A new method of pulse control in cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Continuous femoral pulse check.

OBJECTIVES: The reliability of manual pulse checks has been questioned but is still recommended in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidelines. The aim is to compare the 10-s carotid pulse check (CPC) between heart massage cycles with the continuous femoral pulse check (CoFe PuC) in CPR, and to propose a better location to shorten the interruption times for pulse check. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on 117 Non-traumatic CPR patients between January 2020 and January 2022. A total of 702 dependent pulse measurements were executed, where carotid and femoral pulses were simultaneously assessed. Cardiac ultrasound, end-tidal CO2, saturation, respiration, and blood pressure were employed for pulse validation. RESULTS: The decision time for determining the presence of a pulse in the last cycle of CPR was 3.03 ± 1.26 s for CoFe PuC, significantly shorter than the 10.31 ± 5.24 s for CPC. CoFe PuC predicted the absence of pulse with 74% sensitivity and 88% specificity, while CPC predicted the absence of pulse with 91% sensitivity and 61% specificity. CONCLUSION: CoFe PuC provides much earlier and more effective information about the pulse than CPC. This shortens the interruption times in CPR. CoFe PuC should be recommended as a new and useful method in CPR guidelines.

The effect of Lucilia sericata larval excretion/secretion (ES) products on cellular responses in wound healing.

Chronic wounds are still regarded as a serious public health concern, which are on the increase mainly due to the changes in life styles and aging of the human population. There are different types of chronic wounds, each of which requires slightly different treatment strategies. Nevertheless, wound bed preparation is included in treatment of all types of chronic wounds and involves tissue debridement, inflammation, and infection control, as well as moisture balance and epithelial edge advancement. Maggot therapy (MT) is a form of biological debridement which involves the application of live medical grade Lucilia sericata (Meigen, 1826) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) larvae. Whereas it was initially thought to act mainly through debridement, today MT is known to influence all four overlapping physiological phases of wound repair: homeostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodelling/maturing. During MT, medical-grade larvae are applied either freely or enclosed in tea-bag like devices (biobag) inside the wounds, which suggests that larva excretion/secretion (ES) products can facilitate the healing processes directly without the need of direct contact with the larvae. This review summarizes the relevant literature on ES-mediated effects on the cellular responses involved in wound healing.

Bibliometric analysis of publications on house dust mites during 1980-2018.

BACKGROUND: The global prevalence of allergic diseases has increased dramatically in recent years and are now recognized as significant chronic diseases worldwide. One of the most important allergens that causes allergic diseases is house dust mites. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to present a bibliometric overview of research published on dust mites between 1980 and 2018. METHODS: Articles published from 1980 to 2018 were analyzed using bibliometric methods. The keywords "Dust mite*," and "Dermatophagoides" were used in the Web of Science (WoS). Simple linear regression analysis was used to estimate the number of future publications on this subject. RESULTS: A total of 4742 publications were found, 2552 (53.8%) of them were articles. Most of the articles were on subjects related to immunology (1274; 49.9%) and allergy (1229; 48.1%). Clinical and Experimental Allergy (222; 8.7%) was the journal with the most publications. The USA was the country that most contributed to the literature with 461 (18.1%) articles. The countries producing the most publications on this subject were developed countries. The most active author was W.R. Thomas (66; 2.5%). The most productive institution was the University of Western Australia (91; 3.6%). The most cited article was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. CONCLUSION: According to the findings, developed countries were the most productive in publishing on house dust mites. By planning multinational research rather than regional studies, it may be suggested that researchers in underdeveloped or developing countries could also conduct more research on this subject.

