Publications by authors named "Sema Saltik"

Background: Children with self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes often face language impairments and central auditory processing difficulties. The correlations between these issues, seizure timing, and neuropsychiatric challenges are not fully understood. This study delves into the connections between language impairments and central auditory processing difficulties in cases with self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes, examining their links with seizure occurrence and neuropsychiatric function.

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Objective: In 2022, arterioectatic spinal angiopathy (AESA) of childhood was reported as a fatal, progressive, multi-segment myelopathy associated with a unique form of non-inflammatory spinal angiopathy involving diffuse dilatation of the anterior spinal artery and cord congestion in children. In this study, we present four more cases of AESA, using early and long-term conventional imaging and flat detector computed tomography angiography (FDCTA) imaging to assess the probability of disease regression and prevent unnecessary interventions.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological findings of four patients with AESA seen in two neuroradiology departments between 2014 and 2023.

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Background This study examines spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a neuromuscular disease associated with malnutrition. Our goals are to assess how effectively screening tools can detect malnutrition and evaluate the impact of nutritional interventions on neurological outcomes, particularly motor functions. Methods Thirty-seven genetically diagnosed SMA patients (types 1, 2, and 3) under nusinersen therapy were included in the study.

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Purpose: To compare PwPOMS and healthy controls in terms of respiratory functions, respiratory muscle strength, and fatigue, and investigate the determining role of fatigue on respiratory parameters.

Methods: Twenty-five PwPOMS and 15 healthy controls were included in the study. Maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and expiratory pressures (MEP) were measured.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study focused on understanding clinical features, treatments, and outcomes of children with type I interferonopathy, aiming to identify long-term morbidity or mortality predictors.
  • - Out of 40 patients, most were diagnosed with Aicardi-Goutières syndrome and exhibited significant central nervous system involvement, with a notable percentage experiencing permanent morbidity or death during follow-up.
  • - The presence of intracranial calcification on MRI was identified as a key predictor of poor outcomes, highlighting important insights into this rare condition.
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Background: Pontocerebellar hypoplasia type 10 (PCH10) due to CLP1 gene mutations is characterized by structural brain anomalies, progressive microcephaly, severe intellectual and physical disabilities, and spasticity. In this follow-up study, evolution of phenotypic and neurological characteristics of patients with PCH10 is discussed.

Methods: Phenotype, growth parameters, motor functions, developmental tests, spasticity assessments, functional independence assessments, electroencephalography (EEG), and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of 10 patients with PCH10 were monitored on separate examinations.

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Background: Nephrolithiasis is not a well-documented condition in children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). It is possible that this condition was underestimated before the era of nusinersen because of a much shorter life expectancy. We present our observational data on nephrolithiasis and its possible risk factors in children with type 1 SMA.

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Objectives: To evaluate clinical characteristics, imaging features and etiological profile of Radiologically Isolated Syndrome (RIS) along with clinical and radiological follow-up.

Methods: Demographic, clinical and radiological data of patients younger than 18 years fulfilling the criteria for RIS were retrospectively analyzed. RIS was defined by the detection of lesions meeting the revised 2010 McDonald Criteria for dissemination in space on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the absence of any symptoms of demyelinating disease or an alternative cause for the MRI findings.

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Background: Epileptic encephalopathy with spike-and-wave activation in sleep (EE-SWAS) is a syndrome of childhood, characterized by diffuse or generalized spike-wave activity in electroencephalography during non-rapid eye movement sleep. Neuropeptides have been demonstrated in several studies to function in the sleep-wake cycle and display convulsant and anticonvulsant features. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between EE-SWAS and neuropeptides such as dynorphin, galanin, ghrelin, leptin, melatonin, and orexin.

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Background: Patients with pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (PwPOMS) frequently experience motor, sensory, and cognitive problems. Although exercise is known to be effective in adult patients with MS, there are still no studies investigating the effectiveness of exercise in PwPOMS. To examine the effectiveness of online exercise training on physical activity, muscle strength, functionality, gait, fatigue, and quality of life in PwPOMS.

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Background: Ocrelizumab is a recombinant humanized anti-CD20 monoclonal IgG1, approved by FDA and EMA for adult patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The data on the efficacy and safety of Ocrelizumab for pediatric MS cases are limited.

Objective: Here, we describe pediatric relapsing-remitting MS (P-RRMS) cases who were treated with Ocrelizumab as a disease-modifying drug.

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Objectives: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterised by the presence of various autoantibodies. Mild cognitive impairment developing in patients without significant neuropsychiatric (NP) symptoms was thought to be the result of immune-mediated myelinopathy. We aimed to determine the role of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody (MOG-Ab) in the neurological manifestations of childhood-onset SLE (cSLE) and if there is a correlation between various metabolite peaks in magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and myelinopathy.

