Investigation of wound healing in rat lung tissues in the postpartum period.

To assess the wound healing capabilities of damaged lung tissue in the postpartum period, we investigated the parameters related to wound healing in a rat model of lung damage. Rats were divided into six groups: IA, IB, II, IIIA, IIIB and IV (n=7 in each group). Group IA included rats not in the postpartum period that were sacrificed on the third day after lung injury, group IB included rats not in the postpartum period that were sacrificed on the tenth day after lung injury, group II included rats not in the postpartum period that did not receive lung injury, group IIIA included rats in the postpartum period that were sacrificed on the third day after lung injury, group IIIB included rats in the postpartum period that were sacrificed on the tenth day after lung injury and group IV included rats in the postpartum period without lung injury. Wound healing was evaluated histopathologically and measurements of hydroxyproline levels, serum alanine and glutamine were taken. A significant difference in serum alanine levels was evident between groups IA and IIIA. Significant differences were also observed between serum alanine and glutamine levels in groups IB and IIIB. In conclusion, we demonstrated that serum alanine levels were reduced in the postpartum period following lung injury, which may be expected to negatively impact wound healing in this period. The administration of exogenous alanine for traumatic events occurring during the postpartum period may thus contribute positively to wound healing capabilities during this period.

Gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina with hyperornithinemia, cystinuria and lysinuria responsive to vitamin B6.

In this report, an 8-year-old girl is presented with the complaint of progressive night blindness. The authors have performed eye funduscopy, which showed chorioretinal atrophy in gyrate shape. A high level of plasma ornithine was determined. Urinary excretion of ornithine as well as lysine and cystine were increased. Patient was treated with high dose pyridoxine supplement (500 mg/dl). The night blindness condition of the patient improved. After 1 month of pyridoxine therapy ornithine level of her plasma was successfully reduced and blindness improved.

Helicobacter pylori infection in mother and infant pairs in Anatolia.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this prospective study was to determine the seroprevalence rates of Helicobacter pylori in mother and infant pairs and to discuss the possible fecal-oral transmission route of Helicobacter pylori infection in the early years of life. METHODS: Forty-eight mother-child pairs were followed for 12 months. Helicobacter pylori IgG and hepatitis A virus (HAV) IgG levels were measured in maternal sera, infant sera and breast-milk samples at birth and in breast-milk samples and infant sera at follow-up visits. RESULTS: At birth, the rate of Helicobacter pylori positivity was 81.25% in breast-milk and 95.8% in maternal and infant sera. Although there was a decrease in seropositivity in both baby sera and breast-milk at the age of nine months, an increase was observed in the 12th month. Hepatitis A virus IgG was measured to show whether Helicobacter pylori and hepatitis A virus use the same transmission routes. Hepatitis A was positive in all infants' sera, in 95.8% of mothers' sera, and in 68.75% of breast-milk samples. Seropositivity rates in infants whose mothers were seropositive for Helicobacter pylori and hepatitis A virus decreased gradually. There was an increase after the 9th month of life. CONCLUSIONS: Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence rates are high in Anatolia. It is possible that the decrease in breastfeeding with increased introduction of supplemental foods may lead to an increased risk of exposure to Helicobacter pylori.

Type I cystinuria and its genetic basis in a population of Turkish school children.

OBJECTIVES: Cystinuria is a common inherited disorder characterized by an abnormal urinary excretion of cystine and dibasic amino acids resulting in nephrolithiasis. The SLC3A1 gene, which encodes a dibasic amino acid transporter protein, is involved in the pathogenesis of cystinuria. In the present study we aimed to investigate the prevalence of cystinuria among children in Sivas province (Central Anatolia, Turkey) and to study M467T and M467K mutations and 231T/A polymorphism in patients with cystinuria. METHODS: A total of 8500 children were screened for cystinuria. The cyanide-nitroprusside test was applied to urine samples of all children. Children having a positive cyanide-nitroprusside test were further analyzed. M467T and M467K mutations (exon 8) and 231T/A polymorphism (exon 1) in the SCL3A1 gene were studied using a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assay. RESULTS: We have found that the prevalence of cystinuria (11 cystinuric patients) is 1/772 in our population. Results of mutation analysis in the patients with cystinuria showed that M467T was the only mutation that was found in six cystinuric patients. One patient was homozygous and five were heterozygous for this mutation. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of cystinuria in Sivas Province is the highest among the other populations studied to date. The frequency of M467T mutation is relatively higher than those reported for most populations. High frequency of cystinuria in this region could be due to consanguineous marriages.

