RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The pathophysiology of epilepsy remains unknown. Recent research has shown that microRNA expression changes in epileptic adults. In the present work, we aimed to identify serum microRNA expression in drug-responsive and resistant children with idiopathic general- ized epilepsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 43 (20 male and 23 female) epilepsy patients and 66 (43 male and 23 female) control subjects. The mean ages of the groups were 113.41 ± 61.83 and 105.46 ± 62.31 months, respectively. Twenty-eight epileptic patients were classi- fied as drug resistant. Thirteen of the controls were the siblings of patients with epilepsy. The study only included children with idiopathic generalized epilepsy who had normal brain mag- netic resonance imaging. The serum microRNA expressions (microRNA-181a, microRNA-155, microRNA-146, and microRNA-223) were investigated. Expressions of serum microRNA-181a, microRNA-155, microRNA-146, and microRNA-223 were previously investigated in epilepsy patients and children with febrile seizures. Therefore, these microRNAs were chosen. The expressions of serum levels of microRNAs were determined using quantitative real-time poly- merase chain reaction. RESULTS: The results indicated that the expressions of serum microRNA-155 and microRNA-223 were elevated in epileptic children (P < .05). The expression of the same microRNAs was also elevated in individuals with drug-resistant epilepsy compared to healthy controls (P < .05). microRNA-146a, microRNA-155, and microRNA-223 expressions were higher in drug-resistant patients than in drug-responsive children (P < .05). A logistic regression study determined that an increase of microRNA-155 was a risk for epilepsy, while a decrease of microRNA-146a risk for epilepsy. CONCLUSION: Few researchers have investigated the function of microRNAs in the develop- ment of childhood epilepsy. Our findings revealed that epilepsy patients have abnormal microRNAexpression.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Many studies evaluating the nutritional status of children with cerebral palsy (CP) have focused on energy requirements and protein intake. The present work aimed to assess nutritional status and micronutrient levels of children with (CP). METHODS: This multicenter, cross-sectional and observational study was conducted in 10 different cities in Turkey. Data were available for 398 participants. Anthropometric measurements, feeding mode, nutritional status, and micronutrient levels were evaluated. RESULTS: The study was conducted with 398 participants (303 patients and 95 healthy controls). Statistical analysis showed that according to the Gomez Classification, weight-for-age (WFA) revealed malnutrition in 92.6% of children with CP, based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention percentiles. Measurements of micronutrient levels showed that zinc levels were low in patients, whereas vitamin A levels were low in controls. Phosphorous and manganese levels were significantly lower in malnourished children than in typical children. The results revealed that children consuming enteral nutrition solutions had higher selenium and lower zinc levels than non-consumers. CONCLUSIONS: Malnutrition is not only a protein- or calorie-based problem; micronutrient deficiencies might cause severe health problems. Children with chronic neurological disabilities must be carefully evaluated for these issues. Therefore, nutritional interventions should be adapted to nutrition.