Growth, tolerance and safety outcomes with use of an extensively hydrolyzed casein-based formula in infants with cow's milk protein allergy.

Objective: To evaluate growth, tolerance and safety outcomes with use of an extensively hydrolyzed casein-based formula (eHCF) in infants with cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA). Methods: A total of 226 infants (mean ± SD age: 106.5 ± 39.5 days, 52.7% were girls) with CMPA who received eHCF comprising at least half of the daily dietary intake were included. Data on anthropometrics [weight for age (WFA), length for age (LFA) and weight for length (WFL) z-scores] were recorded at baseline (visit 1), while data on infant feeding and stool records, anthropometrics and Infant Feeding and Stool Patterns and Formula Satisfaction Questionnaires were recorded at visit 2 (on Days 15 ± 5) and visit 3 (on Days 30 ± 5). Results: From baseline to visit 2 and visit 3, WFA z-scores (from -0.60 ± 1.13 to -0.54 ± 1.09 at visit 2, and to -0.44 ± 1.05 at visit 3, p < 0.001) and WFL z-scores (from -0.80 ± 1.30 to -0.71 ± 1.22 at visit 2, and to -0.64 ± 1.13 at visit 3, p = 0.002) were significantly increased. At least half of infants never experienced irritability or feeding refusal (55.7%) and spit-up after feeding (50.2%). The majority of mothers were satisfied with the study formula (93.2%), and wished to continue using it (92.2%). Conclusions: In conclusion, eHCF was well-accepted and tolerated by an intended use population of infants ≤ 6 months of age with CMPA and enabled adequate volume consumption and improved growth indices within 30 days of utilization alongside a favorable gastrointestinal tolerance and a high level of parental satisfaction.

Exocrine pancreas functions in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM: We evaluated exocrine pancreas functions using a noninvasive indicator in a case-control study conducted on children and adolescents diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-seven patients who participated in a summer camp were enrolled in this study. Nineteen healthy children in the same age group were assigned to the control group. Fecal pancreatic elastase was assayed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Values higher than 200 µg/g were considered an indication of sufficient exocrine pancreatic functioning, values between 100 µg/g and 200 µg/g were considered mild exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and values below 100 µg/g were considered severe exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. RESULTS: The mean concentration of fecal elastase was 158.38 ± 59.67 µg/g. The patients were assigned to three groups according to these values. Thirteen patients (22%) had sufficient fecal elastase levels, whereas 36 patients (62%) had mildly insufficient levels, and nine patients (16%) had severely insufficient fecal elastase concentrations. The levels of fecal elastase, amylase, lipase, and zinc were significantly different between the patients and controls (p < 0.001). Only the duration of diabetes was significantly different between patients with different severities of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (p = 0.037). Additionally, the group with severe pancreatic insufficiency had more frequent hypoglycemic attacks. CONCLUSION: Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency may develop in children with diabetes, and hypoglycemia attacks are observed more frequently depending on the severity of pancreatic insufficiency.

Investigation of the Efficacy of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in Infants With Cow's Milk Protein Allergy: a Randomised Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial.

This investigation has been performed to show the efficacy of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) together with milk-free diet in patients with cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA). This multicentre prospective investigation has been performed in 0-12 months of age children diagnosed as CMPA clinically and biochemically. Patients have been randomly divided in to two groups. Infants in probiotic group were received with cow's milk protein free diet and per oral (p.o.) daily 1X109 CFU LGG and in placebo group with milk-free diet and placebo. Mothers of all breast-fed patients have been put on milk-free diet and all patients fed with formula, offered to extensively hydrolysed formula. Symptoms like diarrhoea, vomiting, mucousy or bloody stool, abdominal pain or distension, constipation, dermatitis and restiveness were recorded at the beginning and weekly during the receiving dietary by the investigator. One-hundred infants diagnosed CMPA were included in this double-blind placebo controlled study. Forty-eight infants placed in probiotic group and 52 in placebo group. After 4 weeks of receiving dietary, infants in probiotic group have showed statistically significant improvement in symptoms of bloody stool, diarrhoea, restiveness and abdominal distension (p ≤ 0.001). Whilst statistically significant improvement was also observed in symptoms of mucousy stool (p = 0.038) and vomiting (p = 0.034), no significant improvement were observed in abdominal pain (p = 0.325), constipation (p = 0.917) and dermatitis (p = 0.071). In this study we observed significant improvement in symptoms of infants diagnosed CMPA receiving dietary LGG with cow's milk-free diet.

