[Incursion into bioelectromagnetism]. / Incursiune în bioelectromagnetism.

The term of bioelectromagnetism include electromagnetosenzitive processes at the fundamental interaction of energetical fields with the matter. The alive matter has a dynamical, chemical and energetics structure, but above all, an intense informational activity. The bioelectromagnetism was gradually discovered and understood throughout history of humanity. J. Bernstein defined the cell's bioelectricity, Wagner calculated electrical conductivity and permeability of cells, starting from the Maxwell's field equations, others discovered "mitogenetic radiation" or "dark luminescence" or "ultraweak bioluminescence" and F. A. Popp founded the biophotons theory. On the other hand, Hirata and Nakatani finded points with different electrical conductivity on the surface of the skin and Voll invented the system of electro dermal testing. The practical applications of the bioelectromagnetism are the medical devices based on bioresonance, useful in diagnosis and treatment, as shown in the 17 studies (902 patients) published in 1999-2006.

[X-linked Bruton congenital agammaglobulinemia. Case report]. / Agamaglobulinemie congenitala legata de x Bruton. Prezentare de caz.

Congenital agamaglobulinemia is a B-cell deficiency caused by tirosin-kinase gene mutations. This article presents the case of a 2 years and 6 months old boy with a history of multiple respiratory infections, which also associates a malabsorbtion syndrome. The patient presented for symptoms of arthritis. After performing protein electrophoresis, the extremely low gamma fraction pointed out a hidden immunodeficiency. Gene analysis was performed in the Department of Pediatric Immunology of Debrecen University, Hungary and thus the final diagnosis was determined. Arthritis and respiratory symptoms improved after immunoglobulin treatment.

[Pulmonary manifestations in childhood obesity]. / Manifestari pulmonare in obezitatea copilului.

Obesity has an increasing incidence throughout the world, inducing a complex and multisystemic pathology. The respiratory manifestations are: restrictive respiratory physiology, reduced respiratory compliance, altered ventilation/perfusion index, bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Increases in body mass index (BMI) are associated with increases in prevalence, incidence and severity of bronchial asthma. The mechanic effects of obesity remain important, but the adipocites have many influences by the hormones, leptines, cytokines and other proinflammatory agents.

[The psycho-social impact of the locomotor deformations in school-aged child]. / Impactul PSIHO-social la copilul de vârsta scolara suferind de deformatii ale aparatului locomotor.

Depending on their severity, congenital or acquired, the deformations of the locomotor system affect more or less the child's mental status. Adolescence is the time when their impact is most important. When the physical, mental or functional suffering become a disability, professional and psycho-social integration problems occur. The role of the team treating such a patient is to orientate him toward a specific job corresponding to his abilities, while the social services must support him in achieving this goal. The psychotherapist is the most important person in his fight against depression and, more important, suicide.

[Osteopenia in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis]. / Osteopenia la copiii cu artrita juvenila idiopatica.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to evaluate the presence and etiopathogenesis of osteopenia in 41 children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). METHODS: Bone status was evaluated by quantitative ultrasound using a Sunlight Omnisense 7000s Ultrasound Bone Sonometer. Measurements were performed at the distal radius and midshaft tibia. Results were obtained as Speed of sound (SOS) and Z-score. We used standardised clinical evaluation (modified Giannini's criteria, CHAQ). ESR, Fibrinogen, serum calcium, magnesium, alkaline phosphatase, protein electrophoresis, 25-OH vitamin D (RIA) and urinary Hydroxyproline were obtained in all patients. Osteopenia was present in 15 (36.5%) patients. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 13.0. RESULTS: Age, sex, age at onset, disease duration, life standards and duration of corticotherapy and methotrexate treatment were not related to osteopenia in our study. The disease activity, evaluated by clinical criteria, ESR and Fibrinogen, was strongly associated with osteopenia (p<0.001). Nutritional status was an independent risk factor for osteopenia (p<0.001). Low serum calcium (p=0.034), magnesium (p=0.010), 25-OH vitamin D (p=0.091) and alkaline phosphatase (p=0.31) were more frequent in patients with osteopenia. Hydroxyproline was increased in all patients with osteopenia (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Osteopenia was a frequent (36.5%) complication of JIA in our study. The disease activity and nutritional status were the most important risk factors for osteopenia. The increase of bone reabsorption was the main pathogenic mechanism of osteopenia in our study. Calcium and magnesium deficits were related to osteopenia. Decrease of bone synthesis was not associated with osteopenia in the present study.

