[Atypical celiac disease in an adolescent girl--case report]. / Celiakia u nastolatki--opis przypadku z nietypowymi objawami.

Coeliac disease is characterized by life-long gluten intolerance. There are a wide variety of clinical presentations, which range from severe diarrhoea and weight loss to asymptomatic forms. The primary treatment for coeliac disease is the removal of gluten from the diet to prevent both immediate and long-term complications. The case of 16-year-old girl with coeliac disease was presented. At the age of 2 years the patient with impaired growth and abnormal stools was suspected to have coeliac disease. She experienced symptomatic improvement on gluten-free diet, but after 3 years the treatment was discontinued. The patient denied gastrointestinal or skin problems. At the age of 14 years Raynaud's phenomenon was observed for the first time. Two years later episodes of Raynaud's phenomenon involved all fingers and toes. Body mass index (BMI) was 23.8 kg/m2. Levels of free-carnitine, tocopherol, vitamin B12 were below normal limits and homocysteine level was increased. Antiendomysial IgA, antireticulin IgA, antigliadin IgA and IgG antibodies were positive. The duodenal mucosa showed total villous atrophy. Gluten free-diet and multivitamin supplementation provided some benefit in reducing Raynaud's phenomenon. The patient's well being has improved markedly. Atypical coeliac disease is usually seen in adolescents and adults in whom features of overt malabsorption are often absent. In cases of health problems occurring in persons with history of malabsorption syndrome in childhood suspicion of coeliac disease should be heightened and appropriate evaluation undertaken.

[Determination of beta-hexosaminidase and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activities in urine of pregnant women to monitor alcohol consumption]. / Oznaczanie aktywnosci beta-heksozoaminidazy oraz gamma-glutamylotranspeptydazy w moczu jako markerów spozycia alkoholu przez kobiety ciezarne - doniesienie wstepne.

BACKGROUND: Drinking of alcohol by pregnant women provokes many fetal development disorders, first of all the function of central nervous system and can lead to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome - FAS. AIM: Aims of investigation were to determine beta - hexosaminidase (HEX) and gamma - glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) activity in the urine to monitoring consumption of alcohol by pregnant women in first trimester and to assess the effect of ethyl alcohol on fetus development. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 22 pregnant women, who did not declare consumption of ethanol containing drinks. The level of creatinine, GGT and HEX in urine was analysed. RESULTS: Preliminary results of our study indicate that determination of GGT and HEX activities could be useful in monitoring of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

[Concentration of C-reactive protein, procalcitonin and alpha-1-antitrypsin in blood of neonates and infants with signs of inflammation]. / Badania stezenia bialka c-reaktywnego, prokalcytoniny I alpha-1-antytrypsyny jako markerów stanu zapalnego.

We determined the concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcilonin (PCT) and alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) in blood of neonates and infants with suspected infection. Investigations were carried out in 88 children. Increased concentrations of CRP (>5mg/L). procalcitonin (>0.5ng/ml) and AAT (> 200mg/dl) were observed in: CRP - 24%. PCT- 46%, AAT - 49% of neonates in 70, 60 and 70% of infants. We concluded, that the examined parameters are good and sensitive markers of inflammation in neonates and infants.