Blood Pressure Percentiles for School Children

Objective: The prevalence of hypertension in childhood and adolescence is gradually increasing. We aimed to in­vestigate the blood pressure (BP) values of children aged 7-18 years. Methods: This study was conducted in a total of 3375 (1777 females, 1598 males) children from 27 schools. Blood pressures of children were measured using sphyg­momanometer appropriate to arm circumference. Results: A positive relationship was found between sys­tolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and the body weight, height, age and body mass index (BMI) in male and female children. SBP was high­er in males than females after the age of 13. DBP was higher in males than the females after the age of 14. The mean annual increase of SBP was 2.06 mmHg in males and 1.54 mmHg in females. The mean annual increase of DBP was 1.52 mmHg in males and 1.38 mmHg in fe­males. Conclusion: In this study, we identified the threshold val­ues for blood pressure in children between the age of 7 and 18 years in Erzurum province. It is necessary to com­bine and evaluate data obtained from various regions for the identification of BP percentiles according to the age, gender and height percentiles of Turkish children

COVID-19 in pediatric nephrology centers in Turkey

Background/aim: There is limited data on COVID-19 disease in children with kidney disease. We aimed to investigate the characteristics and prognosis of COVID-19 in pediatric nephrology patients in Turkey. Materials and methods: This was a national, multicenter, retrospective cohort study based on an online survey evaluating the data between 11th March 2020 and 11th March 2021 as an initial step of a detailed pediatric nephrology COVID-19 registry. Results: Two hundred and three patients (89 girls and 114 boys) were diagnosed with COVID-19. One-third of these patients (36.9%) were between 10–15 years old. Half of the patients were on kidney replacement therapy: kidney transplant (KTx) recipients (n = 56, 27.5%), patients receiving chronic hemodialysis (n = 33, 16.3%) and those on peritoneal dialysis (PD) (n = 18, 8.9%). Fifty-four (26.6%) children were asymptomatic. Eighty-two (40.3%) patients were hospitalized and 23 (28%) needed intensive care unit admission. Fifty-five percent of the patients were not treated, while the remaining was given favipiravir (20.7%), steroid (16.3%), and hydroxychloroquine (11.3%). Acute kidney injury developed in 19.5% of hospitalized patients. Five (2.4%) had MIS-C. Eighty-three percent of the patients were discharged without any apparent sequelae, while 7 (3.4%) died. One hundred and eight health care staff were infected during the study period. Conclusion: COVID-19 was most commonly seen in patients who underwent KTx and received HD. The combined immunosuppressive therapy and frequent exposure to the hospital setting may increase these patients’ susceptibility. Staff infections before vaccination era were alarming, various precautions should be taken for infection control, particularly optimal vaccination coverage

The Renal Structural and Functional Changes ID in Rats with Intrauterine Growth Retardation and its Correlation to Serum Leptin Level

Objective: Our aim was to determine the effects of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) on thekidney and whether serum leptin level was associated with these changes.Method: After feeding with standard diet for 7 days pregnant rats were divided into 2 groups onthe 8th day. While the control group continued to be fed with normal diet during pregnancy, thestudy group was fed with only half of their normal needs. Structural evaluations were performedin fetuses at 21. gestational days and offsprings at 3, 6, 16 weeks of age The kidneys were investigated according to their weight, light microscopy findings, nephron counts and glomerularvolume. Renal excretory function was determined as for functional evaluation. Fetuses and 3week- old rat kidneys were investigated only structurally. Serum leptin levels were measured at3, 6, 16 weeks of age, while direct blood pressure and renal blood flows were measured at 16.week of age.Results: Renal weights were lower in the IUGR groups. In IUGR group, decreased number ofnephrons were found in fetuses and 16-week-old offsprings. Urine flow rate, renal blood flow,GFR, Na, K and, Mg excretions were lower in the 16-week offspring group compared to the control group, but protein excretion was higher and blood pressure was at normal level. The IUGR ratshad significantly elevated serum leptin levels at 3-week-old rats. The leptin levels in 6-week-oldfemales were almost 60% higher than controls. For all ages there was a negative correlationbetween leptin levels and fractional kidney weights. Leptin level and urine volume were correlated in the 6-week-old rats. There were positive correlations between leptin and blood pressure,excretions of creatinin, Na and K in 16-week-old rats.Conclusion: In conclusion, temporary increase of serum leptin concentration during weaning maynot be associated with the deleterious effect of kidney structure and function at least until earlyadulthood in IUGR