Although Turkey is located in a sunny region, vitamin D deficiency is still a serious health problem in pregnant women and their infants, especially among the low socio-economic status Turkish population. This study was carried out in order to measure serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D] concentrations of the pregnant women in the last trimester and in their neonates at delivery and to determine the factors associated with maternal serum 25(OH)D concentrations. Among the patients visiting the Ege Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital in the period March to May 2008, 258 healthy pregnant women ≥37 weeks of gestation were included in this study. The information on different characteristics such as the number of pregnancies and births, nutritional status, vitamin and mineral support during gestation, educational status, clothing style and the economic level of the family was collected from women. Blood samples from the mothers and umbilical cord of the newborns were taken to measure 25(OH)D. The mean 25(OH)D concentrations of the mothers and their infants were 11.5 ± 5.4 ng/mL and 11.5 ± 6.8 ng/mL, respectively. We found a strong positive correlation between maternal serum and umbilical cord blood 25(OH)D concentrations (r = 0.651, P < 0.001). The concentration of 25(OH)D was ≤20 ng/mL in 233 mothers (90.3%) and ≤10 ng/mL in 130 mothers (50.4%). Maternal serum 25(OH)D concentrations related strongly to factors such as uncovered dressing style, sufficient consumption of dairy products and multivitamin use during gestation (P < 0.05). About half (52.7%) of these women had a covered dressing style. 25(OH)D concentrations of these covered dressing mothers and their infants were 9.7 ± 5.1 ng/mL and 9.7 ± 5.6 ng/mL, respectively, which were significantly lower compared with those of uncovered mothers and their babies (P < 0.001). This study showed that, despite a sunny environment, vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are highly prevalent among the mothers and their neonates. This is generally due to the life style and nutritional status of the mothers. These findings suggest that much more effective vitamin D prophylaxis programmes should be implemented for pregnant women as well as for their babies.

This study highlights the significance of monitoring cardiac functions in newborns with HIE. ECG changes and serum Troponin I level at 72 h after birth are likely to have significant predictive value in the assessment of mortality in HIE. Further studies will provide additional data for the long-term prognostic value of cardiac functions in this disorder.

TWO hundred and twenty-four children aged 6 months to 5 years, with rectal temperatures greater than or equal to 39°C (104°F). were randomly treated with sponging alone or with medication including a single oral dose of aspirin 15 mgkg, or paracetamol 15 m a g , or ibuprofen 8 m a g . Twenty-three children were excluded from the final analysis because they did not complete the study. Demographic characteristics of the patients were found to be comparable in all groups. Rectal temperatures were recorded every 30 min for a 3 h period. During the first 30 min of intervention, sponging was found to be more effective than all of the three medications. After 60 min, the effects of each medication became superior to sponging with tepid water in reducing body temperature. Twenty-three children were excluded from the final analysis because they did not complete the study. Comparing the effect of the three different medications, it was seen that the antipyretic efficacy of aspirin and ibuprofen were significantly more than paracetamol 3 h after intervention ( P < 0.05).For the management of fever over 39°C it is therefore recommended to give children an antipyretic drug, preferably ibuprofen, and at the same time to begin sponging to provide a rapid and sustained antipyresis.

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