Incidence and treatment of hepatitis C virus infection in children with haemophilia in Poland.

In 80% of children with haemophilia treated in our department, screening tests showed the presence of antibodies against the hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV RNA was detected in serum in 41% of cases. In 20% of cases there were periodic increases in the level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, and in these cases liver biopsy was performed after factor concentrate replacement. No haemorrhagic complications or pain complaints were reported either during the biopsy or immediately afterwards. In all cases histopathological examination revealed chronic hepatitis type C - chronic mild hepatitis and chronic minimal hepatitis. Eight boys were treated with interferon (INF) alpha. In two cases this therapy was successful. No HCV RNA was detected in serum and transaminase activity was normal during the year following interferon treatment.

Antibiotic resistance of bacterial strains isolated from children in Child Health Center, Warsaw.

This study examines the antibiotic susceptibility of 1792 bacterial strains isolated from hospitalized children between January and December 1993. A total of 1015 Gram-negative rods represented by members of Enterobacteriaceae family (770) and nonfermenters (245) were isolated. The most resistant strains were noticed among Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae. From 38% to 46% of K. pneumoniae strains were resistant to third-generation cephalosporins, but all of them were sensitive to imipenem. From 60% to 80% of E. cloacae isolates were resistant to all beta-lactams, but sensitive to imipenem. Resistance of P. aeruginosa to aminoglycosides varied from 30% for gentamicin to 5% for amikacin. About 40% of P. aeruginosa strains were resistant to carbenicillin, and 25% to azlocillin and piperacillin, but only two strains were resistant to ceftazidime and imipenem. Among Gram-positive cocci the most frequently encountered were coagulase-negative staphylococci, followed by Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. The methicillin-resistant strains of coagulase-negative staphylococci and S. aureus consisted 74.8% and 34%, respectively. All strains of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci and S. aureus were sensitive to vancomycin.

[Evaluation of the treatment of chronic active hepatitis (HBsAg+) with isoprinosine. II. Immunological studies]. / Ocena leczenia przewleklego aktywnego zapalenia watroby (HBsAg+) izoprynozyna. II. Badania immunologiczne.

A two-month treatment of the chronic active hepatitis (HBsAg+) with isoprinosine produced quantitative and functional T-cells populations in patients with cellular response disorders. Immunological studies have shown that such an effect of isoprinosine lasted for about 4-5 months. Repeated administration of isoprinosine for one month normalized recurrent abnormalities in the monitored immunological parameters.