Is there any difference between the symptomatology and clinical findings of viral agents causing dehydration?

BACKGROUND: Acute gastroenteritis is responsible for dehydration in many children. The viruses like rotavirus, norovirus, and adenovirus are considered the main causative agents of gastroenteritis. The goal of this study is the evaluation of the symptoms, clinical findings and hospitalization requirements in pediatric patients with dehydration secondary to viral gastroenteritis. METHODS: The distribution of age, symptoms, clinical and laboratory findings and hospitalization requirements of 156 viral acute gastroenteritis patients with moderate dehydration were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were between 3 months to 16 years of age (mean: 38.7 months). The patients were categorized into four groups according to etiological agents as rotavirus, norovirus, adenovirus, and mixed infections for the comparison of symptoms, clinical characteristics, laboratory results, seasonal distribution, treatment requirements, hospitalization unit, and hospitalization period. Age groups were categorized as 0-24 months, 25-72 months, and >72 months. Clinical characteristics of patients were analyzed for hospitalization period as <24 hours, and ≥24 hours. RESULTS: Moderate-degree dehydration was detected in 156 patients with acute gastroenteritis (156/278) caused by rotavirus (60.5%), norovirus (58%) and adenovirus (42%) respectively. The common symptoms of all patients were vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and malaise, although fever was seen mostly in the patients of rotavirus. Aspartat aminotransferase (AST) was elevated in rotavirus gastroenteritis (11.5%) more than norovirus (5.4%) and adenovirus (0.8%) infections. Elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels (>20 mg/dL) were shown in 79.3%, of patients especially in rotavirus (43.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The main agents of acute gastroenteritis which caused dehydration were norovirus and rotavirus in our patients. Rotavirus was detected in most of the hospitalized patients with severe symptoms. AST was prominently elevated in rotavirus gastroenteritis. The clinical characteristics and some laboratory findings including hyperglycemia, leukocytosis, and elevated AST may be helpful in differentiating rotavirus from norovirus gastroenteritis. BUN level was insignificantly elevated in patients with rotavirus.

[Evaluation of clinical and laboratory findings of pediatric patients with adenovirus-associated respiratory tract infections]. / Adenovirusa bagli solunum yolu enfeksiyonu olan çocuklarin klinik ve laboratuvar bulgularinin degerlendirilmesi.

Upper respiratory tract infections caused by adenoviruses present long lasting fever for five days and elevated acute phase reactant levels. They are generally misdiagnosed as bacterial infections and are mistreated with antibiotics. The diagnosis of adenovirus infections mainly depends on direct antigen tests, virus isolation and detection of viral DNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and laboratory findings of the children diagnosed as adenoviral respiratory tract infection by multiplex PCR (mPCR). A total of 27 children (18 male, 9 female; age range: 1-7 years, mean age: 4.4 years) whose nasopharyngeal swab samples were found positive for adenovirus DNA with a commercial mPCR method (Seeplex® RV15 ACE Detection Kit, Seegene Inc, Korea) were included in the study. The throat cultures of the patients revealed no bacterial pathogens and EBV VCA-IgM antibodies were negative. The clinical and laboratory data of the children with long lasting high fever diagnosed as adenovirus infection were evaluated retrospectively in terms of their complaints on admission, symptoms detected in physical examination, laboratory findings and therapy protocols. The patients were categorized according to hospitalization period (< 3 days or ≥ 3 days) and also according to the symptoms compatible with upper or lower respiratory tract infections. The quantity of clinical symptoms (≤ 2 or > 2) and the presence of upper or lower respiratory tract findings were evaluated if there were a difference by means of hospitalization rate and period. The most common complaint of the patients with adenoviral respiratory diseases was fever (27/27; 100%), and the most common admittance season was april-may-june period (20/27; 74%). The mean temperature was 38.4°C (range: 38-39.8°C) and the fever continued for 1-5 days after hospitalization. The most common physical examination finding was tonsillary hyperemia and hypertrophy (63%), followed by lower respiratory tract disease symptoms (37%), otitis media (14.8%), conjunctivitis (7.4%), and rash (3.7%). Laboratory tests could be performed for 24 cases and 95.8% of them yielded high CRP level, 87.5% high sedimentation rate, 62.5% neutrophilia, 33.4% leukocytosis and 20.8% lymphocytosis. It was noticed that 85.2% (23/27) of the patients were under antibiotic treatment on admission. Twenty-three patients (85.2%) were hospitalized, and the duration of hospitalization was between 1-8 (mean: 3.78) days. When the hospitalization rate was evaluated in terms of different measures, it was found that the rate was 81.8% (18/22) in patients with ≤ 2 symptoms, 100% in patients with > 2 symptoms (5/5); 100% (10/10) in patients with lower respiratory tract disease symptoms; 100% (15/15) in patients with neutrophilia, 88.2% (15/17) in patients with CRP levels of ≥ 2.8 - < 100 mg/L, and 100% (6/6) in patients with CRP levels of ≥ 100 mg/L. Neutrophilia and high CRP levels were found to be the main factors related to the hospitalization rate (p< 0.05). In conclusion, adenoviral etiology should be determined by a rapid and sensitive laboratory method such as mPCR, in cases with tonsillopharyngitis who exhibit leukocytosis, neutrophilia and high CRP levels and no bacterial pathogens in throat culture, in order to prevent unnecessary antibiotic use and hospitalization.

