abdurrahman
Neurocysticercosis (NCC) has been classified as a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization (WHO), with the condition being regarded as the most significant parasitic disease affecting the nervous system. Hence, the aim of this study was to conduct a review of previously published case reports on this topic in order to ascertain whether there is an increasing trend of NCC worldwide and evaluate the cases that have been presented. After a comprehensive search of the Web of Science Core Collection using the keywords "neurocysticercosis" and "case reports", studies were selected by applying inclusion criteria. Important data attributes that were extracted in plain text format included the document titles, publication years, journal names, author(s) name(s), keywords, institutions, and countries. In addition, to evaluate the cases, the age and gender of the patients, complaints on admission, localization of the cyst, and treatment procedure used were recorded in an Excel file. The bibliometric analysis was conducted using Biblioshiny. Additionally, GraphPad and Excel were employed for the creation of graphical representations. The dataset analyzed included 297 documents, 162 from various sources, with an average age of 12.2 years and 6.3 citations per document. The number of case reports tended to increase over the years. India and the USA were the leading contributors to NCC case reports, with 78 (26.3 %) and 64 (21.5 %), respectively. This was followed by Brazil, France, and Spain with 31 (10.4 %), 14 (4.7 %) and 13 (4.4 %) case reports, respectively. Moreover 55.5 % of the patients in the cases presented in the articles were male and 12.9 % were in the 21-25 age group. In regard to the cysts, 81.2 % were located in the brain and 15.1 % were in the spine. The most common complaints were headache and seizures in brain localized NCC cases and back pain and numbness or weakness in extremities in spine localized NCC cases. Albendazole was used in 174 (54.5 %) cases, praziquantel in 22 (6.9 %) cases, and ivermectin in five (1.6 %) cases. In conclusion, NCC continues to be an increasingly serious public health problem in India as well as developed countries such as the USA and European countries. NCC can be seen in all age groups, males are more susceptible than females, cysts are more localized in the ventricular system, and albendazole and/or paraziquentel are used in treatment. In addition, more comprehensive studies on the use of ivermectin in the treatment of NCC should be conducted, as success was achieved in cases where ivermectin was used in treatment.
Clinical Significance and Prevalence of Blastocystis Hominis in Van, Turkey
(Saudi Med J, 2015) Beyhan, Yunus E.; Yilmaz, Hasan; Cengiz, Zeynep T.; Ekici, Abdurrahman
Objectives: To determine the associated clinical symptoms and prevalence of Blastocystis hominis (B. hominis). Methods: Stool samples of 50,185 patients (26,784 males and 23,401 females) who were received at the Parasitology Laboratory of Yuzuncu Yil University Faculty of Medicine, Van, Turkey in the last 5 years were inspected microscopically using saline and iodine-stained wet-mount preparations. Age, gender, and symptoms of patients were recorded and their significance was evaluated. Results: The prevalence of B. hominis in the total sample was 0.54% (275/50185). Out of 275 infected patients, 143 (52%) were males, and 132 (48%) were female (chi(2)=0.884; p=0.348). The distribution of B. hominis infection was high in 7-13 aged children (34.9%) (chi(2)=306.8; p=0.001). Blastocystis was higher among symptomatic patients (70.2%) compared with asymptomatic patients (29.8%) (chi(2)=107.13; p=0.001). The most frequent clinical symptoms associated with the disease were abdominal pain (27.3%) and diarrhea (19.6%) followed by anorexia, fever, saliva, anal itching, and nausea. Conclusion: Blastocystis hominis is considered a causative agent of human disease in patients with recurrent symptoms. Due to the significant risk for zoonotic transmission, molecular techniques must be used to determine the route and source of infection.
