Fatty acids in breast milk of allergic and non-allergic mothers: The PIAMA birth cohort study

Fatty acid composition was studied in breast milk of allergic and non-allergic mothers, focusing in particular on concentrations of the n-6 and n-3 long-chain polyunsaturates (LCP) in relation to maternal allergy. Milk samples were obtained from 168 mothers with asthma or inhalant allergies and 107 mothers without asthma and inhalant allergies, between 2 and 35 weeks after delivery. Mean values of fatty acid concentration (weight% of total fatty acids) were estimated for individual fatty acids, for groups of fatty acids and for the metabolic index (the ratio between the sum of n-6 polyunsaturates and linoleic acid). For the most relevant fatty acids, the association with maternal allergy was subsequently analyzed in more detail using multiple regression analysis. The metabolic index in breast milk was significantly lower in the allergic than in the non-allergic mothers, but no significant differences were observed in the concentrations of any of the n-6 fatty acids. Also concentrations of the n-3 fatty acids and nearly all other fatty acids were similar in allergic and non-allergic mothers' breast milk. No differences in fatty acid concentrations were observed between mothers with asthma and mothers with single or with multiple inhalant allergies. Our data suggest that differences in fatty acid composition between breast milk of allergic and non-allergic mothers are small and are unlikely to be responsible for the differential effects of breastfeeding by allergic and non-allergic mothers that have been observed in some studies.     

The growth of children and thyroid function in differentiation disorders of renal tissue

The growth of children and thyroid function were examined in abnormal differentiation of renal tissue. Forty-four children with different varieties of renal dysembryogenesis were examined. Seventy-three children with acquired renal pathology made up a reference group. Children with congenital nephropathies manifested a higher incidence of delayed growth. The majority of patients with renal dysembryogenesis showed the laboratory signs of both primary and secondary hypothyrosis. The role of thyroid hormones in the genesis of delayed growth and development of children afflicted with renal diseases is under discussion.     

Clinical sepsis in neonates is responsible for the lower prevalence of developing allergy

BACKGROUND: The hygiene hypothesis proposes an association between the change in exposure to microbes and the increased incidence of atopic disease. The purpose of the present study was to perform a prospective epidemiological study of the effect of perinatal infection on the development of allergy. METHODS: Eight hundred and ten children were born at Umeda Gynecological Hospital in Yamaguchi prefecture in Japan between April 1997 and March 1998. A questionnaire survey on the development of allergic diseases was sent by mail in 2002. The presence or absence of neonatal infectious disease (clinical sepsis) and maternal complications during the gestational period and delivery, and the incidence of bacterial infection during the perinatal period, were investigated by examining hospital records. RESULTS: Data were obtained for 410 children (51%). One hundred and forty-eight children (36.1%) developed allergic diseases. Among children whose mothers had allergies, the percentage of children who developed allergic disease(s) was significantly lower in children who had had clinical sepsis in the neonatal period than in those without clinical sepsis (26.1% vs 49.7%, P < 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical sepsis in neonates might reduce the risk of developing allergic diseases in early childhood in children whose mothers have allergies.     

剖宫产与儿童过敏性鼻炎哮喘关系研究

目的 探讨剖宫产与儿童过敏性鼻炎和哮喘间的关系,并了解家族过敏史对其关系的影响。方法 在2010年苏州平江地区0～14岁儿童哮喘流行病学调查的基础上,从540例典型哮喘患儿中抽取年龄5～14岁者427例,其中男性290例、女性137例,平均年龄（8.46±2.3）岁。同时按1∶1配对原则从5～14岁非哮喘儿童中抽取性别相同、年龄相近的儿童427例,共854例作为研究对象。儿童的出生史（分娩方式、出生体重、胎龄）,个人过敏史,周围环境情况及家族过敏史等内容通过全国哮喘防治协作组制定的统一问卷获得。调查数据采用卡方检验、Logistic回归进行统计分析。 结果 854例儿童中,剖宫产388例（过敏性鼻炎158例,哮喘191例）,阴道分娩466例（过敏性鼻炎146例,哮喘236例）。在调整混杂因素后,剖宫产与儿童过敏性鼻炎风险增加有关（OR=1.66,95%CI 1.21,2.29）,尤其是在有家族过敏史的儿童危险升高近2.6倍（OR=2.58,95%CI 1.46,4.56）,而无家族过敏史的儿童中没有发现剖宫产与过敏性鼻炎的关系（OR=1.42,95%CI 0.95,2.13）。剖宫产出生的儿童较阴道分娩者哮喘患病风险没有增加（OR=0.91,95%CI 0.68,1.22）。结论 剖宫产与儿童过敏性鼻炎发病风险增加有关系,尤其在有家族过敏史的儿童中明显,而剖宫产与儿童哮喘发病无关联。     

