The influence of microwave roasting on bioactive components and chemical parameters of cold pressed fig seed oil

The effect of microwave roasting process on the compositional parameters and bioactive contents of fig seed oil were investigated. Fig seeds were ground and roasted in a microwave oven at 350, 460 and 600 Watt for 5 and 10 minutes and the roasted seeds were processed to obtain oil. The results showed that peroxide, K232 and K270 values were adversely affected by roasting. Fig seed oil was a prosperous source of γ-tocopherol and significant losses were observed due to microwave pre-treatment. The major fatty acids in fig seed oil were linolenic, linoleic and oleic acids; whereas the major triacylglycerols were LnLO, LnLnL, LnLnLn and LnLnO, according to fatty acid profile. The most abundant sterol in the fig seed oil samples was β-sitosterol with 3235.90 to 3625.62 mg/kg, followed by Δ5- and Δ7-avenasterols. The principal component analysis and agglomerative hierarchial clustering served to differentiate between intense and mild microwave-treated oils as well as the unroasted samples.

Clinical characteristics of 47 children with pigmentary mosaicism: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Pigmentary mosaicism (PM), also known as Blaschkoid dyspigmentation, is a rare pigmentary anomaly. Although several case reports have been published describing extracutaneous manifestations associated with PM, there are very few studies on the clinical characteristics of patients with PM.

AIM

To describe the clinical characteristics of patients with PM.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 47 children examined by a dermatologist and a pediatrician. The pattern and location of the PM, type of pigmentation and extracutaneous manifestations were documented.

RESULTS

The most common pattern of PM was narrow-band PM, followed by broad-band and checkerboard patterns. The trunk was the most affected region, followed by the legs and arms. PM manifested as hypopigmentation in 51.1% of cases, as hyperpigmentation in 27.6%, and as hypo/hyperpigmentation in 21.2%. Accompanying diseases were present in 40.4% of patients: neuropsychiatric diseases were the most common, followed by endocrinological or hematological diseases and growth/developmental delay.

CONCLUSION

PM has been associated with several extracutaneous findings but there is still some debate whether these associations reflect different PM phenotypes or whether they are simply coincidental. Our study suggests that extracutaneous involvement in PM patients is frequent, thus warranting careful examination of PM patients.

Determination of risk factors associated with unintentional injury in children: Case-control study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the risk factors associated with unintentional injury in children aged 0-6 years.

DESIGN

This is a case-control study.

SAMPLE

A total of 150 participants (n: 75 case group, n: 75 control group) were included in the study. The case group consisted of mothers of children who had unintentional injuries and the control group was composed of the mothers of children who did not have unintentional injuries.

MEASUREMENTS

Data were collected using the Participant Information Form and the Identification of Safety Precautions of Mothers with 0-6 year-old Children for the Prevention of Unintentional Injuries Scale.

RESULTS

The mean attitude score of the mothers in the case group toward preventing unintentional injury (177.72 ± 15.53) was found to be higher than the mean score of the mothers in the control group (171.64 ± 17.93). An increase in mothers' scores on preventing unintentional injury reduces the risk of children having unintentional injuries 0.98 times.

CONCLUSION

The findings of the study revealed that mothers' attitudes toward preventing injury, the birth order of the child, and the child having a disability increase risk for unintentional injury.

The relationship between helicobacter pylori infection and nodular antral gastritis in pediatric patients

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a spiral-shaped gram-negative bacterium that colonizes the gastric mucosa. It is a common infectious agent in children. In this study, we aim to evaluate the demographic data, and the clinical and histopathological findings of pediatric patients that underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGSE) in our clinic.

METHODS

Between July 2017 and February 2019, 636 patients applied to the Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine, Pediatric Gastroenterology outpatient clinic with complaints of epigastric abdominal pain and/or dyspeptic complaints. Patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were evaluated retrospectively. Data on age, gender, family history of peptic ulcer disease, and family history of H. pylori were recorded. Endoscopic and histopathological findings were collected from medical records.

