Characteristics of food allergy in children: National multicenter study

Conference: Congress of the European-Academy-of-Allergy-and-Clinical-Immunology (EAACI) Location: Lisbon, PORTUGAL Date: JUN 01-05, 2019Background : Food allergies impose a significant burden on the life of the child and the family. In this study, to determine the demographic characteristics of food allergies, we investigated the characteristics of patients with food allergies in different regions of Pediatric Allergy- Immunology departments in Turkey. Method : Turkey ' s National Study of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Society has conducted a Study Group on Food Allergies. 25 centers participated in this multicenter, cross- sectional and descriptive study.European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunolog

Evaluation of Short-term Memory, Working Memory, and Executive Functions in Patients with Relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Objective: To compare patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and healthy individuals in terms of short-term memory (STM), working memory (WM) and executive functions. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 33 patients with RRMS and 26 healthy participants. The groups were matched in terms of age, gender, level of education and hand dominance. The socio-demographic characteristics of the participants were recorded; and they were evaluated with Beck depression inventory and state/trait anxiety inventory. Visual aural digit span test B form, Wisconsin card sorting test, backward digit span task, stroop test T-BAG form, Wechsler memory scale: Revised form visual memory span subtest (WMS-R/VMS) and trail making test (TMT) for cognitive functions. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between groups in terms of depression and anxiety scores (p>0.05). Backward visual memory span calculated from WMS-R/VMS was significantly lower (p0.05). Conclusion: Results of this study indicate that patients with RRMS have lower visuo-spatial sketchpad capacity in their WM. However, there was no significant difference between patients with RRMS and healthy controls in terms of verbal and visuo-spatial STM capacity, phonological loop capacity in WM, perseveration, conceptualization, inhibition and set shifting skills

Comparing short-term memory, working memory and executive functions among patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis and healthy individuals

Objective: The intrinsic connectivity networks mostly affected in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are the default mode (DMN) and salience networks (SN). The capacity of the functional connectivity (FC) changes in these networks in differentiating subjective cognitive impairment (SCI), earliest stage of cognitive decline along the AD continuum, from objectively diagnosed mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is not yet shown. Therefore, we investigated FC changes in DMN and SN among SCI, MCI and AD dementia (ADD) groups. Methods: Resting-state fMRI data of 88 participants (21 ADD, 34 MCI, 33 SCI) were collected with 3T MRI scanner. FC of 11 regions of interest (ROI) corresponding to DMN and SN nodes were analysed using CONN-toolbox (https://web.conn-toolbox.org/). Cluster level significance threshold in the F test among the 3 groups was set at p(FWE-corr) <0.0045 (Bonferroni corrected according to number of ROIs). For ROIs with significant difference in the F test, t-tests were performed between pairs of groups, and results with p(FWE-corr) <0.017 were reported. Results: In ADD compared to both MCI and SCI, FC of posterior cingulate cortex node of DMN with temporal and occipital cortices, FC of anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) node of SN with right insula and temporal cortices and FC of right and left anterior insula nodes of SN with ACC significantly decreased. Additionally, for ADD vs MCI comparison, FC of left anterior insula node of SN with the right insula, and for ADD vs SCI comparison, FC of the right and left anterior insula nodes of SN with the supplementary motor area were reduced. Conclusion: The findings reveal that the FC changes of DMN and SN in AD continuum occur in the advanced stages of the disease with no distinctive change between SCI and MCI stages

Serum visfatin level is associated with complexity of coronary artery disease in patients with stable angina pectoris

