Sensitization to food allergens is associated with more severe wheezing in children.

Aims: We investigated sensitization to food allergens as a prognostic factor for wheezing in children with recurrent wheezing and compared serum club cell 16 (CC16) and surfactant protein D (SP-D) among these children with and without sensitization to food allergens.

Materials And Methods: Children with recurrent wheezing were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. Specific IgE to five common food allergens (Fx5) was assessed at baseline, and children were followed-up for 1 year for new-onset wheezing episodes.

Anti-VEGF treatment suppresses remodeling factors and restores epithelial barrier function through the E-cadherin/β-catenin signaling axis in experimental asthma models.

Besides maintaining a physical barrier with adherens junctional (AJ) and tight junctional proteins, airway epithelial cells have important roles in modulating the inflammatory processes of allergic asthma. E-cadherin and β-catenin are the key AJ proteins that are involved in airway remodeling. Various mediators such as transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and angiogenic factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), are released by the airway epithelium in allergic asthma.

Clinical Usefulness of Acute-Phase Markers in Distinguishing between PFAPA and Other Exudative Tonsillitis Causes: A Methodological Study.

Background: We investigated the practical use of procalcitonin (PCT), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and complete blood count (CBC) parameters in distinguishing periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and cervical adenitis syndrome (PFAPA) attacks from exudative tonsillitis associated with group A streptococcus (GAS) and Epstein-Barre virus (EBV).

Methods: The study population consisted of cases with exudative tonsillitis who had been subsequently diagnosed as PFAPA, EBV, and GAS tonsillitis through a period of 6 years. We retrieved the CBC, ESR, CRP and PCT data from patients' medical records.

Safety of subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy in children: A retrospective review and bird eye to literature.

Toprak-Kanık E, Yılmaz Ö, Yangın-Ergon E, Türkeli A, Yüksel H. Safety of subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy in children: A retrospective review and bird eye to literature. Turk J Pediatr 2018; 60: 684-690.

Vascular endothelial growth factor antagonism restores epithelial barrier dysfunction via affecting zonula occludens proteins.

Epithelial barrier dysfunction is important in the pathogenesis of asthma and allergic responses, and is therefore a therapeutic target. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of dexamethasone, a classic therapeutic agent, an anti-tumor necrosis factor agent (etanercept), which is used to treat difficult cases of asthma, and an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agent (bevacizumab), which is an angiogenesis inhibitor, on zonula occludens (ZO) proteins in an experimental asthma model. The experimental model of asthma was developed using intraperitoneal (IP) and inhaled administration of ovalbumin in 38 BALB/c mice, which were divided into four groups.

Follicular bronchiolitis: a rare disease in children.

Follicular bronchiolitis (FB) is a benign progressive lung disease. It is characterized with lymphoplasmocellular infiltration and hyperplastic follicles in the peribronchial areas in the small airways. Follicular bronchiolitis should be considered in cases where chronic cough, recurrent upper respiratory tract infections and progressive dyspnea are observed in children.

IL-5, IL-8 and MMP -9 levels in exhaled breath condensate of atopic and nonatopic asthmatic children.

Rationale: Asthma is a heterogeneous disease, and a great majority of pediatric patients with asthma demonstrate atopic characteristics and develop a Th2 type cytokine response. Nonatopic asthma, on the other hand, is seen more rarely.

Methods: In this study, levels of IL-5, IL-8 and MMP-9 were measured in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) of the subjects to demonstrate the extent of tissue damage as well as eosinophilic and neutrophilic inflammation in children with atopic and nonatopic asthma.

E-cadherin as an epithelial barrier protein in exhaled breath condensate.

Airway epithelium plays an important role as a physical barrier and a modulator of allergic response. Junctions between cells provide epithelial integrity and barrier function. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of atopy on airway epithelial integrity in asthma and to measure E-cadherin levels in exhaled breath condensate as an indicator epithelial damage.