Transient depletion of innate immunity in varicella infections in otherwise healthy children

Objective: Varicella is a common childhood infection and has a number of complications in the unvaccinated population. Perforin, found in natural killer cells, is important for the killing of virally infected cells. For this reason, the aim of this study was to determine natural killer cell count and activity, perforin expression, and Fas and soluble Fas ligand (sFas-L) levels in immunocompetent children with varicella infection and define any possible relations between the levels and varicella complications. Material and Methods: Forty children were analyzed at diagnosis and on the 15th day of varicella infection. There was a significant difference in hemoglobin levels and leukocyte and platelet counts between days 0 and 15.Results: Thirteen (32%) patients were found to be lymphopenic. Natural killer cell count and activity were significantly higher on day 15 when compared to values at diagnosis. The Fas-mediated apoptotic pathway was found to be active in acute varicella infection because Fas and sFas-L levels at diagnosis were higher than values on day 15. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the Fas and Fas-L apoptotic pathway is active during the acute phase of the viral infection and that it becomes inactive by day 15, paralleling the hematologic recovery

Sağlıklı Çocuklarda Gelişen Varisella Enfeksiyonu Sırasında Bağışıklık Sisteminde Geçici Baskılanma

Objective: Varicella is a common childhood infection and has a number of complications in the unvaccinated population. Perforin, found in natural killer cells, is important for the killing of virally infected cells. For this reason, the am of this study was to determine natural killer cell count and activity, perforin expression, and Fas and soluble Fas ligand (sFas-L) levels in immunocompetent children with varicella infection and define any possible relations between the levels and varicella complications. Material and Methods: Forty children were analyzed at diagnosis and on the 15th day of varicella infection. There was a significant difference in hemoglobin levels and leukocyte and platelet counts between days 0 and 15. Results: Thirteen (32%) patients were found to be lymphopenic, Natural killer cell count and activity were significantly higher on day 15 when compared to values at diagnosis. The Fas-mediated apoptotic pathway was found to be active in acute varicella infection because Fas and sFas-L levels at diagnosis were higher than values on day 15. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the Fas and Fas-L apoptotic pathway is active during the acute phase of the viral infection and that it becomes inactive by day 15, paralleling the hematologic recovery. (Turk J Hematol 2009; 26: 12-6)Wo

Craniosynostosis Associated With La�Cunar Skull: Three-Dimensional Com�Puted Tomography Features

Craniosynostosis is the premature closure of the cranial sutures. We present the radiological findings of a six-month old case who presented with small head and frontal triangular shape and who was found to have generalized pitting and softness on palpation of the head. The three-dimensional images computed tomography (CT) showed a sagittal, coronal and metopic suture synostosis with exaggerated convolutional markings in the form of lacunar skull. This case report showed that patients with craniosynostosis should be evaluated by three-dimensional images C

Both Granulocytic and Non-Granulocytic Blood Cells Are Affected in Patients with Severe Congenital Neutropenia and Their NonNeutropenic Family Members: An Evaluation of Morphology, Function, and Cell Death

Amaç: Ciddi konjenital nötropenisi (CKN) olan hastalar ve nötropenik olmayan ebeveynlerindeki granülositik ve granülositik olmayan kan hücrelerini incelemektir. Gereç ve Yöntemler: CKN’si olan 15 çocuk ve nötropenik olmayan 21 ebeveynin lenfosit, granülosit ve monositlerinde CD95, CD95 ligand, annexin V, hücre siklusu (periferik lenfositler, granülosiler +/- monositlerde) ve lenfosit alt grupları akım sitometri ile, b) hızlı hücre yaşlanması (lökositlerde) yaşlanma-ilişkili ?-galaktozidaz boyası SA?-galaktosidaz boyası ile, c) agregasyon testleri agregometre ile, d) in vitro kanama zamanı, PFA-100 aleti ile, e) trombositlerde mepakrin işaretli kaba granül sayısı floresan mikroskopu ile, f) hematomorfoloji ışık ve elektron mikroskopu ile değerlendirildi. Hastalarda ve bazı ebeveynlerde CKN ile ilişkili olarak HAX1, ELANE, G6PC3, CSF3R, JAGN1 mutasyonları çalışıldı.Objective: To examine granulocytic and non-granulocytic cells in children with severe congenital neutropenia (SCN) and their nonneutropenic parents. Materials and Methods: Fifteen patients with SCN and 21 nonneutropenic parents were evaluated for a) CD95, CD95 ligand, annexin V, propidium iodide, cell cycle, and lymphocyte subsets by flow cytometry; b) rapid cell senescence (of leukocytes) by senescenceassociated ?-galactosidase stain; c) aggregation tests by aggregometer; d) in vitro bleeding time by PFA-100 instrument; e) mepacrine-labeled dense granule number of thrombocytes by fluorescence microscope; and f) hematomorphology by light and electron microscope. HAX1, ELANE, G6PC3, CSF3R, and JAGN1 mutations associated with SCN were studied in patients and several parents

