Evaluation of The Relationship Between Autism Spectrum Disorders and Season of Birth

Objectives:It has been suggested that the birth season, vitamin D deficiency and maternal infections play a role in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Although there are inconsistencies in the available data, studies examining the relationship between ASD and the birth season are limited in our country. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the relationship between ASD and the birth season.Materials and Methods:The study sample consisted of 1,523 cases between the ages of 0-18 who were diagnosed with ASD who applied to the Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) Child Psychiatry outpatient clinic between January 2006 and October 2020. The patients were screened retrospectively with the Nucleus® Outpatient Clinic system. Information on the birth date, first application date, application diagnosis, total number of applications, age of diagnosis and gender were obtained from the system. Data were analyzed with SPSS v22.0.Results:A total of 4,001 applications diagnosed with ASD to the OMU Child Psychiatry outpatient clinic between 2006 and 2020 were found to belong to 1,523 individual patients. The mean age at first admission to the outpatient clinic was determined as 72.9 months. The most frequent first application was at 37 months. Of the 1,523 patients who applied in total, 75.3% (n=1,147) were male and 24.7% (n=376) were female. Considering the number of applications by years, the linear increase in the number of applications between 2006 and 2015 draws attention. When the birth seasons were analyzed, it was observed that the autumn births were statistically significantly higher (χ²: 19.763, p=0.001).Conclusion:In our study, a significant relationship was found between ASD and the birth season. In order to compare parturition seasonality, more comprehensive studies are needed to examine other confounding factors such as viral infections, vitamin D level, and maternal metabolic status in larger data sets

Facial colliculus syndrome due to a Herpes simplex virus infection following Herpes labialis

Background. The facial colliculus is an elevated area that is formed by fibers from the motor nucleus of the 7'th cranial nerve as they loop over the abducens nucleus. Clinical signs and symptoms of facial colliculus lesions occur primarily due to injury to the abducens nerve nucleus, the facial nerve fibers around the abducens nucleus, paramedian pontine reticular formation, and the medial longitudinal fasciculus. The etiology of facial colliculus lesions varies by age. While tumors, demyelinating lesions, and viral infections can be involved in young individuals' etiology, vascular ischemia is a common causative factor in older people. Case. In this paper, we present a case of facial colliculus syndrome due to its rare occurrence in a young patient; who developed the signs and symptoms after a herpes infection. Conclusion. Facial colliculus syndrome is rare and the treatment is based on etiology

Evaluation of Patients Admitted to Pediatric Emergency Outpatient Clinic with Non-Traumatic Neurological Complaint

INTRODUCTION: Pediatric Emergency Outpatient Clinic are the units where treated the entire range of emergent and urgent medical conditions. Patients present with a wide range of complaints. Determining the general distribution, frequency and density of Pediatric Emergency Outpatient Clinic applications is of great importance in order to make appropriate future plans. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the clinical features of patients presenting with non-traumatic neurological complaints

A Comparison of Hair and Serum Trace Elements in Patients with Alzheimer Disease and Healthy Participants

Background/aim: To determine whether there was a difference between serum and hair trace elements' concentrations in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) and healthy participants. Materials and methods: Hair and serum copper, selenium, zinc, magnesium, manganese, and iron levels were measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry in patients with AD and healthy participants, and the obtained results were statistically compared. Results: The mean hair selenium and zinc levels of patients with AD were significantly lower than the levels found for control participants (P 0.05). Hair and serum trace element (copper, selenium, zinc, magnesium, manganese, and iron) levels in patients with AD showed no significant difference according to mini mental test scores or sex (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Some trace element levels may change in patients with AD. Due to the more permanent status, the analysis of these element levels in hair might be superior to blood analysis.WoSScopu

A comparison of hair and serum trace elements in patients with Alzheimer disease and healthy participants

Background/aim: To determine whether there was a difference between serum and hair trace elements' concentrations in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) and healthy participants. Materials and methods: Hair and serum copper, selenium, zinc, magnesium, manganese, and iron levels were measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry in patients with AD and healthy participants, and the obtained results were statistically compared. Results: The mean hair selenium and zinc levels of patients with AD were significantly lower than the levels found for control participants (P < 0.05). Patients with AD had significantly higher mean hair copper and manganese levels than the controls. There were no significant differences between AD patients and controls with respect to the hair iron and magnesium levels (P > 0.05). Hair and serum trace element (copper, selenium, zinc, magnesium, manganese, and iron) levels in patients with AD showed no significant difference according to mini mental test scores or sex (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Some trace element levels may change in patients with AD. Due to the more permanent status, the analysis of these element levels in hair might be superior to blood analysis

Re-examining the characteristics of pediatric multiple sclerosis in the era of antibody-associated demyelinating syndromes.

Background: The discovery of anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-IgG and anti-aquaporin 4 (AQP4)-IgG and the observation on certain patients previously diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) actually have an antibody-mediated disease mandated re-evaluation of pediatric MS series. Aim: To describe the characteristics of recent pediatric MS cases by age groups and compare with the cohort established before 2015. Method: Data of pediatric MS patients diagnosed between 2015 and 2021 were collected from 44 pediatric neurology centers across Turkiye. Clinical and paraclinical features were compared between patients with dis-ease onset before 12 years (earlier onset) and >= 12 years (later onset) as well as between our current (2015-2021) and previous (< 2015) cohorts. Results: A total of 634 children (456 girls) were enrolled, 89 (14%) were of earlier onset. The earlier-onset group had lower female/male ratio, more frequent initial diagnosis of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), more frequent brainstem symptoms, longer interval between the first two attacks, less frequent spinal cord involvement on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and lower prevalence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-restricted oligoclonal bands (OCBs). The earlier-onset group was less likely to respond to initial disease-modifying treatments. Compared to our previous cohort, the current series had fewer patients with onset < 12 years, initial presentation with ADEM-like features, brainstem or cerebellar symptoms, seizures, and spinal lesions on MRI. The female/male ratio, the frequency of sensorial symptoms, and CSF-restricted OCBs were higher than reported in our previous cohort. Conclusion: Pediatric MS starting before 12 years was less common than reported previously, likely due to exclusion of patients with antibody-mediated diseases. The results underline the importance of antibody testing and indicate pediatric MS may be a more homogeneous disorder and more similar to adult-onset MS than previously thought