Evaluation of 601 children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome (Turk MISC study).

PURPOSE: Due to its link with the 2019 coronavirus, the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MISC) has garnered considerable international interest. The aim of this study, in which MISC patients were evaluated multicenter, and the data of the third period of the Turk-MISC study group, to compare the clinical and laboratory characteristics and outcomes of MISC patients who did and did not require admission to an intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: This retrospective multicenter observational study was carried out between June 11, 2021, and January 01, 2022. The demographics, complaints, laboratory results, system involvements, and outcomes of the patients were documented. RESULTS: A total of 601 patients were enrolled; 157 patients (26.1%) required hospitalization in the intensive care unit (ICU). Median age was 8 years (interquartile range (IQR) 4.5-11.3 years. The proportion of Kawasaki disease-like features in the ICU group was significantly higher than in the non-ICU group (56.1% vs. 43.2% p = 0.006). The ICU group had considerably lower counts of both lymphocytes and platelets (lymphocyte count 900 vs. 1280 cells × µL, platelet count 153 vs. 212 cells × 103/ µL, all for p< 0.001). C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and ferritin levels were significantly higher in the ICU group (CRP 164 vs. 129 mg/L, procalcitonin 9.2 vs. 2.2 µg/L, ferritin 644 vs. 334 µg/L, all for p< 0.001). Being between ages 5-12 and older than 12 increased the likelihood of hospitalization in the ICU by four [95% confidence intervals (CI)1.971-8.627] and six times (95% CI 2.575-14.654), respectively, compared to being between the ages 0-5. A one-unit increase in log D-dimer (µg/L) and log troponin (ng/L) was also demonstrated to increase the need for intensive care by 1.8 (95% CI 1.079-3.233) and 1.4 times (95% CI 1.133-1.789), respectively.     Conclusion: By comparing this study to our other studies, we found that the median age of MISC patients has been rising. Patients requiring an ICU stay had considerably higher levels of procalcitonin, CRP, and ferritin but significantly lower levels of lymphocyte and thrombocyte. In particular, high levels of procalcitonin in the serum might serve as a valuable laboratory marker for anticipating the need for intensive care. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia were an independent predictor factors in patients with MISC who needed to stay in intensive care unit. • The possibility of the need to stay in the intensive care unit in patients with MISC who had Kawasaki disease-like findings was controversial compared with those who did not. WHAT IS NEW: • A one-unit increase log D dimer and log troponin was demonstrated to require for intensive care unit by 1.8 and 1.4 times, respectively. • Serum procalcitonin levels had the best performance to predict stay in the intensive care unit stay.

Examining the perceived stress and body image in burn patients: A cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to examine the perceived stress and body image in burn patients and the relationship between these two variables. This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. The study included total of 144 patients who had burn injuries, received treatment in a research and training hospital and were scheduled to be discharged. The data were collected prospectively by the researchers, using descriptive methods, Kruskal Wallis test, paired samples t test, and Pearson's correlation analysis. Of the patients, 59% were between the ages of 18 and 35 years, 68.1% were male, 65.3% had second-degree burns, 77.1% had burn surfaces ranging between 10% and 20% of their body, and 54.9% had autograft surgery. The burn patients aged 51 years and over had higher perceived stress than younger patients, and the difference between them was statistically significant (P < 0.05). As the percentage of burn surface increased, the perceived stress increased, and the perceived body image weakened (P < 0.05). The burn patients with autograft surgery had lower perceived stress and higher perceived body image than those without autograft surgery, and the difference between them was statistically significant (P < 0.01). This study found an inverse relationship between perceived stress and body image in burn patients, which was affected by the percentage of burn surface and autograft surgery. Relevant interventions are suggested to increase perceived body image in burn patients and reduce their perceived stress.