IL-6 mediated JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway in cancer patients with cachexia.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the changes in the IL-6 and STAT3 expression levels in cachectic and non-cachectic patients with gastric, lung and breast cancer and evaluated the association between IL-6 and STAT3 levels and cancer types in terms of cachexia condition. BACKGROUND: Cancer-associated cachexia, observed in nearly 50‒80 % of cancer patients, has drawn attention in advanced patients. IL-6/JAK/STAT pathway plays an essential role in the progression of cancer cachexia through the regulation of the inflammatory response. METHODS: This study consisted of 48 gastric, breast and lung cancer patients (18 cachectic and 30 non-cachectic) and healthy individuals. Total RNA isolation and cDNA synthesis was performed after the collection of blood samples. IL-6 and STAT3 expression levels were analyzed by RT- PCR analysis. RESULTS: Our findings demonstrated that IL-6 mRNA levels considerably increased 19.89±8.25, 5.18±2.81 and 15.33±9.54-fold in gastric, lung and breast cancer patients with cachexia, respectively. Additionally, a 16.67±7.13, 14.21±11.72 and 8.85±3.89-fold increase in the STAT3 expression level was detected in cachectic gastric, lung and breast cancer patients, respectively (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: STAT3 may be considered as a therapeutic target for cachectic patients with gastric, lung and breast cancer. Furthermore, IL-6 mediates STAT3 activation in cachectic gastric and breast cancer patients (Tab. 5, Fig. 2, Ref. 62).

Nasotracheal Intubation in Children for Outpatient Dental Surgery: Is Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy Useful?

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to compare the hemodynamic responses and adverse events associated with nasotracheal intubation (NTI) using a fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB) and a direct laryngoscope (DLS) in children undergoing general anesthesia for outpatient dental surgery. METHODS: Eighty children (aged 5-15 years) were scheduled to undergo outpatient dental surgery under general anesthesia and of these children those who required NTI were included. RESULTS: NTI was significantly longer in the FOB group (P = 0.03). In both groups, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) significantly decreased after the induction of anesthesia when compared with the baseline values. SBP was significantly higher in both groups at intubation and 1 and 3 min after intubation when compared with postinduction. SBP significantly increased in the DLS group compared with the FOB group at intubation and 1 min after intubation. HR was significantly increased at intubation and 1 min after intubation in the DLS group compared with the FOB group. Nose bleeding after intubation was significantly more frequent in the DLS group (30%) than in the FOB group (7.5%) (P = 0.034). The incidence of sore throat 24 h after surgery was 20% (8/40) in the DLS group and 2.5% (1/40) in the FOB group (P = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: There are fewer hemodynamic responses and adverse events in the FOB group than in the DLS group; therefore, FOB can be safely used for NTI in children undergoing outpatient dental surgery, and FOB may be more successful than DLS for NTI.

Depression and socio-economical burden are more common in primary caregivers of patients who are not aware of their cancer: TURQUOISE Study by the Palliative Care Working Committee of the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG).

In this study, we aimed to determine the personal, social and economic burden and the frequency of depression, as well as in caregivers of cancer patients who are being treated with chemotherapy in Turkey. The study is designed as a cross-sectional survey study using a 5-point Likert-type response scale, and the last part of the questionnaire includes the Beck Depression Inventory. The depression rate was found to be 64% (n = 476) among all subjects (n = 968), with 91% of those with depression demonstrating signs of mild depression. In this study, a significant difference was found between the presence of depression and age (young), sex (female), educational level (high), economic status (low), financial loss during treatment, patient's lack of knowledge about his/her diagnosis, metastatic disease and short survival time. In addition, 64% of all subjects had concerns of getting cancer, and 44% of all subjects had feelings of anger/rage against other people. In a multivariate regression analysis, the patient's lack of knowledge of the diagnosis was the independent risk factor. In conclusion, depression incidence and burden rate increased among cancer caregivers, and care burden was highly associated with depression. Accordingly, approaches to reducing the psycho-social effects of cancer should focus intensively on both the patients and their caregivers in Turkey.

