Browsing by Author "Harmanci K."

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    Anaphylaxis in Turkish children: A multi-centre, retrospective, case study
    (2011) Orhan F.; Canitez Y.; Bakirtas A.; Yilmaz O.; Boz A.B.; Can D.; Kuyucu S.; Harmanci K.; Tahan F.; Reisli I.; Karakas T.; Baki A.; Cokugras H.; Cakir M.; Yuksel H.
    Background: Anaphylaxis is a serious and potentially lethal systemic reaction affecting more than one organ or system. Objective: We aimed to describe the demographic characteristics, clinical features, causes, settings, and administered therapy in Turkish children. Methods: This retrospective, case note study included all children referred to the outpatient clinics of the Pediatric Allergy Departments of the participating study centres from 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2009 for investigation of anaphylaxis or who were seen by us at the moment of the reaction during the same period and who met the clinical criteria of anaphylaxis. Results: Two hundred and twenty-four cases of anaphylaxis were reported in 137 children (88 boys, P = 0.0001). The mean ± SD age at the referral was 7.7 ± 4.2 years (range: 4 months-17 years). Ninety-eight episodes (43.8%) occurred at home. The symptoms were cutaneous in 222 (99.1%) episodes, respiratory in 217 (96.9%), neuro-psychiatric in 118 (52.7%), cardiovascular in 92 (41.1%), and gastrointestinal in 88 (39.3%). Biphasic reaction was reported in seven episodes (3.1%, 95% CI: 1.5-6.3). Death occurred in one case (0.4%, 95% CI: 0.08-2.4). Treatment was available in 158 episodes (70.5%). Of them, 148 (93.7%) received antihistamines, 132 (83.5%) corticosteroids, 51 (32.3%) epinephrine, and 17 (10.8%) beta-2-mimetics. The causative agents were foods in 86 (38.4%) episodes, hymenoptera venom in 84 (37.5%), drugs and medications in 47 (21.0%), and latex in 5 (2.2%). In two episodes (0.9%), the causative agent was unidentified. Allergy to the trigger was known prior to anaphylaxis in 116 (51.8%) episodes. An epinephrine auto-injector had been prescribed for 70 children (51.1%). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Anaphylaxis was seen significantly more in boys. Most of the reactions occurred at home. Foods were the most frequent cause. Epinephrine, the first-line treatment of anaphylaxis, was administered in only a third of the children. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
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    The evaluation of the relationship between STREM-1, VEGF-B, and VEGF gene expression levels with disease activity of Behçet’s patients
    (Hindawi Limited, 2018) Harmanci K.; Akan O.Y.; Pirildar T.; Ortan P.; Ulman C.
    Background. There is no specific marker that shows the disease activity in Behçet’s disease. Aim. In this study, we aimed to investigate VEGF-B and VEGF gene expressions and sTREM-1 levels in association with the activation of Behçet’s disease. Study Design. Case-control study. Methods. Clinical features of patients who applied in the rheumatology clinic and were diagnosed with BD according to the international working group’s criteria were investigated. 30 healthy volunteers and 30 patients in the active period according to the EBDCAF scoring were studied. VEGF-B and VEGF gene expressions and sTREM-1 levels were studied in the serum samples of the patients and the control subjects. Results. The VEGF-B expressions and sTREM-1 levels were higher in the BD than those in the healthy group, but this difference did not reach statistical significance. VEGF gene expression was statistically significant (p = 0 008). Behçet’s disease patients with oral aphthae, genital ulcer, eye, joint, vascular, skin, and neurological involvement were analyzed separately as subgroups. We find that VEGF gene expression level of Behçet’s disease patients with joint involvement (arthritis/arthralgia) and also VEGF-B and VEGF gene expression of Behçet’s disease with vascular involvement (DVT/thrombophlebitis) were significantly higher (p = 0 035, p = 0 021). Each subgroup was analyzed with the control group. We determined that VEGF gene expression in all subgroups was significantly higher than that in the control group. At the same time, VEGF-B levels of patients with genital ulcer and vascular involvement (DVT/thrombophlebitis) were significantly higher than those in the control group. Conclusion. VEGF-B and VEGF gene expressions can be activity indicators for BD. In addition, this study shows that new treatment options should be explored for Behçet’s disease patients with joint and vascular involvement. In the following years, new treatment methods are needed to investigate for revealing the role of the etiopathogenesis of BD and the activation and prognosis of VEGF by examining this study and providing much more participation. In our study group, the sTREM-1 levels were high but the results did not reach statistical significance. More studies are needed with larger groups in order the highlight the exact role of STREM-1 in Behçet’s disease. Copyright © 2018 Kadir Harmanci et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License
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    The success of the Cystic Fibrosis Registry of Turkey for improvement of patient care
    (John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2022) Asfuroglu P.; Sismanlar Eyuboglu T.; Aslan A.T.; Gursoy T.R.; Emiralioglu N.; Yalcin E.; Kiper N.; Sen V.; Sen H.S.; Altintas D.U.; Ozcan D.; Kilinc A.A.; Cokugras H.; Baskan A.K.; Yazan H.; Erenberk U.; Dogan G.; Unal G.; Yilmaz A.I.; Keskin O.; Arik E.; Kucukosmanoglu E.; Irmak I.; Damadoglu E.; Ozturk G.K.; Gulen F.; Basaran A.E.; Bingol A.; Cekic S.; Sapan N.; Kilic G.; Harmanci K.; Kose M.; Ozdemir A.; Tugcu G.D.; Polat S.E.; Hangul M.; Ozcan G.; Aydin Z.G.G.; Yuksel H.; Topal E.; Ozdogan S.; Caltepe G.; Suleyman A.; Can D.; Ekren P.K.; Bal C.M.; Kilic M.; Cinel G.; Cobanoglu N.; Pekcan S.; Cakir E.; Ozcelik U.; Dogru D.
    Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) registries play an essential role in improving disease outcomes of people with CF. This study aimed to evaluate the association of newly established CF registry system in Turkey on follow-up, clinical, growth, treatment, and complications of people with this disease. Methods: Age at diagnosis, current age, sex, z-scores of weight, height and body mass index (BMI), neonatal screening results, pulmonary function tests, history of meconium ileus, medications, presence of microorganisms, and follow-up were evaluated and compared to data of people with CF represented in both 2017 and 2019 registry data. Results: There were 1170 people with CF in 2017 and 1637 in 2019 CF registry. Eight hundred and fourteen people were registered in both 2017 and 2019 of whom z-scores of heights and BMI were significantly higher in 2019 (p = 0.002, p =0.039, respectively). Inhaled hypertonic saline, bronchodilator, and azithromycin usages were significantly higher in 2019 (p =0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.003, respectively). The percent predicted of forced expiratory volume in 1 sec and forced vital capacity were similar in 2017 and 2019 (88% and 89.5%, p = 0.248 and 84.5% and 87%, p =0.332, respectively). Liver diseases and osteoporosis were significantly higher, and pseudo-Bartter syndrome (PBS) was significantly lower in 2019 (p = 0.011, p = 0.001, p = 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: The z-scores of height and BMI were higher, the use of medications that protect and improve lung functions was higher and incidence of PBS was lower in 2019. It was predicted that registry system increased the care of people with CF regarding their follow-up. The widespread use of national CF registry system across the country may be beneficial for the follow-up of people with CF. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
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    Clinical findings of patients with cystic fibrosis according to newborn screening results
    (John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2022) Ramasli Gursoy T.; Aslan A.T.; Asfuroglu P.; Sismanlar Eyuboglu T.; Cakir E.; Cobanoglu N.; Pekcan S.; Cinel G.; Dogru D.; Ozcelik U.; Yalcin E.; Sen V.; Ercan O.; Kilinc A.A.; Yazan H.; Altintas D.U.; Kartal Ozturk G.; Bingol A.; Sapan N.; Celebioglu E.; Tugcu G.D.; Ozdemir A.; Harmanci K.; Kose M.; Emiralioglu N.; Tamay Z.; Yuksel H.; Ozcan G.; Topal E.; Can D.; Korkmaz Ekren P.; Caltepe G.; Kilic M.; Ozdogan S.
    Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a lethal recessive genetic disease caused by loss of function associated with mutations in the CF trans-membrane conductance regulator. It is highly prevalent (approximately 1 in 3,500) in Caucasians. The aim of this study was to compare demographic and clinical features, diagnostic tests, treatments, and complications of patients with CF whose newborn screening (NBS) with twice-repeated immune reactive trypsinogen testing was positive, normal, and not performed. Methods: In this study, 359 of all 1,488 CF patients recorded in the CF Registry of Turkey in 2018, who had been born through the process of NBS, were evaluated. Demographic and clinical features were compared in patients diagnosed with positive NBS (Group 1), normal (Group 2), or without NBS (Group 3). Results: In Group 1, there were 299 patients, in Group 2, there were 40 patients, and in Group 3, there were 20 patients. Among all patients, the median age at diagnosis was 0.17 years. The median age at diagnosis was higher in Groups 2 and 3 than in Group 1 (P = 0.001). Fecal elastase results were higher in Group 2 (P = 0.033). The weight z-score was lower and chronic Staphylococcus aureus infection was more common in Group 3 (P = 0.017, P = 0.004, respectively). Conclusions: Frequency of growth retardation and chronic S. aureus infection can be reduced with an early diagnosis using NBS. In the presence of clinical suspicion in patients with normal NBS, further analyses such as genetic testing should be performed, especially to prevent missing patients with severe mutations. © 2021 Japan Pediatric Society.