Obesity in children appears to be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases later in life. Early development of insulin resistance (IR) may lead to endothelial dysfunction and increased carotid intima–media thickness (cIMT) even in childhood. We compared endothelial cell-specific molecule-1 (endocan) levels in pediatric obese patients with those in healthy controls to determine whether endocan could be used as a biological marker of complications caused by endothelial damage. In 80 obese pubertal children (44 males [M] and 36 females [F], mean age: 12.8 ± 2.5 years), anthropometric measurements, cIMT, endocan levels, and IR indices (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR]) were evaluated and compared with 80 healthy pubertal patients (42M/38F, mean age: 12.3 ± 3.2 years). High-resolution ultrasound was used to measure the cIMT. Obese children had higher levels of endocan compared with the controls (P < .001). Fasting insulin levels and HOMA-IR were also higher in obese children (P < .001 for both). In addition, obese children had an increased cIMT (P < .001). In obese children, there was a significant correlation between cIMT and HOMA-IR (β = −1.314, P = .002) and between cIMT and endocan (β = .483, P = .004). Measuring cIMT and endocan levels (noninvasive investigations) in obese children, together with early preventive measures, could significantly decrease morbidity and mortality in adulthood.

Aim: Bisphenol-A (BPA) is an endocrine disrupting compound and may exacerbate or induce allergic diseases. To the best of our knowledge, there is little evidence regarding the effects of BPA exposure on allergic rhinitis (AR) in children. In the present study, we sought to examine whether exposure to BPA in children is associated with AR. Methods: This study was designed as a case controlled clinical study. 140 children diagnosed as allergic rhinitis and 140 healthy children as control group were recruited. BPA, interleukin-4, interleukin-13, total IgE and interferon-gamma levels were determined. Skin prick tests were performed in patient group. Total nasal symptom score and ARIA classification were used to predict disease severity. Results: Serum IL-4, IgE and BPA levels of children with allergic rhinitis were found to be significantly higher than the control group. BPA and IL-4 levels were significantly higher in moderate to severe-persistent group. There was a positive correlation between total nasal symptom scores and Bisphenol A levels in children with allergic rhinitis. Conclusions: The present study is the first to observe statistically significant relationship between BPA concentrations and allergic rhinitis in children. Also increased levels of BPA are associated with disease severity.

Aim Emotion regulation difficulties (ERD) such as anger, irritability and frustration intolerance leading to severe functional losses may be observed in attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The purpose of this study was to compare children and adults diagnosed with ADHD and a healthy control group in terms of emotion regulation characteristics and to examine factors potentially associated with ERD. Method The study was performed with 72 children/adults aged 6-18 diagnosed with ADHD based on DSM-V diagnostic criteria at the XXXXXX Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Polyclinic, Turkey, and 30 healthy controls. The Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children – Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL), a semi-structured interview form, was used to determine comorbidities. ERD scores (ERD=attention+anxiety/depression+aggression subscales) were determined using the Childhood Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Results Mean ERD scores were 189.45±19.33 in the ADHD group and 164.13±9.94 in the healthy control group. A significant difference was determined in ERD scores between the two groups (p˂0.001**). When the ADHD group was evaluated in terms of clinical characteristics, comorbid psychiatric disorders were not associated with ERD, but combined type ADHD characteristics emerged as significant predictors for ERD (r=0.43, r2=0.18, p=0.001**). Conclusion The results of this research revealed significantly greater ERD in individuals diagnosed with ADHD compared to healthy controls, and that combined type ADHD is a predictor for ERD. Since ERD accompanying ADHD lead to greater function loss in the individual and are associated with persistence of the disorder in adulthood, these are important clinical characteristics also requiring evaluation during the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD.

Objectives: Exposure to environmental toxic agents in the prenatal and/or postnatal periods may play in the acquired development of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in groups with genetic risks. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used industrial chemical with neurotoxic effects. This study examined the relationship between exposure to BPA and clinical ADHD. Methods: This cross-sectional, case-controlled clinical study compared 45 drug-naive children and adolescents with ADHD and 30 healthy controls in terms of serum BPA levels. Psychiatric comorbidities in the ADHD group were determined using the “Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for school-aged children, lifetime version.” The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was also administered to all participants. Results: Serum BPA levels were significantly higher in the ADHD group than in the healthy control group. In addition, significant, weak positive correlation was found between BPA levels and CBCL attention and CBCL total problem scores. Conclusions: Our results show that BPA may be an environmental toxic agent with a potential role in the etiology of ADHD and particularly attention deficiency. Preventive interventions can be developed if this can be confirmed with longitudinal studies and repeated measurements.