Can allergy patch tests with food additives help to diagnose the cause in childhood chronic spontaneous urticaria?

WOS: 000551559000015PubMed: 32792880Introduction: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is characterized by the onset of symptoms which are not induced by specific triggers, but are rather spontaneous. A considerable number of patients report that foods or food additives might be responsible for their chronic urticaria. Aim: To determine the prevalence of sensitization to food additives in children with CSU using atopy patch tests (ATP). Material and methods: Atopy patch tests for 23 different food additives were applied to 120 children with CSU and 61 healthy controls. Results: Seventeen (14.1%) children with CSU were sensitized with food additives. None of the control group had positive APT. Azorubine and Cochineal red were the food additives detected with the highest sensitization rates (5.8% (n = 7) and 6.7% (n = 8), respectively). Conclusions: There can be an association between food additives and CSU. APT tests may be a helpful tool in the assessment and management of CSU so that easier to follow diets and effective treatments can be offered to families

Estado oxidante e antioxidante de crianças com bronquiolite aguda

OBJETIVO: O estresse oxidativo demonstrou contribuir para a patogênese de doenças pulmonares inflamatórias agudas e crônicas. Nosso objetivo foi avaliar o estado oxidante/antioxidante de crianças com bronquiolite aguda por meio de mensuração da capacidade antioxidante total do plasma, estado oxidante total e índice de estresse oxidativo. MÉTODOS: As crianças com bronquiolite aguda encaminhadas para o Departamento de Emergência Pediátrica do hospital universitário entre janeiro e abril 2012 foram comparadas a controles saudáveis de mesma idade. Os pacientes com bronquiolite aguda tiveram essa doença classificada como leve e moderada. O estado oxidante e antioxidante foi avaliado pela mensuração da capacidade antioxidante total do plasma, estado oxidante total e índice de estresse oxidativo. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídas 31 crianças com bronquiolite aguda com idade de três meses a dois anos e 37 crianças saudáveis. O estado oxidante total (EOT) foi maior em pacientes com bronquiolite aguda do que no grupo de controle (5,16±1,99 µmol H2O2 em comparação a 3,78±1,78 µmol H2O2 [p = 0,004]). A capacidade antioxidante total (CAT) foi significativamente menor em crianças com bronquiolite que no grupo de controle (2,51±0,37 µmol Trolox equivalente/L em comparação a 2,75±0,39 µmol Trolox Eqv/L) (p = 0,013). Os pacientes com bronquiolite moderada apresentaram níveis de EOT mais elevados que os com bronquiolite leve e os do grupo de controle (p = 0,03, p < 0,001). Os pacientes com bronquiolite moderada apresentaram níveis de IEO mais elevados que os do grupo de controle (p = 0,015). O nível de saturação de oxigênio de pacientes com bronquiolite foi inversamente correlacionado ao nível de EOT (r = -0,476, p < 0,05). CONCLUSÃO: O equilíbrio entre os sistemas oxidante e antioxidante é interrompido em crianças com bronquiolite moderada, indicando que o fator de estresse poderá ter um papel na patogênese da doença

Retinal Artery Occlusion Secondary to Buerger’s Disease (Thromboangiitis Obliterans)

Purpose. To report a case report of one patient suffering from retinal artery occlusion secondary to Buerger’s disease, in order to raise awareness to this etiology in the differential diagnosis of retinal artery occlusion. Methods. A retrospective case report of a patient with retinal artery occlusion secondary to Buerger’s disease. Data retrieved from the medical records included exposure, complaints, visual acuity, clinical findings and imaging, laboratory assessment, treatment, disease course, and visual outcome. Results. Diagnosis of retinal artery occlusion secondary to Buerger’s disease was established based on ruling out other causes of retinal artery occlusion. Inflammatory retinal vascular disease, permanent vision loss, and macular atrophy were shown in this case. Conclusion. The very first case of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) in a 64-year-old male patient with Buerger’s disease. Although diagnosing CRAO based on both fundoscopic and fluorescein angiographic findings is not difficult, revealing underlying condition of CRAO occasionally could be challenging

