Epidemiology of paediatric severe sepsis and septic shock in Turkey: Prevalence, results and treatments study.

Aim: This study was aimed at characterising the prevalence, management and outcomes of paediatric severe sepsis and septic shock in tertiary paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in Turkey.

Methods: A point prevalence study was conducted on 5 days over the course of 1 year in 29 PICUs in Turkey. Outcomes included severe sepsis and septic shock point prevalence, therapies used, duration of PICU stay and mortality at day 28.

Erythropoietin prevents lymphoid apoptosis but has no effect on survival in experimental sepsis.

Background: Lymphoid apoptosis in sepsis is associated with poor outcome, and prevention of apoptosis frequently improves survival in experimental models of sepsis. Recently, erythropoietin (EPO) was shown to protect against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mortality. As cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) is a clinically more relevant model of sepsis, we evaluated the effect of EPO on CLP-induced lymphoid tissue apoptosis and mortality.

Hyperferritinemia in the critically ill child with secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis/sepsis/multiple organ dysfunction syndrome/macrophage activation syndrome: what is the treatment?

Introduction: Hyperferritinemia is associated with increased mortality in pediatric sepsis, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), and critical illness. The International Histiocyte Society has recommended that children with hyperferritinemia and secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) or macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) should be treated with the same immunosuppressant/cytotoxic therapies used to treat primary HLH. We hypothesized that patients with hyperferritinemia associated secondary HLH/sepsis/MODS/MAS can be successfully treated with a less immunosuppressant approach than is recommended for primary HLH.

A survey of pediatric intensive care services in Turkey.

The aim of this study was to describe and assess the structure, organization, and staffing of pediatric intensive care services in Turkey. A survey was sent to major university and government hospitals. Out of the 40 hospitals stating to provide pediatric intensive care, 34 responded to the survey (85% response rate).

Multiple erythematous nodules and ecthyma gangrenosum as a manifestation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis in a previously healthy infant.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa septicemia is rare in healthy infants and children. Also not common, dermatologic manifestations such as ecthyma gangrenosum and indurated erythematous nodular lesions may be the first signs of pseudomonas infection, or may appear later in the course of the disease. Peripheral facial paralysis and mastoiditis are also rare and serious complications of acute otitis media caused by P.

Polyethylene skin wrapping accelerates recovery from hypothermia in very low-birthweight infants.

Background: Thermal management of the very low-birthweight (VLBW) infant is a cornerstone of neonatology because thermal stress is an important determinant of survival. This prospective study was designed to determine the effects of polyethylene occlusive skin wrapping on heat loss in VLBW infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) promptly after birth.

Methods: Thirty consecutively inborn infants weighing <1500 g were allocated to a wrap or non-wrap group within an incubator after admission to the NICU.

Erythropoietin downregulates bax and DP5 proapoptotic gene expression in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.

Background: Perinatal asphyxia is an important cause of neonatal mortality and subsequent serious sequelae such as motor and cognitive deficits and seizures. The ameliorative effect of erythropoietin (Epo) on experimental hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in neonatal rats has been recently reported. Recent studies also confirm the antiapoptotic effect of Epo in a variety of in vitro and in vivo neuronal injury models including hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.

RNA interference in neuroscience.

One of the most exciting findings in recent years has been the discovery of RNA interference (RNAi). RNAi is an important system that allows sequence-specific gene silencing through targeted degradation of mRNA by cognate double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). RNAi plays a role in endogenous cellular processes, such as developmental control and heterochromatin formation, and serves as an antiviral defense mechanism.

Erythropoietin as a novel neuroprotectant.

Purpose: To provide an overview of the current knowledge on neuroprotective properties of Erythropoietin (Epo), mechanisms by which Epo produces neuroprotection, and signaling pathways regulated by Epo in the nervous system.

Methods: The Medline database was searched for articles on the neuroprotective properties of Epo. Experimental and clinical studies were systematically reviewed.

Erythropoietin improves long-term spatial memory deficits and brain injury following neonatal hypoxia-ischemia in rats.

It is well known that neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury leads to mental retardation and deficits in cognitive abilities such as learning and memory in human beings. The ameliorative effect of erythropoietin (Epo) on experimental hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in neonatal rats has been recently reported. However, the effect of Epo on cognitive abilities in the hypoxic-ischemic brain injury model is unknown.

Erythropoietin and the nervous system.

Erythropoietin (Epo) is a hematopoietic growth factor and cytokine which stimulates erythropoiesis. In recent years, Epo has been shown to have important nonhematopoietic functions in the nervous system. Nonerythropoietic actions of Epo include a critical role in the development, maintenance, protection and repair of the nervous system.

Effects of childhood bronchiectasis on cardiac functions.

Background: Bronchiectasis is still a widespread disease in developing countries. It is an important cause of mortality and morbidity. The information on cardiac involvement in bronchiectasis is limited.