Perforin geninde A91V frekansı ve tümör nekrozis-? faktör promotor polimorfizminin edinsel hemofagositik lenfohistiositoza etkisi

Amaç: Edinsel hemofagositik lenfohistiositozun (EHL) gelişmesinde enfeksiyonlar, habis hastalıklar, kollajen doku hastalıkları gibi çok çeşitli etmen rol oynamaktadır. Aynı tetikleyici faktörü bulunan hastaların tümünde EHL’un gelişmemesi EHL’ye yatkınlık yapan ek genetik ve çevresel faktörlerin varlığına işaret etmektedir. Yöntem ve Gereçler: Perforin geninde A91V yanlış anlam değişikliği (perforin geninde ekzon 2, pozisyon 272’de C>T değişikliği) ve tumor nekrozis faktör (TNF)-? geninin promoter bölgesinde –1031T>C nükleotid değişikliği inflamatuvar yanıtı değiştirebilen ve bu nedenle EHL’ye yatkınlığa neden olabilen iki potansiyel adaydır. Çalışmamızda EHL’li hastalar ve kontrollerde bu değişiklikler incelenmiştir. Bulgular: 159 sağlıklı Türk popülasyonunda A91V değişikliği 7 (%4.4) kişide saptanmıştır. 44 EHL olgusunun beşinde (%11.3) bu değişiklik saptanmış olup, fark dikkat çekici olmakla birlikte istatistik- sel anlamlılık göstermemiştir (p=0.09); odds oranı 2.8 olarak hesaplanmıştır. A91V pozitif olan hastaların tümünde enfeksiyon altta yatan etiolojik nedendi. TNF-? -1031T>C polimorfizmi 164 sağlıklı birey ve 40 EHL’li hastada çalışıldı. Kontrollerin 7’sinde (%4.3) ve EHL bulunan hastaların 1’inde (%2.5) riski artıran CC genotipi saptandı. C ve T allel frekansları sırasıyla EHL’de 18 (%22.5) ve 62 (%77.5), kontrollerde 72 (%22) ve 259 (%78) olarak bulundu. Allel frekansları açısından gruplar arasında fark saptanmadı (p>0.05). Sonuçlar: Çalışmamızın sonuçları edinsel HLH’li hastalarda sağlıklı kontrollara göre A91V sıklığının 2.8 kat odds oranına göre daha sık olduğunu, A91V’nin sağlıklı Türk populasyonunda nadir olmadığını ve özellikle enfeksiyonu olanlarda EHL’ye yatkınlık yapabileceğini göstermektedir.Objective: Numerous acquired etiological factors, such as infections, malignancies, and collagen tissue disorders, are involved in the development of acquired hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (AHLH). Not everyone with the same etiological factors developments AHLH, which suggests the role of addi- tional genetic or environmental predisposing factors that remain to be identified. Materials and Methods: Perforin gene A91V missense transition (C>T change at position 272 in exon 2 of the perforin gene) and TNF-α gene promoter-1031 T>C nucleotide substitution are 2 candidate genetic predisposing factors due to their potential to alter inflammatory responses. In the present study these changes were investigated in healthy controls and AHLH patients. Results: A91V transition was observed in 7 of the 159 (4.4%) controls. Among the 44 AHLH patients, 5 (11.3%) were heterozygous and the difference in the frequency of A91V transition, although striking (odds ratio: 2.8), was not statistically significant (p=0.09). All A91V-positive patients had infection. TNF-α-1031 T>C polymorphism was examined in 164 healthy controls and 40 AHLH patients, and the CC risk-elevating genotype was noted in 7 (4.3%) of the controls and 1 (2.5%) of the AHLH patients. The frequency of C and T alleles was 22.5% (n=18) and 77.5% (n=62) among the AHLH patients, and 22% (n=72) and 78% (n=259) among the controls, respectively. There wasn’t a statisti- cally significant difference between the groups in terms of allele frequencies (p>0.05). Conclusion: The present results indicate that compared to controls, A91V mutation was 2.8-fold more prevalent (according to the odds ratio) in the AHLH patients. A91V mutation is not uncommon in the general population and increases the risk of AHLH in patients with an underlying condition, espe- cially those with an underlying infection