Hyperthermia alters neurobehavior by affecting cell proliferation and neuronal survival in young male rats.

Maintenance of body temperature within physiological range is critical for the fetal and neonatal development. Hyperthermia is one of the most frequently encountered pediatric complaints and may cause neurological disorders due to neuronal injury. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of hyperthermia on behavioral alterations, neuronal survival, apoptosis, and cell proliferation in young male Sprague-Dawley rats. Twenty-one 13-day-old rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 7 per group). Body temperature was increased to 39°C and 41°C in a hyperthermia induction chamber for 30 min, whereas the animals in control group were maintained at 36°C. Twenty-four hours after hyperthermia, animals were subjected to the open field test, elevated-O-maze test, and grip strength test to assess the locomotor activity, anxiety, and motor function. Neuronal survival, apoptosis, and cell proliferation were investigated in cortex, hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) and CA1 regions, and corpus callosum (CC). Decreased locomotor activity and motor function and increased anxiety were observed in the hyperthermia groups, and these were more pronounced in the 41°C group. Neuronal survival was significantly decreased in DG, CA1, and CC in the hyperthermia groups (**p < 0.01). Apoptosis was significantly induced in cortex, DG, and CC of the animals exposed to heat (*p < 0.05). In addition, cell proliferation positivity decreased significantly only in DG and CC of the animals exposed to heat (*p < 0.05). Our results suggest that neurobehavioral deficits caused by hyperthermia may be due to the increased apoptosis and neuronal cell death and decreased cell proliferation in the brain of postnatal developing rats.

Genotoxicity profiles in exfoliated human mammary cells recovered from lactating mothers in Istanbul; relationship with demographic and dietary factors.

We have investigated the presence of DNA damage in human mammary epithelial cells collected from healthy lactating mothers (age, 20-35 years) who were resident in the Istanbul area. Breast milk (10ml) was collected from 30 women between one and two weeks post-partum. Demographic information (parity, breast cancer, occupation, duration of residency in Istanbul, consumption of fish, beef and poultry) was also obtained. Milk samples were diluted 1:1 with RPMI 1640 medium and centrifuged to collect cells. The cells were re-suspended and cell viability was determined by use of 0.4% trypan blue. DNA damage was assessed by use of the comet assay (alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis). Fifty cells per slide and two slides per sample were scored to evaluate DNA damage. The cells were visually classified into four categories on the basis of extent of migration: undamaged (UD), lightly damaged (LD), moderately damaged (MD) and highly damaged (HD). Total comet scores (TCS) were calculated as: 1× UD+2× LD+3× MD+4× HD. Exfoliated mammary cells of the donors showed high (TCS≥150a.u.), moderate and low DNA damage in 10 (33.3%), 8 (26.7%) and 12 (40%) mothers, respectively. There was no significant correlation between TCS for DNA damage and the duration of previous breastfeeding, parity or age. None of the mothers was vegetarian, smoker or on any medication. Meat and chicken consumption did not significantly correlate with the TCS values. Fish consumption was significantly correlated with TCS results (Spearman's rho=0.39, p<0.05). No significant correlation was found between the DNA-damage scores and the period of residency in Istanbul, but fish consumption increased as the duration of stay was longer (Spearman's rho=0.53, p<0.01). These findings suggest that the primary causes of differences in genotoxicity detected in lactating mothers in Istanbul may be of dietary origin. Our experience also confirms that sampling breast milk from lactating mothers provides a valuable and non-invasive tool to study DNA damage in mammary cells.

