Vaccine coverage in children, adolescents and adults with type 1 diabetes and their close contacts in Crete.

Background: Individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are at increased risk of infections from vaccine-preventable diseases. This study focuses on compliance of T1D patients to the recommended vaccination schedule, vaccination of their close contacts for influenza and on factors potentially contributing to vaccination program deviations.

Methods: The study population comprised children, adolescents and adults with T1D under follow-up at the Department of Pediatrics University Hospital and the Diabetic Center General Hospital, Heraklion, Crete-Greece.

Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to type 1 diabetes in Crete, Greece.

Introduction: Association studies of vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms and risk of type 1 diabetes (T1D) have produced inconsistent results in different populations, pointing to contribution of additional genetic variants and environmental factors. In this study we investigated the association between four VDR polymorphisms and susceptibility to T1D in Crete, an island with homogenous population and considerably low incidence of T1D.

Results And Discussion: We genotyped 100 patients with T1D and 96 controls for the FokI (rs10735810), BsmI (rs1544410), ApaI (rs7975232), and TaqI (rs731236) single nucleotide polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.

Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage might be associated with vitamin D receptor polymorphisms in type 1 diabetes.

Background: Polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene have been associated with susceptibility to several diseases, including type 1 diabetes (T1D) and infections. In this study we investigated whether VDR gene polymorphisms influence nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus in individuals with T1D.

Methods: In 93 T1D patients, VDR polymorphisms on FokI F>f, BsmI B>b, ApaI A>a, and TaqI T>t were determined in DNA extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes, and a nasal swab was obtained to detect colonization by S.

Comparative randomized study: administration of natural and synthetic surfactant to premature newborns with respiratory distress syndrome.

Background: The respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature newborns has been etiologically correlated to immature lungs and specifically with surfactant deficiency. Exogenous administration of surfactant is nowadays considered to be the treatment of choice. In this paper we attempt a comparison of clinical results from the administration of natural Alveofact and synthetic Exosurf surfactants in premature newborns with respiratory distress syndrome.