Clinical and molecular aspects of Turkish familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis patients with perforin mutations

The aim of this study was to elucidate the pathologic sequence changes and associated clinical phenotypes in 9 new patients showing homozygosity for perforin gene among a total of 37 (24%) Turkish FHL families studied by linkage analysis. These 9 unrelated patients (5M/4F) were coming from consanguineous families and their presentation ages of systemic symptoms were ranged from birth to 15 years. Direct sequencing of coding exons of the perforin gene led to the identification of five different homozygous alterations. The nonsense W374X mutation was identified in three patients while four different missense mutations namely G149S, V50M, A91V and novel A523D were detected in the rest six patients. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

The Frequency of A91V in the Perforin Gene and the Effect of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Promoter Polymorphism on Acquired Hemophagocytic Lympholmstiocytosis

Objective: Numerous acquired etiological factors, such as infections, malignancies, and collagen tissue disorders, are involved in the development of acquired hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (AHLH). Not everyone with the same etiological factors developments AHLH, which suggests the role of additional genetic or environmental predisposing factors that remain to be identified. Materials and Methods: Perforin gene A91V missense transition (C>T change at position 272 in exon 2 of the perforin gene) and TNF-alpha gene promoter-1031 T>C nucleotide substitution are 2 candidate genetic predisposing factors due to their potential to alter inflammatory responses. In the present study these changes were investigated in healthy controls and AHLH patients. Results: A91V transition was observed in 7 of the 159 (4.4%) controls. Among the 44 AHLH patients, 5 (11.3%) were heterozygous and the difference in the frequency of A91V transition, although striking (odds ratio: 2.8), was not statistically significant (p=0.09). All A91V-positive patients had infection. TNF-alpha-1031 T>C polymorphism was examined in 164 healthy controls and 40 AHLH patients, and the CC risk-elevating genotype was noted in 7 (4.3%) of the controls and 1 (2.5%) of the AHLH patients. The frequency of C and T alleles was 22.5% (n=18) and 77.5% (n=62) among the AHLH patients, and 22% (n=72) and 78% (n=259) among the controls, respectively. There wasn't a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of allele frequencies (p>0.05). Conclusion: The present results indicate that compared to controls, A91V mutation was 2.8-fold more prevalent (according to the odds ratio) in the AHLH patients. A91V mutation is not uncommon in the general population and increases the risk of AHLH in patients with an underlying condition, especially those with an underlying infection. (Turk J Hematol 2011; 28: 125-30)WoSScopu

Smaller Hippocampus Volume Is Associated with Short Variant of 5-HTTLPR Polymorphism in Medication-Free Major Depressive Disorder Patients

WOS: 000284154500004PubMed ID: 20962544Aim: Serotonin is known for its importance in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder. Although the hippocampus is one of the key regions in which neurogenesis occurs, and serotonin plays an important role in neurogenesis, results of studies that investigate effect of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism on hippocampal volumes in major depressive disorder are inconclusive. Method: We looked for a relationship between the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and hippocampal volumes in 44 depressed patients (mean age +/- SD 33.6 +/- 9.5 years) and 43 healthy controls (30.4 +/- 6.7 years). Region of interest analysis was conducted on the images acquired via MRI. Results: Although hippocampal volumes were similar in healthy and patient groups, there was a significant interaction between genotype and diagnosis on hippocampus volumes. Post-hoc ANCOVA showed that hippocampal volumes of S/S homozygous depressed patients were smaller compared to healthy controls in both hemispheres. Conclusion: The 5-HTTLPR polymorphism has an effect on hippocampal volumes of depressed patients, which is apparent only in S/S genotype. It seems that decreased neurogenesis by effects of reduced serotoninergic transmission may be responsible for smaller hippocampal volumes observed in S/S homozygous depressed patients. Copyright (C) 2010 S. Karger AG, Base