The relation between serum vitamin D levels, viral infections and severity of attacks in children with recurrent wheezing

Introduction and Objectives: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased susceptibility to infections and wheezing. We aimed to evaluate the relation between vitamin D levels, viral infections and severity of attacks in children with recurrent wheezing. Materials and methods: A total of 52 patients who applied with wheezing, at the ages of 12-60 months with a history of three or more wheezing attacks in the last year and 54 healthy children were included. Sociodemographic data, risk factors for recurrent wheezing, and the severity of the wheezing attacks were recorded. 25(OH)D3, calcium, phosphor, alkaline phosphatase and parathormone levels of all children were measured. Nasopharyngeal samples of the patients for viruses were studied by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Results: For the patient group, being breastfed for six months or less, history of cesarean section, cigarette exposure, humid home environment, and family history of allergic disease were significantly higher compared with the control group. Serum vitamin D levels in the patient group were significantly lower compared to the control group. There was no significant relationship between vitamin D levels and hospitalization, oxygen or steroid therapy. Virus was detected in 38 patients (73%). Rhinovirus (63.2%) was the most frequently detected virus. Coinfection was found in 14 (36.8%) patients. There was no statistically significant difference between detection of virus and vitamin D levels. Conclusions: Cigarette exposure, being breastfed six months or less, humid home environment, history of cesarean section, family history of allergic disease and vitamin D deficiency might be risk factors for recurrent wheezing

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The relation between serum vitamin D levels, viral infections and severity of attacks in children with recurrent wheezing.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased susceptibility to infections and wheezing. We aimed to evaluate the relation between vitamin D levels, viral infections and severity of attacks in children with recurrent wheezing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 52 patients who applied with wheezing, at the ages of 12-60 months with a history of three or more wheezing attacks in the last year and 54 healthy children were included. Sociodemographic data, risk factors for recurrent wheezing, and the severity of the wheezing attacks were recorded. 25(OH)D3, calcium, phosphor, alkaline phosphatase and parathormone levels of all children were measured. Nasopharyngeal samples of the patients for viruses were studied by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: For the patient group, being breastfed for six months or less, history of cesarean section, cigarette exposure, humid home environment, and family history of allergic disease were significantly higher compared with the control group. Serum vitamin D levels in the patient group were significantly lower compared to the control group. There was no significant relationship between vitamin D levels and hospitalization, oxygen or steroid therapy. Virus was detected in 38 patients (73%). Rhinovirus (63.2%) was the most frequently detected virus. Coinfection was found in 14 (36.8%) patients. There was no statistically significant difference between detection of virus and vitamin D levels. CONCLUSIONS: Cigarette exposure, being breastfed six months or less, humid home environment, history of cesarean section, family history of allergic disease and vitamin D deficiency might be risk factors for recurrent wheezing.

Mothers' emotional states and attitudes regarding their children with asthma.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the associations of asthma with the psychological profile (depression and anxiety) of children with asthma and their mothers as well as the attitudes of these mothers toward their children and their family relationships. METHODS: Sixty-four children with asthma, 60 healthy children and their mothers were included in the study. The Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) and Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index (CASI) were applied to the children. All mothers completed the Beck Depression Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Parental Attitude Research Instrument and the Family Assessment Device. RESULTS: CASI scores were significantly higher in children with asthma (p < 0.001) than in healthy children. The increasing duration and severity of asthma were associated with increasing anxiety levels in children with asthma. Depression and anxiety scores were significantly higher in the mothers of children with asthma than in the comparison group. The mothers of children with asthma did not have supportive and friendly relationships with their children. In addition, these mothers had significantly higher Attitude of Hostility and Rejection, Attitude of Over-parenting and Authoritarian Attitude scores than those of the comparison group. Increasing duration and severity of asthma influenced family functions and the attitude of the mothers of children with asthma. There was a correlation between an increasing number of emergency department visits and increasing depression in the mothers of children with asthma. CONCLUSIONS: This cross-sectional study revealed that the disease may negatively affect the lives of children with asthma and their mothers and their family relationships.

Oxygen reduction reaction catalyzed with titanyl phthalocyanines in nonaqueous and aqueous media.

Electrochemical and in situ spectroelectrochemical behaviors and electrocatalytic reduction of molecular oxygen with titanyl phthalocyanines (TiPc) bearing 3,4-(methylenedioxy)-phenoxy substituents were performed in aprotic solvents. Multi electrons and metal-based and ring-based redox processes of TiPcs indicate their possible electrocatalytic activity toward many target species. Different numbers and positions of the substituents of the complexes affect the peaks' character and assignment of the processes. The presence of O2 in the electrolyte system influences the electrochemical and spectral responses of TiPcs. Electrochemical and in situ spectroelectrochemical analysis indicates interaction of molecular oxygen with TiPcs and these interaction mechanisms depend on both the substituent environments of the complexes and the electrolyte system. Langmuir-Blodgett films of the complexes also catalyze molecular oxygen in aqueous media, which is a desired property for their practical application.

Determination of mass attenuation coefficients, effective atomic numbers and effective electron numbers for heavy-weight and normal-weight concretes.

Total mass attenuation coefficients, effective atomic numbers and effective electron numbers values for different 16 heavy-weight and normal-weight concretes are calculated in the energy range from 1 keV to 100 GeV. The values of mass attenuation coefficients used in calculations are taken from the WinXCom computer program. The obtained results for heavy-weight concretes are compared with the results for normal-weight concretes. The results of heavy-weight concretes fairly differ from results for normal-weight concretes.

Radiation transmission of colemanite, tincalconite and ulexite for 6 and 18 MV X-rays by using linear accelerator.

Tincalconite, ulexite and colemanite are boron ores. Since these ores include boron, hydrogen and many other elements, these boron ores may be used as shielding materials instead of Pb metal and paraffin wax. In this study, measurements have been made to determine radiation transmission of tincalconite, ulexite and colemanite by transmission method for 6 and 18MV using linear accelerator (LINAC) with ionization chamber. The experimental results were compared to the results of WinXCom X-ray computer program's. In pair production region, ores such as colemanite, ulexite and tincalconite can be preferred as shielding materials to prevent photon and neutron particle radiations.

Determination of mass attenuation coefficients of some boron ores at 59.54keV by using scintillation detector.

The mass attenuation coefficients of the 59.54keV radiation of (241)Am point source in boron ores such as tincal, ulexite and colemanite were determined experimentally by a scintillation detector and theoretically. Since boron ores contain boron, hydrogen, and a lot of elements, they may be used as shielding against neutrons and gammas simultaneously, e.g. for shielding (241)Am/Be neutron sources, as they emit both gammas and neutrons.