Distribution of Intestinal Parasites in Immunosuppressed and Some Chronic Diseases Admitted To Our Laboratory
(2022) Karakuş, Nurhan; Ekici, Abdurrahman
Bu çalışma, immunsüprese ve bazı kronik rahatsızlığı olan hastalarda bağırsak parazitlerinin dağılımını belirlemek ve önemini ortaya koymak amacıyla yapıldı. Çalışma, Eylül-Aralık 2021 tarihleri arasında, Van YYÜ Dursun Odabaş Tıp Merkezine diyaliz, diyabet ve kanser şikayetleri ile başvuran, yaşları 18-80 arasında olan toplam 300 hasta üzerinde yürütüldü. Kontrol grubu ise herhangi kronik bir hastalığı olmayan ve immünkompetant 100 kişiden oluşturuldu. Dışkı örnekleri önce makroskobik olarak incelendi. Bu dışkı örnekleri daha sonra nativ-Lugol, çinko sülfat yüzdürme, formol eter çöktürme ve Modifiye asit fast boyama yöntemleriyle incelendi. Hasta grubundaki 300 hastanın 96'sında (%32), kontrol grubundaki 100 bireyin üçünde (%3) parazit saptandı. Çalışmada beş protozoon, üç helmint olmak üzere sekiz parazit türü belirlendi. Hasta grubunun %10.3'ünde G. intestinalis, %8.7'sinde B. hominis (%5'i bol B. hominis), %8'inde E. coli, %6.7'sinde Cryptosporidium spp., %6'sında A. lumbricoides, %3'ünde Taenia spp., %1.7'sinde C. cayetanensis ve H. nana saptandı. Çalışmada en çok formol eter çöktürme yöntemi ile parazit saptandı. Çalışmada parazit görülme sıklığı ile hayvancılık yapılması ve kanalizasyon sisteminin kullanılması arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir ilişki saptandı (p<0.05). Sonuç olarak; immunsuprese hastalarda paraziter etkenlerin hala önemli bir sağlık sorunu olduğu ve bu hasta grubunda paraziter etkenlerin çoklaştırma yöntemlerinin de kullanılarak mutlaka akla getirilmesi gerektiği kanaatine varıldı.
Effect of Toxoplasmosis on Melatonin and Cortisol in Smoking Addiction
(Brieflands, 2025) Halidi, Ahmed Galip; Atli, Siahmet; Gurbuz, Esra; Aydemir, Selahattin; Ekici, Abdurrahman
Background: Toxoplasma gondii infection can cause changes in neurotransmitter levels in the brain, which can affect anindividual's behavior. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between latent toxoplasmosis and cigarette addictionand its effect on cortisol and melatonin levels, which are known to be associated with nicotine addiction. Methods: The patient group consisted of 90 smokers who applied to the Alcohol and Substance Addiction Treatment andEducation Center Unit of the Health Sciences University Training and Research Hospital. Individuals with any substanceaddiction other than smoking were excluded from the study. The control group included 82 volunteers who had not used anysubstances in the last year. Toxoplasmagondii positivity, as well as cortisol and melatonin levels, were investigated via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of the serum samples taken from the study participants. The Z test and Fisher's exact test wereused to determine statistical significance at P < 0.05. The independent-samples Kruskal-Wallis t-test was used to determine therelationship between cortisol and melatonin levels and T.gondii positivity. Results:Toxoplasmagondii immunoglobulin G was detected in 52 (57.8%) of the smokers and 23 (28%) of those in the controlgroup. A statistically significant relationship was found between T.gondii positivity and smoking (P = 0.001). In the statisticalevaluation, no relationship was found between T.gondii positivity and cortisol and melatonin in smokers. Conclusions: There is an association between T.gondii infection and smoking addiction, but this association is independent ofmelatonin and cortisol levels.
Evaluation of Nested Pcr for Diagnosis of Cyclospora Cayetanensis in a Sample of Immunosuppressed and Diarrheic Patients in Turkey
(Ain Shams Univ, 2021) Ekici, Abdurrahman; Unlu, Ahmet H.; Yilmaz, Hasan; Cengiz, Zeynep T. A. S.; Beyhan, Yunus E.
Background: Cyclospora cayetanensis is a food-borne coccidian parasite that causes cyclosporiasis in humans and possibly in other animals. It presents with watery diarrhea and other related symptoms. Since detection of oocysts may be difficult with histological stains, a negative result should not exclude the possibility of C. cayetanensis. PCR methods can achieve more sensitive detection of the parasite. Objective: The presence of C. cayetanensis was investigated in an immunosuppressed patient group, diarrhea patient group, and in both immunosuppressed and diarrhea patient group using the modified acid-fast staining and nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) methods. Subjects and Methods: Included in the study were 80 patients with immune suppression, 50 patients with diarrhea, and 70 patients with both immune suppression and diarrhea. The clinical findings of these patients were recorded, stool samples were collected and examined using both the modified acid-fast (AF) staining and nPCR methods. Results: The overall detection rate of C. cayetanensis was 8% and 12% using the modified AF and nPCR, respectively. C. cayetanensis was detected in 5% of immunosuppressed patients, 12%, in patients with diarrhea and 20% in patients with both immune suppression and diarrhea. Statistically significant relationships were identified between the frequency of C. cayetanensis and abdominal pain (P<0.01), nausea (P<0.01), fatigue (P<0.01), diarrhea (P<0.05), and weight loss (P<0.01). Conclusion: nPCR gave a higher rate of cyclosporiasis, and it is more appropriate especially in cases with recurrent prolonged symptoms.
