Monitoring of lipodystrophic and metabolic abnormalities in HIV-1 infected children on antiretroviral therapy.

Objective: Few studies have thus far assessed body composition by dual energy X-ray absorptrometry (DXA) in children with HIV, primarily because reference data for normally growing children and adolescents are not available. Our study aimed at evaluating body composition in children with HIV and their relatiοn to serum lipids and glucose homeostasis.

Design: Body composition was assessed by DXA in 17 HIV-1 infected children at entrance to the study and after 12 months and in one hundred fifty nine age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and Tanner stage matched healthy subjects who served as controls.

Objective analysis of retinal function in HIV-positive children without retinitis using optical coherence tomography.

Purpose: To assess the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in children with human immunodeficiency virus disease without cytomegalovirus retinitis or visual symptoms.

Methods: Thirty-eight eyes of 19 human immunodeficiency virus-positive children (group A) with visual acuity of 20/20 or better, normal color vision testing and no ophthalmoscopically detectable disorders were prospectively examined. All subjects of group A had no history of cytomegalovirus retinitis and CD4 counts consistently above 100.

Meningitis registry of hospitalized cases in children: epidemiological patterns of acute bacterial meningitis throughout a 32-year period.

Background: Bacterial meningitis remains a source of substantial morbidity and mortality in childhood. During the last decades gradual changes have been observed in the epidemiology of bacterial meningitis, related to the introduction of new polysaccharide and conjugate vaccines. The study presents an overview of the epidemiological patterns of acute bacterial meningitis in a tertiary children 's hospital during a 32-year period, using information from a disease registry.

Aseptic meningitis in children: analysis of 506 cases.

Background: Non-polio human enteroviruses are the leading cause of aseptic meningitis in children. The role of enterovirus PCR for diagnosis and management of aseptic meningitis has not been fully explored.

Methodology/principal Findings: A retrospective study was conducted to determine the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of aseptic meningitis and to evaluate the role of enterovirus PCR for the diagnosis and management of this clinical entity.