The amount of sialic acid on the surface of the neutrophil influences its ability to interact with other cells. Neutrophil activation with various stimuli mobilizes intracellular sialidase to the plasma membrane where it cleaves sialic acid from cell surfaces. Since enhanced neutrophil adherence, spreading, deformability and motility each are associated with surface desialylation and critical to neutrophil diapedesis, we studied the role of sialic acid on neutrophil chemotaxis with interleukin-8 (IL-8), leukotriene B4 (LTB4), fMet-Leu-Phe (fMLP) and complement 5a in vitro. Migration of NANase-treated neutrophil across 3 μ pore size polycarbonate membranes was decreased in response to IL-8 and LTB4 but not to fMLP and complement 5a. These findings suggest that sialic acid content of receptors have a key role on chemoattractant-receptor binding and may be a novel strategy for limiting the inflammatory response.

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This study was planned to determine the frequency of ß-thalassemia trait and mutations in Van Lake region, which is in the eastern part of Turkey, surrounded by Iran in the east and by Iraq in the south. This study consist of 1014 healthy students, between the age of 12 and 18 years who are studying in boarding schools in Van city and cities surrounding Van Lake that includes Van, Ağrı, Hakkari, Bitlis, Muş and Siirt. The students were randomly selected according to their school numbers. Their origin was not taken into consideration in selection. Complete blood counts were performed on all donors. The accepted lower limit of mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) were 78 fL and 27 pg respectively. HbA2 was measured by DE-52 microcolumn chromatography method. ß-thalassemia trait with high HbA2 was found in 6 children. ß-thalassemia homozygous form of -30 (T-A) mutation was determined in one child and HbD-Los Angeles heterozygous in another. The ß-thalassemia homozygous individual was accepted as two cases in prevalence calculation. We found that the prevalence of ß-thalassemia trait was 0.78% in this area. In DNA analyses, there were ß-thalassemia gene mutations of FSC 8/9 (+G), -30 (T-A), IVS I-110 (G-A), IVS II-1 (G-A) and IVS I-130 (G-A) in 3, 2, 1, 1 and 1 individuals, respectively. We conclude that although five different ß-thalassemia mutation exist in Van Lake region, ß-thalassemia is not a potential risk in the east of Turkey.

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FV 1299 His-Arg polymorphism was recently determined to be common in Turkish population (8.5%). This polymorphism contribute to the activated protein C resistance phenotype. We aimed to examine the frequency of this polymorphism in Turkish Cypriots.

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To investigate platelet functions in patients suffering from allergic diseases including asthma, blood was collected from ten asthmatic patients (five females, five males) and ten healthy controls (five females, five males) and by using whole-blood electrical impedance system; platelet count and platelet aggregation studies (maximum aggregation extent, maximum aggregation rate) were performed. Allergy screening was performed with skin test reactions and with high total and specific immunoglobulin E levels (CAP-Phadiatop system). Platelet count (333.1 ± 41.1 x 109/L), collagen induced the response of platelet aggregation (12.95 ± 4.19) and maximum rate of aggregation (8.00 ± 5.22) in allergic patients were found significantly higher than those of controls (252.1 ± 49.1 x 109/L; 8.33 ± 1.19; 4.28 ± 1.31) (p< 0.05). Also ADP induced response of platelet aggregation (18.21 ± 3.56) and maximum rate of aggregation (10.64 ± 2.12) in asthmatic patients were higher than controls (12.37 ± 2.63; 7.80 ± 1.64) with statistical significance (p< 0.01). Secretion products of activated platelets such as histamine, serotonin, PGF2α and PAF may play role in bronchial responsiveness in allergic asthma. The results of this study showed that platelet function tests were effected in asthmatic patients. The changes in platelet functions are thought to be related with increased IgE levels and stimulation of platelets by these antibodies.

