Lipid accumulation product (LAP) is associated with the presence and severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adults. Here we evaluated the ability of LAP to predict NAFLD in obese children. Eighty obese children (38 girls; age 6-18 years) were included. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical values were obtained from the patients' medical records. LAP was calculated as [waist circumference (WC) (cm) - 58]×triglycerides (mmol/L) in girls; [WC (cm) - 65]×triglycerides (mmol/ L) in boys. The minLAP and adjLAP were described (3% and 50% of WC values, respectively) and the total/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol index (TC/HDL-C) was calculated. NAFLD was observed on ultrasound, and patients were divided into 3 groups by steatosis grade (normal, grade 0; mild, grade 1; moderate-severe, grade 2-3). The area under the curve (AUC) and appropriate index cutoff points were calculated by receiver operator characteristic analysis. LAP was positively correlated with puberty stage (rho=0.409; P0.005). There was a statistically significant difference between the normal and mild groups for adjLAP (P=0.043) but not between the other groups (P>0.005). There was no significant intergroup difference in minLAP (P>0.005). LAP is a powerful and easy tool to predict NAFLD in childhood. If LAP is ≥42.7, NAFLD should be suspected. This is the first study to assess LAP diagnostic accuracy for childhood obesity.

Background: Although many improvements in neonatal care have been achieved, mortality rates for sepsis and septic shock in newborns are still high. The vasoactive inotropic score (VIS) was designed and studied to predict mortality in different settings. There are currently no data on the predictive ability of the VIS for mortality in newborn patients with septic shock. Methods: Patients with late-onset neonatal sepsis who required inotropes because of fluid-refractory septic shock during the study period were included in the study. Four distinct VIS values were calculated for each septic shock episode after inotropic treatment had begun, that is, at the initiation of inotropic treatment and at 24 and 48 h after inotropic treatment had begun, and the highest VIS (VISmax) at any time after initiation of inotropic agents. Results: The 98 episodes studied were divided into two groups according to the outcomes of their sepsis episodes as survivors (n = 39) or nonsurvivors (n = 59). The areas under the curve of the VIS values for the prediction of mortality were the VISmax (0.819, p < 0.001), followed by the VIS48 (0.802, p < 0.001), VIS24 (0.762, p = 0.001) and VIS0 (0.699, p = 0.015). Patients with a VISmax of greater than 20 had significantly higher odds of mortality (p < 0.001, β = 14.7, 95% confidence interval [4.7–45.9]). Conclusion: We found that the VISmax was an easy-to-use and helpful tool for predicting a poor outcome in neonatal sepsis. Physicians should be aware that the prognosis is poor for any newborn with a VIS of 20 or greater at any point after the onset of sepsis.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the predictability of the homozygous M694V genotype in paediatric FMF patients and to develop a clinical scoring system to enhance disease management strategies. Methods: This nationwide, multicentre, cross-sectional study included 3981 paediatric FMF patients with biallelic pathogenic variants in exon 10 of the Mediterranean fever gene. Patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (homozygous M694V) and group 2 (other variants). Data were collected from 37 paediatric rheumatology and/or nephrology clinics across Türkiye, covering patients followed between 2014 and 2023. Results: Group 1 had significantly earlier symptom onset (≤3 years: 49.8% vs 43.9%, P < 0.001) and diagnosis (median age: 5 years vs 5.8 years, P < 0.001) compared with group 2. A higher prevalence of family history of FMF was observed in group 1 (P < 0.001). Clinical manifestations, including arthritis (27.5%), erysipelas-like erythema (ELE) (20.3%) and protracted febrile myalgia syndrome (PFMS) (3.6%), were significantly more frequent in group 1 (P < 0.001 for all). Colchicine resistance was also higher in group 1 (18.1% vs 5.1%, P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that ≤3 years of age at symptom onset, family history, arthritis, myalgia, PFMS, ELE and splenomegaly were independent predictors of the homozygous M694V genotype. A clinical scoring system was proposed based on these findings. Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the clinical predictors of the homozygous M694V genotype in paediatric FMF. The proposed scoring system will support clinicians in prognosis assessment and treatment planning, contributing to improved patient outcomes.

