Background and Objectives: Childhood asthma represents a significant global public health issue and is the most common chronic disease among children. Hospitalization costs, especially for intensive care, are quite high. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics, prognosis, and preventable risk factors of patients admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) due to severe asthma exacerbations. Materials and Methods: We assessed patients admitted to the Ankara Bilkent City Hospital PICU from January 2013 to December 2022 diagnosed with asthma based on The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) criteria. The collected data encompassed demographic and clinical characteristics, intensive care treatments, hospitalization duration, atopic conditions, and respiratory viral panel results. The current clinical status was assessed using hospital records and caregiver interviews, with a focus on recent emergency admissions, ongoing treatments, exacerbation frequency, and asthma control based on GINA guidelines. Results: The study comprised 83 patients with a mean age of 72.9 (±45.5) months, predominantly male (63.9%). The average follow-up duration post-discharge was 40.7 ± 26.9 months. Patients received respiratory support in the PICU for a mean of 3.8 (±2.8) days and systemic steroid therapy for 4 (±1.5) days. Respiratory viral panel results identified pathogens in 42 patients, with rhinovirus being the most frequent. Post-discharge, 72.3% of patients continued follow-up at pediatric allergy clinics. Of the 60 patients contacted, 67.5% were on current asthma treatment and 48.2% had experienced an exacerbation in the past year. Asthma management steps remained unchanged for 33 patients, decreased for 13, and increased for 47 (44.6%). Asthma maintenance treatments pre-admission and post-discharge showed that 44.6% (n = 47) of the patients required an increase in their GINA treatment step after PICU admission, which was statistically significant (p < 0.001). History of atopic dermatitis was a significant risk factor for escalating treatment steps in both univariate and multivariate analyses (p = 0.018, p = 0.03). Conclusions: We found that admission to the PICU due to severe asthma exacerbation not only increases the risk of recurrent asthma exacerbations but also serves as a risk factor for stepping up maintenance treatment according to GINA guidelines during long-term follow-up.

Amaç: Serviks kanseri, dünya genelinde kadınlarda en sık görülen ve en sık ölüme neden olan dördüncü kanser türüdür. Başlıca risk faktörü ise Human Papilloma Virüsüdür (HPV). Çalışmanın amacı, sağlık bilimleri öğrencilerinin serviks kanseri ve HPV aşısı hakkındaki bilgi düzeyini, tutumunu ve farkındalığını belirlemekti. Yöntem: Çalışma, bir üniversitenin tıp ve hemşirelik fakültelerinde eğitim gören 1101 öğrenci ile 15 Aralık 2017 – 15 Aralık 2018 arasında yürütüldü. Katılımcıların demografik özelliklerinin, HPV, pap-smear testi, HPV aşısı ve serviks kanseri ile ilgili bilgi düzeylerinin, serviks kanseri ve HPV aşısı hakkında tutumlarının ve farkındalık düzeylerinin sorgulandığı bir anket kullanıldı. Bulgular: Çalışmaya yaş ortalaması 21.4 yıl olan 1101 öğrenci katıldı; 559'u kız, 542'si erkekti. Katılımcıların %74.5'i tıp, %25.5'i hemşirelik fakültesi öğrencisiydi. Serviks kanseri ve HPV arasında nedensellik olduğunu düşünenlerin oranı %94.5, HPV aşısına güvenmeyenlerin oranı %23, HPV aşısı yaptıranların oranı %6.7 ve HPV aşısı ile aşılı aile bireyine sahip olanların oranı %9.2 idi. Tıp öğrencilerinin bilgi düzeyi, hemşirelik öğrencilerinden daha yüksek bulundu (p

The diagnosis of IgE-mediated cow’s milk allergy (CMA) involves serum-specific IgE (spIgE), skin prick tests (SPT), and the gold standard oral food challenge (OFC). SpIgE levels are measured using methods such as ImmunoCAP and IMMULITE, with most cutoff data derived from ImmunoCAP. This study aims to determine IMMULITE-specific cutoff values to predict OFC positivity. Patients diagnosed with CMA via OFC between 2019 and 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Data on demographics, eosinophil counts, total and specific IgE levels, and SPT results were collected. OFC was conducted using yogurt, milk-based formula, or milk-containing muffins. SPTs were performed with commercial extracts (Lofarma®) and pasteurized milk using the prick-to-prick method. SpIgE levels were measured with the Siemens® IMMULITE 2000 Immunoassay System, with values ≥0.35 kU/L considered positive. The study included 50 OFC-positive patients (60% males) and 50 age- and clinically matched controls without objective OFC reactions. The median age at diagnosis was 6 months (IQR: 3–21), and 52% presented with atopic dermatitis. OFC reactions occurred with yogurt in 42 patients (84%), muffins in 6, and milk in 2; 26% of reactions were anaphylaxis. IMMULITE-derived cutoff values were 3.13 kU/L (AUC: 0.776, 72% sensitivity, 72% specificity) for cow’s milk spIgE and 1.85 kU/L for casein. SPT enduration cutoffs were 4.25 mm for pasteurized milk and 3.5 mm for commercial extracts. This study provides critical IMMULITE-specific spIgE cutoffs to predict OFC outcomes, offering valuable reference ranges for clinical CMA diagnosis.

In the original article, the ORCID of one of the co-authors, Hatice Irmak ÇELİK, was incorrectly reported by the corresponding author. At the request of the authors, the ORCID has been corrected to reflect the accurate information. This correction does not affect the content or conclusions of the article. The authors apologize for this oversight. Link to the original article: https://doi.org/10.55730/1300-0144.5990

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an IgE-mediated inflammatory condition of the nasal mucosa. Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is the only treatment that can modify disease progression and provide long-term symptom control. This study evaluated symptom burden and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) during the pollen season in pediatric patients treated with subcutaneous pollen immunotherapy (SCIT).Material and Methods: This prospective, cross-sectional study included children aged 6–18 years who received ≥12 months of AIT between 2014 and 2022. All had isolated pollen allergy and were treated with SCIT. Symptom control was assessed using the Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS), while HRQoL was measured using PRQLQ or RQLQ depending on age. Patients were grouped by treatment duration: <36 months and ≥36 months. Results: Forty-seven patients completed questionnaires at least two pollen seasons after their final SCIT dose. Compared with the <36-month group, patients treated for ≥36 months showed significantly lower nasal and ocular symptoms (P < 0.001). Mean TNSS scores were lower (5.42 vs. 9.57, P = 0.018), and more patients had mild symptoms (60.6% vs. 21.4%, P = 0.003). Good symptom control (VAS < 2) was also more frequent (36.4% vs. 14.3%, P = 0.022). HRQoL scores (PRQLQ/RQLQ) were significantly better in the ≥36-month group, particularly in social and school functioning.Conclusion: SCIT duration ≥36 months is associated with improved symptom control and HRQoL during the pollen season, supporting guideline recommendations of at least 3 years of AIT in pediatric AR.