Thiol-Disulphide Homeostasis, Ischemia-Modified Albumin, Trace Elements and Vitamins in Vitiligo Patients.

Background: Vitiligo, a multifactorial, depigmented skin disease, is characterised by selective loss of functional melanocytes leading to pigment reduction in the affected areas of the skin. Aim: We aimed to examine thiol-disulphide homeostasis, IMA, copper, zinc, selenium, vitamin A and vitamin C levels in vitiligo patients. Materials and Methods: The study included 83 vitiligo patients and 72 healthy controls. Copper, zinc, and selenium levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer; vitamin A and E levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Ischemia-modified albumin and native/total thiol levels were measured by colourimetric method. Results: Serum native and total thiol levels were significantly lower in vitiligo patients (P < 0.001, for all). Zn levels were significantly higher in vitiligo patients than in the control group (P = 0.004). There was no statistical difference in terms of Cu, Se, vitamin A and vitamin E levels. Conclusions: All thiol-disulphide homeostasis parameters (the most important antioxidant-oxidant system in circulation), trace elements, and vitamins together were evaluated in the present study in vitiligo patients. It can be concluded that vitiligo patients have increased oxidative stress status, and also the increase in the dissemination of the disease also increases the oxidative stress in the body.

Serum ADAMTS-9 Level in Newborn Babies with Congenital Heart Disease.

OBJECTIVE: A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin-9 (ADAMTS-9), one of the ADAMTS enzymes, is expressed in all fetal tissues, unlike other ADAMTS enzymes, and is thus thought to play a role in fetal development. In this context, the objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between ADAMTS-9 activity and the development of congenital heart diseases (CHD) with a view to using ADAMTS-9 level as a biomarker for CHDs. STUDY DESIGN: Newborns diagnosed with CHD and healthy newborns were included in the study as the CHD and control groups, respectively. Gestational age, maternal age, and mode of delivery information pertaining to the mothers and Apgar score and birthweight information pertaining to the newborns were recorded. Blood samples were taken from all newborns to determine their ADAMTS-9 levels in the first 24 hours of life. RESULTS: Fifty-eight newborns with CHD and 46 healthy newborns were included in the study. Median ADAMTS-9 levels were 46.57 (interquartile range [IQR]: 33.31 [min: 26.92, max: 124.25]) and 23.36 (IQR: 5.48 [min: 11.7, max: 37.71]) ng/mL in the CHD and control groups, respectively. ADAMTS-9 levels in the CHD group were statistically significantly higher than in the control group (p = 0.000). ADAMTS-9 levels of the CHD and control groups were analyzed by the receiver operating characteristics curve. The area under the curve value for ADAMTS-9 levels of >27.86 ng/mL as the cut-off value for predicting the development of CHD in newborns was 0.836 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.753-0.900, p = 0.0001). ADAMTS-9 levels of >27.86 ng/mL were determined to predict the development of CHD in newborns with a sensitivity of 77.78% (95% CI: 65.5-87.38) and a specificity of 84.78% (95% CI: 71.1-93.60). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, it was found that the serum ADAMTS-9 levels were significantly higher in newborns with CHD than in healthy newborns. In parallel, ADAMTS-9 levels above a certain cut-off value were associated with CHD. KEY POINTS: · ADAMTS-9 is expressed in fetal tissues.. · Its level increases in congenital heart diseases.. · It can be used as a biochemical marker in diagnosis..

Toxic effects of Aroclor 1254 on rat liver and modifying roles of selenium.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were used in different industrial areas and banned due to their high toxicity. Aroclor 1254 (A1254), commercial PCB congener, accumulates in environment leading to high human exposure. A1254 may cause hepatotoxicity, metabolic and endocrine disorders. In our study, 3-week-old male rats were separated into 6 groups: C (0.15 mg/kg Se in diet); SeS (1 mg/kg Se in diet); SeD (0.05 mg/kg Se in diet); A1254 receiving groups (A; ASeS; ASeD) were given 10 mg/kg/day A1254 orally for last 15 days of feeding period with control, SeD or SeS diet, respectively, for 5 weeks. Histopathology, oxidant/antioxidant balance, apoptosis and cell cycle proteins (p53, p21) in liver were evaluated. Our results suggest that A1254 leads to changes in histology, oxidative stress and apoptosis. Selenium deficiency augments oxidative stress and apoptosis while selenium supplementation is partially protective. More mechanistic in vivo experiments are necessary for evaluation of hepatotoxicity of PCBs.