Predictors of chronic valvular disease in patients with rheumatic carditis.

This study investigated the predictors of chronic valvular disease in children with rheumatic carditis. The short- to mid-term follow-up records of 88 patients (mean age, 10.68 ± 2.5 years) with chronic rheumatic heart disease were reviewed. The mean follow-up period was 2.95 ± 1.4 years. Valvular involvement completely improved for 24 of the patients (27%) during the follow-up period. The multivariate logistic regression analysis found initial left ventricular dilation to be a significant independent risk factor associated with the persistence of either valvular involvement or mitral regurgitation. Furthermore, persistence of mitral regurgitation was found to be strongly correlated with cardiac murmur at admission. No significant correlation was detected between age, gender, severity of valvular involvements at initial evaluation, and chronic valvular disease. The majority of patients with rheumatic carditis had normal left ventricular systolic function. However, a significant proportion of patients had left ventricular dilation, reported in the medical literature to be associated with the severity of valve involvement. This study found no relation between initial severity of valve involvements and chronic valvular disease. For this reason, increased left ventricular end-diastolic diameter may be secondary to myocardial involvement independent of valvular regurgitation. The findings in this study also suggest that subclinic carditis had a better outcome than clinically evident carditis.

Impact of H. pylori on growth: is the infection or mucosal disease related to growth impairment?

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been recognized as one of the most common chronic bacterial infections in the world. Most children are colonized in early childhood, and the infection will last a lifetime unless the child is treated with appropriate antibiotics. AIM: To evaluate whether H. pylori infection has an influence on growth and whether the severity of endoscopic findings relates to the growth impairment. METHODS: We formed four groups based on the presence or absence of H. pylori infection and gastrointestinal complaints as follows: group I: RAP +/H. pylori+; group II: RAP +/H. pylori-; group III: RAP -/H. pylori+; group IV: RAP -/H. pylori-. The relationship between endoscopic appearances, histological severity of gastritis, and antral H. pylori density with growth parameters was evaluated. RESULTS: The BMI standard derivation scores of groups I and II were significantly lower than those of asymptomatic controls independent of their H. pylori status. A significant difference in height for age standard derivation scores was observed only between groups I and IV. When we compared the BMI and height for age standard derivation scores of group III and group IV combined with that of the endoscopically normal children in the recurrent abdominal pain group, there was no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Recurrent abdominal pain associated with gastric mucosal injury plays a role in a decrease in BMI independent of H. pylori infection. However, if recurrent abdominal pain originates from H. pylori infection, it appears that linear growth is also affected.

Eating patterns of Turkish adolescents: a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Adolescence is a crucial period for development of dietary behaviors that continue into adulthood and influence the risk of chronic diseases later in life. The aim of this study was to determine the eating patterns of adolescents' and their compliance with the Food Guide Pyramid. METHODS: 625 students, aged between 11-15 years, from an elementary school in Istanbul, Turkey were enrolled in this cross-sectional survey. A questionnaire of eating patterns (QEP) was administered to all participants. QEP is consisted of questions assessing the knowledge and behaviors on healthy eating, factors affecting food choice, physical activity status and demographical variables. Height and weight of all participants were measured. Physical activity status was determined by questioning about participation in regular sport activities, how much time spent watching TV, playing computer games or doing homework. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 12.15 ± 1.15 and 50.5% were female. According to body mass index (BMI) percentiles, 8.3% (52) were obese and 10.2% were overweight. 51% had breakfast every day and only 1.9% met all the recommendations of the Food Guide Pyramid. Among the participants, 31% have fast food at least once every day and 60.8% skip meals. When participants were asked to rate the factors effecting their food choice according to a 10 point Likert scale, the highest mean scores (high impact on food choice) were for the factors; family, health, body perception, teachers and friends; 7.5 ± 3.1, 7.4 ± 3.1, 6.1 ± 3.2, 4.8 ± 3.3 and 4.2 ± 3.0 respectively. Total mean time spent on all passive activities (TV, computer, reading homework etc) per day was 9.8 ± 4.7 hours. CONCLUSIONS: In this study we have demonstrated that, adolescents do not have healthy eating patterns. Educational interventions should be planned to decrease the health risks attributable to their eating behaviors.

Knowledge and attitudes of university students toward pandemic influenza: a cross-sectional study from Turkey.

