Association between platelet indices and the severity of the disease and mortality in patients with COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the association between platelet indices and disease severity, and outcomes of the patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in a secondary hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 722 hospitalized patients who had positive rRT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 and/or typical findings of COVID-19 at chest computed tomography (CT) were enrolled in this study. Initial platelet count (PLT) and indices, including mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), plateletcrit (PCT), MPV/PCT, MPV/PLT, PDW/PLT, PDW/PCT on admission and the third day of hospitalization, and their relationship with disease severity and outcomes were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 57.2±15.6 years (range: 16-94) and male/female ratio was 1.22. 81.9% of the patients had moderate and 11.8% had severe disease. 1.8% of the patients had thrombocytopenia at admission. The patients transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) had significantly lower baseline lymphocyte counts, PLT, PCT, and 3rd day lymphocyte counts when compared with the patients in wards. ICU patients also had higher baseline CRP, LDH, ferritin, MPV/PCT, MPV/PLT, PDW/PLT, PDW/PCT ratios, and 3rd day PDW, CRP, LDH, and ferritin levels than the patients in wards. Mortality was associated with lower baseline lymphocyte counts, PLT, PCT, 3rd day lymphocyte counts and PCT. Higher baseline CRP, LDH, ferritin, MPV/PCT, PDW/PLT, PDW/PCT and 3rd day CRP, LDH, ferritin, procalcitonin, PDW, MPV/PCT, PDW/PLT, and PDW/PCT ratios were also associated with poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Platelet count and ratios were significantly associated with mortality in patients with COVID-19.

Insulin resistance in children with chronic hepatitis C and its association with response to IFN-alpha and ribavirin. / Resistencia a la insulina en niños con hepatitis C crónica y su asociación con la respuesta al IFN-alfa y ribavirina.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to evaluate the association between insulin resistance and the response to IFN-alpha and ribavirin in pediatric patients with chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: Twenty-six patients with chronic hepatitis C (mean age: 12.5 ± 1.96 years, M/F:3.33) were included in the study. Fasting glucose, insulin, and C-peptide levels, together with HOMA-IR, HOMA-B, and QUICKI values, were assessed. The association between those parameters and treatment response was determined. RESULTS: Five (19.2%) of the 26 patients analyzed (2 [21.4%] with treatment response and 3 [16.6%] with no treatment response) had insulin resistance (p=1.00). There were no significant differences between the patients with and without treatment response with respect to fasting glucose, insulin, and C-peptide levels or HOMA-IR, HOMA-B, and QUICKI values (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: No significant association was establihed between insulin resistance and response to IFN-alpha and ribavirin, in children with chronic hepatitis C.

Hepatitis B Vaccination and Factors Related with Unresponsiveness in Healthy Children

ABSTRACT Background: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of hepatitis B vaccination and factors associated with vaccine unresponsiveness in healthy children. Methods: A total of 141 healthy children aged between two and five years were included in the study. All of the cases had received 20 μg of recombinant DNA vaccine for hepatitis B (0, 1 and 6 months). Demographic features and factors such as duration of breastfeeding, exposure to HBsAg-positive family members, administration of concomitant vaccines and exposure to smoke were determined. Hepatitis B vaccination serological markers were evaluated. Post-vaccination serologic evaluation was performed one month after the last dose of primary vaccination, one month after the booster dose. Human leukocyte antigens typing was performed in non-responders. Results: Only 87.9% of the children achieved seroprotection antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBsAG titers ≥ 10 mIU/ml) one month after primary vaccination. No difference was observed between vaccine responsiveness and age, gender, birthweight, maturity, duration of breastfeeding, exposure to HBsAg-positive family members, and mid-upper arm circumference (p > 0.05). HLA types, DRB 111 (64.7%), B5 (52.9%), DRB 104 (52.9%) and DRB 11001 (47%) were detected at increased frequency in non-responders. The antibody titers were significantly higher in children who breastfed for the first six months and longer and who were vaccinated concomitantly with other common vaccines. Conclusion: The seroprotection antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen correlated with breast feeding and hepatitis B vaccination concomitant with other common vaccines. HLA types DRB 111, B5, DRB 104 and DRB 11001 had increased frequency in non-responders.

Evaluation of Health-related Quality of Life in Paediatric Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.

