Umbilical Cord Serum Erythropoietin Levels and Maternal Smoking in Pregnancy

Objective. To evaluate the effect of maternal smoking during pregnancy on levels of umbilical cord erythropoietin. Methods. Erythropoietin levels were measured in umbilical cord sera of 60 newborns who were delivered vaginally at term. There were 20 (33%) smoking and 40 (67%) nonsmoking mothers. Results. Mean cord serum erythropoietin levels were significantly lower in the nonsmokers (nonsmokers, 24 ± 9 IU/L; smokers, 61 ± 46 IU/L; P < .001). There was a significant positive correlation between the number of cigarettes smoked per day and cord serum erythropoietin levels (r, 0.58; P ≤ .05). Conclusions. Smoking during pregnancy is associated with increased levels of umbilical cord erythropoietin at birth. This may indicate a risk of fetal hypoxia and growth restriction. Education and encouragement of cessation of smoking during pregnancy are important to avoid associated fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality

Henoch-Schönlein purpura in children: A cross sectional study

Background: Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is a leukocytoclastic vasculitis with small vessel involvement and mainly affects the skin as well as joints, the gastrointestinal system (GIS), kidneys, and, more rarely, other organs. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the sociodemographic characteristics, and clinical and laboratory findings of patients diagnosed with HSP. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study done to find out the sociodemographic data, clinical, laboratory findings, and treatment information of patients diagnosed with HSP and was admitted to the Pediatric Clinic of a tertiary care hospital between January 1, 2008, and August 31, 2013. The data were obtained from the hospital’s data processing system. HSP cases were validated according to EULAR/PRINTO/PRES criteria. Mean standard deviation, median, lowest and highest, frequency, and ratio values were used in the descriptive statistics of the data. Results: The study included 85 patients between the ages of 2 and 16 years, wherein 49 patients (57.6%) were male and 36 (42.4%) were female. The mean age was 9.9±3.3 years and 53 patients (62.4%) were under 10 years of age. The most common precipitating factor was upper respiratory tract infections. Purpura was the only symptom observed in all the patients and joint involvement was the second most common symptom (60%). GIS involvement was observed in 46 patients (58.8%) and intussusception was observed in one patient. Nine patients (10.6%) had renal involvement with mild nephropathy. The most frequently observed laboratory findings were increased C-reactive protein (47%) and leukocytosis (31%). Conclusion: HSP is commonly seen in children and leads to life-threatening complications in a minority of patients. Whole patients with GIS and renal involvement should be examined and monitored to assess the severity of the disease and any complications

Role of RDW in Prediction of Burn after Caustic Substance Ingestion

A quantifiable, quick, inexpensive and reproducible predictor is needed to decide if caustic substance ingestion results in burn regardless of the symptoms. A multicenter cohort study was conducted to investigate the predictive value of red cell distribution width (RDW) in detecting the esophageal burns. The data of 174 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Eleven patients were excluded due to inability to define the substance ingested. Complete blood count (CBC) was taken at admission, and an esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed within the first 12–24 h in all patients, regardless of their symptoms. The age and gender of the patients, the types of substances ingested, the parameters in the CBC and the severity of the esophageal injury were correlated. Esophageal burns were diagnosed in 38 of 163 patients (23.3%). The risk of esophageal burn with RDW values below 12.20 was significantly lower. Multivariate analysis showed that RDW was the most significant predictor of esophageal burn (p = 0.000, odds ratio (OR) 7.74 (95% confidence interval (CI), 3.02–19.9)). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated 84.2% sensitivity at a cut-off value of 12.20 for RDW. The results showed that CBC parameters could avoid unnecessary esophagogastroduodenoscopy. The RDW values regardless of the symptomatology is a good predictor of esophageal burns, and an RDW value over 12.20 shows the increased risk of esophageal burn

Is There a Causal Relationship between Intussusception and Food Allergy?