Biomechanical analysis of titanium fixation plates and screws in mandibular angle fractures.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the mechanical behavior of different rigid fixation methods in mandibular angle fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three different three-dimensional finite element models of the mandible were developed to simulate the biomechanical responses of titanium plates and screws. The fracture lines were fixed with double 4-hole straight, 4-hole square, and 5-hole Y plates with monocortical screws. 150 N incisal occlusal loads were simulated on the models. The commercial ANSYS software was utilized to calculate the Von Mises stresses on fixative appliances. RESULTS: The highest Von Mises stress values were observed in the Y plate, whereas the lowest stress values have been found in the square plate. CONCLUSIONS: The use of square plate led to better stability and lower mechanical stresses than other techniques.

Biomechanical analysis of titanium fixation plates and screws in sagittal split ramus osteotomies.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the mechanical behavior of three different fixation methods used in the bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three different three-dimensional finite element models were created, each corresponding to three different fixation methods. The mandibles were fixed with double straight 4-hole, square 4-hole, and 5-hole Y plates. 150 N incisal occlusal loads were simulated on the distal segments. ANSYS software ((v 10; ANSYS Inc., Canonsburg, PA) was used to calculate the Von Mises stresses on fixative appliances. RESULTS: The highest Von Mises stress values were found in Y plate. The lowest values were isolated in double straight plate group. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that the use of double 4-hole straight plates provided the sufficient stability on the osteotomy site when compared with the other rigid fixation methods used in this study.

Morphological evaluation of the mandibular lingula using cone-beam computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: Lingula is a tongue-like flap of bone that overlaps the mandibular foramen antero-medially and location is clinically significant in oral and maxillofacial surgeries. The aim of this study was to assess the shape and precise location of lingula using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 3-dimensional images provided by CBCT of 63 patients (28 females, 35 males, age range 25-70 years) were retrospectively evaluated. All CBCT images were performed due to implant planning. From both sides of 63 mandibles were classified in the following shapes: triangular, truncated, nodular and assimilated. The location was determined by 5 distances from the lingula: the anterior and the posterior borders of the mandibular ramus, man-dibular notch and lover border of mandible. Height of the lingula was measured from the lingular tip to the mandibular foramen. RESULTS: Nodular shape of lingula was the most commonly found (32.5%). The mean distance of lingula from anterior and posterior borders of mandibular ramus was 18.5 ± 2.3 and 16.9 ± 3.5 mm, respectively. The lingula was located at 18.1 ± 3.6 mm from the mandibular notch and 38.3 mm from the lover border of mandible. The mean height of lingula was 7.8 ± 2.4 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides the morphological variation and localization of the lingula. The lingula is an important clinical landmark for mandibular osteotomy, and for determining the distance to mandibular foramen entrance.

The role of physical activity, body mass index and maturity status in body-related perceptions and self-esteem of adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Adolescence represents a transitional period which is marked by physical, social and psychological changes. Changes in body shape and physical activity especially alter and shape the psychological well-being of adolescents. AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine the role of physical activity level, body mass index and maturity status in body-related perception and self-esteem of 11-18 years old adolescents. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 1012 adolescents participated in this study. The "Social Physique Anxiety Scale", "Body Image Satisfaction Scale", "Physical Self-Perception Profile for Children" and "Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory" were administered. Physical activity level and body mass index were assessed using the "Physical Activity Questionnaire" and "Bioelectrical Impedance Analyzer", respectively. RESULTS: Regression analysis indicated that body mass index was the only predictor of perceived body attractiveness, social physique anxiety, body image satisfaction and self-esteem for female adolescents. For male adolescents, both physical activity and body mass index were correlated with perceived body attractiveness and social physique anxiety. Pubertal status were not correlated with self-esteem and body-related perceptions for both males and females adolescents. CONCLUSION: In summary, body mass index and physical activity plays an important role in body-related perceptions and self-esteem of adolescents.

