Are obesity and asthma in school-age children still strongly related to breastfeeding in infancy? - A real-life study.

OBJECTIVE: Although breastfeeding has been suggested as a candidate for the prevention of obesity and allergies, recent studies have reported mixed results. The aim of the study was (1) to assess breastfeeding length in obese children or children with allergic diseases compared to healthy children; (2) to evaluate the impact of the duration of breastfeeding on the incidence of obesity, allergy rhinitis and asthma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 408 children were evaluated (mean age 11.9±3.7 years; M/F 220/188) and divided into three groups (Obesity, n=103; Allergy, n=163; and Healthy, n=142). Breastfeeding history was collected during an interview. Physical examination, anthropometry, allergy (skin prick test with aeroallergens; Allergopharma) and a spirometry (Jaeger) assessment were performed in each participant. RESULTS: Most of the children (75%) were breastfed with a mean duration of 7.5 months (range 0-36; SD=7.9 months). The time of breastfeeding was longer in the healthy compared to the obese and allergic groups (p=0.003) and was correlated with BMI centile in all groups of subjects (R Spearman = -0.2, p<0.05). There was a higher number of subjects with hypersensitivity to the allergen of house dust mites and animals in the non-breastfed compared to the breastfed children (p<0.003, p<0.000, respectively). Non-breastfed children compared to the breastfed presented more often asthma (chi2=3.6 df=1 p=0.05), but not allergic rhinitis (chi2=9.0 df=1 p=0.002). Non-breastfed asthmatics, compared to the breastfed asthmatics, presented a significantly higher severity of asthma (OR=0.43; p=0.008). In multivariate regression models, a short breastfeeding time was associated with a higher risk of both obesity and asthma. CONCLUSIONS: School-age children with obesity and asthma were breastfed less often and for a shorter duration than their healthy peers. Longer breastfeeding may result in a reduced number of children with obesity, asthma, and allergy to house dust mites, but further investigation is needed on a larger population of school-age children.

Yogurt starter cultures of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus ameliorate symptoms and modulate the immune response in a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis.

We investigated the yogurt starter cultures of Lactobacillus bulgaricus 151 and Streptococcus thermophilus MK-10 for their effect on the severity of experimental colitis, lymphocyte profile, and regulatory T-cell response. Colitis was induced in BALB/c mice via the administration of 3.5% dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS) in drinking water for 6 d. Next, the mice were gavaged intragastrically with an active yogurt cultures (YC) mixture (∼5 × 109 cfu/mouse per day) or saline (vehicle) for 8 d. Mice receiving DSS or saline alone served as positive and negative controls, respectively. The length of the colon, disease activity index, histological scores, myeloperoxidase activity, epithelium-associated microbes, short-chain fatty acid profile, total IgA antibody-forming cells, CD3+CD8+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD4+CD25+, CD3+CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T-cell subsets, and cytokine profiles (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, IFN-γ, and tumor necrosis factor) were examined after termination of the mice. Feeding mice with YC mixture reduced disease symptoms and modified intestinal microbiota and host inflammatory responsiveness to DSS. We observed limited weight loss and a decreased disease activity index score, lowered myeloperoxidase activity, and somewhat reduced damage of the intestine. The YC mixture upregulated the colon length, increased the amount and diversity of mucosa-associated microbes (enterobacteria, enterococci, and yeast), and decreased the concentration of putrefactive short-chain fatty acids in the cecal contents. It downregulated the input of cytotoxic CD3+CD8+ T cells and CD3+CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells in Peyer's patches and enhanced CD3+CD4+CD25+ T cells in spleens and CD3+CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Simultaneously, IgA antibody-forming cells were downregulated in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) and enhanced in spleens (SPL). The cultures mostly enhanced the production of cytokines tested in MLN and SPL, except for IL-6, which was downregulated in MLN. Interleukin-2 and IL-4 were the most upregulated in MLN, whereas IL-10, IL-4, IL-2, IFN-γ, and tumor necrosis factor were most upregulated in SPL. In serum, the YC mixture downregulated IFN-γ and clearly increased IL-2. Based on these results, we recognize the high anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory potential of the L. bulgaricus 151 and S. thermophilus MK-10 set. The strains possess the ability to modulate the intestinal mucosal and systemic immune system toward both IgA production and induction of regulatory T cells, shifting Th1/Th2 balance.

