Association of antioxidants and vitamin D level with inflammation in children with atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Changing the resources of vitamin D and antioxidant nutrients may affect the course of allergic diseases. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between CoQ10, vitamin D, retinol, and α-tocopherol serum levels and severity of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children. METHODS: Twenty-nine children with AD aged from 1 to 15 years were enrolled into the study. The severity of AD was categorized into mild or moderate (≤50 points in SCORAD - Scoring Atopic Dermatitis index) and severe (>50 SCORAD points). The control group was comprised of 22 children with negative history of allergy aged from 2 to 15. The serum measurements included vitamin D, retinol, α-tocopherol, CoQ10, C-reactive protein (CRP), complete blood count (CBC), and total immunoglobulin E (IgE). RESULTS: Low vitamin D concentration (<20 ng/ml) was observed mainly in patients with severe AD (77.8%), compared to children with mild or moderate AD (25%) or the control group (31.8%). Concentration of retinol was decreased significantly in patients with severe AD (median 1.32 µmol/l), compared to children with mild and moderate AD (median 1.66 µmol/l), but not to the control. Among inflammatory markers, only the group with severe AD demonstrated significantly elevated platelet count (PLT), red blood cell distribution width (RDW), and eosinophil count (EO). Retinol level correlated with PLT (R = -0.7; P = 0.003), white blood count (WBC) (R = -0.54; P = 0.01), total IgE (R = -0.51; P = 0.016), mean platelet volume (MPV) (R = 0.51; P = 0.02), and also with a disease severity index, SCORAD (R = -0.55; P = 0.007), whereas vitamin D level correlated only with MPV (R = 0.61; P = 0.003). No significant changes were found in tocopherol and CoQ10 levels between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Children with AD should be routinely tested for vitamin D deficiency, especially during disease exacerbation. Our results confirmed correlation of serum inflammatory markers with decreased concentration of vitamin A in children with AD. This finding, however, might be an effect of severe stage of disease and not only of inadequate intake of retinol in the diet.

EGFR and Bcl-2 in gastric mucosa of children infected with Helicobacter pylori.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to evaluate the expression of EGFR and Bcl-2 proteins as inhibitory markers of apoptosis in surface epithelial cells and gland cells of antral gastric mucosa in children infected with Helicobacter pylori according to the severity and activity of antral gastritis and to assess the correlation between the number of cells expressing EGFR and the number of cells expressing Bcl-2 in H. pylori infected children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 44 children: 68.2% with chronic gastritis and positive IgG against H. pylori, and 31.8% with functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and with normal IgG against H. pylori. The evaluation of EGFR expression in gastric mucosa was performed immunohistochemically using monoclonal mouse anti-EGFR antibody. The polyclonal antibody was used to determine the expression of anti-Bcl-2. RESULTS: A significant increase in the number of cells expressing EGFR and Bcl-2 protein was found in the epithelial cells in severe as well as mild and moderate gastritis in the group of children infected with H. pylori. An increase in the number of cells expressing EGFR and Bcl-2 protein was also found in the epithelial cells in group I according to the activity of gastritis. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between the numbers of cells expressing EGFR and Bcl-2 in H. pylori infected children. CONCLUSION: Increased expression of EGFR and Bcl-2 proteins in the epithelial cells and a statistically significant positive correlation between the numbers of cells expressing EGFR and Bcl-2 in H. pylori infected children could suggest increased regeneration abilities of gastric mucosa.

ß-casomorphin-7 alters µ-opioid receptor and dipeptidyl peptidase IV genes expression in children with atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with heterogeneous clinical phenotypes reflecting genetic predisposition and exposure to environmental factors. Reactions to food may play a significant role especially in young children. Milk proteins are particularly strong allergens and are additional source of bioactive peptides including ß-casomorphin-7 (BCM7, Tyr-Pro-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro-Ile). BCM7 exerts its influence on nervous, digestive, and immune functions via the µ-opioid receptor (MOR). Proline dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV; EC 3.4.14.5) appears to be the primary degrading enzyme of BCM7. Moreover, DPPIV is known to restrict activity of proinflammatory peptides. BCM7 is considered to modulate an immune response by affecting MOR and DPPIV genes expression. In this study, we determined the MOR and DPPIV genes expression in children diagnosed with a severe form of AD. 40 healthy children and 62 children diagnosed with severe AD (AD score ≥60) were included in the study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from the studied subjects were incubated with the peptide extracts of raw and hydrolysed cow milk with defined ß-casein genotypes (A1A1, A2A2 and A1A2) and MOR and DPPIV genes expression was determined with real-time PCR. Incubation PBMCs with peptide extracts from cow milk caused an increase of the MOR gene expression (p<0.05; p<0.001) in AD children with a simultaneous decrease in the DPPIV gene expression (p<0.001). The obtained results supplement the knowledge on the BCM7 participation in AD etiology and provide an important diagnostic tool.

