Expression of microRNA-155 precursor in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Hepatitis C patients after antiviral treatment.

Chronic hepatitis caused by Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the main source of liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and extra-hepatic diseases. After treatment-induced resolution of hepatitis C, the persistence of HCV RNA in serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) is often observed. An expression of the precursor of microRNA-155 (miR-155) called BIC can be the factor responsible for a course of HCV infection. Therefore, we assessed the relationship between BIC expression and HCV RNA status in sera and PBMCs samples of 64 hepatitis C patients treated with interferon alpha(IFN-alpha)+ribavirin. High expression of BIC in PBMCs was determined in 100% of patients that harbored HCV RNA in serum and PBMCs. Further, we found that 83% of PBMCs samples were BIC-positive in a group of patients that eliminated HCV RNA only from serum. The lowest expression of BIC was found in patients that eliminated HCV RNA from both serum and PBMCs.

Effect of interferon alfa and ribavirin treatment on hepatitis C virus RNA in serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells in children with chronic hepatitis C.

UNLABELLED: The correlations between the severity of hepatic lesions, age, gender, HBV co-infection and negativisation of HCV-RNA from serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) after treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) were analysed. 41 children (11 F/ 30 M), aged 5-16 years (mean 10 +/- 2.8), were treated with IFN-alpha and ribavirin for 12 months. Sustained negativisation of HCV-RNA from serum was achieved in 25 patients (61%), in 3 (7%) it reappeared after treatment, and in 13 (32%) it was ineffective. Clearance of HCV did not correlate with age (p = 0.65), sex (p = 0.13), past HBV infection (n = 22 anti-HBc +) (p = 0.24), maximum pre-treatment ALT activity (p = 0.06), grade of inflammation (p = 0.33) or stage of fibrosis (p = 0.9) in liver biopsy. It was achieved in 6/16 children previously resistant to IFN-a monotherapy and in 19/25 naive (p = 0.017). HCV-RNA was detected in PBMC in 9/24 (37%) seronegative children and in 1/21 (5%) in comparative group of seronegative adults; p = 0.004. Persistence of HCV-RNA in PBMC after combined treatment occurred in 5/10 (50%) patients resistant to previous IFN-alpha monotherapy, 6/35 (20%) of them cleared HCV from PBMC (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Age and gender, infection route, history of HBV infection or severity of histopathologic liver lesions had no influence on the efficacy of treatment with IFN-alpha and ribavirin. Clearance of HCV from serum and from PBMC occurs less frequently in patients previously resistant to IFN-alpha. Children with CHC require longitudinal observation after successful antiviral treatment as in 37% of those considered to be free from the virus by ordinary measures, HCV-RNA was found in PBMC.

Clinical picture of chronic hepatitis C in children--Polish experience.

The aim of this study was to investigate long-term clinical, virologic and histologic outcome of hepatitis C virus infection in children. Sixty children (16 girls and 44 boys) have been followed for 1 to 5 years (mean 1.7 +/- 0.9 years). HCV RNA and anti-HCV were checked every six months. Biopsy specimens were evaluated for the grade of inflammation and stage of fibrosis (scores 0-4). ALT was measured every 3 months. Presumed duration of HCV infection was from 1 to 16 years (mean 7.4 +/- 3 years). Fifteen (25%) children could have been infected by blood transfusion, 5 (8%) during surgical procedures, 29 (50%) were multiply hospitalized. Twenty-five children infected as neonates had lower staging score than 24 infected later in life (p = 0.021). Two girls (aged 13 and 14) were diagnosed with acute hepatitis C, with maximum ALT of 1272 U/l and 1638 U/l respectively. In 11 children (18%) median ALT of more than 3 times the normal value (> 105 U/l) was noted. Six children (10%) had continuously normal ALT. Histopathology revealed mild to moderate inflammatory activity (0-2 points) in 52 children (87%). Seven specimens (11%) were scored for 3 to 4 staging points, 3 of them (5%) were diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. We have found statistically significant correlation between median ALT and grading (r = 0.36; p = 0.005) as well as staging scores (r = 0.32; p = 0.016), median AST and grading (r = 0.36; p = 0.006) as well as staging (r = 0.36; p = 0.007) scores but also median GGT and staging score (r = 0.39; p = 0.004).

[Toxocarosis in the Lódz region over the years 1996-2000]. / Toksokaroza w regionie Lódzkim w latach 1996-2000.

