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Biomedical subjects

A Yalçin

Publications and source records attributed to A Yalçin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Survey of the use of complementary and alternative medicine among Turkish cancer patients.

OBJECTIVES: To measure the frequency of use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among patients with malignancy undergoing or following conventional treatment, to determine demographic characteristics associated with the use of CAM, and to find out how benefits, if any, were perceived by patients. DESIGN: A 35-item survey questionnaire administered to 305 return patients with malignancy. SETTING: Clinical wards of the Oncology and Haematology departments of Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey. METHODS: Questionnaire-based measures of demographics, motives, expectations and effects of using CAM, and types and reported perceived benefits of CAM practised on patients with malignancy. RESULTS: The majority of return patients (n = 186, 61.0%) used at least one CAM practice; and birthplace, educational status, and family type were significant factors in such behaviour. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with malignancy born in villages, having less education and living in large families were more likely to use folk medicine. More than half of those using CAM (n = 99, 53.2%) reported as benefits the feelings of either strengthening of the body, being in good psychological condition, or the disappearance of several symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Successful treatment of severe aplastic anemia associated with human parvovirus B19 and Epstein-Barr virus in a healthy subject with allo-BMT.

Several reports have noted pancytopenia associated with Human parvovirus B19 (PVB19) or Ebstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections in patients who have no history of immunodeficiency. To our knowledge, we report the first case of severe aplastic anemia associated with both EBV and PVB19 infections in a previously healthy 22-year-old man. He was admitted to our hematology service due to anemia and thrombocytopenia. He had no symptoms or signs of infections of these viruses. His bone marrow biopsy revealed a hypocellular marrow. Specific IgM and IgG antibodies to EBV and PVB19 were elevated. EBV and PVB19 virus genomes were detected by PCR in the bone marrow nucleated cells and the peripheral blood lymphocytes. Two months after treatment with prednisone, acyclovir, and intravenous immune globulin (IVIg), the genomes of both these viruses disappeared. However, his transfusion requirement for platelet suspensions and packed red blood cells persisted. The patient underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplant (allo-BMT) and has had an enduring complete hematological response for 8 months.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

The relationship between gastric-oral Helicobacter pylori and oral hygiene in patients with vitamin B12-deficiency anemia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether a relationship exists between gastric and oral Helicobacter pylori and oral hygiene in patients with vitamin B12 deficiency. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred eight patients with vitamin B12 deficiency who were H pylori -positive in their gastric mucosa were enrolled in the study. These patients were divided into 3 groups determined by Oral Hygiene Index (OHI) scores of good, fair, or poor. H pylori was detected in the dental plaque with camphylobacter-like organism test gels. All patients were treated with a combination regimen to eradicate H pylori. RESULTS: H pylori positivity in dental plaque was correlated with OHI scores; the positivity was 28.5%, 90.2%, or 100% in patients with good, fair, or poor OHI scores, respectively. The eradication of H pylori was associated with recovery from anemia and increased serum vitamin B12 level (P <.0001 and P <.0001). The patients with poor OHI scores had the most frequent gastric recurrence of H pylori (58.3%) compared with those with fair OHI scores (41.2%) and good OHI scores (4.8%). CONCLUSIONS: H pylori seems to be an etiologic factor in vitamin B12 deficiency, since anemia was cured and the level of vitamin B12 in the serum increased as a result of its eradication. However, eradication of H pylori from gastric mucosa alone is not enough to prevent gastric recurrence of the bacteria. Proper oral hygiene must be established to eliminate H pylori in dental plaque. Therefore, we suggest that control of H pylori in dental plaque is necessary to control recurrence of H pylori.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Does amphotericin B lipid complex (Abelcet) affect haematological parameters erroneously?

Abelcet is composed of large particles which could be misinterpreted as blood cells on measurements with blood cell counters. The direct measurement of drug suspensions on blood cell counters has been performed in an in vitro study. In an ex vivo study, the haematological parameters were compared before and during Abelcet infusions. A significant interference effect was observed in platelet counts, together with minimal differences in the WBC, RBC, and Hb parameters in the in vitro study. In the ex vivo study, there were statistically significant deviations only in RBC counts and in haemoglobin (Hb) level, while there was no difference in the other parameters. It is been reported that the drug accumulates very rapidly in the reticuloendothelial system and circulates minimally in the plasma. That is why there is a significant deviation in the direct counting of platelets, while the platelet counts taken from the patients do not differ statistically.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Erythema annulare centrifugum as the presenting sign of CD 30 positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma--association with disease activity.

