The contribution of platelets to the inflammatory response via several platelet derived mediators is well recognized. The role of mean platelet volume (MPV) in infectious and inflammatory disorders, however, has not yet been well-established. While some of the previous studies demonstrated that MPV acted as a positive acute phase reactant, several others suggested its role as a negative acute phase reactant. In the current study, we aimed to assess the role of MPV as an acute phase reactant in children with rotavirus gastroenteritis. We undertook a prospective, randomized, controlled, cross-sectional study and enrolled children diagnosed with acute rotavirus gastroenteritis and healthy controls (HC), between August and November 2012. Children with acute gastroenteritis were assigned either in the rotavirus-positive acute gastroenteritis (RPAG) or in the rotavirus-negative acute gastroenteritis (RNAG) group depending on their stool antigen results. Patients were also classified into two groups based on their Vesikari score (< 11: non-severe and ≥ 11: severe). Complete blood count and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were assessed for all patients. We compared MPV between RPAG, RNAG and HC groups and investigated the association, if any, among MPV, platelets, white blood count and CRP. In total 100 RPAG (54 males; mean age: 38.74 ± 41.45 months), 100 RNAG (58 males; mean age: 32.84 ± 29.64 months) children and 100 HC (43 males; mean age: 33.21 ± 32.55 months) were enrolled into the study. Mean platelet counts were well-matched among groups (p > 0.05). We observed a steady decline in MPV (fL) in the HC, RPAG and RNAG groups (median 7.80, 7.35 and 7.30, respectively; p < 0.0001). We did not find an association between MPV and the clinical score of gastroenteritis (p > 0.05). We found that MPV could be used as an acute phase reactant in children with rotavirus gastroenteritis. We believe that the current study will contribute to our understanding of MPV as an inflammatory marker.

INTRODUCTION: Normal values of the 6-min walk distance (6MWD) for children have not been well demonstrated. This limits the interpretation of the 6MWD in children. METHODS: A cross-sectional prospective study was designed. A total of 949 (467 males, 482 females) healthy children were recruited randomly from 7 Turkish secondary schools in Ankara. The 6-min walk tests were conducted according to the American Thoracic Society guidelines. RESULTS: The mean 6MWD decreased between the ages of 12 and 14 y for both boys and girls, and then gradually increased until 17 y of age. In the best fitting and most efficient linear, quadratic, and categorical regression models, the age of the subjects, heart rate after the test, and physical activity level of the subjects were significantly related to the 6MWD. Nevertheless, these variables explained < 20% of the variance in the 6MWD. CONCLUSIONS: The 6MWD does not increase in a straight linear fashion from the age of 12 until adulthood. Correlation of the 6MWD with anthropometric features is very weak, so in evaluating the 6MWD, the standard curves should be used.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) primarily affects adults and spares children, whereas very little is known about neonates. We tried to define the clinical characteristics, risk factors, laboratory, and imagining results of neonates with community-acquired COVID-19. Methods: This prospective multicentered cohort study included 24 neonatal intensive care units around Turkey, wherein outpatient neonates with COVID-19 were registered in an online national database. Full-term and premature neonates diagnosed with COVID-19 were included in the study, whether hospitalized or followed up as ambulatory patients. Neonates without severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) via reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction testing or whose mothers had been diagnosed with COVID-19 during pregnancy were excluded. Results: Thirty-seven symptomatic neonates were included. The most frequent findings were fever, hypoxemia, and cough (49%, 41%, 27%, respectively). Oxygen administration (41%) and noninvasive ventilation (16%) were frequently required; however, mechanical ventilation (3%) was rarely needed. Median hospitalization was 11 days (1–35 days). One patient with Down syndrome and congenital cardiovascular disorders died in the study period. C-reactive protein (CRP) and prothrombin time (PT) levels were found to be higher in patients who needed supplemental oxygen (0.9 [0.1–8.6] vs. 5.8 [0.3–69.2] p = 0.002, 11.9 [10.1–17.2] vs. 15.2 [11.7–18.0] p = 0.01, respectively) or who were severe/critical (1.0 [0.01–8.6] vs. 4.5 [0.1–69.2] p = 0.01, 11.7 [10.1–13.9] vs. 15.0 [11.7–18.0] p = 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Symptomatic neonates with COVID-19 had high rates of respiratory support requirements. High CRP levels or a greater PT should alert the physician to more severe disease.