The Low Maternal Consumption of Homemade Fermented Foods in Pregnancy Is an Additional Risk Factor for Food Protein-Induced Allergic Proctocolitis: A Case-Control Study.

INTRODUCTION: Food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis (FPIAP) is the most common non-IgE-mediated food allergy and it varies between 4% and 8% in infants. The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential association between FPIAP in infants and maternal daily consumption of homemade fermented foods (FFs) during pregnancy. METHODS: Two hundred and seven infants were included in this case-control study, 106 with physician-diagnosed FPIAP (FPIAP group) and 101 age- and gender-matched healthy infants (control group), together with their mothers. The frequency and diversity of the 8 most consumed homemade FFs in traditional Turkish cuisine and daily maternal consumption of these during pregnancy were evaluated retrospectively using a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Rates of vaginal delivery, maternal smoking during pregnancy, educational status, and monthly household income were higher in the FPIAP group than the control group (p = 0.046, p = 0.014, p < 0.001, and p = 0.009, respectively). The 3 most common daily-consumed FFs during pregnancy were, in order, yogurt, cheese, and tarhana. The diversity of daily-consumed FFs during pregnancy (p = 0.004) and the consumption of the 3 most common FFs (p = 0.011) were lower in the FPIAP group than in the control group. Maternal smoking during pregnancy (odds ratio [OR]: 2.97, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19-7.41, p = 0.019) and a higher maternal educational status (OR: 3.34, 95% CI: 1.63-6.84, p = 0.001) increased the risk of FPIAP at multivariate logistic regression, while the diversity of maternal FF consumption was protective against FPIAP (OR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.58-0.96, p = 0.025). CONCLUSION: Daily maternal consumption of yogurt, cheese, and tarhana during pregnancy was less common in FPIAP. The diversity of traditional Turkish homemade FFs may reduce the risk of FPIAP, whereas maternal smoking and a higher maternal educational status were associated with an increased risk of FPIAP.

The relation between serum vitamin D levels, viral infections and severity of attacks in children with recurrent wheezing.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased susceptibility to infections and wheezing. We aimed to evaluate the relation between vitamin D levels, viral infections and severity of attacks in children with recurrent wheezing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 52 patients who applied with wheezing, at the ages of 12-60 months with a history of three or more wheezing attacks in the last year and 54 healthy children were included. Sociodemographic data, risk factors for recurrent wheezing, and the severity of the wheezing attacks were recorded. 25(OH)D3, calcium, phosphor, alkaline phosphatase and parathormone levels of all children were measured. Nasopharyngeal samples of the patients for viruses were studied by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: For the patient group, being breastfed for six months or less, history of cesarean section, cigarette exposure, humid home environment, and family history of allergic disease were significantly higher compared with the control group. Serum vitamin D levels in the patient group were significantly lower compared to the control group. There was no significant relationship between vitamin D levels and hospitalization, oxygen or steroid therapy. Virus was detected in 38 patients (73%). Rhinovirus (63.2%) was the most frequently detected virus. Coinfection was found in 14 (36.8%) patients. There was no statistically significant difference between detection of virus and vitamin D levels. CONCLUSIONS: Cigarette exposure, being breastfed six months or less, humid home environment, history of cesarean section, family history of allergic disease and vitamin D deficiency might be risk factors for recurrent wheezing.

Raised interleukin-13 levels in cord blood increases the risk of allergic sensitization at 5 years of age.

The identification of early markers of atopy in cord blood of newborns at delivery may offer prediction of future allergic sensitization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between cord blood interleukin-13 (IL-13) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and development of allergic diseases during the first five years of life. Umbilical cord blood samples were collected at the time of delivery from 62 newborns. The families of these newborns were asked to complete a questionnaire about age and education of parents, number of siblings, allergic diseases in family members, cigarette exposure during pregnancy and presence of pets in their house. The same subjects were evaluated when they were five years old. Venous blood samples were drawn and epidermal skin prick tests were performed. IL-13 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels were studied from the blood samples which were taken during birth and five years later. There was no significant relationship between gender, type of delivery, educational levels of parents, exposure to cigarette smoke, atopy in parents, presence of pets in the house and IL-13 and IFN-γ levels in cord blood and at five years. Higher levels of IL-13 in newborns and five years olds, were found significantly related to skin prick test positivity (p=0.004 and p<0.0001, respectively) and presence of allergic diseases (p= 0.008 and p= 0.001, respectively). Levels of IFN-γ, both in cord blood and five years after, were not related with the future of allergic status of children. Higher levels of IL-13 in cord blood may be a predictor of future development of allergic sensitization.

Characteristics of children with positive tuberculin skin test.

The aim of the study was to define the characteristics of children with latent tuberculosis diagnosed with positive tuberculin skin test (TST) and evaluate potential risk factors in children with positive TST. Children followed with the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection were included in the study retrospectively. Demographic characteristics of patients including history of atopy, respiratory infections, family history of tuberculosis and atopy, number of BCG vaccinations, findings of physical examination and laboratory data were extracted from patient's file. Eighty-one children (51 male, 30 female) who had positive TST were retrospectively evaluated in the study. Mean age of the patients was 8.00 ± 4.00 years. Only 13 (16%) of the children had contact with a case who had active tuberculosis. It was shown that the age of the patients, number of BCG scars and BCG vaccination significantly affected TST reaction size. TST size was not affected with time passed after last dose of BCG vaccination, family history of tuberculosis, presence of TST positive case in the family, exposure to cigarette smoke, number of household family members and presence of respiratory allergic disease. The patient's age, numbers of BCG vaccination and BCG scars significantly affect TST results in childhood. This may cause difficulty in diagnosing latent tuberculosis infection and in decision of initiating prophylactic treatment. The results of this study may show that recently developed, more accurate and convenient in vitro tests that they have higher costs and require sophisticated laboratory, can be used to diagnose latent tuberculosis.