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Objective: The complete blood count (CBC) parameters and the ratios regarding these parameters have been demonstrated to be useful diagnostic biomarkers for many infectious diseases. Herein, we aimed to evaluate and compare the usefulness of the predictive role of the CBC in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) from community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children. We also compared serum electrolyte levels between the 2 diseases. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed the efficacy of CBC parameters and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), plateletto-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-to-monocyte-plus-lymphocyte ratio (NMLR), and serum electrolyte levels in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary TB from CAP in children. We also classified patients with TB into 2 groups according to the microbiologic confirmation. We investigated whether there is any difference regarding these parameters in patients with positive microbiologic results. Results: A total of 163 patients diagnosed with TB and CAP were included in this study. The WBC, neutrophil and monocyte counts, NLR, MLR, NMLR, mean platelet volume (MPV), and C-reactive protein (CRP) values were higher in CAP. There was statistical significance among serum sodium and phosphorus (P) levels between the 2 groups. Microbiologic confirmation was determined in 37 (35.5%) patients with the diagnosis of TB. The NLR, MLR, NMLR, CRP, and P values were significantly higher in patients with microbiologic confirmation. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that complete blood count parameters, NLR, MLR, NMLR, and CRP can be useful and cost-effective markers in differentiating pulmonary TB from CAP in the early stages of diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We aimed to study electrocardiographic changes in children with diabetic ketoacidosis and ketosis and to evaluate the relation of the changes with serum electrolyte levels and ketosis. Material and Methods: This study was performed in Istanbul Medical Faculty, Pediatric Emergency and Intensive Care Department between May 2008 and May 2009. The electrocardiographic parameters and QT length of children with diabetic ketoacidosis and ketosis were evaluated at diagnosis and after the treatment. Results: Forty patients were included in the study; 16 (40%) were diagnosed as having diabetic ketosis and 24 (60%) had diabetic ketoacidosis. Twenty-four (60%) patients were male and 16 (40%) were female and the mean age was 9.21±4.71 years (range, 1-16 years). Twelve (30%) cases of diabetic ketoacidosis were mild, three (7.5%) were moderate, and nine (22.5%) were severe. One patient had premature ventricular beats, and four had ST depression. The electrocardiographic parameters were all normal beyond the QTC length prolongation. The mean QTC length was 447±45 ms (380-560 ms) at diagnosis and 418±32 ms (350-500 ms) after treatment. The change in the QTC length was statistically significant. None of the patients had significant electrolyte disturbance and the prolongation of QTc length was not correlated with serum electrolyte levels. The prolongation of QTc length was statistically correlated with anion gap (r=0.33, p=0.03). Conclusions: In our study, we showed QTc length prolongation and the importance of performing electrocardiography during the diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis and ketosis. We also demonstrated that ketosis was responsible for the prolongation of QTc length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]