Publications by authors named "Meryem Karaca"

Cystathionine beta-synthase deficiency (CBSD) is the most prevalent inherited disorder of homocysteine metabolism in the transsulphuration pathway. Research have suggested oxidative stress and inflammation as candidate pathogenic mechanisms in CBSD. This study aims to evaluate mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress biomarkers in cystathionine beta-synthase deficiency (CBSD) patients, which may aid in understanding the pathogenesis of CBSD and improving treatment.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Alpha-methylacyl-CoA-racemase (AMACR) deficiency (MIM#604489) is a peroxisomal disorder resulting in the accumulation of pristanic acid, dihydroxycholestanoic acid (DHCA), and trihydroxycholestanoic acid (THCA), with variable clinical features and age of onset from infancy to late adulthood. The purpose of this report is to define clinical variations and follow-up data in AMACR deficiency emphasizing treatment with a review of cases reported in the literature. Here, four patients, from two families, diagnosed with AMACR deficiency and showing phenotypic heterogeneity are presented.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Unlabelled: Phenylketonuria (PKU) results from a deficiency in phenylalanine hydroxylase, catalyzing the conversion of phenylalanine (Phe) to tyrosine. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) consists of physical, behavioral, and emotional symptoms occurring during the last week of luteal phase. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of PMS, and document menstrual cycle characteristics of PKU patients to reveal the relationship with blood Phe levels.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: We aimed to evaluate the role of nutrition and behavior education intervention in the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity by comparing changes in obesity-related characteristics among obese children during a follow-up period of 12 months.

Methods: This study was designed as a prospective cohort study in children aged between 6 and 18 years, with exogenous obesity who applied to Istanbul Research and Training Hospital, Pediatrics Department, between January 2018 and July 2019. Beginning at the sixth month, a program for nutrition and behavior education for obesity prevention and treatment was initiated and continued during the second half of the study period.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a genetic metabolic disorder requiring a strict, low-phenylalanine diet, which sometimes leads to a risk of an unbalanced diet and obesity.
  • A study of 37 adult PKU patients showed they did not have higher rates of overweight or obesity compared to healthy controls, but their carbohydrate intake was low, and energy intake was below recommended levels.
  • Those with poor adherence to treatment (>50%) had higher rates of overweight and abdominal obesity, indicating the need for regular monitoring, especially for patients with low compliance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Rare diseases (RDs), important for children and families, have been poorly studied in Turkey. This study aimed to describe the experiences and needs of mothers whose children have RDs from the perspectives of their mothers. In-depth interviews were held with the mothers of 16 children followed up in the Pediatric Nutrition and Metabolism Outpatient Clinic of a University Hospital.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Biotinidase deficiency (BTD) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by impaired recycling of the water-soluble vitamin biotin which leads to a spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from mild to severe, including mainly neurological and cutaneous symptoms. Biotin supplementation is a cornerstone of treatment, but diagnosis often relies on measuring serum enzyme activity, which needs to be confirmed by genetic analysis. Thus, molecular methods become necessary in the differential diagnosis of BTD.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Vici syndrome is an ultra-rare, congenital disorder of autophagy characterized by agenesis of the corpus callosum, cataracts, cardiomyopathy, combined immunodeficiency, developmental delay, and hypopigmentation. Patients usually present in the neonatal period or infancy with profound hypotonia, based on information available from the nearly 100 cases reported to date.

Case Presentation: We present 3 new cases of Vici syndrome confirmed by genetic analysis of gene.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT I) deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder causing long-chain fatty acid oxidation defect, characterized by metabolic decompensation episodes accompanied by hypoketotic hypoglycemia, hepatomegaly, seizures, renal tubular acidosis, and hyperammonemia. The aim of this study was to investigate the neurological symptoms in CPT I deficiency and different outcomes with respect to predisposing factors for sequela and to draw attention to the neurological impairment that may develop during the course of the disease. The retrospective study reviewed clinical characteristics of 14 patients.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: There is growing concern about the low-protein and high-energy diet therapies used in the treatment of inherited amino acid metabolism disorders. We aimed to identify the risk factors for noncommunicable diseases that may arise from nutritional therapies and suggests approaches that may prevent the development of the noncommunicable diseases.