In the paper epidemiologic analysis of toxocarosis with socio-medical background in humans in the Lódz macroregion over the years 1996-2000 was carried out. It was found that 58.2% of toxocarosis cases represent asymptomatic invasions occurring more often in town residents. The clinical form "minor" pertained the country residents, patients of elementary education and the group "pupil-student". The "major" form of toxocarosis was found in the country residents, young people, and patients over 60 years old.

Interferon alpha for eradication of HCV and remission of chronic hepatitis in children.

UNLABELLED: Thirty two children (8 girls and 32 boys), aged 4-14, with chronic hepatitis C were treated with interferon alpha at a dose of 3 MU or 5 MU, given times weekly for 6 months. Five children (16%) were complete responders (defined as disappearance of viremia), none of them relapsed, 6 (19%) were partial responders (normalization of ALT), 3 (9%) were transient responders (ALT initially decreased but then rebounded to pre-treatment levels) and 18 (56%) were non responders. During the treatment, continuous decrease of median ALT, AST and GGT was noted, statistically significant differences were found for comparisons of values measured before and after treatment (for ALT p = 0.023, for AST p = 0.021 and for GGT p = 0.012). Histological evaluation revealed one case of progression (to liver cirrhosis) out of three investigated complete responders, 1/5 such cases of partial responders, 1/2 of transient responders and 14/18 of non-responders. Remission of hepatitis was found in 2/18 (10%) non-responders. There was no statistically significant difference between 16 children previously infected with HBV (anti-HBc positive but HBsAg negative at the time of our study) and the others with respect to biochemical and histological severity of hepatitis or in the response to treatment rate. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic hepatitis C in children may cause severe hepatitis or even liver cirrhosis. Virological, biochemical and histological features should be considered to evaluate the severity of the disease and response to interferon treatment. Past infection with HBV does not affect interferon sensitivity in children with chronic hepatitis C.

The correlation between the numbers of some bacteria in human oral cavity and blood neutrophil count.

The correlation between the number of blood polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMNs) and the counts of oral bacteria in 92 children (33 girls and 59 boys), aged 4-15 was investigated. The groups of children comprised 44 healthy individuals and 48 children suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who were given intensive antileukaemic chemotherapy. It was found that while the number of PMNs in blood decreased, the counts of Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., mutans streptococci, Lactobacillus spp., and Actinomyces spp. in the saliva tended to increase. The similar reciprocal correlation between the number of blood PMNs and the counts of these bacteria in the saliva was found in the group of healthy children. We concluded that the blood PMNs, by influencing the number of oral PMNs which control bacteria in this habitat, influence also the number of some groups of bacteria there.

[Diseases caused by hantaviruses]. / Choroby wywolywane przez hantawirusy.

Hantaviruses are RNA viruses that belong to the genus Hantavirus, family Bunyaviridae. The main reservoir of hantaviruses are rodents. Humans become infected by inhaling particles of dust contaminated with faeces of rodents, that are found In Europe and Asia hantaviruses named: Hantaan, Seoul and Dobrava-Belgrade causing haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) are prevalent. Typical clinical picture of HFRS consists of renal insufficiency (primarily anuria and then polyuria with disturbances of water and electrolytic balance), hypotension, shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation and fibrynolisis (DIC). The mild form of this disease caused by Puumala virus is found in Scandinavia. North and South America are the regions where the prevalence of viruses: Sin Nombre, Black Creek Canal, Bayou, and New York causing hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) has been noted. In the course of this disease non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema requires immediate hospitalisation at intensive care ward with artificial ventilation. Mortality in HPS due to hypotension, hypoxia and shock ranges up to 40%.

[Epidemic of ECHO type 30 virus meningitis in children from the Lodz region in the years 1995 and 1996]. / Epidemie zapalenia opon mózgowo-rdzeniowych wywolane przez wirusa ECHO 30 u dzieci w regionie lódzkim w 1995 i w 1996 roku.

