Nutritional therapy complications in children with ultra‐short bowel syndrome include growth deficiency but not cholestasis

Aim

Children with ultra‐short bowel syndrome (USBS) have not been extensively studied to date because the condition is rare. The aim of the study was to assess the nutritional status of children with USBS receiving home parenteral nutrition, using citrulline serum concentration and cholestasis.

Methods

We studied 17 patients with USBS, with a median age of 6.6 years and median duration of parenteral nutrition of 6.6 years. The study was carried out at The Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, from January 2014 to January 2015.

Results

The median standard deviation score (SDS) was ?1.2 for body mass according to chronological age, ?1.72 according to height and ?0.59 according to height for age. Patients requiring seven days per week parenteral nutrition had a citrulline concentration below 10 μmol/L. Decreased bone‐mineral density was observed in 87% of the patients. Low values of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D were found in 53% of the children. None of the patients had elevated conjugated bilirubin levels above 34.2 μmol/L.

Conclusion

Children with USBS were growth deficient according to their chronological age, with frequent abnormal bone mineralisation and vitamin D deficiency. Children requiring parenteral nutrition seven days a week had citrulline concentrations below 10 μmol/L. Cholestasis was not seen.

     

Studies on the influence of auxiliary substances on the physico-chemical characteristics of ophthalmic drugs. Part I. Studies on the influence of auxiliary substances on the critical micellar concentration of surfactants solutions in eye drops containing sulphacetamidum natricum

Interactions between Tweens, surfactants used in eye drops and the remaining compounds of the preparations were investigated. The interactions were assessed by means of the surface tension measurement method. Obtained results demonstrate that the substances used in the facture of the preparation affect the critical micellar concentrations of Tweens. Only hydroxyethylcellulose was found to exert a stabilizing effect on the critical micellar concentration of these substances. The amount of used surfactant should be taken into consideration in the manufacture of eye preparations.     

Sonographic assessment of the liver in children with psoriasis

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the size and echotexture of the liver in psoriatic and healthy children. METHODS: In 70 psoriatic and 43 healthy children, longitudinal sonograms of the liver were obtained along standardized section planes defined by the anterior axillary line, medioclavicular line, and midline. The livers' size and echotexture were examined and compared between the study groups. RESULTS: The measurements of the liver along the 3 section planes were not significantly different between psoriatic and healthy children. Parenchymal liver echogenicity in psoriatic children was neither decreased nor increased. CONCLUSIONS: No abnormality in size or echotexture of the liver was found in the psoriatic children.     

Distribution of immunoreactivity of calcium-binding proteins in the rabbit piriform cortex

The piriform cortex has been extensively studied due to its possible role in epileptogenic activity. Neurones containing calcium-binding proteins (CaBPs), as a component of inhibitory circuitry, seem to be critically involved in this pathological process. The aim of the present study was to characterise the pattern of distribution of CaBPs-immunoreactivity in the piriform cortex of the adult rabbit. It comprises labelled cells, fibres (often with varicosities) and terminals. It varies among the layers. Moreover, the distribution of the parvalbumin- and calretinin-immunoreactive fibres and terminals allows even further subdivision of the layer I into two sublayers. Calretinin-ir neurones are located in subpial (Ia) layer, while parvalbumin - as well as calbindin-D28k-ir ones are mainly located in the second and third layer. Cajal-Retzius-like neurones containing calretinin, Chandelier cells containing parvalbumin and basket cells containing calbindin D28k and parvalbumin can be distinguished among labelled subpopulations of CaBPs neurones. In general, the pattern of PV- CR- and CB-immunoreactivity is similar to that previously characterised in other mammals, i.e., rats, guinea pigs, hedgehog, and tenrecs. The pattern is organised in topographic fashion confirming the complexity of regulatory circuits in the rabbit piriform cortex.     

Dynastab S: A new concept for high energy fractures of the distal tibia

Background. High energy fractures of the distal tibia ("pylon fractures") usually result in severe reduction of the range of motion of the superior ankle joint. If there is severe soft tissue trauma coexisting with the fractures, the possibilities for surgical treatment are limited. Our study examined the suitability of the DYNASTAB S external fixator (for ankle joint stabilization). Material and methods. We studied 25 adult patients (15 men, 10 women), treated from April 2001 to March 2003, to whom the DYNASTAB-S stabilizer was applied for an average of 10.5 weeks. Results. In all patients bone union was achieved, with a good range of motion in the talo-crural joint. All patients tolerated the applied treatment well. The average hospital stay was 9 days. There were 2 cases of transient inflammatory reaction of the skin around the screws, and 1 case of algodystrophy syndrome, which resolved after physical treatment combined with pharmacotherapy. Conclusions. The Dynastab S external fixator is very successful in the treatment of fractures with poor prognosis in traditional methods of conservative and surgical treatment, providing bone union and good functional efficiency of the superior ankle joint. The use of the mechanical joint imitating the movement of the injured ankle joint allows for early joint rehabilitation without loss of stability of the fracture. Adaptation of the device to the operated limb is excellent. The Dynastab S external fixator can be recommended for wider use in the treatment of pylon fractures.     

17O magnetic resonance imaging of the human brain

Here we show the first example of in vivo oxygen-17 (17O) magnetic resonance imaging of the human in natural abundance. Two-dimensional fast multi-planar gradient recalled 90 deg echo (FMPGR/90) pulse sequence and three-dimensional projection reconstruction pulse sequence methods were used.     

Prostanoids and MPO-halide system products as a link between innate and adaptive immunity

and The crosstalk between innate adaptive immunity is regulated by cytokines and complex interactions between cells of the immune system. A variety of endogenous agents are involved in the regulation of the cytokine network. Especially, eicosanoids and ROIs have a great impact on the regulation of cytokine production. Eicosanoids (prostanoids, leukotrienes and lipoxins) are produced mainly by inflammatory cells while their receptors are distributed on the cells of both arms of the immune system. Depending on the predominant prostanoid produced and the profile of prostanoid receptors expression on immune cells, eicosanoids can selectively regulate the production of Th1 and Th2 driven cytokines. Inflammatory cells (neutrophils, macrophages), are also a rich source of large amounts of ROIs. In this paper we have focused on the role of taurine chloramine (TauCl), the physiological product of neutrophil MPO-halide system, in the regulation of immune system. It is well documented that TauCl has pleiotropic effects on the inductive phase of the immune response. TauCl's immunoregulatory properties result from its ability to modulate the production of cytokines and eicosanoids. Finally, we conclude that eicosanoids and ROIs provide an important link between the afferent branches and the innate and adaptive immune response.