Lactoferrin Levels in the Gastric Tissue of Helicobacter pylori-Positive and -Negative Patients and Its Effect on Anemia

Aim. To determine gastric tissue lactoferrin (Lf) levels of Helicobacter pylori- (Hp-) positive and -negative patients and its effect on anemia. Methods. Cases in which initial presentation was of abdominal pain and that were Hp-positive at endoscopy were included. Hp-positive cases and -negative controls were divided into two groups. Results. The study included 64 cases (average: 10.2 ± 0.4 years, 39 male and 25 female). Lf levels were subsequently studied on 61 cases. 45 (73.8%) of these were Hp-positive, while 16 (22.2%) were Hp-negative. In Hp-positive cases, mean staining percentages and density of glands in the antral mucosa were 45.5 ± 4.7% and 1.9 ± 0.1, respectively. Hp-negative cases showed significantly different values of 17.8 ± 4.5% and 1.3 ± 0.2, respectively. Hemoglobin and serum ferritin values of Hp-positive cases were 12.7 ± 0.2 g/dL and 32.5 ± 2 ng/mL, but these were comparable with Hp-negative cases (12.6 ± 0.1 g/dL and 30.7 ± 4.4 ng/mL). Conclusions. Tissue Lf was significantly higher in Hp-positive cases compared to Hp-negative cases, but no difference was observed between the two groups with regards to hemoglobin and ferritin level. As a result, it is difficult to say that this rise in Lf plays a role in the development of iron deficiency anemia in Hp-positive patients

Pilot study for the understanding and use of probiotics by different paediatric healthcare professionals working in different European countries

Background: Consumers’ conviction of the benefits of probiotics is influenced by their existing beliefs and by the information they receive from healthcare professionals. The attitude of healthcare professionals towards commercially available probiotics will, therefore, determine how trustworthy and beneficial these products are perceived by consumers. Furthermore, due to European Union legislation, companies are prohibited from displaying information on product packaging; therefore, consumers are dependent primarily on healthcare professionals for correct information and guidance on the use of these products. The aim of this pilot study was to explore the understanding and use of probiotics in clinical practice by professionals who are involved in child healthcare in different European countries and to assess how much they value the scientific evidence behind these products. Methods: The study was performed using a cross-sectional, descriptive, 30-question online questionnaire circulated among healthcare professionals belonging to three professional categories that are typically involved in childhood probiotic prescription: paediatricians, dieticians and general practitioners. The questionnaire was developed using webbased standard guidelines, and the questions were modelled on those used in previously published probiotics studies. Results: Overall, 27,287 healthcare professionals belonging to three major European scientific societies were contacted by the organizations participating in the study. In total, 1360 valid questionnaires were recorded, and the results were statistically analysed. Conclusions: The results emphasize the importance for healthcare professionals to be properly educated and updated on probiotics. An improved knowledge about probiotics led to increased prescriptive confidence. To disseminate accurate information on probiotics, healthcare professionals look for appropriate and scientifically validated educational platforms to acquire information, explore concerns and barriers and look for positive approaches towards recommending probiotics

Pervasive Science: Challenges of contemporary technosciences for governance and self-management

Contains fulltext : 84219.pdf (preprint version ) (Open Access

Long-term follow-up of children with ınflammatory bowel disease: Evaluation of 53 cases

