Enteropathogenic bacteria in faecal swabs of young children 
fed on lactic acid-fermented cereal gruels

The influence of consumption of a lactic acid-fermented cereal gruel togwa with pH[les ]4 on the presence of faecal enteric bacteria such as campylobacter, enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC[ratio ]O157), enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), salmonella and shigella was evaluated. Under 5 years old healthy children listed in an ascending order of age were alternatively assigned and given either a lactic-acid fermented cereal gruel togwa (test diet) or an unfermented cereal gruel uji (control diet) once a day for 13 consecutive days. The presence of the enteropathogens was examined in rectal swabs collected from the children at baseline (before feeding session started), on days 7 and 13, and additionally 14 days (follow-up day) after the feeding session had stopped. The swabs were cultured on to different optimal media for respective enteropathogen and confirmed by standard microbiological and serological methods. Campylobacter spp. dominated among the enteropathogens (62% out of total) followed by Salmonella spp., ETEC and Shigella spp. Children with isolated enteropathogens in the togwa group was significantly reduced (P<0·001) from 27·6% at baseline to 7·8, 8·2 and 12·7% on days 7, 13 and follow-up day, respectively. The effect was more pronounced in those children taking togwa >6 times during the study period. In the control group, there was a slight decrease from 16·7% at baseline to 11·4% on day 7 and 8·1% on day 13. On the follow-up day, enteropathogens were found in 22·6% of the children, which was significantly higher than in those children taking togwa >6 times. We conclude, that regular consumption of togwa with pH[les ]4, once a day, three times a week may help to control intestinal colonization with potential diarrhoea-causing pathogens in young children.

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QT dispersion in acute rheumatic fever

Cardiology in the Young ◽

10.1017/s1047951106000060 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 141-146 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Tugcin Bora Polat ◽

Yalim Yalcin ◽

Celal Akdeniz ◽

Cenap Zeybek ◽

Abdullah Erdem ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatic Fever ◽

Acute Rheumatic Fever ◽

Qt Dispersion ◽

Control Group ◽

Healthy Children ◽

Rheumatic Carditis ◽

Normal Children ◽

A Value ◽

The Mean

Background:Disturbances of conduction are well known in the setting of acute rheumatic fever. The aim of this study is to investigate the QT dispersion as seen in the surface electrocardiogram of children with acute rheumatic fever.Methods:QT dispersion was quantitatively evaluated in 88 children with acute rheumatic fever. Patients were divided into two groups based on the absence or presence of carditis. As a control group, we studied 36 healthy children free of any disease, and matched for age with both groups. Repeat echocardiographic examinations were routinely scheduled in all patients at 3 months after the initial attack to study the evolution of valvar lesions.Results:The mean QT dispersion was significantly higher in children with rheumatic carditis. But there was no statistical difference between children without carditis and normal children. Among the children with carditis, the mean dispersion was higher in those with significant valvar regurgitation. Dispersion of greater than 55 milliseconds had a sensitivity of 85%, and specificity of 70%, in predicting rheumatic carditis, while a value of 65 milliseconds or greater had sensitivity of 81% specificity of 85% in predicting severe valvar lesions in acute rheumatic carditis. At follow-up examination, a clear reduction on the QT dispersion was the main finding, reflecting an electrophysiological improvement.Conclusions:These observations suggest that QT dispersion is increased in association with cardiac involvement in children with acute rheumatic fever.

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Impact of Probiotic on the Number of Lactic Acid Rods Forming Hydrogen Peroxide Isolated From Porkers and on Changes in Drug Resistance of Selected Escherichia Coli Isolates

Bulletin of the Veterinary Institute in Pulawy ◽

10.2478/v10213-012-0004-6 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 56 (1) ◽

