Determining the aflatoxin M1 levels in breast milk

OBJECTIVE

Mycotoxins are different toxic substances at relatively smaller molecular weight produced by some types of fungi. Aflatoxin is the most common type of mycotoxin easily reproducing in food stored for a long time in unsuitable conditions. This study determined the aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) levels in breast milk samples collected from mothers who gave birth in Kırşehir, Turkey.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 82 breast milk samples to be analyzed to determine the AFM1 levels were collected from voluntary breastfeeding mothers who gave birth in the Kırşehir Training and Research Hospital and who were randomly selected. The AFM1 levels were determined using the competitive ELISA kit.

RESULTS

The AFM1 levels in the breast milk samples of mothers who did not consume milk were lower than those of other mothers. The AFM1 levels in the breast milk samples of mothers consuming fabrication milk were lower than mothers consuming homemade milk (p<0.01). Additionally, the AFM1 levels in the breast milk samples of mothers consuming homemade or self-made bread were lower (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study found that the nutritional habits of breastfeeding mothers affected the AFM1 levels in breast milk.

Evaluation of risk factors associated with first episode febrile seizure

OBJECTIVE

Febrile convulsion (FC) is one of the most common neurological findings in children. This study was aimed to investigate the difference in laboratory parameters between Febrile Seizure and control groups.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this study, 169 children admitted to the pediatric emergency department with their first episode of FS and 189 control groups were retrospectively analyzed. The demographic characteristics and laboratory parameters of children were obtained from their files.

RESULTS

Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) was determined the most common disease (81.6%) in the FC group followed by acute gastroenteritis (AGE) (15.4%) and urinary tract infection (UTI) (3%), respectively. Similarly, URTI was detected as the most common disease (81.8%) in control groups. It was determined that there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of diseases. The leukocyte and neutrophil counts of the children with FC were significantly higher but the mean corpuscular volume of lenfosit and lenfosit/neutrophil ratio was significantly lower than the control groups (p= 0.009, <0.001, 0.001, <0.001, <0.001, respectively). Children with FC had significantly higher blood glucose, urea, creatinine, creatine kinase, alkaline phosphatase and albumin levels compared with the control groups (p<0.001, in all parameters). On the other hand, the potassium, sodium and chlorine levels of the Children with FCs were significantly lower than control groups (p=0.017, <0.001, p <0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

To conclude, febrile patients with high leukocyte counts, high neutrophil counts, and several biochemical parameters should be carefully monitored for FCs due to the increasing seizure risk.