Liver transplantation from a live donor to a patient with maple syrup urine disease: Two case reports.

Liver transplantation were reported in patients with classic maple syrup urine disease in the literature. Branched chain alpha keto acid dehydrogenase activity can be improved in patients after transplant, and a protein-restricted diet is usually not needed. The first patient was a boy aged 2,5 years who presented with frequent ketosis attacks and epileptic seizures, and the second patient was an 11-month-old boy who also presented with frequent ketosis episodes, both despite adherence to diet therapy. Both patients received liver transplantations from live donors. A low protein diet was no longer required and no decline in cognitive functions was observed in either patient in the follow-up. We wanted to present these cases to show that despite a normal diet, plasma levels of branched- chain amino acids remained normal without any decline in cognitive function after liver transplantation in patients with classic maple syrup urine disease patients.

Gastritis Associated with Initially Pediatric Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to determine the involvement of the upper gastrointestinal system (GIS) in patients diagnosed with Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and non-inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and to compare their differences. METHODS: This study included patients aged between 2 and 18 years who underwent colonoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) for the first time due to the prediagnosis of IBD. In EGD, samples were taken from duodenum, antrum, corpus, and esophagus; and gastritis, duodenitis, and esophagitis were identified through histopathologic examination. The data gathered the ends of the research were compared between IBD with non-IBD groups and between CD-UC with non-IBD groups, and the presence of significant differences between groups were determined. RESULTS: In our study, 16 patients were diagnosed with CD, 13 with UC, 3 with undeterminate colitis, and 13 with non-IBD. In the histopathological examination of the groups, GIS involvement was found in 94.1% of patients diagnosed with IBD and in 38.5% of non-IBD patients. Moreover, the difference was found to be statistically significant (p=0.032). No significant difference was found between the CD and UC groups. Gastritis was mostly observed in 93.8% of CD-diagnosed patients, 76.8% of UC-diagnosed patients, 81.2% of IBD-diagnosed patients, and 38.5% of non-IBD-diagnosed patients. On the other hand, significant differences were found between CD and non-IBD groups (p=0.03), UC and non-IBD groups (p=0.047), and IBD and non-IBD groups (p=0.03). CONCLUSION: The results of the study show that gastritis was highly observed in UC- and CD-diagnosed patients than in non-IBD-diagnosed patients.

Investigation of Efficacy of Lidocaine Spray for Sedated Esophagogastroduodenoscopy in Children.

PURPOSE: Our aim in this study is to investigate efficacy of topical lidocaine spray for sedated esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in children. METHODS: The endoscopy of children aged between 3-18 years who underwent EGD in our endoscopy unit. Intravenous (IV) midazolam and ketamine were used for sedation. Prior to sedation, endoscopy nurse applied topical lidocaine 10% with pump spray at 1 mg/kg dose in group 1, and distilled water via identically scaled pump spray in group 2, in a double blinded fashion. RESULTS: Sedation was not applied in 24.1% of the cases in topical lidocaine spray group (LS group) and in 5.7% of the cases in distilled water spray group (DS group). Gag reflex was observed in 6.5% of cases in LS group and 33.3% of cases in DS group (p=0.024), increased oral secretion was observed in 9.3% of cases in LS group and 51.7% of cases in DS group (p=0.038), sore throat was observed in 3.7% of cases in LS group and 35.6% of cases in DS group (p=0.019) and the difference was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The study showed that topical pharyngeal lidocaine reduces both requirement and amount of IV sedation before EGD in children and sore throat, gag reflex and decreased oral secretion increase.