Methods: The present study evaluates 112 patients, on long-term nutritional therapy for at least the last 2 years with a diagnosis of an inborn error of the amino acid metabolism, and their 28 healthy siblings.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Elevated serum prolactin concentrations occur in inherited disorders of biogenic amine metabolism because dopamine deficiency leads to insufficient inhibition of prolactin secretion. This work from the International Working Group on Neurotransmitter Related Disorders (iNTD) presents the results of the first standardized study on levodopa-refractory hyperprolactinemia (LRHP; >1000 mU/L) and pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities in patients with inherited disorders of biogenic amine metabolism. Twenty-six individuals had LRHP or abnormal pituitary findings on MRI.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Mitochondrial diseases are the most common group of inherited metabolic disorders, causing difficulties in definite diagnosis due to clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Clinical components are predominantly associated with pathogenic variants shown in nuclear or mitochondrial genomes that affect vital respiratory chain function. The development of high-throughput sequencing technologies has accelerated the elucidation of the genetic etiology of many genetic diseases that previously remained undiagnosed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Chronic haemolytic anaemia, increased susceptibility to infections, cardiomyopathy, neurodegeneration, and death in early childhood are the clinical findings of triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) deficiency, which is an ultra-rare disorder. The clinical and laboratory findings and the outcomes of 2 patients with TPI deficiency are reported, with a review of cases reported in the literature.

Case Presentation: Two unrelated patients with haemolytic anaemia and neurologic findings who were diagnosed as having TPI deficiency are presented.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

There are few causes of treatable neurodevelopmental diseases described to date. Branched-chain ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase (BCKDK) deficiency causes branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) depletion and is linked to a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by autism, intellectual disability and microcephaly. We report the largest cohort of patients studied, broadening the phenotypic and genotypic spectrum.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is an inborn metabolic disease. The nutritional treatment with restricted intake of branched chain amino acids and prevention of leucine toxicity are crucially important for a favorable outcome. The aim of this study is to analyze the relation of blood leucine levels at diagnosis with future leucine tolerances, to determine whether any prediction about the future leucine tolerances or plasma leucine levels is possible by evaluating blood leucine levels at diagnosis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation disorders (FAODs) cause impairment in energy metabolism and can lead to a spectrum of cardiac pathologies including cardiomyopathy and arrhythmias. The frequency of underlying cardiac pathologies and the response to recommended treatment in FAODs was investigated.

Methods: Sixty-eight children (35 males, 33 females) with the diagnosis of a FAOD were included in the study.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: This study aimed to assess the risk factors for clinical seizures in newborns treated with whole body cooling (WBC) for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).

Methods: Infants with gestational age≥36 weeks and birth weight≥2.000 g who were treated with WBC due to HIE were retrospectively enrolled in this study.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Children with chronic neurological diseases, including cerebral palsy (CP), are especially susceptible to vaccine-preventable infections and face an increased risk of severe respiratory infections and decompensation of their disease. This study aims to examine age-appropriate immunization status and related factors in the CP population of our country. This cross-sectional prospective multicentered survey study included 18 pediatric neurology clinics around Turkey, wherein outpatient children with CP were included in the study.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To identify the biotinidase (BTD) gene mutations in patients with biotinidase deficiency in our region; and to determine the phenotype-genotype correlations in the presence of clinical findings.

Study Design: Descriptive study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Medical Genetics and Pediatric Metabolism Outpatient Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, Harran University, between January 2018 and June 2020.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Rotor syndrome is defined as a self-limiting hyperbilirubinemia characterized by jaundice that does not need treatment, cause any morbidity or affect life expectancy. As far as the literature is evaluated, the number of patients with Rotor syndrome diagnosed at the molecular level is less than 20 until today. In this case presentation, we aimed to present two siblings with Rotor syndrome who were diagnosed at the molecular level.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Urea cycle disorders (UCD), are genetically inherited diseases that may have a poor outcome due to to profound hyperammonemia. We report the case of a baby girl diagnosed as N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS) deficiency. The patient was evaluated due to diminished sucking and hypotonicity.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: Biotinidase Deficiency (BD) is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder. However, the relationship between genotype and biochemical phenotype has not been completely elucidated yet. But still, some mutations are accepted to be associated with profound or partial deficiency.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Pompe disease (PD) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency of acid α-1,4-glucosidase enzyme (GAA). PD has two forms, namely the infantile-onset and the late-onset form. In untreated cases, infantile-onset form usually leads to cardio-respiratory failure and death in the first year of life.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Pseudohypoaldosteronism is a rare disease characterized by resistance to aldosterone-targeted organs, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, metabolic acidosis, and severe salt loss in hyperaldosteronism. Homozygous mutations in , and genes were found to be responsible for the etiology. About 80 cases with molecular basis have been reported to date.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF