Adherence to a predominantly Mediterranean diet decreases the risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a cross-sectional study in a South Eastern European population.

Our aim was to assess the association of a Mediterranean diet and gastroesophageal reflux disease among adult men and women in Albania, a former communist country in South Eastern Europe with a predominantly Muslim population. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2012, which included a population-based sample of 817 individuals (≥18 years) residing in Tirana, the Albanian capital (333 men; overall mean age: 50.2 ± 18.7 years; overall response rate: 82%). Assessment of gastroesophageal reflux disease was based on Montreal definition. Participants were interviewed about their dietary patterns, which in the analysis was dichotomized into: predominantly Mediterranean (frequent consumption of composite/traditional dishes, fresh fruit and vegetables, olive oil, and fish) versus largely non-Mediterranean (frequent consumption of red meat, fried food, sweets, and junk/fast food). Logistic regression was used to assess the association of gastroesophageal reflux disease with the dietary patterns. Irrespective of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and lifestyle factors including eating habits (meal regularity, eating rate, and meal-to-sleep interval), employment of a non-Mediterranean diet was positively related to gastroesophageal reflux disease risk (fully adjusted odds ratio = 2.3, 95% confidence interval = 1.2-4.5). Our findings point to a beneficial effect of a Mediterranean diet in the occurrence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in transitional Albania. Findings from this study should be confirmed and expanded further in prospective studies in Albania and in other Mediterranean countries.

Immunity to and immunization against measles, rubella and mumps in patients after autologous bone marrow transplantation.

Humoral immunity to measles, rubella and mumps was studied in 63, 36 and 16 patients 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively after autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). Serologic examination was performed using antibody-ELISA. One year after ABMT, 7/57 patients (12%) who were seropositive to measles before ABMT, became seronegative, 8/44 (18%) to rubella and 3/51 (6%) to mumps. Among patients who were retested at 2 and 3 years, three more patients became seronegative to measles, one to rubella, and three to mumps. Nine of 12 children who had previously been immunized against measles were seropositive before ABMT, 3/7 to rubella and 5/7 to mumps, respectively. After ABMT, 5/9 became seronegative to measles, none to rubella and 2/5 to mumps. Six seronegative children were immunized with a live trivalent attenuated measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine 1 to 2 years after ABMT. Two children seroconverted to measles, six to rubella, and four to mumps. No side effects were observed. Most adult patients who have had the diseases of measles, rubella, or mumps naturally remain seropositive, while children who have been immunized commonly lose their immunity after ABMT.

Response to immunization against polio after allogeneic marrow transplantation.

Long-term immunity to poliovirus and immunization response to inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) were studied in 55 patients who underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Antibodies were determined by neutralization assays. Patients were studied before, at 12 months after BMT and at 12 months after immunization with IPV. Thirty-seven patients were seropositive to all poliovirus types at 12 months after BMT. At least a four-fold decrease in antibody level was recorded between BMT and 12 months later in 55%, 41%, and in 45% of the patients to poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Nineteen patients were immunized with one dose of trivalent IPV. Eight patients (42%), seven patients (36%), and four patients (21%) responded with at least a four-fold antibody titer increase to poliovirus type 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Twenty-nine patients were primarily immunized with three IPV doses. The response rates were 52%, 48% and 48% to poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The immunization responses were similar in patients who did or did not have chronic GVHD. Reimmunization of allogeneic BMT recipients against poliovirus is necessary and a three dose schedule is needed to obtain an adequate immunization response.

Response to tetanus toxoid immunization after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

An ELISA was used to study long-term immunity and immunization responses to tetanus toxoid in 48 bone marrow transplant recipients. Among patients who were seropositive to tetanus before transplant, 51% had lost their seropositivity 1 year later. All patients who were not reimmunized with tetanus toxoid were seronegative 2 years after transplant. All patients who were seronegative before transplant remained seronegative 1 year later regardless of the donor's serologic status. There was no difference in the ability to remain seropositive to tetanus toxoid between patients with and without chronic graft-versus-host disease. Of 21 patients immunized with one dose of tetanus toxoid 1 year after transplant, 14 were seronegative at the time of immunization (response rate, 64%). At 1 year after immunization, 7 remained seropositive. Ten patients were reimmunized with two doses of tetanus toxoid. All responded and 90% remained seropositive 1 year later. When 21 patients were primarily immunized with three doses of tetanus toxoid, all patients seronegative at immunization responded and all tested patients remained seropositive 2 years later. The immunization responses were significantly superior in patients receiving three doses compared with those who received one. Reimmunization with tetanus toxoid of long-term survivors after marrow transplant seems necessary. A three-dose immunization schedule is recommended to obtain an adequate immune response.