Retinopathy of prematurity: incidence, risk factors, and evaluation of screening criteria.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The goal of this study was to investigate the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and the relationship between risk factors and disease in premature newborns in our neonatal intensive care unit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 219 premature subjects were retrospectively evaluated for retinopathy. Demographic information, clinical data, and risk factors were reviewed. RESULTS: The gestational ages of the infants included in the study ranged between 25 and 36 weeks, and the birth weights ranged between 670 and 4460 g. In this study, the incidence of ROP was 20.1% (44) in preterm infants: 16 had stage 1 (36.4%), 15 had stage 2 (34.1%), 11 had stage 3 (25%), 1 had stage 4 (2.3%), 1 had stage 5 (2.3%), and 6 had plus (+) disease (7.2%). The risk factors associated with the development of ROP included low birth weight, ventilation treatment, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and maternal preeclampsia. The risk factors were analyzed with logistic regression analysis. The odds ratios were 5.952 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.030-17.447), 20.070 (95% CI: 4.213-95.600), 5.879 (1.916-18.037), and 3.200 (95% CI: 1.002-11.535), respectively. CONCLUSION: In this study, birth weight, ventilation treatment, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and maternal preeclampsia were the most important risk factors for the development of ROP.

The Effects of Inhaled ß-Adrenergic Agonists in Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn.

Aim. To investigate the efficacy of an inhaled ß-adrenergic agonists in transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN). Method. We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 51 term infants (Group 1) and 37 term infants (Group 2) monitored in the newborn intensive care unit diagnosed with TTN. Infants in Group 1 received humidified oxygen alone, and infants in Group 2 were administered the inhaled ß-2 agonist plus humidified oxygen. Results. TTN clinical respiratory assessment, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation values, need for supplemental oxygen therapy, blood gas PH, PO2, and duration of hospitalization were significantly improved in infants in Group 2 as compared with infants in Group 1 (P < .05). No statistically significant difference was observed with regard to blood glucose, potassium, heart rate, and PCO2 (P > .05). Conclusion. Inhaled ß-adrenergic agonist added to humidified oxygen was found to improve clinical and laboratory parameters. We believe that further studies should be conducted with larger groups to demonstrate the efficacy of ß-2 agonists in TTN patients.

Smith-lemli-opitz syndrome: a case with annular pancreas.

Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome is an autosomal recessive disease of cholesterol metabolism. It is a multiple malformation syndrome with typical dysmorphic features such as bitemporal narrowing, ptosis, epicanthus, microcephaly, micrognathia, and cardiovascular, skeletal, urogenital, and gastrointestinal anomalies. This report presents a typical case of Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome with annular pancreas which is an unreported gastrointestinal abnormality.

Importance of the ultrasonography in diagnosis of ileal duplication cyst.

Gastrointestinal duplication cysts are rare congenital anomalies that can be seen in anywhere of the gastrointestinal system from the mouth to the anus. These are prenatally diagnosed through antenatal ultrasonography. However, attention must be paid since these formations might be confused with ovarian or mesenteric cysts. Our patient, who had been diagnosed with ovarian cyst on the ultrasonography performed in another center and with mesenteric cyst based on the abdominal MRI carried out at fifth month of life, presented to our clinic with the only complaint of constipation at 9th month of life. The diagnosis was set through double wall appearance of duplication cyst on the abdominal ultrasonography. The patient's cyst was resected.

The Type of Anesthesia Used during Cesarean Section Is Related to the Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn.

Aim. To demonstrate whether transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) is found more frequently in women undergoing general or combined epidural-spinal (CES) anesthesia during Cesarean section. Methods. This study was done retrospectively. A total of 1447 Cesarean sections (C/S) were performed in our clinic between January 2008 and December 2011. General anesthesia was performed in 1078 (74.5%) of the Cesarean cases. CES anesthesia was performed in 369 cases (25.5%). The International Classification of Diseases,Tenth Revision code of P22.1, was used to identify the infants with TTN. Stratified multivariate analysis was undertaken on subgroups to assess the effect modification by factors known to influence the incidence of TTN: maternal age, maternal systolic-diastolic artery pressure, heart rate, Apgar score at 1 and 5 minutes, sex, time interval from spinal block to skin incision, and time interval from skin incision to umbilical cord clamping. Results. The rate of TTN diagnosis was found to be higher in parturients who had a cesarean section with combined epidural-spinal anesthesia, but no statistical differences were found. (P < 0.05) (odds ratio = 1.471 and 95%CI: 0.92-2.35). Conclusions. The incidence of TTN was found related to C/S but independent from the type of anesthesia. However, studies with a wider spectrum of patients and a lower quantitative difference between the groups are needed in order to draw firm this conclusions.

Collective circumcision performed in Sudan: evaluation in terms of early complications and alternative practice.

OBJECTIVE: To present the results and complications of a collective circumcision application performed using a thermocautery device with the patient under local anesthesia in Sudan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 5871 children aged 7 days to 17 years (mean 5.7 years) living in different regions of Sudan were circumcised from May 3 to 25, 2012. The circumcision procedures were performed by an experienced urologist and specialized healthcare officers with the patients under local anesthesia using a Thermo-Med TM 806 cautery device. The outcomes were evaluated in terms of early complications. RESULTS: None of the patients experienced bleeding that required surgical intervention. Mild hemorrhage developed in 3 cases but resolved with cauterization. One child developed tachycardia and syncope after the injection; however, no treatment was needed, and observation was sufficient. One patient developed a scrotal abscess, which was surgically treated. None of the patients developed complications from the local anesthetic agent. CONCLUSION: Although we are not in favor of collective circumcisions, our results have demonstrated that this type of circumcision can be performed safely with appropriate equipment and personnel in those regions in which circumcisions cannot be performed in a hospital setting for socioeconomic reasons.