Evaluation of coagulation with TEG in patients diagnosed COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: A high D-dimer level may indicate the risk of coagulopathy and mortality in COVID-19 patients. T hromboelastography (TEG) is a test that evaluates clot formation and fibrinolysis in real-time, unlike routine coagulation tests. The study aimed to investigate the coagulation process with TEG in patients diagnosed with COVID-19. METHODS: The study was performed at our university hospital, chest diseases outpatient clinic as a cross-section study. A total of 51 patients with 23 high D-dimer levels group (HDG) and 28 low D-dimers group (LDG) were included in the study. TEG analysis was performed at the pretreatment evaluation in these two groups. RESULTS: D-dimer and fibrinogen levels of the HDG were higher than those of the LDG (550 vs. 90 ng/mL, p < 0.001; 521 vs. 269 mg/ dL, p < 0.001, respectively). In TEG analysis, HDG's R and K values were lower than LDG, and HDG's Angle, MA, and CI values were higher than LDG (p = 0.037; p < 0.001; p < 0.001; p < 0.001; p < 0.001, respectively). ROC curve analysis suggested that the optimum TEG parameters cut-off points for thrombosis risk were as below: for K was ≤2.1 min, for R was ≤6.1 min, for Angle was >62°, MA was 60.4 mm.

The skills of defibrillation practice and certified life-support training in the healthcare providers in Turkey.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation and early defibrillation are critical in survival after in- or out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest. The scope of this multi-centre study is to (a) assess skills of paediatric healthcare providers (HCPs) concerning two domains: (1) recognising rhythm abnormalities and (2) the use of defibrillator devices, and (b) to evaluate the impact of certified basic-life-support (BLS) and advanced-life-support (ALS) training to offer solutions for quality of improvement in several paediatric emergency cares and intensive care settings of Turkey. METHODS: This cross-sectional and multi-centre survey study included several paediatric emergency care and intensive care settings from different regions of Turkey. RESULTS: A total of 716 HCPs participated in the study (physicians: 69.4%, healthcare staff: 30.6%). The median age was 29 (27-33) years. Certified BLS-ALS training was received in 61% (n = 303/497) of the physicians and 45.2% (n = 99/219) of the non-physician healthcare staff (P < .001). The length of professional experience had favourable outcome towards an increased self-confidence in the physicians (P < .01, P < .001). Both physicians and non-physician healthcare staff improved their theoretical knowledge in the practice of synchronised cardioversion defibrillation (P < .001, P < .001). Non-certified healthcare providers were less likely to manage the initial doses of synchronised cardioversion and defibrillation: the correct responses remained at 32.5% and 9.2% for synchronised cardioversion and 44.8% and 16.7% for defibrillation in the physicians and healthcare staff, respectively. The indications for defibrillation were correctly answered in the physicians who had acquired a certificate of BLS-ALS training (P = .047, P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: The professional experience is significant in the correct use of a defibrillator and related procedures. Given the importance of early defibrillation in survival, the importance and proper use of defibrillators should be emphasised in Certified BLS-ALS programmes. Certified BLS-ALS programmes increase the level of knowledge and self-confidence towards synchronised cardioversion-defibrillation procedures.

Influenza Virus Associated Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of this multicenter retrospective study was to determine the clinical characteristics, treatment approaches and the course of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS) which developed associated with the influenza virus in the 2019-20 season. METHODS: Patients included 1 month to 18 years who were diagnosed with PARDS associated with the influenza virus in the 2019-20 season. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 64.16 ± 6.53 months, with 60% of the group <5 years. Influenza A was determined in 54 (80.5%) patients and Influenza B in 13 (19.5%). The majority of patients (73.1%) had a comorbidity. Fifty-eight (86.6%) patients were applied with invasive mechanical ventilation, Pediatric Acute Lung Injury Consensus Conference classification was mild in 5 (8.6%), moderate in 22 (37.9%) and severe in 31 (52.5%) patients. Ventilation was applied in the prone position to 40.3% of the patients, and in nonconventional modes to 24.1%. A total of 22 (33%) patients died, of which 4 had been previously healthy. Of the surviving 45 patients, 38 were discharged without support and 7 patients with a new morbidity. CONCLUSION: Both Influenza A and Influenza B cause severe PARDS with similar characteristics and at high rates. Influenza-related PARDS cause 33% mortality and 15.5% morbidity among the study group. Healthy children, especially those aged younger than 5 years, are also at risk.