Two epidemics of ECHO virus type 30 meningitis were compared with the special emphasis on the course of the disease and results of the laboratory investigations. The first epidemic occurred in 1995 and the second one in 1996. Between 20 August and 20 October 1995, thirty six children, and between 11 July and 15 October 1996, ninety one children were admitted to the Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Lódz. All children were 3 to 15 years old, the median age was 9.08 years in the 1995 epidemic and 8 years in the 1996 epidemic. The common symptoms were headache, fever, vomiting and nuchal rigidity. The course of both epidemic was mild, there were no complications and serious sequelae of the disease. Typical symptoms were found more frequently in patients in 1996 epidemic. Patients in 1996 had higher CSF pleocytosis and the percentage of granulocytes in the CSF than patients in 1995. From the other side, patients in the 1995 epidemic had higher fever of longer duration than patients in the 1996 epidemic.

[Staphylococci and enteric rods in the oral cavity of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia]. / Gronkowce i paleczki jelitowe w jamie ustnej u dzieci z ostra bialaczka limfoblastyczna.

The frequency of isolation and the number of staphylococci and Gram-negative enteric rods in saliva were estimated in a group of 48 children of both sexes, aged 4-15 who were in the course of treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The results were compared with the same parameters in a group of 44 healthy children of the same age. Staphylococci (both coagulase-negative and coagulase-positive) were found in the oral cavities of all healthy children and of 91.6% children with ALL. However, the diseased children harbouring staphylococci revealed a significantly higher average number of these bacteria than healthy children; the respective values were 3.59 and 3.02 log CFU/ml of saliva (p = 0.0148). The average number of staphylococci in saliva was in both groups of children in negative correlation with the number of polymorphonuclear granulocytes in blood. Gram-negative enteric rods were present in the oral cavities of 13.6% of healthy children and 33.3% of children with ALL (p = 0.0005), but the counts of these bacteria were comparable. The negative correlation between the number of these bacteria and the number of polymorphonuclear granulocytes in blood was not significant.

[Some factors influencing the number of staphylococci in the mouth and throat of children]. / Niektóre czynniki wplywajace na liczebnosc gronkowców w jamie ustnej i w gardle u dzieci.

The relationship between the count of polymorphonuclear granulocytes in blood and also between the percentage of oral and pharyngeal streptococci showing antagonistic activity on the indicator strain Staphylococcus aureus 209P and the number of staphylococci in the oral cavity and pharynx were investigated. The study comprised 92 children, of both sexes, aged 4-15; among them there were 48 children with the decreased number of circulating polymorphonuclear granulocytes due to the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). A statistically significant negative correlation between the number of polymorphonuclear granulocytes in blood and the count of oral and pharyngeal staphylococci (both coagulase-negative and coagulase-positive) in children with ALL as well as in healthy children was revealed. The Pearsons linear correlation coefficients between these parameters were r = -0.364 (p < 0.001) and r = -0.313 (p = 0.019) for the oral cavity and for the pharynx, respectively. The streptococci showing antagonistic activity had only some influence on the count of staphylococci in the oral cavity. The Pearson's linear correlation coefficient between this number and the count of staphylococci in 1 ml of saliva was r = -0.382 (p < 0.001).

[Antagonistic properties of bacterial flora in the mouth and throat of children]. / Antagonistyczne wlasciwosci flory bakteryjnej jamy ustnej i gardla u dzieci.

The research concerned the antagonistic activity of oral and pharyngeal bacterial flora in 44 children, of both sexes, aged 4-15. These properties were estimated basing upon in vitro inhibition of the growth of the standard indicator strains Staphylococcus aureus 209P and Escherichia coli K-12. Bacteria, both aerobic as well as anaerobic, inhibiting the growth of S. aureus 209P were found in every sample. The median percentages of bacteria showing these properties were not significantly different in both environments and they ranged from 25% to 33%. The antagonistic activity of oral and pharyngeal bacterial flora against the indicator strain E. coli K-12 was significantly lower when compared with the activity against the staphylococcal strain.

[Quantitative changes of bacterial flora from the oral cavity and throat in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia]. / Zmiany ilosciowe flory bakteryjnej jamy ustnej i gardla u dzieci z ostra bialaczka limfoblastyczna.

Quantitative investigations were carried on aerobic and anaerobic bacterial flora of oral cavity and throat in 44 children in the age of 5-10 years with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, intensively treated with cytostatics, and in 23 healthy children which served as a control group. Samples of saliva from leukemic children revealed significantly higher than in control group--presence of aerobic bacteria, particularly streptococci and enterococci. Material from throat was differing only in regard to staphylococci. Moreover, in children with leukemia, Gram-negative rods were present, which was not the case in the control group.