Evaluation of serum visfatin in children and adolescent with Type 1 diabetes mellitus

Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic illness characterized by the body’s inability to produce insulin due to the autoimmune destruction of the beta cells in the pancreas. Visfatin is a ubiquitous intracellular enzyme, known as nicotine amide phosphoribosyl transferase (NAMPT) and pre-B-cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF-1).Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate serum visfatin level in children and adolescent with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).Patients and methods: The present study was a case-control study observation that was conducted in Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Pediatric Ward, Zagazig University Hospitals. The study included 46 children; 23 with T1DM and 23 healthy age- and sex- matched children.Results: In this study, we found that serum visfatin level in diabetic group is statistically highly significant lower than healthy group. The mean serum level of visfatin in healthy group was 19.53 ± 10.5 ng/ml, while in T1DM patients was 2.85 ± 2.09 ng/ml. The best cutoff of serum visfatin level in excluding T1DM was ≥ 3.6 ng/ml with area under curve 0.968 with sensitivity 91.3%, specificity 82.6%, positive predictive value 84%, negative predictive value 90.5%, positive likelihood ratio 5.25, negative likelihood ratio 0.11 and accuracy 87% (p < 0.001). The result showed that serum visfatin could be helpful in prediction of T1DM among children and adolescents with an accuracy 87%.Conclusion: Serum visfatin level is lower in T1DM patients compared to healthy control. Visfatin play a role in early prediction and understanding the mechanism of its action in T1DM could lead to new therapeutic targets

Assessment of 25 (OH) Vitamin D in Neonates with Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy

Background: Vitamin D is a hormone that affects a wide range of functions within the body. Neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a serious disease that may lead to permanent brain injury.Objective: The present study aimed to study vitamin D status in hypoxic ischemic in encephalopathy.Patients and methods: A case control study carried out in newborn intensive care unit (NICU) of Zagazig University Children Hospitals. Total number of cases that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria was 49 full term neonates with HIE divided according to Sarnat stages: stage I; 20 full term neonates, stage II; 15 full term neonates and stage III; 14 full term neonates. Cases were compared to 16 healthy controls. Results: There was a statistical significant increase in Apgar score 1, 5, 10 in control group compared to all cases groups. There were no statistical significant differences between the studied groups in relation to CBC results. There was a statistical significant difference between the different stages of HIE in CRP and pH. There was a statistical significant increase in frequency of hypoxic change in stage III compared to stage II and I. All stages of HIE showed statistical significant increase in frequency of vitamin D deficiency compared to control group. Stage III had statistical significant increase in frequency of vitamin D deficiency compared to stage I and II.Conclusion: Serum 25(OH) vitamin D insufficiency is present in the majority of term HIE neonates. 25 (OH) vitamin D was significantly deficient in stage III more than stage I and II