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Introduction: In this study, we prospectively investigated changes in serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and full white blood cell (WBC) counts during the diagnosis and treatment of paediatric patients with appendicitis. We also investigated the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis and treatment processes of paediatric appendicitis patients. Materials and Methods: A non-perforated appendicitis group (n = 110), a perforated appendicitis group (n = 35) and an appendicitis + COVID-19 group (n = 8) were formed. Blood samples were taken upon admission and every day until the three studied parameters returned to normal values. To investigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on paediatric appendicitis patients, the perforated appendicitis rates and the times from the onset of the first symptoms to the operation before and during the pandemic were compared. Results: WBC, IL-6, and hsCRP dropped below the upper limits on the second postoperative day in the non-perforated appendicitis group, four to six days postoperatively in the perforated appendicitis group, and three to six days postoperatively in the appendicitis + COVID-19 group. These parameters were not within normal range in patients who developed complications during follow-up. The time from the onset of abdominal pain to the surgery was significantly longer during than before the pandemic in both the non-perforated appendicitis group and the perforated appendicitis group. Conclusions: Our results show that WBC, IL-6, and hsCRP are useful laboratory parameters that can complete clinical examinations in the diagnosis of appendicitis in paediatric patients and the identification of complications that may develop postoperatively.

Objective(s): The current study, the first of its kind in the literature, aimed to observe the toxic effects of Tartrazine, a commonly used dyestuff in industries and foods, on the liver, and investigate whether this toxicity could be eliminated with thymoquinone coadministration. Materials and Methods: 32 male Wistar albino rats were procured from İnönü University Experimental Animals Breeding and Research Center. The rats were randomly assigned to 4 equal groups: Control group, Thymoquinone group, Tartrazine group, and Thymoquinone + Tartrazine group. Rat liver tissue and blood samples were obtained and biochemical and histopathological examinations were conducted on the samples.Results: Tartrazine administration increased the oxidant (malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase) and oxidative stress index parameters (total oxidant status) in the liver tissue and decreased the antioxidant parameters (glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and total antioxidant status) leading to histopathological problems (hematoxylin-eosin staining and Caspase-3 immunoreactivity) and inflammation (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6) in the serum samples. Thymoquinone, on the other hand, improved antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Conclusion: At this time and dose, thymoquinone has a protective effect against tartrazine hepatotoxicity. Thymoquinone can be used as a protective agent against tartrazine toxicity.

Objective(s): Oral colonization of Acinetobacter baumannii can lead to infections such as pneumonia and sepsis. We aimed to evaluate oral colonization of hospitalized patients in ICUs and to examine risk factors for oral colonization, molecular epidemiology, and incidence of pneumonia and sepsis. Materials and Methods: The study began in February 2021. Oral cultures were taken. The microorganisms were identified by a Maldi-tof MS mass spectrometry device. Colistin resistance genes were investigated by polymerase chain reaction. Clonal relationships were determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Results: A. baumannii was found in 21 of 96 patients’ oral cultures. Pneumonia and sepsis due to A. baumannii were detected in 14 and 5 patients, respectively. The mean growth time of A. baumannii from oral cultures was 11.8 days, and the meantime for the occurrence of pneumonia after oral growth was 5.2 days. We determined a plasmid mediated mcr-2 colistin resistance gene in a colistin susceptible A. baumannii strain. It is the first report of the plasmid mediated mcr-2 colistin resistance gene in our country. In total, fourteen different A. baumannii genotypes were determined in PFGE. It was determined that the effects of antibiotic use, oral motor dysfunction, mechanical ventilation, intubation, orogastric tube use, and total parenteral nutrition intake on oral colonization were statistically significant.Conclusion: Oral colonization of A. baumannii is a significant concern in ICUs. We believe that it is important to take oral cultures and follow the risk factors and take infection control measures to prevent oral colonization of resistant isolates in ICUs.

