Pediatric Gastroenterology

j Summary Background Vitamin B 12 deficiency in infancy may cause failure to thrive, severe neurological disorders and megaloblastic pancytopenia. It is well known that infants born with deficient vitamin B 12 storage have increased the risk of vitamin B 12 deficiency. Vitamin B 12 deficiency is more prevalent in infancy in Sanliurfa province (at the southeast region of Turkey). Aim of the study The aim of this study was to determine the frequencies of vitamin B 12 , folic acid and iron deficiencies in pregnants and their babies at birth and to what extend the mothers' deficiency becomes effective on babies' deficiencies. Methods The study groups were constituted by 180 pregnant women and their single and term babies. Venous blood samples of pregnants were obtained 1-3 h before delivery and babies' cord bloods were collected at birth. Vitamin B 12 and folic acid levels were measured with electro chemiluminiscence method; serum iron and iron binding capacities were measured by colorimetric method and complete blood counts were performed by automatic blood counter. Results Mean vitamin B 12 levels in maternal and cord blood serum were 130 ± 61.7 pg/ml and 207 ± 141 pg/ml; mean folic acid levels were 8.91 ± 6.46 ng/ml and 17.8 ± 11.8 ng/ml; mean serum iron levels were 56.9 ± 37.5 lg/dl and 147 ± 43.2 lg/dl; and mean transferrin saturations were 11.8 ± 8% and 65.6 ± 24%, respectively. There were vitamin B 12 deficiency (<160 pg/ml) in 72% of the mothers and 41% of the babies, and severe deficiency (<120 pg/ml) in 48% of the mothers and 23% of the babies. Folic acid deficiency was found in 12% of the mothers, but was not found in the babies. There were iron deficiency in 62% of the mothers and 1% of the babies. There were statistically significant correlation between maternal and cord blood serum vitamin B 12 levels (r = 0.395, P < 0.001) and folic acid levels (r = 0.227, P = 0.017), while there were no correlation between maternal and cord blood iron levels and transferrin saturations. Conclusion The study results showed that vitamin B 12 deficiency is prevalent in pregnants in this region and that 41% of infants have born with deficient vitamin B 12 storages. Therefore, prophylactic use of vitamin B 12 by pregnant women in Sanliurfa and other poor communities could have considerable benefits to prevent vitamin B 12 deficiency and its complications in infants.

Background: Atherogenic process is accelerated with cigarette smoke that contains many oxidants and prooxidants, capable of producing free radical and enhancing the oxidative stress. We investigated oxidative and antioxidative status of children who had been exposed to passive smoking and compared with those of not exposed group. Methods: One hundred forty-three school children aged 9-13 years, 61 of whom had never been exposed to passive smoking, and 82 of whom had been exposed to passive smoking at least 10 cigarette per day for at least last 1 year in their house, were enrolled in this study. Total antioxidative response (TAR) was measured to determine antioxidative status of plasma, and total peroxide concentration was measured to determine oxidative status of plasma. The ratio of TAR to total peroxide was accepted as an indicator of oxidative stress. Results: TAR of plasma was significantly lower in children exposed to passive smoking than in those of not exposed group ( p=0.018). Mean (S.D.) values were 1.49 (0.07) and 1.52 (0.08) mmol Trolox Equiv./l, respectively. In contrary, the mean (S.D.) total peroxide level of plasma was significantly higher in children exposed to passive smoking [13.06 (2.34) Amol H 2 O 2 /l] than in not exposed group [12.24 (1.74) Amol H 2 O 2 /l] ( p=0.015). The mean (S.D.) oxidative stress index (OSI) value was significantly higher in the children exposed to passive smoking [0.87 (0.15)] than in not exposed group [0.80 (0.10)] ( p=0.001). Conclusion: Children who are exposed to passive smoking are exposed to oxidative stress, which has been implicated in the etiopathogenesis of over 100 disorders including atherosclerosis.

The prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases has been reported to be higher in urban than in rural areas between developed and underdeveloped countries and within any given country. Studies in Turkey have yielded different results for different regions. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of asthma and atopy in Sanliurfa, Turkey, and the influence of environmental factors. We recruited 1108 children from different areas of Sanliurfa and administered the questionnaire of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. Items asking for socioeconomic data were also included. Skin prick and purified protein derivative tests were performed on the children. Measles antibodies were determined and feces were analyzed for parasites. The total prevalence of atopic diseases was 8.6% (n = 95/1108), asthma 1.9% (n=21/1108), allergic rhinitis 2.9% (n=32/1108), and allergic conjunctivitis 3.8% (n=42/1108). The rate of atopic diseases was 5.6% (n=32/573) in children atten...

Bartter sendromunun karakteristik bulgulari olan hipokalemi, hipokloremi ve metabolik alkaloz ile beraber plazma renin ve aldosteron düzeylerinde yükseklik Gitelman sendromu, diabetes insipitus ve kistik fibrozisinde içinde yer aldiği bir grup hastalikta da tanimlanmiştir. Bu durum psödo-Bartter sendromu (PBS) olarak isimlendirilmektedir. Bu çalişmada PBS tablosu gösteren kistik fibrozisli bir hastanin klinik ve laboratuvar özellikleri incelenmiştir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Kistik fibrozis, psödo-Bartter sendromu.