The Burden of Burnout Syndrome in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Pediatric Emergency Department: A Multicenter Evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to detect variables associated with burnout syndrome (BS) in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) and pediatric emergency medicine departments (PEDs) in high-volume centers from different parts of Turkey. METHODS: An observational, cross-sectional multicenter study was performed. The Maslach Burnout Inventory scale was administered to all of health care providers working in PICUs and PEDs. In this study, health care providers were defined as physicians, nurses, and other staff (secretaries, cleaning and patient care staff) working in PICU and PEDs. RESULTS: A total of 570 participants completed the survey. The major finding of this study was that 76.1% (n = 434) of PICU and PED health care professionals had BS. The most prominent subscale of BS was emotional exhaustion (62.5%). The rate of BS was higher among health care providers working in PEDs compared with PICUs (79.1% vs 73.7%, P = 0.04). The frequency of BS according to emotional exhaustion and depersonalization subscales was higher in health care providers of PEDs. The rate of BS was also significantly higher in younger employees, females, those working 51 or more hours totally in a week, those having a low monthly salary, those single or divorced, those without children, those with no childcare at home, those not owning a home, those not doing regular exercise and not having regular breakfast, those with total employment time of less than 1 year, and those not having a car or not having a hobby. In PEDs, when the daily evaluated number of patients was equal to or more than 44 (sensitivity, 88%; specificity, 66%), it predicted the occurrence of BS. In PICUs, when the number of patients cared for by 1 nurse was equal to or more than 3, it predicted the occurrence of BS (sensitivity, 78%; specificity, 62%). CONCLUSIONS: By creating early intervention programs to prevent BS, shortages of health care professionals can be avoided and the costs of health care expenditures related to infections can be decreased.

Clinical and Demographic Evaluation According to MEFV Genes in Patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever.

The present study examined the relationship between clinical findings and mutation analyses in children with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) in the inner Black Sea region of Turkey. This retrospective, cross-sectional study included patients with FMF who were evaluated between 2007 and 2015. FMF was diagnosed according to the Tel Hashomer criteria. FMF mutations were analyzed using a Real-time PCR System (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany), and patients were classified into three groups according to allele status. The most common symptom was abdominal pain (99%, n = 197). The most frequent mutations were M694V and R202Q. Chest pain was reported more often in patients homozygous for M694V (61.4%). Although fever, abdominal pain, and arthritis were more commonly observed with the M694V mutation, chest pain was the most common symptom in R202Q carriers (n = 10, 32.3%). Proteinuria was observed in 42 (21.2%) patients, frequently accompanied by the M694V mutation (28.6%). The most common mutations in children with FMF in Turkey were M694V and R202Q. Recurrent abdominal pain and arthritis/arthralgia were commonly observed in patients with M694V and R202Q mutations. Moreover, chest pain was commonly seen with the R202Q mutation. Thus, R202Q might be a disease-causing mutation in FMF patients.

Is the IL-6 -174G/C Gene Polymorphism Related to the Disease Severity Score in Turkish Children with Familial Mediterranean Fever?

