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Biomedical subjects

A Günay

Publications and source records attributed to A Günay.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Does eradication of Helicobacter pylori reduce hypergastrinaemia during long term therapy with proton pump inhibitors?

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) eradication therapy on blood gastrin levels in long-term PPI users, since proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and Helicobacter pylori (Hp) are major causes of hypergastrinaemia. DESIGN: A prospective study. SUBJECTS: Twenty seven Hp (+) patients enrolled in the study. Twenty were given eradication treatment (ET group), and the rest were given symptomatic treatment (ST group). Those who remained Hp (+) after eradication therapy were also added into the ST group. Lansoprazol 30 mg/day was given to both groups for three months thereafter. RESULTS: Fasting and non-fasting blood gastrin levels (FGL and NFGL) were measured initially and one month and four months after treatment. At the end of fourth month, FGL was significantly higher than both initial and first month level (p < 0.01) in the ST group. NFGL in this group did not change significantly (p > 0.05) after eradication therapy. In the ET group, FGL was significantly higher in the fourth month than the first month (p < 0.001) and than the initial level (p < 0.05). NFGL was higher, but not statistically in the fourth month than in the first month (p > 0.05) and significantly lower than the initial level (p < 0.05) in this group. CONCLUSION: We suggest that testing for Hp positivity and treating it if detected would be an appropriate approach to avoid hypergastrinaemia, especially in candidate patients for long term PPI treatment.

Adult↗

Skin hyperreactivity of Behçet's patients (pathergy reaction) is also positive in interferon alpha-treated chronic myeloid leukaemia patients, indicating similarly altered neutrophil functions in both disorders.

Typical manifestations of Behcet's disease (BD) and a positive pathergy reaction were observed in a few patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) on interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy and the significance of this observation was assessed in a prospective study. The skin pathergy test was applied to 15 patients with CML prior to IFN-alpha therapy, 29 patients with CML following IFN-alpha therapy and 30 patients with BD. Twenty-five patients with inflammatory arthropathies (IA), 20 patients with recurrent oral ulcers (ROU), 23 patients treated with IFN-alpha for various disorders and 20 normal individuals were also studied as control groups. The pathergy reaction was positive in nearly a quarter of IFN-alpha-treated CML cases (24%) as well as one-half of the patients with BD (50%). All CML patients prior to IFN-alpha treatment and all patients using IFN-alpha for other diseases were negative for the pathergy reaction. These results may indicate a similarly altered neutrophil function in both BD and IFN-alpha-treated CML patients.

Adolescent↗

Therapeutic efficacy of recombinant interferon-alpha in polycythaemia vera.

The therapeutic efficacy of recombinant interferon-alpha (rIFN-alpha) has been evaluated in 7 patients with polycythaemia vera (PV), diagnosed according to the criteria of the Polycythemia Vera Study Group. Six complete responses and one partial response were achieved. Pruritus significantly improved in 80% (4/5) of the cases. Recombinant interferon-alpha had to be discontinued in 1 patient because of grade 3-4 nephrotoxicity according to WHO criteria. rIFN-alpha therapy significantly decreased the phlebotomy requirements and improved the mean corpuscular volume, erythrocyte and platelet counts, pruritus complaints and the degree of splenomegaly (p < 0.05). rIFN-alpha seems to be an effective treatment modality for the myeloproliferation of PV and pruritus complaints.

Aged↗

Sample adequacy in detecting Chlamydia trachomatis.

OBJECTIVE: Chlamydia trachomatis is an important etiological agent in female genital infection and may result in infertility. In recent years rapid diagnostic methods have become widely used as alternatives to cell culture. Our objective was to evaluate the technique of direct fluorescence assay (DFA) in estimating the presence of C. trachomatis. METHODS: Specimens taken from 40 infertile and 20 fertile women were examined by DFA for the presence of C. trachomatis. RESULTS: Six of forty (15%) infertile women were found to be positive whereas no positive specimens were detected in the control group. When the specimens were grouped into those which were adequate or inadequate, 19 and five specimens, respectively, were adequate in the infertile and healthy groups. If only adequate specimens are included in estimating the presence of Chlamydia, the percentage is 31.6%. CONCLUSIONS: In order to use DFA as a more reliable and rapid diagnostic test of C. trachomatis in female genital infection, false-negativity must be eliminated. Specimens must be collected adequately and concentrated in order to achieve optimal diagnostic success.

Cervix Uteri↗

Seroprevalence of rubella virus in Turkish pregnant women.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the immune status of a group of Turkish pregnant women who had never been immunized. METHODS: Between June 1990 and April 1993, the seroprevelance of rubella was determined in the study group of 1351 women. RESULTS: A total of 242 (17.9%) pregnant women were found to be susceptible to rubella infection and the seropositivity rate related to prior infection was 82.1%. CONCLUSIONS: The importance of Rubella IgG determination in Turkish pregnant women is discussed and recommendations for prevention and control of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) are suggested.

Antibodies, Viral↗

Familial Mediterranean fever. A review of the disease and clinical and laboratory findings in 105 patients.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever still remains clinical, since no specific laboratory test exists, other than a molecular genetic test which is not widely available. AIM: To evaluate the clinical findings in 105 Turkish patients; to compare these findings with those in the literature; and to make a brief review of the disease. METHODS: A total of 105 familial Mediterranean fever patients were evaluated either retrospectively (for those diagnosed before 1997), or prospectively (for those after 1997). A diagnostic criteria set was used in addition to the clinical and laboratory findings that can be seen in familial Mediterranean fever, including the newly described manifestations. Previously selected clinical and laboratory parameters were observed for three consecutive days. RESULTS: Of our patients, 88.5% were of Turkish, 3.8% of Armenian and 7. 6% of Jewish origin. Family history was positive in 87 (82.8%) patients. Involved site was peritoneum in 97 (92%), joints in 45 (42.8%) and pleura in 19 (18%). Frequency of myalgia/arthralgia was 24.7%, and skin findings were observed in 16. 1% of patients. Splenomegaly, not related to amyloidosis, was present in 21 (20%) patients. Meningeal, retinal or ovarian/testicular involvement was not observed. CONCLUSION: Identification of familial Mediterranean fever gene has led to the application of a molecular genetic test for the diagnosis of Familial Mediterranean Fever. Until genetic methods become widely available, diagnosis will remain clinical. Thus, awareness of various clinical forms and of the correct usage of diagnostic criteria in various patient populations is important.

Adolescent↗

Seropositivity against Helicobacter pylori CagA in Turkish gastric cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Increased prevalence of CagA in gastric cancer has been reported; yet, other reports suggest that the cagA gene is not associated with gastric cancer. GOALS: To evaluate the frequency of CagA seropositivity in Turkish patients with gastric cancer. STUDY: Thirty-two patients with gastric adenocarcinoma and 46 patients with nonulcer dyspepsia were examined for Helicobacter pylori status and for antibodies against CagA. RESULTS: H. pylori was positive in 56.3% of patients and in 71.7% of controls. CagA was positive in all patients in the study group, regardless of H. pylori positivity, and in 56.5% of the control group. CagA positivity in H. pylori -positive patients was significantly more frequent in patients with gastric cancer than in those with nonulcer dyspepsia ( p < 0.001). As for H. pylori -negative patients in both groups, CagA positivity was also more frequent in gastric cancer patients ( p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Testing for H. pylori antibodies without testing for antibodies against CagA will miss patients with either recent or previous infection, which may be a cause of missing the relationship between H. pylori and gastric cancer. The authors think that testing for CagA in patients with dyspepsia can reveal which patients should be followed up for the risk of developing gastric cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