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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]

Objective: The present study aimed to compare the rate of wound site infection in patients <1 year of age who underwent sternotomy using electrocautery, a routinely performed procedure in our clinic, with those reported in the literature.Methods: This double-center study included patients <1 year of age who underwent cardiac surgery via sternotomy performed with electrocautery for congenital heart disease between January 2017 and June 2019. Patient's data were retrospectively obtained from the hospital records.Results: In our study, seven patients developed SSI, which was superficial in six (1.3%) patients and in the form of mediastinitis in one (0.2%) patient.Conclusion: Sternotomy with electrocautery, which we consider an easy and safe method, was also not found to be statistically different from the other methods in terms of SWI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the thyroid function alterations in a group of epileptic children taking antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Patients demographic data and the free throxine (fT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels at the beginning of the treatment and at the third, sixth and ninth months of AED treatment were recorded retrospectively. A total of 106 children, 59 males and 47 females, were enrolled in the study. Mean patient age was 3.7 years, ranging between 3 months and 14 years. In total, 54%% of patients were on valproic acid (VPA), 16%% phenobarbital (PB), 14%% were on carbamazepine (CBZ), 6%% were on oxcarbazepine (OXC), 5%% were on levetiracetam, and 5%% were on topiramate therapy. There were no significant differences in average fT4 values between the drug groups. But the mean fT4 levels of the patients on VPA therapy showed a clear decrease within the observation period. No significant difference in average TSH values between the groups was detected in the beginning and in the third and sixth month. However, in the ninth month, a significant increase in TSH values was found in the VPA group ( p == 0.007). In the patients taking VPA, average TSH values rose progressively while staying within normal limits. During follow-up, thyroid dysfunction were found in 21 patients (19.6%%). A statistically significant relationship was found between severe electroencephalography (EEG) findings and thyroid dysfunction ( p == 0.041). It was concluded that epileptic children with severe EEG findings and using VPA could have thyroid dysfunction. These patients should be followed up closely by thyroid function tests during treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]