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WOS: 000336739100035, PubMed ID: 24753773, Cytokine networks play a key role in the pathogenesis of the disease in Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) patients. Therefore, our aim was to study the effects of cytokine levels on the pathogenesis and severity of the disease in children with CCHF. Fifty-two patients diagnosed with CCHF and 34 healthy controls (HC) were included in the study. The patients with CCHF were divided into two groups (severe and non-severe). The levels of the Interleukin-10 (IL-10), IL-12, IL-6, Endothelin-1 (ET-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured in all groups. IL-12 levels did not show any difference between the CCHF and HC groups and among the severe, non-severe and HC groups. IL-10 and ET-1 levels were significantly higher in the severe group when compared to the non-severe group and the HC group. Moreover, IL-10 and ET-1 levels were significantly higher in the non-severe group when compared to the HC group. In terms of IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels, there was no difference between the severe and non-severe groups while the said levels were significantly higher in the severe group when compared to the HC group. The results of the present study showing significantly higher IL-10 and ET-1 levels in the severe group suggest that Th2-mediated humoral immunity is more effective in the pathogenesis and severity of CCHF in children.

WOS: 000329198500013, PubMed ID: 23893846, Cytokines are possibly one of the factors responsible for death due to Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF). This study aimed to determine the differences between the cytokine levels in children and adult patients with CCHF; the influence of cytokines; and the severity of the course of the disease, which seems to be milder in children. Thirty-four children and 36 adult patients diagnosed with CCHF between 2010 and 2011 were included in this study. Diagnosis was performed by serology or by the polymerase chain reaction for CCHF virus. Levels of IFN-, TNF-, IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12 p70, IL-13, IL-17A, and IL-22 were measured in all serum samples. Although the disease had a fatal course in three adult patients, there were no deaths in children. Statistically significant differences were not observed between the cytokine concentrations in the adults and children. No differences were detected between the serum cytokine levels in the children with moderate and those with a severe clinical course of the disease. In the adult patients with fatal outcome, significantly higher serum levels of IL-2, IL-5, IL-9, IL-12 p70, and IL-13 were detected as compared to the cytokine levels in patients who survived the infection. No differences were detected between the serum levels of IFN-, IL-1, IL-17A, IL-22, IL-10, IL-6, IL-4, and TNF- in the patients who died and those who survived. Thus, the milder clinical course in children with CCHF cannot be explained by the cytokine network alone. The incomplete maturation of the immune system and timing and scale of immune responses could change the outcome dramatically. J Med. Virol. 85:1955-1959, 2013. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

WOS: 000340310900008, PubMed ID: 23995315, Background & objectives: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a viral infection typically transmitted by tick bite. This study is to define the level of heparan sulphate (HS) in serum/urine since HS may play a role in the pathogenesis of hemorrhagic events in the patients with CCHF. Methods: In this study, the patient group consisted of 79 cases with a positive diagnosis of CCHF according to PCR/ELISA outcome among the patients referred to Cumhuriyet University, School of Medicine in 2010. A total of 81 volunteers who had not any viral or metabolic disease were enrolled as the control group. The blood samples were centrifuged, and the serum and urine samples obtained were stored at -80 degrees C until they were studied. Then, these samples were simultaneously dissolved, and HS level was spectrophotometrically measured using glycosaminoglycans specific 1-9, dimethyl-methylene blue (DMMB) stain. Results: A statistically significant increase in the HSserum values was found both in the individuals under and above 16 yr old in the patient groups compared to the controls (p 16 yr old compared to the controls (p