BACKGROUND: During an influenza pandemic, higher education institutions with large populations of young adults can become serious outbreak centers. Since outbreak management is essential to disease control, we aimed to examine university students' knowledge of and attitudes toward the pandemic influenza A/H1N1 and vaccination and other preventive measures. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 402 first year university students at Yeditepe University in Istanbul, Turkey between 1st and 30th of November 2009. Data regarding socio-demographic characteristics of the students, perceptions, level of knowledge and attitudes toward influenza pandemic and prevention measures were collected by means of a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed by the students affiliated with SANITAS, a university club of students in health related sciences. RESULTS: 25.1% (101/402) of the study group perceived their personal risk of influenza as "high", while 40.5% (163/402) perceived it as "moderate", 20.6% (107/402) viewed it as "low" and 7.7% (31/402) indicated that it was "unknown". The risk perception of males was significantly lower than that of females (p = 0.004) and the risk perception among the students of health sciences was significantly lower than that of students of other sciences (p = 0.037). Within the study group, 72.1% (290/402) indicated that their main information source regarding H1N1 was the mass media. Health sciences students tended to rely more on the internet as an information source than other students (p = 0.015). The vast majority (92.8%; 373/402) of those interviewed indicated that they would not be vaccinated. The major concerns regarding vaccination had to do with the safety and side effects of the vaccine. Most of the participants (343/402, 85.3%) were carrying out one of prevention measures and the vast majority believed that hand washing, face mask and quarantina were effective measures for prevention. CONCLUSION: The participants had enough knowledge about H1N1 pandemic about the disease although there were still gaps and confusions in some areas. In the future, when planning management strategies regarding pandemics or outbreaks in higher education institutions, new strategies should be developed to promote positive health behaviour among university students compatible with the international guidelines. Main information source is mass media, so it seems that new policies must be developed to attract attention of students to use different and more scientific-based information sources.

The effect of maternal anemia on anthropometric measurements of newborns.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relation between maternal prenatal hemoglobin concentration and neonatal anthropometric measurements. METHODS: All pregnant women who gave birth at the Obstetrics Department of Dr. LK Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey, from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2006, and their newborns were included in this prospective, cross-sectional study. The newborns' weight, height, head, and chest circumference were recorded. Mothers with hemoglobin concentration less than 11g/dl were evaluated as anemic. The anemic mothers were then grouped into 3 categories according to the corresponding hemoglobin concentration: mild (10.9-9.0g/dl), moderate (8.9-7.0 g/dl), and severe anemic (less than 7 g/dl). The anthropometric measurements of newborns from non-anemic and anemic mother groups were compared. RESULTS: Of the 3688 pregnant women, 1588 (43%) were found to be anemic. Among the anemic mothers, 1245 had mild (78.5%), 311 had moderate (19.5%), and 32 (2%) had severe anemia. The anthropometric measurements (height, weight, head and chest circumference) of newborns of anemic and non-anemic mother groups showed a statistically significant difference (p=0.036, p=0.044, p=0.013, and p=0.0002). There was a statistically significant difference in height, weight, and chest circumference of newborns of severe anemic and mild anemic mothers (p=0.017, p=0.008 and p=0.02). The height (1.1 cm), weight (260 g), head (0.42 cm), and chest (1 cm) circumference of neonates in the severe anemic group is less than the mild anemic group. CONCLUSION: Anemia during pregnancy affect the anthropometric measurements of a newborn. Severe anemia had significant negative effect on neonatal anthropometric measurements.

Cerebral infarctions manifesting as neonatal seizure.

Cerebral infarction is a common cause of seizures in neonates with a prevalence of I in 4000 live births. We report two neonates with different presentations due to cerebral infarction and discuss their etiological and neuroradiological findings in this case report. The initial signs were cyanosis and convulsion. In case 1, tonic convulsion, eye deviation, while case 2 had additionally poor sucking and dehydration as a risk factor. Their evaluation for hereditary causes of thrombosis was unremarkable. With these 2 cases, it is emphasized that neonatal cerebal infarction may be a cause of neonatal convulsion. Hence, neonates with cerebral infarction should be evaluated for hereditary conditions like protein C and S deficiency, anti-thrombin III deficiency, Factor V leiden mutation, prothrombin gene mutation and homocystinuria.

