Primary infections caused by Toxoplasma gondii, rubella and cytomegalovirus (CMV) can lead to serious complications in pregnant women. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma, rubella and CMV infections through antenatal screening. In this study, the consecutive records of 1652 pregnant women examined between the period March 2004 to January 2006 were included. The results of the antenatal screening for Toxoplasma, rubella and CMV during the first trimester of pregnancy were evaluated. Anti-Toxoplasma, anti-rubella and anti-CMV IgG and IgM antibodies were assayed using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method. Of the 1652 pregnant women tested, anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibody was found in 860 (52.1%) of the cases, while 9 (0.54%) of the subjects tested positive for anti-Toxoplasma IgM. Anti-rubella IgG and IgM antibodies were reactive in 1570 (95.0%), and in 9 (0.54%) of the tested women, respectively. Moreover, 1568 (94.9%) of them were found to be positive for anti-CMV IgG, while 7 (0.4%) tested positive for anti-CMV IgM. Consequently, because of the high seropositivity of T. gondii, rubella and CMV in the pregnant women, the country's health authorities should be alerted, and preventive measures should be taken.

The objective of this study was to compare the beneficial effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), vitamin C, vitamin E and N -acetylcysteine on vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity. Thirty rats were randomly devided into six groups: (i) control; (ii) vancomycin, 200 mg/kg administrated via intraperitoneal route; (iii) vancomycin plus CAPEvancomycin with 10 µ mol/kg CAPE; (iv) vancomycin plus vitamin C -vancomycin (intraperitoneally) with 200 mg/dl vitamin C in drinking water; (v) vancomycin plus vitamin E -vancomycin with 1000 mg/kg body weight vitamin E (intramuscularly); and (vi) vancomycin plus N -acetylcysteine -vancomycin with 10 mg/kg body weight (intraperitoneally) of N -acetylcysteine. Vancomycin treatments were started 1 day after the first administrations of these agents and continued for 7 days. At the end of the experiments, catalase activity was significantly decreased by vancomycin in kidney homogenates (P < 0.05). Vitamin E, vitamin C, N -acetylcysteine and CAPE administrations decreased the blood urea nitrogen levels increased by vancomycin, although significant differences were detected only in the vitamins E and C groups (P < 0.05). Increased renal malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels by vancomycin were significantly suppressed by agents used in the study (P < 0.05). Histopathological examination demonstrated prominent damages in the vancomycin-treated group. Vitamin E was the most beneficial agent on vancomycin-induced tubular damage, followed by vitamin C, N -acetylcysteine and CAPE treatments, respectively. The data suggest that vitamin E, as well as vitamin C, N -acetylcysteine and CAPE, could be useful for reducing the detrimental effects on vancomycin-induced toxicity in kidneys.

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The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and distribution of Candida spp. within different age groups and different contraceptive methods users in women with vulvovaginal symptoms. The study included 569 female outpatients who had visited the Education and Research Hospital of Mustafa Kemal University, Turkey, between Jaunary 2004 and June 2005. Among 569 women with symptoms of vulvovaginitis, 240 (42.2%) were positive for Candida spp., of which 106 (44.2%) were C. albicans and 134 (55.8%) were non-albicans spp. The age group 26-30 y had the highest frequency of Candida spp. (23.7%). Candida spp. were isolated from 44.2% of contraceptive method users, and 37.9% of non-contraceptive users (p>0.05). The isolation rate of C. albicans was higher among oral-contraceptive users (57.5%) than IUCD users (38.5%), coitus interruptus (48.5%) and condom users (42.8%). These results indicate that factors associated with age and contraceptive method used may influence the occurrence and distribution of Candida spp. in women with vulvovaginal symptoms.

Although oxidative damage is known to be involved in inflammatory-mediated tissue destruction, modulation of oxygen free radical production represents a new approach to the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), an active component of propolis from honeybee hives, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. For that reason, we aimed to investigate the efficiency of CAPE administration in preventing oxidative damage in pyelonephritis (PYN) caused by Escherichia coli. In this study, 35 Wistar rats were grouped as follows: control, PYN 24 h, PYN 48 h, PYN 72 h, CAPE 24 h, CAPE 48 h and CAPE 72 h. E. coli (1 x 10(9) c.f.u.) were inoculated into the rats in both PYN and CAPE groups via urethral catheterization. Ten microM/kg-body weight CAPE was injected to the rats in all CAPE groups 24 h before E. coli infection, and injections were repeated at 24-h intervals. Rats were sacrificed 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after infection in both PYN and CAPE groups. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels were significantly increased in kidneys of PYN groups. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and xanthine oxidase (XO) were also elevated by E. coli. However, CAPE administration reduced MDA and NO levels, as well as XO activity, although it increased SOD and GSH-Px activities. Histopathological examination showed that CAPE reduced the inflammation grade induced by E. coli. In conclusion, CAPE administrations decrease the oxidative damage occurring in PYN and therefore could be used for medical management of bacterial nephropathy.