The impact of childhood obesity on iron deficiency and its relationship with hepcidin, leptin, interleukin-6

WOS: 000392950600003Objective: The relationship between iron deficiency, and obesity has been shown in recent years. The reason is thought to be the anemia of chronic disease caused by chronic inflammation originating from adipose tissue. Our aim is to determine the relationship between obesity and iron deficiency, the place of hepcidin in iron homeostasis, and inflammation occurring in obesity, and also demonstrate its effect of the parametres of iron metabolism in obese children. Methods: This study was performed with 54 obese (body mass index (BMI)>95p) and 51 normal weighted (BMI: 5-95p) children aged between 5-16 years. In two groups serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), ferritin, hemoglobin, transferrin saturation index (TSI), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), leptin and hepcidin were studied. Results: When compared with the control group; decreased serum iron (p=0.004), hemoglobin (Hb) (p=0.010), TSI (p=0.001), increased hepcidin (p=0.001), TDBK (p=0.041), leptin (p=0.001), CRP (p=0.001) levels were found in obese children. In 18 cases (%33.3) decreased levels of Hb were detected, while in 8 of these cases (% 14.8) the parameters were found compatible with iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Five cases (% 9.2) were accepted as anemia of chronic disease. In the obese group the number of patients with IDA was found statistically significantly higher (p=0.032). Besides higher BMI (p=0.001), however decreased hepcidin (p=0.008), and ferritin (p=0.006) levels were detected in anemia patients. Conclusion: In our study obesity was found to be associated with iron deficiency. The effect of hepcidin was shown to be the cause of iron deficiency. Every study to be performed in order to understand the relationship between inflammation, obesity and erythropoiesis will contribute to the development of nutritional, and/or pharmacological therapies with the aim to prevent the onset of iron deficiency in obese patients

Effect of Prophylactic Antibiotic Use in the Development of Antibiotic Resistance in Children with Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections

WOS: 000423909700010Aim: Although prophylactic antibiotic treatment is still debatable, it is currently in use in recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). In the present study, we aimed to observe if prophylactic antibiotic use had any effect on the development of antibiotic resistance in patients with recurrent UTIs who we followed up in our clinic. Methods: The present study was performed on patients aged between one month and 16 years, who had recurrent UTIs, and were followed up by the Department of Pediatrics at Bulent Ecevit University Medical School. Patient files were retrospectively reviewed, and 50 patients who received antibiotic prophylaxis and 100 patients without prophylaxis were enrolled in the study. Urinary tests, subsequent urinary culture results, and antibiotic resistances were compared between the groups. Results: The mean age was 42.7 +/- 44.2 months. The most frequently cultured isolated bacterium was Escherichia coli (E. coli) (58.4%). No difference was determined in bacteria in cultures between prophylaxis receivers and non-receivers. Isolation rate of E. coli was higher in urinary cultures in females than in males (p<0.001). When antibiotic resistance of all urinary culture-isolated bacteria was compared between the two groups, there was no statistically significant difference. However, an increased resistance against amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ceftriaxone, and piperacillin was determined in prophylaxis group in whom E. coli was grown. In this study, general antibiotic resistance was most frequently observed against ampicillin (71.9%). Conclusion: In the present study, we observed that prophylaxis did not contribute so much to resistance other than E. coli. We recommend not preferring antibiotics which have increased resistance in our institution especially in children receiving prophylaxis for empirical treatment

Performance enhancement of inverted type organic solar cells by using Eu doped TiO2 thin film

WOS: 000418617000010In the present work, europium (Eu) has been used as a dopant element in titanium dioxide (TiO2) crystal structure to enhance the photovoltaic performance of the inverted type organic solar cells fabricated with TiO2 thin film as an electron transport layer. Poly(3-hexylthiophene): phenylC61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT: PCBM) blend has been used as an active layer and Eu: TiO2 thin films have been fabricated with different Eu concentrations as 0, 1, 5, 7 and 10% (w/w) by sol-gel method. Effect of Eu doping concentration on the photovoltaic performance of the inverted type solar cells has been investigated. Inverted type organic solar cells using Eu doped TiO2 thin films as electron transport layer has been fabricated as a structure of ITO/Eu:TiO2/P3HT: PCBM/Ag. Power conversion efficiency of the fabricated solar cells increased from 1.16% to 2.47% at 5% Eu doping concentration. Electron transport and hole blocking properties of the TiO2 inter layer has been improved by Eu doping.Ahi Evran UniversityAhi Evran University [MMF.A3.16.009]This research is supported by Ahi Evran University Grant no.: MMF.A3.16.009

