Human bocavirus infection in children hospitalized with lower respiratory tract infections: Does viral load affect disease course?

Objective: To examine the effects of human bocavirus type 1 (HBoV1) on the course of lower respiratory tract infections in cases of monoinfection and coinfection, and the effects of HBoV1 viral load on the disease in children under six years old hospitalized with a diagnosis of HBoV1-associated lower respiratory tract infections. Methods: Children under six years of age, who were hospitalized with the diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infection due to HBoV1 between 1 January 2021 and 1 January 2022 were included in the study. Laboratory confirmation of the respiratory pathogens was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Fifty-four (16.4%) children with HBoV1 among 329 children whose PCR was positive with bacterial/viral agent in nasopharyngeal swab samples were included in the study. There were 28 (51.9%) males and 26 (48.1%) females with a median age 23.4 months [interquartile range (IQR): 13.2, 30.0 months] (min-max:1 month-68 months). HBoV1 was detected as a monoinfecton in 26 (48.1%) children, and as a coinfection with other respiratory agents in 28 children (51.9%). In multiple regression analysis, coinfection (P=0.032) was associated with the length of hospitalization (P<0.001; R 2 =0.166). There was a negative correlation (r= 0.281, P=0.040) between cough and cycle threshold. Fever was found to be positively correlated with C-reactive protein (r=0.568, P<0.001) and procalcitonin (r=0.472; P=0.001). Conclusions: Although we found a higher HBoV1 viral load in children with more cough symptoms in our study, it had no effect on the severity of the disease, such as length of hospital stay and need for intensive care. Coinfection was found to affect the length of hospitalization.

cost analysis of preterm infants from a NICU of a state hospital in Istanbul

The objective of this study was assessment of hospital costs of 211 preterm babies admitted to NICU in a 12-month period. Preterm babies with gestational age 28-37 GW hospitalized in Dr. L. Kirdar Kartal Research and Training Hospital NICU between November 1st, 2006 to October 31st, 2007 were included in this retrospective study. The financial records of the babies were plotted and investigational, interventional, consumable costs, drugs and ancillary costs were determined. The average daily cost of a preterm has been determined. Group I and II consisted of babies with gestational ages 37-33 GW and 32-28 GWs respectively. The length of stay, ventilation duration and costs of each group were compared. The mean birth weight was 1689 +/- 497 gr. The mean length of hospital stay was 13.6 +/- 13.4 days. Hundred and four [49.5%] patients were found to be ventilated. The median ventilation day was 3 days. We found a statistically significant relation between length of hospital stay, ventilation duration, presence of interventions, RDS, sepsis and hospital costs. The mean total hospitalization cost and the daily cost of a preterm was determined as [dollar sign] 4187 and [dollar sign] 303 respectively. The highest intensive care costs of preterm neonates were found to be paid for interventional procedures, followed by NICU personnel salary and ancillary costs. Between two groups statistically significant difference was found for length of stay, duration of ventilation, interventional and consumable costs [P=0.014, P=0.019, P=0.001, P=0.03 respectively]. Strategies for prevention of prematurity and early weaning from mechanical ventilation may shorten length of hospital stay leading to decreased NICU costs

Increasing low birth weight rates: deliveries in a tertiary hospital in Istanbul

Prevalence of low birth weight deliveries may vary across different environments. The necessity of determination of regional data prompted this study. Information of all deliveries from January 2004 to December 2008 was obtained from delivery registry records retrospectively. Initial data including birth weight, vital status, sex, maternal age and mode of delivery were recorded using medical files. The frequency of low birth weight, very low birth weight, extremely low birth weight and stillbirth deliveries were determined. Among 19,533 total births, there were 450 [23.04 per 1000] stillbirths. Low birth weight rate was 10.61%. A significant increase in yearly distribution of low birth weight deliveries was observed [P<0.001]. Very low birth weight and extremely low birth weight delivery rates were 3.14% and 1.58% respectively. Among 2073 low birth weight infants, 333 [16.06%] were stillbirths. The stillbirth delivery rate and the birth of a female infant among low birth weight deliveries were significantly higher than infants with birth weight >/-2500g [P<0.001, OR=28.37], [P<0.001] retrospectively. There was no statistical difference between low birth weight and maternal age. The rate of cesarean section among low birth weight infants was 49.4%. High low birth weight and stillbirth rates, as well as the increase in low birth weight deliveries over the past five years in this study are striking. For reduction of increased low birth weight rates, appropriate intervention methods should be initiated

effect of maternal anemia on anthropometric measurements of newborns

To evaluate the relation between maternal prenatal hemoglobin concentration and neonatal anthropometric measurements. All pregnant women who gave birth at the Obstetrics Department of Dr. LK Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey, from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2006, and their newborns were included in this prospective, cross-sectional study. The newborns' weight, height, head, and chest circumference were recorded. Mothers with hemoglobin concentration less than 11g/dl were evaluated as anemic. The anemic mothers were then grouped into 3 categories according to the corresponding hemoglobin concentration: mild [10.9-9.0g/dl], moderate [8.9-7.0 g/dl], and severe anemic [less than 7 g/dl]. The anthropometric measurements of newborns from non-anemic and anemic mother groups were compared. Of the 3688 pregnant women, 1588 [43%] were found to be anemic. Among the anemic mothers, 1245 had mild [78.5%], 311 had moderate [19.5%], and 32 [2%] had severe anemia. The anthropometric measurements [height, weight, head and chest circumference] of newborns of anemic and non-anemic mother groups showed a statistically significant difference [p=0.036, p=0.044, p=0.013, and p=0.0002]. There was a statistically significant difference in height, weight, and chest circumference of newborns of severe anemic and mild anemic mothers [p=0.017, p=0.008 and p=0.02]. The height [1.1 cm], weight [260 g], head [0.42 cm], and chest [1 cm] circumference of neonates in the severe anemic group is less than the mild anemic group. Anemia during pregnancy affect the anthropometric measurements of a newborn. Severe anemia had significant negative effect on neonatal anthropometric measurements