The effectiveness of enteral nutrition support in the growth of children patients with cancer [Kanserli çocuk hastaların büyümesinde enteral beslenme desteğinin etkinliği]

Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess, through anthropometric and biochemical parameters, the positive effect on growth of enteral nutrition support in children with cancer receiving chemotherapy. Material and Method: Forty-three consecutive patients newly diagnosed with pediatric malignant disease and receiving intensive chemotherapy were included. Twenty-six patients received an enteral nutrition formula. Seventeen control patients did not receive enteral nutrition formula. Anthropometric parameters (weight, height, body mass index, triceps, subscapular and suprailiac skinfold thickness), serum albumin, prealbumin and transferrin levels and lipid profiles were measured at time of diagnosis and the 3rd month. Results: At the end of 3 months we determined a marked increase in subscapular and suprailiac skin fold thicknesses in the enteral nutrition group compared to at time of diagnosis (p=0.01 and p=0.014, respectively). Prealbumin and albumin values increased considerably after 3 months of enteral nutrition formula support (p=0.005 and p=0.006, respectively). Weight percentile increment was deter-mined (69.2% of patients) in the enteral nutrition group compared to at time of diagnosis. At 3 months, albumin and suprailiac skinfold thicknesses values were higher in the enteral nutrition group as compared to controls (p=0.012 and p=0.017, respectively). There were no significant changes in anthropometric and biochemical parameters in the control group at the end of treatment compared to at time of diagnosis. Discussion: This study demonstrates an improvement in anthropometric and biochemical parameters in children with cancer receiving an enteral nutrition formula. © Journal of Clinical and Analytical Medicine

Cerebral atrophy in 21 hypotonic infants with severe vitamin B12 deficiency.

AIM: Nutritional B12 deficiency is a treatable cause of neurodevelopmental delay in infants. We report 21 infants with developmental regression and brain atrophy as revealed using cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), secondary to severe vitamin B12 deficiency. METHODS: Twenty-one infants aged 4-24 months with B12 deficiencies who were admitted to our clinic between May 2013 and May 2018 were included in the study. MRI, bone marrow aspiration and the Denver-II Developmental Screening Test were performed in all infants. RESULTS: The mean age of the infants was 12.3 months, and the mean B12 level was 70.15 ± 32.15 ng/L. Hypotonia and neurodevelopmental retardation, and anaemia were present in all patients. Their bone marrow examinations were compatible with megaloblastic anaemia. Twelve patients had microcephaly, seven had tremor and one patient died of severe sepsis. Almost all patients were fed with breast milk and their mothers were also malnourished. Nine (42.9%) of the patients were Turkish and 12 (57.1%) were Syrian. All patients had abnormal Denver-II Developmental Screening Test scores. Most patients had severe cortical atrophy, cerebral effusion, thinning of the corpus callosum and delayed myelinisation in cranial MRI. Treatment with B12 resulted in dramatic improvement in general activity and appetite within 72 h. Tremors resolved in all cases. CONCLUSION: Neurological findings and developmental delay related to nutritional B12 deficiency can be prevented without sequelae if diagnosed early. Screening and treating of mothers for this deficiency will contribute to the health of both the mother and their feeding infant

Investigation of beta globin gene mutations in Syrian refugee patients with thalassemia major

Objectives: This study, detection of beta globin gene mutations in thalassemia major patients who migrated from Syria to Kahramanmaraş region were planned. Materials and methods: The study included 35 Syrian national beta thalassemia major patients. Beta globin gene mutations were detected by ARMS (Amplification Refractory Mutation System) method, RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) method and DNA sequence analysis. Codon 15, codon 9/10, codon 5 and codon 8 mutations, which we could not detect with other methods in our study, were detected by sequence analysis. Results: In beta thalassemia major patients, 16 types of mutations were detected, the most common being IVS-I-110 (n = 8). Other mutations are according to frequency order IVS-II-745 (n = 3), codon 44 (n = 3), codon 15 (n = 3), IVS-I-110/IVS-I-1 (n = 3), codon 5 (n = 2), IVS-I-1 (n = 2), codon 8/IVS-II-1 (n = 2), codon 44/codon 15 (n = 2), IVS-II-1 (n = 1), codon 39 (n = 1), IVS-I-6/codon 5 (n = 1), codon 9/10 (n = 1), IVS-I-110/codon 39 (n = 1), IVS-I-5/IVS-II-1 (n = 1), codon 39/IVS-II-745 (n = 1). Conclusions: According to the results of our study beta-thalassemia mutations in Syrian immigrant groups show heterogeneity and mutation types of mutation map is similar to Turkey. The conclusion is to prevent families to have a second patient child by genetic counseling. © 2019 De Gruyter. All rights reserved.2015/2-43DAcknowledgments: This work was supported by grants from the Kahramanmaraş Sutcu Imam University Scientific research project management unit (project number: 2015/2-43D)

Assessment of patients with von Willebrand disease with ISTH-BAT and PBQ scores

WOS: 000457408400148

Covid-19 infection in children with cancer after the first wave in Turkey: A study of the Turkish pediatric oncology (TPOG) and hematology (TPHD) societies

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