Report of data on children with non-typhi Salmonella gastroenteritis in a three-year period.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and laboratory data of children with acute gastroenteritis caused by non-typhoid Salmonella spp. infections. Clinical (demographic data, symptoms and findings) and laboratory data (stool microscopy, rapid antigen tests, culture, multiplex polymerase chain reaction and blood test results) of children with acute gastroenteritis caused by non-typhoid Salmonella spp. between January 2010 and October 2012 were evaluated. Differences between the groups for categorical variables were estimated with a chi-square or Fisher exact test; for continuous variables with two independent samples a t test was used. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Sixty-seven children, 39 (58.2%) males and 28 (41.8%) females aged between 1 - 16 years (mean ± SD: 4.64 ± 2.91), were diagnosed with acute bacterial gastroenteritis caused by non-typhoid Salmonella spp. The main serotypes are Salmonella enteritidis (85%) and Salmonella typhimurium (7.5%). The presenting symptoms were diarrhoea (95.5%), fever (61.1%), vomiting (34.3%), abdominal pain (32.8%), loss of appetite (7.4%) and malaise (7.4%). Fever and dehydration (moderate and/or severe) were detected in 11 (16.4%) patients. The mean leukocyte count was 10.930/µL [95% confidence interval (CI), SD: ± 5.710/µL], neutrophil count was 7.880/µL (95% CI, SD: ± 4.960/µL), CRP was 64.16 mg/L (95% CI, SD: ± 76.24 mg/L), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 34.72 mm/hour (95% CI, SD: ± 13.64 mm/h). Stool microscopy was positive for leukocytes in 18 patients (26.8%). The definitive diagnosis was made with positive stool culture (n = 65) and/or PCR test (n = 4). Viral antigen positivity was detected in 10 patients (14.9%), evaluated as viral co-infection and false positive results. Antibiotic therapy and hospitalization were required in 26 (38.8%) and 23 (34.3%) patients, respectively. Salmonella carriage was detected in one patient (1.5%). Bloody diarrhoea, leukocytes in stool with an increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and a CRP level without overt leukocytosis may indicate Salmonella infection. Viral antigens may cause false positive results in fast antigen tests in cases where clinical and laboratory findings indicate bacterial aetiology. Stool culture is a reference method in diagnosis whereas some agents may be detected via molecular techniques (polymerase chain reaction) in spite of negative culture. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction may be used to detect Salmonella spp. and may reveal false positivity for viruses as well as the detection of other bacteria.

Hypertransaminasaemia in children with viral gastroenteritis.

We investigated the rates of increase in serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels of patients with rotavirus, norovirus and enteric adenovirus gastroenteritis. Two hundred children with viral gastroenteritis were evaluated for hypertransaminasaemia retrospectively. The patients were between 0 - 17 years (mean ± SD: 5.10 ± 3.01) of age. ALT was elevated up to 67 IU/L in 7 (8.5%) patients in the rotavirus group (n=82), whereas it was elevated in 3 (4.0%) and 1 (2.3%) patients in the norovirus (n=74) and adenovirus (n=44) groups, respectively. AST was elevated up to 89 IU/L in 20 (24.4%) patients in the rotavirus group, whereas it was elevated in 6 (8.1%) and 1 (2.3%) patients in the norovirus and adenovirus groups, respectively. Both transaminases were elevated in 7.3%, 1.4%, and 2.3% of patients in the rotavirus, norovirus, and adenovirus groups, respectively. The increases in ALT and AST levels were found to be significantly higher in the rotavirus group (n=27) than in the norovirus (n=9), and adenovirus group (n=2) (p<0.05). Mean serum ALT and AST levels in the rotavirus group were significantly higher than those in the norovirus and adenovirus group (p<0.05). Our study investigated the correlation between viral gastroenteritis and hypertransaminasaemia. When evaluating a patient with hypertransaminasaemia physicians should remember to consider acute gastroenteritis due to some viruses as a cause of elevated AST and ALT.

