Effects of Iron Deficiency Anemia and its Treatment on Ghrelins, Obestatin and Heat Shock Protein 70

The impact of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and its treatment on increased levels of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in settings with higher tissue stress induced by both ghrelin, which is both an antioxidant and a food intake stimulant, and also obestatin with opposing effects were investigated. The association of pica with these parameters was also examined. The study included 28 patients with IDA and 28 healthy controls. While acyl ve des-acyl ghrelin values were lower (p<0.05) in IDA. With treatment, ghrelin levels climbed. In IDA, obestatin levels were higher than the control values (p<0.05). With the IDA treatment, acyl and des-acyl Ghrelin levels increased. Contrarily, obestatin values fell down. The concentration of HSP 70 in IDA and during its therapy was above control values. Acyl, des-acyl ghrelin, obestatin, and HSP70 levels were increased in the pica group. In the pica group obestatin/acyl ghrelin ratio was comparatively higher (p<0.05). In IDA decrease in ghrelin and an increase in obestatin levels are observed, while HSP 70 remains the same. An increase in the obestatin/acyl ghrelin ratio might be responsible for the pica disorder

Serum IL-1β, IL-2, and IL-6 in Insulin-Dependent Diabetic Children

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is a chronic disease characterized by T-cell-dependent autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing β cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans, resulting in an absolute lack of insulin. T cells are activated in response to islet-dominant autoantigens, the result being the development of IDDM. Insulin is one of the islet autoantigens responsible for the activation of T-lymphocyte functions, inflammatory cytokine production, and development of IDDM. The aim of this study was to investigate serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in children IDDM. The study population consisted of 27 children with IDDM and 25 healthy controls. Children with IDDM were divided into three subgroups: (1) previously diagnosed patients (long standing IDDM) (n : 15), (2) newly diagnosed patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (before treatment) (n : 12), and (3) newly diagnosed patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (after treatment for two weeks) (n : 12). In all stages of diabetes higher levels of IL-1β and TNF- α and lower levels of IL-2 and IL-6 were detected. Our data about elevated serum IL-1β, TNF- α and decreased IL-2, IL-6 levels in newly diagnosed IDDM patients in comparison with longer standing cases supports an activation of systemic inflammatory process during early phases of IDDM which may be indicative of an ongoing β-cell destruction. Persistence of significant difference between the cases with IDDM monitored for a long time and controls in terms of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-α supports continuous activation during the late stages of diabetes

The Levels of Ghrelin, TNF-α, and IL-6 in Children with Cyanotic and Acyanotic Congenital Heart Disease

Background/Aim. Ghrelin has effects on nutrient intake and growth. The cause of growth retardation in congenital heart disease is multifactorial. The aim of the present study is to investigate the ghrelin in congenital heart disease and the association of ghrelin with TNF-α and IL-6. Materials and methods. We measured serum ghrelin, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels using spesific immunoassay in 68 patients (47 acyanotic, 21 cyanotic with congenital heart disease) and in 25 control subjects. Results. In comparison to controls, serum ghrelin, TNF-α levels were significantly higher in acyanotic patients and cyanotic patients with congenital heart disease (P<.0001). In acyanotic and cyanotic patients with congenital heart disease, there was a positive correlation between ghrelin and TNF-α (r=.485, P<.05 and r=.573, P<.01, resp.). Conclusion. Serum ghrelin levels is elevated in acyanotic and cyanotic patients with congenital heart disease. Increased ghrelin levels represents malnutrition and growth retardation in these patients. The relation of ghrelin with cytokines may be explained by the possible effect of chronic congestive heart failure and chronic shunt hypoxemia

Serum Endothelin-1 and Transforming Growth Factor-β Levels in the Newborns With Respiratory Distress

The purpose of this present study was to evaluate the serum levels of ET-1 and TGF-β in the newborns with respiratory distress. In this study, newborns with respiratory distress hospitalized into the Newborn Intensive Care Unit were included. The highest values of ET-1 and TGF-β were obtained from newborns with diagnosis as meconium aspiration syndrome (5.70 ± 5.87 pg/mL and 3.75 ± 1.94 pg/mL, resp) in the sample obtained in the first six hours after birth, and these are statistically different from control group (P < .05). Also, same results were obtained for newborns with respiratory distress syndrome (3.37 ± 1.59 pg/mL and 2.05 ± 0.98 pg/mL, resp). After oxygen treatment, ET-1 values obtained in the first six hours of life were decreased regularly in the following days (P < .05). In the differentiating diagnosis of the respiratory distress of newborns, the investigation of ET-1 and TGF-β levels is meaningful. The ET-1 levels investigated in the first six hours is more useful in determining the prognosis, and repeating ET-1 levels in the following days is more meaningful to determine clinical response

Normal platelet parameters in childhood period from newborns to adolescents

PURPOSE: There are few studies on normal values of platelet parameters as mean platelet volume (MPV), thrombocytocrite (PCT) and platelet distribution width (PDW) in children. The aim of this study is to determine the normal values of these platelet parameters in healthy Eastern Turkish children. MATERIALS and METHODS: This study is realized in Healthy Child Clinic of Fırat University Medical Facullty on a total number of 1005 children, between 0 to 14 years old, who have normal growth and developmental features. Their blood samples were collected by venipuncture of the arm. Platelet values determined in an automatic counter (Advia 120, Japan) were used in the statistical analysis to calculate the mean and standart deviation. To determine the differentiations between age groups one way Anova was used and p<0.05 was accepted as significant. RESULTS: Platelet count and PCT values are decreased in neonatal period. These values are increased slightly in infantile period and are decreased again in adolescent period. For MPV extremely low values are in neonatal period, and after these values increase from infantile to adolescent period. However PDW values are apparently increased in neonatal period and than go along in a constant interval. CONCLUSIONS: The values of platelet indices obtained in this study were similar to different reports and may be used as reference values in pediatric patients with clinical problems related to these cells

The Levels of Calcium and Magnesium, and of Selected Trace Elements, in Whole Blood and Scalp Hair of Children with Growth Retardation

Objective: Metals such as copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) are essential for human beings. Chronic metabolic disturbances may result from an excess or deficiency of these metals. Ca and Mg are also nutrient elements and play an important role in biological systems. Thus, it is very important to check regularly trace elements concentration in the body. The purpose of this study was to measure the content of Fe, Cu, Zn, Ca and Mg in whole blood and hair of children with growth retardation compared to that of controls. Methods: A quantitative elemental analysis of whole blood and scalp hair of children with constitutional growth retardation (n=27) and matched controls (n=21) was used to find out correlation and possible changes, between growth retardation and healthy controls. Atomic absorption spectrophotometric (AAS) analysis of quantitative method was used to determine iron, zinc, copper, calcium and magnesium levels of whole blood and scalp hair. Findings: The whole blood levels of Fe and Zn were significantly lower in children with growth retardation (P<0.05), but there were no differences in Cu, Ca and Mg concentrations in whole blood between children with growth retardation and healthy controls. The hair levels of Fe, Zn, Ca and Mg were significantly lower in children with growth retardation when compared to that of controls (P<0.05). The Cu concentrations in the hair of children with growth retardation and healthy controls showed no significant differences (P>0.05). Conclusion: The usefulness and significance of these elements in growth retardation should be discussed more detailed in the light of the most recent data