Diagnostic Value of Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Against Other Biomarkers in Children With Appendicitis.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate diagnostic value of monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio as a novel biomarker in children with appendicitis and to compare with other biomarkers. METHODS: A total of 683 children were included in this retrospective study. Patients were categorized as acute appendicitis (AA, n = 254), perforated appendicitis (PA, n = 82), nonspecific abdominal pain (NAP, n = 197), and control (n = 150). The groups were compared for demographics, duration of symptoms, monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), white blood cell count, neutrophil percentage (NP), C-reactive protein (CRP), mean platelet volume, and sodium level. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between all groups for MLR, PLR, and CRP. White blood cell count, NP, and NLR were significantly increased in patients with appendicitis, but there was no significant difference in the differential diagnosis between PA and AA. Sodium levels significantly decreased in patients with appendicitis. No statistically significance was determined between all groups in term of mean platelet volume. Among the biomarkers, MLR showed the highest diagnostic value (area under the receiver operator characteristic curve = 0.798) for AA, while CRP showed excellent diagnostic value (area under the receiver operator characteristic curve = 0.897) for PA. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study showing that MLR is a valuable parameter to differentiate patients with and without appendicitis. White blood cell, NP, and NLR are also useful parameters. On the other hand, an increased CRP level and hyponatremia are indicators of PA.

An Unusual Complication of Foley Catheterization in a Child: Urethral Foreign Body.

Iatrogenic urethral foreign bodies are rare conditions in clinical practice, and the relevant data are limited to adult cases in the literature. In this paper, we presented a pediatric case in which a fragment of Foley catheter balloon remained in the posterior urethra.

Comparative analysis of epidemiological and clinical characteristics of appendicitis among children and adults.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate whether there are some differences between pediatric and adult patients with appendicitis. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 279 pediatric and 275 adult patients with respect to demographics, past medical history, duration of symptoms, laboratory and radiological findings, operation notes, pathological reports, length of hospital stay and post-operative outcomes. RESULTS: No significant differences were found with respect to gender, rates of perforation and negative appendectomy, laboratory findings, and overall outcomes between children and adults. However, our study suggests that the diagnosis is more difficult in children, the most preferred radiologic diagnostic methods are abdominal ultrasound and plain X-ray in children vs. computed tomography in adults, air-fluid levels and right-sided scoliosis are more commonly detected on X-ray in children, appendiceal perforation is more common at both extreme of ages, the appendix is perforated earlier and length of hospital stay is longer in children, and misdiagnosis at first admission in children and advanced age in adults were the risk factors associated with the complications. CONCLUSION: The present study found some important differences between childhood and adulthood appendicitis. If these differences are considered when evaluating the patients, more desired outcomes can be achieved for both clinicians and patients.

Bladder exstrophy with exstrophic rectal duplication in an infant: An extremely rare case.

Exstrophic rectal duplication and its association with bladder exstrophy and anorectal malformation is an extremely rare clinical entity. This is a report of the second case of an exstrophic rectal duplication associated with bladder exstrophy in English literature. However, it is the first case, where all these anomalies were accompanied by an anorectal malformation.

Diagnostic value of serum pentraxin 3 level in children with acute appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: Appendicitis is one of the most common surgical emergencies. Early diagnosis of appendicitis is important in children because any delay in treatment substantially leads to complicated appendicitis. In this study, we aimed to test the diagnostic value of pentraxin 3 (PTX3) level in children with acute appendicitis and to investigate whether there is a relationship between the progression of the disease and PTX3 level. METHODS: This prospective study included 70 children. They were divided into three groups as follows: group 1 (appendicitis; n=37), group 2 (abdominal pain; n=25), group 3 (control; n=8). Demographic data, medical history, the time from the onset of symptoms to blood sampling, operative and pathological findings of the patients were noted, and white blood cell (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP) and PTX3 values were measured. RESULTS: The mean WBC, CRP and PTX3 values were found to be significantly increased in the appendicitis group (p<0.001). PTX3 has the highest diagnostic value (AUC=0.828), specificity (88%) and positive predictive value (90%) in the appendicitis group. WBC values did not show a significant correlation with the time periods (p=0.999). The mean CRP level of the appendicitis group in 24-48 hours was found to be higher than in 0-24 hours, but this was marginally significant (p=0.068). On the other hand, PTX3 value was significantly correlated with the time periods (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed that PTX3 is a valuable inflammatory biomarker in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and also documented that PTX3 is useful for predicting the progression of the disease.

