Green supplier evaluation with SWARA-TOPSIS integrated method to reduce ecological risk factors.

One of the most important agendas of the world is the topic of global warming. In order to protect the ecological balance, all organizations turning towards using natural resources more effectively and not harming the environment. Increasing social expectation, legal regulations, and diminishing natural resources necessitate the dissemination of these orientations in all areas. Enterprises' supply chain management applications are also affected by this situation, and the concept of green supply chain management which reflects the environmentalist perspective has emerged. One of the most important stages of this chain is to find suppliers who care about the environment. Choosing a green supplier is of great importance for both the business and the environment. In this study, 11 environmental criteria were defined for green supplier evaluation and SWARA-TOPSIS integrated method was used to determine the most suitable supplier. Furthermore, a case study for an international yachting company operating in Turkey was also presented in this study. Based on the results of the study, it was seen that supplier 2 was the most suitable among five prominent alternative suppliers, and "environmental management system", "senior management's support and commitment", and "green image" criteria were ranked as the top three criteria among the 11 determined criteria.

Clinical, radiological and laboratory findings in 185 children with tuberculous meningitis at a single centre and relationship with the stage of the disease.

BACKGROUND: A delay in the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis meningitis (TBM) may lead to increased mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical, radiological and laboratory findings of TBM on a cohort of 185 pediatric patients at a single centre over a 10 year period and to investigate relationship between the stage of the disease. METHODS: The hospital records of 185 TBM children that presented to the Pediatric Clinics of Dicle University Hospital were retrospectively evaluated. The age, gender, family history of tuberculosis, result of Mantoux skin test, status of BCG vaccination, stage of TBM at hospitalization, and clinical, laboratory and radiological features were recorded. Clinical staging of TBM was defined as follows: Stage I, no focal neurological findings and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score 15; Stage II, GCS 15 presenting with focal neurological deficit or all the patients with GCS 10-14; Stage III, all the patients with GCS < 10. Relationships between results and stages of TBM were investigated. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 53.5 ± 44.9 months (4 months-18 years). 121 (65.4 %) of the patients were male and 64 (34.6 %) female. Family history of tuberculosis was defined in 62 (33.5 %) patients. Forty five (24.3 %) children had BCG vaccination scar. Mantoux skin test was interpreted as positive in 35 (18.9 %) patients. Sixty-eight (36.8 %) children were at stage I TBM, 57 (30.8 %) at stage II and 60 (32.4 %) were at stage III on admission. Mean duration of hospitalization was 23.9 ± 14.1 days. Totally, 90 patients (48.6 %) had abnormal chest X-ray findings (parenchymal infiltration in 46 (24.9 %), mediastinal lymphadenopathy in 36 (19.5 %), miliary opacities in 25 (13.5 %), pleural effusion in 2 (1.1 %), and atelectasis in 2 (1.1 %) patients). One hundred sixty seven (90.3 %) patients had hydrocephalus in cranial computerized tomography. There were 24 (13.0 %) patients with positive culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and 3 (1.6 %) patients with positive acid-fast bacilli in cerebrospinal fluid. Overall mortality rate was 24 (13.0 %). Among the findings; patients at Stage III had less frequent positive chest X-ray abnormality, miliary opacities and BCG vaccination scar when compared with patients at Stage I and II (p = 0,005; p = 0,007, p = 0.020, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Children with TBM and positive chest X-ray findings at hospital admission were more frequently diagnosed at Stage I, and BCG vaccination might be protective from the Stage III of the disease.

Children with breakthrough varicella infection requiring hospitalization in Turkey (VARICOMP Study 2008-2013).

INTRODUCTION: Varicella in previously immunized individuals, known as "breakthrough varicella". While the majority of breakthrough cases are mild, some may be severe, requiring hospitalization in previously healthy children or children with an underlying condition. METHODS: This report, as a part of the prospective national pediatric varicella hospitalizations study (including 29 centers, represent 50% of pediatric population) in Turkey, is aimed to evaluate breakthrough varicella infection requiring hospitalization before the routine use of single-dose live varicella vaccine in national program from 2008 to 2013 (<10% of the pediatric age group received a single-dose vaccine). RESULTS: In the time period, 1939 children were hospitalized due to varicella infection in Turkey; 36 children (20 boys, 16 girls, mean age 68.0+37.6 months, all received single dose live varicella vaccine) with breakthrough varicella infection. Breakthrough varicella infection might be severe in previously healthy children (61.1%) and children with immune-compromising conditions (38.9%). The time elapsed between vaccination and hospitalization was approximately 5 years, and neurological complications, mainly encephalitis and meningitis, were the most common reason for hospitalization in previously healthy children. CONCLUSION: Pediatric breakthrough varicella requiring hospitalization have been seen in Turkey, is mainly observed in previously healthy children at 5 years after a single-dose varicella vaccine. The varicella vaccine has been implemented as part of the National Immunization Program in Turkey in 2013 (a single dose at age 12 months). Further surveillance in the same settings could evaluate the effectiveness of national immunization with single-dose varicella vaccine at 12 months of age and potential need for second dose of vaccine.

