Comparison of the efficacy of once- and twice-daily colchicine dosage in pediatric patients with familial Mediterranean fever - a randomized controlled noninferiority trial

Background: In this study, we examined the efficacy and safety of a once-daily dosage schema of colchicine compared with a twice-daily dosage schema in pediatric patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). Methods: In this 24-week, multicenter, randomized controlled noninferiority trial, pediatric patients newly diagnosed with FMF carrying a homozygous or compound heterozygous mutation and not receiving any treatment were included. Patients were randomly assigned using a block randomization method to receive treatment with a once- or twice-daily dosage. Clinical and laboratory characteristics and medication side effects were recorded and compared between groups. The study was carried out in compliance with Good Clinical Practice and the Consolidated Standards for Reporting of Trials (CONSORT) statement. Results: A total of 92 patients were selected, and 79 patients completed the study. There were 42 patients in the once-daily dosage group and 37 in the twice-daily dosage group. The results indicated that the once-daily dosage was not inferior to the twice-daily dosage regarding decrease in attack frequency and duration as well as improvement in clinical findings and Mor severity scores. Alterations in laboratory findings indicating inflammation, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and serum amyloid A, were similar in both groups. The rates of drug side effects were similar between the once- and twice-daily dosage groups, implying comparable safety of colchicine, with the exception of diarrhea, which was slightly higher in the once-daily dosage group. Conclusions: Using colchicine with either a once- or twice-daily dosage provides similar clinical and laboratory improvements. Considering both efficacy and safety, colchicine can be prescribed with a once-daily dosage. Trial Registration ID: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02602028. Registered 5 November 2015

Recurrent and atypical posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in a child with hypertension

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinical and radiologic entity with typical symptoms including headache, seizures, visual disturbance, altered mental status, vomiting, nausea and focal neurologic signs. In this article, we report recurrent and atypical PRES in a child with hypertension due to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who was on a peritoneal dialysis program for 6 months. After the second hypertension attack, PRES findings did not recover and persisted as encephalomalacia. As far as we know, this case is the first child with ESRD who developed encephalomalacia after recurrent episodes of PRES. When a patient with a history of PRES presented with new clinical and neuroradiological findings, recurrent PRES should be considered

Solid phase extraction of Pd(II) on a newly synthesized chelating resin prior to determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A new solid phase extraction method for the separation and preconcentration of Pd(II) was developed. As solid phase material, a new chelating polymer, poly [N-(4-bromophenyl)-2-methacrylamide-co-2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid - co-divinylbenzene] was synthesized. The parameters such as the effect of pH, eluent type, volume and concentration, flow rate of sample solution, sample volume and effect of interfering ions for the preconcentration of Pd(II) were investigated. The optimum pH was found to be 9. Eluent for quantitative elution was 10 mL of 1 mol L(-1) HCl. The preconcentration factor of the method was 75. At optimum conditions, the recovery for Pd(II) was found to be 101 +/- 4%. The limit of detection (3 sigma) was 1.1 A mu g L(-1). The method was applied to the determination of palladium in tap water and converter samples with satisfactory results

Anionic and cationic polymer-based quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell with poly(aniline) counter electrode

The use of liquid electrolytes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is a significant obstacle for the commercialization of DSSCs. Even the idea of evaporation or leakage of electrolyte profoundly shakes the trust in DSSCs, which are expected to last for a long time when used outdoors. At work, it aims to prepare stable and more economical DSSCs with the use of quasi-solid electrolytes and poly(aniline) (PANI) counter electrode. So, two types of quasi-solid electrolytes, anionic (AGE) and cationic gel electrolytes (CGE) were obtained after synthesized anionic poly(4-vinyl-benzenesulfonate-co-acrylic acid), and cationic poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl trimethylammonium chloride-co- acrylic acid) hydrogel polymers engaged the liquid electrolyte. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), frequency-dependent dielectric properties, and conductivity properties of the prepared polymers were also performed. TGA showed that both polymers were resistant to temperature-dependent degradation up to 250 degrees C. The prepared gels were applied onto the TiO2 photoanode, which was sensitized by N719 dye and six DSSCs were prepared at different configurations. Current-voltage (I-V) characteristics and impedance analysis of the DSSCs were performed under 1000 W/m(2) light intensity. While 6.6% and 6.3% power conversion efficiencies were obtained for the standard liquid electrolyte/Pt and liquid electrolyte/PANI cells respectively, they were in the range of 4.2-5% for DSSCs prepared with quasi-solid electrolyte/Pt-PANI counter electrodes

EDUCATION STATUS OF PEDIATRIC DIALYSIS PATIENTS IN TURKEY

WOS: 000443998400268