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessively inherited disease characterized by recurrent self-limited attacks of fever accompanied by aseptic inflammation of serosal spaces, joints and skin, peritonitis, pleuritis, and arthritis. Clinical features differ according to genetics variants. The aim of this study was to identify relationship between IL-6 -174G/C gene polymorphisms and clinical features, disease severity score (DSS) and proteinuria in children diagnosed with FMF. In this study, 99 children who were followed-up in Gaziosmanpasa University Medical Faculty Department of Pediatrics and diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean fever according to Tel-Hashomer criteria were included. One hundred and fifty seven children who admitted to the hospital with any complain and found healthy included in control group. Genotyping was done for polymorphism in a promoter region of IL-6 gene (G/C at -174). The IL-6 -174G/C gene polymorphism and the clinical features of FMF, proteinuria, the DSS, and the healthy control group were investigated. Data for the clinical features were obtained retrospectively from the electronic records of patients. All of the genotyping of blood samples were done in Medical Genetic laboratory of Gaziosmanpasa University School of Medicine. The results revealed that the distribution of the genotypes and allele frequencies of the IL-6 -174G/C polymorphism were not significantly different between the FMF patients and the healthy controls. The IL-6 -174G/C polymorphisms did not affect proteinuria, the DSS, and the clinical features of FMF patients.

[Hypovitaminosis D in Children with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis]. / Hipovitaminosis D en niños con tiroiditis de Hashimoto.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency may play a role in the pathogenesis of certain autoimmune diseases. AIM: To measure vitamin D levels in children with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) (either with subclinical or marked hypothyroidism) and in healthy controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included 68 children with HT aged 12 ± 4 years (39 females) from a pediatric outpatient clinic and 68 healthy children aged 10 ± 4 years (37 females). Calcium metabolism parameters, thyroid function tests and anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO), anti-thyroglobulin (anti-TG) and 25 hydroxy vitamin D (25OHD) levels were measured. RESULTS: Patients were older than controls but well matched by gender distribution. Mean 25OHD levels were significantly lower in HT patients than controls (16.8 ± 9.3 and 24.1 ± 9.4 ng/mL respectively, P < 0.01). Frequency of vitamin D deficiency was 76 and 35% in HT patients and controls, respectively (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency is more common in children with HT than healthy controls.

Simple markers for subclinical inflammation in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever.

BACKGROUND: In this study we investigated the potential of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), mean platelet volume (MPV), and red cell width distribution (RDW) as new inflammatory markers to identify chronic inflammations during symptom-free periods in children diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF). MATERIAL/METHODS: The study included 153 children diagnosed with FMF based on the Tel-Hashomer Criteria, and 90 healthy volunteers. Hospital records were obtained to collect NLR, PLR, MPV, RDW, and FMF scores and the FMF mutation analyses of the patients enrolled in the study. Data on proteinuria were also collected and defined as a protein/creatinine ratio>0.2. RESULTS: NLR, PLR, MPV, and RDW were significantly higher in symptom-free FMF patients than in the control group. C-reactive protein values also weakly correlated with NLR, PLR, MPV, and RDW, but the correlation was not statistically significant. NLR had the strongest correlation with CRP. The NLR cut-off point to indicate subclinical inflammation in symptom-free FMF patients was calculated to be 1.65. CONCLUSIONS: NLR, PLR, MPV, and RDW are potential subclinical inflammation markers in patients with FMF. NLR, PLR, MPV, and RDW values are higher in patients with FMF during symptom-free periods. NLR was found to be the most reliable marker for subclinical inflammation when compared to PLR, MPV, and RDW. We also found that these markers are not significantly higher in proteinuric patients when compared with levels in non-proteinuric patients.

Hypovitaminosis D in children with familial Mediterranean fever.

PURPOSE: Vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency plays a role in the initiation and perpetuation of certain autoimmune diseases. The purpose of this study was to measure the vitamin D status of children with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) and compare it to their healthy peers. METHODS: A total of 50 FMF patients and 49 healthy children were enrolled in this prospective study. Vitamin D levels were measured via HPLC. Demographic data, FMF symptom severity scores and the levels of other disease activity markers were retrieved from our hospital database. RESULTS: The mean age and gender balance of patients and controls were similar, being 8.4 ± 3.8 years and 19 male patients, and 9.1 ± 3.0 years and 25 male controls, respectively. The mean 25(-OH) vitamin D3 levels were 15.94 ± 9.66 µg/L in FMF patients and 41.22 ± 21.31 µg/L in controls. Vitamin D levels were normal in 12% of FMF patients, insufficient in 62% and deficient in 26%. No vitamin D deficiency was evident in any control subject; 30% had insufficient and 70% had normal vitamin D levels. Plasma vitamin D3 levels were similar in all patients despite varying FMF symptom severity scores. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D deficiency is frequent in children with FMF but is not associated with disease severity score.