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??Abstract?? Objective To investigate if there is an association between caesarean section and allergic rhinitis as well as asthma in Suzhou children and whether the association is affected by family history of allergies. Methods This study was based on the epidemiological investigation of asthma among children aged 0-14 years from Pingjiang area of Suzhou city in 2010. From 540 asthmatic children we selected 427 children aged 5 to 14 years?? 290 males and 137 females ?? the average age being ??8.46±2.3??years. Another 427 non-asthmatic children were chosen by 1:1 matching by the same sex and age with the asthma children ?? A total of 854 cases were chosen as the study population??Then analyze the survey data by using Chi-square test and Logistic regression analysis. Results Of the 854 children?? 388 were delivered by cesarean section??allergic rhinitis 158 cases??asthma 191 cases?? and 466 by vaginal??allergic rhinitis 146 cases??asthma 236 cases????After adjusting for potential confounders??caesarean section was associated with an increased risk of allergic rhinitis??OR=1.66??95%CI 1.21??2.29????Specifically??while approximately 2.6-fold higher odds of allergic rhinitis was observed in children with a family history of allergies??OR=2.58??95%CI 1.46??4.56????no association was observed in children without a family history of allergies??OR=1.42??95%CI 0.95??2.13????Children born by cesarean section had no higher risk of asthma than those delivered vaginally??OR=0.91??95%CI 0.68??1.22??. Conclusion The association of caesarean section and allergic rhinitis appears more remarkable in children with family history of allergies??However??caesarean section is not associated with asthma in childhood.     

Use of xidifon for prevention and treatment of nephropathies with metabolic disorders in children

Xydofon was applied to the treatment of 68 children suffering from different renal diseases associated with metabolic disorders. The latter ones involved oxaluria (28 children), uraturia (17 children), cystinuria (14 children), and phosphaturia (9 children). To appraise the action of xydofon, use was made of the indicators of membranolysis, cellular homeostasis of calcium, lipid peroxidation, and of the level of beta 2-microglobulin in urine. The results obtained indicate that xydofon can be used as an effective remedy for the treatment of children suffering from nephropathies associated with metabolic disorders.     

Structural and functional status of the kidneys in children with nephropathies associated with metabolic disorders

A total of 365 children aged 1 to 16 years were examined. The dimensions of the kidneys are given in health and in nephropathies associated with metabolic disorders. Echography made it possible to identify the presence of salt crystals in the pelves. The tension of osmoregulating renal function in response to water loading manifested by the reduction of the degree of osmotic dilution and the rise of ion excretion was established. One of the reasons for such alterations is plasma hyperosmia that is likely to be conditioned by the rise of salt concentrations in the blood. The functional changes seen in the kidneys were found to depend on the age.     

The association between a genetic risk score for allergy and the risk of developing allergies in childhood—Results of the WHISTLER cohort

Background

Several genetic variants have been associated with the susceptibility to allergic disease in adults, but it remains unclear whether these genetic variants are also associated with the onset of allergic disease early in life. The aim of this study was to develop a genetic risk score (GRS) for allergy based on findings in adults and study its predictive capacity for allergy in children.

Methods

A GRS was constructed based on 10 SNPs previously associated with allergies in adults. The GRS was tested in children who participated in a population‐based newborn cohort (WHISTLER) and were followed from birth to school age. Logistic regression analysis was used to study the association between the GRS and the parental‐reported allergies at age 5 (based on a reported allergy to ≥1 of the following allergens: pollen, house dust mites, or pets). A Cox regression model was used to study the association between GRS and a physician‐diagnosed allergy during follow‐up (allergic conjunctivitis, allergic rhinitis, and eczema/dermatitis). Cohen's kappa coefficient was calculated to study the agreement between physician‐diagnosed allergy and parental‐reported allergy at age 5.

Results

The GRS was significantly associated with parental‐reported allergy (odds ratio: 15.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07‐233.73) at age 5, as well as with a physician‐diagnosed allergy during follow‐up (hazard ratio: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.05‐3.41). The overall agreement between physician‐diagnosed and parental‐reported allergies was 70.5% (kappa: 0.10, 95% CI: 0.03‐0.18).