Investigation of the efficacy of synbiotics in the treatment of functional constipation in children: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the efficacy of synbiotic (Lactobacillus casei, L. rhamnosus, L. plantarum, and Bifidobacterium lactis and prebiotics [fiber, polydextrose, fructo-oligosaccharides, and galacto-oligosaccharides]) treatment in children with functional constipation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was performed in patients aged 4-18 years, and the patients were diagnosed to have functional constipation according to the Roma III diagnostic criteria. In this prospective study, the first group received synbiotic and the second group received a placebo. At the end of 4 weeks, patients were questioned about the initial symptoms. Patients who showed improvement in the initial symptoms at the end of the 4-week treatment period were considered to completely benefit from the treatment and those with some improvement in initial symptom were considered to partially benefit from the treatment. RESULTS: The synbiotic and placebo groups comprised 72 and 74 patients, respectively. The mean age in the whole study group was 9.18±3.48 years with a male:female ratio of 1:21. After 4 weeks of treatment, significant improvement was not observed in any of the findings in the placebo group. Conversely, a significant improvement was observed in the weekly number of defecations, abdominal pain, painful defecation, and pediatric Bristol scale (p≤0.001) in the synbiotic group. Complete benefit from the treatment was achieved in 48 (66.7%) and 21 (28.3%) patients in the synbiotic and placebo groups, respectively, and a significant difference was observed between the groups (p≤0.001). CONCLUSION: Our studies have shown that the use of synbiotics in the treatment of functional constipation in children is beneficial.

Efficacy and safety of midazolam and ketamine in paediatric upper endoscopy.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM: Upper endoscopy can be successfully carried out in children under deep sedation and anaesthesia. However, the best method of upper endoscopy for children who require gastrointestinal intervention has yet to be defined. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of the sedation induced by intravenous midazolam and ketamine during upper endoscopy in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included patients ages 3-18years who had undergone upper endoscopy. All subjects received IV midazolam and ketamine. During the intervention, hypoxia, tachycardia, bradycardia, hypertension, and hypotension were recorded. After the intervention, euphoria, dysphoria, vertigo, visual problems (such as diplopia and nystagmus), and emergencies (such as arrhythmia, convulsion, and hallucination), among other findings, were recorded. Older children who were capable of expressing themselves were questioned to help determine these conditions. RESULTS: The mean age of the study group was was 11.9±3.42years; 54% of the patients were females, and 46% were males. During the upper endoscopy, hypoxia occurred in 9% of patients, mild hypertension in 14%, hypotension in 5%, tachycardia in 23%, bradycardia in 8%, and flushing-urticaria in 2%. After the upper endoscopy, one of the most common complications was sore throat, which occurred in 24% of patients. Vomiting was observed in 14% of patients, dizziness in 24%, diplopia in 27%, euphoria in 3% (5 patients), dysphoria in 4%, and hallucination in 4%. Of the total patients, 4% required oxygen supply with a face mask. CONCLUSION: The results of our study showed that the use of IV midazolam and ketamine during upper endoscopy in children was safe and effective.

The incidence of HLA-DQ2/DQ8 in Turkish children with celiac disease and a comparison of the geographical distribution of HLA-DQ.

INTRODUCTION: Celiac disease (CD) is an auto-immune enteropathy that occurs in genetically pre-disposed people as a result of the consumption of gluten-containing foods. AIM: To identify the incidence of HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 observed in children with CD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, we focused on children ranging in age from 2 to 18 years and diagnosed with celiac disease. In our patients diagnosed with CD, in addition to tissue transglutaminase antibodies (anti-tTG), we also evaluated HLA-DQ2 B1 and HLA-DQ8 B1 alleles using the method of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes (Luminex®). The detection of 0201/0202 for HLA-DQ2 allele and 0302 for HLA-DQ8 allele was accepted as a positive result. RESULTS: The mean age of our patients with celiac disease was 7.42 ±3.18 years, and the female/male ratio was 1.5/1. Seventy-six percent of our patients were HLA-DQ2 and/or HLA-DQ8 positive, 67% were HLA-DQ2 positive, and 25% were HLA-DQ8 positive. Nevertheless, 24% of them were HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 negative. The incidence of HLA-DQ2 in the control group was 18.8% with a significant difference compared to the HLA-DQ2 incidence in the patient group (67%) (p < 0.05). Similarly the HLA-DQ8 incidence in the control group (5.7%) was significantly lower than the incidence in the patient group (25%) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of the patients diagnosed with CD, who are HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 negative, varies among different populations.