Coexistence of JAK2 or CALR mutation is a rare but clinically important event in chronic myeloid leukemia patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

INTRODUCTION: There are 7 designated conditions under the category of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), including chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and classical MPN, that is, polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythaemia (ET), and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). Recently, reports about Philadelphia and JAK2 V617F-positive MPN cases have been described in literature. The coexistence of different molecular defects may change the clinical and laboratory manifestation of MPN and may result in an inappropriate interpretation of the response to treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors in CML patients. METHODS: The morphological, cytogenetic, and molecular genetic data from a retrospective analysis of 592 adult patients aged 18-86 years diagnosed with CML were analyzed. RESULTS: In 5 CML patients, the presence of JAK2 V617F or CALR mutation was confirmed. Three of 4 TKI-treated patients did not reach complete hematologic response due to the persistence of thrombocytosis and/or splenomegaly. In all of them (in 3 with JAK2 V617F mutation and 1 with CALR mutation), thrombocytosis was present at the time when complete cytogenetic response was documented. In 3 out of 4 reported CML patients, thrombocytosis and/or splenomegaly were still present even at the time when deep molecular response was reached. CONCLUSION: In our opinion, a detailed evaluation and appropriate interpretation of clinical and laboratory data in such a category of patients seem to be extremely important, especially when a decision about the TKI change due to therapy failure is considered.

The effects of whey and soy proteins on growth performance, gastrointestinal digestion, and selected physiological responses in rats.

The objective of this work was to identify the nutritional and physiological effects of commercial soy and whey protein preparations. Wistar rats were fed with soy (S), whey (W), or casein (C) preparations as the sole dietary protein source. The nitrogen balance, body composition, changes in caecal microbiota, mucosal and bacterial enzyme activities, and allergenic potential of the preparations were analysed. The whey diet elicited greater skeletal muscle anabolism than the soy diet. Rats from the S group had the lowest values of body weight, fat, and lean mass gain. Compared to casein, soy and whey preparations decreased the protein efficiency ratio, increased N in the urine, and triggered the reduction of ammonia levels in the caecum. Changes in ß-glucuronidase and ß-galactosidase activities in the small intestine, caecum, and colon between experimental groups were observed. Significant differences were noted in the total counts of anaerobic bacteria and sulphite reducing bacteria during soy and whey treatments. This probably affected the short chain fatty acid level in caecal digesta resulting in the lowest propionic acid and total putrefactive short chain fatty acid levels during S treatment. Generally, whey preparations are a good choice for rapid bodybuilding (skeletal muscles), whereas soy preparations are more helpful during mass reduction.

Rapid molecular identification and characteristics of Lactobacillus strains.

Eleven type strains and 24 Lactobacillus isolates, preliminarily classified to the species due to phenotypic features, were investigated. Standard methods of identification with species-specific PCRs and typing with PFGE (with ApaI, NotI and SmaI restriction enzymes) allowed us to distinguish 16 unique strains belonging to 5 species (L. acidophilus, L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, L. plantarum, L. rhamnosus, L. salivarius). Alternative approach with 16S-23S rDNA ARDRA identification (with merely two restrictases, BsuRI and TaqI) and PCR-based typing (RAPD with two random- and rep-PCR with (GTG)(5) primers) showed to be more discriminative, i.e. 21 unique strains were classified in the same species as above. As a result, 7 out of 24 phenotypically species-assigned isolates were reclassified. The alternative procedure of rapid identification and typing of Lactobacillus isolates appeared to be equally effective and shortened from 1 week to 2-3 d (in comparison to the standard methods).

Partial trisomy of long arm of chromosome 4 as a result of dir dup (4)(q27q31.3) de novo.

The phenotype of a girl at age of 12 years with a partial trisomy 4q caused by unique direct duplication 4q27 --> q31.3 included the thick, broad and straight eyebrows, upward slanting palpebral fissures, a deep-set eyes, narrow bridge and long back of the nose, flattened philtrum columns, narrow of vermilion borders of both upper and lower lips, protrusion of maxillary alveolar processus and anterior teeth together with shortened and posteriorly situated mandible, malocclusion corresponding with II class of Angle and long fingers, narrowing towards distal phalanges has been described. Further investigations are needed to delineate the clinical spectrum of features essential for partial trisomy 4q.

Endotoxin-challenges precocial neonates and iron changes.

In adult mammals fever is associated with the reduction of blood plasma iron level. Immature mammals, however, show either a decrease (precocial animals such as guinea pig neonates) or a lack of reduction (altricial animals such as human neonates) of plasma iron in response to endotoxin. In order to determine whether this difference is connected with maturity just after delivery, plasma iron concentration, hematocrit, body temperature and body mass were measured in rat pups injected with E. coli endotoxin in doses of 50 or 200 micrograms kg-1. Rat pups, like human neonates, are altricial animals. In 7-day-old rats injection of LPS led to a dose-dependent decrease in plasma iron level. The fall in plasma iron was accompanied by changes in body temperature and body mass. The results showed that plasma iron response to endotoxin in altricial rat neonates is similar to that observed in precocial guinea pig pups.

