4 research outputs found
Diagnostic Dilemma: Osteopetrosis with superimposed rickets causing Neonatal Hypocalcemia
Osteopetrosis is a rare genetic condition of reduced osteoclastic bone
resorption which causes defective bone remodeling and skeletal sclerosis
during growth, having effects on many organs and tissues. Mutation of
T-cell immune regulator 1 (TCRG1) gene is the most common genetic defect
leading to osteopetrosis, with poor prognosis. The autosomal recessive
form presents in the infantile period (also known as malignant infantile
osteopetrosis - MIOP), and is characterized by fractures, short stature,
hepatosplenomegaly, compressive neuropathies, hypocalcemia and
pancytopenia. Being a rare disease with non-specific clinical
manifestations, the diagnosis is difficult and usually delayed. Rickets
is a characteristic feature of MIOP which results from the defect in
osteoclasts to provide a normal Ca/P balance resulting in the poor
mineralization of the osteoid. Various treatment options have been
suggested for osteopetrosis, but hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
still remains the only curative treatment option presently. The authors
report the case of a 46-day-old girl with late-onset neonatal
hypocalcemia and rickets that was later diagnosed as osteopetrosis. This
case report emphasizes that infantile osteopetrosis is an important
cause of neonatal hypocalcemia. As irreversible complications develop
within the first months of life, immediate diagnosis and early
intervention are crucial and may be life-saving
IL-5, IL-8 and MMP-9 levels in exhaled breath condensate of atopic and nonatopic asthmatic children
Rationale: Asthma is a heterogeneous disease, and a great majority of pediatric patients with asthma demonstrate atopic characteristics and develop a Th2 type cytokine response. Nonatopic asthma, on the other hand, is seen more rarely
E-cadherin as an epithelial barrier protein in exhaled breath condensate
Airway epithelium plays an important role as a physical barrier and a modulator of allergic response. Junctions between cells provide epithelial integrity and barrier function. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of atopy on airway epithelial integrity in asthma and to measure E-cadherin levels in exhaled breath condensate as an indicator epithelial damage. A total of 74 patients with asthma (35 atopic and 39 non-atopic) and 39 healthy children were enrolled in this case-control study. Sociodemographic characteristics and asthma severity parameters in the last three-month period were recorded and pulmonary function tests were performed. Blood samples were obtained to measure serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and peripheral blood eosinophil count, and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) was obtained to measure E-cadherin. EBC E-cadherin levels were significantly lower in the asthmatics when compared to non-atopic controls (0.109 (0.076) versus 0.191 (0.184) ng mL(-1) respectively, p = 0.01). Atopic and non-atopic asthmatic groups had lower EBC E-cadherin levels compared to the control group. (0.112 (0.060) ng ml(-1), 0.106 (0.089) ng ml(-1) and 0.191 (0.184) ng ml(-1), p = 0.02 and p < 0.01 respectively). However, EBC E-cadherin levels were not different between atopic and nonatopic asthmatics