Serum interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in febrile seizures: is there a link? / 소아과

PURPOSE: Febrile seizures are induced by fever and are the most common type of seizures in children. Although numerous studies have been performed on febrile seizures, their pathophysiology remains unclear. Recent studies have shown that cytokines may play a role in the pathogenesis of febrile seizures. The present study was conducted to identify potential links between serum interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and febrile seizures. METHODS: Ninety-two patients with simple or complex febrile seizures (46 patients per seizure type), and 46 controls with comparable age, sex, and severity of temperature were enrolled. RESULTS: The median concentrations of serum IL-1beta in the simple, complex febrile seizure, and control groups were 0.05, 0.1, and 0.67 pg/mL, respectively (P=0.001). Moreover, the median concentrations of TNF-alpha in the simple, complex febrile seizure, and control groups were 2.5, 1, and 61.5 pg/mL, respectively (P=0.001). Furthermore, there were significant differences between the case groups in serum IL-1beta and TNF-alpha levels (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Unlike previous studies, our study does not support the hypothesis that increased IL-1beta and TNF-alpha production is involved in the pathogenesis of febrile seizures.

Serum levels of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 as diagnostic markers of acute pyelonephritis in children / 소아과

PURPOSE: Early diagnosis and treatment of acute pyelonephritis in children is of special importance in order to prevent serious complications. This study was conducted to determine the diagnostic value of serum interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 in children with acute pyelonephritis. METHODS: Eighty-seven patients between 1 month to 12 years old with urinary tract infection (UTI) were divided into 2 groups based on the result of 99m-technetium dimercapto-succinic acid renal scan: acute pyelonephritis (n=37) and lower UTI (n=50) groups. White blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil (Neutl) count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration, platelet count, and serum IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations of both groups were measured and compared. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between two groups regarding WBC count, Neutl count, ESR, and CRP concentration (P<0.05). In addition, the difference between the two groups regarding serum IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations was not significant (IL-6, 60 and 35.4 pg/mL and IL-8, 404 and 617 pg/mL, respectively). The sensitivity and specificity of serum IL-6 and IL-8 for diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis were 73%, 42% and 78%, 32%, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values of serum IL-6 and IL-8 were less than those of acute phase serum reactants such as CRP. CONCLUSION: This study showed that there was no significant difference between acute pyelonephritis and lower UTI groups regarding serum IL-6 and IL-8 levels. Therefore, despite confirming results of previous studies, it seems that IL-6 and IL-8 are not suitable markers for differentiating between acute pyelonephritis and lower UTI.

Lack of correlation between plasma neuropeptide Y and typical and atypical febrile seizures

It is known that neuropeptide Y which is widely distributed throughout the central nervous system is able to prevent seizures in animals. There are limited studies about the role of neuropeptide Y in febrile seizures. This study was conducted to evaluate the association between plasma neuropeptide Y level and febrile seizures in children. Seventy six patients with typical and atypical febrile seizures [each group 38 patients] and 38 sex and age matched control subjects were enrolled. The mean plasma levels of neuropeptide Y in typical and atypical febrile seizures were 90.60 +/- 28.01 and 97.34 +/- 41.27 pmol/l respectively. This value in control group was 88.94 +/- 32.66 pmol/l. There was no significant differences between groups regarding plasma neuropeptide Y level [P=0.532]. Also, there was no significant difference in comparison with case groups [P=0.40]. This study revealed that there is no association between plasma neuropeptide Y and febrile seizures

Can urinary nitrite results be used to conduct antimicrobial option for urinary tract infection in children?

This study was performed to determine the relationship between urinary nitrite results and bacterial resistance to antimicrobial drugs in urinary tract infection of children. In a cross-section study 119 children younger than 12 years with urinary tract infection were evaluated in Qazvin children's hospital. Patients were divided into negative and positive nitrite groups depending on urinary nitrite test result. Rates of antibiotic resistance in the two groups were compared. Sixty seven patients were in the negative nitrite group and 52 in the positive nitrite group. Resistance rates to ceftriaxone, trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole, ampicillin, gentamicin, amikacin, nalidixic acid, cephalothin and nitrofurantoin in the nitrite negative group were 7.5%, 31.3%, 50.7%, 11.9%, 9%,3%, 14.9%, and 11.9%, respectively. these values in the nitrite positive groups were 21.2%, 28.8%, 63.5%, 7.7%, 5.8%, 1.9%, 9.6%, and 3.8%, respectively [P>0.05]. This study showed that there is no correlation between urinary nitrite results and bacterial resistance to antimicrobial drugs. Therefore, it seems that physicians should not adjust antibiotic therapy for UTI based on nitrite results

Serum thyroid hormone levels in epileptic children receiving anticonvulsive drugs

The aim of this study was to investigate serum thyroid hormone levels in epileptic children receiving anticonvulsive drugs. In this case- control study, 30 epileptic children who were receiving anticonvulsive drugs [case group] were compared with 30 healthy children [control group]. This study was carried out in the Qazvin Children's Hospital [Qazvin, Iran] from October to December 2007. Both groups were matched for age and sex. Thyroid hormone levels were measured using a radioimmunoassay and immunoradiometric assay. Data were analyzed using Chi-square and Student's t-tests. The mean serum T3 and T4 levels in the case group were 2.36 +/- 0.73 nmol/L and 95.96 +/- 27.01 nmol/L, respectively, and the corresponding values in the control group were 1.88 +/- 0.93 nmol/L and 147.46 +/- 35.77 nmol/L, respectively. The mean serum thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH] levels in the case and control groups were 2.73 +/- 0.73 mIU/mL and 2.49 +/- 2.17mIU/mL, respectively. This study revealed that long-term consumption of anticonvulsive drugs resulted in a decline in serum T4 levels and an increase in serum T3 levels, but had no effect on TSH levels