Influence of Gln223Arg polymorphism of the leptin receptor gene on obesity in Turkish children

WOS: 00027048990043

Fe doped TiO2 thin film as electron selective layer for inverted solar cells

WOS: 000377311400044Inverted P3HT:PCBM based organic solar cells were fabricated by using Fe2+ doped TiO2 films as electron selective layer. Pure and Fe2+ doped TiO2 films were prepared by sol gel method and the optical as well as the structural properties of the thin films were characterized by UV-Vis spectrophotometer and SEM. The concentration of Fe2+ was varied as 0.5%, 1%, 2% and 3% (w/w) in TiO2 layer and the influence of Fe2+ doping on the solar cell parameters were systemically investigated. Photocurrent density of the solar cells as increased from 8.75 to 13.8 mA/cm(2), whereas the solar cell efficiency changed from 1.7% to 2.79% by using Fe2+ doped TiO2 electron selective layer. It was experimentally found and demonstrated that charge injection and selection in the TiO2 interlayer was improved by doping of Fe2+ atoms in the TiO2. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.TUBITAKTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [113M935]This research is supported by TUBITAK Grant No.: 113M935

The association between serum vitamin B-12 deficiency and tension-type headache in Turkish children

WOS: 000433091600004PubMed: 29520674This study aimed to determine the relationship between serum vitamin B12 level and tension-type headache. The study groups consisted of 75 patients (40 females, 35 males) with headache and a control group of 49 healthy children (25 females, 24 males). Serum vitamin B12 level < 200 pg/ml was defined as deficient, and < 160 pg/ml as severely deficient. The serum vitamin B12 level was measured by the electrochemiluminescence (ECLIA) method. The serum vitamin B12 levels in the headache and control groups were 273.01 +/- 76.77 and 316.22 +/- 74.53 pg/ml, with the difference determined as statistically significant (p = 0.003). In the case group, 18/75 patients (24%) had a serum vitamin B12 level below the normal of 200 pg/ml, and in the control group 4/49 (8%) patients were also below the normal range (p = 0.021). The serum vitamin B12 level in the children with tensiontype headache was significantly lower than that in the control group. Fromthe results of the study, itwas concluded that there may be an association between vitamin B12 level and tension-type headache. However, further clinical studies are needed

Clinical and molecular evaluation of MEFV gene variants in the Turkish population: a study by the National Genetics Consortium

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a monogenic autoinflammatory disorder with recurrent fever, abdominal pain, serositis, articular manifestations, erysipelas-like erythema, and renal complications as its main features. Caused by the mutations in the MEditerranean FeVer (MEFV) gene, it mainly affects people of Mediterranean descent with a higher incidence in the Turkish, Jewish, Arabic, and Armenian populations. As our understanding of FMF improves, it becomes clearer that we are facing with a more complex picture of FMF with respect to its pathogenesis, penetrance, variant type (gain-of-function vs. loss-of-function), and inheritance. In this study, MEFV gene analysis results and clinical findings of 27,504 patients from 35 universities and institutions in Turkey and Northern Cyprus are combined in an effort to provide a better insight into the genotype-phenotype correlation and how a specific variant contributes to certain clinical findings in FMF patients. Our results may help better understand this complex disease and how the genotype may sometimes contribute to phenotype. Unlike many studies in the literature, our study investigated a broader symptomatic spectrum and the relationship between the genotype and phenotype data. In this sense, we aimed to guide all clinicians and academicians who work in this field to better establish a comprehensive data set for the patients. One of the biggest messages of our study is that lack of uniformity in some clinical and demographic data of participants may become an obstacle in approaching FMF patients and understanding this complex disease