Cystic Eechinococcosis in Childhood: Five-Years of Experience From a Single-Center.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical data and prognosis of cystic echinococcosis during a 5-year period who were followed by the pediatric clinics. METHODS: Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and prognosis data of 34 patients with cystic echinococcosis obtained between 2009 to 2014 were retrospectively evaluated. Of these, 10 patients were excluded because of incomplete data or failure to follow up. RESULTS: A total of 24 (12 males and 12 females) children were included the study. The mean ages of patients were 11.17 ± 3.71 (range, 5-17) years. The most common symptoms were abdominal pain (41.7%), cough (16.7%), and fatigue (12.5%). Localization of the parasite in the patients was determined to be as follows: liver (54.2%), lung (33.3%), and intraabdominal (4.2%). Multiorgan involvement was observed in 8.3% of the cases. Indirect hemagglutination test was positive in 13 (54.2%) patients at admission. All patients received treatment with albendazole. Seven patients were treated with puncture-aspiration-injection-re-aspiration (PAIR) (29.2%). Open surgery was performed in six patients (24.2%). One patient was treated with both PAIR and open surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Cystic echinococcosis is a serious public health problem in developing countries. Hydatid cyst should be considered in the presence of suspicious radiological and clinical findings in endemic areas.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in children: a single center experience.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the demographic data and complication rates in children who had undergone percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in a three-year period in our Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and to interrogate parental satisfaction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The demographic data, complications and follow-up findings of the patients who had undergone percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy between March 2011 and March 2014 were examined retrospectively using medical files. RESULTS: Forty seven percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy related procedures were performed in 34 children during a three-year period. The median age of the patients was 2.25 years (3 months-16 years, first and third quartiles=1.0-6.0) and the mean body weight was 13.07±8.6 kg (3 kg-47 kg). Before percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy procedure, the mean weight z score was -2.26±1.2 (-5-0) and the mean height z score was -2.25±0.96 (-3.85-0.98). The follow-up mean height and weight Z scores at the 12(th) month after the percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy procedure could be reached in 24 patients. A significant increase in the mean weight Z score from -2.41 to -1,07 (p=0.000) and in the mean height Z score from -2.29 to -1.99 (p=0.000) was found one year after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy catheter was placed in these 24 patients. Patients with neurological and metabolic diseases constituted the majority (64.7% and 26.5% respectively). Peritoneal leakage of food was detected in one patient and local stoma infections were detected in three patients after the procedure. During the follow up period, "Buried bumper syndrome" was observed in one patient. Following percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, the number of patients using anti-reflux medication increased from 16 (47.1%) to 18 (52.9%) (p=0.62). One patient with cerebral palsy who had aspiration pneumonia after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy insertion had undergone Nissen fundoplication. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube was removed in a patient. The parents had positive views related with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is a substantially successful and reliable method in infants as well as in children and adolescents. The parents had positive views related with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy after the procedure.

Choledochoduodenal fistula: An unusual cause of recurrent cholangitis in children.

Choledochoduodenal fistula (CDF) is an unusual clinical entity and a diagnostic challenge in children. We herein present CDF as an unusual cause of recurrent cholangitis in a 6-year-old child. To the best of our knowledge, this is the youngest patient reported until date. In this paper, we also highlight possible etiologic factors, presenting symptoms, diagnostic methods, and treatment modalities of CDF.

The correlation between preputial blood flow and microvessel density in distal hypospadias: a prospective clinical study.

OBJECTIVE: A prospective clinical study was designed to investigate the correlation between preputial blood flow (BF) and microvessel density (MVD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 44 children were included in the study. The hypospadias group consisted of 16 children undergoing distal hypospadias repair, and the control group consisted of 28 age-matched healthy children undergoing circumcision. BFs were measured using a laser Doppler flowmeter on the most distal part of the dorsal prepuces, and then the tissue samples were harvested from the same location. They were immunostained with an antibody against CD31 in order to assay MVD. The statistical analyses were carried out using Student's t test and Pearson's correlation analysis. RESULTS: The preputial MVD was found to be significantly decreased in the patients with hypospadias compared with the healthy children (33.95 ± 9.79 vs. 48.25 ± 10.08; p < 0.05), whereas there was no difference in terms of the BF (40.58 ± 16.16 vs. 33.09 ± 19.65; p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We found no correlation between the preputial MVD and BF in the present study. This result suggests that reduced preputial MVD does not have any influence on BF in distal hypospadias.

Huge inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of pleura with concomitant nuchal fibroma.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare benign neoplasm. It is a challenging disease because the symptoms and radiologic findings are diverse and nonspecific. Although pulmonary IMT is the most common form, pleural origin is an extremely rare clinical entity. Nuchal fibroma (NF) is another rare benign neoplasm. We report herein a case of pleural IMT with concomitant NF in a 15-year-old girl. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report suggesting an association between IMT and NF, and our case had the largest reported intrathoracic IMT. Moreover, we found a possible association between IMT and increased CA-125 levels.

Early diagnostic clues in neonatal chronic gastric volvulus.

