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Objective: Allergic diseases have rapidly increased over the last decades. Allergic sensitization is a key step in developing allergic diseases, and sensitization to airborne allergens is consistently the strongest identified risk factor for asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR). Our study aims to elucidate the prevalence of various allergens leading to AR and asthma through skin prick tests (SPTs) in North Cyprus. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted between April 2023 and March 2024 at our Hospital's Pediatric Immunology and Allergy outpatient clinic, involving pediatric patients diagnosed with AR and asthma, and aged under 18 years. SPT was performed to detect aeroallergen sensitization. Results: A total of 261 patients were included in this study, with 55.20% (n=144) being male. The median age of the patients was 85 months (IQR:57.5-116). Allergic rhinitis, wheezy child, and asthma were diagnosed in 70.10% (n=183), 26.80% (n=70), and 35.20% (n=92) of the patients, respectively. Out of the 261 patients, 62.10% (n=162) had SPT positivity. The most frequent allergen was house dust mite (HDM) at 41% (n=107). The second most frequent allergen was tree pollen (26.40%, n=69), followed by grass allergen (24.50%, n=64). Patients under 6 years of age showed higher SPT negativity with aeroallergens, while patients above 6 years of age showed higher SPT positivity with aeroallergens (p=0.020). Patients having both asthma and allergic rhinitis showed higher SPT positivity with aeroallergens (p=0.035). The percentage of patients who were positive with Ambrosia artemisifolia, Artemisia vulgaris, and Fraxinus excelsior allergens was higher in patients diagnosed with asthma, and both asthma and allergic rhinitis (p=0.027, 0.001, and 0.042, respectively). Patients who had mold, Alternaria alternate, and Secale cereale allergen positivity were more common in non-controlled asthma (p=0.029, 0.049, and 0.028, respectively). Patients having dog and grass allergens positivity were more common in persistent AR (p=0.044, and 0.036 respectively). Conclusion: In conclusion, patients diagnosed with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis in North Cyprus most frequently showed allergen sensitization to house dust mites, followed by pollens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intact fungal spores and smaller fungal fragments such as hyphae are sources of airborne allergens. Information on the distribution of sub-spore allergenic particles in the atmosphere is however limited. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to explore the behaviour of Alternaria aeroallergens in the atmosphere of Ankara, central Turkey. Aerobiological monitoring was carried out in the 2020 season. A Burkard volumetric spore trap was used for fungal spore collection, and a high-volume cascade impactor for allergen collection. The Alt a 1 levels in two air fractions (particulate matter (PM) > 10 µm and 10 > PM > 2.5 µm) were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The seasonal spore integral (SSIn) was 1846 spore day/m3. In the same period, a total of 95.71 pg/m3 Alt a 1 concentration was recorded, of which 93% was recorded in PM>10 and 7% in PM10–2.5 air fraction. The amount of allergen per spore was 5.18 × 10−2 pg/spore/m3. The highest concentration for both spores and allergens was observed on 30 June, i.e. before the local crop harvest. Four days with highest spore levels occurred about one week after the rainfall (> 1 mm). Hot and humid weather probably contributed to the intensive development of fungi and an increase in the concentration of spores in the atmosphere. Our findings suggest that in areas with semi-arid climate, such as central Turkey, the weather conditions have a greater effect on behaviour of the distribution of Alternaria aeroallergens than agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction:It was aimed to investigate the sensitivity rates against tree pollen allergens and various factors affecting tree pollen sensitivity in children with allergic asthma. Materials and Methods: 560 children aged 5-18 years with a diagnosis of allergic asthma were included in the study. Clinical, laboratory, and skin test data of the cases were analyzed retrospectively. Results: In skin prick tests of the cases included in the study, the rate of general sensitivity to tree pollen allergens [presence of sensitivity to at least one of Olea europeae (olive), Alnus glutinosa (alder), Platanus acerifolia (plane), Corylus avellena (hazel), Betula verrucosa (birch), Pinus silvestris (pine)] was found to be 17.7%. Other allergen sensitivities; mites 75.0%, grass pollen 47.3%, grain pollen 39.5%, weed pollen 18.4%, cat and/or dog 13.4%, fungi 12.9%, cockroach 6.1% was determined. It was found that the general sensitivity rates to tree pollen allergens were in the 5-8 age group (9.5%), the 9-13 age group (20.7%), the 14- 18 age group (28.8%) and increased in parallel with age (p<0,001). Tree pollen sensitivity was found to be higher in the presence of concomitant allergic rhinitis or allergic conjunctivitis (p=0.019, p=0.002, respectively), and lower in the presence of mite sensitivity (p<0.001). Conclusions: In this study, tree pollen sensitivity rates were remarkable in children aged 5-18 years with allergic asthma. The data on tree pollen and other allergen sensitivities obtained from children with allergic asthma should be considered in the diagnosis and treatment approaches of the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study to evaluate the results of the skin prick test (SPT) of citizens of the Republic of Turkey (T.R.) and Syrian refugees who are with atopic asthma. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 431 patients between January 2015 and 2017. At the study were evaluated the results of the SPT of the citizens of the T.R with atopic asthma and Syrian refugees who are living in tent camps. For this study, approval was obtained from the non-interventional ethics committee of Harran University with the decision dated June 04, 2017 and numbered 17/04/23. Results: SPT was performed in 431 patients with atopic asthma, 45.7% of whom were Syrian Refugees. Of the patients, 75.4% were female. The mean age was 30.5. House dust mite is the most common allergen encountered in both Turkish citizens and refugees. By the nationality, a significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of mould mixture (p <0.001), cockroach (p<0.05) and grain mixture (p<0.05). According to gender, there was a significant difference between the groups in terms of mould mixture (p <0.05) and cockroach (p<0.05). It was observed that the sensitivity of wild grass (41%) and cat hair (39.1%) in T.C women, mushroom mixture (61.9%) in Syrian refugee women and wild grass (60.7%) in Syrian refugee men were higher. Conclusion: Allergic asthma is an important health problem in migration and refugee situations. In Turkish citizens and refugees, allergen positivity is most common in house dust mites. In Syrian refugees, it is as house dust mite, herb mix and mushroom mix, respectively. This study will contribute to the literature as it is the first study to show allergens in refugees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To the best of our knowledge, there is no prediction tool for determining respiratory allergy in patients with asthma and/or rhinitis. Objectives: As such, this study aimed to develop an instrument for identifying skin prick test (SPT)‐negative patients with asthma and/or rhinitis. Methods: This cross‐sectional study screened 510 consecutive patients diagnosed with asthma and/or rhinitis between November 2009 and May 2011 in Ankara, Turkey. A structured questionnaire was the screening tool that was administered during the initial visit by the treating specialist and compared with a SPT result. All 15 variables were analysed using the logistic regression model to obtain β values (a score) for each variable. Each variable had a score, and scores were summed up to obtain final score for each patient. Results: The study included 363 patients, of which 165 (45.5%) were SPT positive. The final model included 13 variables. The lowest and highest scores were −21 and 26. A total score of 5.5 had sensitivity of 63% and specificity of 80%. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.78. The histogram of the total scores for the study population was bimodal. Conclusions: We designed a highly specific 13‐item instrument for identifying SPT‐negative patients. It may be used in middle income countries where allergy testing is expensive, not reimbursed or few allergy clinics are available. We think that our idea is interesting, that needs further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was performed between January 2004 and December 2004 in 13 stations in the Pediatric Unit of Edirne Government Hospital in order to determine the outdoor and indoor airborne microfungal and bacterial contents. The results of air samplings revealed that 1,376 microfungal and 2,429 bacterial colonies in total were isolated. The isolated microfungal specimens were identified and 65 species from 16 genera were determined. Among these, the most frequent genus was Cladosporium with 462 colonies (33.58%) followed by Alternaria with 310 (22.53%) and Penicillium with 280 (20.35%) colonies. The isolated bacterial samples were grouped based on their Gram-staining properties. The most frequent ones were Gram (+) cocci with 1,527 colonies (62.87%) followed by Gram (+) bacilli with 828 colonies (34.09%) and Gram (−) bacilli with 74 colonies (3.05%). Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Corynebacterium, and Microccus appeared to be the common genera isolated for all months. Statistical analyses were performed in order to see if there existed a relationship between meteorological conditions and the microfungal and bacterial species and their concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present report was to evaluate the prevalent species of airborne fungi in the outdoor environment in the city of Trabzon, Turkey. The area is surrounded by high mountains running parallel to the Black Sea, and has a mostly rainy and temperate climate together with a most varied and widespread flora. Air samples were collected in four seasons by means of the gravitational settling method using petri dishes with SDA culture media. Those fungi colonies that formed after an incubation period of 7–10 days at 25 °C were determined on the basis of micro and macromorphological features. With respect to seasons, it was found that in Summer Penicillium, Alternaria and Fusarium, in Autumn and Winter Penicillium and in Spring and Summer Alternaria were the most prevalent fungal genera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]