Immunization of preterm infants with 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

Objective: The safety and immunogenicity of the 10-valent pneumococcal nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae protein D conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV) in preterm infants were assessed in this study.

Methods: Three parallel groups of infants received 3-dose primary immunization with PHiD-CV at 2, 4, and 6 months of age and a booster dose at 16 to 18 months: preterm I (gestation period ≥ 27 and <31 weeks, N = 50); preterm II (≥31 and <37 weeks, N = 87); and term (≥37 weeks, N = 149). Solicited symptoms and adverse events were recorded.

Adolescents dealing with sexuality issues: a cross-sectional study in Greece.

Study Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of sexual activity and contraception methods used by Greek adolescents. To assess the effect of various factors in the decision making on sexual activity.

Design: A cross-sectional study design was applied.

Adolescent pornographic internet site use: a multivariate regression analysis of the predictive factors of use and psychosocial implications.

The study objectives were to evaluate the prevalence, predictors, and implications of pornographic Internet site (PIS) use among Greek adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 529 randomly selected Greek high school students. The prevalence of overall PIS use was 19.

Left ventricular mass in normotensive, prehypertensive and hypertensive children and adolescents.

The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and the prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in children and adolescents classified as normotensives, prehypertensives and hypertensives by ambulatory blood pressure (BP) levels. A total of 124 consecutive children and adolescents aged 5 to 18 years were analysed. Patients underwent 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and echocardiography.

Demography of adolescent health care delivery and training in Europe.

Background: We aimed to determine the status of and factors associated with adolescent health care delivery and training in Europe on behalf of the European Paediatric Association-UNEPSA.

Materials And Methods: A questionnaire was mailed to the presidents of 48 national paediatric societies in Europe. For statistical analyses, non-parametric tests were used as appropriate.

Vascular endothelial growth factor-mediated induction of angiogenesis by human rhinoviruses.

Background: Human rhinoviruses, major precipitants of asthma exacerbations, infect the lower airway epithelium inducing inflammation. The possibility that viral infection may mediate angiogenesis, thus contributing to airway remodeling, has not been evaluated.

Objective: To investigate whether epithelial infection with rhinovirus mediates angiogenesis in vitro, evaluate possible modulation by an atopic environment, and confirm angiogenic factor induction after in vivo rhinovirus infection.

Adolescent obesity is associated with high ambulatory blood pressure and increased carotid intimal-medial thickness.

Objectives: To investigate 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure, lipid profiles, and carotid artery intimal-medial thickness (IMT) in adolescents with and without obesity.

Study Design: Ambulatory blood pressure data from 93 consecutive adolescents referred to our hypertension center for possible hypertension were analyzed. Fasting serum glucose and lipid concentrations were measured in all subjects.

Rhinovirus infection induces cytotoxicity and delays wound healing in bronchial epithelial cells.

Background: Human rhinoviruses (RV), the most common triggers of acute asthma exacerbations, are considered not cytotoxic to the bronchial epithelium. Recent observations, however, have questioned this knowledge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of RV to induce epithelial cytotoxicity and affect epithelial repair in-vitro.

White-coat and masked hypertension in children: association with target-organ damage.

White-coat hypertension (WCH) and masked hypertension have been associated with increased cardiovascular risk in adults. In the current study, we investigated: (a) the prevalence of WCH and masked hypertension in pediatric patients and (b) the association of these conditions with target organ damage. A total of 85 children underwent office blood pressure measurements, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, echocardiography and ultrasonography of the carotid arteries.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila in community-acquired lower respiratory tract infections among hospitalized children: diagnosis by real time PCR.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila are increasingly recognized as important agents of community-acquired lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI). Mycoplasma pneumoniae has been also recognized as a cause of nosocomial infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the rapid diagnosis of these infections among hospitalized children with community-acquired LRTI.

Human Metapneumovirus as a causative agent of acute bronchiolitis in infants.

Background: Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV), has been recently isolated from children with acute respiratory tract infections (RTIs), including bronchiolitis, and classified in the Pneumovirinae subfamily within the Paramyxoviridae family.

Objectives: Since most bronchiolitis studies fail to detect any viral pathogen in part of the samples, we sought for the presence of hMPV in a well characterized bronchiolitis cohort.

Study Design: Nasal washes were obtained from 56 children admitted to the hospital for acute bronchiolitis.