Tülin Ayşe Özden

Effect Of Hypo−and Euthyroid Status On Serum Cystatin C Levels

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hypo− and euthyroid status on serum cystatin C (CysC) levels in children and to explore whether CysC can be used as a marker of the thyroid status. Methods: Twenty five patients with hypothyroidism (10M, 15F; mean age:8.7±4.9 years) and 21 healhty age−matched controls (9M, 12F; mean age: 9.7±5.0 years) were included in this study. Serum thyrotropin (TSH), free thyroxine (fT4), serum CysC and creatinine levels were studied in patients with hypothyroidism twice, i.e. in the euthyroid (on L−T4) and hypothyroid state, and in controls. Results: No significant differences in creatinine, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and CysC levels were observed between the study group in the euthyroid status and the control group. CysC (mg/dL) level was found to be lower in the hypothyroid status(0.6±0.1) than in the euthyroid status (0.66±0.1) (p=0.01). In hypothyroid status, CysC levels showed a positive correlation with GFR (r=0.463, p=0.02) and GFR had positive correlation with fT4 (r=0.563, p=0.012). Conclusions: We demonstrated a significant effect of thyroid dysfunction on CysC levels, but the changes in serum CysC levels in hypo− and euthyroid status did not exceed the reference interval. It may be concluded that serum CysC levels have limited use in evaluating the peripheral effects of thyroid hormones. Conflict of interest:None declared.

Serum level of vitamin D and trace elements in children with recurrent wheezing: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundWe aimed to show the relationship between recurrence of wheezing and serum levels of vitamin D, zinc, and copper in wheezy children compared with a healthy group.MethodsIn this cross sectional study, seventy-three children with wheezing and seventy-five controls were included without a follow-up period. The clinical characteristics of the children were assessed, the asthma predictive index and temporal pattern of wheeze were determined. The serum levels of vitamin D, zinc, and copper were measured. Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between homogeneously distributed variables.ResultsThirty-two of the seventy-three children (43.8%) had more than three wheezing attacks (recurrent wheezing). The Asthma Predictive Index index was positive in 26 patients (35.6%). When classified to temporal pattern of wheeze, fifty-three of the study group (72.6%) had episodic wheezing and the remainder (27.4%) was classified as multiple-trigger wheezing. We found no overall significant difference between the study and control group in terms of vitamin D and trace elements . The vitamin D and zinc levels were significantly lower and serum copper and copper/zinc ratio was significantly higher in patients with recurrent wheezing (p =0.03, p <0.01, p =0.013, p <0.01, respectively) positive Asthma Predictive Index and multiple-trigger temporal pattern of wheeze compared with patients with non- recurrent wheezing, negative Asthma Predictive Index and episodic temporal pattern of wheeze.ConclusionIt may be postulated that for the determination of asthma risk in patients with recurrent wheezing, the serum level of vitamin D, copper and zinc can be used as a routine biomarker alongside the Asthma Predictive Index and temporal pattern of wheeze.

Blood Lead Levels in School Children

The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors associated with high lead levels in school children. To that end a questionnaire was prepared to gather information about demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the children. Blood lead concentrations were obtained from capillary blood taken from 760 children at 13 schools in Istanbul and determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The blood lead level ranged between 4.0 and 23μg· dL−1. The mean and the median values of the blood lead were 8.4μg·dL−1. Some 91.2% of the children (693) had blood lead levels ≤10μg·dL−1. Only 5 (0.6%) had blood lead levels over 15μg·dL−1. One child had a blood lead level above 20μg·dL−1. Household exposure to smoking, attending school near a main street and middle and upper-middle-class socio-economic status were found to be the most important risk factors for a high blood lead level. Children attending schools that were nearest to a main road exhibited higher blood lead levels than children in schools further from a main road. Our findings support the public health recommendations that children should not have household exposure to smoking, schools should not be located near main streets and unleaded gasoline use should be promoted.