Percutaneous coronary intervention vs. optimal medical therapy--the other side of the coin: medication adherence.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Although many studies have examined medication adherence in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), no prospective trial has compared medication adherence between patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or with optimal medical therapy (OMT) in real life. This study sought to compare the adherence to evidence-based secondary preventive medications in patients with documented CAD treated with PCI and OMT, or OMT alone. METHODS: We evaluated adherence to statins, beta-blockers, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) during a 6-month follow-up in 232 patients with documented CAD, comparing patients treated with PCI and those receiving medical therapy alone. Medication adherence was measured with reference to national reimbursement database records. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Of the 232 patients who survived the 6-month follow-up, the percentages of adherent patients according to prescription records (prespecified primary endpoint) were 53·6% (n = 82) in the PCI group and 33·8% (n = 27) in the OMT group (P = 0·004). Analysis of the individual medication classes revealed similar results for beta-blockers (86·0% in PCI group vs. 72·5% in OMT group, P = 0·006) and statins (64·5% in PCI group vs. 44·0% in OMT group, P = 0·003). Adherence to ACEI was also higher in the PCI group, but the difference was not statistically significant (77·6% vs. 69·3%, P = 0·17). By logistic regression analysis, belonging to the PCI group was an independent predictor of medication adherence [B = 2·20 (1·06-4·50), P = 0·03)]. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: In the present study we demonstrated that adherence to evidence-based medication therapies in patients treated with PCI is significantly higher than in patients treated with OMT alone. Medication adherence should be followed carefully in CAD patients treated with OMT.

Relationship between platelet indices in acute cholecystitis: A case-control study.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: We aimed to investigate changes in initial platelet indices in patients arriving at the emergency department with acute cholecystitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was conducted at a tertiary care teaching hospital. Demographics, comorbidities, laboratory data, length of hospital stay, and mortality data for the acute cholecystitis group were retrospectively obtained from the hospital digital database. Platelet count, mean platelet volume, plateletcrit, platelet distribution width, and platelet mass index were collected. RESULTS: A total of 553 patients with acute cholecystitis were the study cases, and 541 hospital employees were the study controls. According to the results of the multivariate analysis of the platelet indices studied, only mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width showed significant differences between the two groups (adjusted odds ratio: 2, 95% confidence interval: 1.4-2.7, p < 0.001 and adjusted odds ratio: 5.88, 95% confidence interval: 2.44-14.4, p < 0.001, respectively). The multivariate regression model created had an area under the curve of 0.969 in the prediction of acute cholecystitis (accuracy: 0.917, sensitivity: 89%, and specificity: 94.5%). CONCLUSION: The study results indicate that the initial mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width were independent predictors of acute cholecystitis.

Does higher NORs expression affect the developmental stages of Down syndrome infants?

BACKGROUND: The nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) are localized at the secondary constriction of the five pairs of acrocentric chromosomes (13, 14, 15, 21 and 22) in human. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To evaluate whether increasing AgNOR protein synthesis effects or not the development of babies/children, 25 Down syndrome patients were included in this study. Firstly, the Ankara Development Screening Inventory (AGTE) test was performed. Then the buccal epithelial cells of patients were taken via a sterile toothpick on clean glass slides and spreaded and AgNOR staining technique was applied to the slides of each individual. Mean NOR area/Total nucleus area (NORa/TNa) were evaluated for each nucleus using a special computer program. RESULTS: The mean NORa/TNa was found to be 3.8+/-1.16. According to these data, a significant correlation was not evident between the NORa/TNa and developmental stages (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is no correlation between extra energy spending for NOR protein synthesis and developmental deficiency.

Elective bladder preservation with multimodality treatment for bladder cancer.

PURPOSE: To observe the outcome of maximal transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) followed by induction chemotherapy and concurrent chemoradiotherapy in medically inoperable patients with bladder cancer. METHODS: This study included 30 patients with stage T 2-4 bladder cancer. The patients were first treated with TURBT, and then received 2 cycles of induction chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin, followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy with gemcitabine. RESULTS: Median follow up was 28.9 months. Radiologically, complete and partial response rates were 60 and 36.7%, while cystoscopically they were 40 and 30%, respectively. Local progression (4 cases) and distant metastasis (11 cases) were noted. Median overall survival and progressionfree survival were 32 and 21 months, respectively. One -and 2-year overall survival and progression-free survival rates were 97.60% and 83.49%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The multimodal treatment performed in this study was well tolerated and achieved a high rate of bladder preservation in selected patients with bladder cancer.

