Epidemiology of acute diarrhea in children living in Sicily

A longitudinal survey (February 1984 - January 1985) on the incidence of acute diarrhea episodes in a sample of 8,164 children (aged 0–12 years) living in southeastern Sicily was carried out by means of weekly telephone interviews with doctors practising in the territory. The incidence rate was 0.479 (0.472–0.485 95% C.I.) per child per year and the frequency of episodes was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in children aged 0–4 years (0.86). Diarrhea was more frequent in industrial areas than in rural ones, and almost half (45.1%) of the total episodes had a mild course. No death from diarrhea occurred and admission to hospital was reported for 8.4% of all cases.Corresponding author.     

Comparison of yogurt, soybean, casein, and amino acid–based diets in children with persistent diarrhea

Although previous studies have shown successful treatment of persistent diarrhea (PD) with the use of yogurt-based diets, some recent ones speculate the need of special formulas for the nutritional management of PD complicated cases. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the consumption of 3 lactose-free diets, with different degrees of complexity, is associated with lower stool output and shorter duration of diarrhea when compared with the use of a yogurt-based one on the nutritional management of PD. A total of 154 male infants, aged between 1 and 30 months, with PD and with or without dehydration, were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups. Throughout the study, the patients were placed in a metabolic unit; their body weights and intakes of oral rehydration solution, water, and formula diets, in addition to outputs of stool, urine, and vomit, were measured and recorded at 24-hour intervals. Four different diets were used in this study: diet 1, yogurt-based formula; diet 2, soy-based formula; diet 3, hydrolyzed protein-based formula; and diet 4, amino acid–based formula. Throughout the study, only these formula diets were fed to the children. The data showed that children fed the yogurt-based diet (diet 1) or the amino acid–based diet (diet 4) had a significant reduction in stool output and in the duration of diarrhea. The use of an inexpensive and worldwide-available yogurt-based diet is recommended as the first choice for the nutritional management of mild to moderate PD. For the few complicated PD cases, when available, a more complex amino acid–based diet should be reserved for the nutritional management of these unresponsive and severe presentations. Soy-based or casein-based diets do not offer any specific advantage or benefits and do not seem to have a place in the management of PD.     

喜炎平注射液联合维生素K3治疗小儿秋季腹泻的疗效观察

目的观察喜炎平与维生素K3联合治疗小儿秋季腹泻的疗效.方法将89例秋季腹泻患儿随机分为2组.治疗组采用喜炎平与维生素K3联合治疗,对照组则采用利巴韦林治疗,疗程5d.结果治疗组的总有效率为93.3%,显著优于对照组的65.9%(X2=10.37,P＜0.01).结论喜炎平与维生素K3联合治疗小儿秋季腹泻值得进一步推广.     

The comparative evaluation of cellular localization of viral antigens with microscopic changes in the ileum of cattle infected with bovine viral diarrhea

The correlation between microscopic changes with cellular localization of viral antigens was studied in the ileum of 16 cases infected with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). Microscopic lesions in the ileum included multifocal erosive and ulcerative ileitis, severe congestion and hemorrhage, crypt dilation and mucus engorgement, epithelial debris and leukocytes, lymphoid depletion of Peyer’s patches, herniation of mucosal epithelium into depleted Peyer’s patches, and fibrinoid vasculitis of submucosal vessels. BVDV antigen was detected by immunohistochemistry in macrophages, dendritic cells, smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, epithelial cells of crypts, and mucosal epithelium, together with other mononuclear cells including lymphocytes, plasma cells, fibroblasts, and intramural ganglial cells. No consistent correlation between the presence of BVDV antigen and vascular lesions in the ileum was identified. The intensity and distribution of the immunoperoxidase stain in the ileum was graded as highly positive (18.7%), moderately positive (56.3%), and mildly positive (25%). In conclusion, the pattern and density of distribution and localization of BVDV antigen in the ileum was not consistently correlated with the severity of microscopic lesions.     

健脾止泻饮治疗糖尿病腹泻32例观察

目的:观察自拟健脾止泻饮治疗糖尿病腹泻的临床疗效。方法:治疗组32例用健脾止泻饮治疗,对照组30例用维生素B1、复方苯乙呱啶、盐酸黄连素治疗。结果:治疗组总有效率93.8%,对照组总有效率56.7%,两组比较有极显著性差异(P<0.01)。结论:健脾止泻饮治疗糖尿病腹泻有较好疗效,且无不良反应和毒副作用。     

Plasma Concentrations of Mycophenolic Acid Acyl Glucuronide Are Not Associated with Diarrhea in Renal Transplant Recipients

The aim of this study was to determine whether plasma concentrations of the acyl (AcMPAG) and phenolic (MPAG) glucuronide metabolites of mycophenolic acid (MPA) were related to diarrhoea in renal transplant patients on mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) with cyclosporine (CsA) or tacrolimus (TCL). Blood samples (0, 30, 120 min) were taken at days 3, 10, week 4, months 3, 6 and 12 for determination of MPA, MPAG and AcMPAG. MPA-AUC was estimated using validated algorithms. Two hour AUCs were calculated for MPAG and AcMPAG. Immunosuppressive therapy consisted of CsA/MMF (n= 110) and of TCL/MMF (n= 180). In 70/290 (24%) patients 86 episodes of diarrhoea were recorded during 12 months. Significantly more patients on TCL (31.1%) suffered from diarrhea compared to CsA (12.7%). MMF dose, MPA-AUC and the 2 h AUCs of MPAG and AcMPAG did not differ between patients with and without diarrhoea. Plasma AcMPAG and MPAG concentrations were substantially higher in patients on CsA compared with TCL, while MPA-AUC was lower in the former group. These data support the concept that CsA inhibits the biliary excretion of MPAG and AcMPAG, thereby potentially reducing the risk of intestinal injury through enterohepatic recycling of MPA and its metabolites.     