Genetic Diversity of Echinococcus Granulosus Isolated From Humans: a Comparative Study in Two Cystic Echinococcosis Endemic Areas, Turkey and Iran
(Hindawi Ltd, 2020) Barazesh, Afshin; Sarkari, Bahador; Shahabi, Saeed; Halidi, Ahmed Galip; Ekici, Abdurrahman; Aydemir, Selahattin; Mahami-Oskouei, Mahmoud
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is one of the most important zoonotic parasitic diseases caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus. Based on molecular studies and DNA sequencing, E. granulosus has been classified into 10 different genotypes (G1 to G10). Two neighboring countries, Turkey and Iran, are considered the two main foci of CE in the Middle East. The current study is aimed at examining the genotype diversity of E. granulosus isolated from human clinical samples in Turkey and Iran. Surgically removed human hydatid cysts were collected from East Azerbaijan and Fars provinces in Iran and Van province in Turkey. After extracting DNA, performing PCR, targeting the cox1 gene, the PCR products were purified from the gel and were sequenced from both directions. The sequences were aligned and compared, using BioEdit and also the BLAST program of GenBank. The maximum likelihood tree was constructed based on the Tamura-Nei model, using the MEGAX software. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the human isolated samples were classified into two major clades: G1 (from Iran and Turkey) and G3 (5 samples from northwestern Iran and one sample from Turkey). The mean and degree of genetic divergence (K2P) between the two major clades, G1 and G3, were 0.2% and 0.7 +/- 0.4%, respectively. The findings of the current study revealed that the sheep strain (G1) and the less important strain G3 have major roles in the transmission cycle of CE in two neighboring countries, Iran and Turkey. Therefore, it is necessary to interpose the life cycle of this parasite and reduce the disease burden in livestock and humans by adopting common regional preventive and control policies.
Genotyping of Echinococcus Granulosus Human Isolates Obtained From the Puncture, Aspiration, Injection, and Re-Aspiration (Pair) Process in Türkiye
(Iranian Scientific Society Medical Entomology, 2023) Akkas, Onder; Ozgokce, Mesut; Aydemir, Selahattin; Dundar, Ilyas; Ekici, Abdurrahman
Background: Echinococcus granulosus is spread by the excretion of cystic organs into the environment. The dog is infected via eating the cystic organ. It then contaminates the environment with eggs of E. granulosus, which are infective to humans and animals. We aimed to determine the E. granulosus genotypes that cause infection in humans in the Van region, Turkiye.Methods: Sixty patients between 18 and 100 years of age, who underwent the puncture, aspiration, injection, re-aspiration (PAIR) procedure in the Department of Radiodiognastics of Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkiye were included in the study. PAIR fluids were examined microscopically and DNA was isolated from the fluids. After DNA isolation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed using primers that amplify the E. granulosus NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (NAD1) gene region. After sequence analysis of the PCR amplicons, Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) was performed.Results: In the microscopic examination, protoscolex or hook was detected in 42 (70%) of the samples. DNA was successfully extracted from all of the cyst fluids containing protoscolex and hook, and the NAD1 gene region was PCR-amplified. After using BLAST, all of the samples were determined to be an E. granulosus sensu stricto G1 genotype. Sequence comparison revealed that four (9.5%) isolate sequences showed single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Sequences of isolates with SNP submitted to the GenBank with accession numbers OR565864 to OR565867.Conclusion: E. granulosus s.s. G1 genotype, known as sheep strain, is common in human hydatid disease in the Van region of Turkiye.
