Mothers’ emotional states and attitudes regarding their children with asthma

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the associations of asthma with the psychological profile (depression and anxiety) of children with asthma and their mothers as well as the attitudes of these mothers toward their children and their family relationships. Methods: Sixty-four children with asthma, 60 healthy children and their mothers were included in the study. The Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) and Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index (CASI) were applied to the children. All mothers completed the Beck Depression Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Parental Attitude Research Instrument and the Family Assessment Device. Results: CASI scores were significantly higher in children with asthma (p?<?0.001) than in healthy children. The increasing duration and severity of asthma were associated with increasing anxiety levels in children with asthma. Depression and anxiety scores were significantly higher in the mothers of children with asthma than in the comparison group. The mothers of children with asthma did not have supportive and friendly relationships with their children. In addition, these mothers had significantly higher Attitude of Hostility and Rejection, Attitude of Over-parenting and Authoritarian Attitude scores than those of the comparison group. Increasing duration and severity of asthma influenced family functions and the attitude of the mothers of children with asthma. There was a correlation between an increasing number of emergency department visits and increasing depression in the mothers of children with asthma. Conclusions: This cross-sectional study revealed that the disease may negatively affect the lives of children with asthma and their mothers and their family relationships.     

Hepatitis B virus e antigen (HBeAg) may have a negative effect on dendritic cell generation

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) continues to be a serious worldwide health problem despite the use of protective HBV vaccines and therapeutic regimens against chronic HBV infection. Chronic HBV patients cannot induce sufficient immune responses against the virus. HBV and its antigens are believed to suppress immune responses during chronic infection. Hence, studying the role of HBV in immune suppression is very important for the development of alternative therapeutic strategies for HBV infections.     

Periodontal status in two siblings with severe congenital neutropenia: diagnosis and mutational analysis of the cases

BACKGROUND: Severe congenital neutropenia (SCN), also known as Kostmann syndrome, was originally reported as an autosomal recessive disease of neutrophil production. The disease is characterized by a maturation arrest of neutrophil precursors at the promyelocytic stage of differentiation and by extremely low levels of mature neutrophils in peripheral blood. METHODS: A 6-year-old male presented with a complaint of gingival swelling and bleeding, and swelling at the left side of his face. Upon clinical examination, severe inflammation of all gingival tissues was apparent, and a periapical abscess with mobility was noted on the left mandibular second molar. Medical and dental histories revealed numerous recurrent bacterial infections associated with oral and non-oral tissues. His medical history with recurrent infections led us to evaluate his 3-year-old sister to determine the status of her oral health. Inflammation of her oral tissues and recurrent bacterial infections were apparent. Their consanguineous parents were in good health. To assist in identifying possible systemic diseases underlying the inflammatory situation in the siblings, consultations were requested from the Pediatric Hematology Department at Selcuk University and Pediatric Oncology Department at Gulhane Military Medical Academy. RESULTS: Based on absolute neutrophil count (< or =200/mm(3)) and bone marrow aspiration findings consistent with early maturation arrest in myelopoiesis, the cases were diagnosed as SCN. No chromosomal abnormality was detected upon cytogenetic examination. Sequencing analysis also revealed no mutation in the neutrophil elastase or growth factor independent-1 (GFI-1) genes in these patients. Severe periodontal disease, attachment loss, and mobility for over 50% of the deciduous teeth were noted. Within 6 months, the male sibling lost all of his deciduous teeth due to periapical and periodontal infections. His sister presented with tooth mobility for all mandibular incisors. Monthly visits, including scaling, polishing, and 0.2% chlorhexidine digluconate irrigation were performed to support their oral hygiene and to avoid recurrent oral infections. We have been able to stabilize these patients' periodontal conditions during a 2-year follow-up period. CONCLUSION: This case report emphasizes the role of periodontists and pediatric dentists in the diagnosis of diseases linked with neutrophil and other systemic disorders and highlights the need to optimize the health of oral tissues with regular appointments.     

Determination of the recipient vessels in the head and neck using multislice spiral computed tomography angiography before free flap surgery: a preliminary study

Preoperative assessment of the recipient vessels in free flap surgery directly affects the success rate of the operation by determining the flap type, pedicle length, orientation to the recipient site, and need for a vein graft. For this purpose, conventional angiographic methods are still being used with some disadvantages. The aims of this study were to evaluate the potential success of multislice computed tomography angiography in assessment of the recipient vessels before free flap surgery and to reveal if this may be an alternative to conventional angiography. The study was bilaterally carried out in 33 outpatients using a 16-detector spiral computed tomography scanner. In images of multiplanar reconstructions, maximum intensity projections, and three-dimensional volume renderings, the external carotid artery and its main branches were evaluated in terms of availability; patency, stenosis, or occlusion; maximal and minimal external diameters through their traces; variations involving ramification from another main vessel; and abnormal course. The superior thyroid artery was absent bilaterally in two patients (6.06%). The external carotid artery was stenotic on one side in two patients (6.06%) and on each side in one (3.03%). All the remaining vessels appeared without stenosis, occlusion, or variation. We think that multislice computed tomography angiography can provide detailed information about vascular structures and the remaining anatomic structures and their relationships with the recipient vessels. Therefore, multislice computed tomography angiography, as a less invasive vascular imaging method, can be a useful tool before planning free flap surgery.