Background/Objectives: Hypericum perforatum L. (St. John’s Wort) is extensively utilized in ethnopharmacology due to its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. However, its effects on the interaction between innate immunity and oxidative homeostasis remain incompletely characterized, particularly in alternative invertebrate models. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of H. perforatum extract on oxidative homeostasis and protein metabolism using the Galleria mellonella model, a 3R-compliant and ethically sustainable platform for preliminary immunological and redox-related screening. Methods: Last instar G. mellonella larvae were administered increasing concentrations of H. perforatum extract (0.001–20 mg mL⁻¹) by intrahemocoelic injection. After 24 h, hemolymph samples were analyzed for total protein (TP), total hemocyte count (THC), encapsulation and melanization responses, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CAT) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The phytochemical profile of the extract was additionally evaluated using GC–MS analysis. Results: Significant group-dependent alterations were observed in TP levels and THC values, with the HP-2 group demonstrating the highest hemocyte counts and enhanced strong encapsulation responses. Higher extract concentrations, particularly HP-4, were associated with increased weak encapsulation profiles, suggesting altered cellular immune organization. Melanization responses became significantly elevated at 24 h following treatment. In contrast, SOD activity, CAT activity, and MDA levels did not differ significantly among groups, indicating preservation of oxidative homeostasis under the tested conditions. Conclusions: H. perforatum extract induced dose-dependent modulation of cellular and humoral immune responses in G. mellonella without evidence of detectable oxidative disruption during acute exposure. These findings support the utility of the G. mellonella model for preliminary evaluation of botanical immunomodulators and suggest that H. perforatum may influence immunophysiological pathways independently of overt oxidative toxicity.

Introduction: The present study aimed to evaluate macular and choroidal thicknesses in children with MEFV gene mutations.Methods: Thirty-five children with MEFV gene mutations and 40 healthy controls were included in the study. MEFV gene profiles for the current cohort were genotyped by Pyrosequencing and direct Sanger sequencing techniques. The thicknesses of the macular and choroid of each subject’s right eye were measured using spectral-domain optic coherence tomography.Results: Mean arteriolar and venular diameters were 95.75±11.98 µm and 127.61±10.44 µm in children with the MEFV gene mutations and 110.19±11.10 µm and 138.54±10.04 µm in control group respectively. Children with the MEFV gene mutations were found to have a significantly less mean arteriolar diameter (p<0.001), mean venular diameter (p<0.001), less macular thickness (p=0.016), and less choroidal thickness (p=0.014) compared to healthy controls. Conclusion: Children with the MEFV gene mutations had narrowing of the retinal arterioles, retinal venules, and macular and choroidal thinning. Future studies should aim to investigate endothelial dysfunction in children with Familial Mediterranean Fever by non-invasive and effective methods.

Objectives: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common disorder in children. It is thought to occur due to the interaction of many genetic and environmental factors during early development. Many studies have been conducted to investigate the etiology of ADHD. Some have investigated neurobiology, and others have investigated malnutrition and trace element deficiency. To investigate the effect of folic acid intake during the pre-conception period in terms of ADHD development.Methods: Five hundred and ninety-eight participants, 246 children with ADHD, and 352 healthy controls were enrolled. A questionnaire was completed, including socio-demographic information and the use of folic acid and other supplements such as a multivitamin, iron, and omega 3 during pregnancy. Data were examined to determine associations with ADHD. Mann-Whitney U tests for continuous variables, Pearson’s chi-square, and Fisher’s exact tests for categorical variables were used to compare groups.Results: The use of folic acid during pre-pregnancy among mothers who had a child with ADHD was 13% and this was 31% in the control group (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups’ use of folic acid in pregnancy (p = 0.617). Other situations related to ADHD were advanced maternal age (p < 0.001 for both groups), abnormal double screening test results in pregnancy (27% vs. 5%, p < 0.001) and omega 3 use in pregnancy (p < 0.001).Conclusions: The use of folic acid before and during pregnancy is important for neurological development. However, there is little data on use before pregnancy in the literature. This study shows that folic acid taken before pregnancy may prevent ADHD in childhood. The present study recommends folic acid usage in planned pregnancy to prevent ADHD in the child.

Introduction: Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is a disease with recurrent fever, characterized by painful, noninfectious inflammation of the serous membranes. It mostly affects Armenians, Turks, Arabs and Jews. Prolonged inflammation in FMF may lead to atrial fibrosis which can cause the deterioration of atrial conduction time and refractory periods of atrial myocardium.In the present study we aimed to assess atrial conduction time in children with FMF.Methods: The study included 36, children diagnosed with FMF(17 males/19 females, 13 (7-15) years) and 20 control(7 males/13 females, 11 (9-16) years) cases in our Pediatric Outpatient Clinic between October 2015 and October 2016. Tissue Doppler Echocardiography (TDE) measurements of intra-and interatrial electromechanical delay were done. P wave dispersion (Pdisp) was calculated from the 12-lead electrocardiogram.Results: Inter-atrial (Lateral PA– Tricuspid PA) and Intra-left (Lateral PA-Septal PA) atrial electromechanical delay were significantly longer in FMF patients (P<0.001,respectively). (PA: the time range between the beginning of the P wave in the surface electrocardiogram and the beginning of the tissue Doppler late diastolic wave A). Also, P-wave dispersion (Pdisp) were significantly higher in FMF patients( p= 0.002).Conclusions: This study shows that atrial electromechanical delay and Pdisp are prolonged in children with FMF. We recommend that atrial conduction time be measured for children diagnosed with FMF.