Erythema annulare centrifugum is a figurate erythema that has been associated with many different entities. A case of erythema annulare centrifugum related to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a 38-year-old woman is described in this case report. Response of the lymphoma to a combination chemotherapy was accompanied by disappearance of skin lesions. When therapy was discontinued, both disorders recurred, and both responded to reinstitution of a different chemotherapy regimen. To our knowledge, this case is the first reported association of erythema annulare centrifugum and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the medical literature.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

The role of prothrombotic mutations in patients with Buerger's disease.

Thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO), or Buerger's disease, is a segmental occlusive inflammatory disorder of the arteries and veins, and etiopathogenesis is still obscure. In the present study we investigated the prevalence of prothrombin 20210 G-->A, factor V 1691 G-->A (Factor V Leiden), and factor V 4070 A-->G (His 1299 Arg) mutations, found to be associated with increased risk for vascular thrombosis, in 36 patients with TAO. We performed a case-control study of these mutations. The odds ratio for prothrombin 20210 A allele compared with G allele was 7.98 (95% confidence intervals 2. 45-25.93). Only this prothrombotic genetic factor was associated with the risk of TAO (p=0.032). In conclusion, carrying the prothrombin 20210 G-->A may be an important prothrombotic risk factor of TAO. This genetic predisposition must be screened in these patients routinely, and clinical importance must be supported by further investigations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Effect of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 4G/5G polymorphism in Turkish deep vein thrombotic patients with and without FV1691 G-A.

A decreased fibrinolytic activity due to increased levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 has been shown in deep vein thrombosis patients. Elevated plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels are associated with the 4G allele of a 4G/5G polymorphism located in the promoter region of the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 gene. Because there is no existing data in the Turkish population, we aimed to study these mutations in patients with deep vein thrombosis (n = 136) and normal controls (n = 113), consecutively selected among unrelated healthy subjects without personal and familial history of atherothrombosis from Ankara, Turkey. DNA was extracted by conventional methods, and polymerase chain reaction of the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 4G/5G polymorphism was performed according to a previously described method. Genotype distributions of FV 1691G-A and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 4G/5G are as follows: plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 4G (patients) 0.562, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 4G (controls) 0.50 (p = 0.6); FV1691A (patients) 0.147, FV1691A (controls) 0.035 (p = 0.005). Our data indicated that plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 4G/5G does not have an effect on the thrombotic risk. Carrying the 4G allele either in heterozygous or homozygous state increases the risk in the presence of FV1691A (odds ratio: 9.8 and 6.9, confidence interval 95% 2.9-32.7 and 1.3-35.8). FV1691A is an independent risk factor for thrombosis (odds ratio: 5.5, confidence interval: 95% 2.5-12.1). We concluded that coexistence of FV1691A and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 4G allele leads to an increased risk for thrombosis leading a further evidence to another prothrombotic factor that may be necessary for the development of a manifest thrombotic event.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

A successful and simplified filgrastim primed single apheresis method without large volume apheresis for peripheral blood stem cell collection.

BACKGROUND: There is a tendency to use only one apheresis collection to reduce the morbidity and the cost of peripheral blood stem cell collection. We studied whether rapid and complete engraftment could be achieved by single apheresis by using only Filgrastim without large volume apheresis in previously treated patients. METHODS: Engraftment of single apheresis in 25 patients was compared with those of multiple apheresis in 26 patients; 52% of patients in the single apheresis group and 62% of patients in the multiple apheresis group were heavily pretreated. All patients received 10-15 microg/kg/day of Filgrastim starting on day 14 after 3-4 cycles of induction chemotherapy. Apheresis was performed using Cobe Spectra on day 4, 5 or 6 in the single apheresis group and every other day in the multiple apheresis group after day 3. RESULTS: The median collection volume was 250 ml (250-300 ml) in the single apheresis group and 750 ml (200-1500 ml) in the multiple apheresis group. The median CD34(+) cell number was not significantly different in the two groups (11.79 vs. 9.38x10(6)/kg). The median times to achieve leukocytes > or =1x10(9)/l and platelets > or =50x10(9)/l counts were 10 days (8-21 days) and 15 days (9-38 days) in the single apheresis group vs 11 days (8-23 days) and 20 days (10-32 days) in the multiple apheresis group, respectively (p<0.05). Antibiotic use was less in the single apheresis group than the multiple apheresis group (9 vs. 12 days, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Adequate numbers of peripheral stem cells were harvested by G-CSF in a single apheresis without large volume apheresis even in heavily pretreated patients. Rapid and complete engraftment occurred in all patients and it was faster in single than multiple apheresis.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia developed 2 years after the onset of immune thrombocytopenic purpura like syndrome.