Comparison of Salivary Cortisol, Serum Cortisol, Plasma ACTH and Urinary Free Cortisol Levels in Thyrotoxic and Hypothyroid Patients

Objective: Hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is affected by thyroid hormones. The present study was designed to compare the level of salivary cortisol, serum cortisol, plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and urinary free cortisol (UFC) levels in patients with subclinical and overt thyrotoxicosis and hypothyroidism. Material and Methods: We analyzed the salivary cortisol, serum cortisol, plasma ACTH and UFC levels in 123 patients with thyroid dysfunction. The patients were classified into four groups; overt thyrotoxicosis (n=32), subclinical thyrotoxicosis (n=29), overt hypothyroidism (n=28) and subclinical hypothyroidism (n=34). Results: There were no significant differences in terms of salivary cortisol, serum cortisol, plasma ACTH and UFC levels in patients with subclinical and overt thyrotcodcosis (p>0.05). Similarly, no significant differences could be detected in terms of salivary cortisol, serum cortisol, plasma ACTH and UFC levels in patients with subclinical and overt hypothyroidism (p>0.05). The comparison of patients with hypothyroidism and thyrotoxicosis also did not yield any significant difference in terms of salivary cortisol, serum conisol, plasma ACTH and UFC levels (p>0.05). Conclusion: Similar salivary cortisol, serum cortisol, plasma ACTH and UFC levels were detected in patients with hypothyroidism and thyrotoxicosis. Thus, we may suggest that thyroid hormone status does not play a role in the HPA axis. The major limitation of this study was the absence of a healthy control group. Further studies with large numbers of patients are required to clarify the association between thyroid hormone dysfunction and glucocorticoid levels

Radiation-Induced Ocular Surface Disorders and Retinopathy: Ocular Structures and Radiation Dose-Volume Effect

Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the radiation-induced adverse effects on ocular structures in head and neck cancer patients and investigate the radiation dose-volume effects on the cornea, lacrimal gland, retina, optic nerve and chiasm. Materials and Methods A total of 38 eyes of 19 patients were included in this prospective, cohort study. All patients underwent complete ophthalmological examination in addition to contrast sensitivity, visual field and visual evoked potentials (VEP) tests. Ophthalmological examinations and psychophysical tests were performed in 6th, 12th, 18th, 24th months and in the last visit. The relationship between the ophthalmologic findings, and the radiation doses below and above the cut-off values was evaluated. Results Contrast sensitivity decrease and visual field deterioration were observed in 42% of the patients in the last visit (median 26 months) whereas a prolonged latency and decreased amplitude of P100 wave in VEP was observed in 58% and 33% of the eyes, respectively at 24th month. Totally 16 patients (84.2%) developed dry eye disease and eight of them received radiotherapy below tolerance doses and had mild to moderate dry eye findings. Radiation-induced retinopathy was observed in three of the eyes in eight patients who received radiation above tolerance dose. Conclusion Head and neck cancers treated with radiotherapy, resulted in various ophthalmic complications. All patients who are treating with radiotherapy should be evaluated by an ophthalmologist in terms of anterior and posterior segment damage, even if the radiation dose is below the tolerance limit

Plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in children with chronic spontaneous urticaria

İstanbul Bilim Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi.Purpose: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a disease that is primarily seen in adults and is comparatively rare in children. Consequently, only a few studies have focused on the pathogenesis of the disease in children. This study investigated the possible role of metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in the pathogenesis of CSU in children. Methods: The study group was composed of 54 children with CSU; 34 healthy children comprised the control group. The demographic and clinical features of the study group were extensively evaluated, and laboratory assessments were also performed. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to evaluate levels of plasma MMP-9. Disease activity was quantified using the urticaria activity score (UAS)