Determination of inflammation by TNF-alpha and IL-10 levels in obese children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: childhood obesity is one of the major health problem worldwide. Obesity is associated with low-level chronic inflammation resulting from inflammatory cytokine release in white adipose tissue. We aim to specify inflammatory markers tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in children and adolescents to determine their relationship with obesity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: forty obese patients and 46 controls were included in the study from the pediatric clinic. Blood samples from the study group were centrifuged, and the sera were stored at -80 °C after separation. Serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-10 were determined using Human ELISA kits for TNF-alpha and IL-10. RESULTS: serum samples from 86 children, including 45 girls (52.3 %) in the study group, were analyzed for TNF-alpha and IL-10 levels. TNF-alpha levels in the obese and control groups were 1.04 ± 0.79 and 0.60 ± 0.72 pg/ml, respectively (p = 0.010). Also, IL-10 levels in the obese and control groups were 0.76 ± 0.62 and 1.54 ± 0.71 pg/ml, respectively (p < 0.001). Gender was not identified as a factor for serum TNF-alpha and IL-10 levels (p = 0.281 and p = 0.477, respectively). Moreover, white blood cell (WBC) and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were higher in the obese patient group than in the control group (p = 0.002 and p = 0.010, respectively). CONCLUSION: TNF-alpha levels were higher than control in obese patients and it was important in terms of showing that obesity triggers inflammation in the body. IL-10 levels, which inhibit inflammation, were lower in obese patients than controls.

Investigation of efficacy of erector spinae plane block administered in different volumes on intraoperative opioid consumption and postoperative analgesia in breast surgery: Randomized, prospective, double-blind study.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the efficacy of the erector spinae plane block, which has been proven to be effective in breast surgery, on intraoperative opioid consumption and postoperative analgesia when administered in different volumes with the same concentration of local anesthetic. METHODS: This study is designed as randomized, prospective, and double-blind. Seventy patients aged between 18-70 years, undergoing ASA I-III elective breast surgery, were included. Unilateral erector spinae plane block was achieved by administering 20 mL of 0.375% bupivacaine hydrochloride in 35 patients in Group I and 30 mL of 0.375% bupivacaine hydrochloride in 35 patients in Group II. The analgesic requirement of the patients was monitored with the surgical plethysmographic index throughout the surgery. Intraoperative and postoperative opioid consumption, rescue analgesic requirements in the first 24 hours, and NRS scores at the 10th minute, 1st hour, 6th hour, 12th hour, and 24th hour postoperatively were recorded. RESULTS: Both intraoperative and postoperative opioid consumptions were similar between groups (p>0.05). The number of involved dermatomes was significantly higher in Group II (p<0.05). No significant difference was found between postoperative NRS scores (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: In elective breast surgery, erector spinae plane block administered at the same concentration in 20 or 30 mL volumes does not make a difference in opioid consumption and postoperative analgesia.

Idiopathic infantile hypercalcemia or an extrapulmonary complication of tuberculosis?

Calcium metabolism disturbances are common in childhood. In infancy, hypercalcemia generally occurs due to hyperparathyroidism, familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia, subcutaneous fat necrosis, total parenteral nutrition administration, hyperthyroidism, and adrenal insufficiency. Granulomatous disorders such as tuberculosis and sarcoidosis are rarer cause of hypercalcemia. Hypercalcemia outcomes including nephrocalcinosis, brain, eye, artery calcifications and encephalopathic features are life-threatening. We report a seven-month-old girl with miliary tuberculosis who presented with severe hypercalcemia.

