Neutrophils are known to play a role in airway inflammation and are activated in inflammatory lung diseases such as asthma. In adult studies the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was found to be a possible biomarker for both airway and systemic inflammation. However, there is a limited understanding regarding NLR in the pediatric age group. To assess NLR as a biomarker for inflammation in pediatric asthma, 54 children admitted to hospital with exacerbation of asthma between March and October 2013 were enrolled into our study. Complete blood counts were obtained during both exacerbation and an asymptomatic period covering at least 3 months after exacerbation. NLRs of the study group during both exacerbation and the asymptomatic period were compared and these two datasets were then compared with the control group. The study group comprised 27 boys (50%) and 27 girls (50%) with a mean age of 120 ± 36 months. Of the total number of patients, 3.7% had mild, 94.4% had moderate, and 1.9% had severe exacerbation of asthma. The NLRs of the study group were found to be significantly higher during exacerbation compared with both the asymptomatic period and the control group (P = 0.017, P = 0.003). Our study suggests that NLR may be effective and usable measurable biomarker for determining inflammation in cases of pediatric asthma during acute exacerbation period. However, a broad analysis of dependent and independent variables in further prospective studies, is still required.Trial registration: Not applicable.

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Foreign body ingestion is very common in childhood especially under 3 year of age. Pica syndrome is characterized by an appetite for substances that are largely non-nutritive. We present a 3-year old girl who presented to ER with symptoms and signs of intestinal obstruction.

Background: There are conflicting results about what is 'normal' weight loss in healthy term newborns and thus, when interventions, such as supplementary feeding, should be considered.Research Aim: The current study aimed at assessing issues affecting weight loss in the early neonatal period and explaining any connections with related factors.Methods: A prospective descriptive study was conducted on 3254 full-term, singleton newborns born at > 37 gestational weeks at a 3rd-level neonatal center in 2016.Results: All newborns were exclusively breastfed, 758 delivered vaginally and 670 by cesarean section, making a total of 1428 newborns were weighed. Early mean weight-loss percentages were identified as 4.23% vs. 4.29%, 4.23% vs. 4.29%, 5.88% vs. 6.65%, and 4.80% vs. 6.32% in Turkish and Syrian infants, respectively, measured at 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours of age. For gender evaluation, the early mean weight-loss percentage was 1.80% vs. 2.22%, 4.02% vs. 4.47%, 6.11% vs. 5.94%, and 5.86% vs. 5.68%, measured at 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours of age. There was no difference in weight loss according to nationality or gender between the groups. For the delivery method, there was a statistical significant difference at 24 hours, 3.88 vs. 4.59, and at 30 hours, 4.07 vs. 5.58. Conclusions:In healthy term newborns, ethnicity and gender differences did not affect weight loss. Newborns delivered vaginally had their maximal weight loss after 42 hours as opposed to 72 hours for the ones born by cesarean section. Being aware of the delayed rate of dehydration can prevent complications and unnecessary supplementation.

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