Hereditary spherocytosis: evaluation of 68 children.

To determine the clinical and hematologic features of 68 children with hereditary spherocytosis (HS). In this retrospective study, we analyzed recorded information of 68 HS patients diagnosed between March 1997 and March 2007, including clinical manifestations at admission, gender, median age at diagnosis, family history, hematologic and biochemical data, patient management, complications, median age of splenectomy, and median follow-up time. Sixty-eight patients with HS (36 male and female) were investigated. The median age at diagnosis was 5.6 years (range 3 months to 18 years). Twenty-seven (39.7 %) had parents with consanguineous marriages, and 20 (29.4 %) had parents with first-degree consanguinity. Predominant clinical manifestations at admission were anemia in 59 patients (86.76 %), splenomegaly in 49 (72.05 %), and jaundice in 33 (48.52 %). Patients were classified as mild, moderate, or severe in 29.4, 61.7, and 8.8 % of patients, respectively. Five patients (7.3 %) underwent splenectomy. Major complications of HS were hemolytic, aplastic, and megaloblastic crises and cholelithiasis in 7 (10.2 %), 1 (1.4 %), 7 (10.2 %), and 6 (8.8 %) of patients, respectively. There were no deaths during follow-up. HS should be considered in evaluating possible diagnoses in patients with hemolytic anemia. In this study, the clinical course of patients with HS was relatively benign, with low proportions of patients having splenectomized and aplastic crises.

A case with mega cisterna magna renal and ear anomalies: is this a new syndrome?

Background. Extrarenal pathologies may be associated with renal position and fusion anomalies. According to the literature, our patient is the first horseshoe kidney case that had mega cisterna magna, arachnodactyly, and mild mental retardation. Case Report. A 9-year-old boy admitted because of the myoclonic jerks. He had a dysmorphic face, low-set and cup-shaped ears, arachnodactyly, and mild mental retardation. The patient's laboratory findings were normal except for a mild leucocytosis and hypochromic microcytic anemia. His cerebrospinal fluid was cytologically and biochemically normal. Cranial MRI revealed 1.5 cm diametered mega cisterna magna in the retrocerebellar region. Although there were no significant epileptical discharges in the electroencephalography, there were slow wave discharges arising from the anterior regions of both hemispheres. Because he had stomachache, abdominal ultrasonography was performed, and horseshoe kidney was determined. Abdominal CT did not reveal any abnormalities except the horseshoe kidney. There were not any cardiac pathologies in echocardiography. He had normal 46XY karyotype and there were no repeated chromosomal derangements, but we could not evaluate for molecular and submicroscopic somatic changes. He was treated with valproic acid and myoclonic jerks did not repeat. Conclusion. We suggest that the presence of these novel findings may represent a newly recognized, separate syndrome.

[A retrospective investigation of clinical and laboratory findings in children with acute rheumatic fever, reactivation and compliance with prophylaxis]. / Akut romatizmal atesli çocuklarda klinik ve laboratuvar bulgularin geriye dönük olarak incelenmesi: Reaktivasyon ve koruyucu tedaviye uyumunun arastirilmasi

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to retrospectively investigate the patients with acute rheumatic fever (ARF) by evaluating their clinic and laboratory properties, echocardiographic findings as well as the reactivation and the compliance to penicillin prophylaxis. STUDY DESIGN: The study involved 255 patients (143 boys, 112 girls; mean age 10.1±2.7 years) with ARF. Their sex, age, clinic and laboratory properties, echocardiographic findings, the reactivation and the compliance to penicillin prophylaxis were recorded. RESULTS: Patients spent 13.3±4.3 days in the hospital, and 94 had a history of ARF. Arthritis was found in 233 patients, carditis in 166, Sydenham's chorea in 14, subcutaneous nodule in 2, and arthritis-carditis in 151 patients. Erythema marjinatum was not found in any patient. Arthralgia (n=15) and fever (n=246) were found in patients. Throat culture was positive in 94 patients and anti-streptolysin-O titers were high in 124 patients. Mitral involvement was found in 205 patients while the combination of mitral and aortic valve involvement were observed in 118 patients. CONCLUSION: ARF still continues to be a major public health problem in our country. A bad prognosis may be prevented by early diagnosis and treatment. The importance of appropriate prophylaxis should also be emphasized.

The epidemiology and economic impact of varicella-related hospitalizations in Turkey from 2008 to 2010: a nationwide survey during the pre-vaccine era (VARICOMP study).

