Evaluation of selenium levels and mean platelet volume in patients with simple febrile convulsion

This study aimed to evaluate serum selenium levels and mean platelet volume in children who experience simple febrile convulsion. The study comprised 42 patients diagnosed with simple febrile convulsions and a control group of 30 healthy children. Blood samples were taken following a febrile convulsion. Selenium levels in the serum of both the patients and control subjects were measured with the hydride formation method on an atomic absorption spectrometry device and mean platelet volume was evaluated. When the mean values of the febrile convulsion patients were compared with those of the control group, the mean selenium levels and thrombocyte count were found to be statistically significantly low [P=0.002, P=0.01] respectively] and the mean platelet volume values were statistically significantly high [P=0.002]. While low serum selenium levels cause the onset of a febrile seizure in patients with simple febrile convulsion, it is thought that the increased mean platelet volume shows infection activity causing febrile convulsion

Epicardial adiposity in children with obesity and metabolic syndrome

Obesity increases cardiac diseases by increasing tendency to atherosclerosis. Our aim was to define epicardial adipose tissue thickness, and its related factors in obese children. Total of 94 patients were divided into obesity with metabolic syndrome [MS] [n=30], obesity without MS [n=33], and control [n=31] groups. Auxological values with fasting glucose, fasting insulin, alanine transaminase, serum lipid levels, and high sensitive C-reactive protein levels were evaluated. Epicardial adipose tissue thickness, interventricular septum thickness and left ventricular mass were measured by echocardiography. Weight, body mass index, waist circumference, insulin, alanine transaminase, and high sensitive C-reactive protein values were markedly higher in obesity group when compared with controls [P<0.001]. Epicardial adipose tissue thickness was 0.64 +/- 0.23 cm in obesity with MS; 0.60 +/- 0.20 cm in obesity without MS, and 0.27 +/- 0.12 cm in control group [P<0.001]. Interventricular septum thickness and left ventricular mass values were markedly high in obesity without MS group [P<0.001 and P=0.002]. Our study has indicated that obesity has unfavorable effects on heart starting in the adolescence

Factors affecting surgical margin positivity in invasive ductal breast cancer patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery after preoperative core biopsy diagnosis / 대한외과학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of our study is to evaluate the factors affecting surgical margin positivity among patients with invasive ductal breast cancer who underwent breast-conserving surgery (BCS) after preoperative diagnostic core biopsy. METHODS: Two hundred sixteen patients with stage I, II invasive ductal breast carcinoma who had histological diagnosis with preoperative tru-cut biopsy and underwent BCS were included in the present study. Potential factors that affect the positive surgical margin were analyzed. In univariate analysis, the comparisons of the factors affecting the surgical margin positivity were made by chi-square test. Logistic regression test was used to detect the independent factors affecting the surgical margin positivity. RESULTS: Positive axillary lymph node (odds ratio [OR], 8.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.01 to 22.12), lymphovascular invasion (LVI; OR, 3.9; 95% CI, 1.62 to 9.24), extensive intraductal component (EIC; OR, 6.1; 95% CI, 2.30 to 16.00), presence of spiculation (OR, 5.1; 95% CI, 2.00 to 13.10) or presence of microcalcification in the mammography (OR, 13.7; 95% CI, 4.04 to 46.71) have been found to be the independent and adverse factors affecting surgical margin positivity. CONCLUSION: Considering decision making for the extent of the excision and for achieving negative surgical margin before BCS, positive axillary lymph node, LVI, EIC, spiculation or microcalcification in mammography are related as predictor factors for positive surgical margin.

P wave dispersion in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients with diastolic dysfunction

Cardiac involvement as pericarditis, myocarditis and valvular disease is common in juvenile idiopathic arthritis [JIA]. However, there are few studies concerning systolic and diastolic functions of the left ventricle in children with JIA. P wave dispersion is a sign for the prediction of atrial fibrillation. A recent study found that rheumatoid arthritis patients had an abnormally high P wave duration and P wave dispersion, markers for supraventricular arrhythmogenicity. In this study, we aimed to evaluate P wave dispersion and its relation with diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle in patients with JIA. We performed electrocardiography and Doppler echocardiography on patients and controls. Maximum and minimum P wave duration were obtained from electrocardiographic measurements. P wave dispersion defined as the difference between maximum and minimum P wave duration was also calculated. No statistically significant differences were found between the patients and controls in minimum, maximum P wave duration and P wave dispersion. Among the diastolic parameters in patients group, increased late flow velocity, decreased early flow velocity and prolonged isovolumic relaxation time reflected diastolic dysfunction. During 12 months of follow-up, no supraventricular arrhythmias were documented in JIA with diastolic dysfunction. JIA with diastolic dysfunction has normal atrial conduction parameters and therefore seemingly do not have an increased risk of atrial fibrillation