Aim To investigate the mean platelet volume (MPV) in asymptomatic children infected with COVID‐19. Methods The study included 55 children infected with COVID‐19 and 60 healthy children for the comparison of leukocyte and thrombocyte count, MPV and serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels. Demographic data and clinical findings of all the participants were recorded, including age, gender, weight, temperature, cough, shortness of breath and contact history. Results The MPV values were determined to be statistically significantly high ( P < .001) and the lymphocyte values were significantly low (p:0.002) in the asymptomatic children infected with COVID‐19 compared with the healthy control children. No difference was determined between the groups in respect of CRP level, leukocyte and thrombocyte counts ( P > .05). The optimal cutoff point for MPV was determined as 8.74 fl (Area under the curve—AUC:0.932) with 81.82% sensitivity and 95% specificity for the determination of children infected with COVID‐19. A cutoff value of <2.12/mm 3 for lymphocytes (AUC:0.670) was determined with 49.09% sensitivity and 86.67% specificity for the prediction of COVID‐19. Based on the ROC analysis, the sensitivity and specificity of MPV were determined to be higher than that of lymphocyte levels. Conclusion The results of this study indicate that MPV levels are significantly high in asymptomatic children infected with COVID‐19 demonstrate that this is an important predictive value and has better predictive capacity than lymphocyte values. The evaluation of MPV and lymphocyte levels together could increase diagnostic success in asymptomatic COVID‐19 patients.

The aim of this study was to investigate the change in nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2), which plays a critical role in cytoprotection against oxidative stress, in pediatric patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection positivity, and to evaluate the relationship between Nrf2 and oxidative balance. The study included 40 children with confirmed COVID-19 infection and 35 healthy children. The groups were compared in respect of Nrf2, total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), and oxidative stress index (OSI), in addition to clinical findings of fever, cough, shortness of breath, contact history, and demographic data of age and gender. The mean Nrf2 values and TAS levels were determined to be statistically significantly low (p < 0.001) and the TOS level and OSI were statistically significantly high in the children with COVID-19 compared to the control group. A significant positive correlation was determined between Nrf2 and TAS (p < 0.01); as the Nrf2 value increased, so the TAS value increased. A significant negative correlation was determined between Nrf2 and TOS and OSI (p < 0.01); as the Nrf2 value increased, there was determined to be a significant decrease in the TOS and OSI values. COVID-19 infection in pediatric patients causes a decrease in the Nrf2 level.

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To investigate the complaints and findings of COVID-19 infection in a paediatric age group. Material and Method:The study included 130 patients with COVID-19 infection confirmed with reversetranscription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test positivity. The cases were evaluated in respect of demographic data, such as age and gender, and clinical findings, such as fever, weight, cough, shortness of breath, and history of infectious contact.Results: Evaluation was made of 130 COVID-19-positive paediatric patients, comprising 69 (53%) males and 61 (47%) females, of which 54% were asymptomatic and 5.4% had severe clinical findings requiring follow up in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Of the symptomatic patients, fever was determined in 30%, listlessness in 24%, cough in 10.8%, respiratory problems in 9.2%, diarrhea in 6.2%, abdominal pain in 6.2%, vomiting in 2.3%, joint pain in 2.3%, and convulsions developed in 1.5% who had no previous history of convulsions. Of the 7 patients who required intensive care, 2 had cerebral palsy, 1 had hydrocephaly+shunt, 1 had metabolic disease (propionic acidemia), 2 had a history of trauma (struck by a motor vehicle), and in 1 there was no comorbidity. Mortality developed in 6 of the 7 patients in ICU. Conclusion:In a significant proportion of children, COVID-19 has an asymptomatic course, which contributes greatly to the spread of the disease. While COVID-19 can cause morbidities such as convulsions in the paediatric population, it may also result in mortality in children with underlying serious diseases.

Aim. The aim of this study is to ascertain whether the level of circulating amino acids (aa) is associated with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Methods. This is a randomized controlled study of 55 infants born at gestational age (GA) ≤32 weeks or birth weight (BW) ≤1500 grams. Serum samples were obtained from two groups: Group A comprised of 26 preterm infants with ROP and Group B comprised of 29 preterm infants without ROP. Plasma aa levels were analyzed using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Correlation test and multivariate regression analysis were used to evaluate the relationship between plasma aa levels and variables. Results. The mean serum arginine and glutamine levels were significantly higher, but the mean lysine and aspartic acid levels were significantly lower in Group A, compared to Group B ( p = 0.04 , p = 0.002 , p = 0.029 , and p = 0.002 , respectively). In multivariate analysis, the mean arginine and lysine levels were significantly associated with the stage of the disease ( p = 0.03 and p = 0.01 , respectively). No significant differences were determined between the groups in terms of alanine, asparagine, valine, leucine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, serine, proline, citrulline, cysteine, ornithine, tryptophan, methionine, threonine, taurine, and isoleucine amino acids ( p > 0.05 , respectively). Conclusions. These results indicate a significant association between high arginine and glutamine, with low lysine and aspartic acid serum concentrations with ROP. Due to higher serum concentrations in ROP, extra arginine-glutamine supplementation in hyperoxic conditions may be unfavorable through pathways involving reactive oxygen, particularly in patients with ROP.