Serum and urinary MIP-1α and IP-10 levels in children with urinary tract infections.

Objectives: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common bacterial disease in infants and children, with potentially serious complications, including kidney damage. The aim of this study was to test whether serum and urinary levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), macrophage inflammatory protein-1a (MIP-1a) and interferon-γ-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) can be used as biomarkers in children with urinary tract infections.

Material And Methods: The study group consisted of 22 children with UTI and 20 controls.

Relation among ghrelin, nutritional status, and immunity in children.

Background: Ghrelin is an important mediator of energy balance and metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship among ghrelin concentration, growth patterns, and immunological parameters in children with an impairment or inefficiency in functioning of the immune system.

Methods: Twenty patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDs), 20 patients with recurrent respiratory tract infections (RRTIs), and 20 healthy children (control group) were included.

[The role of IL-6/sIL-6R complex and its natural inhibitor sgp130 in modulation of inflammatory process].

IL-6/sIL-6R complex belongs to one of the most pleiotropic ligand-receptor system. Participating in leukocytes migration and apoptosis it plays a crucial role in modulation of inflammatory process. Firstly it contributes to resolution of acute inflammatory response regulating a maintaining of organism's homeostasis.

[Chemokine RANTES activity and its potential role as a target for diagnosis and therapy].

This review introduces the chemokine RANTES, its role in the pathophysiology of disease and potential as a target for therapy. We present cell types which are the source of RANTES, specific chemokine receptors and the role of chemokine in regulating the movement of cells into the tissues during inflammation. Also opinions on mechanisms regulating the chemokine secretion by inflammatory cytokines were discussed.

[Fibromyalgia syndrome: a case of a 16-year old girl: diagnosis, clinical and therapeutic problems].

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic disorder characterised by musculoskeletal pain, diffuse pain in "tender points", fatigue, sleep disturbances, and multiorgan functional disorders. The case is presented of a 16-year-old girl suffering from fibromyalgia. The clinical course, problems with diagnosis and treatment have been analysed.

[Analysis of bacteriological tests of children with decreased serum immunoglobulin IgA levels].

Results of 142 children with decreased serum immunoglobulin IgA compared with the reference values for age, and 73 reached normal age levels for serum immunoglobulin (control group), up 6 months to 14 years of age with various clinical symptoms, admitted to hospital between 1999-2000, were analysed. The patients were divided into three groups: group I--children with decreased serum immunoglobulin IgA levels (86 patients), group II--children with hypogammaglobulinaemia IgA and IgG compared with the reference values for age (56 patients), group III--children reaching normal levels of serum immunoglobulin for age (73 patients)--control group. Staphylococcus aureus was found most frequently among pathogenic strains in groups I and II in comparison to the control group.