Investigation of the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in obese patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome in childhood and examination of left ventricular function by echocardiography.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to investigate the cardiovascular risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS), which is increasingly becoming prevalent in childhood obesity. METHODS: A total of 113 patients, 76 of whom were between the ages of 10 and 17 (mean age: 14.5 ± 1.8 years) and diagnosed with obesity (30 non-MetS and 46 MetS using IDF) and 37 of whom constituted the control group, participated in the study. Echocardiographic examination and atherogenicity parameters (Atherogenic index of plasma [AIP: logTG/HDL], total cholesterol/HDL, and TG/HDL ratio and non-HDL) were evaluated. RESULTS: The most common component accompanying obese MetS was found to be hypertension and low HDL. While obesity duration, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, fasting insulin, insulin resistance, atherogenicity parameters were determined to be significantly higher in the obese-MetS group. Echocardiography showed that while the thickness, volume, and diameter of LV end-diastolic wall, left ventricular mass (LVM), LVM index (LVMI g/m2) and relative wall thickness (RWT) were significantly high in the MetS group, however, mitral E/A ratio was significantly lower (p<0.05). Change in LV geometry consistent with concentric remodeling (increased RWT, normal LVMI) was visible in obese groups. LVM were positively significantly related to BMI, waist circumference, insulin resistance, blood pressure, LDL level, and negative to mitral E/A ratio. In the obese-MetS group, LVMI was positively correlated to office systolic BP, left atrium end-diastolic volume/index. CONCLUSIONS: LVMI and atherogenicity parameters that were found to be significantly higher in obese MetS exhibit increased cardiovascular risk in childhood.

Renal changes and apoptosis caused by subacute exposure to Aroclor 1254 in selenium-deficient and selenium-supplemented rats.

Aroclor 1254 (A1254), a mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls, exerts hepatic, renal, and reproductive toxicity in rodents. This study aimed to determine a protective role of selenium on histopathological changes, oxidative stress, and apoptosis caused by A1254 in rat kidney. It included a control group, which received regular diet containing 0.15 mg/kg Se (C), a Se-supplemented group (SeS) receiving 1 mg/kg Se, a Se-deficient group (SeD) receiving Se-deficient diet of ≤0.05 mg/kg Se, an A1254-treated group (A) receiving 10 mg/kg of Aroclor 1254 and regular diet, an A1254-treated group receiving Se-supplementation (ASeS), and an A1254-treated group receiving Se-deficient diet (ASeD). Treatments lasted 15 days. After 24 h of the last dose of A1254, the animals were decapitated under anaesthesia and their renal antioxidant enzyme activities, lipid peroxidation (LP), glutathione, protein oxidation, and total antioxidant capacity levels measured. Histopathological changes were evaluated by light and electron microscopy. Apoptosis was detected with the TUNEL assay. Kidney weights, CAT activities, and GSH levels decreased significantly in all A1254-treated groups. Renal atrophic changes and higher apoptotic cell counts were observed in the A and ASeD groups. Both groups also showed a significant drop in GPx1 activities (A - 34.92 % and ASeD - 86.46 %) and rise in LP (A - 30.45 % and ASeD - 20.44 %) vs control. In contrast, LP levels and apoptotic cell counts were significantly lower in the ASeS group vs the A group. Histopathological changes and renal apoptosis were particularly visible in the ASeD group. Our findings suggest that selenium supplementation provides partial protection against renal toxicity of Aroclor 1254.

Nasopharyngeal pneumococcal carriage in healthy Turkish children after 13-valent conjugated pneumococcal vaccine implementation in the national immunization program.

