Aslı Aslan

Changing epidemiology of hepatitis A infection in Izmir, Turkey

The seroprevalence study was conducted in order to determine the current seroepidemiology hepatitis A in Izmir, Turkey and to evaluate the epidemiological shift in HAV serostatus. Blood samples collected from 595 subjects aged 1-60 years were analyzed for anti-HAV IgG antibodies. The current study results were compared with those of a previous study conducted in 1998 involving the same location. There was a marked decrease in the prevalence of anti-HAV between 1998 and 2008. While anti-HAV seroprevalence rates in the current study were 4.6% in children aged 1-4 years, 23% in children aged 10-14 years, and 85% in young adults aged 20-29 years, the prevalence rates were 36% in the 1-4 years age group, 65% in the 10-14 years age group, and 95% in young adults in the previous study, indicating a shift in HAV seroprevalence from the younger to the higher age groups. As HAV infection in childhood is decreasing, the pool of susceptible adolescents and young adults is increasing in Izmir, Turkey. The majority of adolescent population is susceptible to HAV infection. The potential risk of HAV epidemics still exists. The situation of Turkey, suggested to need for mass immunization. Also, introduction of hepatitis A vaccination into the national immunization schedule of Turkey should be considered.

MicroRNA expression profiling in children with different asthma phenotypes

An improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms in asthma through exploring the role of microRNAs may offer promise to reveal new approaches for primary prevention and identification of new therapeutic targets in childhood asthma. The primary goal of this study is to identify the microRNAs that play a role in the pathogenesis of asthma in pediatric age group. The secondary goal is to analyze these microRNAs according to the asthma phenotype, atopic status, and severity of the disease exacerbation. To our knowledge, this is the first research project in the literature which studies the relationship between microRNA expression and the severity of childhood asthma. One hundred children between 6 and 18 years old with a diagnosis of asthma, and 100 age‐matched healthy children were enrolled in this study, and the analyses of microRNA expression profiles were performed in the Medical Genetics Laboratories of Ege University between November 2009 and June 2010. The expression of 10 microRNAs were shown to be higher in patients with more severe asthma, and the expression of these microRNAs were also found to be higher in patients who present with more severe acute asthma exacerbation symptoms (P < 0.001). Also, five microRNAs were found to be expressed more than twofold in allergic patients when compared to non‐allergic participants (P <0.001). Asthma is one of the best examples of complex genetic diseases, and further studies, which will investigate the relationship between these microRNAs and their target genes, are needed to learn more about the specific roles of microRNAs in respiratory diseases. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2016;51:582–587.

Comparison of Vesikari and Clark scales regarding the definition of severe rotavirus gastroenteritis in children.

Abstract Background: Two clinical severity scales, the Vesikari scale and the Clark scale, are commonly used to assess the efficacy of rotavirus vaccines. The results obtained using the two severity scales differ significantly and hamper comparisons. The aim of this study was to compare the Clark and Vesikari scales and to determine whether modified classifications would provide a better correlation between the two scales. Methods: The severity of rotavirus gastroenteritis was assessed for each child using both the Vesikari and Clark scales. To make a statistical comparison between the two scales, the classifications were modified. Results: In total, 200 children with rotavirus gastroenteritis were evaluated. Of these, 57% were classified as severe by the Vesikari scale, and only 1.5% by the Clark scale (p < 0.001). When the Clark three-category scale was transformed into a two-category scale by merging mild and moderate categories as non-severe, a good correlation with the Vesikari scale still could not be found. Using the median of the severity scores as the severity threshold did not provide a better correlation between the two scales. Transforming the Vesikari two-category scale into a three-category scale by further subdividing the severe category into two parts, as moderate and severe (≥ 16), provided a better correlation between the two severity scales, but still did not achieve a good level of agreement. Conclusions: The Clark and Vesikari scales differ significantly in the definition of severe gastroenteritis. Even the attempts at reclassifying the scales did not achieve a good correlation.

A Rare Cause of Childhood Cerebellitis-Influenza Infection: A Case Report and Systematic Review of Literature

Acute cerebellitis is a benign neurologic condition generally caused by viral or bacterial infections. Influenza associated cerebellitis is extremely rare; a 6-year-old boy with acute cerebellitis, who presented with fever, vomiting, weakness, febrile seizure, and acute cerebellar features, is discussed in this article.