An 80-year old man was diagnosed as having immune thrombocytopenic purpura based on epistaxis, purpura and by the platelet count 8 x 10(9)/l. Prednisolone and gamma globulin were administered and the platelet count had been kept around 50 x 10(9)/l during his follow up. Two years from the onset of immune thrombocytopenic purpura he was admitted because of leukocytosis (79 x 10(9)/l with 79% monocytes), anemia and thrombocytopenia. Hypercellular bone marrow with dysplasia of three lineages was observed. In the bone marrow cytogenic analysis, a -6, clonal cytogenic abnormality was observed. 45XY, der(6), t(6;6)(q16;q23). He was diagnosed as having chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. This is a difficult case in which it was diagnosed as refractory thrombocytopenia as a subgroup of myelodysplastic syndrome, rather than immune thrombocytopenic purpura. which might have preceded the development of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Prothrombin gene 20210 G-->A and Factor V Arg 506 to Gln mutation in a patient with Buerger's disease--a case report.

Thromboangiitis obliterans, or Buerger's disease, is a segmental occlusive inflammatory disorder of the arteries and veins most commonly affecting the lower extremities of young male cigarette smokers. The etiopathogenesis of the thromboangiitis obliterans is still obscure. The authors have identified heterozygosity for the recently described prothrombin gene 20210 G-->A variation and Factor V Arg 506 to Gln (Factor V Leiden) mutation in a patient with Buerger's disease. Both mutations confer a high risk of thrombosis. This coincidental observation may serve as further evidence that a thrombotic mechanism is involved in Buerger's disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Effects of hydroxyethyl starch on blood coagulation profile.

The effects of hydroxyethyl starch on blood coagulation were investigated in 20 patients undergoing surgery to determine whether its use places recipients at risk of haemorrhage or thrombosis. The partial thromboplastin times are significantly prolonged; factor VIII activities and fibrinogen levels are decreased. After infusion of hydroxyethyl starch, no significant differences were detected in platelet count or prothrombin time. A decreased platelet aggregation was also found after the infusion of hydroxyethyl starch. According to our results, hydroxyethyl starch can cause haemorrhagic problems in patients when administered as a colloidal volume-expanding agent.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Effects of acetate or bicarbonate dialysis solutions on serum HDL and HDL subfractions of patients undergoing haemodialysis.

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of acetate- and bicarbonate-containing dialysis solutions (buffers) on serum lipid (triglyceride and total cholesterol) and lipoprotein (LDL, HDL and its subfractions as HDL2 and HDL3', Apolipoprotein A1 and Apolipoprotein B) values in patients undergoing haemodialysis. Lipid concentrations in 16 patients on bicarbonate and in 18 patients on acetate haemodialysis were investigated initially and after four weeks of dialysis treatment. Over four weeks of treatment both acetate and bicarbonate dialysis treatments had no negative effects on either HDL or HDL subfractions, and these buffering systems were indistinguishable from each other. We confirm that HDL is the major factor that is changed in the lipid profile in haemodialysis patients undergoing acetate or bicarbonate dialysis and suggest that the relation between LDL and HDL subfractions may be useful for monitoring the lipid changes in haemodialysis patients at risk of atherogenesis.

Acetates↗
PubMed1998

Search for genetic factors favoring thrombosis in Turkish population.

Common mutations in three genes (MTHFR 677 C-T; MS 2756 A-G; CBS Exon 8,844 ins 68) in homocysteine metabolism have been shown to cause increased plasma homocysteine levels thus causing a predisposition to thrombosis. FV 1691 G-A mutation, which is very common in the Turkish population, was also studied. As there is no existing data in the Turkish population, we aimed to study these mutations in patients with thrombosis and normal controls. The case-control study included 52 patients with the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and 106 controls, consecutively selected among subjects without personal and family history of atherothrombosis. Patients with DVT were selected if Doppler ultrasonography was positive. The comparison of FV 1691 G-A mutation revealed statistically significant difference in control and DVT group. Risk assessment of double prothrombotic gene alterations indicated only FV 1691 G-A mutation as an independent risk factor for thrombosis, but our data suggested that MTHFR 677 has little effect on its own but may have synergy with FV 1691 G-A. Other possible risk genotypes at the homocysteine pathway did not have a significant effect on thrombosis. Furthermore, being heterozygote at two different loci or homozygosity at least in one locus also did not reveal a significant difference between these two groups in our population.

Case-Control Studies↗