Genome-wide gene expression study indicates the anti-inflammatory effect of polarized light in recurrent childhood respiratory disease.

OBJECTIVES: The clinical and molecular effects of whole-body polarized light treatment on children suffering from recurrent respiratory infection were studied. METHODS: The incidence and duration of respiratory symptoms as well as the length of appropriate antibiotic therapy were measured. Simultaneously, the genome-wide gene expression pattern was examined by whole genome cDNA microarray in peripheral lymphocytes of children. RESULTS: Twenty of 25 children showed a marked clinical improvement, while in five of 25 had poor response or no changes. The gene expression pattern of the patients' peripheral lymphocytes was compared in favorable and poor responders. The lymphocytes of the children with a documented improved clinical response to polarized light therapy showed a decrease in the expression of chemokine genes, such as CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL3, and IL-8, and in that of the TNFα gene. On the contrary, a rapid elevation was found in the expression of the gene encoding for CYP4F2, a leukotriene B4-metabolizing enzyme. In children with poor clinical response to polarized light therapy, no similar changes were detected in the gene expression pattern of the lymphocytes. CONCLUSIONS: The improved clinical symptoms and modified gene expression profile of lymphocytes reveals an anti-inflammatory effect of whole-body polarized light irradiation.

[Preliminary results of the study of the relationship between cricopharyngeal incoordination and gastroesophageal reflux in infants]. / A csecsemókori cricopharyngealis incoordinatio és a fokozott gastrooesophagealis refluxkészség közötti kapcsolat vizsgálatának elózetes eredményei.

The authors summarise the results of barium swallow examinations and polysomnographic studies performed on 66 infants (41 male, 25 female), average age 63 days (26-130 days). Oesophageal pH monitoring was also performed as part of the polysomnographic examination. The results showed the highest incidence of cricopharyngeal incoordination (CPI) in the 6-10 weeks age group. Although they failed to demonstrate statistical significance between CPI and increased gastro-oesophageal reflux, they consider the two entities to be most probably related. No relation was found between CPI and abnormal polysomnographic results. They give an overview of the literature on the pathology of the cricopharyngeal muscle and with regard to the lack of uniformity in the terminology of previous publications, they present their use of terminology.

Antioxidant status in patients with cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to assess the antioxidant status in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients compared to healthy controls. In order to determine the influence of nutrition on the level of the antioxidants, nutrient intake was also monitored in both groups at the time of the antioxidant assessment. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The authors measured the serum malondialdehyde levels in children with CF, n = 21; 9 females and 12 males, mean age: 8.71 years (6-12 years) and compared these values to the levels found in age-matched healthy control subjects, n = 24; 13 females and 11 males, mean age: 8.33 years (6-12 years). In order to assess the antioxidant status, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities in washed erythrocytes, glutathione peroxidase activity of heparinized whole blood and serum ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol and retinol levels were measured. Total antioxidant status (TAS) was also tested. The patients with CF received vitamin supplementation in doses prescribed in international guidelines (alpha-tocopherol: <10 years 100 mg daily, >10 years 200 mg daily, retinol: 2.5 mg daily, ascorbic acid: 100-200 mg daily). RESULTS: Plasma levels of malondialdehyde were significantly higher (p < 0.05), superoxide dismutase activities were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in patients with cystic fibrosis. There were no significant differences in catalase, glutathione peroxidase activities and TAS levels between CF patients and control group. Plasma ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol and retinol levels were within normal limits in both groups. CONCLUSION: On the basis of the present results this regime failed to provide sufficient antioxidant protection. Therefore, the authors suggest that the daily dose of these antioxidants should be either increased or to administer in parenteral route to patients with severe form of the disease.

[Body composition in overweight children, healthy children as well as children with mucoviscidosis, measured by multifrequency impedance]. / A testösszetétel multifrekvenciás impedanciaméréssel nyert eredményei elhízott, egészséges és mucoviscidosisos gyermekekben.

The body composition of a total of 90 children (aged 5-18) were subjected to multifrequency impedance measurement with a Human IM Scan impedance analyser. We compared data of 30 overweight children (17 boys, 13 girls; mean age 11.47 yrs, range: 4-17 yrs), 30 children with cystic fibrosis (12 boys, 18 girls; mean age 12.8 yrs, range: 3-24 yrs) and 30 healthy children (12 boys, 18 girls; mean age 13.4 yrs, range 7-18 yrs). The percentage of fat mass was found to be inversely proportional to total body water. Extracellular water expressed as a percentage of the total body water was significantly higher in overweight children than in the other two groups: (p < 0.01) between children with cystic fibrosis and overweight children, (p < 0.05) between healthy children and overweight children. Extracellular water expressed as a percentage of total body water was lower in children with cystic fibrosis than in healthy children (p < 0.05). The ratios of extracellular mass and body cell mass to body weight were significantly lower in overweight children than in healthy children (p < 0.01) or in children with cystic fibrosis (p < 0.01). The ratio of exchangeable sodium and potassium was lower in all three groups than the normal value given for adults (> 0.87), but in overweight children it was significantly higher than in the other two groups; (p < 0.01) between children with cystic fibrosis and overweight children, (p < 0.05) between healthy children and overweight children. Multifrequency impedance measurement is reliable, fast, non-invasive, easy to carry out, therefore we consider it very useful in determining the body composition of children in various pathological conditions.

[Circulatory and respiratory parameters in children at cardiovascular risk]. / Cardiovascularis veszélyeztetett gyermekek keringési és légzésfunkciós paramétereinek vizsgálata.

Physical performance, pulse rate, blood pressure and respiratory functions (vital capacity, forced expiratory volume and maximal voluntary ventilation) in rest and during physical loading were studied in children of parents having had myocardial infarction under the age of 45. Children with normal and increased skinfold width, and with low resp. normal HDL-cholesterol levels were selected. The most unfavourable respiratory, circulatory and performance results were obtained in obese children with low HDL-cholesterol; significant differences were found in resting heart rate and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV). In the author's mind, the primary factor is high body fat content resulting in poor physical activity and unfavourable HDL-cholesterol levels. All this forecasts a bad prognosis for adulthood in respect of cardiovascular disease.