Vitamin D status in pubertal children.

BACKGROUND: Optimal vitamin D status has a great importance in puberty, which is a period of peak bone mineral acquisition. In this study, we aimed to assess the effect of pubertal period on vitamin D status. METHODS: The study included totally 200 healthy children, aged between 4 and 14 years. Group 1 included 100 prepubertal, children, aged between 4 and 8 years. Group 2 included 100 pubertal children, aged between 9 and 14 years. They had no chronic illnesses. Ages, heights, weights, genders, Body Mass Indexes (BMIs), socioeconomic and educational status of families were established. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) was evaluated using an immunoradiometric assay kit. Serum calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were measured. RESULTS: We determined that 25(OH)D levels were lower with higher PTH levels in the group aged 9 to 14 years (pubertal children), compared to the group aged 4 to 8 (prepubertal children). Gender, weight, height or BMI, family socioeconomic and education status did not affect serum 25(OH)D levels of children in each group. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that vitamin D deficiency was more commonly seen in the pubertal children, compared to pre pubertal period. Children should be supported with vitamin D supplements during the puberty, which has a great importance for rapid increase in bone mass.

Management of chronic cervical lymphadenopathy in children.

BACKGROUND: It is important how to evaluate chronic cervical lymphadenopathies and when to perform excisional biopsy in children. We tried to analyze the usefulness of clinical and ultrasonographic findings in order to differentiate malign lymphadenopathies from benign ones. METHODS: This prospective study included 100 children who had cervical lymphadenopathies, larger than 1. 5 cm for 4 weeks duration at least. Children were between 2 and 14 years old, the mean age was 6.88±3.38 years. They were examined by clinical symptoms and ultrasonographic appearances. Persistent lymphadenopathies were evaluated by excisional biopsy. RESULTS: Cervical lymhadenopathies of 80 children with well clinical symptoms decreased and resolved within 10 weeks durations. Their ultrasonographic findings revealed regular margins, ovoid shapes and getting smaller than 1. 5 cm. The remaining 20 children persisting longer than 10 weeks at the same size, with worrisome clinical symptoms and susceptible ultrasonographic findings (round shapes, irregular margins) underwent excisional biopsy. According to the biopsy results, five had tubercular lymphadenopathies, three had Hodgkin'slenfoma, two had acute lymphoblastic leukemia. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic cervical lymphadenopathies can persist up to 10 weeks, althoughthey are reactive and benign.