Efficacy of synbiotic, probiotic, and prebiotic treatments for irritable bowel syndrome in children: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is an important health problem that presents serious social burdens and high costs. Our study investigated the efficacy of synbiotic (Bifidobacterium lactis B94 with inulin), probiotic (B. lactis B94), and prebiotic (inulin) treatment for IBS in a pediatric age group. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was randomized, double-blind, controlled, and prospective in design and included 71 children between the ages of 4 and 16 years who were diagnosed with IBS according to the Rome III criteria. The first group received synbiotic treatment [5×109 colony forming units (CFU) of B. lactis B94 and 900 mg inulin]; the second group received probiotic treatment (5×109 CFU B. lactis B94), and the third group received prebiotic treatment (900 mg inulin) twice daily for 4 weeks. RESULTS: Probiotic treatment improved belching-abdominal fullness (p<0.001), bloating after meals (p=0.016), and constipation (p=0.031), and synbiotic treatment improved belching-abdominal fullness (p=<0.001), bloating after meals (p=0.004), constipation (p=0.021), and mucus in the feces (p=0.021). The synbiotic group had a significantly higher percentage of patients with full recovery than the prebiotic group (39.1% vs. 12.5%, p=0.036). CONCLUSION: Administration of synbiotics and probiotics resulted in significant improvements in initial complaints when compared to prebiotics. Additionally, there was a significantly higher number of patients with full recovery from IBS symptoms in the synbiotic group than in the prebiotic group. Therefore, the twice daily administration of synbiotics is suggested for the treatment of children with IBS.

Acute vanishing bile duct syndrome after the use of ibuprofen.

We present a case report of a 7-year-old patient who developed toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and vanishing bile duct syndrome (VBDS) after oral ibuprofen intake. Acute VBDS is a rare disease with unknown aetiology, often presenting with progressive loss of the intrahepatic biliary tract. TEN is an immune complex-mediated hypersensitivity reaction involving the skin and mucosa, which is induced by drugs or infectious diseases, sometimes leading to systemic symptoms. The patient in this case report was treated with supportive care, a steroid and ursodeoxycholic acid, with complete recovery observed by the end of the 8th month. This case report suggests that ibuprofen can cause acute vanishing duct syndrome.

Significance of silent carditis and investigation of follow-up signs in acute rheumatic fever.

AIM: This study aimed to demonstrate the importance of ECHO in the diagnosis and long-term follow-up of silent carditis. MATERIAL & METHODS: This study included 182 (157 arthritis; 25 chorea) patients out of 214 patients who had been diagnosed with acute rheumatic fever for the first time. All of the patients were scanned with ECHO between specific intervals. RESULTS: While there was no recovery observed in isolated aortic insufficiency during long-term follow-up, recovery in isolated mitral insufficiency was found. As the follow-up time of the mitral and aortic insufficiencies became longer, there was an increase in recovery in aortic insufficiency. CONCLUSION: Follow-up results of silent carditis support that ECHO should be among the major criteria used to diagnose rheumatic carditis.

Pediatric Liver Transplantation: Our Experiences.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to evaluate our liver transplant pediatric patients and to report our experience in the complications and the long-term follow-up results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients between the ages of 0 and 18 years, who had liver transplantation in the organ transplantation center of our university hospital between 1997 and 2016, were included in the study. The age, sex, indications for the liver transplantation, complications after the transplantation, and long-term follow-up findings were retrospectively evaluated. The obtained results were analyzed with statistical methods. RESULTS: In our organ transplantation center, 62 pediatric liver transplantations were carried out since 1997. The mean age of our patients was 7.3 years (6.5 months-17 years). The 4 most common reasons for liver transplantation were: Wilson's disease (n=10; 16.3%), biliary atresia (n=9; 14.5%), progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (n=8; 12.9%), and cryptogenic cirrhosis (n=7; 11.3%). The mortality rate after transplantation was 19.6% (12 of the total 62 patients). The observed acute and chronic rejection rates were 34% and 4.9%, respectively. Thrombosis (9.6%) was observed in the hepatic artery (4.8%) and portal vein (4.8%). Bile leakage and biliary stricture rates were 31% and 11%, respectively. 1-year and 5-year survival rates of our patients were 87% and 84%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The morbidity and mortality rates in our organ transplantation center, regarding pediatric liver transplantations, are consistent with the literature.

