Helicobacter pylori infection in children with growth failure

To examine if helicobacter pylon infection has a role in growth failure in children. 26 children patients with growth failure and 14 normally growing children of the same age group. socioeconomic level and sex ratio as controls were included in the study. All were subjected to full history taking, clinical examination, anthropometry, laboratory investigations and upper endoscopy with gastric biopsy taking for diagnosis M helicobacter pylon infection by histopathology. Positive cases for helicobacter pylon infection were treated by eradication therapy; the group of children with growth failure were followed for 6 months and reevaluated. Helicobacter pylon infection was diagnosed in 77% of children with growth failure, while it was diagnosed in 43% of normal children [p<0.05]. After 6 months of eradication therapy, there was significant increase in height, weight and hemoglobin [p<0.001 for each]. Helicobacter pylon infection is a causative factor in growth failure in children

Oxidative criteria and somebone turnover markers in beta-thalassemic patients

Bone disease in beta-thalassemic patients has multifactorial etiology; increased iron stores and per-oxidative stress are involved factors. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between some bone turnover markers and some oxidants, antioxidants parameters of beta-thalassemic patients. The study included 50 patients were diagnosed as beta-thalassemia major aged between 3 and 40 years, 30 males and 20 females compared to 34 normal controls of same age and sex ratio. The patients and the controls were divided into 2 groups: group Al 18 years compared to their controls group B2. All were subjected to full clinical examination and laboratory analysis of their blood and urine for bone turnover markers; osteocalcin [OC], bone specific alkaline phosphatase [BAP] and urinary deoxypyridinoline [DPD].Also parathormone [PTH], serum calcium [Ca] and phosphorus [Ph]. Oxidants and antioxidants determined were; plasma malondialdehyde [MDA], nitric oxide [NO], blood reduced glutathione [GSH], erythrocyte Cu- Zn Superoxide dismutase [SOD]. Serum levels of copper [Cu], zinc [Zn], selenium [Se], vitamin E and total antioxidant capacity [TAOC] were also determined. The results showed significant increase in urinary DPD and decrease in serum OC, BAP and PTH in thalassemic groups compared to controls. Also, the results revealed significant elevation in plasma MDA, NO, SOD and serum Cu and TAOC especially in group Al. While there was significant decrease in GSH, serum Zn, Se, and vitamin E. Plasma OC was positively correlated with serum iron and NO and negatively correlated with plasma TAOC in thalassemic patients within age group 3

Abdominal ultrasonic changes in pediatric patients with acute viral hepatitis

Acute hepatitis causes not only pathological ultrasound changes in the liver, but also affects other abdominal organs. This study was carried out to detect ultrasonic changes in the abdominal organs and hepatic vessels in cases of acute hepatitis in children and determine the chronology of these changes. 143 pediatric patients with clinical picture and laboratory findings of acute hepatitis were prospectively examined by gray scale and Duplex Doppler ultrasound early at the start of the disease and every 6 weeks for 6 months. Eighty seven age and sex matched normal children were also examined as a control group. Enlarged lymph nodes in hepatic hilum was the most common finding, it affected 97.9% of cases in the first examination and did not disappear for 12 weeks; 30% of cases showed its presence at 6 months but with decreasing size. Hepatomegaly was found in 84.6% of cases in the first examination, but returned to normal size by 12 weeks. Increase in liver echogenicity was found in 50.4% of the cases in the first examination, in 39% after 6 weeks and disappeared by 18 weeks. Hypoechoic liver was found in 20.3% at the start of the disease and disappeared by 6 weeks. Splenomegaly was detected in 33% of cases at the start of the disease, in 3.6% at 6 week visit and disappeared by 3 months. Thickened gallbladder wall was present in 25.2%, hepatic veins biphasic waveform in 19.3% and ascites in 2.1% of cases at the start of the disease, all were very transient and not detected by 6 weeks. Lymph node enlargement in porta hepatis was the most prevalent and persistent finding in children with acute viral hepatitis. Other organ affection detected by abdominal ultrasonography [gray scale and duplex Doppler] in those children disappeared by 6 to 24 weeks

Clinical and laboratory profile of mental disability among chidren attending a governmental teaching hospital in Cairo

This study included 104 Egyptian infants and children with mental disability and 24 normal children of the same age and sex as a control group. All patients were subjected to full history taking, thorough clinical examination, intelligent quotient [IQ] evaluation and full investigations. The results revealed that 56 of the cases were due to genetic and chromosomal causes [group I], 7 cases were due to prenatal and postnatal insults [group II] and 41 cases were without an exact cause for mental disability [group III]. Complete blood count [CBC], serum iron, iron binding capacity and blood lead levels were compared between group III and the control group. There was no statistically significant difference in serum iron nor blood lead levels between the two groups, while the difference between their serum iron binding capacity was statistically significant. Blood lead levels were significantly positively correlated with ages in group III and the control group and were significantly negatively correlated with the IQ of group III