Introduction Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by the complex interaction of genetic, immune and environmental factors such as food and airborne allergens. The atopy patch test (APT) is a useful way to determine delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions to food and aeroallergens. Many studies have also suggested that food additives are associated with dermatologic adverse reactions and the aggravation of pre-existing atopic dermatitis symptoms. Aim To elucidate the contact sensitivity to food additives in children suffering from AD by using standardized atopy patch testing. Material and methods A total of 45 children with AD and 20 healthy children have been enrolled. All the children have regularly consumed food containing additives, and were subjected to atopy patch tests. Results In total, 28 (62%) children with AD and 4 (20%) healthy children have had positive patch test reactions to ≥ 1 allergens. There has been a significant difference ( p = 0.04) between the groups in terms of the positivity rate in the patch test and the most common allergen that elicited positive patch test results in the AD group was azorubine ( n = 11, 24.4%, p = 0.014). Conclusions In our study, contact sensitivity was detected more frequently in AD patients. Food additives may play a role in the development and exacerbation of AD. Atopy patch testing with food additives can be useful in the treatment and follow-up of children with AD.

Çok sayıda çalışma, anafilaksisi olan hastalara reçete edilen adrenalin oto enjektörlerinin doğru kullanımının, eğitime ek olarak oto enjektörün tasarımı ile ilişkili olduğunu göstermiştir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, anafilaksisi olan hastalara reçete edilen iki farklı oto enjektörün kullanımı ile ilgili olarak erişkinlerin becerilerini karşılaştırmaktır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Alerji Polikliniği'ne sevk edilen 1 ile 18 yaş arasındaki hastaların ebeveynleri çalışmaya alındı. Bulgular: Dokuz merkezden toplam 630 gönüllü çalışmaya alındı. Katılımcıların 457'si (%72,5) kadın ve 235'i (%37,3) üniversite öğrencisi idi. Katılımcılar tarafından oto enjektör numune uygulama basamaklarının hepsinin doğru bir şekilde gösterilme oranı, EpiPen için %60,2 (n=379) ve Penepin için %42,9 (n=270) olarak saptandı (p<0,001). Her iki oto enjektör numunesi ile yapılan en sık hata,

ABSTRACT. Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disorder and is the most frequent of the periodic febrile inflammatory syndromes. The pathogenesis of the disease is not completely understood, even though the FMF gene has been identified. Oxidative stress and inflammation may play a role in the pathogenesis of FMF. We investigated gene polymorphisms of the antioxidative enzymes, glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and paraoxonase (PON) in FMF patients, and possible associations with FMF pathogenesis. Sixty FMF patients during an attack-free period and 51 healthy children as the control group were included in our study. PON1 Q/R192 and GPX1 Pro197Leu gene polymorphisms were assayed. Blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and serum lipid profile were also measured. PON1 Q/R192 genotype distribution was 52% QQ, 46% QR and 2% RR in the FMF group and 45% QQ, 45% QR and 10% RR in the control group (P > Familial Mediterranean fever 0.05). GPX1 Pro197Leu genotype distribution was 28% PP, 57% PL, 15% LL in the FMF group and 18% PP, 53% PL, 29% LL in the control group (P > 0.05). Blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, lipid levels, and the distribution of PON1 Q/R192 and GPX1 Pro197Leu genotypes were similar in the two groups. We conclude that the PON1 Q/R192 and GPX1 Pro197Leu gene polymorphisms are not important risk factors in the development of FMF. However, larger studies are warranted to validate these conclusions.

Increased thrombophilic tendency in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) has recently been reported. The determinants of thrombosis in children with CF remain largely unknown. Our aim in this study was to evaluate the thromboelastography (TEG) profile of children with CF through ROTEM (whole blood rotation thromboelastometry). Nineteen patients with CF and 20 controls were included in the study. Whole blood count, prothrombin time, activated prothrombin time, fibrinogen, d-dimer levels, and ROTEM assays (INTEM, EXTEM) were performed. Clotting time, clot formation time (CFT), and maximum clot firmness (MCF) were determined by INTEM and EXTEM analysis. In INTEM assay, MCF ( P = .001) value was significantly increased and CFT ( P = .031) value was decreased in patients with CF compared with those of the control group. In the EXTEM assay, there was a similar significant increase in MCF ( P = .023) value in patients with CF compared with that of the control group. There was a significant positive correlation between fibrinogen levels and MCF in EXTEM ( r = .72) and INTEM ( r = .76) assays, whereas there was a negative correlation with CFT in EXTEM ( r = -.61) and INTEM ( r = -.67). The results of our study indicated that TEG profiles in patients with CF were more hypercoagulable compared with those of the control group.

The prevalence of exercise-induced nasal obstruction in children with seasonal rhinitis out of the pollen season is 40%. We showed that minimal persistent inflammation and nasal symptoms can also be diagnosed in rhinitis children in a symptom-free period.

How to cite/Atıf için: Anıl H, Şahbudak B. Parental anxiety and depression levels associated with challenge tests in children with suspected drug and food allergies.

Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a rare, potentially life-threatening, drug-induced hypersensitivity reaction that includes rash, hematologic abnormalities, lymphadenopathy, and internal organ involvement. The pathogenesis of DRESS syndrome is partially understood. Various medications have been described as the cause of DRESS syndrome. Phenytoin and allopurinol are the most commonly reported culprit drugs, although more than 50 drugs can induce DRESS syndrome. Members of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) superfamily are the most commonly involved enzymes in metabolism of drugs such as phenytoin. This case report addresses the influence of CYP2C9 genetic polymorphism (a single nucleotide polymorphism) on phenytoin drug metabolism, thereby causing DRESS syndrome.

A 17-year-old girl was admitted to our unit with weight loss, dyspnoea, arthralgia and sinusitis. Her medical history was noteworthy for bronchial asthma and she required systemic steroid therapy. Her mother had a history of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). Laboratory tests revealed excessive eosinophilia and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation. The assay for peripheral antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies was negative. Histopathological examination of lung biopsy revealed EGPA. The patient was treated with methylpredinosolone; her eosinophil count normalised and she began to improve clinically and radiographically. There is no genetic factor to influence susceptibility to this disease. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second report of familial EGPA disease in the literature, with a mother and daughter both being affected. EGPA disease should be kept in mind in a patient with uncontrolled asthma and eosinophilia with a positive family history for EGPA.