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) levels in children with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

OBJECTIVE: Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) was described many years ago, but the etiopathogenesis remains unclear. Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) initiates complement activation in the lectin pathway. We determined MBL levels in children with HT and the associations thereof with thyroid hormone and thyroid autoantibody levels. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with HT and 41 controls were enrolled from the pediatric outpatient clinics. Subjects were grouped according to their thyroid functions: Euthyroid, marked hypothyroidism and clinical/subclinical hyperthyroidism. MBL levels were compared among these groups. Serum MBL levels of the subjects were determined using MBL Human ELISA kit. RESULTS: Serum MBL levels were studied in serum samples from the 80 subjects (48 (60.0%) females). MBL levels in HT and control groups were 50.787±34.718 and 50.593±44.28 ng/ml (p=0,983), respectively. In HT group, there was no significant difference in MBL levels between thyroid function groups (p=0.869). In addition, gender was not detected as a factor for serum MBL levels. Also we found negative correlation between WBC and serum MBL levels (r=-0.532; p=0.050). Otherwise there was no correlation between TSH, anti-TPO and anti-TG with serum MBL levels. CONCLUSION: MBL levels did not decrease in HT patients. Further research is needed to elucidate more fully any role for MBL in the development of autoimmune thyroid disease.

Evaluation of pupil diameter for pain assessment in interventional headache management.

OBJECTIVES: Pain is a subjective experience. Besides, sensory, affective and behavioral responses, and autonomic response are part of pain response to noxious stimuli. Evaluation of pupil diameter by pupillometry has been used as an alternative method for pain assessment. In algologic procedures like interventional headache management have not been addressed in the literature. Herein, we investigated changes in pupil diameter during interventional headache management as an objective method for pain assessment. METHODS: Demographic data of the patients were collected before the bilateral major occipital nerve blockage (MONB) procedure. Numeric rating score (NRS) and pupil diameter measurements by pupillometer were recorded before MONB. Standard MONB procedure was applied to all patients. Pain assessment and pupillary diameter measurements were obtained after nerve blockage. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients were included in this study. Mean age was 41.03+-12.63 years. There is no difference between the hemodynamic parameters before and after the procedure. Post-procedure NRS and pupil diameter values were significantly lower than pre-procedure values. There was a positive correlation between changes in NRS scores and changes in the right and left pupil diameters. CONCLUSION: There was a significant correlation between NRS score and pupil diameter in patients who underwent MONB. Monitoring of pupil diameter can be used for pain assessment during headache treatment. Evaluation of pupil diameter is a new approach in pain palliation. Future research is needed to study the effect of other parameters, that is, gender, age, origin of pain, acute, and chronic pain on pupil diameter and to evaluate its application in different algological procedures.

Evaluation of nutritional status in pediatric intensive care unit patients: the results of a multicenter, prospective study in Turkey.

Introduction: Malnutrition is defined as a pathological condition arising from deficient or imbalanced intake of nutritional elements. Factors such as increasing metabolic demands during the disease course in the hospitalized patients and inadequate calorie intake increase the risk of malnutrition. The aim of the present study is to evaluate nutritional status of patients admitted to pediatric intensive care units (PICU) in Turkey, examine the effect of nutrition on the treatment process and draw attention to the need for regulating nutritional support of patients while continuing existing therapies. Material and Method: In this prospective multicenter study, the data was collected over a period of one month from PICUs participating in the PICU Nutrition Study Group in Turkey. Anthropometric data of the patients, calorie intake, 90-day mortality, need for mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay and length of stay in intensive care unit were recorded and the relationship between these parameters was examined. Results: Of the 614 patients included in the study, malnutrition was detected in 45.4% of the patients. Enteral feeding was initiated in 40.6% (n = 249) of the patients at day one upon admission to the intensive care unit. In the first 48 h, 86.82% (n = 533) of the patients achieved the target calorie intake, and 81.65% (n = 307) of the 376 patients remaining in the intensive care unit achieved the target calorie intake at the end of one week. The risk of mortality decreased with increasing upper mid-arm circumference and triceps skin fold thickness Z-score (OR = 0.871/0.894; p = 0.027/0.024). The risk of mortality was 2.723 times higher in patients who did not achieve the target calorie intake at first 48 h (p = 0.006) and the risk was 3.829 times higher in patients who did not achieve the target calorie intake at the end of one week (p = 0.001). The risk of mortality decreased with increasing triceps skin fold thickness Z-score (OR = 0.894; p = 0.024). Conclusion: Timely and appropriate nutritional support in critically ill patients favorably affects the clinical course. The results of the present study suggest that mortality rate is higher in patients who fail to achieve the target calorie intake at first 48 h and day seven of admission to the intensive care unit. The risk of mortality decreases with increasing triceps skin fold thickness Z-score.