Varicella can cause complications that are potentially serious and require hospitalization. Our current understanding of the causes and incidence of varicella-related hospitalization in Turkey is limited and sufficiently accurate epidemiological and economical information is lacking. The aim of this study was to estimate the annual incidence of varicella-related hospitalizations, describe the complications, and estimate the annual mortality and cost of varicella in children. VARICOMP is a multi-center study that was performed to provide epidemiological and economic data on hospitalization for varicella in children between 0 and 15 years of age from October 2008 to September 2010 in Turkey. According to medical records from 27 health care centers in 14 cities (representing 49.3% of the childhood population in Turkey), 824 children (73% previously healthy) were hospitalized for varicella over the 2-year period. Most cases occurred in the spring and early summer months. Most cases were in children under 5 years of age, and 29.5% were in children under 1 year of age. The estimated incidence of varicella-related hospitalization was 5.29-6.89 per 100,000 in all children between 0-15 years of age in Turkey, 21.7 to 28 per 100,000 children under 1 year of age, 9.8-13.8 per 100,000 children under 5 years of age, 3.96-6.52 per 100,000 children between 5 and 10 years of age and 0.42 to 0.71 per 100,000 children between 10 and 15 years of age. Among the 824 children, 212 (25.7%) were hospitalized because of primary varicella infection. The most common complications in children were secondary bacterial infection (23%), neurological (19.1%), and respiratory (17.5%) complications. Secondary bacterial infections (p < 0.001) and neurological complications (p < 0.001) were significantly more common in previously healthy children, whereas hematological complications (p < 0.001) were more commonly observed in children with underlying conditions. The median length of the hospital stay was 6 days, and it was longer in children with underlying conditions (<0.001). The median cost of hospitalization per patient was $338 and was significantly higher in children with underlying conditions (p < 0.001). The estimated direct annual cost (not including the loss of parental work time and school absence) of varicella-related hospitalization in children under the age of 15 years in Turkey was $856,190 to $1,407,006. According to our estimates, 882 to 1,450 children are hospitalized for varicella each year, reflecting a population-wide occurrence of 466-768 varicella cases per 100,000 children. In conclusion, this study confirms that varicella-related hospitalizations are not uncommon in children, and two thirds of these children are otherwise healthy. The annual cost of hospitalization for varicella reflects only a small part of the overall cost of this disease, as only a very few cases require hospital admission. The incidence of this disease was higher in children <1 year of age, and there are no prevention strategies for these children other than population-wide vaccination. Universal vaccination is therefore the only realistic option for the prevention of severe complications and deaths. The surveillance of varicella-associated complications is essential for monitoring of the impact of varicella immunization.

A rare cause of severe periorbital edema and dermonecrotic ulcer of the eyelid in a child: brown recluse spider bite.

Spider bites are a worldwide problem. Brown recluse spider bites can lead to severe local or systemic clinical effects, such as edema, necrotic ulcer, rashes, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, malaise, arthralgia, myalgia, hemolysis, leukocytosis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, renal failure, and death. Eyelid bites from brown recluse spiders are rare. We report a child with severe facial edema and a dermonecrotic ulcer on the eyelid. Upon laboratory examination, leukocytosis with a significant left shift was detected. The patient was treated with antibiotics, systemic corticosteroid and conservative therapy that included saline compresses and ocular lubrication. No surgical excision was required. Vision was not impaired. A dermonecrotic ulcer is a severe complication of brown recluse spider bites. Since the diagnosis is difficult, clinical and epidemiological findings and a detailed history are important for an accurate diagnosis.

Elevated plasma levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in children with acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis.

Acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) is the most common prototype of acute glomerulonephritis in children, and is characterized by the sudden onset of gross hematuria, edema, hypertension and volume overload. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is produced in both the brain and the heart. Its prohormone, proBNP, is cleaved to biologically active BNP and an inactive N-terminal peptide of proBNP (NT-proBNP). NT-proBNP is released predominantly from the ventricles in response to hypervolemia and pressure overload. We therefore investigated the relationship between NT-proBNP levels and cardiac functions of patients with APSGN. NT-proBNP levels were measured in 28 patients with APSGN (17 boys and 11 girls of 8.2 +/- 2.9 years old) and in 26 healthy children (control group). Echocardiograms were performed in both patient and control groups on admission, and only in the patient group two weeks later. Upon admission, the plasma NT-proBNP levels were higher in the patients than in the control group (8876.2 +/- 9650.8 vs 69.5 +/- 22.2 pg/mL, p < 0.001), and left ventricular dysfunction was detected in six patients. Moreover, NT-proBNP levels were significantly higher in the patients with left ventricular dysfunction than other patients (n = 22). There was no significant difference in the levels of NT-proBNP between the patient and control groups, after diuretic treatment of the patients. Plasma NT-proBNP levels were positively correlated with the severity of APSGN. Thus, NT-proBNP level may be a useful marker to assess the volume overload and cardiac function in the follow up of selected APSGN patients.