Giriş: Bu çalışmada inflamatuvar barsak hastalığı (İBH) tanısı ile izlenen çocukların uzun dönem demografik, klinik, laboratuvar, tedaviye yanıt özelliklerinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmaya 0-18 yaş aralığında İBH tanısı ile izlenmekte olan 53 olgu dahil edilmiştir. Hasta grubu; klinik, serolojik, endoskopik, histopatolojik ölçütlere göre İBH tanısı konulan hastaları içermiştir. Hastaların doğum tarihleri, özofagogastroduodenoskopi/kolonoskopi bulguları, tanı anındaki ve izlem sırasındaki laboratuvar tetkikleri, yakınmaları ve süreleri, daha önce almış olduğu ve şu an almakta olduğu tedaviler ve eşlik eden hastalık varlığı gözden geçirilmiştir. Tanı anındaki ve tedavi sonrasındaki boy ve vücut ağırlığı Z skorları hesaplanıp karşılaştırılmıştır. Hastaların fizik muayene bulguları ile ailede İBH ve otoimmün hastalık öyküleri sorgulanarak kayıt edilmiştir. Bulgular: Olgularımızın 18’i Crohn hastalığı (CH), 35’i ülseratif kolit (ÜK) tanısı ile izlenmekteydi. Erkek/kız oranı CH’de 3,5/1, ÜK’de 1,33/1 idi. On olgunun (%18,9) akrabalarından birisinde İBH tanılı başka bir hasta bulunmaktaydı ve bu olgularda yakınma başlama yaş ortalamasının ailesinde İBH olmayanlardan istatistiksel olarak anlamlı derecede düşük olduğunu saptadık (p=0,042). Olguların 20’sinin (%37,8) anne babaları arasında akrabalık olduğunu tespit ettik. Akrabalık saptanan 20 olgunun yakınma başlama yaş ortalamasının akrabalık olmayanlardan istatistiksel olarak anlamlı derecede düşük olduğunu gözlemledik (p=0,025). Yaşa göre ağırlık Z skoru %18,9 olguda -2’nin altındaydı ve bu olguların yedisi CH tanısı ile izlenmekteydi. Yaşa göre boy Z skoru %17 olguda -2’nin altındaydı ve bu olguların dokuzu yine CH tanısı ile takip edilmekteydi. Tanı anındaki beyaz küre sayılarının, eritrosit çökme hızının ve C-reaktif protein değerlerinin tedavi sonrasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı derecede gerilediği gözlenmiştir (p<0,001). İlk basamak tedaviye direnç ÜK’de %14,3 iken CH’de %33,3 idi. Sonuç: Ailede İBH tanılı başka hastanın olması ve anne-baba arasında akrabalık olması gibi durumlarda etiyolojide genetik mutasyonların olabileceğini düşünerek hastalığın daha erken yaşta ortaya çıktığını saptadık. Büyüme geriliğinin, fizik muayene bulgularının ve laboratuvar göstergelerin tedaviyle normale gelmesi İBH’de aktif hasta izleminin değerini ortaya koymaktadır.Introduction: In this study it was aimed to determine the long-term demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics, together with the responses to therapy, in children diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Materials and Methods: Fifty-three cases, aged 0 to 18 years, followedup with the diagnosis of IBD were included in this study. The study group consisted of patients diagnosed as IBD according to clinical, serologic, endoscopic and histopathological criteria. Dates of birth, esophagogastroduodenoscopy/colonoscopy findings, laboratory results at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up, complaints and their durations, treatments received presently and previously and comorbid diseases were documented. Patients’ heights, weights and Z scores at the time of diagnosis and following treatment were documented, calculated and compared. Family history of IBD and autoimmune disorders were questioned and recorded together with physical examination findings. Results: Among our cases, 18 were followed up with the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease (CD) and 35 had the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis (UC). Male to female ratio was 3.5/1 in CD and 1.33/1 in UC. Ten cases (18.9%) had the history of having a relative with IBD in their families. Mean age for start of complaints of this group was statistically significantly lower than the group having no family history of IBD (p=0.042). Twenty of the cases (37.8%) had history of consanguinity between parents. Mean age for start of complaints of this group, whose parents were consanguine, was statistically significantly lower than the group with non-related parents (p=0.025). Weight-for-age Z-score was below -2 in 18.9% of cases and seven of them were diagnosed with CD. Height-forage Z-score was below -2 in 17% of cases and nine of them were also followed-up with the diagnosis of CD. The white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein value at the time of diagnosis were statistically significantly decreased following treatment (p<0.001). Resistance to first-line treatment was 14.3% in UC and 33.3% in CD. Conclusions: We determined an earlier onset of IBD in cases having consanguineous parents or another relative with IBD, considering that genetic mutations may play a role in etiology of the disease. Reversal of growth retardation, physical examination findings and laboratory parameters by treatment reveals the value of active patient follow-up in IBD

Inflammatory bowel disease and guillain barre syndrome in FCHO1 deficiency

To the Editor: FCH And Mu Domain Containing Endocytic Adaptor 1 (FCHO1) gene encodes a protein that plays a critical role in clathrin-mediated endocytosis, a biological process that maintains cellular functions in signaling, nutrient- and growth factor- uptake, and diferentiation [1–3]. Recently, biallelic mutations in FCHO1 were linked to a combined immunodefciency that is characterized by recurrent infections caused by bacteria, viruses, mycobacteria, fungi, T cell lymphopenia, and hypogammaglobulinemia [4, 5].Sidra Precision Medicine Progra