The protective effect of intraperitoneal medical ozone preconditioning and treatment on hepatotoxicity induced by methotrexate.

The aim of this study is to determine the effects of medical ozone preconditioning and treatment on the methotrexate acute induced hepatotoxicity in rats that has not reports elsewhere. Eighteen rats were randomly assigned into three equal groups; control, Mtx and Mtx with ozone. Hepatotoxicity was performed with a single dose of 20 mg/kg Mtx to group 2 and group 3 at the fifteenth day. The medical ozone preconditioning was administered intraperitonealy in group 3 for fifteen days and more five days after inducing Mtx. The other rats of the group 1 and 2 received saline injection. At the twentyfirst day the blood and the liver tissue samples were obtained to measure the levels of liver enzymes ALT and AST, proinflamatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1ß, malondialdehyde, glutathione and myeloperoxidase. And the histolopatological examination was evaluated for injury score. In our study Mtx administration caused a significant increase on the liver enzymes ALT and AST, the tissue MDA and MPO activity and significant decrease in the tissue GSH. Moreover the both pro-inflammatory cytokines were significantly increased in the Mtx group. Medical ozone preconditioning and treatment reversed all these biochemical parameters and histopathological changes of the hepatotoxicity induced by Mtx. We conclude that medical ozone ameliorates Mtx induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Does intraperitoneal medical ozone preconditioning and treatment ameliorate the methotrexate induced nephrotoxicity in rats?

Methotrexate is a chemotherapeutic agent used for many cancer treatments. It leads to toxicity with its oxidative injury. The purpose of our study is investigating the medical ozone preconditioning and treatment has any effect on the methotrexate-induced kidneys by activating antioxidant enzymes in rats. Eighteen rats were divided into three equal groups; control, Mtx without and with medical ozone. Nephrotoxicity was performed with a single dose of 20 mg/kg Mtx intraperitoneally at the fifteenth day of experiment on groups 2 and 3. Medical ozone preconditioning was performed at a dose of 25 mcg/ml (5 ml) intraperitoneally everyday in the group 3 and treated with medical ozone for five more days while group 2 was received only 5 ml of saline everyday for twenty days. All rats were sacrificed at the end of third week and the blood and kidney tissue samples were obtained to measure the levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß, malondialdehyde, glutathione and myeloperoxidase. Kidney injury score was evaluated histolopatologically. Medical ozone preconditioning and treatment ameliorated the biochemical parameters and kidney injury induced by Mtx. There was significant increase in tissue MDA, MPO activity, TNF-α and IL-1ß (P<0.05) and significant decrease in tissue GSH and histopathology (P<0.05) after Mtx administration. The preconditioning and treatment with medical ozone ameliorated the nephrotoxicity induced by Mtx in rats by activating antioxidant enzymes and prevented renal tissue.

Does alfa lipoic acid prevent liver from methotrexate induced oxidative injury in rats?

PURPOSE: To determine the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of alfa lipoic acid (ALA) on the liver injury induced by methotrexate (MTX) in rats. METHODS: Thirty two rats were randomly assigned into four equal groups; control, ALA, MTX and MTX with ALA groups. Liver injury was performed with a single dose of MTX (20 mg/kg) to groups 3 and 4. The ALA was administered intraperitonealy for five days in groups 2 and 4. The other rats received saline injection. At the sixth day the rats decapitated, blood and liver tissue samples were removed for TNF-α, IL-1ß, malondialdehyde, glutathione, myeloperoxidase and sodium potassium-adenosine triphosphatase levels measurement and histological examination. RESULTS: MTX administration caused a significant decrease in tissue GSH, and tissue Na+, K+ ATPase activity and which was accompanied with significant increases in tissue MDA and MPO activity. Moreover the pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL- ß) were significantly increased in the MTX group. On the other hand, ALA treatment reversed all these biochemical indices as well as histopathological alterations induced by MTX. CONCLUSION: Alfa lipoic acid ameliorates methotrexate induced oxidative damage of liver in rats with its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.