pp. 21-25 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Marek Selwet ◽

Mariola Galbas ◽

Piotr Dullin

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Hydrogen Peroxide ◽

Drug Resistance ◽

Lactic Acid ◽

Control Group ◽

Large White ◽

E Coli ◽

Probiotic Preparation ◽

Hydrogen Oxide

Abstract The presented investigations were conducted on a group of 60 porkers of crossbreed Polish Landrace x Large White Polish. The animals were divided into two equal experimental groups. The control group (K) was fed diets without supplementation with probiotics, group (P) - diets with the addition of probiotic (0.2 kg t-1 feed). The aim of the study was to determine the effect of probiotic preparation on total numberof lactic acid rods from the Lactobacillus genus and those forming hydrogen oxide. The second part of experiment concerned the influence of probiotic preparation on the number, haemolytic ability and changes in drug resistance of Escherichia coli isolated from animal faeces. The significantly highest number of Lactobacillus sp. were determined in the saliva of porkers fed diets with the addition of probiotic, while the lowest in the control group. Lactobacillus sp. rods capable of forming hydrogen peroxide were isolated from 17 animals in group K and from three animals in group P. E. coli was determined in each examined sample of faeces. In groups K and P, counts of these bacteria were similar and did not differ statistically. High numbers of haemolytic isolates (haemolysis β) were found in faeces of animals fed diets with the addition of probiotic. Number and proportions of resistant isolates in groups K and P were different. Gentamicin was characterised by exceptionally high in vitro effectiveness. The used probiotic increased drug resistance of E. coli and increased frequency of incidence of haemolysis β.

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THERAPEUTIC VALUE OF COMBINED THERAPY WITH DEFERASIROX AND SILYMARIN ON IRON OVERLOAD IN CHILDREN WITH BETA THALASSEMIA

Mediterranean Journal of Hematology and Infectious Diseases ◽

10.4084/mjhid.2013.065 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. e2013065 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Adel Abd elhaleim Hagag

Keyword(s):

Iron Overload ◽

Serum Ferritin ◽

Iron Status ◽

Iron Chelator ◽

University Hospital ◽

Beta Thalassemia ◽

Control Group ◽

Healthy Children ◽

Number Of Patients

abstractBackground: Beta thalassemia is an inherited hemoglobin disorder resulting in chronic hemolytic anemia requiring life-long blood transfusion that cause iron overload. Silymarin plays a role as oral iron chelator and hepatoprotective agents in thalassemic patients.The aim of this work was to determine silymarin value as an iron chelator in thalassemic patients with iron overload.Patients and Methods: This study was conducted on 40 children with beta thalassemia major under follow-up at Hematology Unit, Pediatric Department, Tanta University Hospital having serum ferritin level more than 1000 ng/ml and was divided in two groups. Group IA: Received oral Deferasirox (Exjade) and silymarin for 6 months. Group IB: Received oral Deferasirox (Exjade) and placebo for 6 months and 20 healthy children serving as a control group in the period between April 2011 and August 2012 and was performed after approval from research ethical committee center in Tanta University Hospital and obtaining an informed written parental consent from all participants in this research. Results: Serum ferritin levels were markedly decreased in group IA cases compared with group IB (P= 0.001). Conclusion: From this study we concluded that, silymarin in combination with Exjade can be safely used in treatment of iron-loaded thalassemic patients as it showed good iron chelation with no sign of toxicity. Recommendations: Extensive multicenter studies in large number of patients with longer duration of follow up and more advanced methods of assessment of iron status is recommended to clarify the exact role of silymarin in reduction of iron over load in children with beta thalassemia.

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Growth and Specialized Growth Charts of Children with Congenital Hypothyroidism Detected by Neonatal Screening in Isfahan, Iran

ISRN Endocrinology ◽

10.1155/2013/463939 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Awat Feizi ◽

Mahin Hashemipour ◽

Silva Hovsepian ◽

Zeynab Amirkhani ◽

Roya Kelishadi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Head Circumference ◽

Relative Frequency ◽

Screening Program ◽

Control Group ◽

Growth Charts ◽

Healthy Children ◽

Growth Status ◽

Catch Up ◽

Growth Development

Objectives. The aim of the current study was to investigate the growth status of CH, generate specialized growth charts of CH infants, and compare them with their counterparts of regional normal infants. Methods. In this prospective cohort study, 760 (345 girls and 415 boys) neonates born in 2002–2009 diagnosed by neonatal CH screening program in Isfahan were followed up from the time of diagnosis. 552 healthy children were recruited as a control group. The empirical 3rd, 15th, 50th, 85th, and 97th percentiles for height, weight, and head circumference of both sexes were determined and compared with their counterpart values of the control group. The relative frequency of patients with impaired growth for each studied variable was determined. Also, specialized growth charts of CH patients were generated. Results. The percentiles of weight, height, and head circumference of studied patients are significantly different from regional healthy children (P<0.001). The relative frequency of impaired head circumference was decreased to less than 3% at the 3rd year of age and for height it reached gradually 3% and 9% at the 5th year of age for boys and girls, respectively (P<0.05); however for weight still it was statistically more than 3% in both sexes. Conclusion. CH patients had impaired growth development which was improved during follow up, but the catch-up time was earlier for head circumference and later for weight.