[Acute clostridium difficile gastroenteritis infection in children: report of three cases]. / Biegunki o etiologii Clostridium difficile u dzieci--opis trzech przypadków.

The causes and clinical manifestations of Clostridium difficile infection in children are described in this report. The studies were performed on three children aged up to 3 years. Risk factors as well as possible diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are discussed.

[Detection of the parasite Giardia intestinalis during feces examination with immunoenzymatic and microscopic methods]. / Wykrywalnosc pasozyta Giardia intestinalis w badaniach koproskopowych metoda immunoenzymatyczna i mikroskopowa.

Detection rate of G. intestionalis in feces with direct microscopy has been compared with the immuno-enzymatic technique detecting protein GSA 65 with Alexon Inc., ProSpec T/Giardia reagents kit. The results obtained with both methods have further been compared with those obtained by microscopic examination of the duodenal content. Detectability of Giardia intestinalis with EIA technique with the use of ready-made kit has been assessed. Feces have been collected from 371 patients. Protein GSA 65 has been present in 170 samples, 45.8%, examined with the use of ProSpec-T/Giardia kit. Giardia intestinalis cysts have been detected microscopically in the feces of 37 patients, i.e., in 22.3%. Microscopic examinations carried out by three independent examinators have shown marked diversity in the rate of positive results, being 0.1% (examinator A), 28.6% (B), and 45.2% (C). Comparison of G. intestinale detectability of all 3 techniques used have shown absence of protein GSA 65 in 2 out of 9 examined patients. However, trophozoites have been present in the duodenal content. Test performed with kits made by Alexon Inc. and DIALAB have given 45.8% and 60.7% of the positive results, respectively.

Allergic constitution and immunological condition of children infected with giardia lamblia.

In the group of 81 children infected with Giardia lamblia, the chosen parameters of cellular and humoral immunity as well as the effect of allergic costitution on the clinical picture of giardiasis were evaluated. Both cellular and humoral immunity disorders were found in patients with a chronic form of infestation. An allergic constitution coexisting with giardiasis promotes the chronicity of this parasitosis and a progressing allergization.

[Levels of catecholamines and activity of the renin-aldosterone system in women with hypertension in the period before and after menopause]. / Stezenie katecholamin i aktywnosc ukladu reninowo-aldosteronowego u kobiet z nadcisnieniem tetniczym w okresie przed-i pomenopauzalnym.

The examinations were carried out for 93 selected women divided into premenopausal group and the group in the early stage of postmenopausal period. Each of these groups was subdivided into two subgroups with normal blood pressure and arterial hypertension. The catecholamine level were determined fluorimetrically as per Euler and Lishajko, and the level of dopamine in plasma using Nagatsu's method. Angiotensin I and aldosterone concentration in serum was determined by radioimmunoassay using RIA set of Sorin. Free catecholamine excretion with urine for women with arterial hypertension in the premenopausal period is highly statistically (p < 0.001), and in the postmenopausal period only epinephrine is statistically higher (p < 0.01), whereas the dopamine level in plasma is smaller, statistically significant only in premenopausal period (p < 0.05). Also for women with the arterial hypertension compared with the control group the angiotensin I and aldosterone concentration in serum is statistically smaller.

[Excretion of free catecholamines in urine and activity of some enzymes involved in catecholamine metabolism with arterial hypertension during menopause]. / Wydalanie wolnych amin katecholowych z moczem i aktywnosc niektórych enzymów uczestiniczacych w ich przemianie u kobiet z nadcisnieniem tetniczym w okresie przekwitania.

This study was performed in 60 women aged between 47-55 years (mean age 50.46 +/- 1.7), divided into two groups: premenopausal and postmenopausal. Each group was subdivided according to arterial pressure: with normal pressure and arterial hypertension. Daily urinary excretion of catecholamines was determined according to method of Euler and Lishajko, the activity of dopamine--beta-hydroxylase in serum according to Nagatsu et al. The activity of catechol-O-methyltransferase in erythrocytes according to Axelrod et al., the activity monoamineoxidase in serum according to Wurtman et al. Daily urinary excretion of vanilmandelic acid determined according to Pisano et al. It was found that women with menopausal arterial hypertension have significantly greater urinary excretion of adrenaline and noradrenaline (p < 0.001) in the premenopausal period, and adrenaline (p < 0.01) in the postmenopausal period. The activity of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase did not differ from the control group. The activity of COMT in erythrocytes of women and MAO in serum of women with menopausal arterial hypertension was significantly lower. Daily urinary excretion of vanillinmandelic acid in women with menopausal arterial hypertension was significantly lower.