Conclusions

An adult‐derived GRS for allergy predicts the risk of developing allergies in childhood.     

Polyunsaturated fatty acids in school children in relation to allergy and serum IgE levels

Altered composition of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) has been observed in allergic individuals and it has been proposed that this is due to an impairment of δ-6-desaturase activity. We have studied the composition of PUFA in serum phospholipids in twenty-two 12-15 year old children with asthma and/or allergic dermatitis and 23 non-atopic controls of similar age. The relative levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3) and total n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCP) were lower (1.46%± 0.54 vs. 1.90%± 0.58, P = 0.01 for DHA and 2.34%± 0.67 vs. 2.80%± 0.77, P <0.05 for total n-3 LCP) and the ratio of total n-6 to n-3 LCP was higher (P < 0.01) in the allergic children than in the controls. In addition to these differences, the relative levels of docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, C22:5n-3) and the ratio of arachidonic acid (AA, C20:4n-6) to dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DHGLA, C20:3n-6) were also lower in the 12 allergic children with positive skin prick test, as compared with the SIT negative children (both P < 0.05). In non-allergic children, the levels of total n-3 correlated with n-6 LCP (r = 0.76, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the n-3 LCP, i.e. EPA, DPA and DHA, correlated significantly with each other (r = 0.52-0.78, all p < 0.01) and correlated with n-6 LCP, i.e. C20:2, DHGLA and AA respectively (r = 0.56-0.83, all P < 0.01). Most of these correlations were absent in allergic children.
Higher levels of C20:2n-6 and lower levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3) were recorded in 11 allergic children with serum IgE above the median level (56 kU/1), as compared to 11 with lower IgE levels (both P < 0.05). Furthermore, the levels of C20:2n-6 correlated with the IgE levels in the children (r = 0.65, P = 0.001).
The findings could not confirm an impaired δ-6-desaturase activity in allergic school children and suggest that a disturbance of LCP metabolism is associated with allergic diseases.     

Early Diagnosis of Wheezing Infants

One hundred wheezy infants were diagnosed by “Asthma Prospective Score” initially and followed for 5 years. The score consists of major criteria (1) family history of major allergies, (2) high serum IgE level and minor criteria 1 family history of minor allergies, 2 age of onset after 6 months, 3 wheeze between March and October, 4 other allergic signs, 5 eosinophilia in the nasal smear, 6 remarkable improvement by the subcutaneous epinephrine. The infants with either two major criteria or one major and 3 or more minor criteria were diagnosed as asthma and less than these as bronchiolitis prospectively. There were significantly higher incidence of atopic family, high IgE, age of onset and other allergic signs (P<0.01), and response to epinephrine (P<0.02). And good correlation was found between diagnosis based on this score and final diagnosis, 61 out of 66 asthmatics (92.4%) and 27 out of 34 bronchiolitis group (79.4%). It is concluded that this scoring system could help us to make the diagnosis of asthma in early infancy.     

Natural History of Allergic Diseases in Children

Abstract. Questionnaire data from 1335 14-year-old children with a history of past or present asthma, allergic rhinitis or eczema were analysed regarding age at onset and cessation of symptoms. Incidence of asthma and eczema was highest during the first years of life. Early incidence of asthma was higher in boys than in girls but the sex ratio equalized gradually during childhood. Early incidence of eczema was equal between the sexes but the proportion of girls increased gradually with later age at onset. In 24 % of the children more than one symptom was found. Cessation of symptoms was common in asthma (55 %), in particular in those with early onset (74 %), but less common in eczema (34 %). Cessation of symptoms was less common in both diseases when associated with other allergic symptoms. Incidence of allergic rhinitis was fairly constant during childhood and cessation of symptoms was uncommon. A high risk of allergic airways disease was found after early eczema.     

Natural history of allergic diseases in children

Questionnaire data from 1335 14-year-old children with a history of past or present asthma, allergic rhinitis or eczema were analysed regarding age at onset and cessation of symptoms. Incidence of asthma and eczema was highest during the first years of life. Early incidence of asthma was higher in boys than in girls but the sex ratio equalized gradually during childhood. Early incidence of eczema was equal between the sexes but the proportion of girls increased gradually with later age at onset. In 24% of the children more than one symptom was found. Cessation of symptoms was common in asthma (55%), in particular in those with early onset (74%), but less common in eczema (34%). Cessation of symptoms was less common in both diseases when associated with other allergic symptoms. Incidence of allergic rhinitis was fairly constant during childhood and cessation of symptoms was uncommon. A high risk of allergic airways disease was found after early eczema.     

