The impact of passive smoking on the development of lower respiratory tract infection in infancy

Aim: The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of passive smoking on the development of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in children aged 0-24 months

Hemoglobin cut-off values in healthy Turkish infants

Background: Anemia is a widespread public health problem associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. This study was undertaken to determine the cut-off value of hemoglobin for infant anemia

Histological structure of Nannospalax xanthodon cochlea tissue

Because of the growth retardation in the eyes of Nannospalax xanthodon blind mole rat, some genetic and environmental adaptations have occurred in the smelling and hearing systems so that they can communicate efficiently in the galleries underground. This study was aimed to determine the histological and morphometric structure of the unique organization of the cochlea, which plays an important role in hearing in N. xanthodon. After the decalcification process, the cochlear tissue was cut in 5 mu m thickness after routine histological procedures. Then these sections stained with Hematoxylin & Eosin and Masson trichrome methods were examined histologically. Besides, the data obtained by taking measurements with the Image J program in the basal, media, and apex regions of the cochlea were evaluated statistically. It was observed that basilar membrane length, tectorial membrane length, stria vascularis thickness, and inner-outer hair cell lengths increased, while Reissner's membrane length and basilar membrane thickness decreased. These data show that the general histological structure of the blind mole rat cochlea is similar to that of other mammals. By evaluating histomorphological findings, it was concluded that cochlea, which plays a primary role in hearing with the effect of living conditions and genetic structures, develops better in blind mole rats than other living species

Preparation and characterization of chitosan/sepiolite bionanocomposites for tetracycline release

Chitosan/sepiolite (CS/SEP) bionanocomposite films have been prepared and characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopic analysis. The results indicated the formation of a phase separated microcomposite structure at low and high content of SEP. The point of zero charge was determined as neutral pH. The thermal behavior of the samples was examined by TGA/derivative thermogravimetric (DTG) analysis. The dispersed clay improved the thermal stability of the matrix systematically with the increase of clay loading. The release of Tetracycline (TC) was also studied in a batch system as function of pH, clay content, and contact time at 37 degrees C. Increase in the clay content of the composite resulted decrease in the release of TC due to the interaction of the silanol groups (SiOH) of the clay and the OH groups of the drug by the formation of the hydrogen bonding. Diffusion rate of TC to aqueous medium decreased by increasing SEP content. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:1810-1818, 2017. (c) 2015 Society of Plastics Engineer

Serum vitamin D levels during activation and remission periods of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and familial Mediterranean fever

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of vitamin D deficiency and/or insufficiency in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and to assess the relationship between vitamin D and disease activity. Sixty four patients with JIA, thirty six patients with FMF and one hundred healthy children were enrolled in this study. Vitamin D levels were measured during activation and remission periods in the patients with JIA and during attack and attack free periods in the patients with FMF. The mean vitamin D levels were found to be 18. 9 +/- 11 ng/ml and 18.6 +/- 9.2 ng/ml during activation and remission periods of disease, respectively, in the patients with JIA, 16 +/- 8.5 ng/ml and 13.1 +/- 6.4 ng/ml during attack and attack-free periods, respectively, in the patients with FMF and 26.7 +/- 10.5 ng/ml in the healthy children. There was no significant difference between vitamin D levels during activation and remission periods in the patients with JIA, whereas vitamin D levels during attack free periods were lower compared to attack periods in the patients with FMF. No significant relationship was found between disease activity and serum vitamin D levels. The vitamin D levels of the children with JIA and FMF were significantly lower compared to the healthy children. The frequency of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency was considerably high among the patients with JIA and FMF

Comparison of Different Iron Preparations in the Prophylaxis of Iron-deficiency Anemia

We compared the efficacy of ferrous sulfate (divalent) and ferric polymaltose (trivalent) compounds for the prophylaxis of iron-deficiency anemia (IDA). Study infants included exclusively breast milk-fed term infants. Subjects were divided randomly into 2 groups at 4 months of age and group 1 (n=56) received divalent and group 2 (n=56) received trivalent iron (Fe) preparation at a dose of 2 mg/kg/d for 5 months. At 9 months of age, after a 5-month prophylaxis, a significant increase was observed in hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit, serum Fe levels, and transferrin saturation in both groups. However, group 1 had significantly higher Hb, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, Fe, and transferrin saturation than group 2 (11.7 +/- 0.6 g/dL, 34.6% +/- 1.7%, 76.2 +/- 2.9 fL, 55.5 +/- 1.8 mcg, 20.8 +/- 3.9 g/L, respectively in group 1 vs. 11.3 +/- 0.5 g/dL, 33.5% +/- 1.5%, 74.7 +/- 3.2 fL, 42.5 +/- 1.8 mcg, 14.1 +/- 7.5 g/L, respectively in group 2). No significant difference was found in ferritin values between the groups. Fe deficiency was found in 17 (30.3%) of the subjects in group 1, and 23 (41%) of subjects in group 2 whereas 5 (8.9%) subjects had IDA in group 1 and 12 (12%) in group 2 which were insignificant between groups. No significant difference was found with regard to side effects between 2 Fe preparations. Although divalent Fe therapy led to a higher Hb and serum Fe level, both ferrous and ferric Fe preparations were effective for prophylactic use in the prevention of Fe deficiency and IDA with comparable side effects

Haemophilus influenzae type b antibodies in vaccinated and non-vaccinated children

Background: Invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infection has a high morbidity among young children, but the burden of disease and rate of Hib are different in different regions. The aim of the present study was to investigate the levels of Hib antibodies and the oropharyngeal Hib prevalence in young children