Assessment of p21, p53 expression, and Ki-67 proliferative activities in the gastric mucosa of children with Helicobacter pylori gastritis.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori that is generally acquired in childhood and infects the gastric mucosa is considered to be responsible for many pathobiological changes that are linked to the pathogenesis of gastric cancer. Although the majority of studies on the subject have been carried out in adults, there are a limited number of studies on children that reflect the early period of infection and may be of greater significance. AIM: We aimed to determine the role of H. pylori infection and/or gastritis in several histopathological changes, p53, p21, and cell proliferation-associated Ki-67 antigen expression in the gastric mucosa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 60 patients with a mean age of 7.5 ± 4.5 years at referral. On the basis of endoscopic appearance and the evaluation of the gastric antral specimens, the patients were divided into three groups: patients without gastritis, patients with H. pylori-positive gastritis, and patients with H. pylori-negative gastritis. To determine the expression of p53, Ki-67, and p21 in gastric biopsy specimens, immunohistochemical stains were performed. RESULTS: The incidence of neutrophil activity, which was one of our histopathologic parameters, was significantly higher in the H. pylori-positive gastritis group than the other two groups. The presence of lymphoid aggregate was more frequent in H. pylori ± gastritis groups than the nongastritis group. p53 expression was found to be significantly higher in the H. pylori-positive gastritis group than the nongastritis group. Ki-67 and p21 expressions were significantly more frequent in the H. pylori-positive gastritis group than the other two groups. When we evaluated the density of H. pylori, as the density of bacteria increases, we found that the expressions of p53, p21, and Ki-67 increased significantly. CONCLUSION: Expression of the studied precancerous markers in significant amounts indicates the importance of childhood H. pylori infection in the constitution of gastric cancer in adulthood.

Experience of influenza A H1N1 in a paediatric emergency unit.

This study was carried out to evaluate symptoms, clinical findings, treatment options and complications of H1N1 influenza infection in patients who applied to our emergency unit during the influenza season in 2009. The clinical and laboratory findings of children with influenza A (H1N1) during the influenza season in 2009 were evaluated retrospectively. Influenza A was diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction and/or rapid antigen test. Clinical and laboratory findings of the patients with H1N1 (group I) and without H1N1 (group II) were compared. Fever and myalgia were noted to be higher in group I (p <0.05). The mean body temperature in group I was 39.0?, which was statistically different from group II (p <0.001). Myalgia was observed only in group I (15.4%), but not in group II (p <0.05). There were three patients with diarrhoea, two of whom were in group I, and they had no significant respiratory symptoms. Lymphopenia was seen in 18 patients (81.8%) in group I and in four patients (23.5%) in group II (p <0.05). Oseltamivir treatment was applied to 28 patients, where 24 had severe symptoms, nine had comorbid factors and two did not have any of these. The fever was higher in group I and myalgia was present only in group I. In group I, the lymphocyte count was significantly lower than in group II. The fever was higher in patients of H1N1 (average of 39°C) and myalgia was present only in patients with H1N1. The lymphocyte count was significantly lower in patients with H1N1 than those without H1N1. While none of the patients required intensive care, three patients requiring hospitalization were discharged after referral and completion of their treatment.

A Qualitative Study on Factors that Influence Turkish Medical Students' Decisions to Become Family Physicians After the Health Transformation Programme.

BACKGROUND: In Turkey, general practitioners were authorized to work as family physicians without specialization, within the scope of the Health Transformation Programme, due to inadequate number of family medicine specialists since 2004. With this new implementation Family Medicine specialty became a less preferable option for medical students. AIMS: The study was to investigate the perspectives of medical students and understand the issues to choose Family Medicine specialty as a career option. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This qualitative study was performed with 48 final year medical students using a convenience sample from two medical universities. RESULTS: Three main categories emerged from the data viewing Family Medicine 'as a specialty', 'as an employment', and finally 'as a system'. Very few students stated that Family Medicine would be their choice for specialty. CONCLUSIONS: Family Medicine does not seem to be an attractive option in career planning by medical students. Several factors that may constrain students from choosing Family Medicine include: not perceiving Family Medicine as a field of expertise, and the adverse conditions at work which may originate from duality in the system.

Validity of rapid antigen detection testing in group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utility of rapid antigen detection testing (RADT) for the diagnosis of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis in children, and to detect the sensitivity and specificity of rapid antigen detection of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci from throat specimen compared with throat culture. METHODS: Rapid antigen detection and throat culture results for group A beta-hemolytic streptococci from outpatients attending university hospital between 1st January 2011 and 31st of December 2011 were evaluated retrospectively. The antigen test negative-throat culture positive patients were investigated for streptococcal carriage. For this purpose, the throat culture results taken from these patients were reviewed after treatment. RESULTS: Eight hundred and ninetytwo children were included in the studywith a mean age of 5.34 y. There were 639 and 253 children in two groups with age of 0-6 and 7-17 y, RADT sensitivity and specificity were found to be 59.5 % and 97.2 %, respectively. The positive predictive value was 87.1 %, whereas negative predictive value was 88.4 %. After treatment of 74 patients with throat culture positive and antigen test negative. Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci were isolated in 12 of them (16.2 %) and accepted as a carrier. CONCLUSIONS: The low sensitivity of the RADT may be related to streptococcal carriage in some patients. The throat culture should be repeated after treatment to detect streptococcal carriage.