[Prospective epidemiologic considerations on asthma morbidity in patients admitted to the St. Maria Emergency Hospital Clinic for Children, Iasi]. / Consideratii epidemiologice retroprospective asupra morbiditatii prin astm bronsic la pacientii asistati în Spitalul Clinic de Urgenta pentru Copii "Sf. Maria" Iasi.

Authors present the results of a clinical epidemiological assessment of a retroprospective study carried out on a sample of 6717 records of children assisted for asthma in the "Sf. Maria" Emergency Clinic Hospital for Children Iasi, between 1990-2004. The epidemiological and statistical mathematics methods, both classical and computerized, highlighted an increase in the incidence and prevalence values in 2000, as a consequence of National Program for Asthma. For the entire period of study, the morbidity values increased in the cold and transit season, due to the acute respiratory infections, and in the warm season, by the atmospheric pollen. The anatomic-physiological peculiarities of the respiratory tubes explained the higher prevalence of asthma in males aged until 10 years old. Asthma had an increased incidence in the age groups of 4-6 years old (28.21%) and 7-9 (30.42%), as a result of the entrance in collectivities where there is a high risk for acute respiratory infections. A lower prevalence of asthma in young-age groups was explained by a difficult diagnosis. The results above-mentioned can offer orientations for the clinical epidemiological surveillance programs of asthma.

[The effects of inhaled corticoids on bone density in asthmatic children]. / Efectele corticoterapiei inhalatorii asupra densitatii osoase la copiii cu astm bronsic.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate bone status of asthmatic children on chronic inhaled corticoid therapy. METHODS: Bone densitometry was performed by Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) of the distal radius in 74 asthmatic children, evaluating Z-score; serum levels of 25 hydroxyvitamin D were measured in 10 cases. RESULTS: 28 of 74 children had osteopenia, defined as Z scores lower than -1. Statistic analyzes showed a significant correlation (p <0.05) of osteopenia with the duration of inhaled corticoid therapy (CSI), the absence of correlation with the dose of CSI, age, sex, severity step and duration of the disease. 25 hydroxyvitamin D was low in 8 of the 10 cases with osteopenia. Osteopenia was present in 7 children who were not under CSI, but have received multiple trials of oral corticoids for severe exacerbations. CONCLUSIONS: Osteopenia was present in 52% of children that were under inhaled corticoids for more than 12 months and it correlated with the duration of CSI, but not with the daily dose. Systemic corticoid use is a significant cause of osteopenia in asthmatic children.

[Epidemiologic and laboratory assessments of etiologic implications of Blastocystis hominis in gastrointestinal diseases]. / Evaluari epidemiologice si de laborator privind implicarea etiologica în afectiuni gastrointestinale a Blastocystis hominis.

Authors present the first laboratory and epidemiological results which reveal the circulation in a population of protozoan Blastocystis hominis and its implication in the determinations of some gastrointestinal troubles, with fever, diarrhea and constipation, intense intestinal meteorism, associated with abdominal pain and cramps. Out of the 3106 investigated patients, 9.7% presented B. hominis as a unique etiologic agent, with an increased prevalence in adults (74.3%) and women (65.3%). Blastocystis infection with clinical manifestations or its asymptomatic form is included among emergent diseases.

[New therapeutic strategies in bronchial asthma]. / Noi strategii terapeutice în tratamentul astmului bronsic la copil.