Hepatotoxicity caused by montelukast in a paediatric patient.

Montelukast is a selective and competitive cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist (CystLTRA) which is increasingly used for the treatment of allergic asthma. Recently, hepatotoxicity has been reported with this drug in adult patients, but only one letter to the editor has reported a case of probable montelukast-induced hepatotoxicity in a child. We present a case of a 3.5-year-old boy, receiving treatment with montelukast, who developed hepatocellular injury. The exclusion of other causes of increased activity of aminotransferases (viral, metabolic, autoimmune), improvement after dechallenge, the morphological findings and previous reports of comparable cases support the diagnosis of montelukast-induced liver injury in this boy. Physicians should strictly analyse indications for this drug and be aware of potential drug-induced liver disease caused by this agent. Therefore, the periodical assessment of aminotransferases should be recommended during treatment with this leukotriene modifier.

Serum fetuin A concentration is elevated in children with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

PURPOSE: To assess the serum fetuin A concentration as a potential marker of subclinical atherosclerosis in obese children with NAFLD. MATERIAL/METHODS: A prospective analysis of 45 obese children initially diagnosed with liver pathology (elevated serum ALT activity and/or ultrasonographic liver brightness and/or hepatomegaly) was conducted. The diagnosis of NAFLD was established in the children with elevated serum ALT activity and liver steatosis on ultrasound examination. Viral hepatitis, autoimmune, metabolic liver diseases (Wilson disease, alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, cystic fibrosis) and drug and toxin-induced liver injury were excluded in all children. The degree of liver steatosis was graded according to Saverymuttu scale and the total liver lipids concentration was assessed using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H MRS). RESULTS: Serum fetuin A concentration was significantly higher in examined children compared to the control group (n=30) (p=0.00002). Higher serum fetuin A concentration was also observed in children with NAFLD (n=19) in comparison to the controls (p=0.000026). Additionally, higher BMI values, waist circumferences, ALT and GGT activity, intensity of liver steatosis on ultrasound and total concentration of lipids in the liver in (1)H MRS were found in children with NAFLD compared to the rest of the examined obese patients (n=26). There was not found any correlation of the investigated glycoprotein with any other assessed parameters both in children with NAFLD and obese children without NAFLD. CONCLUSION: Higher serum fetuin A concentration found in children with NAFLD compared to the control group support the hypothesis that atherosclerotic processes may develop faster in hepatopatic obese patients.

Cytokeratin-18 and hyaluronic acid levels predict liver fibrosis in children with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

OBJECTIVES: There is a need to replace liver biopsy with non-invasive markers that predict the degree of liver fibrosis in fatty liver disease related to obesity. Therefore, we studied four potential serum markers of liver fibrosis and compared them with histopathological findings in liver biopsy in children with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS: We determined fasting serum level of hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin, YKL-40 and cytokeratin-18 M30 in 52 children (age range 4-19, mean 12 years, 80 % of them were overweight or obese) with biopsy-verified NAFLD. Viral hepatitis, autoimmune and metabolic liver diseases (Wilson's disease, alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, cystic fibrosis) were excluded. Fibrosis stage was assessed in a blinded fashion by one pathologist according to Kleiner. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was used to calculate the power of the assays to detect liver fibrosis (AccuROC, Canada). RESULTS: Liver fibrosis was diagnosed in 19 children (37 %). The levels of HA and CK18M30 were significantly higher in children with fibrosis compared to children without fibrosis (p=0.04 and 0.05 respectively). The ability of serum HA (cut-off 19.1 ng/ml, Se=84 %, Sp=55 %, PPV=52 %, NPV=86 %) and CK18M30 (cut-off 210 u/l, Se=79 %, Sp=60 %, PPV=56 %, NPV=82 %) to differentiate children with fibrosis from those without fibrosis was significant (AUC=0.672 and 0.666, respectively). The combination of both markers was superior (AUC=0.73, p=0.002). Laminin and YKL-40 levels did not allow a useful prediction. CONCLUSIONS: Cytokeratin-18 and hyaluronic acid are suitable serum markers predicting liver fibrosis in children with NAFLD. Studying these markers may identify patients at risk of disease progression.