Global Trends on Blastocystis Spp. Research: a Scientometric Study
(Egyptian Parasitologists United Soc - Epu, 2023) Bilden, Alican; Gurbuz, Esra; Aydemir, Selahattin; Unlu, Ahmet H.; Ekici, Abdurrahman; Alkan, Sevil; Cicek, Muttalip
Background: For many years, the classification and pathogenicity of Blastocystis was a subject of debate. The study rational is built on two hypotheses; whether this uncertainty affects the research on Blastocystis spp., and whether regional differences have an impact on diseases prevalence.Objective: The aim of this study is to guide researchers interested in blasticystosis by presenting a bibliometric review of the existing literature on blastocystosis.Material and Methods: The VOSviewer visualization methodology was used. Institutions, nations, international collaborations, journals, articles, authors, keywords, co-authors, co-citations, and citation rates from the WoS database formed the study data. A total of 1192 documents were found in the WoS database, of which 906 original articles were analyzed.Results: The articles were cited 24,065 times in total and the mean Hirsch (H) index was 74. The countries with the highest number of articles were as follows: USA (n = 93; 10.26%), Singapore (n = 79; 8.72%), China (n = 76; 8.39%), and Malaysia (n: 74; 8.17%). During the period from 2000-2013, there were a limited number of articles, while since 2014 there was a minimum of 34 publications per year. The highest number of articles was published in 2021 (n = 87) and the highest number of citations (n=3,485) was in 2021. The leading affiliation according to the number of published articles was the National University of Singapore (8.72%), University Malaya (6.62%), and Nara Women's University (4.64%). The USA, Singapore, China and Malaysia have led scientific production on Blastocystis spp.Conclusion: Due to development of recent molecular technology, the interest in Blastocystis spp. increased as recorded by ample publicatios and cited references. Development of interdisciplinary scientific research networks to include the most productive countries is crucial for Blastocystis related studies.
Iğdır İlinde Farklı Kaynak Sularından Toplanan Örneklerde Paraziter Etkenlerin\raraştırılması
(2021) Akkaş, Önder; Ekici, Abdurrahman
Amaç: Iğdır ili ve çevresinden toplanan akarsularda paraziter et-\rkenlerin direkt bakı yayma, çöktürme ve modifiye asit fast boya-\rma yöntemi ile araştırılması amaçlanmıştır.\rGereç ve Yöntem: Bu çalışma, 2020 yılı Nisan ve Haziran aylarında\rIğdır ili ve çevresinden farklı akarsulardan toplanan 40 su örneği\rüzerinde yürütüldü. Su örnekleri kıyıdan yaklaşık 50 cm içerden\ralındı. Bu örnekler önce 0,22 μm’lik selüloz asetat membran filt-\rresi bulunan vakum pompalı filtrasyon cihazından geçirilerek sü-\rzüldü. Filtreden geçirilen örnekler direkt bakı yayma, çöktürme ve\rmodifiye asit fast boyama yöntemi kullanılarak incelendi.\rBulgular: İncelenen 40 su örneğinin %30’unda bir veya birden\rfazla protozoon görüldü. Bu parazitlerin %50’si Cyclospora caye-\rtanensis, %16,7’si Giardia intestinalis, %33,3’ü Cryptosporidium\rspp. olarak saptandı.\rSonuç: Protozoon ookistleri ile enfekte akarsu sularının toplum\rsağlığı açısından hala ciddi bir sorun oluşturduğu sonucuna ulaşıldı.
İmmünsüprese ve Bazı Kronik Hastalığı Olan Kişilerde Bağırsak Parazitlerinin Dağılımı
(2023) Karakuş, Nurhan; Ekici, Abdurrahman; Aydemır, Selahattın; Yılmaz, Hasan
Amaç: Bu çalışma immünsüprese ve bazı kronik hastalığı olan kişilerde intestinal parazitlerin sıklığını belirlemek ve bazı yaşam koşullarının parazitlerin dağılımı üzerindeki etkisini değerlendirmek amacıyla yapıldı. Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışma, 18-80 yaşları arasında diyaliz, diyabet veya kanser hastası 300 hasta üzerinde yürütüldü. Kontrol grubu ise herhangi kronik bir hastalığı olmayan ve immünkompetant 100 kişiden oluşturuldu. Hastalardan ve kontrol grubundan alınan dışkı örnekleri, makroskobik olarak incelendikten sonra nativ-Lugol, çinko sülfat yüzdürme, formol eter çöktürme ve modifiye asit fast boyama yöntemleriyle incelendi. Bulgular: Hasta grubundaki 300 hastanın 96’sında (%32), kontrol grubundaki 100 bireyin üçünde (%3) bir ya da birden fazla parazit saptandı. Çalışmada beş protozoon, üç helmint olmak üzere toplamda sekiz parazit türü belirlendi. Hasta grubunun %10.3’ünde G. intestinalis, %8.7’sinde B. hominis (%5’i bol B. hominis), %8’inde E. coli, %6.7’sinde Cryptosporidium spp., %6’sında A. lumbricoides, %3’ünde Taenia spp., %1.7’sinde C. cayetanensis ve H. nana saptandı. Çalışmada en çok formol eter çöktürme yöntemi ile parazit saptandı. Çalışmada parazit görülme sıklığı ile hayvancılık yapılması ve kanalizasyon sisteminin kullanılması arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir ilişki saptandı. Sonuç: İmmünsüprese hastalarda paraziter etkenlerin hala önemli bir sağlık sorunu olduğu ve bu hasta grubunda paraziter etkenlerin çoklaştırma yöntemlerinin de kullanılarak mutlaka akla getirilmesi gerektiği kanaatine varıldı.
