Thyroid autoimmunity in children with coeliac disease: a prospective survey.

Background: Thyroid autoimmunity (TA) is often associated with coeliac disease (CD).

Objective: To evaluate, in children and adolescents with CD on a gluten-free diet (GFD): (1) the prevalence of TA; (2) the impact of TA on growth and the need for L-thyroxine (L-T4) treatment, during a longitudinal survey.

Method: Between January and December 2005, 545 patients with CD, prospectively followed up until December 2007, and 622 controls were screened for TA.

Clinical accuracy of anti-tissue transglutaminase as screening test for celiac disease under 2 years.

Aim: To investigate, in patients with suspected celiac disease (CD) younger than 2 years, the clinical value of anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTG) in diagnostic work-up of CD.

Methods: Between June 2005 and June 2009, 169 patients aged <2 years, with symptoms suggestive of CD, were submitted to biopsy. CD diagnosis was based on the revised criteria of the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.

Clinical value of immunoglobulin A antitransglutaminase assay in the diagnosis of celiac disease.

Objectives: Our goal was to evaluate the possible correspondence between antitissue transglutaminase of immunoglobulin A class levels and stage of mucosal damage in patients affected by celiac disease. In addition, we assessed clinical use of antitissue transglutaminase values to predict biopsy results.

Methods: One thousand eight hundred eighty-six consecutive patients with symptoms suggestive of celiac disease and 305 healthy controls underwent determination of serum levels of immunoglobulin A and antitissue transglutaminase.

Leukotriene synthesis during respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis: influence of age and atopy.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is the most common cause of bronchiolitis in infants and an important risk factor for the development of recurrent wheezing and asthma. Cysteinyl leukotrienes were implicated in the pathophysiology of these diseases, and are being targeted for their diagnosis and therapy. We measured urinary leukotriene E4 (LTE4) in infants with RSV bronchiolitis in comparison with controls without respiratory infection, and investigated whether medical and family history, age, and passive exposure to tobacco smoke are related to urinary leukotriene excretion.

Efficacy of noninvasive tests in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in pediatric patients.

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is likely acquired in childhood. Helicobacter pylori is recognized as a cause of gastritis and peptic ulcer.

Objective: To investigate some noninvasive tests, particularly H pylori fecal antigen, for the diagnosis of H pylori infection in comparison with the gold-standard invasive test, esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsy.

Treatment of hyperhomocysteinemia in pediatric heart transplant recipients.

Background: Graft coronary artery vasculopathy is the main cause of late morbidity and mortality in pediatric cardiac allograft recipients. Growing evidence suggests that elevated plasma homocysteine levels are associated with cardiac allograft vasculopathy following heart transplantation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin supplementation as a potential strategy for reducing homocysteine levels in pediatric heart transplant recipients and examine creatinine levels as potential determinants of plasma homocysteine concentration after transplantation.