Relationship between procalcitonin levels and presence of vesicoureteral reflux during first febrile urinary tract infection in children

WOS: 000302792500042PubMed ID: 22245305OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between the procalcitonin (PCT) level during the first febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) in children and the presence of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). VUR-associated UTI is among the primary causes of chronic renal failure in Turkey. METHODS From March 2008 to November 2009, patients admitted with their first febrile UTI were included in the present prospective hospital-based study. The serum concentrations of C-reactive protein, complete blood count, and PCT were measured. All patients underwent renal ultrasonography and voiding cystourethrography. RESULTS Of the 66 patients who were diagnosed with UTI, 18 had VUR. The geometric mean of the PCT levels was significantly greater in the children with VUR than in those without (P = .006). After logistic regression adjustment, the association between the PCT levels and the presence of VUR remained significant (odds ratio 5.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.43-18.02). A PCT level >0.56 ng/mL had 66.7% sensitivity (95% CI 41-86.6) and 77.1% specificity (95% CI 62.7-88) for diagnosing VUR. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for PCT was 0.715 (95% CI, 0.56-0.86, P = .007), and the area under the curve for C-reactive protein was 0.723 (95% CI 0.58-0.86, P = .006). CONCLUSION A PCT-guided strategy could help in detecting patients with VUR. Large cohort studies are needed to define an accurate cutoff value for children who are at risk of VUR, which increases the risk of renal damage and subsequent scarring

Does cord blood bilirubin level help the physician in the decision of early postnatal discharge?

WOS: 000306439600036PubMed ID: 22128898Objective: Early postnatal discharge of newborns leads to the risk of readmission to the hospital, mostly for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Increasing the length of hospital stay is not an acceptable solution for medical, social and economic constraints. Hence, predicting the high risk neonates for subsequent hyperbilirubinemia is required. This study was planned to investigate the predictive value of umbilical cord blood bilirubin (CBBil) level for significant neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Methods: Cord blood bilirubin, serum total/direct bilirubin levels and newborn/mother's blood groups were obtained from 350 term neonates. Total/direct serum bilirubin levels were reevaluated in 95 newborns at 72 hours of age when jaundice appeared according to Kramer's dermal zones. Results: Phototherapy treatment was needed in 14.7% of 95 patients. For recognition the newborns at high risk for developing hyperbilirubinemia, using a CBBil cut-off level of 2.60 mg/dl, we found a positive predictive value of 41.18%, negative predictive value of 97.9% and sensitivity of 50%. Conclusion: Newborns with CBBil values below 2.6 mg/dl are at very low risk of developing hyperbilirubinemia and further need of phototherapy. Knowledge of low risk of hyperbilirubinemia in a newborn could encourage the physicians in the decision of early postnatal discharge

Antimicrobial resistance patterns of uropathogens among children in Istanbul, Turkey

Urinary tract infections are a common cause of end-stage renal disease in Turkey. This prospective study investigated the antibiotic resistance patterns of uropathogens in order to recommend appropriate therapeutic protocols for children with urinary tract infections in Istanbul, Turkey. Between October 2007 and October 2008, children presenting with a first episode of urinary tract infection to a pediatric outpatient clinic were enrolled in the study. Urine samples were cultured, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed. Children with proven urinary tract infections underwent imaging studies where available. A total of 126 children with a first episode of community-acquired urinary tract infection were enrolled in the study. The median age was 60.6 months; 84.1% of the children were female. Of the 126 urine samples, Escherichia coli was the leading uropathogen (81.7%), followed by Proteus spp (7.1%), Klebsiella spp (4.0%), Enterococcus spp (3.2%), Enterobacter spp (2.4%), and Pseudomonas spp (1.6%). Among the isolated uropathogens, resistance to ampicillin (85.0%), amoxicillin-clavulanate (73.8%), cefazolin (37.3%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (42.9%) was remarkable. A large number of Enterococcus species were resistant to all antimicrobial agents except vancomycin. A country-based evaluation of antibiotic susceptibility is needed to modify antibiotic treatment. Resistance to antimicrobial agents commonly used to treat urinary tract infections (nitrofurantoin, cefixime) is less a problem than resistance to other antimicrobials (aminopenicillins, cephalosporins, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) frequently prescribed for other indications

The Evaluation of Relationship Between Passive Smoking and Recurrent Episodes of Bronchiolitis in Children Under Two-years Old

