Yıldırım, Malik Ejder; Kurtulgan, Hande Küçük; Kılıçgün, Hasan; Duksal, Fatma

Aim: Atopy is associated with a genetic predisposition to develop allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis. In this study, we aimed to compare the prevalence of Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) mutations in asthma and allergic rhinitis patients with controls in the pediatric population and to analyse the positive or negative effect of MEFV mutations in the development of atopy. Materials and Methods: For the detection of FMF mutations, 88 pediatric patients (51 allergic asthma, 17 allergic rhinitis and 20 both asthma and allergic rhinitis cases) and 92 controls were included in our study. Total genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples using DNA isolation kit. Then, the patient and control groups were screened for MEFV gene mutations by Reverse Hybridization procedure (Strip Assay). Results: There were 9 carriers (heterozygous mutation) in the patient group. The control group had 21 carriers and 1 individual with a compound heterozygous mutation. It was not detected any homozygous mutation in both two groups. The number of individuals with mutation was statistically higher in the control group than in the patients of asthma and allergic rhinitis (p=0.015) and the mutation number (allelic frequency) in the control group was also higher than in the patients (p=0.014). Conclusion: We suggest that FMF mutations are less frequent in allergic rhinitis and asthma cases than in the normal population. Asthma and allergic rhinitis may be more common in individuals without FMF mutation. It can be thought that MEFV gene mutations are effective to prevent allergic reactions on the basis of T helper 2 (Th2) suppression.

Ayran, Gülsün; Çelebioğlu, Ayda

Aim: This study aimed to determine the effect of breastfeeding education given to parents in the early postpartum period on the duration of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, breastfeeding success and breastfeeding self-efficacy levels of mothers. Materials and Methods: This study had three groups including a control (n=49), intervention I (n=48) and intervention II group (n=48). As a nursing intervention, breastfeeding training using pre-structured training modules was given only to the mothers in intervention group 1 and to both the mothers and fathers in Intervention group 2. Routine nursing services were provided to the families in the control group. The infant feeding behaviors of the mothers in all three groups were monitored until the end of the sixth month. The parental introductory information form, infant follow-up form, LATCH diagnosis and evaluation scale and breastfeeding self-efficacy scale were used to collect the data. Results: It was determined that the breastfeeding training given to mothers increased breastfeeding self-efficacy levels and breastfeeding success and this increase was statistically significant (p<0.05). It was determined that the difference between the supplemental nursing systems feeding rates for the intervention groups at the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 6th months were significantly higher than in the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Breastfeeding training increased the mothers’ breastfeeding self-efficacy and the duration of exclusive breastfeeding, but the fathers’ support made no significant difference.