Correction to: Prediction of unfavorable outcomes in cryptococcal meningitis: results of the multicenter infectious Diseases International Research Initiative (ID-IRI) cryptococcal meningitis study

In the original version of this article, Mustafa Sunbul was not included in the list of authors for this article. The name has been added accordingly.

Predictors for limb loss among patient with diabetic foot infections: an observational retrospective multicentric study in Turkey

We aimed to investigate the predictors for limb loss among patients with diabetes who have complicated skin/soft-tissue infections. In this observational study, consecutive patients with diabetic foot infection (DFI) from 17 centres in Turkey, between May 2011 and May 2013 were included. The Turkish DFI Working Group performed the study. Predictors of limb loss were investigated by multivariate analysis. In total, 455 patients with DFI were included. Median age was 61 years, 68% were male, 65% of the patients were hospitalized, 52% of the patients had used antibiotics within the last month, and 121 (27%) had osteomyelitis. Of the 208 microorganisms isolated, 92 (44.2%) were Gram-positive cocci and 114 (54.8%) were Gram-negative rods (GNR). The most common GNR was Pseudomonas; the second was Escherichia coli, with extended spectrum β-lactamase positivity of 33%. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus species were found in 14% (29/208). Amputations were performed in 126/455 (28%) patients, 44/126 (34%) of these were major amputations. In multivariate analysis, significant predictors for limb loss were, male gender (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.04-2.96, p 0.034), duration of diabetes >20 years (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.18-3.11, p 0.008), infected ulcer versus cellulitis (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.11-3.18, p 0.019), history of peripheral vascular disease (OR 2, 95% CI 1.26-3.27, p 0.004), retinopathy (OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.19-4.25, p 0.012), erythrocyte sedimentation rate >70 mm/hr (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.01-2.68, p 0.05), and infection with GNR (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.08-3.02, p 0.02). Multivariate analysis revealed that, besides the known risk factors such as male gender, duration of diabetes >20 years, infected ulcers, history of peripheral vascular disease and retinopathy, detection of GNR was a significant predictor of limb loss.

Evaluation of tularaemia courses: a multicentre study from Turkey

In this multicentre study, which is the largest case series ever reported, we aimed to describe the features of tularaemia to provide detailed information. We retrospectively included 1034 patients from 41 medical centres. Before the definite diagnosis of tularaemia, tonsillitis (n = 653, 63%) and/or pharyngitis (n = 146, 14%) were the most frequent preliminary diagnoses. The most frequent clinical presentations were oropharyngeal (n = 832, 85.3%), glandular (n = 136, 13.1%) and oculoglandular (n = 105, 10.1%) forms. In 987 patients (95.5%), the lymph nodes were reported to be enlarged, most frequently at the cervical chain jugular (n = 599, 58%), submandibular (n = 401, 39%), and periauricular (n = 55, 5%). Ultrasound imaging showed hyperechoic and hypoechoic patterns (59% and 25%, respectively). Granulomatous inflammation was the most frequent histological finding (56%). The patients were previously given antibiotics for 1176 episodes, mostly with β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors (n = 793, 76%). Antituberculosis medications were provided in seven (2%) cases. The patients were given rational antibiotics for tularaemia after the start of symptoms, with a mean of 26.8 ± 37.5 days. Treatment failure was considered to have occurred in 495 patients (48%). The most frequent reasons for failure were the production of suppuration in the lymph nodes after the start of treatment (n = 426, 86.1%), the formation of new lymphadenomegalies under treatment (n = 146, 29.5%), and persisting complaints despite 2 weeks of treatment (n = 77, 15.6%). Fine-needle aspiration was performed in 521 patients (50%) as the most frequent drainage method. In conclusion, tularaemia is a long-lasting but curable disease in this part of the world. However, the treatment strategy still needs optimization.

HIV-1 subtypes and primary antiretroviral resistance mutations in antiretroviral therapy naive HIV-1 infected individuals in Turkey

In this study, we determined the subtype distribution and the primary drug-resistant mutations in HIV-1 strains isolated from antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive patients in Turkey. The study included 117 newly diagnosed HIV-1 positive Turkish patients. HIV-1 subtypes and circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) were identified by phylogenetic analysis (neighbor-joining method), and drug-resistant mutations were analyzed according to the 2009 World Health Organization list of surveillance drug-resistant mutations. Subtype CRFs (CRF 02_AG, CRF 01_AE, CRF 12_BF and CRF 03_AB; 47%, 55/117) and B (33.3%, 39/117) were identified as the most common occurring HIV-1 subtypes in Turkey. The patients had primary antiretroviral resistance mutations to nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors (NRTIs) (M41L, T215C, T215D, and K219Q), non-nucleoside RT inhibitors (NNRTIs; K103N), and protease inhibitors (PIs; I47V, G73S). The prevalence of overall primary antiretroviral resistance was 7.6% (9/117) in HIV-1 patients from Turkey and drug-resistant rate for NRTIs, NNRTIs, and PIs were 4.2% (5/117), 1.7% (2/117), and 1.7% (2/117), respectively. In this study, various CRFs of HIV-1 were determined, for the first time, in Turkey. The prevalence of HIV-1 primary drug-resistant mutations in ART-naive patients suggested that resistance testing should be incorporated as an integral part of HIV management, and the choice of a first-line therapy regime should be guided by the results of genotypic resistance in Turkey.

Plasma protein oxidation is correlated positively with plasma iron levels and negatively with hemolysate zinc levels in sickle-cell anemia patients

INTRODUCTION

Sickle-cell anemia (SCA) is a disease of high oxidative stress. The oxidative medium of SCA was evaluated by protein oxidation parameters and their correlation with lipids and ions were investigated both in the plasma and in the erythrocyte.

METHODS

Blood samples were obtained from 15 steady-state patients with SCA, 10 carriers, and 10 controls. Plasma protein carbonyl, total sulfhydryl, total cholesterol, triglyceride, phospholipids, and bilirubin levels were determined by spectrophotometric methods. Plasma copper, zinc, and iron levels were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, and ions were also determined in the hemolysate lipid extract.

RESULTS

Patients had increased protein carbonyl and decreased total sulfhydryl levels compared with controls. Plasma cholesterol levels were lower than controls, and triglyceride levels were higher than carriers in patients with SCA. Plasma iron and hemolysate copper were higher in patients than carriers and controls. Plasma protein carbonyl levels were found to be correlated with plasma iron and hemolysate zinc levels in the patient group.

CONCLUSION

Alterations of proteins, lipids, and ions in the plasma and erythrocyte of steady-state patients with SCA were demonstrated. Some of these alterations are related with each other and with the oxidative stress observed in the disease.