Cytokine profile of mature milk from smoking and nonsmoking mothers.

We verified whether smoking during lactation influences breast milk cytokine (interleukin [IL]-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α) levels 30 to 32 days after delivery. The study group comprised 24 postpartum women who declared smoking >5 cigarettes per day. The control group included 45 nonsmoking postpartum women.

Clinical parameters of inflammatory bowel disease in children do not correlate with four common polymorphisms of the transforming growth factor β1 gene.

Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) is a cytokine affecting cell proliferation and development, which also has an immunomodulatory activity. Correlations between polymorphisms of the TGF-β1 gene and clinical parameters of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) were reported previously in adults. Here, we tested whether such correlations occur in pediatric patients suffering from IBD.

[Gene polymorphism of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) in the pathogenesis and clinical course of chronic hepatitis in children].

Unlabelled: Transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) is a cytokine modulating the immune response. The role of TGF-beta1 gene polymorphisms in the incidence and modification of the clinical course of these diseases has been recently evaluated. THE AIM of the study was to assess the relation between TGF-beta1gene polymorphism and the incidence of chronic hepatitis, the course of the disease, TGF-beta1 level in plasma and TGF-beta1 mRNA expression in liver tissue.

[Role of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) in the pathogenesis and clinical course of chronic hepatitis in children].

Unlabelled: Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) is known to play a key role in processes of cell proliferation and differentiation. It also plays an important role in modulation of the immune response. Various diseases may arise both from excessive and insufficient activity of this cytokine.

[Role of leptin in immunodeficiency in children with protein-calorie malnutrition].

The article based on current literature, reviews physiological properties of leptin and the influence of nutritional state on its production. Leptin is the pleiotropic hormone secreted by adipocytes. Besides participation in the regulation of energy balance, it influences the immunological system and improves the state of immunity, both inborn and acquired.

[Immune components of human milk].

Many benefits of breast-feeding have been generally accepted. In the article the constituents of human milk supporting the immune system of breast fed babies are reviewed. The effect of maternal undernutrition on immunological properties of breast milk is also presented.

[The case of gastric and ileal bezoar in a 3 year old boy].

The authors report a case of a 3-year-old boy with a gastric and ileal bezoar, in whom severe anaemia and tumor in the epigastrium were the main symptoms. Bezoars are rare foreign bodies of the gut. They contain swallowed hair, different fibres, seeds, nutshells, sweets or drugs.

[Undernutrition in hospitalised children. Part I].

The Aim Of The Study: Determination of the incidence of undernutrition among children on admission to hospital.

Material And Methods: In 818 patients aged l week to 20 years admitted to Paediatric Department from January to May 2004, the height and body mass was recorded and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The incidence of undernutrition in this population was calculated.