Objective(s): The present study aimed to investigate the effects of periodontitis on kidneys and the protective role of crocin in periodontitis-induced kidney damage. Materials and Methods: Ethics committee approval was obtained and 30 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups of 10 rats: Control (C), Periodontitis (P), and Periodontitis + Crocin (P + Cr). After the treatments, rat kidney tissues were incised under anesthesia and blood samples were collected. Biochemical and histopathological analyses were conducted on the samples. Results: Malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) increased in P group rat kidney tissues; urea, creatinine, Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) levels increased in the serum; glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels were reduced in rat kidney tissues, and renal histopathology deteriorated. In the P + Cr group, we observed improvements in biochemical and histopathological parameters when compared with the P group. Conclusion: Periodontitis (P) led to deterioration in oxidative stress parameters and histopathology by increasing the oxidants in kidney tissue. P also led to inflammation in the blood of the rats. Periodontitis + Crocin (P + Cr) administration alleviated the effects of P due to powerful antioxidant anti-inflammatory properties. Cr could be employed as a protective agent in P-induced inflammation and oxidative damage.

PURPOSEActive bleeding due to abdominal trauma is an important cause of mortality in childhood. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the advantages of early percutaneous transcatheter arterial embolization (PTAE) procedures in children with intra-abdominal hemorrhage due to blunt trauma.METHODSChildren with blunt abdominal trauma were retrospectively included. Two groups were identified for inclusion: patients with early embolization (EE group, n=10) and patients with late embolization (LE group, n=11). Both groups were investigated retrospectively and statistically analyzed with regard to lengths of stay in the intensive care unit and in the hospital, first enteral feeding after trauma, blood transfusion requirements, and cost.RESULTSThe duration of stay in the intensive care unit was greater in the LE group than in the EE group (4 days vs. 2 days, respectively). The duration of hospital stay was greater in the LE group than in the EE group (14 days vs. 6 days, respectively). Blood transfusion requirements (15 cc/kg of RBC packs) were greater in the LE group than in the EE group (3 vs. 1, respectively). The total hospital cost was higher in the LE group than in the EE group (4502 USD vs. 1371.5 USD, respectively). The time before starting enteral feeding after first admission was higher in the LE group than in the EE group (4 days vs. 1 day, respectively).CONCLUSIONEarly embolization with PTAE results in shorter intensive care and hospitalization stays, earlier enteral feeding, and lower hospital costs for pediatric patients with intra-abdominal hemorrhage due to blunt trauma.

It was aimed to find out whether MPV can be used as an indicator of allergic inflammation in children with allergic rhinitis by looking at the changes in MPV and MPV/Plt in this study. Pediatric patients between the ages of 6 and 18 who had a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis were included in the study. Sex- and age-matched healthy children who visited the outpatient clinic for routine controls were included as control in order to compare the changes in patients total blood count parameters (e.g.,WBC, Hb, RDW, PLT, PDW, MPV). 95 pediatric (50 male, mean age:120 months ) patients and 90 healthy children (38 male, mean age:120 months) were included in the study. There were no statistical differences between gender (p=0.15) and ages (p=0.33) of both groups. WBC (p=0.21), Hb (p=0.8), RDW values (p=0.3) and platelet numbers (p=0.05) of both groups were similar. In the allergic rhinitis group, mean MPV value (p˂0.001), mean PDW value (p=0.005) were lower and mean Plt/MPV rate was higher(p=0.001). In addition, no significant association was found between the severity of allergic rhinitis and MPV (p=0.61). MPV value of 7.0 fL was identified as the cut off value at diagnosis with a sensitivity of 51.6 % and specificity of 83.3 % (AUC = 0.716; p =0.001). MPV values decrease in children with allergic rhinitis and MPV value is smaller than 7 fl is specific for allergic rhinitis. [Med-Science 2018; 7(1.000): 178-181]

Investigate the changes that occur in the placenta tissues of pregnant rats that were administered acrylamide (AA) and vitamin E as a protective agent during pregnancy. Thirty rats that were proven positive for pregnancy with vaginal smear test were randomly distributed into control, corn oil, vitamin E, acrylamide and vitamin E + acrylamide groups. Pregnant rats were decapitated on the 20th day of the experiment. Malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAS), total oxidant capacity (TOS) and Xanthine oxidase (XO) levels were measured in placenta tissues. It was determined that acrylamide application during pregnancy statistically significantly increased MDA, TOS and XO levels and reduced GSH and TAS levels in the placenta tissue of pregnant rats when compared to all other groups, and GAS and TAS levels statistically significantly increased in vitamin E administered group when compared to all other groups and TOS and XO levels were decreased to control group levels. It was observed that orally administered AA changed the antioxidant / oxidant equilibrium favoring the oxidants by increasing MDA, XO and TOS levels in pregnant rats and caused oxidative stress, while vitamin E administration returned the antioxidant / oxidant equilibrium back to normal levels, preventing oxidative stress induced toxicity.