Abundance of domestic mites in dwellings of children and adolescents with asthma in relation to environmental factors and allergy symptoms.

Exposure to house dust allergens, mainly from domestic mites, is an important cause of allergic reactions in sensitized asthmatic patients. A total of 63 dust samples were collected from 16 flats in Bytom (south Poland); in each flat a person (age 4-17 years) suffering from bronchial asthma lived with his/her family. Mite density was calculated as the number of specimens per g of dust. The results were compared with household features and the data were statistically analyzed. In total 566 mite specimens were isolated, including 526 members of the family Pyroglyphidae (93%). The dominant species were Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (60% of the total count) and Dermatophagoides farinae (32%). Pyroglyphids were found in all mite positive samples (68%) of which 35% also contained non-pyroglyphids, including glycyphagids, cheyletids and gamasids. The results suggest associations between the density of some mite taxa (per g of dust) and the following indoor environmental factors: presence of pets, number of inhabitants, coal-stoves as a type of heating, cleaning frequency, higher relative humidity, presence of flowers and PVC windows. The severity of asthma seems to be associated with the numbers of D. farinae, total domestic mites and live mites per g of dust.

Meckel's diverticulum - a congenital defect of the gastrointestinal tract underestimated in differential diagnostics. Own experience.

Meckel's diverticulum is a vestigial remnant of the omphalomesenteric duct. It is the most frequent defect of the gastrointestinal tract and is present in approx. 2% of the population: more often in boys than in girls, at a 3:1 ratio. Meckel's diverticulum causes clinical symptoms only in 4-6% of individuals. It is situated approximately 60-100 cm away from the Bauhin's valve. The wall of Meckel's diverticulum consists of all layers typical of the small intestine. It is usually approx. 2-3 cm long, but it can reach lengths of over 10 centimetres. It is usually set on a narrow base. Related symptoms usually occur by the 2nd-3rd year of life and have an acute character. They may occur in older children, which must be remembered in differential diagnosis. An example can be the case of an 8.5-year-old boy with symptoms indicating obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract in which a large, atypically accreted and partly twisted Meckel's diverticulum was found with strangulation of the small intestine between the diverticulum and the mesentery.

Intraspinal mesenchymal chondrosarcoma in a 14-year-old patient: diagnostic and therapeutic problems in relation to the review of literature.

Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (MC) is an infrequent, highly malignant neoplasm of the soft tissues and bone. It is very rare in the pediatric age group, especially in the intraspinal location. Only 24 cases have been reported to date. The authors present a case of a 14-year-old boy with an intraspinal MC who died of the disease 50 months from the initial diagnosis and after the third local recurrence. The patient was treated with a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. The authors review the clinical presentation, diagnostics, and the efficacy of treatment of pediatric patients with MC reported in the literature from 1978 to 2010.

[Characteristics of metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents with arterial hypertension]. / Cechy zespolu metabolicznego u dzieci i mlodziezy z nadcisnieniem tetniczym.

UNLABELLED: Among the components of metabolic syndrome (MS) obesity, arterial hypertension, insulin resistance, abnormal plasma lipoproteins balance: decreased HDL concentration and increased level of triglycerides are mentioned. In diagnosis of MS the coexistence of three of these criteria is obligatory. MS is frequently diagnosed in adult patients. The aim of the study was the evaluation of MS components in the group of 118 children with arterial hypertension (HT) who were hospitalized in Pediatric Department of Silesian Medical University in Bytom. The criterium of qualification to HT group was: blood pressure higher than 97 percentile in at least 20% of ABPM measurements. BMI, glucose blood concentration, HDL levels, triglycerides (TG) levels, uric acid concentration were also analyzed. Thirty children (25%) presented at least three of MS components: 16 (53%) - three of them, 12 (40%) - four of them and 2 (6,7%) all of them. Mean age of children with MS was 13,5 years, the youngest was 6 years old. BMI of 83% children with metabolic syndrome was considerably above 97 percentile. 53% had low HDL levels and 80% high TG levels. TG levels highly increased above normal values for sex and age. Mean TG concentration was 2,26 mmol/l. 83% of our patients with MS had primary (idiopathic) arterial hypertension, at 13,3% arterial hypertension of renal cause. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that all children with arterial hypertension especially those with primary HT should be evaluated for MS in order to start the early prevention of cardiovascular disease.

[Family incidence of Addison-Biermer anemia]. / Rodzinne wystepowanie niedokrwistosci addisona-biermera.

Addison-Biermer anemia is an autoimmune disease with genetic predisposition. It is more common in families of the patients with pernicious anemia and other immune diseases. We present two cases of family incidence ofA-B anemia. In our opinion precise taking of family history is very important for the treatment and prevention of Addison-Biermer anemia.