BACKGROUND: In Turkey, pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (PCV) was introduced to the national immunization program as PCV7 in 2008, and was replaced with PCV13 in 2011. The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of PCV13 on nasopharyngeal pneumococcal carriage (NPC) by determining the serotype distribution, and to identify risk factors for carriage, in healthy Turkish children. METHODS: This prospective study was conducted on 500 healthy children aged 0-13 years between April and November 2014. Nasopharyngeal swab samples were taken, and molecular method for capsular serotyping was performed by multiplex PCR. RESULTS: Of 500 children, 43.4% were unvaccinated with a PCV (7- or 13-valent), 56.6% were vaccinated and The NPC rate was found to be 9.8%. Of 49 positive Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates, 26 (53%) were PCV13 vaccine strains (VSs), and 17 (34.7%) were non-VS. Six isolates (12.2%) were not typeable by the method applied. The most common serotypes detected were serotype 3 (18.3%), serotype 19F (14.2%), serotype 6A/B (8.1%), serotype 11A (8.1%), and serotype 15B (8.1%). The total coverage rate of the PCV13 serotypes was 60.4%. CONCLUSION: A significant decrease in carriage rate was detected within three years after the introduction of PCV13 in Turkey. However, the nasopharyngeal carriage of PCV13 strains was found to be interestingly high.

Relationship Between the Levels of Holotranscobalamin and Vitamin B12 in Children.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the plasma holoTC and serum vitamin B12 in children and to identify a cutoff cobalamin values according to holoTC. One hundred and fifty-five children were enrolled into the study. All children were evaluated for hemoglobin, vitamin B12, folate, ferritin and holoTC levels. Children were grouped as with low vitamin B12 level (≤200 pg/mL, group I) and normal vitamin B12 (>200 pg/mL, group II). Serum vitamin B12, and holoTC levels were performed in each patient in the study. In 101 patients with low vitamin B12 (group I) the mean holoTC was 21.74 ± 1.14 pmol/L. In 54 children with normal vitamin B12 (group II) mean holoTC was 44.0 ± 2.7 pmol/L (p < 0.01). A ROC curve analysis was performed to delineate the optimum cut-off point for vitamin B12 level and it was found to be 165 pg/mL with a sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 74%; the area under curve was 0.783 (p < 0.01). Our study displayed a positive correlation between vitamin B12 and holoTC, and defined an optimum cutoff value for vitamin B12 as 165 pg/mL. Further studies using the markers both MMA, tHcy and holoTC to confirm the findings are needed.

Low zinc levels may contribute to gynecomastia in puberty.

This study aimed to determine whether there were any differences in trace element levels between adolescent boys with gynecomastia and control boys and to determine the correlations between the levels of trace elements and body mass index (BMI) and sex hormones. The pubertal gynecomastia group comprised of 41 patients (mean age=13.2 ±0.9 years), who were admitted to Hacettepe University Ihsan Dogramaci Children's Hospital in Ankara. Control group comprised of 21 healthy male children. Analyses of trace element levels were performed atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean zinc level of control group was 101.33±16.87µg/dL and the mean zinc level of gynecomastia group was 81.36±17,43µg/dL (20% lower in gynecomastia patients, p=0.0001). However, the mean copper and manganese levels of gynecomastia patients were not statistically different than the control group. There were significant positive correlations between plasma zinc and total testosterone levels in gynecomastia group (r=0.592; p<0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between plasma zinc levels and BMI (r=-0.311; p<0.05). These results indicate that zinc deficiency might be one of the underlying factors of gynecomastia, the importance of which needs to be further elucidated.

Lycopene restores trace element levels in ochratoxin A-treated rats.