Analysis of a 1-year-old cystinuric patient with recurrent renal stones.

Cystinuria is a hereditary disorder of cystine and dibasic amino acids (lysine, arginine, ornithine) transport across the luminal membrane of renal tubules and intestine, resulting in recurrent nephrolithiasis. Cystine stones frequently occur in the second or third decade of life with an occasional occurrence in infancy and in old age. Herein is presented the case of a 1-year-old girl with cystinuria and recurrent urolithiasis; the genetic basis of the disease was investigated by mutational analysis of the SLC3A1 gene. The data show that the present patient has an increased cystine (923.08 microg/mL) level and was heterozygote for M467T mutation.

Traditional beliefs as forgotten influencing factors on breast-feeding performance in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to identify the infant feeding practices and to evaluate the attitudes and beliefs of mothers on breast-feeding in Turkey. METHODS: This study was established in 10 provinces of Turkey between December 2000 and March 2001 and the study group was comprised of 1,767 women between the ages of 15-49 years (mean 27.6 +/- 6.4 years). Questionnaires were self-filled by mothers in the waiting rooms of the health centers. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-three women (9.9%) were illiterate, 829 (47.7%) had < or =5 years of schooling, and 83.4% were housewives. A significant number of women have traditional beliefs related to breast-feeding practices. According to 23.4% of the women at least 3 calls to prayer (average 12 hours) should be waited before the first breast-feeding postpartum and more than 30% of the mothers believe that colostrum should not be given to the newborn, some mothers breast milk could harm their babies, and an evil eye could harm their breast milk. The traditional belief status and educational status of the women differed significantly between provinces, lower educational status and higher rates of women with traditional beliefs were observed in less developed eastern provinces. Overall, 60.6% of the women were knowledgeable on breast-feeding practices, whereas only 13.5% were scored as good in attitudes. Among all women with breast-feed babies, 35.8% started supplementary feeding in the first 3 months of life. Mother's age, education, occupation and traditional beliefs did not have a significant effect on supplementation time. CONCLUSION: As a result, these findings suggest the importance of taking into account the customs, local beliefs and family influences in planning community health programs.

Serum zinc level and its effect on anthropometric measurements in 7-11 year-old children with different socioeconomic backgrounds.

This study was performed in order to determine the serum zinc (Zn) level of primary school students, to show the effect of socioeconomic status (SES) on the zinc level, and finally to show the effect of zinc deficiency on the anthropometric parameters. Ten different primary schools were included in the study according to SES. Four-mL venous blood samples were obtained under fasting conditions using disposable plastic syringes. Four hundred thirty-two randomly chosen students between 7 and 11 years of age were investigated. All the children were living in Sivas, a city located in the middle eastern part of Turkey. Serum Zn level was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (Hitachi 2-800). The weight and height of each child was recorded. The SES of children included in this study was as follows: 43.1% low (n = 186), 34.3% middle (n = 148), and 22.7% high (n = 98). Mean serum Zn levels of low and middle SES subjects were 56.3 +/- 17.50 micrograms/dL and 86.6 +/- 26.8 micrograms/dL respectively, while in children with high SES the mean serum Zn was 110.7 +/- 24.50 micrograms/dL. The difference between the groups was found to be statistically significant (F = 19.545, p < 0.05). When height-for-age z-scores were calculated according to SES, 105 of 186 children (56.4%) with low SES were found to have a z-score of -2 or lower and 14 of 147 children with middle SES had a z-score of -2 or lower. None of the children in the high SES group had a z-score of -2 or lower.

Umbilical serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in newborns: effects of gestational age, postnatal age, and nutrition.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between nutrition, gestational age, and birth weight, and serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels in newborns. METHOD: The first study group consisted of sixty newborns: thirty were fed with human breast milk and the others were fed with infant formula. Serum samples were obtained from all the newborns on days one and seven of life. Seventy-two pregnant women and their neonatal cord blood serum samples were obtained in a labor ward in the study group. All the serum samples were analyzed for IGF-1 by immunoassay. RESULT: Newborns fed with human milk had higher serum IGF-1 concentrations compared to formula-fed controls (p < 0.05). Cord IGF-1 levels showed a negative correlation with birthweight (p < 0.05) and a positive correlation with gestational age (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that IGF-1 levels during the neonatal period are influenced by gestational age, birth weight, and nutrition.