Comparison of conventional and low dose steroid in the treatment of PFAPA syndrome: preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Steroids have been widely used to relief symptoms in the patients with PFAPA syndrome. OBJECTIVES: This study was constructed to show the effectiveness of low-dose steroid therapy in patients diagnosed with PFAPA syndrome. METHODS: 41 patients (86 febrile attacks) who were diagnosed using the criteria suggested by Thomas et al. were involved in the study. The cases were classified into two groups and the selection of patients in groups was made randomly. Twenty patients received prednisolone at a dose of 2 mg/kg/day (first group: 40 attacks) and 21 patients received a dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day (second group: 46 attacks). The effectiveness of the treatment was especially determined by the time needed to reduce the fever and the effect on the duration between the two attacks. The patients were re-examined 24 hours later, after a steroid treatment. RESULTS: The patients who were in the first group received 2mg/kg/day dose of prednisolone and their fever was dramatically decreased in 6-8 hours (7.6 ± 0.9 hours). The second group received 0.5mg/kg/day dose and 19 of these patients' fever was decreased in 8-12 hours. Two patients whose temperature did not decrease, received another dose of prednisolone 24 hours after the first dose and their fever was reduced 12 hours after the second dose (11.3 ± 6.4 hours). A comparison of the rate of fever reduction and the interval between the attacks (Group I: 5.11 ± 1.01 week and Group II: 5.2 ± 1.13 week) in the two groups did not show any statistical significance (p=0.104). CONCLUSION: Low-dose steroid treatment is as effective as normal dose in PFAPA syndrome but there is need to study with a larger group.

C-reactive protein and procalcitonin during febril attacks in PFAPA syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the levels of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in children diagnosed with PFAPA (periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis) during their febrile attacks. METHODS: 23 patients with diagnosis of PFAPA included into the study prospectively during a three years period. In these patients, CRP and PCT values were recorded during 78 febrile episodes. Furthermore, 20 patients with diagnosis of pneumonia were chosen as a control group and their CRP and PCT values were measured. Normal reference values for CRP and PCT were 0-10 mg/L and 0-0.5 ng/mL, respectively. RESULTS: Mean CRP and PCT values of patients with PFAPA were 94.8±71.6 mg/L and 0.29±0.14 ng/mL, respectively. In control group, mean CRP value was 153.2±26 mg/L and PCT was 1.59±0.53 ng/mL. CRP and PCT were high in control group. CRP was detected high and PCT was normal in PFAPA. Compared to control group, in PFAPA group, CRP values were not significantly (p>0.05) and PCT values were significantly lower (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: During febrile episodes in the patients with diagnosis of PFAPA, CRP values were substantially elevated, whereas PCT values were within normal levels. Concomitant assessment of CRP and PCT in addition to clinical diagnostic criteria may be of help in making diagnosis and distinguishing febrile attacks from infections. However, studies in larger groups are required.

To Evaluate Serum Eosinophil Cationic Protein and Total IgE Concomitantly May Predict the Persistence of Wheezing in Young Children.

Background. We investigated the predictive value and the relative risk of the evaluation of serum eosinophilic cationic protein (sECP) and total IgE levels concomitantly in relation to the persistence of wheezing in young children. Methods. The study was conducted prospectively between January 2007 and December 2010. A hundred and eight children, aged between three months and four years, with three or more episodes of wheezing, were studied to evaluate the role of eosinophil inflammation and its relation to persistence of wheezing two years later. Results. A statistically significant difference in terms of total IgE and sECP values was observed between the groups (P < 0.05). When measurement of IgE and sECP was assessed concomitantly, the sensitivity was found to be 92.68%, the negative predictive value was found to be 71.43%, accuracy rate was found to be 84.26%, and the relative risk was found to be 3.06 in group 1. Conclusions. In this study, we aimed to emphasize the importance of the assessment of sECP and total IgE concomitantly, as being two noninvasive and easily applicable tests, useful in predicting persistent wheezing in early childhood.

A mother with green breastmilk due to multivitamin and mineral intake: a case report.

It is a globally accepted fact that breastfeeding reduces infant mortality and morbidity, optimizes infant growth, is superior to other forms of nutrition for infants, and has economic advantages for the family and the country. This case study reports a new mother who stopped breastfeeding her baby because her breastmilk was green. When her second child was born, her milk came in green, and a consultation was requested from pediatrics and infectious diseases. A physical examination and laboratory tests revealed that the abnormal color of her breastmilk was related to multivitamin intake. The patient was advised to continue breastfeeding despite the odd color. Although clinical specialists know that the color of breastmilk can change with the ingestion of certain medications and foods, mothers are usually unaware and may unnecessarily terminate breastfeeding.

A Mild Chest Trauma in an Infant who Developed Severe Pulmonary Hemorrhage.

Chest trauma, an important cause of morbidity and mortality, is the second most common cause of death in children under four years of age. Due to the different anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system in childhood, the injuries and consequences of chest trauma are also dissimilar. A seven-month-old male infant presented to the emergency clinic with cyanosis and respiratory distress. His medical history revealed that he had been found trapped behind his bed in a cyanotic state two hours earlier. Although physical examination revealed no signs of trauma, respiratory distress and hemorrhagic secretions indicated pulmonary hemorrhage or contusion. This preliminary diagnosis was confirmed by thoracic tomography. There was complete recovery following 48-hour oxygen and medical treatment. Even after mild injuries, the fact that severe pulmonary hemorrhages and contusions may develop without a trace of trauma should be kept in mind.