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Background: Respiratory involvement is the main factor predicting the prognosis of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Significant responses in motor functions have been demonstrated with nusinersen, but pulmonary outcomes are still varied. We aimed to explore the effects of nusinersen on the respiratory functions of patients with SMA.

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Background: The discovery of anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-IgG and anti-aquaporin 4 (AQP4)-IgG and the observation on certain patients previously diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) actually have an antibody-mediated disease mandated re-evaluation of pediatric MS series.

Aim: To describe the characteristics of recent pediatric MS cases by age groups and compare with the cohort established before 2015.

Method: Data of pediatric MS patients diagnosed between 2015 and 2021 were collected from 44 pediatric neurology centers across Türkiye.

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Objective: Neuron-specific enolase is an established biomarker of neuronal damage. This study aimed to reveal the relationship between serum neuron-specific enolase level and continuous interictal discharges in a group of encephalopathy with electrical status epilepticus in sleep patients for the first time and determine whether there is a neuronal cell loss or damage.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed serum neuron-specific enolase levels in patients with an electrical status epilepticus in sleep pattern on their electroencephalographs with age- and sex-matched control subjects.

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Objective: Our aim in this study is to reveal the frequency of febrile seizures in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever and Periodic Fever, Aphthous stomatitis, Pharyngitis, cervical Adenitis syndrome and to compare it to normal population.

Materials And Methods: Patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever and Periodic Fever, Aphthous stomatitis, Pharyngitis, cervical Adenitis syndrome, who were diagnosed accord- ing to Turkish pediatric Familial Mediterranean Fever diagnostic criteria and Marshall criteria, were enrolled to the study. A form containing questions about febrile seizures history was pre- pared for Familial Mediterranean Fever and Periodic Fever, Aphthous stomatitis, Pharyngitis, cervical Adenitis syndrome patients.

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Objective: To investigate functional exercise capacity and its relationship between physical activity levels, muscle strength, balance, fatigue, and quality of life in patients with pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis.

Methods: Fifteen patients with pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis were included. The 6-minute walk test was used to determine functional exercise capacity and walking distance.

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Purpose: In patients diagnosed with epilepsy, decreased ratio of N-acetyl aspartate to creatine (NAA/Cr) measured in magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has been accepted as a sign of neuronal cell loss or dysfunction. In this study, we aimed to determine whether a similar neuronal cell loss is present in a group of encephalopathy with electrical status epilepticus in sleep (ESES) patients METHODS: We performed this case-control study at a tertiary pediatric neurology center with patients with ESES. Inclusion criteria for the patient group were as follows: 1) a spike-wave index of at least 50%, 2) acquired neuropsychological regression, 3) normal cranial MRI.

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Background: Restless legs syndrome/Willis-Ekbom disease (RLS/WED) was shown to have a high prevalence among adults with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective: We aimed to investigate the prevalence of RLS/WED and to define the disease characteristics in young patients with pediatric onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) METHOD: 50 patients with POMS were questioned for the presence of RLS/WED. The demographic, clinical and laboratory data were compared between POMS patients with and without RLS/WED, including the total number of clinical and/or radiological MS attacks, interval between first two attacks, EDSS, number of the hyperintense and/or contrast-enhancing lesions, localization of demyelinating lesions, IgG index in cerebrospinal fluid, oligoclonal band, serum ferritin, C-reactive protein, ratio of neutrophil to lymphocyte count, and 25‑hydroxy vitaminD.

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To evaluate the clinical and neuroimaging features of pediatric acquired demyelinating syndromes (ADS) in a tertiary pediatric neurology clinic in Turkey. All children diagnosed with any subset of ADS between 2013 and 2018 were included in this retrospective cohort study. Forty-two patients (21 female) with a median follow-up period of 30 months were included.

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Aim: We aim to describe the demographic characteristics, etiology, neurophysiology, imaging findings, treatment, prognosis, and prognostic factors of acute flaccid myelitis.

Methods: The clinical data, laboratory test and, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results of pediatric patients diagnosed with acute flaccid myelitis according to the Centers for Disease Control criteria between August 1, 2016, and December 31, 2018, from 13 centers in Turkey were reviewed.

Results: Of the 34 cases identified, 31 were confirmed (91.

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Background: The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-CoV2 outbreak was announced a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11th, 2020. Both the pandemic itself and the restrictions were thought to create some psychological problems especially in patients with chronic illnesses such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of SARS-CoV2 pandemic on daily lives of children with MS, and the anxiety status of these patients and anxiety - depression status of their parents.

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In patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) constitutes an important cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We investigated heart rate variability (HRV) to evaluate the effects of non-invasive mechanical ventilation on cardiac autonomic dysfunction in patients with SMA and OSAS. Six patients with SMA (type 1 and 2) and six age- and sex-matched healthy children were consecutively enrolled.

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