Association of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Gene -173 G/C Polymorphism (rs755622) with Familial Mediterranean Fever in Children.

Objectives The aim of this study was to identify the genotypic analysis and allele frequencies of the -173 G/C polymorphism in the macrophage migration inhibitory factor ( MIF ) gene in children diagnosed with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). Methods The study included 98 children who were diagnosed with FMF according to the Tel Hashomer criteria and one hundred and 57 healthy children as the control group. Genotyping was done for a polymorphism in a promoter region of the MIF gene (G/C at position -173). Results The relationship of FMF prevalence and -173 G/C genotype of the MIF gene was statistically significant. Individuals with the CC genotype seem to be predisposed to FMF. Conclusion The C/C polymorphism at position -173 of the MIF gene could be associated with excessive inflammation and immune response and can lead to susceptibility to FMF.

Comparison of pre-operative platelet functions by thromboelastogram in patients selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors user and non-user.

BACKGROUND: The use of antidepressant drugs, in particular selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), has increased in recent years. Using SSRIs can cause changes in serotonin metabolism. Serotonin provides platelet aggregation and plays a role in the regulation of vascular tone and coagulation processes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of SSRI use on coagulation functions with thromboelastogram (TEG) in patients undergoing surgical operation and to compare with non-user cases. METHODS: The study was designed for 60 patients whose physical status was classified according to the American Society of Anes-thesiology (ASA) classification as ASA I-II were included in the study. During routine pre-operative blood tests, 2 ml complete blood sample used and TEG performed. The cases were divided into two groups as SSRI user and non-user and analyzed. RESULTS: R value was higher in SSRI user patients than in non-user patients. The MA value was significantly lower in SSRI user. There was no statistically significant difference in other parameters. In the evaluation based on duration of SSRI use, there was no statistically significant difference between those whose duration of use was more than 1 year and <1 year. CONCLUSION: When the coagulation process was evaluated by TEG method, it was seen that the onset of clotting was prolonged and thrombus formation was slowed down in SSRI users. The results did not reveal that SSRI alone was the cause of bleeding, but it was concluded that slowing the process might be important, especially for surgical operations.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Management in Pediatric Intensive Care Units in Turkey: A Prospective Survey.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the compliance of management strategies for pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome in pediatric intensive care units in Turkey with current guidelines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, prospective survey study. We delivered the survey, consisting of questions on topics in the relevant literature on acute respiratory distress syndrome management in children (1 month-18 years), to the heads/staff of the 100 units via email or phone. RESULTS: In total, 51 (51%) out of 100 targeted pediatric intensive care units responded to the survey. We found out that 17 (33%) units comply with no acute respiratory distress syndrome guideline, while 65% frequently utilize cuffed endotracheal tubes. The majority of the units (86%) achieve their mechanical ventilation targets with the help of pressure control modes. Besides, steroid and surfactant use are present in 47% and 45% of the units, respectively, while 16% and 38% of the units use inhaled nitric oxide and high-frequency oscillatory ventilation, respectively. CONCLUSION: Lung-protective ventilation strategies preventing ventilator-associated lung injury are explicit in all responding units. The present survey revealed that current mechanical ventilation and non-ventilation treatment strategies in pediatric ARDS in Turkey are relatively uniform and largely consistent with international practices.