Abstract: Aim: To evaluate serum zinc levels and breast milk intake in pediatric patients with recurrent tonsillopharyngitis

Material Method: 40 pediatric patients who were admitted to our polyclinics with the diagnosis of tonsillopharyngitis diagnosed as ≥ 7 times a year were included in Group 1; 40 healthy children who applied to the outpatient clinic for routine control in the same period were defined as Group 2. Serum zinc, blood parameters, C-reactive protein (CRP) values were studied from all patients. Patient complaints, breastfeeding time, and family history were questioned.

Results: There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of Hemaoglobin(Hb), hematocrit(Hct), white blood cell count(WBC), platelet count(Plt), mean platelet volume(MPV) and CRP values were significantly higher in the patient group (p=0.001). Serum zinc levels were significantly lower in Group 1 than Group 2 (p=0.000; p <0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups regarding the duration of breastfeeding (p=0.086; p> 0.05).

Conclusion: Our study showed that zinc deficiency may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of recurrent tonsillopharyngitis. Zinc supplementation may be recommended for children with recurrent tonsillopharyngitis There is a need for further studies to be done in larger population related to zinc levels in mother's milk content, serum zinc levels in mothers and zinc deficiency.

Keywords:  Recurrent tonsillopharyngitis, zinc, breast milk, child, tonsillitis.

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Abstract: Preterm babies are born with an immature intestine and are at higher risk for intestinal failure and needing for parenteral nutrition than full-term newborns. These babies show an altered intestinal microbiota, which may results of key importance for later health. However, there is a lack of information on effect of parenteral formulas upon the establishing infant microbiota. Moreover, the microbiota alterations present in preterm newborns have been related with an altered redox-potential which hinders the establishment of strict anaerobes. Thus, interventions aimed at reducing the oxidative stress in these infants, including those under parenteral nutrition, could also affect the intestinal microbiota composition. We assessed the effect upon the gut microbiota of the administration during 30 days of a lipid emulsion, containing ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and α-tocopherol, or a control emulsion containing soybean-bases lipids to parenterally-fed preterm newborns. In spite of its high antioxidant potential, the infants receiving the experimental fat emulsion showed a trend to increase of facultative anaerobes such as enterobacteria and specifically of Klebsiella. This study stresses the need of further work monitoring the impact of early-life parenteral nutrition on the establishment of the intestinal microbiota.

Keywords: Preterm infants, Parenteral nutrition, lipid emulsion, Antioxidants, Intestinal microbiota.

Abstract:  Background: Although parenteral sedation is often required in MRI studies in children, it is stressful and increases the cost of healthcare.

Objectives: We evaluated the impact of music interventions in children receiving parenteral sedation for MRI studies on total number of doses of sedation medications, sedation time, levels of cortisol and cytokines, sedation success, adverse events, parental satisfaction, and cost savings.

Methods: We conducted a prospective open unblinded four-arm clinical evaluation of interventions on 471 children 1-12 years of age undergoing MRI and receiving parenteral sedation. Children were assigned to active music therapy (AMT), facilitated music listening (FML), and as comparison another intervention (child life intervention or CLI), or no intervention (NI); measures included number of doses of sedation medications, time of sedation, sedation success, adverse events, parental satisfaction, and salivary levels of the stress hormone cortisol and pro-inflammatory cytokines, before and after intervention.

Results: The total number of sedation doses, total sedation time, and levels of salivary cortisol and cytokines did not differ between the four groups. One FMLA choice, Wee Sing Animal Songs, resulted in significant decrease in total sedation time and reduction of associated costs.

Conclusions: The use of one type of FML led to decreased total sedation time in children. This is an important finding since FML is an inexpensive non-invasive intervention which could be of significant time and cost saving benefits.

Keywords: Active Music Therapy, Facilitated Music Listening, MRI, Cytokines.