Allergic manifestations in very low-birthweight infants: a 6-year follow-up

The incidence of allergic manifestations was evaluated from birth until 6 y of age in 83 very low-birthweight infants (VLBWIs). In the same period 98 full-term babies were followed from birth to 24 mo of life. All the subjects were examined by paediatricians to establish the presence of atopic dermatitis (AD), gastrointestinal disturbances (GD) and asthma (AS). The incidence of total allergic manifestations (31.3%) in VLBWIs was significantly lower than that (52%) in 24-mo-old infants, born at full term. The incidence of allergies in VLBWIs did not differ at all at the subsequent checks, up to 6y of age. AD (33.7%) was the most common symptom, statistically higher in full-term infants than in VLBWIs (7.2%). GD had a similar distribution (8.2% in full-term infants vs 7.2% in VLBWIs). AS (16.8%) was significantly higher in VLBWIs than in those born full term (10.2%). In the various VLBWI subgroups analysed, AD was more prevalent in babies weighing >1000 g and in babies >30 wk of age; the incidence of GD was higher in infants weighing <1000g and in SGA infants, and AS was more prevalent in infants weighing <1000g, in infants <30 wk of age and in babies appropriate for gestational age. A family history of allergy was related to a major incidence of allergies.     

Allergic manifestations in very low-birthweight infants: a 6-year follow-up

The incidence of allergic manifestations was evaluated from birth until 6 y of age in 83 very low-birthweight infants (VLBWIs). In the same period 98 full-term babies were followed from birth to 24 mo of life. All the subjects were examined by paediatricians to establish the presence of atopic dermatitis (AD), gastrointestinal disturbances (GD) and asthma (AS). The incidence of total allergic manifestations (31.3%) in VLBWIs was significantly lower than that (52%) in 24-mo-old infants, born at full term. The incidence of allergies in VLBWIs did not differ at all at the subsequent checks, up to 6 y of age. AD (33.7%) was the most common symptom, statistically higher in full-term infants than in VLBWIs (7.2%). GD had a similar distribution (8.2% in full-term infants vs 7.2% in VLBWIs). AS (16.8%) was significantly higher in VLBWIs than in those born full term (10.2%). In the various VLBWI subgroups analysed, AD was more prevalent in babies weighing >1000 g and in babies >30 wk of age; the incidence of GD was higher in infants weighing <1000 g and in SGA infants, and AS was more prevalent in infants weighing <1000 g, in infants <30 wk of age and in babies appropriate for gestational age. A family history of allergy was related to a major incidence of allergies.     

Hepatitis B surface antigenaemia and glomerulopathies in children

Serum HBsAg positivity prevalence was studied on 98 children affected by various nephropathies or obstructive uropathies and on a control group of 71 children, consecutively admitted into the same clinical ward, suffering from other than hepatic or renal diseases. No significant difference was found between the group of children with non-glomerular nephropathies or obstructive uropathies and the control group. The prevalence of HBsAg positivity was significantly higher in male children with membranous glomerulopathy and in those with lipoid nephrosis than in the control group. All HBsAg positive children with glomerulopathies were chronic carriers of the hepatitis B virus. However, though left undemonstrated, there still lies a probable pathogenetic relationship between the hepatitis B virus infection and membranous glomerulopathy. The authors hypothesize that an impaired immune response in male children with lipoid nephrosis may account for both the hepatitis B virus infection and the development of the glomerular disease.     

Genetic risk for asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis.

In order to explore the genetic risk of a child with a family history of allergies developing asthma, allergic rhinitis, or atopic dermatitis, questionnaires filled in by 6665 families were analysed. The data were collected in a population based cross sectional survey of 9-11 year old schoolchildren living in Munich and southern Bavaria. The relation between asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis and the number of allergic first degree relatives, and the type of allergic disease was examined. Analyses were done separately for families with single or multiple allergic diseases. In families with one allergic parent the risk of the child developing asthma was increased by asthma in a parent, with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.6 (95% confidence interval 1.7 to 4.0) but not by parental allergic rhinitis with OR 1.0 (0.7 to 1.5) or atopic dermatitis, OR 1.0 (0.6 to 1.6). For allergic rhinitis the highest risk with OR 3.6 (2.9 to 4.6) was observed with allergic rhinitis of one parent, apparently lower for asthma of one parent, OR 2.5 (1.6 to 4.0) or atopic dermatitis, OR 1.7 (1.1 to 2.5). Children with parental atopic dermatitis had a high risk for atopic dermatitis, OR 3.4 (2.6 to 4.4), compared with children with parental asthma, OR 1.5 (1.0 to 2.2), or parental allergic rhinitis, OR 1.4 (1.1 to 1.8). Risk factors in families with combined allergies of two relatives (parents and siblings) were analysed separately for the different combinations. These results support the hypothesis that asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis are multifactorial diseases brought about by various familial and environmental influences.     

Hepatitis B Surface Antigenaemia and Glomerulopathies in Children

ABSTRACT. Serum HBsAg positivity prevalence was studied on 98 children affected by various nephropathies or obstructive uropathies and on a control group of 71 children, consecutively admitted into the same clinical ward, suffering from other than hepatic or renal diseases. No significant difference was found between the group of children with non-glomeruiar nephropathies or obstructive uropathies and the control group. The prevalence of HBsAg positivity was significantly higher in male children with membranous glomerulopathy and in those with lipoid nephrosis than in the control group. All HBsAg positive children with glomerulopathies were chronic carriers of the hepatitis B virus. However, though left undemonstrated, there still lies a probable pathogenetic relationship between the hepatitis B virus infection and membranous glomerulopathy. The authors hypothesize that an impaired immune response in male children with lipoid nephrosis may account for both the hepatitis B virus infection and the development of the glomerular disease.     

Correlation between serum immunoglobulin A concentrations and allergic manifestations in infants.

We studied the relationship of serum levels of IgA and IgE to allergic manifestations and otitis media in a cohort of 179 Icelandic children, aged 18 to 23 months. Only one of the infants had IgA deficiency (less than 50 micrograms/ml); all the others had IgA levels that were normal for their age. The children were divided into three groups according to their IgA levels (lowest 25%, intermediate 50%, highest 25%) and the clinical findings analyzed accordingly. The cumulative incidence of definite allergic manifestations was 37%. Asthma and otitis media were significantly more common among the infants with low normal IgA levels than among those with intermediate to high IgA levels. There was also a significant association between the severity of allergic manifestations and low IgA levels (p = 0.002). Children with detectable IgE (greater than or equal to 0.23 kilounit/L) had a higher incidence of atopic manifestations than did children in whom IgE was not detectable, but only a weak correlation was found between the occurrence and extent of allergic symptoms and increasing amounts of IgE beyond the 0.23 kilounit/L level. These findings suggest that atopic manifestations in infants may be more dependent on delayed maturation of IgA production than on overproduction of IgE.     

儿童IgM肾病与IgA肾病临床和病理的对比研究

目的比较IgM肾病(IgMN)与IgA肾病(IgAN)患儿在临床及病理方面的异同。方法对经肾活检确诊的38例IgMN及40例IgAN患儿的临床表现、实验室检查及肾脏病理进行对比分析。结果 IgMN患儿的平均发病年龄小于IgAN患儿,平均肾活检前病程长于IgAN患儿,肉眼血尿发生率、尿IgG及尿白蛋白水平均低于IgAN患儿,同时严重肾小球损伤发生率也低于IgAN患儿,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。IgMN患儿中,有严重肾小球损伤患儿的血清白蛋白水平更低而尿白蛋白水平更高,与无严重肾小球损伤的同组患儿比较,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);有严重肾小管损伤患儿以男性多见,肉眼血尿发生率、尿白蛋白和N-乙酰-β-D氨基葡萄苷酶(NAG)水平以及出现基底膜厚薄异常的比例高于无严重肾小管损伤的患儿,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05),但发生严重肾小球损伤的差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。在IgAN患儿中,有严重肾小球损伤患儿的蛋白尿、肾小管见RBC管型、C3及Fibrinogen显著沉积和足突融合的发生率均高于无严重肾小球损伤的同组患儿,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);有严重肾小管损伤的患儿的肾功能受损程度、出现重度系膜细胞增生及肾小球纤维硬化情况比无严重肾小管损伤的同组患儿更严重,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论儿童IgMN与IgAN在临床和病理方面存在差异,IgMN肾脏损伤程度较IgAN轻。与IgAN不同,IgMN患儿的肾小管损伤与肾小球损伤无平行关系。