Seroprevalence of rickettsial infection in northern Cyprus: A study among hunters.

This study was conducted to investigate rickettsial seropositivity among hunters, a high-risk population for tick-borne diseases in northern Cyprus. Serum samples were collected from 300 hunters from different locations during the 2017-2018 hunting season (November 2017 - February 2018). The samples were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using slides coated with Rickettsia slovaca, a species belonging to the spotted fever group (SFG). During the sample collection, a questionnaire was also applied to evaluate possible risk factors for rickettsial seropositivity. Of the 300 serum samples, six (2.0%) were found to be IgG-positive with a titer of 1:64. While all seropositive individuals were male, the statistical analysis revealed no significant association of gender with rickettsial seropositivity (p=1.000). Other factors including age (p=0.414), residential places of the participants (p=0.347), hunting years (p=0.694) or hunting abroad (p=1.000) did not significantly affect the IgG positivity. Also, no statistical correlation was found between a history of an arthropod (tick, louse, or flea) bite and rickettsial seropositivity (p=1.000). To our knowledge, this is the first study that demonstrates rickettsial seropositivity among human population in northern Cyprus. Our study suggests that awareness should be raised among the people especially involved in outdoor activities such as hunting, and control programs should be implemented to prevent possible rickettsiosis cases. Further serological studies using other Rickettsia spp. antigens, as well as molecular studies that search for Rickettsia spp. in humans, animals and arthropods are needed to obtain more comprehensive data on rickettsiosis in northern Cyprus.

Reduced phosphorylated Foxp3 levels in Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever.

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a severe human infection which can lead to fatal consequences. Acute CCHF patients were previously shown to exhibit frequencies of regulatory T-cell (Treg) but lower Treg-mediated suppressive activities than the healthy counterparts. This study aims is to investigate the phosphorylation levels of Foxp3 protein (master regulator of Treg cells) in CCHF patients. Blood samples collected from 18 CCHF patients and nine healthy volunteers were used to isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Total and phosphorylated Foxp3 expression levels in the isolated PBMC samples were monitored by western blot and quantified using ImageJ software. Total Foxp3 expression levels in CCHF patients displayed decreasing trend, but not significantly. In contrast, significantly lower expression levels of phosphorylated Foxp3 were reported in CCHF patients. Our results suggest a possible association between Foxp3 dephosphorylation and CCHF pathogenesis. Nevertheless, more studies are required to evaluate the effect of Foxp3 dephosphorylation on Treg function, which would not only help to enlighten the CCHF pathogenesis but also contribute to the development of effective treatment strategies.

Inorganic greywater matrix impact on photocatalytic oxidation: does flocculation of TiO2 nanoparticles impair process efficiency?

This study was conducted in order to clarify whether photocatalyst flocculation--as observed in biologically pretreated greywater--contributes to photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) efficiency impairment. Aqueous solutions of tetraethyleneglycol dimethylether spiked with different inorganic salts in concentrations as found in biologically treated greywater were investigated with respect to TiO2 flocculation and PCO mineralisation kinetics. Flocculation of the photocatalyst primarily depended on pH (which was affected by the salts) and how close pH was to the point of zero charge (PZC). Photocatalyst agglomeration was maximum at pH 5.5. With salt concentrations >7 mmol L(-1), flocculation was strong even at pH far above PZC due to electric double layer compression. PCO rate constants were not unequivocally related to flocculation. Increasing pH was observed as the clearest factor deteriorating PCO efficiency. This was interpreted to result from impaired adsorbability of negatively charged oxidation intermediates as well as from enhanced CO2 absorption with increasing pH and subsequent formation of HCO3(-) anions which are OH radical scavengers.