A case of Bannayan–Riley–Ruvalcaba syndrome. A new clinical finding and brief review

Macrocephaly, genital pigmentation, and gastrointestinal (GI) polyposis are the crucial clinical findings in BRRS. In this group of patients, hamartomatous skin lesions develop due to the phosphate and tensin (PTEN) gene mutation, which is the tumor suppressor gene. There are many reports regarding cutaneous findings of BRRS, such as angiokeratoma, lymphangioma, hemangioma, lipoma, vascular malformation, genital hyperpigmentation, caf eau-lait spots, and acanthosis nigricans. However, in the literature, reports demonstrating epidermal nevus (EN) as a clinical sign of BRRS are very limited. The follow-up protocol for BRRS is still undetermined. We decided to do a brief review of the literature and find updated data regarding the follow-up protocol for BRRS.

Seasonal Variation of Vitamin D via Several Parameters in Adolescents

Ad dress for Cor res pon den ce Gözde Gözüoğlu MD, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, General Pediatrics Unit, İzmir, Turkey Phone: +90 505 782 07 01 E-mail: gozdegozu@hotmail.com ORCID ID: orcid.org/0000-0002-5948-7496 Re cei ved: 25.04.2018 Ac cep ted: 27.04.2018 Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, General Pediatrics Unit, İzmir, Turkey Gözde Gözüoğlu, Şule Gökçe, Aslı Aslan, Zafer Kurugöl, Güldane Koturoğlu

Corrigendum to “A Rare Cause of Childhood Cerebellitis-Influenza Infection: A Case Report and Systematic Review of Literature”

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2017/4039358.].

Etiology, Seasonality, and Clinical Features of Viral Respiratory Tract Infections in Children Hospitalized With Acute Bronchiolitis: A Single-Center Study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the viral frequency, seasonality, and clinical and demographic features of patients hospitalized with acute bronchiolitis. A cross-sectional, descriptive study was performed in 316 infants younger than 2 years of age who were hospitalized for acute viral bronchiolitis. Respiratory tract infection agents were investigated with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 316 infants were included in this study. Of the 316 infants, at least one respiratory tract pathogen was detected in 75% (237/316). Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was the most common virus identified in 127 infants (40.1%) followed by rhinovirus (n = 78, 24.6%). In this study, where viral agents were determined via PCR in patients who were followed-up due to the diagnosis of acute bronchiolitis, RSV was detected as the most common agent, as in other studies. In almost half of the RSV-positive patients, RSV was accompanied by a second or third agent.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Childhood: Review

ABS TRACT Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), is also known spastic colon, is one of the functional bowel diseases. Etiology of IBS is unknown and is associated with symptoms such as diarrhea and constipation. It usually affects both adults and adolescents. Functional bowel differences, disordered defecation habits and chronic abdominal pain, which is the most common of the symptoms, is due to bowel disorder. The frequency of the pain varies from patient to patient and is usually observed on the around umblicus but the pain observed another places on the abdomen. Etiopathogenesis hasn’t become definite yet. The second important symptom is disturbed defecation and the changes in defecation pattern. Constipation and diarrhea often follow each other. Patients need to defecate after each meal. Dyspeptic symptoms; especially postprandial abdominal tenderness, abdominal discomfort, bloating, gas, indigestion, loss of appetite, nausea are also common in IBS. Diagnostic criteria which named Rome III criteria based on recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort following; improvement with defecation or change in frequency of stool or stool appearance. We report here; irritable bowel syndrome, diagnosis and treatment of it in children.

PO-0260b Comparison Of Vesikari And Clark Severity Scores In Children With Rotavirus Gastroenteritis

Two diarrhoea severity scales, the 20-point Vesikari scale and the 24-point Clark scale, are commonly used to assess the efficacy of rotavirus vaccines. However, the two scales have been compared previously in only a few studies by using the same patients. The study was aimed to compare the Clark and Vesikari scales and to determine whether modified classifications would provide a better correlation between the two scales. A total of 200 children with rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) were evaluated. Of these, 57% were classified as severe by the Vesikari scale, while only 1.5% by the Clark scale (p < 0.001). When the Clark 3-category scale was transformed into 2-category scale by merging mild and moderate categories as non-severe, a good correlation with the Vesikari scale could not be found. Using the median of the severity scores as the severity threshold, could not provide a better correlation between the two scales either. Transforming the Vesikari 2-category scale into a 3-category scale by further subdividing the severe category into two parts as moderate and severe (≥16), thus using a score of 16 point as the severity threshold, provided a better correlation between the two severity scales, but still did not achieve a good level of agreement. Furthermore, still 89% of all those with Vesikari score ≥16 were classified as mild or moderate by the Clark scale. The Clark and Vesikari severity scales differ significantly in the definition of severe RVGE. Even the reclassification attempts on the scales did not achieve a good correlation between the two scales.