OBJECTIVE: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measurement is used for assessing the impact of diseases and medical treatments on physical, psychological and social aspects of an individual's health and life. The Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL™) is a widely used instrument to measure paediatric HRQOL in children. The aim of this study is to investigate the HRQOL in paediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and determine the precautions for improving the quality of their life. METHODS: Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ 4.0 was administered to 75 paediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and 50 healthy age- and gender-matched children. RESULTS: Health-related quality of life scores were significantly lower in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia than in healthy controls in this study. CONCLUSIONS: It is thought that determination of the psychosocial, as well as the physical impacts of the disease on the child, will positively influence the treatment given by improving the quality of life of both the child and the family.

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura Associated with Hepatitis A Infection in a Five-year Old Boy: A Case Report.

Acute hepatitis A infection is usually a self-limiting disease and mostly asymptomatic in children younger than six years old. Extrahepatic autoimmune manifestations such as immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) have been reported rarely in children with acute hepatitis A infection. We report herein a paediatric case with ITP which is due to hepatitis A virus infection.

Evaluation of paediatric patients with protein losing enteropathy a single centre experience / Evaluación de los pacientes pediátricos con enteropatía perdedora de proteínas experiencia sola en un centro

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to evaluate paediatric patients with protein losing enteropathy (PLE). METHODS: Fourteen cases diagnosed as PLE were evaluated in terms of aetiologies, diagnostic methods, laboratory findings, treatment procedures and longterm prognosis. RESULTS: Four of the cases had coeliac disease, three intestinal lymphangiectasia, three giardia infection, one H pylori infection and three cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Histopathological examinations of duodenum specimens revealed total villous atrophy in four cases, lymphatic dilatation in three cases, severe nodular appearance in four cases and no pathology in four cases. All of the cases except patients with intestinal lymphangiectasia were controlled by the appropriate treatment given for the underlying disease. The cases with CMV infection were treated with only supportive treatment and gancyclovir therapy was not needed. CONCLUSION: When proteinuria is not detected in wellappearing children admitted with oedema, PLE must be considered.

OBJETIVO: El objetivo del estudio es evaluar a pacientes con enteropatía perdedora de proteínas (EPP). MÉTODOS: Catorce casos diagnosticados con EPP fueron evaluados en términos de etiologías, métodos de diagnóstico, resultados de laboratorio, procedimientos de tratamiento, y prognósis a largo plazo. RESULTADOS: Cuatro de los casos tenían enfermedad celíaca, tres padecían de linfangiectasia intestinal, tres sufrían de infección por giardias, uno tenía infección por H pylori, y tres presentaba infección por citomegalovirus (CMV). Los exámenes histopatológicos de especímenes duodenales revelaron atrofia de las vellosidades intestinales en cuatro de los casos, dilatación linfática en tres casos, apariencia nodular severa en cuatro casos, y ausencia de patología en cuatro casos. Todos los casos - excepto los pacientes con linfangiectasia intestinal - fueron controlados mediante el tratamiento adecuado para la enfermedad subyacente. Los casos con infección por CMV fueron tratados con tratamiento de apoyo, y no se necesitó terapia con ganciclovir. CONCLUSIÓN: Cuando no se detecta proteinuria en niños con buena apariencia ingresados con edema, hay que considerar principalmente la posibilidad de EPP.

Evaluation of paediatric patients with protein losing enteropathy a single centre experience.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to evaluate paediatric patients with protein losing enteropathy (PLE). METHODS: Fourteen cases diagnosed as PLE were evaluated in terms ofaetiologies, diagnostic methods, laboratory findings, treatment procedures and long-term prognosis. RESULTS: Four of the cases had coeliac disease, three intestinal lymphangiectasia, three giardia infection, one H pylori infection and three cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Histopathological examinations of duodenum specimens revealed total villous atrophy in four cases, lymphatic dilatation in three cases, severe nodular appearance in four cases and no pathology in four cases. All of the cases except patients with intestinal lymphangiectasia were controlled by the appropriate treatment given for the underlying disease. The cases with CMV infection were treated with only supportive treatment and gancyclovir therapy was not needed. CONCLUSION: When proteinuria is not detected in well-appearing children admitted with oedema, PLE must be considered.