Dicle University

About: Dicle University is a education organization based out in Diyarbakır, Turkey. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Catalysis. The organization has 3007 authors who have published 6368 publications receiving 94797 citations. The organization is also known as: Dicle Üniversitesi & Zanîngeha Dîcleyê.

Banded karyotypes of mole rats (Spalax, Spalacidae, Rodentia) from Turkey: a comparative analysis

Abstract: Chromosome banding (G-, C- and Ag-NOR) analysis was carried out on 27 specimens of Sphalax ehrenbergi from seven localities and two specimens of S. leucodon from one locality, all from Turkey. No chromosomal variation was detected in S. ehrenbergi populations from Elazig, Siverek, Diyarbakir and Birecik having the same diploid numbers (2n = 52) and morphology of chromosomes (NFa = 72). The karyotypes of mole rats from Tarsus and Gaziantep possessed the identical diploid number (2n = 56) but different numbers of autosomal arms: NFa = 68 in the Tarsus and NFa = 78 in the Gaziantep populations. Chromosomes of S. leucodon from Malaty (2n = 60, NFa = 74) differed distinctly in the C-banding pattern from all S. ehrenbergi cytotypes by the almost entire absence of heterochromatin in acrocentric autosomes and the presence of heterochromatin arms iin subtelocentric autosomes. Nucleolar organizing regions were found mainly on three pairs of chromosomes, but some differences in their localization were revealed. Comparison of G-banded chromosomes showed, that most chromosomes have a similar pattern. The types of chromosomal rearrangemetns were revealed due to the banding methods.

Mast cells count and serum cytokine levels in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Abstract: BACKGROUND/AIMS: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder. Psychological factors and subtle histopathological changes have been implicated in IBS. In some studies, mast cell infiltration has been determined in colon mucosa of the patients with IBS. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between mast cell counts and cytokine levels and IBS. METHODOLOGY: 72 consecutive IBS patients fulfilling the Rome III criteria and 50 asymptomatic healthy controls underwent colonoscopic biopsy. 15 patients in diarrhea-predominant IBS group which were performed colonoscopy were made a biopsy from caecum, other 25 patients in diarrhea-predominant IBS and 32 patients in constipation predominant IBS were performed a biopsy from rectum. Additionally, serum cytokines were analysed in the patients with IBS and in control group. RESULTS: The results showed significantly increased mast cells in the IBS-diarrhea group compared to IBS-constipation and the control groups (p < 0.0001). The statistical analysis of the inflammatory cytokine data obtained in the present study showed significantly higher levels for the sIL-2 receptor in the IBS-diarrhea group compared to other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Histopathologic and laboratory data demonstrate low-grade mucosal inflammation in a subset of patients with IBS. Mast cells and cytokines may be related to the pathophysiologic mechanism of IBS.

Hamsi scoring in the prediction of unfavorable outcomes from tuberculous meningitis: results of Haydarpasa-II study.

Abstract: Predicting unfavorable outcome is of paramount importance in clinical decision making Accordingly, we designed this multinational study, which provided the largest case series of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) 43 centers from 14 countries (Albania, Croatia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Hungary, Iraq, Italy, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Syria, Turkey) submitted data of microbiologically confirmed TBM patients hospitalized between 2000 and 2012 Unfavorable outcome was defined as survival with significant sequela or death In developing our index, binary logistic regression models were constructed via 200 replicates of database by bootstrap resampling methodology The final model was built according to the selection frequencies of variables The severity scale included variables with arbitrary scores proportional to predictive powers of terms in the final model The final model was internally validated by bootstrap resampling A total of 507 patients’ data were submitted among which 165 had unfavorable outcome Eighty-six patients died while 119 had different neurological sequelae in 79 (16 %) patients The full model included 13 variables Age, nausea, vomiting, altered consciousness, hydrocephalus, vasculitis, immunosuppression, diabetes mellitus and neurological deficit remained in the final model Scores 1–3 were assigned to the variables in the severity scale, which included scores of 1–6 The distribution of mortality for the scores 1–6 was 34, 82, 206, 31, 30 and 401 %, respectively Altered consciousness, diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression, neurological deficits, hydrocephalus, and vasculitis predicted the unfavorable outcome in the scoring and the cumulative score provided a linear estimation of prognosis

Mean platelet volume in predicting short- and long-term morbidity and mortality in patients with or without ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Abstract: Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a marker of platelet activation. An increased MPV is associated with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and long-term mortality. The aim of this study was to compare MPV in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Also, we investigated the value of MPV on in-hospital mortality and long-term prognosis of patients with STEMI and NSTEMI. We studied 429 patients with AMI (70.4% male, 61.9 ± 12.4 years; 279 patients with STEMI, 150 patients with NSTEMI). MPV and platelet count were similar in both groups. Elevated MPV increased the risk of death by 3.1-fold (p 11.1 fL versus 9.9% in patients with MPV <11.1 fL (p < 0.001). Cox regression analysis showed MPV to be an independent predictor of two-year mortality (Hazard ratio 1.7; 95% CI 1.5-1.9; p < 0.001). An increased MPV is an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality in patients with STEMI. However, elevated levels of MPV did not predict in hospital mortality in NSTEMI group. The increase in MPV values was independently correlated with two-year mortality in all study patients.

A severe hepatitis flare in an HBV-HCV coinfected patient during combination therapy with Α-interferon and ribavirin

Abstract: We report a reactivation of hepatitis B virus infection and a severe hepatitis flare in a patient with chronic hepatitis due to dual infection with hepatitis B and C viruses during combination therapy with alpha-interferon and ribavirin. Pretreatment, HCV was the dominant virus, with detectable serum HCV-RNA but undetectable HBV-DNA. The patient responded to therapy, with the disappearance of HCV-RNA and normalization of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) at months 1 and 6. In the seventh month of therapy, an ALT flare was observed, and serum HBV-DNA became detectable. The patient had a severe hepatitis flare leading to impending hepatic failure. Treatment was discontinued and the patient had marked clinical and biochemical improvement and recovered with normalization of liver function test results within 1 month. Two months later, serum HBV-DNA was again undetectable, both by hybridization and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. The patient had a rapid progression to cirrhosis in a year. At month 24, 17 months after the end of therapy, serum HCV-RNA reappeared, with a level of 2.4 x 10(5) copies/ml. In conclusion, severe HBV reactivation may occur during interferon plus ribavirin therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C who are also hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive, and thus more careful monitoring than usual should be considered. Longterm follow-up is recommended, because very late HCV relapses may occur in coinfected patients. These data exemplify the complexity of viral dominance in patients infected with multiple hepatitis viruses, and this has significant importance for treatment decisions. Lamivudine may be administered early in HCV-RNA/HBsAg-positive patients who are at high risk of liver failure once reactivation of HBV occurs during interferon therapy.