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Sialic acid is a molecule which is responsible for the net negative surface charge of platelets. We investigated the effect of sialic acid on fresh and cryopreserved platelets. Platelet samples were obtained by platelet apheresis from 8 healthy donors. Platelet suspensions with different sialic acid concentrations (0, 1, 2 and 4 mg/mL) were studied for ADP and ristocetin induced platelet aggregation, basal and ADP induced P-selectin and glycoprotein- Ib/IX expression. Then platelet samples were cryopreserved in 5% DMSO with or without 4 mg/mL sialic acid. After thawing, P-selectin expression was compared with the control group. Six samples were also washed after thawing and P-selectin expression was again compared to unwashed samples. Sialic acid suppressed ADP induced platelet aggregation and P-selectin expression in a dose dependent manner. In cryopreserved samples, P-selectin expression of 4 mg/mL sialic acid containing group was found significantly higher than the control group (p< 0.001). In cryopreserved control group, P-selectin expression of thawedwashed group was significantly higher than thawed-unwashed group (p< 0.05). Our results indicate that sialic acid is not a good cryoprotective agent. Washing procedure after thawing to eliminate DMSO causes significant platelet activation.

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Thrombosis is one of the most important complications after splenectomy and requires fast diagnosis, effective therapy and good follow-up. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of thrombocytosis and natural inhibitors on thrombosis after splenectomy. We detected thrombosis in the portal vein system in 7 of the 30 splenectomized patients (23.3%) by Doppler Colour Flow Imaging. There was no statistical increase of thrombocyte count in patients with or without thrombosis. Natural inhibitor levels in all patients were lower than controls (p< 0.001), but there was not any statistical difference between the patients with and without thrombosis.

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The t (2;5) (p23; q35) translocation associated with CD30-positive anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) creates a hybrid gene encoding the chimeric nucleolar protein nucleophosmin-anaplastic lymphoma kinase (NFMALK) protein, which can be demonstrated by immunostaining with ALK1 monoclonal antibody. In this study, 40 specimens of ALCL from 6 pediatric, 34 adult patients, were immunostained with monoclonal antibodies against CD30 (Ber-H2), EMA, CD45 (LCA), CD3, CD20 (L26), CD15, and ALK1 antigens, and results were correlated with histopathologic features. The mean age of the pediatric and adult patients was 10-years and 38-years, respectively. ALK1 was positive in 14 cases (35%) representing 83% of pediatric and 26% of adult patients, statistically significantly higher in the pediatric group (p= 0.01). Considering the better prognosis attributed to cases with t (2;5), it is interesting to note that the percentage of ALK1-positive cases is significantly higher in pediatric patients with coexpression of EMA, compared to adults.

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Plasma cells are occasionally observed in the peripheral blood of the patients with multiple myeloma. When the number of these circulating cells is significant, the term of plasma cell leukemia is used. We report 5 cases of plasma cell leukemia with poor prognosis with review of the literature.

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Gaucher-like cells (GLC) are sometimes indistinguishable from real Gaucher cells. GLC can be detected in various diseases. We present a 4.5 year old boy with massive cervical lympadenopathy and an intraabdominal mass mimicking lymphoma. Many GLC were seen in the fine needle aspiration material of an enlarged lymph node. Ziehl-Neelsen stain of the aspirate revealed many acid-fast bacteria in the GLC. Fine needle aspiration might provide valuable information in the evaluation of enlarged lymph nodes.

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A 58 year old patient, followed up for diabetes mellitus and multiple myeloma for ten years and six months, respectively, presented with persistent back pain, weakness at his lower extremity and intermittent fever. Activation markers of myeloma were in normal limits except high erythrocyte sedimentation rate and elevated C-reactive protein. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed increased T1 spinal intensity at the suspected disc level. Discitis was suspected on the basis of MRl and high fever. An intraoperative examination of specimens revealed Staphylococcus aureus. Detailed laboratory and radiological investigations should be performed to diagnose unusual causes of persistent back pain, such as discitis in patients with myeloma.

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