Polyethylene glycol electrolyte (PEG-3350) solution is usually used for bowel emptying before co-lonoscopy in adults. It has also been reported to be safe in children. It is thought that bowel irrigation with this solution can be a...

Introduction: A clinical course ranging from mild local findings to life-threatening systemic findings may occur after scorpion stings. The purpose of this study was to identify priority markers indicating scorpion sting–related cardiac involvement. Methods: Our study was performed between July 2014, and September 2015 in the Çukurova University medical faculty pediatric emergency department, in Adana, Turkey. Patients admitted with scorpion sting–related cardiac involvement and a control group consisting of patients with no scorpion sting–related cardiac involvement were included in the study. Troponin I at time of presentation and at 6 and 24 h, N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP), ejection fraction as determined by echocardiography at 24 h, and peak and end of T wave (Tp-e) and Tp-e/QTc ratios with echocardiography at 24 h were evaluated. Results: A patient group consisting of 7 cases of scorpion envenomation–related myocarditis and a control group of 30 cases of scorpion intoxication without myocarditis findings were enrolled. Statistically significantly high glucose, white blood cell values, creatine kinase MB, troponin I, and NTproBNP values were identified in the scorpion sting–related myocarditis group ( P<0.05). Ejection fractions determined by echocardiography at time of presentation were significantly lower in the patients with myocarditis compared with the control group ( P<0.05). A statistically significant difference was identified between Tp-e/corrected QT interval (QTc) ratios investigated in DI and V2 derivations in patient and control group echocardiograms ( P<0.05). Conclusions: We think that use can be made of NTproBNP in addition to echocardiography and troponin I in the early diagnosis of scorpion sting–related myocarditis and that Tp-e and Tp-e/QTc ratios identified via echocardiography can be used as early markers; however, further studies with larger numbers are needed to confirm this.

Myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD 88) is an intracellular adapter protein that mediates the early immune response to pathogens. Toll-like receptors (except TLR-3) induce the immune response through a MyD 88-dependent signal pathway. We aimed to investigate the MyD 88 polymorphisms that play important roles in the immune response in septic children and to evaluate whether or not they were risk factors in the development of sepsis. Case-control study. Sixty-five patients diagnosed with sepsis in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit during the period from April 2010 to January 2012 were included as the study group. Sixty-five children without sepsis were included as controls. After DNA was obtained from blood samples in the study and control groups, MyD 88 polymorphisms were analyzed. According to the genotype and allele frequencies, the distributions of MyD 88 polymorphisms [Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) - 938 C/A (rs4988453), MyD 88 SNP 1944 C/G (rs4988457)] were analyzed in both the study and control groups. The C/C genotype of MyD 88 SNP -938 was significantly more common than the C/A genotype in the patient group (p=0.002). No statistically significant difference in the frequency of the MyD 88 SNP 1944 genotype was found between the study and control groups (p=0.272). Gene polymorphism studies could elucidate our understanding of sepsis in terms of prevalence and the management of treatment. It was shown in this study that children with the MyD 88 SNP -938 C/C genotype had a greater tendency toward sepsis. However, additional studies should be performed.

Objective Scorpion stings are an important health problem in many parts of the world. The aim of this study was to retrospectively examine cases of scorpion stings to evaluate their epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory features and to determine strategies that can reduce morbidity and mortality in these cases. Methods Scorpion stings experienced by children between 2007 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were categorized into groups based on severities of toxicities, and demographic, clinical, and laboratory features were compared between the groups. Results The mean SD age of the 189 patients with scorpion stings was 83.43 +/- 59.62 months. There was a significant difference between the clinical stages and the age distribution of the cases (P < 0.05). White blood cell counts differed significantly between the groups (P < 0.05). There was not a significant difference in mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width between the groups, but plateletcrit and low platelet count were significantly different between stage 1 and stage 3 cases (P < 0.05). Glucose, creatinine kinase-myoglobin binding, and troponin I were also significantly different (P < 0.05). The mortality rate was 0%. Conclusions People living in regions where scorpion stings are frequent should be informed about preventive measures against these stings, cases of scorpion stings should be monitored in appropriate centers, and staff offering care to these cases should be educated about treatment methods. In addition, treatment protocols should be determined in accordance with regions where the stings occur and studies should be performed to describe prognostic indicators.