Altered ventricular longitudinal strain in children with sickle cell disease: Role of TGF-β and IL-18.

Background: Cardiovascular involvement in sickle cell disease (SCD) has a great impact on patients' morbidity and mortality. Recently, interleukin-18 (IL-18) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) were suggested as potential biomarkers for sickle cell cardiomyopathy. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) is a reliable early parameter for estimation of deformed myocardium.

Is hypoalbuminemia a risk factor for high-dose methotrexate toxicity in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia?

Background: Repeated high-dose methotrexate (HDMTX) is a critical component of contemporary childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment regimens. Serum albumin is considered a carrier of methotrexate (MTX) in the blood. Hypoalbuminemia is not a rare finding in children with leukemia.

Lactoferrin versus iron hydroxide polymaltose complex for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial.

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is common among children with cerebral palsy (CP), and studies on the efficacy of lactoferrin (Lf) in the treatment of IDA are limited. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of Lf with that of iron hydroxide polymaltose complex (IPC) in the treatment of IDA in children with CP. This randomized controlled study, conducted at Alexandria University Children's Hospital, enrolled 70 children aged 1-10 years with CP and IDA; 35 children randomly received IPC, whereas the other 35 received Lf.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of 101 Children with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: A Four-Year Single-Center Experience from Egypt.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening condition, arising either due to genetic mutations or from a variety of underlying diseases. This prospective observational study reports the clinical and laboratory data as well as the outcome of pediatric HLH in Egypt. HLH was diagnosed according to the Histiocyte Society HLH-2004 diagnostic criteria conducted at Alexandria University Children's Hospital over four years.

Anticardiolipin antibodies in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is an autoimmune disease that selectively destroys insulin-secreting pancreatic beta cells. Anticardiolipin antibody is an autoantibody directed against cell membranes. An association of this antibody with diabetes mellitus has not been widely reported.

Serum leptin concentrations in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus: relationship to body mass index, insulin dose, and glycemic control.

Although obesity is a frequent feature of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), many patients with type 1 DM are prone to high body mass index (BMI). We measured serum leptin concentrations in a cohort of children (n = 55) with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM), as well as their anthropometric parameters including BMI, skin fold thickness at multiple sites, and midarm circumference. Glycemic control was assessed by blood glucose (BG) monitoring before meals, and measurement of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and insulin dose/kg/d was recorded.