Browsing by Author "Kurtoglu, MG"

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Change in Serum Concentrations of Interleukin-2 and Interferon-Γ During Treatment of Tuberculosis
(Cambridge Med Publ, 2004) Berktas, M; Guducuoglu, H; Bozkurt, H; Onbasi, KT; Kurtoglu, MG; Andic, S
We aimed to investigate changes in serum concentrations of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-2 and interferon (IFN)-gamma during the clinical course of active tuberculosis, to establish the presence of cellular immunity before and after treatment. Blood samples were taken from 18 patients with active tuberculosis before and 2 months after therapy; IL-2 and IFN-gamma concentrations were evaluated. The mean serum IL-2 concentration before therapy was 164.5 pg/ml (range 12 - 980 pg/ml) and the concentration 2 months after therapy was 92.11 pg/ml (range 1 - 490 pg/ml). The mean serum IFN-gamma concentrations were 10.83 pg/ml (range 1 - 22.2 pg/ml) and 4.64 pg/ml (range 1 - 28.5 pg/ml), respectively. The decrease in concentrations of both cytokines after therapy was statistically significant. Further studies investigating the benefits of adding cytokines to drug treatment for tuberculosis are needed.
Prevalence and Antibiotic Sensitivity of Motile Aeromonas in Dogs
(veterinarni A Farmaceuticka Univerzita Brno, 2003) Ceylan, E; Berktas, M; Korkoca, H; Keles, I; Bozkurt, H; Kurtoglu, MG
The present study was carried out to assess the prevalence of motile Aeromonas sp. in the faeces of healthy dogs and to evaluate its susceptibility to some anti-microbial agents. Rectal swabs from 55 domestic dogs were examined for Aeromonas species using alkaline peptone water (pH 8.4) as the enrichment medium and Aeromonas Selective Agar containing 5 mg/l ampicillin as the plating medium. Identification and antibiotic resistance of motile Aeromonas strains was performed using Gram Negative Breakpoint ID panel. After examining these samples, aeromonads were isolated from three (5.45%) dogs. Of those, one was A. sobria, and two were A. caviae. While all isolated strains were sensitive to amikacin, cefoperazone, cefotaxime, cefotetan, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefuroxime, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, imipenem, piperacillin, tetracycline, ticarcillin, ticarcillin/clavulanate, tobramycin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, they were resistant to ampicillin, and ampicillin/sulbactam. In addition, a strain of A. caviae was also resistant to aztreonam. As a result, in the present study, information about the prevalence of Aeromonas in dogs, susceptibility to antibiotics of these microorganisms and its importance for both animal and public health were discussed.
Report of Three Children With Leptospirosis in Rural Area of the East of Turkey
(Tohoku Univ Medical Press, 2003) Kurtoglu, MG; Tuncer, O; Bozkurt, H; Çaksen, H; Berktas, M; Ceylan, E; Kirimi, E
Leptospirosis is a systemic infection usually producing fever with hepatorenal involvement, meningoencephalitis, and hemorrhage. In this article, we present three children between 10 and 13 years of age with leptospirosis. The purpose of this paper is to emphasize that leptospirosis is a problem in our country with farmers/cattle and that leptospirosis should be considered in certain ill children. The main symptoms were headache, fever, fatigue, abdominal pain and unconsciousness. Two patients had hepatic and renal involvement. The other had hepatic, pulmonary and probably pericardial. involvement. In all children spirochetes were demonstrated in blood and urine smears by dark-field microscopy and they were also isolated from urine and blood cultures by using Flecher medium. All patients were treated with penicillin; however, one subsequently required additional antibiotics due to Klebsiella pneumoniae septicemia. While one patient was discharged in a good health, the others were taken to their home by parents without completing treatment. In conclusion, we would like to emphasize that leptospirosis is still a public health problem in our region (Eastern Turkey) in where the majority of population are farmers and raise domestic animals such as cattle in rural areas. Additionally, leptospirosis should be considered in children admitted with headache, unconsciousness, fever and abdominal pain. (C) 2003 Tohoku University Medical Press.