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Evaluating a Brief Parental-Education Program for Parents of Young Children

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.1998.82.3c.1107 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 82 (3_suppl) ◽

pp. 1107-1113 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Bonnie C. Nicholson ◽

Patricia C. Janz ◽

Robert A. Fox

Keyword(s):

Young Children ◽

Education Program ◽

Social Learning Theory ◽

Parental Education ◽

Control Group ◽

Education Programs ◽

Theory Analysis ◽

Parenting Attitudes ◽

Very Young Children

The effectiveness of a brief parental-education program for 40 families with very young children was studied. Families were assigned to either a parental-education or waiting-list control group. The parental-education program included information and strategies drawn from developmental and cognitive psychology and social learning theory. Analysis showed that participating parents significantly reduced their use of corporal and verbal punishment, changed their parenting attitudes, and improved their perceptions of their children's behavior in comparison to the control group. Effects were maintained at six weeks follow-up. Results supported tailoring parental-education programs to the unique needs of participants.

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Elevated End-Tidal Carbon Monoxide Concentration in Children with Sickle Cell Anemia

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v124.21.1390.1390 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 124 (21) ◽

pp. 1390-1390

Author(s):

Ashutosh Lal ◽

Kristen Yen ◽

Lasandra Patterson ◽

Alisa Goldrich ◽

Anne M Marsh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carbon Monoxide ◽

Young Children ◽

Sickle Cell ◽

Sickle Cell Anemia ◽

Second Hand Smoke ◽

Control Group ◽

Exhaled Breath ◽

Healthy Children ◽

The Mean ◽

End Tidal

Abstract Background: Carbon monoxide (CO) produced during oxygen-dependent cleavage of porphyrin ring of heme is excreted in exhaled breath. The catabolism of heme is increased when red blood cells are destroyed at an accelerated rate. Thus, quantifying CO in exhaled breath could serve as an indicator of hemolysis. However, the requirement for forced breath sample has limited the measurement of exhaled CO in young children. Objective: To assess end-tidal CO concentration (ETCOc) in children with sickle cell anemia (SCA). Design/Methods: ETCOc was measured using the CoSense ETCO Monitor (Capnia Inc. Palo Alto, CA). Children between 5-14 years with SCA (Hb SS) who were not on chronic transfusions were eligible. Healthy children served as age-matched controls. Children with exposure to second-hand smoke, acute respiratory infection or symptomatic asthma were excluded. End-tidal breath samples were collected by placing the tip of a nasal cannula 5 mm into the nares. Up to 3 measurements were taken for each subject and the highest ETCOc value was used for analysis. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01848691) Results: The mean (range) age of 16 children with SCA and 16 controls was 9.7 years (5-14 years) and 9.9 years (5-14 years), respectively. The mean (± s.d.) ETCOc for SCA was 4.85 ± 2.24 ppm versus 0.96 ± 0.54 ppm for control group (p<0.001). The ETCOc in the control group ranged from 0.2 to 2.3 ppm, but was ≤1.2 ppm in 14/16, which is suggested as the upper limit of normal for healthy children. In the SCA group, the ETCOc range was 1.8 to 9.7 ppm, with values ≥2.4 ppm in 15/16 subjects. A threshold ETCOc value of >2.1 ppm provided both sensitivity and specificity equal to 93.8% (69.8-99.8%) for distinguishing SCA from healthy children. Children with SCA who had higher absolute reticulocyte count also demonstrated higher ETCOc (r=0.62, p=0.011). Patients with severe anemia (hemoglobin <8 g/dL) had a higher mean ETCOc (5.43 ppm) than the rest (4.40 ppm) but the difference was not significant. ETCOc level tended to increase with age in SCA (r=0.45, p=0.08). Conclusions: Carbon monoxide in exhaled breath can be measured in young children in the clinic using a portable monitor. ETCOc may be a valuable tool for non-invasive monitoring of the severity of hemolysis in SCA. The mean ETCOc was 5-fold higher in SCA compared with controls, with little overlap seen between the groups. This suggests a potential use for ETCOc as a point-of-care screening test for SCA in children. Figure 1 Figure 1. Figure 2 Figure 2. Disclosures Lal: Capnia, Inc: Research Funding. Yen:Capnia, Inc. : Employment. Bhatnagar:Capnia, Inc: Employment.