Giriş: Tekrarlayan hışıltı atakları özellikle sosyoekonomik düzeyi düşük olan ailelerde, kalabalık ortamda yaşayan, sigara dumanına mâruz kalan ve anne sütü alamayan bebeklerde daha sık olarak görülür Materyal ve Metod: Bu çalışma 2009-2011 tarihleri arasında, Çocuk Sağlığı ve Hastalıkları Kliniği'ne başvurup ilk atak bronşiyolit tanısı alan hastalarda prospektif olarak yapıldı.Sonuçlar: Çalışmaya yaşları 1-24 ay olan toplam 500 infant dahil edildi. Evde sigara kullanımı has-taların %46,6'sında (n=233) mevcuttu. Tekrarlayan bronşiyolit atağı geçiren çocukların, evde sigara mâruziyet oranları istatistiksel olarak anlamlı dere-cede yüksek saptandı (p<0,001).Tartışma: Çalışmamızda, sigara maruziyeti tekrar-layan hışıltı atakları açısından risk faktörü olarak bulundu. Sigara dumanına mâruziyet azaltılarak tekrarlayan akut bronşiyolit ataklarının azaltılabi-leceğini düşünmekteyiz.Objective: Recurrent episodes of wheezing are more common in infants especially with low socioeconomic status who are exposed to smoking, who are not breastfed and lives in crowded families.Material and Methods: This study was performed prospectively with infants diagnosed as first attack bronchiolitis from the outpatient clinics between 2009 to 2011.Results: The study included 500 infants aged between 1-24 months. Cigarette smoking was present in 46.6% (n=233) of the families. There was a significant relationship between recurrent episodes of bronchiolitis and exposure to cigarette smoke (p&lt;0.001). Conclusion: In this study, exposure to cigarette smoke was detected as a risk factor for recurrent episodes of bronchiolitis. The decrease of smoking in the population can prevent recurrence of bronchioliti

Can allergic distant relatives and home environment cause recurrent episodes of wheezing?

Amaç: Akut bronşiyolit, en sık 2 yaşından küçük çocuklarda görülen, daha çok viral etkenlerin neden olduğu bronşiyollerin obstrüksiyonu ile karakterize akut alt solunum yolu hastalığıdır. Atopi ve diğer genetik faktörler de virüsün uyardığı hışıltı gelişiminde hazırlayıcı bir rol oynayabilir. Bu çalışmada, hışıltı atakları ile anne, baba, kardeşler haricindeki uzak akrabalarda atopi ve astım hikayesi, evde toz ve/veya rutubet bulunması arasındaki ilişkiyi araştırdık. Yöntem: Bu çalışma Haziran 2009 ile Haziran 2011 tarihleri arasında, Çocuk Sağlığı ve Hastalıkları Kliniği’ne başvurup ilk atak bronşiyolit tanısı alan hastalarda prospektif olarak yapıldı. Her hastanın yaşı, cinsiyeti, anne, baba, kardeş dışı ailede atopi, astım öyküsü, evde tozlu rutubetli ortam maruzi- yeti sorgulandı. Bulgular: Çalışmaya 1-24 ay arası ilk atak akut bronşiyolit tanısı alan toplam 500 infant dahil edildi. Hastaların %20,2’sinin (n=101) ailesinde (anne, baba, kardeş dışı) atopi, astım mevcuttu. Hane özellik- leri incelendiğinde %27’sinde (n=135) tozlu rutubetli ortam bulundu. İnfantların 3 ve üzeri tekrarlayan hışıltı atağı geçirme oranlarına bakıldığında, tozlu rutubetli ortamda yaşayan hastaların %92.6’sının, tozlu-rutubetli ortamda yaşamayan hastaların %65.2’sinin 3 ve üzeri atak geçirdiği tespit edildi. Anne, baba, kardeş dışı atopi öyküsü olan infantların %91.1’inde tekrarlayan hışıltı atağı görülürken, olmayan infantların %67.9’unda görüldü. Sonuç: Biz çalışmamızda, anne, baba ve kardeş dışı aile bireylerinde astım ve/veya atopi öyküsü bulunması ile tekrarlayan hışıltı atakları arasında anlamlı ilişki saptadık. Tozlu ve/veya rutubetli ortam maruziyeti de tekrarlayan hışıltı atakları için önemli bir risk faktörüdür.Objective: Acute bronchiolitis is a lower respiratory tract infection of children under 2 years of age, characterized by bronchial obstruction. Atopy and genetic factors can play a predisposing role in the development of virus-related wheezing. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between recurrent wheezing attacks and the presence of atopy/asthma in relatives other than father, mother, siblings, and the presence of dust and/or moisture in the house. Methods: This study was performed prospectively with infants diagnosed as first attack bronchiolitis from the outpatient clinics from 2009 to 2011. Each patients&amp;#8217; age, sex, the presence of atopy/asthma in relatives other than father, mother, siblings, and the presence of dust and/or moisture in the house was evaluated. Results: The study included 500 infants aged between 1-24 months. Atopy and/or asthma was present in 20,2% (n=101) of relatives other than father, mother and siblings. Dust and/or moisture was present in 27% (n=135) of houses. When we compared the characteristics of infants, 92.6% of infant living in dust/moisture in the house, 65.2% of infants with no dust/moisture in the house, 91.1% of infants with family history of atopy/asthma in relatives other than mother, father, siblings, 67.9% with no family history had &amp;#8805;3 episodes of wheezing. Conclusion: In this study we found a significant relationship between recurrent episodes of wheezing and the presence of atopy/asthma in relatives other than father, mother, siblings. Presence of dust and/or moisture in the house is also a risk factor for recurrent episodes of wheezing

