Publications (3)2.41 Total impact
-
Article: Evaluation of respiratory viral pathogens in acute asthma exacerbations during childhood.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Common upper respiratory tract viruses are the most frequent and important causes of asthma exacerbations in both children and adults. Prospective epidemiologic studies report that up to 80% of childhood exacerbations are associated with viral upper respiratory tract infections. The study group consisted of 104 children with asthma aged 3-17 years who received treatment for asthma exacerbations in our clinic between September 2009 and 2010. Nasopharyngeal and nasal swabs were obtained from all patients during an acute attack, and from the control group (31 subjects). These specimens were investigated for the presence of viral respiratory pathogens using a real-time multiplex PCR method. The patients were compared for the presence of respiratory pathogens and factors related to the severity of the asthma exacerbation. A pathogenic respiratory virus was detected in 53.8% of patients in the acute exacerbation group. The most commonly encountered viral agent was Rhinovirus (35.6%). Patients who had an acute exacerbation with or without a detectable viral pathogen were compared according to the severity of the exacerbation, the need for systemic steroids, and hospitalization rates. No statistically significant difference was found. Although viral upper respiratory tract infections are the most common cause of asthma exacerbations, the severity level of the exacerbation seems to be independent of whether a respiratory virus has been detected.Journal of Asthma 09/2011; 48(9):888-93. · 1.52 Impact Factor -
Article: The relationship between serum selenium levels and frequent wheeze in children.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: As an antioxidant, selenium stimulates Th1 immune response against viral infections, and may play a role in the pathogenesis of frequent wheeze due to respiratory viral infections during the first year of life. We investigated the level of selenium in children with frequent wheeze who had no atopic diseases and no family history of atopy to determine whether selenium has an effect on the severity of the diseases. Sixty-one children with frequent wheeze who were in the asymptomatic period and had had no infectious disease for two months and an equal number of age- and sex-matched children, as a control group, without atopy or allergy or systemic diseases were enrolled in the study. In the study group, we determined the levels of serum selenium, total IgE, mixed specific IgE, and total eosinophil count, and we performed epidermal prick tests. Serum selenium levels were (mean and SEM) 61.95 +/- 1.23 microg/L in the study group and 72.71 +/- 1.28 microg/L in the control group (p < 0.001), and there was a negative correlation between the serum selenium levels and number of wheeze attacks during the previous year (r = -0.655; p < 0.001). As a result, selenium may play a role in the progression of respiratory infections during childhood and can be accepted as a risk factor for development of wheezing.The Turkish journal of pediatrics 48(4):308-12. · 0.44 Impact Factor -
Article: Cow's milk allergic patients should be informed of the sources of caseinate.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Cow's milk allergy is one of the most common food allergies prevalent during infancy and it may cause anaphylactic reactions in more sensitive patients. Cow's milk is found in a large variety of processed foods but its presence may be hidden as it is occasionally listed on the product label in an manner unrecognizable to the consumer. The parents of more sensitive patients need to be instructed in the detection of these potential sources of hidden cow's milk by judiciously reading food labels and in recognition of the sources, thus avoiding possible untoward reactions. We report a patient with cow's milk allergy who had an anaphylactic reaction following the ingestion of a hot dog product that contained caseinate. The label of the ingested hot dog product listed only the code number of caseinate. Avoidance of such occurrences would be more likely if firstly food products were labeled more accurately and secondly if physicians were to instruct their patients more thoroughly about their allergies, including the relevant names of all allergens.The Turkish journal of pediatrics 45(2):165-6. · 0.44 Impact Factor
Top co-authors
Top Journals
Institutions
-
2011
-
Ankara Children's Hematology Oncology Training and Research Hospital
Ankara, Ankara, Turkey
-
