Evaluation of BCL2 and TNFα as mRNA biomarkers for monitoring the immune response in critically ill children.

Background: Hospital acquired infection (HAI) and multiple organ dysfunctions (MODS) remain a leading cause of death in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) despite the great efforts to control it.

Objective: Our objective was to assess the mRNA of TNFα and BCL2 for prediction of HAI and/or MODS in our community.

Patients And Methods: Fifty children, admitted to PICU, were included in the study after exclusion of cases of end-stage renal failure, end-stage liver failure and congenital immune deficiency.

Phosphate disturbance in critically ill children: Incidence, associated risk factors and clinical outcomes.

Background: Hypophosphatemia is one of the common disorders that develop in critically ill patients. It has potential complications and is often unrecognized in those patients.

Objective: Determining the incidence of hypophosphatemia in critically ill children, its association with clinical outcomes and the possible risk factors.

Effect of zinc supplementation on body mass index and serum levels of zinc and leptin in pediatric hemodialysis patients.

Introduction: Zinc is an essential trace element for human nutrition, and its deficiency is associated with anorexia, poor food efficiency, growth retardation, and impaired neurological and immune systems. The zinc-deficiency rate is particularly high in many disease states, such as with end-stage renal disease patients undertaking hemodialysis. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of zinc supplementation on body mass index (BMI) and serum levels of zinc and leptin in pediatric hemodialysis patients.