Increase in Scabies Cases and Permethrin Nonresponse in Türkiye
(Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications, 2025) Aydemir, Selahattin; Kul, Zubeyde; Barlik, Fethi; Saygin, Murat; Ekici, Abdurrahman; Yilmaz, Hasan
Background: There has been an increase in scabies cases in T & uuml;rkiye, and is considered to be an epidemic. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess scabies cases and the current status of scabies treatment by comparing patients who received scabies diagnosis and treatment before the COVID-19 pandemic, during the pandemic, and the normalization process. Materials and Methods: In this study, data of patients who applied to Van & Idot;pekyolu 1st Family Health Center and received a scabies diagnosis were evaluated retrospectively. Demographic data such as age, sex, application dates, and treatment methods were received from the electronic registration database of Van & Idot;pekyolu 1st Family Health Center. Categorical variables were presented as numbers (n) and percentages (%). The "two proportions Z-test and Fisher's exact" test of the ratios were used for categorical variables. Results: Before the pandemic, among 4009 patients with dermatology complaints, 56 (1.4%) received a scabies diagnosis. An increase in scabies cases has been observed since 2018, and the annual case count has further increased during the pandemic. Before the pandemic, 10 (17.9%) out of 56 patients diagnosed with scabies and 70 (31.1%) out of 225 patients diagnosed with scabies during and after the pandemic experienced recurrence after permethrin treatment. Patients who did not respond to permethrin treatment were successfully treated with ivermectin. Conclusions: An increase in scabies cases has been identified in conjunction with the COVID-19 pandemic and the recurrence of scabies in patients treated with permethrin after the pandemic has raised concerns about the potential development of resistance to permethrin.
Inhibitory Effect of Thymoquinone and Capsaicin on Blastocystis Grown in Vitro
(Natl inst Science Communication-niscair, 2024) Yildiz, Saadet; Aydemir, Selahattin; Ekici, Abdurrahman; Deniz, Naziye Yildiz; Yilmaz, Hasan
Blastocystis is enteric parasites that live in both humans and animals gastrointestinal tracts. Metronidazole (MTZ) is generally preferred in the treatment of Blastocystis infection. However, it has been shown to have teratogenic and carcinogenic potential, causing various side effects. In this study, we have made an attempt to find an alternative drug with less toxic side effects in the treatment of Blastocystis . For this purpose, the antiBlastocystis activities of thymoquinone (TQ) and capsaicin (CAP) were evaluated in vitro . Blastocystis isolate was inoculated in Jones medium in 1.5 mL eppendorf tubes supplemented with fetal calf serum (FCS) and incubated at 37 degrees C. The antiBlastocystis effect of TQ and CAP was evaluated by light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Both TQ and CAP had anti Blastocystis effects. It was observed that 500 ug/mL of TQ and 1000 ug/mL of CAP inhibited 100% of Blastocystis growth. In the LM and SEM images, it was observed that Blastocystis treated with TQ decreased in size and CAP had an effect on the cell surface when compared to the control group. It was concluded that TQ could be a more reliable antiBlastocystis drug compared to MTZ and CAP, but more comprehensive studies should be performed.