Ozyildiz, Ali Gokhan/0000-0003-0679-9434; duman, hakan/0000-0002-1441-7320WOS: 000489008500001PubMed: 31588856Background: Visfatin is an adipokine that plays a role in the inflammatory process of atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate whether adipokine is associated with the extent of stable coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: the study population included 110 patients who underwent elective coronary angiography (CAG) due to stable angina pectoris. the severity of CAD was assessed by the 'Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With TAXUS and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX)' score. We evaluated patients in two groups: group 1 with a SYNTAX score 22 (intermediate to high). Results: Serum visfatin (8.6 +/- 4.2 ng/ml versus 13.4 +/- 5.2 ng/ml, p < 0.001) and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels [0.46 (0.25-0.77) mg/dl versus 0.71 (0.32-1.10) mg/dl, p < 0.001] were lower in group 1. A positive significant correlation was found between serum visfatin level and SYNTAX score (r = 0.559, p < 0.001). in a multivariate logistic regression analysis, visfatin [odds ratio (OR) 1.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10-1.36; p < 0.001], CRP (OR 6.22, 95% CI 1.70-22.7; p = 0.006), and diabetes mellitus (OR 3.83, 95% CI 1.10-13.2; p = 0.034) were found to be independent predictors of SYNTAX score. Conclusions: Serum visfatin level was positively correlated with CAD severity in patients with high SYNTAX score. Serum visfatin level can be a useful biomarker for predicting high SYNTAX scores in patients with angina pectoris undergoing CAG

Left ventricular hypertrophy is associated with increased sirtuin level in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients

Cinier, Goksel/0000-0001-5064-1816; Cetin, Mustafa/0000-0001-6342-436X; duman, hakan/0000-0002-1441-7320WOS: 000473509900003PubMed: 30230925Background: Arterial hypertension is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in general population. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) has diverse anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant, and anti-apopytosis effects on endothelium and is associated with endothelial aging and dysfunction. the objective of this study was to evaluate the relation of serum SIRT1 level with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients. Methods: One hundered and twenty-five consecutive, newly diagnosed hypertensive patients were divided into two groups with regard to presence of LVH and compared to 40 healthy control subjects. LVH was determined by transthoracic echocardiography using the cube formula. Serum SIRT1 level was analyzed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Serum SIRT1 level was significantly higher in patients with LVH compared to those without LVH (14.3 +/- 3.9 ng/ml vs. 7.9 +/- 3.6 ng/ml, P < 0.001) and healthy control subjects (14.3 +/- 3.9 ng/ml vs 6.6 +/- 2.0 ng/ml, P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed higher serum SIRT1 level independently predicted LVH in hypertensive patients (OR 1.50; 95% CI, 1.30-1.73; P < 0.001). Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated a cutoff value of 9.4 had a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 74% for the prediction of LVH (AUC 0.885; 95% CI, 0.815-0.935; P < 0.0001). Conclusion: SIRT1 was a powerful biomarker for predicting LVH in hypertensive patients

Decreased left atrial strain parameters are associated with prolonged total atrial conduction time in lichen planus

duman, hakan/0000-0002-1441-7320WOS: 000446121200006PubMed: 30713754Background: Lichen planus (LP) carries the increased risk of cardiovascular events as it is a chronic inflammatory disease. This study aimed at determining the relationship between total atrial conduction time (TACT), P-wave dispersion, and the left atrium (LA) global strain in the patients with LP. Methods: Forty people as a control group and 40 patients with LP were included in this study. Patient assessed global longitudinal LA strain by two-dimensional speckle-tracking strain echocardiography. Results: the global peak systolic LA myocardium strain during the left ventricular systole (LAGLSRs) and the global peak negative LA myocardial strain rate during the early ventricular diastole (LAGLSRe) values were significantly lower in the patients with LP in proportion to the control group according to the strain measurements (1.7 +/- 0.07 vs. 1.9 +/- 0.1%, p = 0.001; 1.23 +/- 0.04 vs. 1.2 +/- 0.08 s(-1), p = 0.001), respectively. TACT value was found to be significantly longer (102.6 +/- 6.3 ms) in the patients with LP than the control group (96.3 +/- 5.3 ms, p = 0.001), considering the terms of the artial conduction features. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the subclinical cardiac involvement in LP can determine the prolonged TACT and the impaired left atrial myocardial deformation values

The relationship between total atrial conduction time and left atrial global strain in patients with psoriasis vulgaris

