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OBJECTIVE: The studies on the pathogenesis of schizophrenia reported data indicating that abnormal immune responses might play a role in the development of schizophrenia. One of the markers of systemic inflammation is the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). In our study, the relationship between the early-onset schizophrenia, NLR, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 30 patients and 57 healthy controls matched in age and gender. Hematological parameters and Clinical Global Impressions Scale (CGI) scores were obtained from the medical records of the patients. Hematological parameters in the patient group were compared to those in the healthy control groups. The relationship between inflammation markers and CGI scores was investigated in the patient group. RESULTS: NLR, and neutrophil and platelet counts were found to be higher in the patient group as compared to the control group. A positive correlation was found between NLR and CGI scores. CONCLUSION: The results of the study support the multisystem inflammatory process model related to schizophrenia, which was revealed in previous studies, also in children and adolescents in the patient group [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lightning strike is a devastating disaster, leading to various life-threating complications and even death. In lightning striking victims, high-voltage electric current can destroy many tissues and organs through various mechanisms. One of these mechanisms is the blunt trauma that injures the organs by creating a blast effect. Although not frequent, blunt trauma may result in various solid organ injuries such as pulmonary contusion. In this article, we reported a 15-year-old male patient who was admitted to the emergency department because of lightning strike in open terrain. Although he was conscious and vital signs were normal at presentation, respiratory distress developed on the 4th day. Unilateral pulmonary contusion was detected on the computerized tomography of the thorax. The patient was treated with supportive oxygen and intravenous hydration therapy. His respiratory distress improved on the 6th day and control posteroanterior chest radiograph revealed that pulmonary hemorrhage was spontaneously resorbed. On the 9th day, he was discharged with normal respiratory findings. The patient did not have any complaints during the 3-month follow-up after discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the associations between celiac disease (CD) and children’s life quality and empathy level. METHODS: In this study, all participants aged 8–14 years completed the Turkish version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory and Index of Empathy for Children and Adolescents. Parents were also applied to the structured survey. RESULTS: This study included a study group consisting of 45 children with celiac disease and a control group with 48 healthy children. The total scores of PedsQL were significantly lower for children with celiac disease when compared to the control group (p<0.05). When the sub-scores of PedsQL were evaluated, scores except the school functioning score (ScFS) were significantly lower in the study group (p<0.05). When IECA was analyzed, total empathy scale scores (TESS) were measured significantly higher in the study group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study supports the argument that the quality of life decreases in children with CD. Future studies should aim to develop support models to improve the life quality of celiac patients. To our knowledge, this is the first study proving the increased empathy levels of children with CD. The determinants of the increased empathy levels should be focussed on future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical, laboratory and etiological differences between children having acute pancreatitis, acute recurrent pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis. Material and Methods: Medical records of children who were diagnosed with pancreatitis between January 2014 and December 2017 were evaluated retrospectively. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Afyonkarahisar University of Health Sciences. Our cases were classified as acute pancreatitis, acute recurrent pancreatitis and chronic pancretitis according to INSPPIRE group definitions. Results: Etiology, demographic characteristics, laboratory and radiological findings were compared between acute pancreatitis (group 1) and acute recurrent and chronic pancreatitis (group 2) groups. 43 patients (78.2%) were enrolled in acute pancreatitis group (group 1). In group 2; 8 cases had acute recurrent pancreatitis and 4 cases had chronic pancreatitis [a total of 12 cases (21.8%)]. When the etiologies of our cases were examined; Group 1 had idiopathic (88.5%), stone (2.3%), trauma (2.3%), infections (4.6%) and choledochal cyst (2.3%), respectively. In group 2, they were found to be idiopathic (50%), congenital anomalies of the pancreatic duct (8.3%), allergy (8.3%), autoimmunity (8.3%) and genetic causes (25%). There was no statistical difference between the groups in terms of laboratory values. In our study, the cause of pancreatitis could not be generally identified in all groups. Conclusion: In cases having acute pancreatitis, infections were the second most common etiology; and common causes of acute recurrent and chronic pancreatitis have been found as genetic causes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring the determinants of timely initiation of breastfeeding is necessary for planning efficient breastfeeding promotion programmes. The present study aimed to investigate the frequency and related factors of timely initiation of breastfeeding among Turkish mothers. This study was a cross-sectional, descriptive, mixed model study, which was carried out on mothers with healthy children up to 3 years old who presented to the paediatric clinic between 01 November 2019 and 30 December 2019 in a university hospital. Of the 307 participant mothers, the mean age was 28.3 ± 3.9 years. The frequency of timely initiation of breastfeeding was 70.7%. Significant associations were found between timely initiation of breastfeeding status and residence, type of delivery, type of anaesthesia, birth weight of babies, counselling on timely initiation of breastfeeding during antenatal care and consultant medical staff. In order to increase the breastfeeding rate in the first hour, spontaneous vaginal delivery should be supported and spinal/epidural anaesthesia method should be preferred in cases where caesarean delivery is indicated. Other important steps to increase the ratio of timely initiation of breastfeeding are strengthening breastfeeding counselling services and the midwifery system., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © Sudanese Association of Pediatricians.)

Objective: To investigate whether some ratios obtained from complete blood count could be favourable predictors in differentiating appendicitis from mesenteric lymphadenitis, appendicitis and familial Mediterranean fever., Methods: The retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at AfyonKocatepe University Medical Faculty, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey, from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2016, and comprised data of patients who presented to the department of paediatric surgery and paediatrics with symptoms of acute abdomen. Mean platelet volume, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, lymphocyte/monocyte ratio, and platelet/lymphocyte ratio of the patients calculated at the time of admission were analysed. SPSS 20 was used for data analysis., Results: Of the 301 patients, there were 139(46.2%) males and 162(53.8%) were females. The overall mean age was 11.5 } 4.33 years. Of the total, 137(45%) had appendicitis, 65(22%) familial Mediterranean fever, and 99(33%) had mesenteric lymphadenitis. Mean platelet volume was significantly different among the study groups (p<0.05). Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and platelet/lymphocyte ratio were statistically significantly higher (p<0.05) while lymphocyte/monocyte ratio was significantly lower (p<0.05) in appendicitis cases compared to the others., Conclusions: Mean platelet volume, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and platelet/lymphocyte ratio were found to be the potent predictors for the differential diagnosis of familial Mediterranean fever and mesenteric lymphadenitis which are mostly confused with appendicitis.