Investigation of Intestinal Parasites in Pediatric Patients Receiving Chemotherapy
(2023) Demir, Gülcan Adanaş; Ekici, Abdurrahman
Bu çalışma, Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Dursun Odabaşı Tıp Merkezi Hastanesi Çocuk Hematoloji Kliniğinde tedavi gören hastalarda intestinal parazitlerin sıklığını belirlemek ve bu sıklığı etkileyen bazı faktörleri değerlendirmek amacıyla yapıldı. Bu çalışmaya, Ocak 2021–Ocak 2022 tarihleri arasında, Çocuk Hematoloji Kliniğinde tedavi gören 39'u kız ve 61'i erkek çocuk olmak üzere toplam 100 pediatrik kanser hastası ve kontrol grubu olarak herhangi bir şikâyeti olmayan 50 çocuk dahil edildi. Hastalara, hastalıkları ve yaşam koşulları ile ilgili bazı sorular içeren bir anket uygulandı. Hastalardan alınan dışkı örnekleri, incelenmek üzere 30 dakika içinde Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Parazitoloji Anabilim Dalı Araştırma ve Uygulama Laboratuvarına getirildi. Örnekler önce makroskobik olarak incelendi. Daha sonra nativ-Lugol yöntemi ile intestinal parazitler yönünden mikroskobik olarak incelendi. Ayrıca fırsatçı protozoonların varlığını araştırmak için tüm örneklere modifiye asit-fast boyama yöntemi uygulandı. Çalışmada 100 kanser hastası çocuğun 14'ünde B. hominis (%14), 12'sinde (%12) Cryptosporidium spp., dokuzunda (%9) G. intestinalis ve dördünde (%4) E. coli saptandı. Kontrol grubundaki 50 sağlıklı çocuğun ikisinde (%4) Cryptosporidium spp. saptandı. Sonuç olarak bu çalışmada kanser tanısı konan çocuk hastalarda intestinal parazitlerin %39 gibi yüksek bir oranda saptanmış olması intestinal parazitlerin kanser tanısı konan çocuklarda hala ciddi bir sağlık sorunu olduğu ve bu hasta gruplarında intestinal paraziterlerden özellikle B. hominis, Cryptosporidium spp., ve G. intestinalis'in mutlaka düşünülmesi gerektiği kanaatine varıldı.
Investigation of the Impact of Antiparasitic Drug Moxidectin on the Rewarding Effects of Alcohol
(Aepress Sro, 2022) Ekici, Abdurrahman; Gurbuz, Esra; Berkoz, Mehmet; Turkmen, Omer; Basbugan, Yildiray; Yunusoglu, Oruc
Alcohol addiction or alcoholism constitutes a significant risk factor worldwide for morbidity and mortality. Moxidectin is a recently approved anthelmintic drug, which also activates the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors. The objective of the present study was to examine the impact of moxidectin on rewarding effects of ethanol in the conditioned place preference (CPP) model in mice. In separate experiments, mice were administered intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of moxidectin (5 or 10 mg/kg) before a) acquisition of alcohol-induced CPP, b) each extinction session, and c) alcohol-induced reinstatement of CPP. The present experiments provide consistent data about ethanol place preference in mice (2 g/kg, i.p.), with mice in all tests spending significantly more time on the ethanol-paired side. The acquisition of the CPP response to ethanol was prevented by the administration of moxidectin at a dose of 10 mg/kg. Additionally, moxidectin treatment accelerated the extinction of ethanol CPP when given repeatedly during the extinction phase. Ethanol-induced reinstatement of CPP following an extinction phase was inhibited by moxidectin. Ethanol alone and co-administration with moxidectin did not change locomotor activity and motor coordination. In conclusion, we suggest that moxidectin may be a promising therapeutic candidate for prevention of ethanol-induced addiction and relapse as well as detoxification.
Investigation of the Presence of Enterocytozoon Bieneusi and Encephalitozoon Intestinalis in Immunosuppressed Patients With Diarrhea by Ifa and Real Time Pcr Methods
(Elsevier, 2023) Aydemir, Selahattin; Halidi, Ahmed Galip; Ekici, Abdurrahman; Cengiz, Zeynep Tas
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the frequency of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon intestinalis in patients with diarrhea in the immunosuppressed.Methods: Patients between the ages of 18-85 who applied to different clinics of Mus, Bulanik and Bitlis State Hospitals and were referred to the microbiology or parasitology laboratory were selected for this study. A total of 200 individuals, including 88 immunosuppressed with diarrhea patients, 38 immunocompetent with diarrhea patients, 38 immunosuppressed without diarrhea patients, and 36 immunocompetent without diarrhea in-dividuals, were included. Collected stool samples were evaluated using IFA-MAbs and real-time PCR methods to determine the frequency of E.intestinalis and E.bieneusi.Results: E. intestinalis was detected in 59 (29.5%) of 200 samples and E. bieneusi was detected in 46 (23.0%) of them. Mixed infection was detected in 16 (8%) of the positive samples. While there was no statistically significant difference between E. intestinalis positivity and gender, age, diarrhea status and immune system status, a statis-tically significant relationship was determined between E. bieneusi positivity and diarrhea. When the real-time PCR method was accepted as the gold standard, the sensitivity of the IFA-MAbs method in the diagnosis of E.intestinalis was 94.54%, the specificity was 97.24, the sensitivity in the diagnosis of E. bieneusi was 95.45%, and the specificity was 98.72%. The overall accuracy of the IFA-MAbs method was 96.5% for the diagnosis of E.intestinalis and 98% for the diagnosis of E. bieneusi.Conclusions: The findings suggest that E. intestinalis and E. bieneusi should be considered in both immunosup-pressed and healthy individuals with diarrhea. IFA-MAbs method can be used in addition to the real-time PCR method to diagnose E. intestinalis and E. bieneusi.