This study was designed to investigate the in vivo effects of ochratoxin A (OTA) and/or lycopene on the levels of selenium, zinc, and copper in the liver, kidneys, and testes of male Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were treated with OTA (0.5 mg kg-1 day-1) and/or lycopene (5 mg kg-1 day-1) by gavage for 7 or 14 days. Trace element levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. OTA significantly lowered selenium (20 % in the liver, 17 % in the kidney, and 40 % in the testis), zinc (24 % in the liver, 23 % in the kidney, and 26 % in the testis), and copper levels (40 % in the liver and 10 % in the kidney). Lycopene alone did not affect the trace element levels in any of the organs. In combination with OTA, however, it significantly restored liver, kidney, and testis selenium and zinc levels compared to the group treated with OTA alone. Our results have confirmed that depletion of trace elements in different organs is one of the mechanisms of action of OTA. They also suggest that lycopene interferes with this depleting effect and restores trace element levels, the implications of which need to be further investigated.

Prevalence of idiopathic intracranial hypertension and associated factors in obese children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is one of the most important and rare complications of obesity. Prevalence of IIH in childhood obesity is not known. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of IIH in obese children and adolescents and to investigate the relevant factors. METHODS: In this study, 1058 obese children and adolescents between 2 and 18 years of age were included. Funduscopic examination was conducted for all subjects. In cases with papilledema, increase in intracranial pressure was clarified by measuring CSF pressure with a lumbar puncture. Other causes of IIH were ruled out with clinical, laboratory tests and imaging techniques. RESULTS: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension was diagnosed in 14 subjects (1.32%). Rates of headache and systemic hypertension in subjects with IIH was determined to be 78.6% and 28.6%, respectively. Morning cortisol, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR values were found to be significantly higher in this cases (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In childhood obesity, IIH should be kept in mind as a serious complication. Funduscopic examination is an easy method that suggests IIH. In particular, obese children with systemic hypertension and refractory headache should be considered for IIH.

Copper, zinc and iron levels in premature infants following red blood cell transfusion.

This study aimed to investigate effect of erythrocyte suspension (ES) transfusion on Cu, Zn, and Fe levels. It was conducted on 53 premature infants who were admitted to Hacettepe Hospital and received EST for first time. Blood samples were drawn before and 96h after ES transfusion to determine Cu, Zn, and Fe levels in plasma and/or erythrocytes. The mean plasma Cu levels were 99±3µg/dl and 113±3µg/dl; Zn levels were 105±2µg/dl and 115±23µg/dl; mean plasma Fe level was 58.1±19.4 and 75.2±25.4µg/dl and mean erythrocyte Fe level was 4182±2314µg/ml and 7009±5228µg/ml, before and after ES transfusion. The differences between before and after ES transfusion in Cu, Zn and Fe levels were significant. Correlation between plasma and erythrocyte Fe levels was significant both before and after ES transfusion. Though Fe overload is a major cause of morbidity/mortality after ES transfusion, alterations in trace elements should also be considered when transfusing blood to infants and children.

Pediatric reference intervals for plasma and urine essential amino acids in a Turkish population.

AIM: To establish age- and sex-specific reference intervals for essential amino acids in a healthy Turkish pediatric population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 945 clinically healthy children (531 boys and 414 girls, ranging in age from birth to 14 years) were enrolled. Plasma and urine amino acids' concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Concentrations of essential amino acids in plasma were higher in girls than in boys in the age groups of 0-1 months and 7-14 years; however, there was no difference in the other age groups. Concentrations of essential amino acids in urine were higher in girls than in boys in the age group of 0-1 months; however, there was no difference in the other age groups. Our results demonstrated the sex-related differences in concentrations ofleucine, isoleucine, valine, phenylalanine, lysine, and histidine in plasma, which increased with age in boys but not in girls. The concentrations of leucine, tryptophan, methionine, and lysine in urine declined with age in girls but not in boys, which were sex-related differences, too. CONCLUSION: We defined essential amino acids' reference intervals in a Turkish pediatric population.

Cytokine concentrations in pediatric patients with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is a zoonotic disease that can be a severe illness in humans. We investigated concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-α and IL-10 in serum samples obtained from 25 pediatric Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever cases and 35 control children with no signs of infection. Lower cytokine values in our patients could be a good prognostic factor to for a better outcome.

Lipid peroxidation markers in children with anxiety disorders and their diagnostic implications.