The evaluation of lipid peroxidation and acute effect of octreotide on lipid peroxidation in patients with active acromegaly

BACKGROUND Although lipid peroxidation has been suggested to play a role in the etiology of many diseases, there is no report about its role in acromegaly in the literature. In the present study, we analyzed the basal levels of lipid peroxides (LPO) in newly diagnosed acromegalic patients, and to evaluate whether octreotide (OCT) has any effect on lipid peroxidation in these patients. METHODS Plasma lipid peroxide levels before and after acute OCT administration were measured in 12 newly diagnosed acromegalic patients. Blood samples were drawn at basal and 4, 8, and 24 h after octreotide injection (100 microg s.c.). Plasma concentrations of lipid peroxides were estimated from measurement of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), using 1,1,3,3-tetra-ethoxypropane as a standard. RESULTS This study shows that acromegalic patients have significantly higher basal plasma lipid peroxides levels compared to hours after OCT injection (p<0.001). Although a significant decrease was observed after 8 and 24 h in comparison to basal level (p<0.001), the lipid peroxide levels tended to increase at 24 h though still low when compared to basal level. CONCLUSION Acromegalic patients have high basal lipid peroxide levels, which was significantly decreased after OCT administration.

Are metabolic syndrome antecedents in prepubertal children associated with being born idiopathic large for gestational age

Being born large for gestational age (LGA) is a risk factor for development of metabolic syndrome (MS) in adolescents and adults.

Effect of Iron Supplementation on Development of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Breastfed Infants

This trial aimed to investigate the effect of iron supplementation on the development of iron deficiency anemia. The study encompassed 6-month-old infants who had been exclusively breastfed in the first 4 months of life. Infants in the supplemented group were given 1 mg kg(-1 )day(-1) ferrous sulfate for 6 months starting at 6 months of age. Blood samples were taken at age 12 months. A 3-day-diet was evaluated at 1 year of age. Data of 51 infants in the supplemented and 54 infants in the control group were analyzed. Mean hemoglobin values were similar in the two groups at the age of 12 months. Mean ferritin level of the supplemented group was significantly higher than that of the control. There was a significant positive correlation between dietary iron intake and hemoglobin levels. Nutrition might be more important than iron supplementation in preventing iron deficiency anemia during infancy.

Longitudinal Analyses of Blood-Lead Levels and Risk Factors for Lead Poisoning in Healthy Children under Two Years of Age

This study aimed to determine the risk factors for lead poisoning of infants living in Istanbul. It was a longitudinal study conducted between March 1998 and September 2000 at the “Well-Child Unit” based at the Istanbul Medical School. During the study period, a total of 242 newborns were registered and 220 of them met the eligibility criteria. The families of 199 infants gave consent for this study. At the end of two years, 131 infants had completed the study. Blood samples were collected when the infants were aged 1, 6, 12, and 24 months. All samples were assessed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Blood-lead levels (BLL) increased with age. The maximum BLL was observed at 24 months. There was no infant with a BLL above 10 μgdL1 at one-month of age but this figure was exceeded for 0.5% of the cohort at 6 months, 1.1% at 12 months and 11.5% at 24 months. Children who were given herbal tea and exposed to tobacco smoke, lived in centrally heated homes, and whose fathers were manual workers had significantly higher BLL. The study identified herbal tea, exposure to dust, soil, paint and metal construction debris containing lead and living in an environment where people smoked as factors that put children under two years of age at increased risk of “elevated” BLL.

P164 Faecal calprotectin levels in the babies with infantil colic

Introduction Excessive crying is a common semptom in the first three months of life. This situation named as infantile colic (first three months colic) is seen 10%–40% of the babies. Some theories were asserted in order to explain infantile colic, however they could not explain the aetiology in a certain way. In recent years, it is claimed that the changes in intestinal microbiota can result the colic. Measurement of faecal calprotectin showing the intestinal inflammation could be helpful for the diagnosis of infantile colic. Aim The purpose of our study was measuring the levels of faecal calprotectin among babies with and without infantile colic to highlight the aetiology of the problem and to develop appropriate diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis. Cases-method The study was performed at the General Paediatrics Clinic in Medipol Mega University Hospital, levels of faecal calprotectin were measured in 70 babies aged 1–3 months. Of all these infants 35 had infantile colic. Stool samples were examined with Elisa Method by using Philcalpro kit in Istanbul University Paediatric Gastroenterology Laboratory. All babies were followed at least one year. Findings Socio-demographic and feeding characteristics of the infants with or without infantile colic were similar. The faecal calprotectin levels in the study group were significantly higher than those in the whole group. Median calprotectin values of study and control groups were 651 and 354 µgr/g respectively. There was no significant difference between the children with high calprotectin levels (>350 µgr/g) in terms of birth weight, gender, type of delivery, dietary patterns and probiotic usage. During the follow-up period, 4 children in the study group and 3 in the control had the diagnosis of food allergy. In conclusion, the high levels of calprotectin in stool may indicate the presence of intestinal inflammation may play a role in the aetiology of infantile colic.