Optimal dosing of valganciclovir (VGCV) for cytomegalovirus (CMV) prevention in pediatric solid organ transplantation recipients (SOTR) is controversial. Dosing calculated based on body surface area and creatinine clearance (BSA) is recommended but simplified body weight (BW) dosing is often prescribed. We conducted a retrospective six center study to compare safety and efficacy of these strategies in the first-year post-transplantation. There were 100 (24.2%) pediatric SOTR treated with BSA and 312 (75.7%) with BW dosing. CMV DNAemia was documented in 31.0% versus 23.4% (p=0.1) at any time during the first year and breakthrough DNAemia in 16% versus 12.2% (p=0.3) of pediatric SOTR receiving BSA versus BW dosing, respectively. However, neutropenia (50% versus 29.3%, p<0.001), lymphopenia (51% versus 15.0%, p<0.001) and acute kidney injury causing treatment modification (8.0% versus 1.8%, p<0.001) were documented more frequently during prophylaxis in pediatric SOTR receiving BSA versus BW dosing. The adjusted odds ratio of VGCV attributed toxicities comparing BSA and BW dosing was 2.3 [95% CI, 1.4-3.7] for neutropenia, 7.0 [95% CI, 3.9-12.4] for lymphopenia, and 4.6 [95% CI, 2.2-9.3] for premature discontinuation or dose reduction of VGCV, respectively. Results demonstrate that BW dosing is associated with significantly less toxicity without any increase in CMV DNAemia.

Valganciclovir is the only approved antiviral for cytomegalovirus (CMV) prevention in pediatric solid organ transplantation (SOT). Additional approaches may be needed to improve outcomes. A multicenter retrospective study from 2016 to 2019 was conducted of pediatric SOT recipients in whom at least 3 months of valganciclovir prophylaxis was planned. Episodes of CMV DNA in blood (DNAemia), CMV disease, drug-related toxicities, as well as other infections in the first year posttransplant and demographic and clinical data were collected. CMV DNAemia in the first year after prophylaxis or during prophylaxis (breakthrough) was analyzed by multivariate hazard models. Among the 749 patients enrolled, 131 (17.5%) had CMV DNAemia at any time in the first year; 85 (11.4%) had breakthrough DNAemia, and 46 (6.1%) had DNAemia after prophylaxis. CMV disease occurred in 30 (4%). In a multivariate model, liver transplantation compared to kidney or heart, intermediate or high risk based on donor/recipient serologies, neutropenia, and valganciclovir dose modifications attributed to toxicity were associated with increased risk of total and/or breakthrough DNAemia. Bacteremia was also associated with increased hazard ratio for CMV DNAemia. In a separate multivariate analysis, rejection occurred more often in those with breakthrough CMV DNAemia (P = .002); liver transplants, specifically, had increased rejection if CMV DNAemia occurred in the first year (P = .004). These associations may be bidirectional as rejection may contribute to infection risk. CMV DNAemia in the first year posttransplantation occurs despite valganciclovir prophylaxis and is associated with medication toxicity, bacteremia, and rejection. Pediatric studies of newer antivirals, especially in higher-risk subpopulations, appear to be warranted.

This study was planned to investigate the personality traits of cancer patients in different treatment settings, and to correlate the demographics with the personality features. A total of 237 patients referred either to Marmara University School of Medicine (MUSM) Oncology Outpatient Unit or to the private office of the faculty between March 10th and April 22nd, 2010 were enrolled in the study. The Big Five Mini Test was used to evaluate the 40 personality traits of the patients. The study group consisted of 98 males (41.35%) and 139 females (58.65%) with a mean age of 51. Out of the 237, 73.9% had an educational level beyond the junior high school, and 47.3% of all patients reported a positive family history for cancer. A significant difference in terms of reconcilability, extraversion, and responsibility was observed between patients admitting to the university outpatient clinic and the private office (p<0.05). Reconcilability and extraversion were found to differ between genders significantly (p<0.05). The description of the patients by him/herself or by relatives displayed a significant difference in terms of openness (p<0.05). Parameters such as educational level, family history of cancer, age and marital status showed no relevance to their characters. No discordance was observed between the self-analysis of the patient and the patient's relatives. Patients with cancer are typically highly reconcilable and responsible, moderately stable, open and extraverted.