RESULTS

235 (36.9%) of the patients participating in the study were male, and 401 (63.1%) were female. H. pylori infection was detected in 277 (43.6%) patients as a result of histopathological examination of H. Pylori, urea breath tests and H. Pylori antigen tests in the stools of patients are included in the study. Nodular antral gastritis was detected in 282 (44.3%) of our patients endoscopically. H. pylori was detected in 83.7% (n: 236) of the 282 patients with nodular antral gastritis. Nodular antral gastritis was observed to be significantly higher in H. pylori-positive patients than in H. pylori-negative cases (odds ratio (OR), 39.16; 95% confidence interval (CI), 24.88-61.64; p: <0.001).

CONCLUSION

Nodular antral gastritis is caused by chronic H. pylori infection. It is predicted that early detection of H. pylori infection in children is important and may decrease complications later in life. Our study shows that all the markers evaluated are very good predictors of H. pylori infection. Positive significant association was found between the prevalence of H. pylori infection and nodular antral gastritis.

Evaluation of the 10 Warning Signs in Primary and Secondary Immunodeficient Patients

Objectives

Ten warning signs of primary immunodeficiency (PID) were suggested by the Jeffrey Modell Foundation (JMF), to increase physician awareness of PID. These warning signs have not yet been evaluated for patients with secondary immunodeficiency (SID). This study investigated whether the 10 warning signs used for the diagnosis of PID were also sufficient for the diagnosis of SID, and explored the possibility of additional signs.

Methods

This prospective study was conducted between June and December 2020. The mothers of 162 patients with PID and SID, and mothers of 200 healthy children, were asked to complete a questionnaire about family and personal history in addition to the warning signs of PID developed by the JMF. A JMF score was created by giving one point for each "Yes" answer for the 10 warning signs of PID. Medical records of the patients were evaluated for possible additional warning signs for PID and SID.

Results

The JMF scores of the PID (3.36 ± 1.65) and SID (3.72 ± 1.12) groups were significantly higher than the scores of the control group (0.34 ± 0.61) (p < 0.05). A sign for immunological evaluation in two patients without warning signs in the PID group was found to be chronic diarrhea. In addition to the 10 JMF warning signs, we found that consanguinity and a family history of tuberculosis were statistically significant in our PID group, compared with the SID and control groups.

Conclusions

The JMF warning signs are important for early diagnosis of PID. Our study showed that these signs may also be used for the early diagnosis of SID in patients and, according to our results, in addition to the 10 JMF signs for PID, parental consanguinity, chronic diarrhea, and a family history of tuberculosis may also be considered warning signs for the early diagnosis of PID.

Quantitative assessment of bladder wall vascularity index in children with acute cystitis using superb microvascular imaging

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the vascularization index (VI) obtained using color superb microvascular imaging (cSMI) technique in assessment of the anterior urinary bladder wall in pediatric patients with acute cystitis (AC).

METHODS

The anterior bladder wall of 157 patients (age range 13-84 months, mean 43.62 ± 17.79 months) whose clinical and laboratory findings were proven of AC and 150 healthy asymptomatic participants (age range 13-84 months, mean 43.88 ± 18.11 months) with normal laboratory values were examined using cSMI. VI measurements were performed by manually drawing the contours of the anterior bladder wall using the free region of interest with 2-dimensional cSMI VI (2DcSMIVI) mode. The quantitative 2DcSMIVI values of the symptomatic group and the asymptomatic group were compared. The correlation between the 2DcSMIVI values and the anterior bladder wall thickness (BWT) were analyzed.

RESULTS

The mean 2DcSMIVI values of the BWT were significantly higher in symptomatic group when compared to the asymptomatic group (p<0.001). AC can be diagnosed with a 93% sensitivity, 92% specificity when 3.25% 2DcSMIVI designated as the cutoff value. There was a significant positive correlation between 2DcSMIVI values and BWT (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Two-dimensional cSMI VI can be used effectively in children as an imaging method in the diagnosis of AC.

The clinical effect of gene mutations in familial Mediterranean fever disease

BACKGROUND

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a self-limiting, autoinflammatory disease characterized by inflammation of the serosal surfaces and recurrent episodes of fever. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of genetic mutations on clinical features in children with FMF.

METHODS

A total of 303 patients aged 0-18 years, who were diagnosed with FMF, according to Yalcinkaya-Özen diagnostic criteria and whose Mediterranean fever gene (MEFV) analysis was studied, were evaluated retrospectively. The clinical and demographic characteristics of the patients and the relationship between common alleles and genotypes were investigated.