Comparison of Axillary and Tympanic Temperature Measurements in Children Diagnosed with Acute Otitis Media

Background. Acute otitis media [AOM] may affect the accuracy of tympanic temperature measurements. We aimed to compare tympanic temperature measurements in patients with AOM against control groups, as well as compare the tympanic temperatures with axillary thermometry. Methods. This is a prospective, observational study. Patients from pediatric outpatient and emergency clinics who were diagnosed as single-sided AOM were included consecutively in the study. Normal ears of patients and children having the same age and gender who were not diagnosed as AOM were also studied as controls. Results. In patients with AOM, infected ears had higher temperatures than normal ears with a mean of 0.48±0.01°C. There was no significant difference between the right and left tympanic temperatures in control group. Compared with axillary temperature, the sensitivity of tympanic temperature in the infected ear was 91.7% and the specificity was 74.8%. Conclusion. Comparisons of axillary and tympanic temperatures in children with AOM during the active infection concluded higher tympanic temperatures in infected ears. We suggest that the higher tympanic temperatures, approximately 0.5°C in our study, in infected ears may aid in diagnosis of patients with fever without a source in pediatric clinics

Comparison of Axillary and Tympanic Temperature Measurements in Children Diagnosed with Acute Otitis Media

Background. Acute otitis media [AOM] may affect the accuracy of tympanic temperature measurements. We aimed to compare tympanic temperature measurements in patients with AOM against control groups, as well as compare the tympanic temperatures with axillary thermometry. Methods. This is a prospective, observational study. Patients from pediatric outpatient and emergency clinics who were diagnosed as single-sided AOM were included consecutively in the study. Normal ears of patients and children having the same age and gender who were not diagnosed as AOM were also studied as controls. Results. In patients with AOM, infected ears had higher temperatures than normal ears with a mean of 0.48±0.01 ∘ C. There was no significant difference between the right and left tympanic temperatures in control group. Compared with axillary temperature, the sensitivity of tympanic temperature in the infected ear was 91.7% and the specificity was 74.8%. Conclusion. Comparisons of axillary and tympanic temperatures in children with AOM during the active infection concluded higher tympanic temperatures in infected ears. We suggest that the higher tympanic temperatures, approximately 0.5 ∘ C in our study, in infected ears may aid in diagnosis of patients with fever without a source in pediatric clinics

Barriers to writing research papers and getting them published, as perceived by Turkish physicians – a cross sectional study