Obstructive hypopnea and gastroesophageal reflux as factors associated with residual obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The mechanism of persisting obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) after adenotonsillectomy is not fully explained. The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors associated with residual OSA. The primary outcome measures were metabolic tests and polysomnographic respiratory indices in children with residual disease compared with children who were diagnosed with OSA but were untreated. Secondary outcome measures were acid gastroesophageal reflux indices recorded parallel to the sleep study. METHODS: In the one-year study consecutive series of patients with sleep disordered breathing hospitalized in a tertiary pediatric center were evaluated. Following the study protocol a sleep interview, physical examination, metabolic blood tests (serum leptin and the homeostasis model assessment index for insulin resistance, HOMA-IR) and an overnight polysomnography with pH-metry recording were performed. Children diagnosed with OSA were analyzed in two groups: I - residual OSA (after surgery), II - non-residual OSA (newly diagnosed). Logistic regression analysis was applied to obtain significant risk factors for prediction of OSA. RESULTS: Fifty-seven children (mean age ± SE, 6.9 ± 0.5 years; 66.7% boys) met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study as residual (n=19) or non-residual OSA (n=38). The groups differed significantly in mean oxygen saturation, SpO2 (94.3% vs. 96.2%; p=0.018 respectively), in the Apnea Hypopnea Index, (20.6/h vs. 9.1/h; p<0.03), the number of respiratory arousals with desaturation (2.2/h vs. 0.8/h; p<0.03); mean intraluminal esophageal pH (5.36 vs. 5.86; p=0.007) and the Reflux Index (9.61% vs. 4.35%; p=0.003). The groups did not differ in total sleep time, tonsil size, BMI z-score and blood metabolic indices. Logistic regression analysis showed that residual OSA was significantly predicted by two polygraphic findings: the obstructive hypopnea index (OR 1.15; 95% CI 1.02-1.28; p=0.014) and by the Reflux Index (OR 1.01; 95% CI 1.00-1.34; p=0.042). CONCLUSIONS: 1. Obstructive hypopneas, rather than obstructive apneas, persist after adenotonsillar surgery resulting in residual OSA. 2. Children with residual OSA are at higher risk of acid gastroesophageal reflux and should be evaluated for gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The exogenous opioid peptides and DPPIV serum activity in infants with apnoea expressed as apparent life threatening events (ALTE).

Casein-derived peptides have been suggested to play a role in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). In this study, we have determined the content of bovine ß-casomorphin-7 (bBCM-7) and the activity of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPPIV) in sera of infants with apparent life threatening events (ALTE syndromes, 'near miss SIDS'). We have found that the sera of some infants after an apnoea event contained more ß-casomorphin-7 than that of the healthy infants in the same age. In all the children after an apnoea event, however, a lowered DPPIV was detected. We suspect that the low activity of that peptidase may be responsible for opioid-induced respiratory depression, induced by bBCM-7 in the general circulation.

Chronic non-cholestatic liver disease is not associated with an increased fracture rate in children.

Chronic liver disease in adults is a risk factor of osteoporosis, but little is known about risk of fractures in children with non-cholestatic liver disease. The aim of this study was to investigate associations among the severity of liver fibrosis, bone mass and low-energy fractures in children. History of fractures, anthropometry, and bone mass and size were examined in 39 Caucasian children (25 boys, 14 girls) aged 7.1-18 years (mean 11.9 ± 3.1) with chronic hepatitis B and liver fibrosis evidenced by liver biopsy. Severity of liver fibrosis was based on histological classification according to the method of Batts and Ludwig (mild, 1-2 scores; advanced, 3 scores) and Ishak (1-3 and 4-5 scores, respectively). Bone mineral content (BMC), density (BMD) and body composition were determined in the total body and lumbar spine using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Seven subjects (4 girls, 3 boys; 18% of the sample) had low BMD in the total body and lumbar spine region (Z-scores below -2.0). No associations were found among BMC, BMD, bone size and the severity of liver fibrosis. Nine boys (36% of all boys) and one girl reported repeated fractures (forearm, wrist, tibia, ankle, humerus), showing trends similar to the prevalence in general population. Fractures were neither associated with lower BMD/BMC nor with scores of liver fibrosis. Deficits in BMD in children with chronic hepatitis B are not associated with the severity of liver fibrosis. This study suggests that non-cholestatic liver disease does not increase the risk of low-energy fractures during growth. From the practical perspective, however, children with chronic liver disease should be screened for history and clinical risk factors for fractures rather than referred to bone density testing.

[Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome in children]. / Odrobnosci zespolu obturacyjnego bezdechu sennego ze splyceniem oddychania u dzieci.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep respiratory disorder characterized by cessation or reduction in air flow through the nose and mouth, leading to a drop in oxygen saturation in the arterial blood, increased respiratory muscle work, arousals and sleep fragmentation. Pathophysiology of the syndrome is multifactorial, with the major role of addenotonsillar hypertrophy and obesity. The frequency of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children grows, which is partly a secondary phenomenon to the rise in the frequency of obesity. The clinical picture is characterized by numerous symptoms that occur during night sleep and at daytime. Apart from difficulties in breathing, snoring and apnea events, the nocturnal symptoms are non-characteristic and can be easily overlooked, especially when a child sleeps alone in a room. In the clinical picture, daytime symptoms may predominate, their intensity being proportional to the degree of airway obstruction (strictures or collapse) and hypoxia. In the morning, the child wakes up tired, with blocked nose, breathes through the mouth, gets tired easily, have concentration problems, is irritated, demonstrates locomotor hyperactivity, which may resemble ADHD symptoms. Long-term disease leads to exacerbation of all-systemic symptoms, results in cardiovascular complications, induces developmental inhibition and cognitive dysfunction, and is responsible for school/social failures and reduced life quality. Most of these symptoms are reversible (partly or completely) after adenotonsilectomy, which is the therapeutic intervention of choice.

[Endoscopic picture of esophagitis in children with primary and secondary acid gastroesophageal reflux]. / Obraz endoskopowy zapalenia przelyku u dzieci z kwasnym refluksem zoladkowo-przelykowym pierwotnym i wtórnym.

UNLABELLED: THE AIM OF THE STUDY was to assess the esophageal mucous membrane in children with pathological acid gastroesophageal reflux (GER) primary and secondary to cow's milk allergy and (or) food allergy (CMA/FA), dependent on the duration of the disease (prospective study). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 264 children of both sexes suspected of GER were enrolled in the study. The age of examined children was 1.5-102 months (mean age 20.78+/-17.23 moths). Pathological acid GER was confirmed in 138 children (52.3%) with pH-monitoring. Taking into consideration complex differential diagnosis, including elimination of noxious nutrient and oral food challenge test (open or blind study), acid GER was differentiated into primary and secondary. Children were assigned into study groups 1 and 2. Group 1: 76 patients (28.8%) aged 4-102 months (mean age 25.2+/-27.28 months) with primary GER. Group 2: 62 patients (23.5%) aged 4-74 months (mean age 21.53+/-17.79 months) with GER secondary to CMA/FA. Endoscopic examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract was performed in 138 children: preliminary and control examination (after one year and two years of GERD diagnosis. RESULTS: Esophagitis of different intensity (second - fourth degree) in macroscopic assessment was diagnosed in 25 children (32.9%) with group 1 and in 29 children (46.8%) with group 2 in preliminary study. Esophagitis was still present in macroscopic assessment after one year of conservative treatment in 13 children (17.1%) from group 1 and in 12 children (19.4%) from group 2. After two years of clinical observation and periodically administered conservative treatment mild esophagitis still persisted in 3 children (3.9%) from group 1, and in 3 children (4.8%) from group 2. CONCLUSION: Esophagitis of various intensity (second - fourth degree) was diagnosed in preliminary endoscopic examination in about 33% of children with group 1 and 47% of children with group 2.

[Helicobacter pylori genome alleles S1 and S2 and morphological changes gastric mucosa in children and adults in the Bialystok province]. / Allel S1 I S2 genomu helicobacter pylori a zmiany morfologiczne blony sluzowej zoladka u dzieci I doroslych w województwie podlaskim.

