Investigation of VGLL3 and sub-target genes in the aetiology of paediatric acute appendicitis: a prospective case-control study.

Purpose: Vestigial like family member 3 (VGLL3) and its sub-target genes show considerable transcriptomic overlap in terms of several autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Herein, we investigated the role of VGLL3 rs13074432 polymorphism and its sub-target genes in the aetiology of acute appendicitis (AA).

Methods: In this prospective case-control study, we included 250 patients (age, 0-18 years) who underwent appendectomy with the diagnosis of AA (patient group; blood and appendix tissue samples) and 200 healthy children (control group; only blood samples) without appendectomy.

A new biomarker (RENALASE) for the diagnosis of blunt renal trauma in an experimental study.

Introduction: Kidneys are the most frequently injured organ in the genitourinary system, but there is no specific biological marker for this trauma. Renalase may be a descriptive biomarker of the pathology that causes renal ischemia, nephrotoxicity, and acute renal failure.

Objective: This study investigated the role of serum and urine levels of renalase for the diagnosis of renal injury in rats with experimentally induced blunt renal trauma.

The role of sonic hedgehog homologue signal pathway in hypospadias aetiology.

Introduction: Hypospadias is one of the most common congenital anomalies of the male genitalia. Sonic hedgehog homologue (SHH) signalling pathway is believed to be involved in the development of the male genital system.

Objective: In this clinical prospective study, the role of the SHH pathway in hypospadias aetiology was investigated.

A rare cause of inguinal abscess: perforated appendicitis due to foreign body in Amyand`s hernia.

Background: Amyand`s hernia is rarely noted in children, and appendicitis caused by a foreign body in Amyand`s hernia is even rarer.

Case: A 2-year-old girl presented with recurrent conglomerate lymph node enlargements and an abscess in the right groin existing for one year despite medical treatment. Direct radiography revealed a foreign body in the right inguinal region.

A study of the utility of novel non-invasive urinary and serum biomarkers of blunt kidney injury in a rat model: NGAL, KIM-1, and IL-18.

This study investigated changes in the concentrations of serum and urine neutrophil gelatinase lipocalin (NGAL), kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1), interleukin 18 (IL-18), and cystatin-C (Cys-C) induced by parenchymal and tubular damage following blunt kidney trauma, as well as their potential utility as biomarkers in the detection and follow-up of patients with suspected blunt renal trauma. Three-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 18) were divided into three groups (n = 6 in each): group 1: control group (no intervention); group 2: sham group (explorative surgery and exposure of the left kidneys); and group 3: trauma group (explorative surgery and induction of blunt renal trauma of the left kidneys). Serum and urine samples were collected before and 12-24, 36-48, and 60-72 hours later for NGAL, KIM-1, IL-18, and Cys-C measurements.

Primary Urachal Hydatid Cyst in a Child: A Case Report.

The hydatid cyst (HC) is an endemic parasitic disease worldwide. Although the HC can locate in every part of a body, it rarely occurs over the abdominal wall. A 12-year-old female patient was brought to Department of Pediatric Surgery, Firat University School of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey in 2017.

Bochdalek hernias in children with late presentation.

Aim: Bochdalek hernias, which brought after the neonatal period, are also late-defined cases. In this study, we aimed to present the clinical characteristics of patients with late-presentation Bochdalek hernias who underwent surgery in a reference hospital and our experience regarding their diagnosis.

Material And Methods: Patients with late-presentation Bochdalek hernia who underwent surgery in our clinic between 2001 and 2016 were analyzed retrospectively in terms of the causes of the delay in diagnosis, symptoms, and radiologic and surgical results.

Littre hernia in children: A clinical aspect.

Background/aims: Littre hernia (LH) is difficult to distinguish from other hernias until complications arise. In this research, we present the details of diagnosis, treatment, and frequency of LH cases with differentiated clinical properties.

Materials And Methods: Littre hernia prevalence, clinical properties, and treatment details of cases diagnosed as incarceration/strangulation (I/S) of hernias between December 1996 and December 2017 were retrospectively investigated.

Effects of Carnosine and Vitamin E on Nucleobindin 2 (NUCB2)/nesfatin-1, Ghrelin, Adropin, and Irisin in Experimentally Induced Ovarian Torsion.

Introduction: Delay in the diagnosis of ovarian torsion leads to serious histopathological changes and many problems, including infertility. Various agents have been investigated to minimize detorsion-associated potential injury. This study was performed to study the effects of carnosine and vitamin E on tissue and serum expression of 2 (NUCB2)/nesfatin-1, ghrelin, adropin, and irisin to determine whether they have protective effects in cases of ovarian torsion.

Does microbial resistance profile change in community-based intra-abdominal infections? Evaluation of the culture results of patients with appendicitis.

Tartar T, Sağmak-Tartar A, Saraç M, Bakal Ü, Akbulut A, Kazez A. Does microbial resistance profile change in community-based intra-abdominal infections? Evaluation of the culture results of patients with appendicitis. Turk J Pediatr 2018; 60: 520-526.

Neonatal Gastrointestinal Perforations: the 10-Year Experience of a Reference Hospital.

The aim of this study was to present our experiences with, as well as the factors that affect, the treatment and outcome of patients with neonatal gastrointestinal perforations (GIPs). Thirty-eight newborn cases that were operated on for GIP in our hospital's tertiary newborn intensive care unit between January 2005 and December 2015 were retrospectively evaluated. The patients were divided into the two following groups: group 1, perforations related to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and group 2, non-NEC perforations.