OBJECTIVE: Numerous factors, including genetic, neurobiological, neurochemical, and psychological factors, are thought to be involved in the development of anxiety disorders. The latest findings show that the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders might be associated with oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation; however, no studies have so far investigated lipid peroxidation markers in children with anxiety disorders. Serum levels of lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH) are a reliable marker of lipid peroxidation. Paraoxonase and arylesterase are two enzymes that protect against such peroxidation, and might also be diagnostic markers. In this study, we investigated whether there are associations between anxiety disorders and lipid peroxidation markers in children, and assessed the diagnostic performance of these markers. METHODS: The study group consisted of 37 patients (children and adolescents) with anxiety disorders. A control group, matched for age and gender, was composed of 36 healthy subjects. Venous blood samples were collected, and LOOH levels and paraoxonase and arylesterase activity were measured. RESULTS: LOOH levels were significantly higher in the anxiety disorders group than in the control group. There were no significant differences in paraoxonase or arylesterase activities between the patient and the control groups. DISCUSSION: Lipid peroxidation or oxidative damage might play a role in the aetiopathogenesis of anxiety disorders. LOOH may be a potential biological marker for anxiety disorders in children.

Serum nerve growth factor (NGF) levels in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed neurobehavioral disorder of childhood. The etiopathogeny of ADHD has not been totally defined. Recent reports have suggested a pathophysiological role of neurotrophins in ADHD. In this study, we evaluated serum levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) in patients with ADHD. The sample population consisted of 44 child or adolescent patients diagnosed with ADHD according to DSM-IV criteria; 36 healthy subjects were included in the study as controls. Venous blood samples were collected, and NGF levels were measured. The mean serum NGF levels of the ADHD patients were significantly higher than those of the controls. Age and gender of the patients were not correlated with serum NGF levels. There were no significant differences in NGF levels among the combined and predominantly inattentive subtypes of ADHD. Our study suggests that there are higher levels of serum NGF in drug naive ADHD patients, and that increased levels of NGF might have an important role in the pathophysiology of ADHD.

The effects of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate on rat liver in relation to selenium status.

This study was performed to determine the hepatotoxicity of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) in relation to selenium status. In 3-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats, selenium deficiency was induced by a ≤0.05 selenium mg/kg. A selenium supplementation group was given 1 mg selenium/kg diet for 5 weeks. Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate-treated groups received 1000 mg/kg dose by gavage during the last 10 days of the experiment. Histopathology, peroxisome proliferation, catalase (CAT) immunoreactivity and activity and apoptosis were assessed. Activities of antioxidant selenoenzymes [glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1), glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4), thioredoxin reductase (TrxR1)], superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione S-transferase (GST); aminotransferase, total glutathione (tGSH), and lipid peroxidation (LP) levels were measured. Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate caused cellular disorganization while necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed in Se-deficient DEHP group (DEHP/SeD). Catalase activity and immunoreactivity were increased in all DEHP-treated groups. Glutathione peroxidase 1 and GPx4 activities decreased significantly in DEHP and DEHP/SeD groups, while GST activities decreased in all DEHP-exposed groups. Thioredoxin reductase activity increased in DEHP and DEHP/SeS, while total SOD activities increased in all DEHP-treated groups. Lipid peroxidation levels increased significantly in SeD (26%), DEHP (38%) and DEHP/SeD (71%) groups. Selenium supplementation partially ameliorated DEHP-induced hepatotoxicity; while in DEHP/SeD group, drastic changes in hepatic histopathology and oxidative stress parameters were observed.

Are neutrophil CD64 expression and interleukin-6 early useful markers for diagnosis of acute appendicitis?