Giriş: Çalışmamızda, Kırım-Kongo Kanamalı Ateşi KKKA tanısıyla izlenen çocuk hastaların klinik ve rutin laboratuvar bulgularıyla birlikte, serum immünglobulin ve kompleman düzeylerinin değerlendirilmesi amaçlandı.Gereç ve Yöntem: Sivas, Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi’nde 2011-2012 tarihleri arasında, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ELISA veya polimeraz zincir reaksiyonu PCR kanıtlı KKKA tanısı alan 72 hastanın tıbbi kayıtları geriye dönük incelenmiştir. Epidemiyolojik, klinik özellikleri ve laboratuvar verileri hakkındaki bilgiler kaydedilmiştir.Bulgular: Çalışmaya alınan yetmiş iki çocuk hasta ortalama yaş; 11,95±3,95 yıl Tokat, Sivas, Yozgat, Giresun ve Erzincan’dan geliyordu. Başvuru esnasında başlıca ateş %94,4 , kusma %54,2 , halsizlik %52,8 , iştahsızlık %50 , baş ağrısı %47,2 , üst solunum yolu enfeksiyonu bulguları %41,7 , daha nadir olarak peteşi-purpura-ekimoz, epistaksis, ishal, melena, makülopapüler döküntü, hematemez, hematüri, hepatomegali, splenomegali, lenfadenopati bulguları vardı. Başvuruda hastaların laboratuvar bulguları şu şekildedir: %80,6 trombositopeni, %70,8 lökopeni, %50 nötropeni, %73,6 yüksek aspartate transaminaz, %26,4 yüksek alanine transaminaz, %71,6 yüksek laktat dehidrogenaz, %68,1 yüksek keratin kinaz, %54,2 uzamış protrombin zamanı, %52,8 uzamış parsiyel tromboplastin zamanı saptanmıştır. Ayrıca düşük IgG, düşük IgA, düşük C3 ve düşük C4 sırasıyla 4, 3, 12 ve 1 hastada saptanmıştır. Tüm hastalar sıvı-elektrolit tedavisi alırken, bir kısmı kan ürünü almıştır. Dört hasta intravenöz immünglobulin IVIG , 69 hasta ribavirin tedavisi almıştır.Sonuç: Çocuklarda KKKA klinik bulguları erişkinlerdekine benzerdir. Serum immünglobulinleri düşük bulunan hastalarda verilen intravenöz immünglobulin IVIG tedavisi dışında diğer tedaviler benzer bulunmuştur. KKKA’da immün yetmezlik araştırılması konusunda daha geniş çaplı çalışmalara ihtiyaç vardır, Introduction: In our study, it was aimed to evaluate clinical and routine laboratory findings and serum immunoglobulin and complement levels of pediatric patients with the diagnosis of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever CCHF .Materials and Methods: Medical records of 72 patients that diagnosed with CCHF proven by ELISA or polymerase chain reaction PCR in Sivas, Cumhuriyet University between 2011 and 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. The information about the epidemiological, clinical features and laboratory findings were recorded. Results: Seventy-two patients who participated in the study, mean age11.95±3.95 years came from Tokat, Sivas, Yozgat, Giresun and Erzincan. During the admission, patients mainly had fever 94.4% , vomiting 54.2% , fatigue 52.8% , anorexia 50% , headache 47.2% , upper respiratory tract infection findings 41.7% ; rarely, petechiae-purpura, ecchymosis, epistaxis, diarrhea, melena, maculopapular rash, hematemesis, hematuria, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy were seen. At admission, laboratory findings of the patients were as follows; thrombocytopenia, 80.6%; leucopenia,70.8%; neutropenia, 50%; high aspartate transaminase, 73.6%; high alanine transaminase, 26.4%; high lactate dehydrogenase 71.6%; high creatine kinase, 68.1%; prolonged protrombine time, 54.2%; prolonged partial thromboplastin time, 52.8%. In addition low IgG, low IgA, low C3, low C4 were found in 4, 3, 12 and 1 patient respectively. All patients received intravenous fluid therapy; some received blood products. Four patients received intravenous immunoglobulin, 69 patients were treated with ribavirin. Conclusions: Clinical findings of CCHF in children are similar to those in adults; in patients with low serum immunoglobulin outside the intravenous immunoglobulin IVIG treatment, other treatments are similar in all patients. In CCHF to investigate immunodeficiency status, further large-scale study is needed.

WOS: 000351007900020, PubMed ID: 25764100, Background: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a systemic viral disease that also affects the endothelium. Thrombocytopenia and hemorrhage are seen in this disease. But, the cause of thrombocytopenia is not clear. We hypothesized that endothelium dysfunction may be the cause of thrombocytopenia. We evaluated the endothelium functions by flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) in CCHF. Methods: Consecutive children with suspected CCHF who applied to our hospital were evaluated for recruitment into the study. FMD analysis was done in the active and healing period of the disease. Diagnosis was confirmed or ruled out by polymerase chain reaction and/or ELISA test. Basal brachial artery diameter (BBAD) and dilated brachial artery diameter (DBAD) after ischemic period were measured and percent dilatations [(DBAD-BBAD)/BBAD, FMD%] were computed from all subjects. Results: Fifty-four children (40 male, mean age 12.4 +/- 4.4 years) were recruited into the study. CCHF diagnosis was confirmed in 28 children and ruled out in 26 children. Groups were similar for age and gender. FMD% was significantly decreased in CCHF patients when comparing this with the control patients in the active period (2.65 +/- 2.76 vs. 13.76 +/- 7.95, P < 0.001). FMD% was correlated with platelet count in the active period of the disease (r = 0.599, P = 0.004). FMD% was recovered in the healing period (2.65 +/- 2.76 vs. 14.72 +/- 2.66, P < 0.001) and was not significantly different from basal values of control patients (P > 0.05). Conclusions: FMD is significantly decreased in CCHF and recovers in the healing period. So, endothelium functions are disturbed, and disturbance is correlated with thrombocytopenia in CCHF.

WOS: 000422265500004, Introduction: In our study, it was aimed to evaluate clinical and routine laboratory findings and serum immunoglobulin and complement levels of pediatric patients with the diagnosis of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF). Materials and Methods: Medical records of 72 patients that diagnosed with CCHF proven by ELISA or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in Sivas, Cumhuriyet University between 2011 and 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. The information about the epidemiological, clinical features and laboratory findings were recorded. Results: Seventy-two patients who participated in the study, (mean age11.95 +/- 3.95 years) came from Tokat, Sivas, Yozgat, Giresun and Erzincan. During the admission, patients mainly had fever (94.4%), vomiting (54.2%), fatigue (52.8%), anorexia (50%), headache (47.2%), upper respiratory tract infection findings (41.7%); rarely, petechiae-purpura, ecchymosis, epistaxis, diarrhea, melena, maculopapular rash, hematemesis, hematuria, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy were seen. At admission, laboratory findings of the patients were as follows; thrombocytopenia, 80.6%; leucopenia, 70.8%; neutropenia, 50%; high aspartate transaminase, 73.6%; high alanine transaminase, 26.4%; high lactate dehydrogenase 71.6%; high creatine kinase, 68.1%; prolonged protrombine time, 54.2%; prolonged partial thromboplastin time, 52.8%. In addition low IgG, low IgA, low C3, low C4 were found in 4, 3, 12 and 1 patient respectively. All patients received intravenous fluid therapy; some received blood products. Four patients received intravenous immunoglobulin, 69 patients were treated with ribavirin. Conclusions: Clinical findings of CCHF in children are similar to those in adults; in patients with low serum immunoglobulin outside the intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment, other treatments are similar in all patients. In CCHF to investigate immunodeficiency status, further large-scale study is needed.

WOS: 000327912900006, PubMed ID: 24270136, The aim of the present study was to evaluate renal involvement in children with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF). Forty-four children infected with CCHF virus and 30 controls were enrolled in the study. Urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) and urine protein levels were measured in the patient and control groups. Clinical and laboratory findings of the patient and control groups were compared. uNGAL levels were higher in the patient group than that in the control group (P < 0.001). Of the 44 patients, 26 (59.1%) were proteinuric. uNGAL levels in proteinuric patients were higher than those in non-proteinuric patients (P = 0.035). There was a positive correlation between uNGAL and urine protein levels in the patient group. (R = 0.614, P < 0.001). Due to renal involvement, increased proteinuria and increased uNGAL levels were observed in children with CCHF. In these children, measuring urine total protein and uNGAL levels can be useful to monitor renal involvement due to CCHF.

WOS: 000291794100002, PubMed ID: 21511509, Background: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a zoonotic viral disease with a high mortality rate, and is one of the viral hemorrhagic fever syndromes. The average mortality rate of CCHF is 3-30%. Research indicates that the longest incubation period after a tick bite is 12 days in CCHF disease. However, in clinical practice, we encounter patients with CCHF as a result of tick bites with much longer incubation periods (max. 53 days) than those reported in the literature. We present herein CCHF cases presumably infected through tick bites and having incubation periods longer than the upper limit reported in the literature. Methods: We analyzed the cases of the 825 CCHF patients admitted to our hospital from 2007 to 2010 and found that 312 of them had undoubtedly been bitten by a tick. We searched the patient records for information on the incubation period and found that 12 patients had experienced an incubation period of over 12 days, which is the longest incubation period stated in the literature for patients definitely bitten by a tick. Results: A total of 12 patients (eight males and four females, with a mean age of 45 years) were recruited into this study. Five (41.7%) of the 12 patients had positive CCHF virus-specific IgM antibodies, three (25%) had a positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test for CCHF virus, and four (33.3%) had positive results in both tests during the acute and/or convalescent phase of the disease. In these cases, the interval between tick bite and the onset of symptoms was a mean of 23.6 days (range 13-53 days). Conclusion: Physicians serving in endemic regions should be aware of these longer incubation periods after a tick bite. It is suggested that they perform more follow-ups on clinically and serologically highly suspected patients than they currently do. (C) 2011 International Society for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

WOS: 000352702000018, PubMed ID: 25866343, Background: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne viral zoonosis. Clinical reports indicate the severity of CCHF is milder in children than adults. The chemokines are important chemoattractant mediators of the host immune system. Objectives: The main aim of the study was to identify whether or not there were any differences in chemokine levels between the pediatric and adult patients and control groups, and whether there was any correlation with disease severity. Study design: The serum levels of select chemokines including chemokine (C-C) ligand 2 (CCL2), CCL3, CCL4, chemokine (C-X-C) ligand 8 (CXCL8), CXCL9, and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in 29 adult and 32 pediatric CCHF patients and in 35 healthy children and 40 healthy adult control groups were studied by flow cytometric bead immunoassay method. Results: Great variability was detected in the serum levels of the chemokines for both the adult and pediatric patients and controls. With the exception of G-CSF, the median serum levels of CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, CXCL8, and CXCL9 were found to be significantly higher in the adult patients compared to adult controls (2364.7 vs. 761 pg/ml; 714.1 vs. 75.2 pg/ml; 88.6 vs. 25.5 pg/ml; 217.9 vs. 18.3 pg/ml; 875 vs. 352.2 pg/ml, respectively, p < 0.0001 for all comparisons). Among the chemokines the median CCL4 and G-CSF levels were significantly higher in the pediatric patients compared to pediatric controls (40.3 vs. 7.1 pg/ml, p < 0.0001; 0.1 vs. 0.1 pg/ml, p = 0.049, respectively). Conclusion: The results of this study showed prominent chemokine raising in adult CCHF patients compared to children CCHF patients. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

WOS: 000291506300024, PubMed ID: 21524804, Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate cochlear involvement in child patients with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) disease. Methods: Twenty-eight CCHF disease patients (56 ears) and 26 sex- and age-matched healthy control subjects (52 ears) were included in the study. Pure-tone audiometry at frequencies 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 6 kHz, immittance measures including tympanometry and acoustic reflex testing, and transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) testing were performed in the patients and controls. Results: The proportion with a result of 'fail' for the TEOAE test in the CCHF patients was not statistically significant from the control group (p > 0.05). Conclusions: CCHF disease does not impair cochlear function in children. The clinical course of CCHF among children seems to be milder than in adults. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

WOS: 000349908800020, PubMed ID: 25170551, Background: Apoptosis is a main regulator in responses of cellular immunity throughout systemic viral infections. Perforin, soluble Fas ligand, caspase-3 and caspase-cleaved cytokeratin-18 (M-30) are mediators of apoptosis. The aim of this study is the evaluation of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) disease changes in the levels of these apoptotic markers and the relation of these changes with disease severity. Methods: Forty-nine hospitalized children with CCHF and 36 healthy controls were enrolled in this prospective study. The CCHF patients were classified into 2 groups based on disease severity (severe group and nonsevere group). Demographic characteristics and clinical and laboratory findings of all patients were recorded on admission. Results: Serum perforin, caspase-3 and soluble Fas ligand levels were found to be significantly higher both in the severe and nonsevere CCHF groups than the healthy control group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in these apoptotic markers between severe and nonsevere CCHF groups (P > 0.05). In addition, serum M-30 levels did not differ significantly among all groups (P > 0.05). There was a positive correlation between serum values for perforin, caspase-3 and M-30 and the disease's severity criteria such as aspartate aminotransferase and/or alanine aminotransferase. The serum levels of all these markers were negatively correlated with disease severity criteria such as the platelet count. Conclusions: In this study, we concluded that the interactions of cytolytic granules containing perforin and caspase cascade and Fas-FasL may play an important role in the pathogenesis of CCHF in children., Cumhuriyet University BAP [T-539], This study was supported by the Cumhuriyet University BAP with project number: T-539. The authors thank the Refik Saydam National Public Health Agency, a national reference laboratory in Turkey, for testing the serum samples.

WOS: 000330751500005, PubMed ID: 24451097, In this study, we investigated the pro- and antioxidant status of patients with a pathogenesis of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in terms of their role in its pathogenesis. During the study period, 34 children and 41 adults were diagnosed with CCHF. The control group consisted of healthy age- and gender-matched children and adults. Serum levels of the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), and plasma total thiol (TTL) were evaluated and compared between groups. The difference in mean TAC values between CCHF patients and healthy controls was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Mean TOS, OSI, and TTL values were significantly lower in CCHF patients than in healthy controls (P < 0.001). Comparisons between the 2 groups revealed that mean TOS and OSI values were significantly lower in adults with CCHF than in their healthy counterparts (P < 0.001). Similarly, mean TTL levels were lower in both children and adults with CCHF when compared separately with healthy controls (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the mean serum TTL levels between children and adults with CCHF (P > 0.05). Our results suggest that TTL may play a more important role in CCHF pathogenesis than the other parameters investigated. The mean TOS and OSI values were higher in the control group than in CCHF patients.

WOS: 000329360400008, PubMed ID: 24359422, Objective: We aimed to assess the association between resting heart rate (RHR) and severe infection in children with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF). Methods: In all, 121 patients under 18 years of age with a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of CCHF were enrolled in the study. Patients were classified into two groups based on disease severity (severe group and nonsevere group). RHR was measured by electrocardiography (ECG) on admission. Maximum P-wave duration (Pmax), P-wave dispersion (Pd), QRS duration, corrected QT interval, and QT dispersion were also measured. Results: Mean age was 11.43.9 years and 84 patients were male. Twenty-six patients were classified as severe. Patients in this group had a higher RHR (103.6 +/- 10.4vs. 80.5 +/- 8.1, p=0.001) than those with nonsevere disease. There was no difference in Pmax, Pd, QRS duration, QTcmax, or QTc dispersion. The optimal cutoff value of RHR to predict disease severity was>96 beats per minute (bpm), with 70.6% sensitivity and 50.1% specificity. Bleeding, thrombocytopenia (80x10(9)/L), elevated aspartate transaminase (AST) (>208IU/L), elevated alanine transaminase (ALT) (>87IU/L), elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (>566IU/L), long activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) (>42s), and increased hospitalization days were more frequent in patients with RHR >96bpm. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed low platelet count (42s), high LDH (>566IU/L), and elevated RHR (>96bpm) as independent risk factors for severe disease. Conclusions: We conclude that elevated RHR was significantly associated with severe disease in children with CCHF, thus offering the potential to identify patients with increased risk.

WOS: 000326838600006, PubMed ID: 24107209, Introduction: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a zoonotic viral disease with a high mortality rate. In clinical practice, we observed bradycardia in some pediatric patients with CCHF during the clinical course. So we aimed to report CCHF cases that presented bradycardia during the clinical course and the relation of bradycardia with the clinical findings and ribavirin therapy. Methods: Charts of all hospitalized pediatric CCHF patients were reviewed with respect to age, sex, history of tick bite or history of removing a tick, other risk factors for CCHF transmission, and interval between the tick bite and the onset of symptoms. Outcomes and clinical and laboratory findings and medications were recorded for each patient. We searched the patient records for information regarding the existence of bradycardia. Bradycardia was accepted as the heart rate 2 standard deviations (SD) lower than the suspected heart rate based on age. Results: Fifty-two patients (mean age 11.24.4 years, 31 female) were enrolled into the study. Bradycardia was seen in seven patients. Six patients with bradycardia were male and only one was female, and the mean age was 13.1 +/- 1.6 years. It was observed that male gender is frequent among patients with bradycardia, as compared with those without bradycardia (p=0.01). Bleeding was found to be more frequent in patients with bradycardia (p=0.02). There were significant differences between the bradycardia and nonbradycardia groups with regard to the requirements for fresh frozen plasma transfusion, the number of platelet suspension given, requirement for intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) and in the days of stay in hospital (p=0.01, p=0.03, p=0.03, p=0.04, respectively). Conclusion: Reversible bradycardia might be seen in the clinical course of pediatric CCHF patients, and the clinicians must be aware of this finding. The possibility that ribavirin may potentiate bradycardia cannot be assessed without a placebo-control study. So further studies may help to reveal the cause of the bradycardia, the disease itself, or the ribavirin therapy. Hence this study supports the need for a randomized, placebo-controlled study to assess intravenous ribavirin in treating CCHF and to support approval of the drug.

WOS: 000338030400010, PubMed ID: 24320760, We aimed to assess the association between serum levels of soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2r) and endothelin-1 and severe infection in children with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF). Fifty-two patients under 18 years of age with a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of CCHF and 38 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Patients were classified into two groups based on disease severity (severe group and non-severe group). The sIL-2r and endothelin-1 levels were observed to be significantly higher in patients with severe CCHF compared with those with non-severe CCHF and the control group (p < 0.05). In addition, those with non-severe CCHF were also found to have a significantly higher sIL-2r level relative to the control group (p < 0.001). Although there was a positive correlation between sIL-2r and endothelin-1 levels, serum levels of both sIL-2r and endothelin-1 were negatively correlated with the platelets count. In children with CCHF, serum levels of sIL-2r and endothelin-1 were increased, and this increase is related to the severity of the disease. In this study, we concluded through prognosis that serum levels of sIL-2r and endothelin-1 might be related, and that hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and endothelial injury might contribute to a pathogenesis of the disease., Research Foundation Council of Cumhuriyet University [T-539], The Research Foundation Council of Cumhuriyet University partly supported this study (Project No. T-539).

WOS: 000330078200019, PubMed ID: 23714976, Objectives: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), like other viral infections, may prolong mucociliary clearance time and increase nasal resistance in children. The aim of the present prospective case-control study was to study, using saccharin and anterior rhinomanometry tests, whether CCHF infections caused any change in nasal physiology. Methods: Overall, 40 subjects, 20 of whom had CCHF (group 1) and 20 of whom were healthy controls (group 2), were enrolled in this study. The definitive diagnosis of CCHF infection was made based on typical clinical and epidemiological findings and detection of CCHF virus-specific IgM by ELISA or of genomic segments of the CCHF virus by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Anterior rhinomanometry was performed in all participants according to current recommendations of the Committee Report on Standardization of Rhinomanometry. A saccharin test was used to evaluate mucociliary clearance, and nasal mucociliary clearance time was assessed with the saccharin test as described previously. Results: In our patients, the mean time from the application of saccharin crystals to the first feeling of a sweet taste was 6.77 +/- 3.25 minutes (range 2-16 min). In terms of the mean time from the application of saccharin crystals to the first feeling of a sweet taste, there was no difference between two groups. The mean total air flow was 637.60 +/- 76.18 mL/s (range 490-760 mL/s). The mean total nasal airway resistance was 0.24 +/- 0.03 Pa/mL s (range 0.20-0.31 Pa/mL s). In terms of the degree of nasal air flow and nasal airway resistance and the total air flow and total nasal airway resistance of each nostril, there was no difference between the 2 groups. Conclusions: The results obtained in anterior rhinomanometry and saccharin test showed that there was no statistically significant difference between CCHF (+) patients and controls. These results suggest us that CCHF virus infection does not affect nasal physiology. However, this is the first study performed on this issue and further studies on larger series need to be performed.

WOS: 000295899700014, PubMed ID: 21804465, Background: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) involves the multi-organ systems. The involvement of the heart in adult patients has been described previously. We investigated the electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings of pediatric patients with CCHF. Material/Methods: Patients younger than 16 years of age diagnosed with CCHF were enrolled in the study. The diagnosis of CCHF infection was based upon typical clinical and epidemiological Findings and serological tests. All patients underwent a thorough cardiologic evaluation. A standard 12-lead electrocardiography and echocardiography were performed. Results: Twenty-three consecutive patients who were hospitalized with diagnosis of CCHF were enrolled in the study (mean age: 12 2 years, 6 female). All electrocardiographic parameters were within normal ranges according to age. Seven patients (30%) had minimal (