UNLABELLED: Bacteria virulent proteins, among other vacA, have a significant role in the occurrence of gastric mucositis. AIM: The aim of the study was the evaluation of occurrence rate of alleles s1 and s2 of Helicobacter pylori vacA genome in children and adults, inhabitants of the Podlasie province. It was also to determine the correlation between infection with a determined s1 or s2 vacA genotype of the bacterium and the degree of severity and activity of antral mucositis. METHODS: 68-H. pylori infected persons (38 children and 30 adults) were examined, vacA genotypes of 70 H. pylori strain were evaluated. RESULTS: The degree of inflammatory changes in antral mucosa was differentiated and depended on vacA alleles of H. pylori strain. Allele s1 more frequently coexisted with moderate and severe antral mucositis in adults than in children (56.3% vs 50,0%, respectively). Allele s1 occurrence correlated with high activity inflammation in 47.5% of cases, medium activity--18.6%, and low activity--5.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Allele s1 was more frequently stated both in children and adults (86.8% and 81.3%, respectively) as compared to allele s2. Allele s1 also more frequently coexisted with low-activity inflammation or with no-activity inflammation of antral mucositis in children than in adults (36.8% vs 18.8%, respectively).

[The role of apoptosis in induction ocular changes in patients with cystic fibrosis]. / Rola apoptozy w indukowaniu zmian ocznych u pacjentów z mukowiscydoza.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the concentration of sFas in tear film of cystic fibrosis patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Tear samples were collected from 20 patients with cystic fibrosis and 20 patients from control group. The sFas levels were determined by immunoenzymatic assay ELISA. RESULTS: We found statistically increased levels of sFas in tear film of patients with cystic fibrosis compared with control group. CONCLUSIONS: Apoptosis may play role in the pathogenesis of ocular changes in cystic fibrosis patients. The above results are important for the choice of the treatment of dry eye syndrome in patients with cystic fibrosis.

[Focal villous atrophy of the duodenum in children who have outgrown cow's milk allergy. Chromoendoscopy and magnification endoscopy evaluation]. / Ogniskowy zanik kosmków blony sluzowej dwunastnicy u starszych dzieci z alergia na bialka mleka krowiego rozpoznana w wieku niemowlecym. Badania z zastosowaniem endoskopii z powiekszeniem i chromoendoskopii.

UNLABELLED: Patchy villous atrophy of duodenal mucosa has been described in young children with cow's milk allergy (CMA). Cow's milk protein-sensitive enteropathy may persist in older children and shows characteristic histological features. The advent of magnification endoscopy may allow the macroscopic detection of unrecognised villous atrophy in these patients. AIM: the aim of the study was to evaluate the duodenum mucosa in older children with CM A in infancy using chromoendoscopy and magnification endoscopy. METHODS: the study involved 15 children (mean age 15 years; range 12-18) with CM A diagnosed and treated in infancy, currently on normal diet, referred to our department due to abdominal pain. The control group consisted of 8 children with abdominal pain without any evidence of allergy (mean age 15 years, range 13-18). In all patients magnification endoscopy and chromoendoscopy was performed under general anaesthesia (GIFQ 160Z, Olympus). The bulb and the descending portion of the duodenum were examined. 1% methylene blue was used for staining. Each endoscopy was recorded on DVD. Patients with celiac disease, after surgery or treated for other disorders were excluded from this part of the investigation. RESULTS: seven of 15 patients with CM A in infancy had focal villous atrophy of the descending part of the duodenum. In the control group, the villous atrophy was seen in one case. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Magnification endoscopy and chromoendoscopy are a valuable method of detecting focal villous atrophy in patients with suspected food allergy. 2. Focal villous atrophy may indicate the presence of food hypersensitivity of persisting from infancy process.

