Cardiac hydatid disease: CT and MRI findings

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to review the CT and MRI findings of cardiac hydatid disease. CONCLUSIONS: CT and MRI are helpful for localizing and defining the morphologic features of hydatid cysts. Specific signs include calcification of the cyst wall, presence of daughter cysts, and membrane detachment. CT best shows wall calcification, whereas MRI depicts the exact anatomic location and nature of the internal and external structures.     

Early and successful enzymatıc debridement via collagenase application to pinna in a preterm neonate

We report early and successful enzymatic debridement using collagenase application to pinna in a preterm neonate. Collagenase clostridiopeptidase A should be kept in mind not only for the removal of eschar but also for avoidance of the progression of necrotic tissue in neonates.     

A case of congenital agenesis of the right pulmonary artery presenting with hemoptysis and mimicking pulmonary hemosiderosis

Congenital unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery is a rare anomaly most frequently accompanied by other cardiovascular anomalies. We report a 10-year-old girl presenting with fatigue and recurrent hemoptysis who was initially misdiagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis. Her symptoms did not resolve despite treatment so she was referred to our center for further evaluation. We carried out an angiography which revealed the absence of the right pulmonary artery and multiple collaterals originating from the right subclavian and right internal mammary arteries supplying the right lung. During the follow-up the patient developed a severe episode of pulmonary infection and pulmonary hypertension which responded well to medical treatment. Physicians should be aware of the congenital absence of the right pulmonary artery especially in patients presenting with recurrent respiratory symptoms. Although this condition is generally considered to have a good prognosis, close observation is mandatory in order to prevent further complications and comorbidities.     

Leptin receptor gene Gln223Arg polymorphism is not associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome in Turkish children

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between leptin receptor gene (LEPR) Gln223Arg polymorphism and obesity in Turkish children. Ninety-two obese and 99 lean children (between 5-15 years) were included in the study. Twenty-three of the obese children were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. Blood samples were collected for morning fasting blood glucose, insulin, leptin, and lipid level measurements. LEPR Gln223Arg polymorphism was analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism. Significant differences were observed in anthropometric measurements, fasting blood glucose, insulin, leptin, and lipid levels between obese and lean children. Serum leptin levels were markedly higher in obese children. No significant association was noted between Gln223Arg polymorphism and serum leptin, insulin and lipid levels. There were no differences in the genotype frequencies or allele distribution for Gln223Arg polymorphism among obese, obese with metabolic syndrome and lean children. Our findings suggest that there is no association between Gln223Arg polymorphism and obesity in Turkish children.     

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

Varicella can cause complications that are potentially serious and require hospitalization. Our current understanding of the causes and incidence of varicella-related hospitalization in Turkey is limited and sufficiently accurate epidemiological and economical information is lacking. The aim of this study was to estimate the annual incidence of varicella-related hospitalizations, describe the complications, and estimate the annual mortality and cost of varicella in children. VARICOMP is a multi-center study that was performed to provide epidemiological and economic data on hospitalization for varicella in children between 0 and 15?years of age from October 2008 to September 2010 in Turkey. According to medical records from 27 health care centers in 14 cities (representing 49.3% of the childhood population in Turkey), 824 children (73% previously healthy) were hospitalized for varicella over the 2-year period. Most cases occurred in the spring and early summer months. Most cases were in children under 5?years of age, and 29.5% were in children under 1?year of age. The estimated incidence of varicella-related hospitalization was 5.29-6.89 per 100,000 in all children between 0-15?years of age in Turkey, 21.7 to 28 per 100,000 children under 1?year of age, 9.8-13.8 per 100,000 children under 5?years of age, 3.96-6.52 per 100,000 children between 5 and 10?years of age and 0.42 to 0.71 per 100,000 children between 10 and 15?years of age. Among the 824 children, 212 (25.7%) were hospitalized because of primary varicella infection. The most common complications in children were secondary bacterial infection (23%), neurological (19.1%), and respiratory (17.5%) complications. Secondary bacterial infections (p?相似文献   

Circulating endothelial microparticles in children with Henoch�CSch?nlein purpura; preliminary results

The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of circulating endothelial microparticles (EMPs) in children with HSP and to determine whether there was a difference between patients with nephritis and those without nephritis. Twenty patients with HSP aged between 2.5 and 15 and 10 age-and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The HSP group was divided into two groups, including patients with nephritis (n = 9) and those without nephritis (n = 11). In all groups, circulating EMPs were enumerated by flow cytometry, after staining platelet-free plasma with PE-conjugated anti-CD144. At the same time, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were incubated with the platelet-free plasma of patients with HSP and that of the control group. Then, circulating EMPs were counted in HUVEC supernatant incubated with the platelet-free plasma of patients and control groups, after staining the supernatant with PE-conjugated anti-CD146. Circulating EMPs were significantly higher in both the active and the remission period of the patient groups compared with the control subjects. In the patient group, there were no statistically significant differences in the level of circulating EMPs between patients with nephritis and those without nephritis. Both CD144 and 146+EMP in patients with HSP nephritis in the active period were substantially higher than in those remissions. CD144+EMP in the active period were substantially higher than in the remission period in patients without nephritis. We detected that circulating EMPs increased in patients with HSP in both active and remission periods. Although clinical and laboratory findings return to normal in the remission period, the increased circulating EMPs may show that the subclinical inflammatory process is continuous. We think that circulating EMPs could be used as a surrogate marker for subclinical inflammation in HSP.     

Why are they having infant colic? A nested case–control study

Yalç?n SS, Örün E, Mutlu B, Madenda? Y, Sinici ?, Dursun A, Özkara HA, Üstünyurt Z, Kutluk ?, Yurdakök K. Why are they having infant colic? A nested case–control study. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010; 24: 584–596. We aimed to analyse infant (birth characteristics, feeding type, faecal enzyme activities) and environmental (maternal smoking, nutrition and psychological status, mother–child bonding, family structure, support for the mother, familial atopy) risk factors for infant colic and to follow infants with respect to physical growth, sleeping status up to 8 months of age in a nested case–control study. 660 mothers who delivered at Dr Zekai Tahir Burak Maternity Hospital, were enrolled within 3–72 h post delivery. Each infant with inconsolable persistent crying and four matched infants with no crying episodes were invited by phone to Hacettepe University Ihsan Do?ramac? Children's Hospital at 30–45 days post partum. At 40–55 days, we examined the infants and gave mothers a questionnaire, including crying characteristics of the infants; 47 infants were diagnosed with colic and 142 as non‐colic. When the infants were 7–8 months old, another interview was done. The colic group had higher proportions of less‐educated (≤8 years) and smoking mothers, extended family and families with domestic violence than the non‐colic group. The colic group of mothers had significantly higher rates of ‘impaired bonding’ in the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire, higher scores on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, higher scores for hostility subscales of the Brief Symptom Inventory and a more irregular sleep pattern than the non‐colic group. No differences were revealed for faecal enzyme activities. At 7–8 months, the colic group was shorter than the non‐colic group. Colic was associated with various perinatal factors (maternal education, smoking habits, cheese consumption, hostility scores and domestic violence) and having colic in infancy negatively affected the sleeping pattern and the height of the infant.