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Subclinical rheumatic valvitis: a long-term follow-up

Cardiology in the Young ◽

10.1017/s104795110300091x ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 431-438 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Cristina Costa Duarte Lanna ◽

Edward Tonelli ◽

Marcio Vinicius Lins Barros ◽

Eugenio Marcos Andrade Goulart ◽

Cleonice Carvalho Coelho Mota

Keyword(s):

Mitral Regurgitation ◽

Rheumatic Fever ◽

Aortic Regurgitation ◽

Confidence Intervals ◽

Doppler Echocardiography ◽

The Other ◽

Control Group ◽

Healthy Children ◽

Long Term Follow Up

In order prospectively to investigate the frequency and evolution of subclinical valvitis, we selected 40 consecutive patients suffering their initial attack of rheumatic fever, seen in our clinic from 1992 to 1994, and followed-up until 2001, with a mean period of follow-up of 8.1 years, and a standard deviation of 0.6 year. We also assembled a matched control group of 37 healthy children and adolescents. We discovered a murmur of mitral regurgitation in 28 (70.0%) of the patients. In 3 (7.5%) of these patients, there was also a murmur of aortic regurgitation. In the group of 28 symptomatic patients, Doppler echocardiography showed mitral regurgitation in all, and aortic regurgitation in 17. In the group of 12 patients without clinical evidence of cardiac involvement, Doppler echocardiography identified mitral regurgitation in 2, isolated in one and associated with aortic regurgitation in the other. Thus, the frequency of subclinical valvitis was 16.7%. In patients with subclinical valvitis only the aortic regurgitation regressed during the period of follow-up. In the group of 28 symptomatic patients, mitral regurgitation disappeared in 6 (21.4%), aortic regurgitation in 7 of the 17 having this feature (41.2%), while 2 patients (7.1%) developed mitral stenosis. The sensitivity and specificity of cardiac auscultation were, respectively, 93.3%, with 95% confidence intervals between 72.3% and 97.4%, and 100%, with 95% confidence intervals between 65.5% and 100%, for the diagnosis of mitral regurgitation, and 16.7%, with 95% confidence intervals between 4.4% and 42.3%, and 100%, with 95% confidence intervals between 81.5% and 100%, for that of aortic regurgitation. We conclude that the Doppler echocardiogram is an important means of diagnosing and assessing the evolution of subclinical rheumatic valvar lesions, which are not always transient. We suggest that Doppler echocardiography should be performed in all patients with acute rheumatic fever. Subclinical valvitis should be considered as mild carditis, provided that strict criterions are observed in the differential diagnosis from physiological regurgitation, and Doppler echocardiographic findings are analyzed in the context of the other manifestations of the disease.

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The Eveluation of Pulmonary Functions in Children with Sickle Cell Anemia.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v114.22.4628.4628 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 114 (22) ◽

pp. 4628-4628

Author(s):

Cem Kurt ◽

Ilgen Sasmaz ◽

Bulent Antmen ◽

Yurdanur Kilinc ◽

Sadi Kurdak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Patient Group ◽

Sickle Cell ◽

Sickle Cell Anemia ◽

Exercise Test ◽

Acute Chest Syndrome ◽

Control Group ◽

Healthy Children ◽

Diffusion Test ◽

Pulmonary Functions

Abstract Abstract 4628 Aim In this study we evaluated to pulmonary functions and determined relations of these findings with clinical parameters in children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) who were at follow up in our pediatric heamatology clinic. Materials and Methods 24 children with sickle cell anemia and 9 healthy children as control group include to the study. Complete blood count, hemoglobin electrophoresis and biochemical values were eveluated for both groups. At pulmonology department, the carbonmonoxide diffusion test performing for both groups. At the same day spirometric respiratory function evaluation and exercise test performed both groups at department of sports physiology. The data recieved are compared statistics. Results HbS, HbF, SGPT, ferritin, total bilirubine, direkt bilirubine and Fe++ values were high at patient group (p<0.05). Hemoglobin and hematocrit values were low at patient group according to control group as expected (p<0.05). The number of SCA patient who had one-three venoocclusive crises (VOC) were 14 (58.3%), patient who had three or more VOC were 7 (29.2%) and patient who had no VOC were 3 (12.5%). The number of patient who had acute chest syndrome (ACS) were 5 (20.9%) and 19 patients had no ACS (79.1%). Ýmpaired isole carbonmonoxide diffusion test was established at the 62.5% of the patient's. At patient group, spirometric FEV1 and MEF25 measurement were found lower than the control group (p<0.05). At exercise test VO2/HR rate were lower for patient group (p<0.05). VE/VO2 rate (p=0.023) and R (p=0.016) measurement were found higher. Conclusion Pulmonary gas transfer was found difficult in patients with SCA. Respiratory airways established obstructed in spirometric evaluation. Obstructive defficiensies have to be follow up. Oxygen pulse and respiratory exchange rates were determined low and more oxygen usage was observed for aerobic metabolic activity. With these results, ýt can be say that chronic inflamation process at lung due to oxygen radicals and hipoksemia in sickle cell patients, the aerobic respiratory load was increased. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Occurrence of Escherichia coli non-susceptible to quinolones in faecal samples from fluoroquinolone-treated, contact and control pigs of different ages from 24 Swiss pig farms