A retrospective analysis of acute gastroenteritis agents in children admitted to a university hospital pediatric emergency unit.

BACKGROUND: Acute gastroenteritis is responsible observed in all age groups, especially infants and children. The etiology and clinical course of acute gastroenteritis may vary with age and etiological agents. In developing countries, the morbidity and mortality associated with infectious diarrhea is higher in children younger than five-years-of-age. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and seasonal distribution of the major agents of acute gastroenteritis in children who were admitted to a Turkish university hospital pediatric emergency unit during 2009. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seasonal distribution within a one year period and quantitative distribution were analyzed with demographic data and laboratory findings. A total of 644 subjects were enrolled in the study, with a mean age of 4.14 years. Pathogens were detected in 183 (28.4%) stool samples in children less than 16 years, admitted with acute gastroenteritis. RESULTS: Pathogens were detected in 184 (28.4%) stool samples. The age distributions of the cases were 0 - 24 months (n = 59), 2 - 5 years (n = 100), and > 5 years (n = 25). The detection rate of rotavirus, norovirus and adenovirus were; 12.7% (75/588), 9.8% (51/520) and 4.9% (28/575), respectively. Bacterial agents were detected in 36 cases. The main agent was norovirus in the 0 - 24 months group (n = 25, 42.4%), and rotavirus for ages 2 - 5 years (n = 43, 43%) and > 5 years. On the monthly distribution, cases of rotavirus were found to be more frequent in the first four months of the year. DISCUSSION: Viruses were the major pathogens in all age groups. Norovirus was the leading pathogen in the first two years. For the age groups 2 - 5 years and 6 - 16 years, rotavirus was the major pathogen.

Promoter methylation in epithelial-enriched and epithelial-depleted cell populations isolated from breast milk.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among Turkish women and both the incidence and associated mortality appear to be increasing. Of particular concern is the percentage of young women diagnosed with breast cancer; roughly 20% of all breast cancer diagnoses in Turkey are in women younger than 40 years. Increased DNA methylation in the promoter region of tumor suppressor genes is a promising molecular biomarker, and human milk provides exfoliated breast epithelial cells appropriate for DNA methylation analyses. Comparisons between DNA methylation patterns in epithelial (epithelial-enriched) and nonepithelial (epithelial-depleted) cell fractions from breast milk have not been reported previously. OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we examined promoter methylation of 3 tumor suppressor genes in epithelial-enriched and epithelial-depleted cell fractions isolated from breast milk of 43 Turkish women. METHODS: Percentage methylation in the promoter region of Rass association domain family 1 (RASSF1), secreted frizzle related protein 1 (SFRP1), and glutathione-S-transferase class pi 1 was determined by pyrosequencing of the epithelial-enriched and epithelial-depleted cell fractions. RESULTS: Pyrosequencing identified a few subjects with significantly increased methylation in 1 or more genes. There was little correlation between the 2 cell fractions within individuals; only 1 woman had increased methylation for 1 gene (SFRP1) in both her enriched and depleted cell fractions. Methylation was positively associated with age for SFRP1 (epithelial-depleted fraction) and with body mass index for RASSF1 (epithelial-enriched cell fraction), respectively. CONCLUSION: Overall, results show that the methylation signals vary between different cell types in breast milk and suggest that breast milk can be used to assess DNA methylation patterns associated with increased breast cancer risk.

Varicella gastritis in an immunocompetent child.

The varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a very rare cause of gastritis. Gastritis caused by VZV can be presented as abdominal pain, vomiting. Most of the cases reported with varicella gastritis in the literature are immunocompromised patients with various kinds of malignancy, and most of these patients are adults. Here we report an adolescent girl with acute abdominal pain. The girl was immunocompetent. Her endoscopically taken biopsy material revealed varicella, and her gastritis was healed with acyclovir therapy. This is a very rare condition and not frequently reported in the literature. The authors want to drive attention to the fact that varicella gastritis can be seen in immunocompetent children, the presentation can be nausea, vomiting and/or (severe) abdominal pain. Serological studies may be less helpful than tissue studies, so interventional procedures should be done.