OBJECTIVE: Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aures is increasingly reporting from all over the world. S.aureus is known for causing food poisoning through the production of enterotoxins. Asymptomatic carriage of S.aureus especially in food handlers can be the source of food poisining and transmission of this bacterium to other susceptible persons. Generally staphylococcal food poisoning is self-limiting process but can lead to serious infections on immunocompromised patients. According to the increase of methicilin resitance rates determinig of nasal carriage becomes an important process on health care settings. A growing concern is the emergence of MRSA infections in patients with no apparent risk factors. In this study we aimed to determine nasal carriage of S.aureus and methicilin resistance rates with BBL CHROMAGAR MRSA II medium and oxacilin and cefoxitin disc diffusion test.

METHODS: Between September 2009 and April 2010, 15.600 nasal cultures were taken from food handlers working at different region of Antalya during their routine carrier inspection process in Antalya Hıfzıssıhha Institute (ANHEM). S.aureus isolates were identified with traditional biochemical techniques. Methicilin resistantance were determined with disc diffusion method using cefoxitin and oxacilin discs according to CLSI (Clinical Laboratory Standarts Institute) recommendations and also isolates were recultured on BBL CHROMAGAR MRSA II medium. The sensitivity and specificity of chromogenic medium was determined.

RESULTS: A total of 526 (3,37%) S.aureus strains were isolated from 125 (23.8%) female and 401 (76.2%) male food handlers. 28 strains were detected as MRSA (5.3%). The sensitivity and specificity of BBL CHROMAGAR MRSA II medium was found 85.72% and 99% respectively.
CONCLUSION: Healthy carriers of S.aureus strains have an important role in the dissemination of this bacterium. Nasal carriage rate of S.aureus in food handlers remains high. Determination of nasal carriage rate in food handlers with regular periodichealth examination which reduces the risk of transmission at food production-consumption chain is one of the most effective ways to preventfood-bornediseases

OBJECTIVE: Boğma raki is a kind of raki without aniseed and made from passionfruit, figs, mulberries and plum.They are produced illgally, especially in Adana, Mersin, Gaziantep, Hatay and Kahramanmaraş circles. The aim of this study was to measure the methanol content of samples sent to Food Chemistry Laboratory of Adana Hygiene Institute between January 2007 and December 2011. Methanol is one of the main volatile compounds of distilled spirits. The control of methanol content is very important, because of it’s toxicity. This research is important to give an idea about the methanol degree in ‘Boğma raki’.

METHODS: This retrospective study examined a total of 37 ‘boğma raki’ examples. Quantities of alcohol by volume of the samples and determined the amounts of methanol. In this study, the content of methanol of the samples was determined by direct injection with a gas chromatography-flame ionization detector according to the Official methods of analysis of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). Determination amount of alcohol by volume, Turkish Standard (TS) method is used in the analysis.

RESULTS: The study sample quantities of alcohol by volume was 4% and 48% with an average of 33.95%; quantities of methyl alcohol was between 24 and 365 g/hL with an average of 144,36 g/hL. The data obtained was evaluated according to the definition of raki in the Turkish Food Codex Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Regulation. According to the results obtained, methanol was found in much higher amounts in most of the samples. Quantities of alcohol by volume were found to be low.

CONCLUSION: Alcoholic beverages containing methyl alcohol which are prepared and launched in illegal ways is an important part of methanol poisoning in our country. The amount of methanol is an important criterion for alcoholic beverages. Methanol has enormous importance for human health. Therefore, these illagal products must be monitored and the public should be imformed. It would also be useful to follow up other illegal spirits and cologne.

OBJECTIVE: Cross-reactions with Francisella tularensis antibodies to Brucella, Legionella, Yersinia, and Mycoplasma species have been described. F.tularensis LPS is able to induce serological cross-reactions indistinguishable from brucellosis due to a similar immunodominant epitope in the Brucella O-polysaccharide. In agglutination tests, cross-reaction occurred only between F.tularensis and Brucella abortus, cross reactivity with Brucella can confuse interpretation of the results.

METHODS: The aim of this study was to assess cross reactions and whether IgM or IgG antibodies are responsible for Brucella and F.tularensis cross-reactions, by the use of microagglutination, Brucella ELISA and 2-mercaptoethanol microagglutination test.
RESULTS: Cross-reaction agglutinin titers to B.abortus antigen were found in 49 of 260 (18.8%) tularemia positive serum specimens, and cross-reaction titers to F.tularensis antigen were found in 23 of 252 (9.1%) Brucella positive serum specimens. While thirty six (73.5%) tularemia positive serum titers had Brucella cross reactivity at the titers of 1: 20-1: 80, cross-reaction with ≥1: 160 titers was found in 13 samples (26.5%). The cross-reaction titers to B.abortus antigen were reduced to equal or less 1: 40 titers by 2-ME. Cross- reactivity at the titers of 1: 20-1: 80 was determined in 22 of 23 Brucella positive samples.

CONCLUSION: The cross-reaction titers determined with MA test in both infections were reduced to 40 or less by 2-ME, suggesting that the titers are due to immunoglobulin M antibody.