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The aim of the study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of interleukin-6 (IL-6) level and neutrophil cluster of differentiation 64 (CD64) expression in diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA). METHODS: A prospective controlled trail was performed. Children who were hospitalized with a diagnosis of right lower quadrant pain were our cohort. Serum samples for white blood cell, C-reactive protein (CRP), leukocyte CD64 expression, and IL-6 were obtained from the patients just after their admission. Operation was performed if appendicitis seemed probable, others were observed actively. Patients who had noncomplicated appendicitis were Group 1, patients who had complicated appendicitis were Group 2, and patients who had discharged after observation without operation with a diagnosis of nonspecific abdominal pain and had negative appendectomy without another surgical disease were Group 3. RESULTS: In this study, 49 patients were enrolled. CRP and CD64 levels were found higher in Group 2. IL-6 levels were found to be lower in Group 3 than Groups 1 and 2. CONCLUSIONS: There was a difference between Group 2 and the other groups about CD64 levels. The CRP level and expression of leukocyte CD64 level did not effectively predict the diagnosis of noncomplicated appendicitis, but it predicted well the patients with complicated appendicitis. However, IL-6 levels are statistically significantly different between Group 3 and Groups 1 and 2. According to this result, IL-6 levels predicted well the patient with appendicitis. Applying additional diagnostic methods such as IL-6 levels seems to be helpful in reducing the numbers of false-positive diagnosis of AA.

Oxidative stress in children and adolescents with anxiety disorders.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety disorders are common in children and adolescents, and they can significantly impair quality of life. Genetic, neurobiological, neurochemical, and psychological factors are believed to play a role in the etiopathogenesis of anxiety disorders. Recent evidence suggests that the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders may be associated with oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated whether there are associations between children with anxiety disorders and total oxidant/antioxidant status. METHODS: The experimental group consisted of 40 patients (children and adolescents) with anxiety disorders. An age- and gender-matched control group composed of 35 healthy subjects was also assessed. Venous blood samples were collected and total antioxidative status (TAS), total oxidative status (TOS), and the oxidative stress index (OSI) were determined. RESULTS: Both the TOS and the OSI of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group. There were no significant differences in TAS between the experimental and control groups. LIMITATIONS: The main limitation of our study was the small sample size. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that oxidative balance is impaired in children with anxiety disorders. Oxidative stress may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of anxiety disorders, and TOS may be a useful diagnostic tool in this context.

Selenium levels, selenoenzyme activities and oxidant/antioxidant parameters in H1N1-infected children.

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element, and it shows its biological functions within low molecular Se compounds and Se-containing proteins, known as "selenoproteins". Glutathione peroxidases (GPxs) and thioredoxin reductases (TrxRs) are the most important selenoproteins functioning as antioxidant enzymes. These enzymes protect the body from the endogenous products of cellular metabolism that have been implicated in DNA damage, mutagenesis, and carcinogenesis. H1N1 virus is a subtype of the influenza A virus and was an endemic in humans in 2009 and 2010. Taking into account the high incidence of Se deficiency and the high mortality and morbidity rates in H1N1 infection, this study was designed to investigate the plasma and erythrocyte Se levels, selenoenzyme activities and other oxidant/antioxidant parameters in H1N1-infected children during the 2009-2010 pandemic. We observed a significant increase in C-reactive protein levels (245%) and marked decreases in both plasma and erythrocyte Se levels (11%, both) and in GPx1 (45%), GPx3 (16%) and TrxR (30%) activities in H1N1-infected children compared to the control group. In addition, significant decreases were observed in erythrocyte catalase (CAT) (38%), total superoxide dismutase (SOD) (42%) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) (19%) activities and in erythrocyte total glutathione (GSH) (18%) and plasma GSH (10%) concentrations, while marked increases were observed in plasma lipid peroxidation levels (27%). However, we did not find a significant difference in selenoprotein P (SePP) levels between the groups. Our findings show that Se-dependent and -independent blood redox systems are down-regulated in H1N1 influenza. These findings emphasized the critical role of Se as an effective redox regulator and the importance of Se status in infections, particularly in H1N1 influenza.

Evaluation of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus infection in children.

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a fatal viral infection and an important public health issue in Turkey because of its high case fatality rate. Severity criteria of CCHF were defined previously in adults on the basis of epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory findings,. This study evaluated the course of CCHF in children. Between January, 2009, and November, 2012, 41 patients aged between 1 and 17 years (mean 9.78 ± 4.85) with a diagnosis of CCHF were included in the study. According to results of our study, Turkish pediatric patients had a milder course of CCHF.