Assessment of vitamin D status and vitamin D receptor polymorphism in Egyptian children with Type 1 diabetes.

Background: The endocrine system of vitamin D regulates about 3 % of the human genome. Vitamin D exerts its actions via a nuclear vitamin D receptor (VDR) which in turn regulates insulin secretion from the pancreas. VDR gene polymorphisms could have an impact on how autoimmune illnesses like Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) develop.

N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide as a biomarker for differentiating cardiac and pulmonary disease in term neonates with respiratory distress.

Objective: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is synthesized in the cardiac ventricles and released in response to volume or pressure load. The aim of the study was to determine whether plasma level of N-terminal pro BNP (NT-pro BNP) can distinguish between cardiac and pulmonary disease (PD) among neonates with respiratory distress (RD).

Patients And Methods: The study included 48 term neonates in the first month of life with signs of RD.

NT-proBNP in Children With Left to Right Shunt and Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Background: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are elevated in children with congenital heart disease involving a left-to-right shunt (LRS) and are also raised in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). As far as we know, there are few reports in the literature comparing the change of the NT-proBNP in LRS and DCM especially in the pediatric age group.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare the changes of the NT-proBNP in pediatric patients with LRS and DCM.