Cetin, Mustafa/0000-0001-6342-436X; duman, hakan/0000-0002-1441-7320WOS: 000472793500006PubMed: 31360181Introduction: Psoriasis vulgaris is a chronic, multisystem disease that results in the development of atrial fibrillation (AF) over time. in this study, our goal was to assess predictors of AF in patients with psoriasis, including total atrial conduction time (TACT) and left atrial global longitudinal strain (LAGLS). Material and methods: A total of 80 individuals, including 40 psoriasis patients and 40 healthy controls, were enrolled in the study. A physical examination was performed, biochemical parameters were studied, and Holter electrocardiography was carried out. Conventional echocardiography, atrial tissue Doppler, and speckle tracking echocardiography were recorded. Results: No significant difference was observed between psoriasis patients and healthy controls with regard to age, and the average duration of psoriasis was 5.7 years. High-sensitivity C reactive protein levels were higher in the patient group compared to the control group (respectively, group 1: 1 +/- 0.8; group 2: 0.6 +/- 0.3, p < 0.05). Atrial arrhythmia was not detected in the Holter ECG monitoring. A significant moderate negative correlation between TACT and LAGLS (r = -0.57, p < 0.05) was observed, and there was a significant moderate positive correlation between the duration of disease and TACT (r = 0.52, p < 0.05). Conclusions: in the current study, we determined that LAGLS decreased, TACT was prolonged, and P-wave dispersion increased in patients with psoriasis. the current results may improve predictions of AF risk in psoriasis patients in clinical practice

Relationship Between C-Reactive Protein to Albumin Ratio and Thrombus Burden in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome

Cinier, Goksel/0000-0001-5064-1816; duman, hakan/0000-0002-1441-7320WOS: 000457384800001PubMed: 30808220Increased coronary thrombus burden is known to be a strong predictor of adverse cardiovascular (CV) outcomes. C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) can be used as a surrogate marker of pro-inflammation which is closely related to prothrombotic state. We aimed to evaluate the association between CAR and coronary thrombus burden in patients who presented with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Patients who presented with ACS and treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention were included in the study. Patients were divided into 2 groups as high thrombus burden and low thrombus burden. the study population included 347 patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (169 [48.7%]) and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (178 [51.3%]). the CAR was significantly higher in patients with higher thrombus burden (24.4 [1.2-30.2] vs 31.9 [2.2-31.3], P < .001). Independent predictors for increased thrombus burden were higher CRP level (odds ratio [OR]: 0.047; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.004-0.486; P = .010), lower serum albumin level (OR: 0.057; 95% CI: 0.033-0.990; P = .049), higher CAR (OR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.03-1.23; P = .008), higher neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (OR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.05-1.31; P = .004), and baseline troponin I level (OR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.01-1.13; P = .017). Novel CAR can be used as a reliable marker for increased coronary thrombus burden that is associated with adverse CV outcomes

Is There a Need for Repetition of Skin Test in Childhood Allergic Diseases? Repetition of Skin Test and Allergic Diseases

Background: Skin prick tests are widely used to determine sensitivity in allergic diseases. There is limited information about the natural history of skin sensitization tests and factors that affect them. It was aimed to determine the changes in skin test results and the factors affecting the reactivity of skin tests after a period of approximately four years in children with allergic disease. Methods: SPT of 170 patients among 2485 children with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis and/or atopic dermatitis, who underwent SPT between 2005 and 2007, were repeated after an interval of at least 3 years. Results: The mean age was 10.7±3.1 (5-18) years and 70% of the patients were male. In total 66 (39.0% of the study population) had a different skin tests result in follow-up. Alterations: loss of sensitivity in 18 (11%) patients, the formation of a new sensitivity in 37 (22%) patients, and 11 (6%) both gained and lost sensitization. The presence of atopy in the family, the presence of allergic rhinitis and IgE elevation significantly predicted the incidence of new sensitization. The presence of sensitization to multiple allergens significantly predicted the incidence of loss of sensitization. Conclusions: It is found that there was an alteration of sensitization in 4/10 children at the end of the average 4-year period. The presence of family atopy, the presence of allergic rhinitis and serum total IgE elevation were risk factors for the development of new sensitization. On the other hand sensitization to multiple allergens was risk factors for the loss of sensitization