Tuberculosis is still an important disease all over the world. Despite lungs being the most frequently affected organ from tuberculosis, other sites of infection are also reported. Inguinal tuberculosis lymphadenitis is an extremely rare form of extrapulmonary tuberculous lymphadenitis. In this case, a 25 years old male with isolated unilateral tuberculous lymphadenitis and its treatment is presented. The diagnosis was made with histological examination following excisional biopsy.

Insecticides have a great importance in the increase of agricultural productivity and maintaining of public health. However, they can cause serious poisoning cases and even deaths at times due to accidental, intentional or occupational exposures. Thus insecticide poisoning cases are encountered frequently in Turkey as well as throughout the world. The first part of this review focused on the toxicological profiles of various insecticide groups (organophosphates, organochlorine insecticides, pyrethrines, pyrethroids, amitraz and other insectides (avermectines, diethyl-m-toluamid (DEET) and neonicotinik acid derivatives), and diagnosis and treatment of poisoning with those insecticides marketed in Turkey. In the second part, the studies on insecticide poisonings which were conducted in Drug and Poison Centers, Institutes of Forensic Science, Departments of Forensic Medicine, University and State Hospitals and Medical Centers in Turkey were evaluated with the aim of contributing the whole picture of the situation in Turkey. In review of these reports it was found that the most frequently occurred cases resulted from exposures with organophosphate compounds, and females were more vulnerable than males. It is noteworthy that there are numerous reports in Turkey regarding poisoning cases with amitraz, which was used mostly as a veterinary drug, especially in children despite no cases in the developed countries. On the other hand, poisoning cases with banned organochlorine insecticides have been thought to be caused by the insufficiency of necessary measures and controls that have not been taken by regulatory authorities and manufacturers. The conclusions on consumption of insecticides in agricultural production, storing, and intentional or other modes, and recommendations on the correct and safe production and use of insecticides, along with the protective measures to be taken against poisonings with these compounds, were listed in the last part of the review.

Adequate and balanced nutrition together with appropriate weight gain during pregnancy is important for being protected from short and long term complications. During pregnancy energy and nutrition requirements increase. Sufficient intake of nutrients has important effects on both the mother’s and the developing fetus’s health. Deficient or excessive intakes of important vitamins can increase the risk of maternal and fetal health problems. Folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin A, vitamin D, or antioxidant vitamins (vitamin E and C) deficiencies can cause fetal growth and developmental disorders in addition to pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. Moreover, insufficient intake of these vitamins during maternal period increases the risk of permanent health problems for the baby. Additionally, it is stated that vitamin deficiencies during the maternal period can have negative effects even on cognitional development of the children. Nowadays, only folic acid supplementation is applied to prevent the risk of neural tube defect, and recently studies are being conducted on vitamin supplementations in the maternal stage. It is stated that the effects of folic acid together with vitamin B12 on lowering the homocysteine levels can protect against the risks of insufficient fetal growth and low birth weight. Additionally, it is reported that vitamin D can be protective against bone development problems, diabetes, preeclampsia, inflammation, and infection. Studies carried on vitamins E and C (antioxidant vitamins) were focused on their effects on preventing the risk of preeclampsia. Therefore, further studies are needed to determine the exact effects and mechanisms of vitamins during the maternal period. Future research in this area may lead to successful vitamin supplementation practices during pregnancies in the future. Nowadays, following a sufficient and balance diet starting at pre-gestational period leads to early determination of vitamin deficiencies and can decrease the risk of problems that may arise during pregnancy. This review was aimed to evaluate the physiological functions and effects of vitamins B12, folic acid, A, D, E, and C on the mother’s and the fetus’s health.

Human toxocariasis is an parasitic infection caused by the ingestion of larvae of dog nematode Toxocara canis and less frequently of cat nematode T.cati. Toxocara eggs, shed to environment by infected dogs’ and cats’ droppings, become infective by embryonation. Humans, particularly children, can be infected by accidentally ingesting embryonated Toxocara eggs. Larvae hatch in the small intestine, penetrate the intestinal wall and migrate to other parts of body via the bloodstream. It is generally a benign, asymptomatic, and self-limiting disease, although migrating larvae can cause damage to tissues and organs, especially brain involvement can cause severe morbidity. The two main clinical presentations of toxocariasis are visceral larva migrans (VLM) (a systemic disease caused by larval migration through major organs) and ocular larva migrans (OLM) (a disease limited to the eyes and optic nerves). There are also two less-severe syndromes which have recently been described, one mainly in children (covert toxocariasis) and the other mainly in adults (common toxocariasis). Diagnosis is usually made by clinical signs/symptoms, epidemiological background of the patient and the use of immunological methods (ELISA or western-blot). On the other hand definitive diagnosis is much more challenging, since it requires the demonstration of larvae via biopsy or autopsy. Most cases of toxocariasis clear up without any treatment. VLM is primarily treated with antihelmintic drugs, such as; albendazole or mebendazole. Treatment of OLM is more difficult and usually consists of measures to prevent progressive damage to the eye like steroids. Laser photocoagulation and cryoretinopexy may also be used to treat severe cases. Since eradicating T.canis infection is difficult due to the complexity of its life cycle, prevention of toxocariasis is always preferred. Toxocara eggs have a strong protective layer which makes the eggs able to survive in the environment for months or even years under the right conditions. In this review, current information about human toxocariasis, a continuing and important problem suspected to cause rheumatologic, dermatologic and respiratory system diseases, is presented.