Rare occurrence of common filaggrin mutations in Turkish children with food allergy and atopic dermatitis

Background/aim: Filaggrin is a protein complex involved in epidermal differentiation and skin barrier formation. Mutations of the filaggrin gene (FLG) are associated with allergen sensitization and allergic diseases like atopic dermatitis (AD), allergic rhinitis, food allergy (FA), and asthma. The aim of the study is to reveal the frequency of change in the FLG gene and determine the association between FLG loss-of-function (LOF) mutations and FA and/or AD in Turkish children. Materials and methods: Four FLG loss-of-function (LOF) mutations known to be common in European populations were analyzed in 128 healthy children, 405 food-allergic children with or without atopic dermatitis, and 61 children with atopic dermatitis. PCRRFLP was performed for genotyping R501X, 2282del4, and R2447X mutations; S3247X was genotyped using a TaqMan-based allelic discrimination assay. Results were confirmed by DNA sequence analysis in 50 randomly chosen patients for all mutations. Results: A total of 466 patients [(67% male, 1 (0.7–2.8) years] and 128 healthy controls [59% male, 2.4 (1.4–3.5) years)] were included in this study. Two patients were heterozygous carriers of wild-type R501X, but none of the controls carried this mutation. Three patients and one healthy control were heterozygous carriers of wild-type 2282del4. Neither patients nor controls carried R2447X or S3247X FLG mutations. There were no combined mutations determined in heterozygous mutation carriers. Conclusions: Although R501X, 2282del4, R2447X, and S3247X mutations are very common in European populations, we found that FLG mutations were infrequent and there is no significant association with food allergy and/or atopic dermatitis in Turkish individuals. © TÜBİTAK

The WHO global alliance against chronic respiratory diseases in Turkey (GARD Turkey)

In order to prevent and control non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the 61st World Health Assembly has endorsed an NCD action plan (WHA resolution 61.14). A package for essential NCDs including chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) has also been developed. The Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD) is a new but rapidly developing voluntary alliance that is assisting World Health Organization (WHO) in the task of addressing NCDs at country level. The GARD approach was initiated in 2006. GARD Turkey is the first comprehensive programme developed by a government with all stakeholders of the country. This paper provides a summary of indicators of the prevalence and severity of chronic respiratory diseases in Turkey and the formation of GARD Turkey

Overweight/obesity and respiratory and allergic disease in children: International study of asthma and allergies in childhood (ISAAC) phase two

Background: Childhood obesity and asthma are increasing worldwide. A possible link between the two conditions has been postulated. Methods: Cross-sectional studies of stratified random samples of 8-12-year-old children (n=10 652) (16 centres in affluent and 8 centres in non-affluent countries) used the standardized methodology of ISAAC Phase Two. Respiratory and allergic symptoms were ascertained by parental questionnaires. Tests for allergic disease were performed. Height and weight were measured, and overweight and obesity were defined according to international definitions. Prevalence rates and prevalence odds ratios were calculated. Results: Overweight (odds ratio=1.14, 95%-confidence interval: 0.98; 1.33) and obesity (odds ratio=1.67, 95%-confidence interval: 1.25; 2.21) were related to wheeze. The relationship was stronger in affluent than in non-affluent centres. Similar results were found for cough and phlegm, rhinitis and eczema but the associations were mostly driven by children with wheeze. There was a clear association of overweight and obesity with airways obstruction (change in FEV1/FVC, 20.90, 95%-confidence interval: 21.33%; 20.47%, for overweight and 22.46%, 95%-confidence interval: 23.84%; 21.07%, for obesity) whereas the results for the other objective markers, including atopy, were null. Conclusions: Our data from a large international child population confirm that there is a strong relation of body mass index with wheeze especially in affluent countries. Moreover, body mass index is associated with an objective marker of airways obstruction (FEV1/FVC) but no other objective markers of respiratory and allergic disorders. © 2014 Weinmayr et al