AIM:To evaluate the mineralocorticoid receptor ( MR) gene - 2G/ C single nucleotide polymorphism in central serous chorioretinopathy ( CSCR ), polymorphism and plasma cortisol level relationship.
METHODS: Sixty CSCR patients and 50 controls were included in the study. Inclusion criteria for patients were acute manifestation of CSCR characterized by serous retinal detachment, RPE detachment or dysfunction without evidence of any other possible cause of fluid exudation, such as choroidal neovascularization, inflammation or infiltration. Peripheric blood sample was collected from the participants between 8 and 10 a. m. to avoid the diurnal changes of cortisol levels. MR (NR3C2) gene polymorphism ( rs2070951 ) and plasma cortisol levels sere studied.
RESULTS: The genotype frequencies in CSCR group were G/ C (46. 6% ), G/ G (26. 7%) and C/ C (26. 7%). There was no statistically significant difference in terms of genotype distribution among groups ( P = 0. 96 ). The plasma cortisol levels were also studied and the results were 401. 2±162. 1 nmol/ L in the CSCR group and 296. 8±130. 1 nmol/ L in the control group and the difference was statistically significant ( P < 0. 01 ). The plasma cortisol levels also did not differ between G/ C (345.0±137.0 nmol/ L), G/ G (369.2±165. 3 nmol/ L) and C/ C (395. 3±188. 8 nmol/ L) genotypes (P= 0. 50).
CONCLUSION: The MR (NR3C2) gene polymorphism is not associated with CSCR and the plasma cortisol levels.

We assessed whether acid fast bacilli (AFB) determination in gastric lavage (GL) and bronchial lavage (BL) contributes to diagnosis in cases radiologically suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis but with either negative AFB in sputum or the inability to expectorate sputum. Of 129 cases recruited for the study, 22 were excluded due to evaluation as inactive disease or non-tuberculosis disease. The remaining 107 cases were evaluated in 2 groups. Group A consisted of 49 patients that could not expectorate sputum and from whom GL was obtained. In group B, BL was performed in 58 patients that had negative sputum smear. Smear positivity was 61.2% (30/49) and culture positivity was 30.6% (15/49) in group A, 51.7% (30/58) and 81% (47/58), respectively, in group B. Thirteen cases, in whom AFB could not be detected microbiologically but who were radiologically strongly suggestive of tuberculosis, were regarded as tuberculosis according to 'from treatment to diagnosis' criteria. In conclusion, detection of AFB positivity in the diagnosis of tuberculosis is important in terms of early initiation of treatment and detection of resistant bacilli. Therefore, we suggest that it would be helpful to obtain GL in cases where the patient is unable to expectorate sputum, and perform BL in cases with negative sputum smear.
Adult ; Aged ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Female ; Gastric Lavage ; Human ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/*isolation & purification ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/*diagnosis/radiography