RESULTS

The most common mutation in patients was M694V heterozygous. When the patients were divided into four groups, M694V homozygous, M694V heterozygous, M694V/other allele combined heterozygous, and other mutations, Arthritis was statistically significantly higher in the group that was M694V homozygous compared to the other groups. It was observed that the presence of the M694V allele significantly increased the frequency of periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, adenitis syndrome. The frequency of arthritis was significantly higher in patients who were E148Q homozygous than in patients who were heterozygous. Appendectomy history was significantly higher in the group carrying the V726A allele.

CONCLUSIONS

FMF disease and the effect of genetics on the disease can be better understood, thanks to studies evaluating the genotype-phenotype relationship. In this regard, we believe that studies evaluating the clinical and genotype relationship with a large series are needed.

Utility of 2-Dimensional Shear Wave Elastography for Assessment of the Bladder Wall in Children With Acute Cystitis

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of 2-dimensional (2D) shear wave elastography (SWE) in the diagnosis of acute cystitis (AC) in children.

METHODS

Between June 2019 and March 2020, 126 children with AC and 126 healthy participants were prospectively investigated by 2D SWE and B-mode ultrasound. Elastographic measurements were performed by drawing the contours of the posterior wall of the bladder between the ureter orifices using a free region of interest. The quantitative 2D SWE values of the patients and the healthy group were compared.

RESULTS

The mean 2D SWE values of the bladder wall were significantly higher in patients with AC compared to the healthy group (P = .001). On B-mode ultrasound imaging, the bladder wall thickness of patients with AC was higher than that in the healthy group (P = .001). On 2D SWE, when the cutoff value used was 9.25 kPa, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 92.1%, 88.1%, 89.3%, and 92.6%, respectively, whereas when the cutoff value used was 1.72 m/s, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 90.5%, 88.9%, 89.1%, and 90.7%. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between the 2D SWE values and wall thickness measurements (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Two-dimensional SWE is a noninvasive, fast, and effective imaging method to evaluate the bladder wall in children with AC.

Prediction of the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension with Tei Index in congenital heart diseases with left-to-right shunt

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of the Tei Index, an echocardiographic parameter, in the early determination of pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) in congenital heart disease (CHD) with a left-to-right shunt.

METHODS

Right and left ventricular functions were evaluated using Tei Index values determined with tissue Doppler echocardiography. Cardiac catheterization was performed in all cases. The presence of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) was defined as a mean PAP of ≥25 mm Hg and a pulmonary vascular resistance index of >3 WU/m2. Patients with a pulmonary/systemic blood flow ratio of ≥2 were considered candidates for surgery.

RESULTS

The Tei Index values measured from the left ventricular posterior wall and the right ventricular anterior wall were found to be significantly higher in the patients with PAH (0.68±0.18, 0.67±0.16, respectively) compared with the patients without PAH (0.56±0.16, p=0.027; 0.51±0.12 p=0.001). A significant correlation was detected between the Tei Index value measured from the left ventricular posterior wall and the mean PAP (correlation coefficient: 0.491).

CONCLUSION

The right ventricular Tei Index values in children with CHD and a left-to-right shunt can be used as a parameter to follow up on the potential development of PAH, to make a diagnosis in the early period, and to make a timely decision about surgery.

Benign Acute Childhood Myositis Associated with Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection: Evaluation of 22 Cases

We present the epidemiology, clinical features, and laboratory findings of 22 cases diagnosed with benign acute childhood myositis (BACM) after H1N1 infection in Konya, to observe and discuss this rare condition. This retrospective study was conducted in 22 children, diagnosed with BACM, who were brought to pediatric emergency department and pediatric rheumatology outpatient clinic of Selçuk University Medicine Faculty because of walking difficulties, between September 2017 and January 2018. Sixteen of the 22 (72.7%) patients enrolled in the study were male. The age of onset of symptoms ranged between 55 and 172 months. The interval between the onset of symptoms and the diagnosis was between 2 and 10 days. Throat pain was present in all cases as a prodromal symptom. Twelve (54.54%) of the cases presented with inability to stand or walk. Nine (40.90%) had gait abnormalities such as tip-toe walking, or a wide-based gait with a lordotic posture. Bilateral calf sensitivity was present in all cases. One patient had hypoactive deep tendon reflexes. In conclusion, although BACM is almost a typical clinical condition, we conclude that the recognition of the disease by family doctors and pediatricians is not sufficient and frequently underdiagnosed.