Background: Many physicians in Turkey are both clinicians and researchers, and publishing their research contributes to better patient care as well as to career advancement.Objective: To identify the barriers faced by Turkish physicians to writing research papers and getting them published.Methods: Respondents were asked, through eight multiple-choice questions, about the difficulties they faced in writing research papers and in getting them published in journals. We also searched published literature for accounts of similar difficulties and answers to the question ‘What is your purpose in writing scientific publications?’Results: A total of 18% (155 of 871) of physicians completed the questionnaire. About the difficulties faced in writing, 82 out of the 155 participants, or 57%, reported problems in finding financial support; 58 (40%), in obtaining required permissions and clearances; 65 (45%), in acquiring relevant skills, especially those related to data analysis or statistics; and 42 (29%), in language-related skills. About the difficulties in getting their papers published in journals, 85 (60%) said that they tried to overcome the difficulties by searching for appropriate solutions on the internet; 66 (47%) sought help from experienced colleagues; and 47 (33%) needed professional help in English translation and editing. Need for financial support was reported by a significantly (p = 0.04) larger proportion of associate professors or full professors (69%) than that of residents (47%) and fellows (45%).Conclusion: The main problems that Turkish physicians face in preparing scientific manuscripts were lack of  financial  support, inadequate knowledge of data analysis and statistics, and the paperwork involved in obtaining required approvals and permissions—problems that were common to the departments of internal medicine and of surgery. The primary motivation for writing and publishing was career advancement, especially through promotion to a higher academic rank

The efficacy of nebulized salbutamol, hypertonic saline and salbutamol/hypertonic saline combination in moderate bronchiolitis

WOS: 000297778700001PubMed ID: 21978929Background: The mainstay of treatment in bronchiolitis includes oxygenation, aspiration of secretions from the respiratory tract and maintenance of hydration. The first choice medical agent in clinical practice is nebulized bronchodilators, although their place in treatment is controversial. Objectives: We investigated the therapeutic benefit of nebulized hypertonic (3%) saline (HS), by comparing four different nebulized regimens in the treatment of bronchiolitis in the emergency department. Methods: A total of 120 infants were included in this randomized, double-blind, prospective study. Infants were grouped according to the nebulized treatment they received: group 1 - salbutamol + normal saline (NS), group 2 - salbutamol + HS, group 3 - HS, group 4 - NS. Heart beat, Clinical Bronchiolitis Severity Score (CBSS) and oxygen saturation of the patients were determined before and after the nebulizations and at 48-72 h after admission by the designated study physician. Results: Post-treatment mean CBSS were significantly lower than pre-treatment scores in all groups (p = 0.0001) with no significant difference within groups. Improvement percentages for CBSSs were significantly higher in infants without a history of atopy treated with HS and NS (p = 0.023, p = 0.0001, respectively). Conclusions: The CBSSs of all the infants improved after three doses of nebulized therapy regardless of the treatment regimens. The combination of salbutamol with hypertonic saline did not lead to an additive effect in the improvement of CBSSs compared to the standard salbutamol + NS combination. Atopic children benefited from salbutamol/NS combination whereas non-atopic children improved with HS and NS nebulizations based on improvement percentages of CBSS

Effect of Maternal Factors and Fetomaternal Glucose Homeostasis on Birth Weight and Postnatal Growth

OBJECTIVE: It is important to identify the possible risk factors for the occurrence of large for gestational age (LGA) in newborns and to determine the effect of birth weight and metabolic parameters on subsequent growth. We aimed to determine the effects of maternal weight, weight gain during pregnancy, maternal hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), C-peptide and insulin as well as cord C-peptide and insulin levels on birth weight and postnatal growth during the first two years of life. METHODS: Healthy, non-diabetic mothers and term singleton newborns were included in this prospective case-control cohort study. Fasting maternal glucose, HbA1c, C-peptide and insulin levels were studied. Cord blood was analyzed for C-peptide and insulin. At birth, newborns were divided into two groups according to birth size: LGA and appropriate for GA (AGA). Infants were followed at six-month intervals for two years and their length and weight were recorded. RESULTS: Forty LGA and 43 AGA infants were included in the study. Birth weight standard deviation score (SDS) was positively correlated with maternal body mass index (BMI) before delivery (r=0.2, p=0.04) and with weight gain during pregnancy (r=0.2, p=0.04). In multivariate analyses, the strongest association with macrosomia was a maternal C-peptide level >3.85 ng/mL (OR=20). Although the LGA group showed decreased growth by the 6-month of follow-up, the differences between the LGA and AGA groups in weight and length SDS persisted over the 2 years of follow-up. CONCLUSION: The control of maternal BMI and prevention of overt weight gain during pregnancy may prevent excessive birth weight. The effect of the in utero metabolic environment on the weight and length SDS of infants born LGA persists until at least two years of age