Serum hyaluronan and laminin level in children with chronic hepatitis B during long-term lamivudine treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim was to assess the effect of long-term lamivudine treatment on liver fibrosis by direct assessment of histological scores and by indirect assessment of serum biomarkers in children with chronic hepatitis B (chB). METHODOLOGY: The observation was carried out on 31 children with biopsy proven chB who were nonresponders to previous IFNalpha therapy. The serum concentration of hyaluronan and laminin were measured before and up to 24 months of therapy. ROC analysis was used to calculate the power of the assays to detect advanced liver fibrosis (score > 2 according to Batts & Ludwig). RESULTS: Serum hyaluronan and laminin level were significantly higher in children with chB compared to controls. There was a significant correlation between serum hyaluronan level and the stage of liver fibrosis. The ability of serum hyaluronan to differentiate children with advanced fibrosis from those with mild fibrosis was significant (AUC = 0.7767). Laminin did not allow a useful prediction. Two-year lamivudine treatment did not improve histological fibrosis but it caused significant decrease of serum hyaluronan level. CONCLUSIONS: Hyaluronan is a better fibrosis marker than laminin to diagnose children with advanced liver fibrosis. The significant decrease of hyaluronan level during therapy suggests antifibrotic effect of lamivudine in children with chB.

Elevated tear fluid levels of MIP-1alpha in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the commonest multisystem genetic disease of white races, caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR), encoded on the long arm of chromosome 7. Mutations in the CFTR gene result in defective sodium, chloride, and water transport in the epithelial cells of the respiratory, hepatobiliary, gastrointestinal, and reproductive tracts, the pancreas, and the eye. The pathogenesis of ocular changes in CF is still unknown, but CF belongs to the large pathologic group of ocular surface epithelial diseases, termed keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), that develop in dry eye syndrome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha) in the tear fluid of CF patients. We also investigated the correlation between the tear levels of this chemokine and clinical severity of CF and ocular surface disease. We studied 25 patients with CF with a mean age of 14 years. Chemokine levels were determined by ELISA. Complete ophthalmic examination, including dry eye tests, were used to study the ocular surface. The tear levels of MIP-1alpha in the CF patients were significantly higher when compared with healthy controls. We found a negative correlation between the tear levels of MIP-1alpha and clinical severity in CF patients and a positive correlation between the tear levels of MIP-1alpha and the presence of dry eye findings in CF patients. This current study indicates that chemokines play an important role in the ongoing inflammatory response. Our findings may help to explain one of the key factors contributing to the pathogenesis of ocular surface changes in CF patients.

ICAM-1 expression on conjunctival epithelial cells in patients with cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Cystic fibrosis is one of the most common lethal genetic conditions. The defect is due to mutations in a gene on chromosome 7, named the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR), which functions as a chloride channel in epithelial membranes It is presumed that the disease affects all secretory epithelia including the eye. The objective of this study is to investigate the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) by conjunctival epithelial cells of patients with cystic fibrosis and the correlation between of the expression of ICAM-1 and the grade of cystic fibrosis severity. METHODS: Impression cytology specimens were collected in 24 patients with cystic fibrosis. Cells were processed for flow cytometry, by using monoclonal antibodies to ICAM-1. RESULTS: A significant increase of ICAM-1 expression on epithelial cells was found in patients with cystic fibrosis when compared with normal eyes. A positive correlation between the ICAM-1 expression and severe clinical status of CF patients was also observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the inflammation appears to have a role in the pathogenesis of the ocular surface changes in patients with cystic fibrosis. ICAM-1 expression on conjunctival epithelial cells may be a marker of the inflammatory status in cystic fibrosis patients. The method described here reveal good repeatability and reliability for the analysis of the inflammatory markers on conjunctival epithelial cells and can be a useful tool in evaluating of the ocular findings and treatment interventions in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Rare genotype del2,3/2184insA in a cystic fibrosis patient.

In this paper we present an interesting case of cystic fibrosis patient with rare genotype de12,3/2184insA and atypical clinical image including: mild symptoms in an early phase of disease, quick progress of lung disease, complicated with pneumothorax after Bordetella pertussis infection and very good response to systemic and inhaled steroid therapy.

Serum activity of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV; EC 3.4.14.5) in breast-fed infants with symptoms of allergy.

Beta-casomorphins, opioid peptides present in mother's milk, are a good substrate for DPPIV (EC 3.4.14.5) which is a major factor limiting the half-life of biologically active peptides. Serum DPPIV activity of two groups of infants (healthy and atopic dermatitis) and contents of beta-casomorphin-5 and -7 in their mothers' milk were determined in the study. We have found correlation between those two parameters in the group of children with atopic dermatitis syndromes, while no such a correlation was found in the control group.