Investigation of the Prevalence of Entamoeba Histolytica in Ulcerative Colitis Patients
(2022) Soylu, Murat; Ekici, Abdurrahman
Bu çalışma ile ülseratif kolit hastalarında Entamoeba histolytica prevalansının araştırılması amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmaya ülseratif kolit tanısı konmuş 100 hasta ve gastrointestinal şikâyeti olmayan 50 sağlıklı birey olmak üzere toplam 150 kişi dahil edildi. Çalışmaya dâhil edilen örnekler önce makroskobik olarak incelendi. Hasta grubunda dışkı örneklerin %31'inde Entamoeba histolytica saptanırken kontrol grubunun %4'ünde Entamoeba histolytica adezin antijeninin pozitif olduğu saptandı. E. histolytica görülme sıklığı ile ülseratif kolit hastaları ve kontrol grubu arasında yapılan istatiksel değerlendirmede anlamlı bir fark saptandı. Ayrıca E. histolytica görülme sıklığı ile ishal ve karın ağrısı arasında yapılan istatistiksel değerlendirmede ayrı ayrı anlamlı bir fark saptandı. Sonuç olarak; ülseratif kolit hastalarında E. histolytica görülme sıklığının %31 oranında olduğu saptanmıştır. Bulunan bu sonuç E. histolytica'nın ülseratif kolit hastalarında mutlaka akla getirilmesi gerektiği, bu hasta grubunda ishal, kanlı ishal ve karın ağrısı varlığında mutlaka E. histolytica'nın ayırıcı tanı ile dışlanması gerektiği, teşhisinde mikroskobik yöntemler yanıltıcı sonuçlar verebildiği için serolojik yöntemlerle sonucun desteklenmesi gerektiği kanaatine varıldı.
Investigation of the Relationship Between Schizophrenia and Toxoplasmosis in Van Province, Turkey
(Ain Shams Univ, 2021) Ekici, Abdurrahman; Timucin, Damla K.; Gurbuz, Esra; Unlu, Ahmet; Aydemir, Selahattin; Yilmaz, Hasan
Background: Schizophrenia is a worldwide, serious neuropsychiatric disorder of unknown cause. Previous studies showed that infectious agents may play a role in its etiology. Among them, T. gondii was strongly hypothesized. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the IgG and IgM seroprevalence of T gondii in schizophrenia patients. Subjects and Methods: The study was conducted on 190 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia in Van province, Turkey. Also included as the control group were 100 healthy individuals. Anti-T gondii IgG and IgM antibody positivity was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in blood samples taken from both groups. Results: Anti-T gondii IgG antibody was detected in 120 schizophrenic patients (63.2%), and in 100 (29%) healthy controls. Anti-T gondii IgM antibody seropositivity was not detected in either group. Conclusion: In line with the data obtained in the study carried out in Van province, it was concluded that individuals infected with T gondii were more likely to develop schizophrenia. Further studies are recommended to prove the relationship between T. gondii and schizophrenia.