Bronchial asthma becomes one of the most frequent respiratory diseases of the childhood. Progresses of the last decade did not interfere with long term prognosis of the disease. New therapeutic researches try to stop the chronic inflammatory respiratory mechanism: cytokines, leukotrienes, transcription factors, IgE. Some of the new drugs are still only experimental--cytokines antagonists, transcription factors inhibitors, adhesin antibodies, other close to clinical use--new corticosteroids, leukotrienes antagonists, anti IgE antibodies. The new therapeutics methods will be used among the classical drugs and will improve the quality of the patients' life.

[Pathogenic basis of treatment in children with bronchial asthma and gastroesophageal reflux]. / Bazele patogenetice ale tratamentului astmului bronsic asociat cu reflux gastro-esofagian la copil.

The relationship between bronchial asthma (BA) and gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) impose to study by frequency, reciprocally prognosis and therapeutics difficulty. Coexistence of both diseases is suggested by presence of asthmatics symptoms in non-atopic patients, difficult control and resistance of the specific treatment of asthma disease, worsening of respiratory symptoms in circumstances which favored GER. Pathogenetic relationship between BA and GER in children is the result of the associations- digestive particularity and: esophago-bronchial neurogenic mechanism produced by micro-aspiration , genetic or obtained inflammations development by commune Th2 mediators, medications effects. Classical treatments (H2-inhibitors, prokinetics agents, inhibitors of protonic pumps) is associated of the antiasthmatics "controller" therapy and in the future, anti-cytokine and anti-receptor therapy.

[Epidemiologic, clinical and laboratory observations of some Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes implicated in the evolution of asthma in children]. / Observatii epidemiologice, clinice si de laborator asupra implicarii unor serotipuri de Streptococcus pneumoniae în evolutia astmului bronsic la copii.

The Authors present the results of a multidisciplinary study carried out on a sample of 103 children comprised in a programme of vaccination against Streptococcus pneumoniae infections, in order to avoid the worsening of their asthma. In the nasopharyngeal exudate of 39 children, we detected the presence of S. pneumoniae strains of serotypes 6, 8, 14, and 19 and their absence after vaccination with PNEUMO 23. This was followed by a significant decrease in the incidence of pneumococcal infections and also by the reduction in the frequency of crises and severity of the disease.

[Hemangioendothelioma in children]. / Hemangioendoteliom la copil.

The hemangioendothelium is a vascular tumor rarely seen in the pediatric practice. This case underlines the difficulty that lies in establishing a differential diagnosis with a localized adenopathy when this vascular tumor is developing inside a ganglionic region. The surgical treatment followed by interferon therapy determined a favorable evolution in this case because the hemangioendothelium is a vascular borderline tumor. Still, there are cases that recur, metastasize and have an evolution towards death.

[Systemic lupus erythematosus in children. I: clinical and age dependent evolutive characteristics]. / Lupusul eritematos sistemic (LES) la copil. Nota I: Particularitati clinice si evolutive dependente de vârsta.

The individualized, retrospective study of 14 children with SLE (4-16 years) pointed out a series of clinical and age dependent evolutive characteristics. Below the age of 10 years old (lot 1:2 boys and 4 girls), SLE started as a prolonged fever syndrome (5-16 weeks) in the majority of cases; for 2 children the severe poliarthritis resistant to the AINS therapy is associated with the durable absence of the antinuclear seric antibody (ANA). For the same age group a high frequency of neurological manifestations (5/6 cases) was noticed. After the age of 10 years old (lot II: 8 girls) the symptoms incidence at debut is close to the one of the adult, the cutanat and renal manifestations in evolution were dominant (7/8 cases). The 7 months absence of ANA characterises a case that started with hepatomegaly, severe neurological and physiological manifestations and microscopic hematuria. The follow-up lasted until the age of 16 years old; the patients were clinically tested for severe renal complication. The correct application of the classical criteria of diagnostic (ARA, 1982), and in the last few years the application of the ponderat score (Mayer, 1998), allows us to establish an early diagnostic and a rapid evaluation of a relapse, therefore influencing the treatment.