PURPOSE: Neonatal gastric volvulus (GV) is a rare clinical entity with a challenging diagnosis. In this study, we aimed to identify clinical and radiological findings to aid in early diagnosis in neonatal GV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of all neonates with GV were retrospectively reviewed. Diagnosis was made based on clinical findings and radiological images, and was documented by an upper gastrointestinal (UGI) contrast study. RESULTS: A total of eight neonates were included in the study. The most common clinical presentations were non-bilious vomiting and epigastric distention. The findings highly suggestive for GV in plain radiographs include gastric double bubble, abnormal gastric distention despite a nasogastric tube, distended stomach lying in a horizontal plane and an air-fluid level in the epigastrium. CONCLUSION: GV should be suspected in any newborn with non-bilious vomiting and epigastric distention. It is also important to focus on the clues in the plain radiographs. Gastric double bubble, abnormal gastric distention despite a nasogastric tube, distended stomach lying in a horizontal plane and an air-fluid level in the epigastrium must alert the physicians to the possibility of GV.

Hyponatremic seizure due to huge abdominal cerebrospinal fluid pseudocsyt in a child with ventriculoperitoneal shunt: a case report.

Placement of ventriculoperitoneal(VP) shunt is a worldwide accepted procedure for treatment of hydrocephalus. This procedure have various intra-abdominal complications, of which pseudocyst formation is a rare one. Common presentations of this complication are abdominal mass, abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, and shunt dysfunction. In this paper, we report a case of 3 year-old boy with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pseudocyst of the VP shunt presenting with hyponatremic seizure. To the best of our knowledge, hyponatremic seizure has not been previously reported as a presentation of abdominal CSF pseudocyst in the literature. Our case has also the largest CSF pseudocyst with respect to body surface area of the child in the literature.

Percutaneous management of bile-plug syndrome: a case report.

Bile-plug syndrome is defined as an obstruction of the common bile duct by bile sludge in full-term infants. It is a correctable cause of obstructive jaundice in infants and is generally treated surgically. Here, we present a case of a 5-month-old infant with bile-plug syndrome, which was treated by percutaneous biliary interventions. To the best of our knowledge, percutaneous treatment of bile-plug syndrome is reported for the first time in an infant. This minimal invasive treatment modality may be a useful alternative to surgery in infants with bile-plug syndrome.

The efficacy of single-dose 5-fluorouracil therapy in experimental caustic esophageal burn.

INTRODUCTION: Accidental ingestion of caustic substances may cause serious problems in children. Approximately 20% of caustic ingestions result in esophageal stricture formation, resulting from excessive collagen synthesis to the extracellular matrix by fibroblasts. Recent studies showed that a single application of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is a very effective inhibitor of fibroblast proliferation and differentiation for prolonged periods. Using an experimental model, we investigated the efficacy of single-dose 5-FU on stricture formation after caustic esophageal burn. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty Wistar-Albino rats were divided randomly into 4 equal groups: group 1 (sham-operated group), the esophagus was uninjured and untreated; group 2 (control group), the esophagus was injured and left untreated; group 3 (intraperitoneal treatment group), the esophagus was injured and treated immediately after the burn injury with a single intraperitoneal dose (20 mg/kg) of 5-FU; group 4 (local treatment group), the esophagus was injured and treated immediately after the burn injury with a single intraesophageal application of 5-FU at a concentration of 25 mg/mL. Caustic esophageal burn was produced by instilling 10% NaOH in the distal esophagus. The distal esophagi were harvested at 28 days postoperatively. Histologic sections were assessed by measuring the stenosis index (SI) and histopathologic damage score. Hydroxyproline (HP) levels in the tissues were determined biochemically. RESULTS: There were significant reductions in the SI (P < .05), histopathologic damage score (P < .05), and HP level (P < .05) in the intraperitoneal treatment group when compared with the control group. No significant differences in the SI and histopathologic damage score were detected between the control and local treatment groups (P > .05), whereas significant reduction in the HP level was determined between these groups (P < .05). CONCLUSION: A single intraperitoneal dose of 5-FU had a preventive effect on stricture formation after caustic esophageal burn. This observation suggests that 5-FU may prevent this undesirable complication in the clinical setting. Clinical studies are now required to verify this form of treatment. Local intraesophageal application of 5-FU immediately after the burn injury was not effective. Further investigations are required to determine the appropriate timing of application of 5-FU at the local site of injury.

Efficacy of lanolin and bovine type I collagen in the treatment of childhood anal fissures: a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial.

PURPOSE: We designed an open-labeled, prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial to test the efficacy of topical lanolin ointment (PureLan) and bovine type I collagen spray (Gelfix) in the treatment of childhood anal fissures. METHODS: Seventy-one children with acute anal fissure were divided randomly into three groups: group I (control; n = 25), group II (PureLan; n = 28), and group III (Gelfix; n = 18). All children were assigned to have warm sitz baths, topical analgesic creams, and stool softeners. Patients in groups II and III were also treated with topical lanolin ointment and bovine type I collagen, respectively. All children were re-examined 4 weeks later. RESULTS: Complete healing of the anal fissure was observed in 68% of the group I patients, but in 92.9% and 100% of the group II and III patients, respectively. The difference among groups was significant in terms of complete fissure healing (P = 0.003), but the efficacy of topical lanolin ointment and bovine type I collagen spray did not differ significantly (P = 0.078). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that topical lanolin ointment and bovine type I collagen spray are effective in the treatment of acute anal fissure in children.