Kuaför Salonlarında Çalışan ve Hizmet Alan Bireylerde Demodex Spp’nin Görülme Sıklığı
(2022) Yürektürk, Şehriban; Yıldız, Halime; Demir, Canan; Gürbüz, Esra; Ekici, Abdurrahman
Bu çalışma ile kuaför salonu çalışanlarında ve hizmet alan bireylerde Demodex spp’nin görülme sıklığının belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu çalışmaya Van ili merkez ilçelerinde hizmet veren 55 kuaför salonu çalışanı ve kuaför hizmeti alan 55 kişi dâhil edildi. Örnekler standart yüzeysel deri biyopsisi yöntemi ile burun, çene ve alın bölgelerinden alındı. Bu örneklerin üzerine birer damla Hoyer eriyiği damlatıldıktan sonra mikroskopta, 10’luk ve 20’lik objektif ile akarların erişkin, larva, nimf ve yumurta formları araştırıldı. Çalışmaya dahil edilen 55 kuaför çalışanının %29.8’inde, kuaför hizmeti alan 55 bireyin %70.2’sinde Demodex spp saptandı. Demodex spp görülme sıklığı açısından kuaför çalışanları ile hizmet alanlar arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir korelasyon bulundu. Parazit saptanan 47 olgudan 44’ünün kadın, 3’ünün erkek olduğu belirlendi. Cinsiyet ile parazitin görülme sıklığı arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir ilişki bulundu. Kişisel bakım ve hijyen merkezlerinde hizmet alan insanlara, bu parazit hakkında bilgilendirici el broşürlerinin dağıtılmasının Demodex spp görülme sıklığını düşürebileceği kanaatine varıldı.
Molecular Characterization of Giardia Intestinalis and Cryptosporidium Spp. Detected in Humans in Ağrı, Türkiye
(Iranian Scientific Society Medical Entomology, 2024) Aydemir, Selahattin; Barlik, Fethi; Ekici, Abdurrahman; Barlik, Dilara Hande; Alkan, Sevil; Gurbuz, Esra; Yilmaz, Hasan
Background: We aimed to determine the prevalence of Giardia intestinalis and Cryptosporidium spp. in patients who admitted hospital with diarrhea and to gain information about the transmission of these parasites in Agri, Turkiye. Methods: This study included 184 patients who applied to Agri-Diyadin State Hospital, Turkiye in 2022. The immunochromatographic card test was used for detection of the G. intestinalis and Cryptosporidium spp. Nested PCR-RFLP analysis of the COWP gene and sequence analysis of the gp60 gene were used to genotype and subtype Cryptosporidium spp., whereas Nested PCR and sequence analyses of beta-giardin gene were used genotype G. intestinalis. Results: Of the 184 stool specimens examined, 12 (14.29%) and 7 (3.80%) were positive for G. intestinalis and Cryptosporidium spp., respectively. The Cryptosporidium species were identified as C. parvum belonging to the IId subtype family. The G. intestinalis were identified assemblages A. Conclusion: Assemblage A, which is associated with diarrhea, is responsible for giardiasis and C. parvum IId subtype, often found in sheep, goats and cattle, is responsible for cryptosporidiosis in Agri, Turkiye.
A Parasite That Should Not Be Neglected in Geriatric Individuals
(Saudi Med J, 2024) Aydemir, Selahattin; Ates, Nuriz; Ekici, Abdurrahman; Yilmaz, Hasan
Objectives: To highlight the importance of neglected Entamoeba histolytica ) E. histolytica( ( infections in the geriatric age group, which is an increasing proportion of the world's population. Methods: This study was carried out between January 2022 and December 2023 at Van Y & uuml;z & uuml;nc & uuml; Y & imath;l University, Faculty of Medicine, Parasitology Laboratory, Van, Turkey. The study included 96 geriatric patients with diarrhea )geriatric group(. Two different control groups )CGs( were also included in the study, comprising 92 patients aged 18-64 years with diarrhea as CG1 and 50 geriatric individuals without diarrhea and other gastrointestinal complaints as CG2. Samples were analysed macroscopically and then evaluated by microscopic, enzyme-linked immunoassay, and polymerase chain reaction. Results: This study detected E. histolytica in 31.3% of the geriatric group and 14.1% of the patients in CG1 )p=0.004(. p =0.004(. Entamoeba histolytica positivity was not detected in CG2. According to the multiple correspondence analysis, there was a close association between E. histolytica positivity and bloody diarrhea and mucous diarrhea in the geriatric patients. It was also determined that E. histolytica can cause abdominal pain, abdominal distension, and epigastric tenderness in geriatric patients. Conclusion: Both the risk of E. histolytica infection and the pathogenicity of the infection increase in geriatric individuals. Therefore, it was concluded that amoebiasis is a serious health problem in the geriatric population and should not be neglected.