Effect of ambient temperature and E. coli endotoxin upon the plasma iron level in wild house mice in winter season.

The effects of ambient temperatures of 10 degrees C and 30 degrees C and of E. coli endotoxin on brain temperature and plasma iron level were investigated in unrestrained wild house mice, Mus musculus. In control animals (i.p. saline-injected) exposed to cold environment the brain temperature decreased and plasma iron levels were lower than those observed under thermoneutral conditions (30 degrees C). Animals injected i.p. with endotoxin (0.5 micrograms.kg-1) and placed at 30 degrees C showed a drop in plasma iron level during the fever episode. The results provide strong evidence for a relationship between brain temperature and plasma iron level in control mice under thermoneutral conditions, and show that during cold exposure or after injection of endotoxin, there is no linear correlation between brain temperature and plasma iron. Moreover, it was found that cold stress influences plasma iron level and that this influence is not mediated by changes in brain temperature.

Activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase by electrical stimulation, and low-Na+ perfusion of guinea-pig heart.

(1) Electrical stimulation (2 Hz) of guinea-pig hearts, perfused with medium containing 11 mM D-glucose plus 0.1 mM octanoate as substrate, resulted in an increase in the percentage of pyruvate dehydrogenase in the active form (PDHa) from 16 to 68%. (2) Rapid isolation of mitochondria by a technique designed to minimize net loss or gain of Ca2+ revealed an increase in mitochondrial Ca2+ content of the stimulated hearts, as measured with 45Ca (2.74 +/- 0.27 versus 1.37 +/- 0.11 nmol/mg protein; stimulated versus rested). (3) Perfusion of rested hearts with a medium containing a reduced Na+ concentration (20 mM, with the remainder replaced with Li+) also gave increased values of PDHa content (30.9% versus 16% for the normal, physiological medium). This procedure is known to raise cytosol Ca2+ concentrations and would be expected to give mitochondrial Ca2+ loading. (4) These results are consistent with a role of mitochondrial Ca2+ in activating pyruvate dehydrogenase in the intact heart.

Changes in plasma glycerol level in rabbits during fatigue-induced stress.

The lipolytic response to fatigue-induced stress was studied in fed and fasted rabbits and in fed propranolol-treated rabbits. The initial plasma glycerol level was higher and the increase in glycerol after stress was lower in fasted as compared to fed animals. Propranolol lowered the initial glycerol level and attenuated the fatigue-induced rise in glycerol concentration. The data suggest that in rabbits, as in other species, catecholamines increase lipolysis through stimulation of beta-adrenoceptors. The increment in alpha-adrenergic responsiveness during fasting may contribute to decreased glycerol response to stress observed in fasted rabbits.

Changes in the plasma concentration of free fatty acids in rabbits under fatigue-induced stress.

The effect of fatigue-induced stress and of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor antagonists (phentolamine and propranolol) on plasma free fatty acids (FFA) level was studied in fed and 24 h fasted rabbits. The initial FFA level was significantly higher in the fasted animals than in the fed ones. In the fed control rabbits immediately after stress the FFA level did not change as compared with its initial level. In the fasted control animals directly after stress a marked decrease in the FFA level was observed as compared with its initial value. 15 and 30 min after fatigue-induced stress, both in the fed and fasted control rabbits, a decrease in the FFA level was recorded as compared to that immediately after stress. It was found that propranolol had no significant influence on the FFA level, both in the fed and fasted animals, and phentolamine produced a distinct increase in the FFA level in the fed rabbits only. Immediately after stress the FFA level in the fed propranolol-treated rabbits was unchanged, but in the fed phentolamine-treated animals it was markedly decreased. Directly after stress a decrease of the amount of FFA in the fasted adrenolytic-treated rabbits was recorded, 15 and 30 min after stress the FFA level decreased both in the fed and fasted adrenolytic-treated rabbits. However, this decrease was not as marked as in the fed and fasted control animals. The possible role of lactate and of catecholamines in the changes of plasma FFA concentration was discussed.

Plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity in two kinds of acute stress in rabbits.

Changes in plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity were studied in rabbits subjected to two kinds of acute stress: insulin-induced hypoglycaemia and fatigue. A significant elevation of DBH levels was found both 30 minutes after fatigue-induced stress (p less than 0.001) and 90 minutes after insulin injection (p less than 0.01) when compared with the control values. Responses to these two kinds of stress are reported to be mediated by the sympathetic nervous system, mainly by the adrenal glands. Thus, these results suggest that plasma DBH level is a good index of acute alterations in sympathetic activity in rabbits.