The effect of rosemary extract on 3-MCPD and glycidyl esters during frying

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of rosemary extract (Rosmarinus Officinalis L.) on the 3-MCPD and glycidyl ester contents during deep-fat frying. Firstly, the potato samples were soaked in different concentrations of NaCl and they were fried in sunflower oils containing different concentrations of rosemary extract. Subsequently, repeated frying was carried out with sunflower oil enriched with rosemary extract. The frying oil and the oil extracted from potato samples were analyzed in terms of the contents of 3-MCPD and glycidyl esters according to DGF C VI 18 (10) method. The results demonstrated that the content of 3-MCPD and glycidyl esters in frying oil was not significantly affected by different NaCl and rosemary extract concentrations during short term frying; however, the amount of 3-MCPD esters was found to be lower for the potato crisps enriched with rosemary extract during repeated frying cycles.

Effect of crushing temperature on virgin olive oil quality and composition

The objective of the current study was to assess the influence of a modified crushing process and kneading operation on the quality parameters, volatile compounds, and the fatty acid and sterol profiles of virgin olive oil from the Edremit yaglik variety. In the study, olive oil samples were produced in two different processes. The first one was produced without malaxation and the second one was produced with the malaxing process. During crushing, the effect of different temperatures was tested. The results demonstrate that different crushing temperatures generally did not affect the amount of free fatty acids, or peroxide value. Total phenol contents were positively affected by the additional malaxation process. Fatty acids and sterol composition were not significantly altered at different crushing temperatures or during the subsequent malaxation application. PCA enabled a clear classification of the oils obtained from different processing techniques.

Heart-Type Fatty Acid Binding Protein Level as a Tool in Identification of Early Cardiac Effects of Diabetic Ketoacidosis

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to measure the serum levels of heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) in patients presenting with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and diabetic ketosis (DK) and to determine its role in identifying early-period cardiac ischemia.

METHODS

This prospective study included 35 patients diagnosed with DKA, 20 patients diagnosed with DK, and 20 control subjects. H-FABP, creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), and troponin I levels were investigated at presentation in patients with DKA and DK and in the control group. H-FABP values were measured again after acidosis correction in the DKA patients.

RESULTS

No statistically significant differences were found with respect to troponin I and CK-MB within the groups. The H-FABP values of DKA patients at presentation were found to be significantly higher than those of DK patients and the control group (p=0.015). The H-FABP value of the DKA group was also found to be significantly higher than the value at hour 36 after acidosis correction (p=0.0001).

CONCLUSION

We would like to propose H-FABP as a potential marker for indicating myocardial ischemia.

Evaluation of total oxidant and antioxidant status in localized and generalized vitiligo

BACKGROUND

Vitiligo is an acquired depigmentation disorder, and oxidative stress is suggested to have a major role in its aetiopathogenesis.

AIM

To assess whether oxidative stress has a greater role in generalized than in localized vitiligo.

METHODS

We assessed 31 patients with active vitiligo (17 localized, 14 generalized) and 38 healthy controls. Serum total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) were determined.

RESULTS

Patients with vitiligo had significantly lower TAS and higher TOS and OSI values than controls. Both localized and generalized vitiligo were associated with lower TAS and higher TOS and OSI values, compared with controls, and all three did not differ with vitiligo type.

CONCLUSIONS

A systemic oxidative stress exists in patients with vitiligo. These results indicate that the global antioxidant capacity of patients might have been exhausted through a defence mechanism against oxidative processes. The imbalance in TOS/TAS status may have an important role in the aetiopathogenesis of vitiligo, regardless of the clinical variant of the disease.

