The prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents has been rapidly increasing in recent years. Obese individuals are at risk for vitamin D deficiency. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation of vitamin D deficiency with puberty and insulin resistance in obese children and adolescents. A total of 106 children and adolescents (48 prepubertal and 58 pubertal) between 8 and 16 years of age were included in the study. Fasting blood glucose, insulin, lipid profile, calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone, 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels, as well as blood glucose and insulin concentrations at 120 min of oral glucose tolerance test were measured. Insulin resistance was calculated using the homeostasis model assessment. Daily vitamin D intake was questioned. Serum 25(OH)D level was normal in only 3.8%, insufficient in 34.0%, and deficient in 62.2% of the subjects. There was a statistically significant rate of 25(OH)D deficiency in the pubertal group compared with that in the prepubertal group. Those subjects with 25(OH)D deficiency were found to have greater insulin resistance. Vitamin D deficiency is common among obese children and adolescents. Low vitamin D levels in obese individuals may accelerate the development of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease by further increasing insulin resistance.

Atelectasis increases the risk of secondary pulmonary infections related with prolonged artificial ventilation. Therefore, it requires early and aggressive treatment in newborns cared in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Current treatment of atelectasis consists of certain conventional modalities. However, there is still no evidence-based, "gold standard" treatment. Use of recombinant human deoxyribonuclease (rhDNase) is a new concept in NICUs. In this study, we aimed to compare and evaluate the clinical and radiological changes in infants who received nebulized or intratracheal rhDNase for persistent atelectasis unresponsive to conventional treatment options. M Ma at te e-r ri ia al l a an nd d M Me et th ho od ds s: : This study was conducted in 23 newborns hospitalized at the NICU of Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital. Twelve intubated patients received 1.25 mg rhDNase mixed with 1:1 0.9% saline intratracheally, whereas 11 non-intubated patients received the drug via a jet nebulizer. A second dose was administered 4 hours after the initial dose. Chest physiotherapy and tracheal aspiration was performed 1 hour after the second dose. The same protocol was repeated on the second day. Clinical and radiological responses were evaluated separately. R Re es su ul lt ts s: : Positive radiological and clinical responses to rhDNase and recurrence of atelectasis in the whole study group were 78.3%, 56.3% and 16.7% respectively. Nebulized route was more successful than the intratracheal route. Response to rhDNase was better in cases with upper lung lobe involvement. C Co on nc cl lu us si io on n: : Both nebulized and intratracheal rhDNase administrations are successful without any adverse reactions for the treatment of persistent atelectasis, especially in neonates with viscous secretions and pneumonia with upper lobe atelectasis. K Ke ey y W Wo or rd ds s: : Pulmonary atelectasis; infant, newborn; DNASE1 protein, human; mucus Ö ÖZ ZE ET T A Am ma aç ç: : Atelektazi, uzamış mekanik ventilasyona neden olarak ikincil akciğer enfeksiyonu riskini arttırır. Bu nedenle yenidoğan yoğun bakım ünitelerinde (YYBÜ) yatmakta olan bebeklerde atelektazinin erken ve agresif tedavisi zorunludur. Atelektazinin güncel tedavisi bazı konvansiyonel yöntemlerden oluşmaktadır. Ancak halen kanıta dayalı "altın-standart" bir yöntem bulunmamaktadır. YYBÜ'de rekombinan insan deoksiribonükleazının (rhDNase) kullanımı yeni bir uygulamadır. Bu çalışmada konvansiyonel tedavi seçeneklerine dirençli persistan atelektazisi olan yenidoğanlarda, nebulize ve intratrakeal yollardan uygulanan rhDNase tedavisini kıyaslamayı ve klinik ve radyolojik değişiklikleri değerlendirmeyi amaçladık. G Ge er re eç ç v ve e Y Yö ön nt te em ml le er r: : Bu çalışmaya Dr. Behçet Uz Çocuk Hastanesi YYBÜ'de izlenen 23 yenidoğan dahil edildi. Entübe olarak izlenen 12 hastaya, 1,25 mg rhDNase 1:1 %0,9 salinle karıştırıldıktan sonra, intratrakeal yoldan; entübe olmayan 11 hastaya ise nebulize yoldan uygulandı. İlk dozdan 4 saat sonra ikinci doz verildi. İkinci dozdan 1 saat ...

Patients and methods: Thirteen (13) healthy preterm neonates [birth weight (BW): 1740g (1500-2200), gestational age (GA): 32,5wk (31-34)] and 13 healthy term neonates [(BW: 2960g (2500-4310), GA: 37,5wk (37-39)] were studied. Six (6) healthy adults were used as controls. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from neonates during the 2 nd and 3 rd weeks of life. IL-17 levels were measured in the serum by ELISA. Results: Serum IL-17 levels did not differ between preterm and term neonates. However, IL-17 levels were significantly lower in both preterm and term neonates, as compared to those of adults (p > 0,001 for both terms and preterms).