Coffee-Derived Exosome-Like Nanoparticles: Are They the Secret Heroes?

Background: Regular coffee consumption has beneficial and preventative effects on liver and chronic neurodegenerative diseases. However, the studies performed with the ingredients found in coffee beverages have not clarified the responsible mechanisms. Exosomes are small, membrane-coated cargo packages secreted by prokaryote and eukaryote cells.

Screening of Variations in CD22 Gene in Children with B-Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Background: CD22 is expressed on the surface of B-cell lineage cells from the early progenitor stage of pro-B cell until terminal differentiation to mature B cells. It plays a role in signal transduction and as a regulator of B-cell receptor signaling in B-cell development.

Objectives: We aimed to screen exons 9-14 of the CD22 gene, which is a mutational hot spot region in B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pre-B ALL) patients, to find possible genetic variants that could play role in the pathogenesis of pre-B ALL in Turkish children.

Factor V Leiden and Prothrombin 20210A Mutations among Turkish Pediatric Leukemia Patients.

This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of the Factor V 1691 G-A and PT 20210 G-A mutations in Turkish children with leukemia. We genotyped 135 pediatric leukemia patients with for these mutations. Eleven (8%) of the 135 patients were heterozygous for the FV 1691 G-A mutation.

Minor anomalies in children with hematological malignancies.

Background: Despite the presence of reports on correlation between major congenital defects and cancer, very few studies have investigated the frequency of minor anomalies in childhood malignancy. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of minor anomalies in children with hematological malignancy.

Procedure: A total of 62 well-defined minor anomalies were determined in 109 patients.

A prospective series of musculoskeletal system rehabilitation of arthropathic joints in young male hemophilic patients.

The study aims to evaluate prospective results of physical therapy interventions and rehabilitation of arthropathic joints in young male hemophilic patients. Given that the effectiveness of the therapy would be higher if therapy is provided at early ages, a series of males aged 18 years or younger were included in the study. The study is a descriptive case series of 31 hemophilic children who consecutively referred to the physical therapy and rehabilitation clinic from the pediatric hematology clinic of the same hospital over a period of 12 months.

All-trans-retinoic acid-induced myositis in a child with acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Anthracyclin-based regimens and all-transretinoic acid (ATRA, tretinoin) as differentiating agent are commonly utilized for the treatment of acute promylelocytic leukemia (APL). There are many adverse effects that may be seen during the use of ATRA in patients with APL. Of these, ATRA-induced myositis is rarely described in adults and rare in the children with APL.

Functional disability in children with hemophilic arthropathy.

Hemophilia is a coagulation disorder characterized by acute hemorrhages into the musculoskeletal system, leading eventually to arthropathy and disability. We investigated the functional loss, namely disability, in hemophiliacs. The clinical and radiological characteristics of joint involvement were also evaluated.

Immunological status of thalassemia syndrome.

A major cause of morbidity and mortality in thalassemic patients is infections, assumed to be the result of immunological changes. In this study immune functions of peripheral blood lymphocytes have been studied in 38 beta-thalassemia major, 12 beta-thalassemia trait, and 17 healthy children. Results show decrease in CD4+/CD8+ ratios in the beta-thalassemia major group and no difference according to absolute T-lymphocyte numbers and activated T-cell numbers.

Neonatal purpura fulminans due to homozygous protein C deficiency.

Severe and recurrent purpura fulminans developed in a Turkish boy at 1 week of age. Initial coagulation studies performed were compatible with disseminated intravascular coagulation. Subsequent investigations showed that the patient had homozygous and his healthy parents had heterozygous protein C deficiency.

The etiology of peripheral lymphadenopathy in children.

This prospective study evaluated 382 pediatric patients with peripheral lymphadenopathy (LA) presenting at the Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Departments of Social Security Children's Hospital and Gazi University Medical Faculty Hospital. The ages of the patients ranged between 2 months and 16 years (median 7 years); 72% of the patients were male. Of the 382 patients, 138 had localized LA (a single anatomic area involved), 171 had limited LA (two or three areas involved), and 73 had generalized LA (four or more anatomic areas involved).

Serum fibronectin in neonatal sepsis: is it valuable in early diagnosis and outcome prediction?

The value of the serum fibronectin level in early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis and as a prognostic indicator was investigated. The serum fibronectin levels and Töllner's sepsis scores of 45 neonates who were hospitalized for the suspicion of infection and of 20 healthy neonates as controls were evaluated. Depending on the findings it was concluded that serum fibronectin level varies according to the gestational age, and that the serum fibronectin level is a useful acute phase reactant in the early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis.