Incidence and risk factors for neural tube defects in a Bosnian population

Introduction: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are multifactorial congenital anomalies of the central nervous system that results from failed neural tube closure between the 3rd and 4th weeks of embryonic development. Numerous clinical and experimental studies indicate that supplementation with folic acid before and during early pregnancy reduces the development of these anomalies. The present study examined the incidence and risk factors for NTDs and evaluated the effects of folic acid supplementation.Methods: This cross-sectional study included all children with NTDs who were hospitalized at the Pediatric Clinic, Clinical Centre University of Sarajevo during the period from January 01, 2008 to December 31, 2012. Data were collected retrospectively from the medical histories of hospitalized children. The study included children in pediatric clinics from four cantons (Sarajevo, Zenica–Doboj, Unsko–Sanski, and Central Bosnia) of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The number of live births for the specified period in each of the four cantons was taken from a report by the Cantonal Ministry of Health.Results: Among the 69,096 live births recorded during the study period, 39 children had verified NTDs, with an overall incidence of 0.56:1,000 (or 5.6:10,000) in all four cantons. The most common NTDs were myelomeningocele with hydrocephalus (22/39, 56.4%), followed by isolated myelomeningocele (9/39, 23.1%), spina bifida occulta (7/39, 17.9%), and occipitocele (1/39, 2.6%). A total of 33.3% (13/39) of mothers took folic acid, but only one began supplementation prior to pregnancy, while 67.7% (26/39) of mothers did not take folic acid during pregnancy. NTDs were found more frequently in primiparas (53.8%), women with low education (basic school, 64.1%), and unemployed women (82.1%).Conclusion: It is important to make national recommendations for folic acid supplementation for women of reproductive age, but also change the public health policy that includes mandatory fortification of basic foods as this is the best measure for primary prevention of NTDs in the whole population regardless of employment and education status. Additional comprehensive studies are required to assess the incidence and risk factors throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina

Influence of Prematurity and Glutation S-Transferase Gene Polymorphisms on the Degree of Asthma Control in Children

Introduction: asthma is the most common chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory tract in children. The clinical manifestation of asthma is closely related to the pathomorphological changes presenting the basis of the disease, and it concerns the difficult air flow through the lower airways during the expiratory phase of breathing. Inadequate treatment of children who have asthma affects the appearance of remodeling of the lower airways and, in the most severe cases, permanent reduction of the lung function values. The Aim is to determine the influence of prematurity and GSTT1 and GSTM1 gene polymorphisms on the degree of asthma control. Materials and Methods: The research was designed as a clinical, cohort, observational, retrospective-prospective study. It included 200 patients divided into two groups of one hundred respondents each. The first group of respondents consisted of premature children hospitalized at the Department of Neonatal Intensive Care of the CCUS Pediatric Clinic due to respiratory problems caused by immaturity. In contrast, the second group consisted of at-term-born children monitored through the Pulmonary Counselling of the Pediatric Clinic. Results: The male and female genders were equally represented. In the premature children group, respiratory support was used in 60/100 (60%) cases. GSTT1 polymorphism was proven in 150 respondents, and GSTM1 polymorphism in 98. Fisher's test showed that gestational age at birth significantly influenced asthma control: the test value was 11.281, p=0.019. Conclusion: gestation weeks at birth have a statistically significant effect on the degree of asthma control at older age. Although poorly controlled asthma and uncontrolled asthma were more prevalent in children with positive GSTT1 and GSM1 gene polymorphisms, we could not demonstrate a statistically significant influence of the mentioned polymorphisms on the degree of asthma control

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery in teenager with preserved left ventricular function

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital anomaly that usually manifests as severe left-sided heart failure and mitral valve insufficiency during the early infant period, with a certain fatal outcome without early operative correction. Adulthood presentation is rare and most of the untreated patients who reach adulthood present with left ventricular dysfunction, global cardiomyopathy, severe chronic mitral regurgitation, myocardial infarction, sudden dysrhytmias and death. Here we report a case of a 12-year-old girl presents with cardiac arrest occurred during training, with previously preserved LV function. Key words: ALCAPA, adult type, arrhythmia, preserved left ventricular functio

Incidence and risk factors for neural tube defects in a Bosnian population

Introduction: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are multifactorial congenital anomalies of the central nervous system that results from failed neural tube closure between the 3rd and 4th weeks of embryonic development. Numerous clinical and experimental studies indicate that supplementation with folic acid before and during early pregnancy reduces the development of these anomalies. The present study examined the incidence and risk factors for NTDs and evaluated the effects of folic acid supplementation.Methods: This cross-sectional study included all children with NTDs who were hospitalized at the Pediatric Clinic, Clinical Centre University of Sarajevo during the period from January 01, 2008 to December 31, 2012. Data were collected retrospectively from the medical histories of hospitalized children. The study included children in pediatric clinics from four cantons (Sarajevo, Zenica–Doboj, Unsko–Sanski, and Central Bosnia) of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The number of live births for the specified period in each of the four cantons was taken from a report by the Cantonal Ministry of Health.Results: Among the 69,096 live births recorded during the study period, 39 children had verified NTDs, with an overall incidence of 0.56:1,000 (or 5.6:10,000) in all four cantons. The most common NTDs were myelomeningocele with hydrocephalus (22/39, 56.4%), followed by isolated myelomeningocele (9/39, 23.1%), spina bifida occulta (7/39, 17.9%), and occipitocele (1/39, 2.6%). A total of 33.3% (13/39) of mothers took folic acid, but only one began supplementation prior to pregnancy, while 67.7% (26/39) of mothers did not take folic acid during pregnancy. NTDs were found more frequently in primiparas (53.8%), women with low education (basic school, 64.1%), and unemployed women (82.1%).Conclusion: It is important to make national recommendations for folic acid supplementation for women of reproductive age, but also change the public health policy that includes mandatory fortification of basic foods as this is the best measure for primary prevention of NTDs in the whole population regardless of employment and education status. Additional comprehensive studies are required to assess the incidence and risk factors throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina.</jats:p

Survival Predictors of Preterm Neonates - Single Center Experience.

Introduction: Adequate prenatal and postnatal care for preterm neonates not only affects the survival rate, but also the occurrence of chronic diseases, and in the future also affects the quality of life of that children.&#x0D; Aim: To examine the influence of independent predictors (weeks of gestation, body weight, sex) on the outcome of the disease and to analyze the influence of the applied ventilatory mode on the final outcome of treatment.&#x0D; Material and methods:  The study included neonates (n = 248) born prematurely who were treated in the neonatal intensive care unit for a period of one year due to immaturity-related difficulties.&#x0D; Results: The mean age of male neonates (n = 119) at birth was 31.13 ± 3.3 weeks of gestation (WG), and females (n = 129) 31.59 ± 3.2 WG. Weeks of gestation have a statistically significant effect on survival (p = 0.0001), for each more week of gestation, the chances of survival increase by 21%. There was no significant difference between birth weight and sex (p = 0.289), and the birth weight of the neonates had a statistically significant effect on survival (p = 0.0001). For every 10 grams of body weight, in our sample, the chance of survival increases by 2%. Ventilation mode showed a statistically significant effect on neonatal survival (p &lt; 0.05), and intubation mode was used as an indicator. If neonates are switched from non-invasive to invasive ventilation mode, the chance of survival in our sample is reduced by 88%.&#x0D; Conclusion: Weeks of gestation, birth weight, and the use of a noninvasive mode of ventilation are predictors of a positive outcome for preterm neonates.</jats:p