Although intussusception and food allergy are common health problems in childhood, the relation between these two diseases remain obscure. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between food allergy and intussusception, and the factors associated with both. Patients diagnosed with intussusception by the Brighton Collaboration Intussusception Working Group criteria were prospectively investigated for food allergy per the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) Guideline. They were analyzed per demographic features, clinical, physical and laboratory findings. There were eight (38.1%) patients diagnosed with food allergy, while 13 (61.9%) patients were non-allergic. The mean number of days of presenting symptoms was 1.13 days in the allergy group and 7.85 days in the non-allergy group. The mean number of intussusception attacks was 1.63 in the allergy group while 1 in the non-allergy group (p &lt; 0.05, relative risk (RR) = 2.6). In the allergy group, one (13%) patient was followed up, six (75%) patients were reduced with pneumatic and one (13%) patient reduced manually. In the non-allergy group, four (31%) patients were followed up, six (46%) patients were reduced with pneumotic, one (7%) patient was reduced manually, and resection anastomosis was performed in two (15%) patients. Food allergy is an unrecognized associated factor for intussusception patients, which increases the risk for recurrence. Due to the small patient population, these results should be interpreted with caution

Is There a Causal Relationship between Intussusception and Food Allergy?

Although intussusception and food allergy are common health problems in childhood, the relation between these two diseases remain obscure. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between food allergy and intussusception, and the factors associated with both. Patients diagnosed with intussusception by the Brighton Collaboration Intussusception Working Group criteria were prospectively investigated for food allergy per the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) Guideline. They were analyzed per demographic features, clinical, physical and laboratory findings. There were eight (38.1%) patients diagnosed with food allergy, while 13 (61.9%) patients were non-allergic. The mean number of days of presenting symptoms was 1.13 days in the allergy group and 7.85 days in the non-allergy group. The mean number of intussusception attacks was 1.63 in the allergy group while 1 in the non-allergy group (p &lt; 0.05, relative risk (RR) = 2.6). In the allergy group, one (13%) patient was followed up, six (75%) patients were reduced with pneumatic and one (13%) patient reduced manually. In the non-allergy group, four (31%) patients were followed up, six (46%) patients were reduced with pneumotic, one (7%) patient was reduced manually, and resection anastomosis was performed in two (15%) patients. Food allergy is an unrecognized associated factor for intussusception patients, which increases the risk for recurrence. Due to the small patient population, these results should be interpreted with caution

Current Approach to Child Rights

Rights of children, legally or morally all over the world that children are born with; education, health, life, shelter; physical, psychological or sexual exploitation protection of such rights is universal concept used to describethemall. Rights of children is an issue that should be addressed in the concept of human rights. Today, there are many parts of the world that human rights violations, child-size and grew broader, more difficult to intervene in a way that is situated. The idea that children than in adults of different physical, physiological, behavioral and psychological characteristics that continuous growth and improve dawareness that the establishment of thecare of children a society where the problem is and scientific approach everyone with this responsibility should be installed is shaped in Geneva Declaration of Childrens Rights. Today, the international document related to childrens rights is the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child adoptedand approved by 193 countries. Child policy in Turkey where 25 million children live is an issue that should be seriously considered. Thus, childrens rights, children working in coordination with the contract on the basis of a policy should be implemented fully. [Cukurova Med J 2015; 40(1.000): 1-5

Kawasaki disease: review of 21 cases

Purpose: Kawasaki disease is common in children and is an acute systemic vasculitis affecting coronary arteries. Kawasaki disease has multisystemic nature with a variety of presenting symptoms. Without treatment 20- 25% of Kawasaki disease patients develop coronary artery aneurysms. Our goal is to summarize the clinical data of patients treated with Kawasaki disease at our clinics. Material and Methods: Clinical features, laboratory findings, diagnosis and treatment of 21 patients with Kawasaki disease hospitalized at Turkish Ministry of Health Okmeydani Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Pediatrics during January 2009 to January 2015 were retrospectively evaluated. Results: The patients were between 9 and 67 months old (median 27.52+/- 18.78), 71.4% (n:15) were male. The duration of disease before diagnosis was 7.1+/-3.48 days, median 6 days. All patients had fever. The most common clinical features were oral cavity changes 95.2% (n:20), rash 85.7% (n:18), conjunctival injection 71.4% (n:15), extremity changes 61,9% (n:13), cervical lymphadenopathy 57.1% (n:12). We also observed sterile pyuria in 33.3%, desquamation of perianal area 28.6 %, aseptic meningitis in 9.5%, hydrops of the gallblader 4.8%. 19.1% patients had incomplete Kawasaki disease. 6 patients, 28.5% had coronary artery abnormalities. Intravenous immunglobulin treatment failure was observed in 9.5% of patients, one of them was diagnosed as macrophage activation syndrome. Conclusion: Kawasaki disease has difficulty in diagnosis because of having broad spectrum of presenting symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment is very important in preventing coronary artery abnormalities. [Cukurova Med J 2016; 41(1.000): 97-104