Efficacy of Intravenous Paracetamol and Ibuprofen on Postoperative Pain and Morphine Consumption in Lumbar Disc Surgery: Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVES: Effective postoperative pain management after lumbar disc surgery reduces complications and improves postoperative care. The purpose of this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study is to evaluate the effects of IV paracetamol and ibuprofen on postoperative pain, morphine consumption and side effects of morphine in patients who underwent lumbar disc surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-five patients aged 18-85 years scheduled for lumbar disk surgery with a single level laminectomy included in this study. All patients received morphine with an IV patient-controlled analgesia device during the first postoperative 24hour. The patients were divided randomly and double-blinded into three groups (control, paracetamol and ibuprofen). The demographic characteristics and procedure data, VAS score, cumulative morphine consumption, opioid-related side effects were recorded. RESULTS: There was no significant difference regarding to demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and durations of anesthesia and surgery. There was a significant difference between all groups regarding to total morphine consumption (P<0.001). IV ibuprofen significantly reduced the total morphine consumption in comparison with control and paracetamol (P<0.001). Repeated measures ANOVA showed in all periods of the study that VAS score was significantly lower in ibuprofen (P<0.001), but not in paracetamol (P=0.394) in comparison with control. There was no difference between groups regarding postoperative heart rate, mean arterial pressure, nausea-vomiting, pruritus and urinary retention. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that pain scores and morphine consumption, but not the side effects of patient-controlled analgesia during 24hours after the lumbar disk surgery, were significantly reduced by IV ibuprofen as a supplemental analgesic when compared with controls and paracetamols.

The anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of curcumin on feline mammary gland tumor cells in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Feline mammary gland tumors (FMGTs) are the third most diagnosed tumors in cats. Feline mammary gland tumors have aggressive biological behavior and poor response to both surgical and medical treatments, thus, new therapeutic approaches are essential to improve. Curcumin (CUR) is a polyphenol component exhibiting anti-cancer effects and induces apoptosis through different mechanisms especially in human breast cancer. However, there is no study investigating the effects of CUR on FMGTs. AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of CUR on primary cell lines from FMGT tissue samples of two cases classified as carcinoma-simple, tubular type (grade III). METHODS: The cytotoxic effect of CUR was determined by water-soluble tetrazolium salt-1 (WST-1) assay. Annexin V, cell cycle, and acridine orange (AO) analyses were performed to determine the apoptotic effect of CUR. RESULTS: Our results showed that CUR had an anti-proliferative and apoptotic effect through induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest (G0/G1) on FMGT cells. CONCLUSION: Therefore, this is the first study that shows the effects of CUR on FMGTs. However, further molecular studies are required to compare the effects of CUR on different histopathological phenotypes and to determine the further molecular mechanisms including the potential apoptotic and cellular pathways affected by CUR.

Late effects of childhood ALL treatment on body mass index and serum leptin levels.

BACKGROUND: It is well known that survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) show a tendency to become overweight. Cranial irradiation (CRT), is considered to be the primary risk factor for development of obesity. AIMS: The aim of our study was to evaluate body mass index (BMI) and serum leptin levels in survivors of childhood ALL. METHODS: Subjects (Group I) consisted of 93 survivors of childhood ALL (53 males > or = 9 years old, 40 females > or = 8 years old) diagnosed between January 1975 and December 2002 in the Hematology-Oncology Division in Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University after a follow up 10.21 +/- 4.90 (mean +/- SD) years. Fifty healthy individuals of similar chronological age were taken as controls (29 males, 21 females). Seventy-four subjects had received radiotherapy (Group IA) and 19 had not (Group I B). RESULTS: In Group I, BMI was significantly higher than in Group II (21.65 +/- 4.02 vs 20.31 +/- 3.49, p = 0.04). However, BMI was significantly higher only in Group I A (21.83 +/- 4.27) than in Group II (p = 0.032). Leptin levels were significantly higher in Group I A females than in Group II females. There was a significant correlation between BMI-SDS and serum leptin levels in group IA females. CONCLUSIONS: Leukemia treatment leads to obesity. Higher leptin levels in girls may suggest that sex may be a differentiating factor for this late effect.