Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor in type 1 diabetic children, relation to vascular complications.

Background: Endothelial dysfunction caused by chronic inflammation is the cornerstone of vascular complications in type 1 Diabetes-Mellitus (T1DM). Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor (SuPAR) is a novel marker of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction.

Aim: To evaluate SuPAR in T1DM children and correlate it to diabetic vascular complications.

Three Dimensional (3D) Echocardiography as a Tool of Left Ventricular Assessment in Children with Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Comparison to Cardiac MRI.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) volumes and ejection fraction (EF) is Strong prognostic indicators for DCM. Cardiac MRI (CMRI) is a preferred technique for LV volumes and EF assessment due to high spatial resolution and complete volumetric datasets. Three-dimensional echocardiography is a promising new technique under investigations.

Left Ventricular Structural and Functional Changes in Children With β-Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Disease: Relationship to Sleep-disordered Breathing.

Cardiovascular complications are well recognized in β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease (SCD). The objective of this study was to evaluate left ventricular (LV) structural and functional changes and their relationship to sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children with β-thalassemia and SCD. One hundred patients recruited from the hematology clinic were subjected to Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score; 26 patients had positive score (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index ≥5) (15 β-thalassemia major and 11 SCD) and were compared with 25 age-matched and sex-matched controls.

The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Early Arrhythmias Following Pediatric Open Heart Surgery in Egyptian Children.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of early postoperative arrhythmias after cardiac operation in the pediatric population, and to analyse possible risk factors.

Material And Methods: Cross-sectional study included 30 postoperative patients, with age range four up to 144 months. They were selected from those admitted to the Cardiology Unit in the Pediatric department of Ain Shams University hospitals, after undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery for correction of congenital cardiac defects.

Soluble fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 1 as a Link Between Angiogenesis and Endothelial Dysfunction in Pediatric Patients With β-Thalassemia Intermedia.

Endothelial damage has been implicated in the pathogenesis of vascular complications in β-thalassemia intermedia (β-TI). Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFLT-1) is a member of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) family. Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 is an antiangiogenic protein that induces endothelial dysfunction by adhering to and inhibiting VEGF and placenta growth factor.

Galectin-3 in Children with Chronic Heart Failure with Normal and Reduced Ejection Fraction: Relationship to Disease Severity.

Heart failure (HF) progression has not been studied in pediatric patients as well as HF in patients with a normal ejection fraction (HFNEF). We aimed to evaluate galactin-3 in children with HFNEF and reduced ejection fraction (HFREF) and its correlation to disease severity and progression. This cross-sectional study involved 45 chronic HF patients taking G1a (23 HFNEF children) and G1b (22 HFREF children) compared to 45 age- and sex-matched controls (G2) subjected to history taking, Ross functional HF classification, conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiographic systolic and diastolic function assessment (FS%, E/A, S , E /A , E/E ) and laboratory investigations [glomerular filtration rate, serum galactin-3 level (ELISA)].

Growth differentiation factor-15 in children and adolescents with thalassemia intermedia: Relation to subclinical atherosclerosis and pulmonary vasculopathy.

Background: Heart disease is the leading cause of mortality and one of the main causes of morbidity in β-thalassemia. Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), a member of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily, is a marker of ineffective erythropoiesis in several anemias.

Aim: To determine GDF-15 levels in children and adolescents with TI and the relation to hemolysis, iron overload and cardiovascular complications.

Cardiac autonomic balance in children with epilepsy: value of antiepileptic drugs.

Background: Dysfunction of the autonomous nervous system causes arrhythmias and, although previous studies have investigated the effects of epilepsy on the autonomic control of the heart, there is still uncertainty about whether imbalance of sympathetic, vagal, or both systems occurs in epilepsy as well as the effect of anticonvulsants on the autonomic system.

Aim: To evaluate cardiac autonomic status in children with epilepsy on antiepileptic drugs.

Patients And Methods: Sixty patients with epilepsy were recruited from the Outpatient Neurology Clinic at Ain Shams University and were divided into the following groups: group I, drug naive; and group II, patients with epilepsy on regular antiepileptic drugs.

Platelet-derived microparticles and platelet function profile in children with congenital heart disease.

Platelet microparticles (PMPs) and function profile in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) have not been widely explored. We investigated platelet aggregation, flow cytometric platelet surface receptors (P-selectin and glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa) and PMPs in 23 children with cyanotic CHD (CCHD), 30 children with acyanotic CHD (ACHD) and 30 healthy controls correlating these variables to hematological and coagulation parameters including von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF Ag) as a marker of endothelial dysfunction. Hemoglobin, hematocrit (HCT), D-dimer, and vWF Ag were significantly higher in CCHD than ACHD group.

Adiponectin as a marker of complications in type I diabetes.

Objective: To evaluate adiponectin levels in children and adolescents with type I diabetes, and their relationship to long term complications.

Design: Cross sectional.

Setting: Tertiary referral hospital, Cairo, Egypt.