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Copyright of Eurasian Journal of Medicine is the property of Ataturk University, School of Medicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: This study aims to retrospectively evaluate pediatric Guillain-Barré syndrome cases in a tertiary center in Istanbul, Turkey. Materials and Methods: The data of 40 patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome who had been admitted to the Department of Pediatrics at the Istanbul University Medical Faculty between 2005 and 2011 were collected. Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, chi-square, and Fisher's exact tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: Mean patient age was 5.4 ± 3.0 years; 20 out of 40 patients (50%) were female and 20 (50%) were male. Preceding infection was detected in 32 cases (80%). Six patients had speech impairment. Out of eight patients with respiratory distress (20%), five required respiratory support (12.5%) of which three of them had speech impairment as well. According to nerve conduction studies, 21 patients (52.5%) had acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, 14 (35%) had acute motor axonal neuropathy, and five (12.5%) had acute motor-sensory axonal neuropathy. Thirty-three patients (82.5%) received intravenous immunglobulin, 3 (7.5%) underwent plasmapheresis and 4 (10%) received both. Time until recovery (P = 0.022) and time until aided (P = 0.036) and unaided (P = 0.027) walking were longer in patients with acute gastrointestinal infection than in those with upper respiratory tract infection (P < 0.05). Time until response to treatment (P = 0.001), time until aided (P = 0.001) and unaided (P = 0.002) walking, and time until complete recovery (P = 0.002) were longer in acute motor axonal neuropathy cases as compared to acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy cases. Conclusion: Recovery was longer with acute gastrointestinal infection and acute motor axonal neuropathy. Speech impairment could be a clinical clue for the need of mechanical ventilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is characterized by recurrent episodes of fever and serositis, resulting in pain in the abdomen, chest, joints and muscles. While patients diagnosed with FMF are under follow-up of the internal medicine doctors, surgeons are rarely responsible the initial diagnosis of FMF. We aimed to investigate the frequency of the FMF in the surgical emergency in those with acute nonspecific abdominal pain. Material and Methods: All patients admitted to emergency service due to acute abdominal pain were evaluated and those resulted with nonspecific pain were enrolled. During six months period, patients consistent with above criteria were examined with abdominal x-ray and ultrasound(US), hematological and biochemical test, and physical examinations. Nine type of FMF mutations were investigated in the patients. All results were comparatively evaluated considering MEFV (+) or MEFV(-). Results: There were 68 patients (35, 51.4% male and 33, 48.5% female) with a mean age of 29.5±10.1 (range: 17-49 years). All patients displayed mild or severe abdominal pain. Genetic analysis revealed that 19 [MEFV(+)] out of 68 patients (27,9%) carry mutation either homozygote or heterozygote. The most frequent mutation seen in seven patients was M694V (36.8%). In MEFV(+) patients, fibrinogen, CRP and lactate dehydrogenase levels(LDH) were significantly higher (p<0.05). On computed tomography, in six patients in whom US showed decompressed appendix, appendicitis was confirmed and appendectomy was performed. Conclusions: The patients with nonspecific abdominal pain should also be considered for FMF before decision of surgery. High levels of fibrinogen, CRP and LDH in addition to clinical history of similar attacks that arise strong clinical suspicion can help diagnose FMF with genetic analysis. Our results need confirmation in larger prospective studies to confirm these preliminary results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Medical Journal of Bakirkoy is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Summary: Behçet''s disease is a systemic vasculitic disease characterized mainly by recurrent oral and genital aphthous ulcers, uveitis and skin findings. Central nervous system involvement is a serious manifestation. A case of acute meningeal syndrome secondary to Behçet''s disease is presented. Behçet''s disease should always be considered in differential diagnosis of acute meningeal syndrome without signs of viral infection, particularly in the context of multisystem manifestations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective Vitamin D is a hormone with a variety of functions, and its deficiency and insufficiency are commonly seen both in the general population and in patients with chronic renal disease. The aim of this study was to compare vitamin D levels in patients with chronic renal disease who are on hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, or no renal replacement therapy and patients who underwent renal transplantation. Methods A total of 169 patients who had not used vitamin D for ≥1 year and who had no diabetes mellitus or proteinuria were included in the study. These included: 40 patients with renal transplantation, 40 patients on hemodialysis, 49 patients on peritoneal dialysis, and 40 patients with chronic renal failure stage 1, 2, 3, or 4. 25-Hydroxy vitamin D levels were evaluated in the sera of the patients. Results 25-Hydroxy vitamin D levels in patients with renal transplantation and in predialysis patients were 12.74 ± 10.24 ng/mL and 11.16 ± 12.25 ng/mL, respectively. The levels were 7.77 ± 6.71 ng/mL and 5.96 ± 4.87 ng/mL in patients on hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, respectively. Conclusions Vitamin D levels are lower in patients on hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis compared with the patients with renal transplantation for a variety of reasons. In this study, objective results were obtained supporting the administration of vitamin D supplements without glomerular filtration rate measurement in all patient groups with the diagnosis of chronic renal failure in accordance with the guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]