This study shows that primary school teachers are not well informed about anaphylaxis. Teachers should be given training on the subject, and there should be a re-evaluation of school and health policies with a wider global perspective. There is an urgent need to inquire into the allergy management plans and policies in schools and to develop teacher education organizations on the subject.

Aims/Methods: We established age- and sex-related reference ranges for serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) levels in 807 healthy Turkish children (428 boys, 379 girls), and constructed a model for calculation of standard deviation scores of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 according to age, sex and pubertal stage. Results: Serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations tended to be higher in girls compared to boys of the same ages, but the differences were statistically significant only in pubertal ages (9–14 years) for IGF-I and only in prepubertal ages for IGFBP-3 (6–8 years) (p < 0.05). Peak IGF-I concentrations were observed earlier in girls than boys (14 vs. 15 years, Tanner stage IV vs. V) starting to decline thereafter. IGFBP-3 levels peaked at age 13 and at Tanner stage IV in both sexes with a subsequent fall. Serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 increased steadily with age in the prepubertal stage followed by a rapid increase in IGF-I in the early pubertal stages. A relatively steeper increase in IGF-I but not in IGFBP-3 levels was observed at age 10–11 years in girls and at 12–13 years in boys which preceded the reported age of pubertal growth spurt. At late pubertal stages, both IGF-I and IGFBP-3 either did not change or decreased by increasing age. Interrelationships between growth factors and anthropometric measurements have been described, and the physiologic consequences of these have been discussed in detail. Conclusions: Differences in the pattern of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in the present paper and those reported in other studies emphasize the importance of locally established reference ranges. Establishment of this reference data and a standard deviation score prediction model based on age, sex and puberty will enhance the diagnostic power and utility of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in evaluating growth disorders in our population.

US/LS ratio and armspan-height difference are practical parameters and easy to perform in any setting. We hope that these standards will aid clinicians in the evaluation of children with short stature.

We suggest that H. pylori may impair growth significantly only in susceptible children where unfavorable socioeconomic conditions facilitate its action, probably through mechanisms, at least in part, involving growth-related molecules.

Transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancy (THI) is characterized by recurrent infections and one or more reduced serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels. Usually, this clinical picture resolves spontaneously by 3 yr of age. However, hypogammaglobulinemia persists until adolescence in some patients. In recent years, those patients have been classified as undefined/unclassified hypogammaglobulinemia (UCH). We aimed to evaluate the clinical and immunologic features of patients with THI and UCH considering age of recovery and to assess relationships between hypogammaglobulinemia, infections, and allergic manifestations. We reviewed the medical records of children followed with a diagnosis of hypogammaglobulinemia from 2001 to 2007. Patients with decreased levels (<2 s.d.) of one or more major Ig isotypes (IgG, IgA, IgM) with normal antibody responses and lymphocyte subpopulations were included (n = 374). Those patients whose Igs normalized during the follow-up period were classified as THI and the others as UCH. The THI group consisted of 71 patients (27 females, 44 males) with a mean recovery age of 68.87 +/- 36.5 months. About 95% of patients with THI recovered before 10 yr of age. The UCH group consisted of 303 patients (105 females, 198 males) with a mean age at diagnosis of 52 +/- 42 months. The most common presenting manifestations in the THI and UCH groups were upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), lower respiratory tract infections, and asthma (42%, 50%, and 52% in the THI group vs. 39%, 53%, and 55% in the UCH group, respectively). In the THI group, the prevalence of atopic disease was related to age and found to be increased markedly after 44 months. In all patients, the prevalence of asthma was independently and positively associated with family history of atopy and age, whereas it was negatively associated with recurrent URTIs. Patients with THI and UCH have similar clinical and immunologic features. The normalization of Igs may be delayed in a majority of the patients with hypogammaglobulinemia. This observation may be a contribution to the classical definition and diagnostic criteria for THI.

Recurrent abdominal pain associated with gastric mucosal injury plays a role in a decrease in BMI independent of H. pylori infection. However, if recurrent abdominal pain originates from H. pylori infection, it appears that linear growth is also affected.

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• Corticosteroids (CSs) are widely used for a variety of diseases including nephrotic syndrome, which is related with complex immune disturbance including T and B cells dysfunctions. • CSs induce neutrophilic leukocytosis concomitant with lymphopenia and eosinopenia leading to immunosupression. What is New: • T cell subsets and proliferation are susceptible to CSs more than B cells; however, the reversibility is faster with dose reduction in CS. • The change of B cells and B cell subtypes (CD27 (+) memory) shows prolonged effect of CSs on B cells which may alter antibody production even after 3 months of CSs cessation.