Porcine Health Management ◽

10.1186/s40813-021-00209-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Morena Amsler ◽

Katrin Zurfluh ◽

Sonja Hartnack ◽

Xaver Sidler ◽

Roger Stephan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Bacterial Infections ◽

Farm Animals ◽

Resistant Bacteria ◽

Control Group ◽

Reduced Frequency ◽

Colony Forming Units ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

And Control

Abstract Background Despite their indispensability in human medicine, fluoroquinolones (FQ) are used for the treatment of bacterial infections in farm animals which increases the risk of transferring FQ-resistant bacteria into the environment and via the food chain to humans. The objectives of this observational study were to follow-up of the presence of quinolone non-susceptible Escherichia coli (QNSE) qualitatively and quantitatively in faecal samples of pigs at four time points (2 weeks old, 4 weeks old, 2 weeks post weaning and during fattening period). Moreover differences between groups of FQ-treated pigs, pigs with contact to treated pigs and control pigs were investigated. Additionally, quinolone and FQ resistance of Escherichia coli isolates of the faecal samples were investigated by determining minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). Results 40.9% of 621 fecal samples contained QNSE. Proportion of samples with detectable QNSE from treated and contact pigs did not differ significantly and were highest in piglets of 2 and 4 weeks of age. However, the proportions of samples with QNSE were significantly lowest in control pigs (7/90; 7.8%; CI = 3.5–14.7%) among all groups. Also, the number of colony-forming units was lowest in both weaners and fattening pigs of the control group compared to treated and contact groups. Following CLSI human breakpoints, in total, 50.4% out of 254 isolates in faecal samples were intermediate or resistant to ciprofloxacin. Conclusions QNSE were present in faeces of pigs independent of age or FQ background but significantly less were found in pigs from farms without FQ usage. Due to the long half-life of FQ, it is likely that only a prolonged absence of fluoroquinolone treatments in pig farming will lead to a reduced frequency of QNSE in the farm environment. Solutions need to be found to minimise the emergence and transfer of quinolone and FQ-resistant bacteria from treated pigs to contact pigs and to farms without FQ usage.

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Plasma amino acid levels in a cohort of patients in Turkey with classical phenylketonuria

Asian Biomedicine ◽

10.1515/abm-2020-0009 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 59-65

Author(s):

Kazanasmaz Halil ◽

Karaca Meryem

Keyword(s):

Glutamic Acid ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Dietary Treatment ◽

Control Group ◽

Healthy Children ◽

Plasma Phenylalanine ◽

Group A ◽

The Central Nervous System ◽

The Mean

AbstractBackgroundIn patients with phenylketonuria, the central nervous system is adversely affected by noncompliance with diet. The levels of phenylalanine and many different amino acids (AAs) in the plasma of patients with phenylketonuria can be measured simultaneously.ObjectivesTo measure the blood plasma levels of neurotransmitter AAs in a cohort of patients in Sanliurfa province, Turkey, with phenylketonuria for use as a support parameter for the follow-up of patients.MethodsThe phenylketonurics that we followed (n = 100) were divided into 2 groups according to their compliance with their dietary treatment. Plasma AA analysis results of phenylketonurics were compared with those of healthy children in a control group (n = 50).ResultsIn the diet incompliant group (n = 56), the mean levels of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA; 0.96 ± 1.07 μmol/L) and glycine (305.1 ± 105.19 μmol/L) were significantly higher than those in the diet compliant group (n = 44; GABA P = 0.005, glycine P < 0.001) and in the control group (GABA and glycine P < 0.001), whereas the mean levels of glutamic acid (39.01 ± 22.94 μmol/L) and asparagine (39.3 ± 16.89 μmol/L) were lower (P < 0.001) in the diet incompliant group. A positive correlation was observed between the levels of phenylalanine and GABA and glycine. A negative relationship was found between the levels of phenylalanine and glutamic acid and asparagine.ConclusionsA relationship exists between the levels of plasma phenylalanine in a cohort of phenylketonurics in Sanliurfa province, Turkey, and the levels of some excitatory and inhibitory AAs. Excitatory and inhibitory AA levels in plasma may be used as support parameters in the follow-up of patients with phenylketonuria.

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