云南省路南彝族自治县小儿急性腹泻病流行病学调查

1986—1987年对云南省路南县5岁以下儿童随机抽样1016例,每月调查急性腹泻病发病情况。结果表明年发病率为1.43±0.07次/年。6月至1岁组发病率最高。4、5、6月为发病高峰季节,病原学检查以产肠毒素埃希氏大肠杆菌为主占39.1％,其次为轮状病毒,占26％。两年定群研究得出小儿急性腹泻病发病危险因素为饮用溏水沟水,随地大小便,多子女家庭与体弱多病儿童及人畜共居等。因此,改善供水,培养卫生习惯,加强计划生育等措施是该县防治本病主导措施。     

Differential Effect of Diarrhea on FK506 Versus Cyclosporine A Trough Levels and Resultant Prevention of Allograft Rejection in Renal Transplant Recipients

Diarrhea is the most frequently reported adverse event in patients treated with mycophenolate mofetil. Twenty-six renal transplant patients on a mycophenolate mofetil-based immunosuppressive regime with persistent afebrile diarrhea were examined. Diarrhea caused a significant rise in FK-506 trough levels despite intake of stable doses, necessitating FK-506 dose reductions of 30% to obtain pre-diarrhea trough levels. In contrast, trough levels of cyclosporine A remained stable without dose adjustments. This suggests that absorption and/or metabolism is differentially altered for FK506 compared with cyclosporine A in patients with diarrhea. In nine patients mycophenolate mofetil was reduced or stopped because of persistent diarrhea without identifiable cause. This resulted in end-stage renal disease because of chronic rejection in two patients, and in acute rejection in two patients, all taking FK506 and steroids. Therefore, dose adjustments of FK506 in patients with diarrhea must be carefully monitored, especially when doses of mycophenolate mofetil are also reduced.     

双歧杆菌三联活菌肠溶胶囊联合阿奇霉素序贯疗法治疗对肺炎支原体肺炎腹泻患儿胃肠炎症的调节作用

目的观察双歧杆菌三联活菌肠溶胶囊联合阿奇霉素序贯疗法治疗对肺炎支原体肺炎腹泻患儿胃肠炎症的调节作用。 方法将肺炎支原体肺炎伴腹泻的患儿106例均分为对照组和观察组。对照组采用阿奇霉素序贯疗法治疗,观察组在对照组基础上给予双歧杆菌三联活菌肠溶胶囊治疗。比较两组疗效和肠道菌群失调发生率。比较两组胃肠激素、降钙素原(PCT)、C反应蛋白(CRP)、中性粒细胞百分比(NEUT%)、嗜酸性粒细胞计数(EOS)水平。 结果观察组总有效率高于对照组(P＜0.05)。治疗后,两组胃肠激素和PCT、CRP、NEUT%、EOS较治疗前下降(P＜0.05),且观察组低于对照组(P＜0.05)。观察组肠道菌群失调发生率低于对照组(P＜0.05)。 结论双歧杆菌三联活菌肠溶胶囊联合阿奇霉素序贯疗法治疗可减轻肺炎支原体并腹泻肺炎患儿炎症反应,调节胃肠激素,降低患儿肠道菌群失调的发生。     

High frequency of rotavirus viremia in children with acute gastroenteritis: Discordance of strains detected in stool and sera

Recently, rotavirus antigenemia and viremia have been identified in patients with acute gastroenteritis. This study examined rotavirus viremia in children hospitalized for acute gastroenteritis in order to establish its association with fecal shedding of rotavirus, infecting genotypes and antibody marker of acute infection. Thirty‐one pairs of stool–serum specimens were collected from November 2004 to February 2005 together with clinical information. All paired specimens were screened for rotavirus RNA by RT‐PCR using the VP6 gene primers. All stool and serum specimens were tested for rotavirus antigen and anti‐rotavirus IgM respectively by ELISA. Sixteen of 31 stool–serum pairs showed the presence of rotavirus RNA. Nine stool and two serum specimens were positive only by RT‐PCR. The total positivity in rotavirus RNA was significantly higher in both stools (80.6%) and sera (58.1%) than that of stool antigen (38.7%) and anti‐rotavirus IgM (25.8%) (P < 0.01). All PCR positive paired specimens were typed for the VP7 (G) and VP4 (P) genes. Five of sixteen pairs could be typed for both genes. Three of the five pairs showed concordance (G2P[4]/G2P[4]) while two showed discordance (G12P[8]/G2P[4], G8P[4]/G2P[4]) in the genotypes detected in stool and serum specimens respectively. The study documents a high frequency of rotavirus viremia in patients with acute diarrhea. The discordance of rotavirus strains at the genotypic level in the serum and stool of individual patients with diarrhea suggests the susceptibility of extra‐intestinal sites for rotavirus infection and the possibility of differential dissemination of rotavirus strains from the intestine. J. Med. Virol. 80:2169–2176, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.