Magnesium-permeable polymorphisms in patients with meningomyelocele.

Background: To evaluate whether there is an association between single nucleotide polymorphisms in magnesium-permeable ion channel and development of meningomyelocele (MMC). Therefore, we examined a total of 150 children with MMC, along with age- and gender-matched controls. DNA collected from whole blood was analyzed for the presence of two polymorphisms, rs2274924 (A > G; K1579E; Leu1579Glu) and rs3750425 (G > A; Val1393Ile), in .

Delayed diagnosis: An important prognostic factor for oesophageal atresia in developing countries.

Aim: The aim of this study is to analyse the effect of delayed diagnosis on mortality rates, and evaluate the role of delayed diagnosis as a new prognostic factor in patients with oesophageal atresia (OA), especially in developing countries.

Methods: The records of 80 consecutive patients with OA (2008-2013) were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups according to the time of diagnosis.

Serum, Saliva, and Urine Irisin with and Without Acute Appendicitis and Abdominal Pain.

A 112-amino-acid protein irisin (IRI) is widely expressed in many organs, but we currently do not know whether appendix tissue and blood cells express it. If appendix tissue and neutrophil cells express IRI, measuring its concentration in biological fluids might be helpful in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA), since neutrophil cells are the currently gold-standard laboratory parameters for the diagnosis of AA. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the suitability of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based measurements of the proposed myokine IRI for the discrimination of patients with AA from those with acute abdominal pain (AP) and healthy controls.

A Study of Foreign Body Aspiration in Children.

Aim: To analyze diagnostic and therapeutic methods used in the diagnosis and treatment of foreign body aspiration (FBA) and to determine the impact of technical infrastructure on mortality and morbidity.

Methods: Hospital records of patients diagnosed with FBA between the years 1987 and 2015 were retrospectively evaluated. The patients were grouped according to the length of time until their admission to the hospital as follows: Group I (0-24 h); Group II (1-7 days); Group III (>7 days).

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocal in protein levels as an acute appendicitis biomarker in children.

Objective: Appendicitis is very commonly encountered in emergency clinics. There is an urgent need for early and accurate predictive biomarkers of appendicitis in order to save lives, because currently-available biomarkers are imprecise and their delayed response impairs the ability of emergency doctors and pediatric surgeons to provide timely and potentially effective therapies. This study was performed to determine whether changes in the blood levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) can help to diagnose acute appendicitis in children and distinguish acute appendicitis from abdominal pain.

Surgical and Molecular Evaluation of Pediatric Hydatid Cyst Cases in Eastern Turkey.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) caused by Echinococcus granulosus is a major public health problem worldwide, including Turkey. The aim of the current study was to identify the strains and to estimate the potential risk factors of E. granulosus in operated pediatric cases in eastern Turkey.

Recent changes in the features of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.

Background: Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) is a rare cause of non-bilious vomiting in young infants; the condition requires surgical management. Diagnosis is based on clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings. In the present study, we evaluate recent changes in the features of HPS.

Long-Term Prognosis of Patients with Esophageal Atresia and/or Tracheoesophageal Fistula.

Objective: To investigate long-term prognosis of infants with esophageal atresia (EA) and/or tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF).

Methods: The data of patients with EA were investigated from their medical files. For the neurodevelopmental evaluation, they were requested to come for a return visit to authors' polyclinic.

Cystic abdominal masses in children: a pictorial essay.

Cystic abdominal masses in children are not an infrequently encountered condition of childhood. These lesions usually present with large size and mimick each other with similar presenting symptoms. Imaging examinations have an important role to determine the type of the cystic abdominal masses, which is crucial for management of patients and presurgical planning.

A rare mode of entry for needles observed in the abdomen of children: Penetration.

REPORT OF INCIDENTALLY DETECTED SEWING NEEDLES ON PLAIN ABDOMINAL RADIOGRAPHS IN TWO PATIENTS WITHOUT ANY PRIOR HISTORY OF INGESTION OR OF BEING PIERCED: one in the liver and the other in the peritoneum encased by omentum. These case reports point out a rare mode of entry of needles into the abdominal cavity by penetration from outside.

A portable ultrasound based screening study on the prevalence and risk factors of cystic echinococcosis in primary school children in East Turkey.

The tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus constitutes a major public health concern, since its larval stage causes cystic echinococcosis (CE) which is a life-threatening zoonotic disease in many parts of the world. The purpose of the present study was to perform a screening study in order to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of CE using a portable ultrasound (US) in a representative sample of 2500 primary school children aged 7-14 in East Turkey, where CE is known to be endemic. The students were scanned by portable US while standing, with special attention to the liver, spleen, pancreas, and kidneys.

Determination of urinary N-acetyl-ß-D glucosaminidase (NAG) levels in experimental blunt renal trauma.

Background: We evaluated the applicability of urinary N-acetyl-beta-D glucosaminidase (NAG) levels in the diagnosis and follow-up in blunt kidney injury.

Methods: Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats were studied. In the Sham group, left kidney exploration was made.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia in identical twins.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH, Bochdalek type) is rarely seen in both members of identical twins. Herein, we report a 37 weeks' twins with CDH along with a brief review of the literature. Both the neonates survived.