Prevalence and distribution of children with congenital heart diseases in the central Anatolian region, Turkey

Congenital heart diseases (CHD) are the most frequent malformation at birth. The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of congenital heart disease, their different types, and the detection rate among children in the central Anatolian region in Turkey. The study was conducted during an eight-year period (March 1995-December 2002). The prevalence of CHD in a large tertiary care hospital in the central Anatolian region in Turkey was studied. The diagnosis of a structural defect was based on echocardiographic study. The following age groups were considered: neonates, infants and toddlers, preschool children, schoolchildren, and adolescents. In the study period, 1,693 children were found to have CHD; 1253 patients were neonates and infants. Total prevalence of CHD over the study period was 7.77 per 1000 live-born. The prevalence increased from 6.35 to 9.65 per 1000 live births between 1995 and 2002 (p < 0.05). The average age at diagnosis was 2.2 +/- 3.64 years (1 day to 18 years, median 5 months). There were 863 (51%) boys and 830 (49%) girls, with a male/female ratio of 1:1. Isolated ventricular septal defect (32.6%) was the most frequent acyanotic anomaly, and tetralogy of Fallot (5.8%) was the most frequent cyanotic anomaly. The commonest non-cardiac anomalies with CHD were musculoskeletal anomalies. Down syndrome was determined in 83 patients (78.3%) from all syndromic CHD cases. Congenital heart disease is a very significant health problem. It requires urgent measures in terms of organization of early diagnosis and proper management. The prevalence rate is comparable to that of similar developed countries. Increasing incidence of CHD might be attributed to more diagnoses with new technologic development or it may indicate a real increase in the defects.

The role of cord blood IGF-I levels in preterm osteopenia

OBJECTIVE

Osteopenia is a frequent condition in preterm infants. This prospective study was designed to assess the relationship between cord blood insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels and bone mineralization in healthy premature infants.

METHODS

Twenty preterm infants (ten males and ten females) were studied. We determined the bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) of healthy premature infants by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and also studied the correlation between IGF-I and other parameters and the influence of cord blood IGF-I concentrations on bone mineralization in these infants.

RESULTS

The mean concentration of IGF-I was 13.6 +/- 16.9 ng/ml and BMD and BMC were 0.249 +/- 0.06 g/cm2 and 3.09 +/- 1.18 g, respectively. Cord serum levels of IGF-I had significantly positive correlations with BMD (r = 0.605, p = 0.008), but not BMC (r = 0.242, p = 0.367). In stepwise regression analysis, IGF-I emerged as a significant predictor of BMD (beta = 0.595, p = 0.015) contributing to 35.4% of its variability.

CONCLUSION

We found a relationship between cord blood IGF-I and BMD in preterm neonates, suggesting that even within an unremarkable population, IGF-I might be important to ensuring bone health.

Loss of nocturnal decline of blood pressure in patients with nasal polyposis

The objective of this study was to assess the blood pressure pattern in patients with nasal polyposis. Twenty-seven patients with nasal polyposis (18 males and 9 females), ranging in age from 15 to 72 years (mean 37.1 years) were eligible for inclusion in the study. All patients were hospitalized overnight before surgery. After the basal blood pressure measurements were taken, non-invasive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was carried out. Oxygen saturation was measured via a finger probe and venous blood sampling was taken for catecholamine level during the full night. All measurements were repeated 4 months after nasal surgery. Mean values for nocturnal decline in blood pressure and heart rate before surgery were less marked than those measured after surgery. Mean decline values (+/- SD) were; 4.6 +/- 2.4 mmHg for systolic blood pressure, 5.8 +/- 3.8 mmHg for diastolic blood pressure, and 7.9 +/- 3.9 beats/min for heart rate before surgery, 9.3 +/- 2.8 mmHg, 8.5 +/- 4.1 mmHg and 10.4 +/- 4.3 beats/min after surgery (p < 0.01), respectively. Whereas mean and minimum SaO2 (%) significantly increased (p < 0.01), catecholamine levels decreased (p < 0.05 for adrenaline, p < 0.01 for noradrenaline) after surgery. A correlation was found between BMI and blood pressure as well as between duration of obstruction and blood pressure. Patients who snored had higher blood pressure values than those who did not. Our data show that in cases of nasal polyposis, hypoxia, hypercapnia, snoring, and sleep disorders may develop and persons with nasal polyposis and snoring have an increased risk of hypertension and loss of nocturnal decline in blood pressure.