Vaccine-induced waning of Haemophilus influenzae empyema and meningitis, Angola.

In Angola during 2003-2012, we detected Haemophilus influenzae in 18% of 2,634 and 26% of 2,996 bacteriologically positive pleural or cerebrospinal fluid samples, respectively, from children. After vaccination launch in 2006, H. influenzae empyema declined by 83% and meningitis by 86%.

Prognostic accuracy of five simple scales in childhood bacterial meningitis.

Background: In childhood acute bacterial meningitis, the level of consciousness, measured with the Glasgow coma scale (GCS) or the Blantyre coma scale (BCS), is the most important predictor of outcome. The Herson-Todd scale (HTS) was developed for Haemophilus influenzae meningitis. Our objective was to identify prognostic factors, to form a simple scale, and to compare the predictive accuracy of these scales.

Prevalence and risk factors for Giardia duodenalis infection among children: a case study in Portugal.

Background: Giardia duodenalis is a widespread parasite of mammalian species, including humans. The prevalence of this parasite in children residing in Portugal is currently unknown. This study intended to estimate G.

Prevalence and incidence of Helicobacter pylori Infection in a healthy pediatric population in the Lisbon area.

Background: Helicobacter pylori is mainly acquired in childhood. Although adult studies reported a high prevalence of H. pylori infection in Portugal, the actual rate in children remains unknown.

Allelic diversity and phylogeny of homB, a novel co-virulence marker of Helicobacter pylori.

Background: The homB gene is a Helicobacter pylori disease-marker candidate, strongly associated with peptic ulcer disease, while homA, its paralogue gene with 90% sequence identity, is correlated with non-ulcer dyspepsia. The HomB encoded outer membrane protein was shown to contribute to the proinflammatory properties of H. pylori and also to be involved in bacterial adherence.

Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection.

The articles published this last year in the field of Helicobacter pylori diagnosis reported the development of in vivo histology, small improvements in some invasive methods (urease test, culture, and histology) and new kits for the stool antigen tests. They also contributed to increasing our knowledge, by further exploration into specific conditions for the urea breath test and into the significance of cagA antibodies. The role of serum markers of atrophy was also confirmed.

Disease association with two Helicobacter pylori duplicate outer membrane protein genes, homB and homA.

Background: homB encodes a Helicobacter pylori outer membrane protein. This gene was previously associated with peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and was shown to induce activation of interleukin-8 secretion in vitro, as well as contributing to bacterial adherence. Its 90%-similar gene, homA, was previously correlated with gastritis.

Risk factors for death and severe neurological sequelae in childhood bacterial meningitis in sub-Saharan Africa.

We report a morality rate of 33% among 403 children with bacterial meningitis in Angola. A fatal outcome was associated with impaired consciousness, severe dyspnea, and seizures, and severe neurological sequelae (found in 25% of our patients) was associated with delayed presentation to the hospital, impaired consciousness, and seizures. Being underweight was of secondary importance.

Evaluation of the clinical significance of homB, a novel candidate marker of Helicobacter pylori strains associated with peptic ulcer disease.

Background: homB codes for a putative Helicobacter pylori outer membrane protein and has previously been associated with peptic ulcer disease (PUD) in children.

Methods: A total of 190 H. pylori strains isolated from children and adults were studied to evaluate the clinical importance of the homB gene.

Acute childhood bacterial meningitis in Luanda, Angola.

Incidence, morbidity and mortality of bacterial meningitis in developing countries are manifold greater than those in the industrialized world. We reviewed retrospectively children with meningitis treated in the paediatric hospital of Luanda in 2004. Among the 555 children, median age 11.

Helicobacter pylori genotypes in children from a population at high gastric cancer risk: no association with gastroduodenal histopathology.

Objectives: Both bacterial and host determinants underlying differences in histopathology and clinical outcome in H. pylori pediatric infection, as compared to adults, are still poorly documented. Pediatric studies may provide important insights on H.

Identification of markers for Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from children with peptic ulcer disease by suppressive subtractive hybridization.

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) occurs after a long-term Helicobacter pylori infection. However, the disease can develop earlier, and rare cases have been observed in children, suggesting that these H. pylori strains may be more virulent.

Relationship among serum pepsinogens, serum gastrin, gastric mucosal histology and H. pylori virulence factors in a paediatric population.

Objective: Serum pepsinogens and gastrin have been proposed as markers of gastritis, but have seldom been studied in children. In this study the aim was to identify host- and Helicobacter pylori-related factors linked to variations in serum gastrin, PGI, PGII, and to evaluate the potential of these biomarkers for diagnosing gastritis, whether H. pylori-associated or not.

Evaluation of rapid test Assure Helicobacter pylori for diagnosis of H. pylori in pediatric population.

Non-invasive tests are needed to assess Helicobacter pylori infection, especially to screen a pediatric population. Assure H. pylori Rapid Test (Genelabs Diagnostics, Singapore) is an immunochromatographic assay device intended for the rapid detection of antibodies to H.

Cytokine expression in pediatric Helicobacter pylori infection.

Helicobacter pylori infection is one of the most common gastrointestinal infections worldwide and almost invariably causes chronic gastritis in the infected host. A predominant Th1 profile has been demonstrated in H. pylori-infected mucosa from adults, but no previous study has evaluated in situ cytokine expression in children.

Expression of genes encoding cell wall modifying enzymes is induced by cold storage and reflects changes in pear fruit texture.

Preclimacteric 'Rocha' pears stored under chilling conditions, had a larger increase of ACO (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase) activity and softened faster than those treated with ethylene. Non-treated fruit did not ripen or soften, acquired a rubbery texture, and showed barely detectable levels of ACO activity. The transcript accumulation of seven genes encoding cell wall modifying enzymes was followed during fruit growth, ripening, and senescence, and in fruit that failed to ripen, by quantitative real-time PCR.

Antibiotic-resistant Helicobacter pylori strains in Portuguese children.

Background: Data concerning the effectiveness of Helicobacter pylori eradication regimens based in antibiotic susceptibility testing are scanty in children.

Aims: To identify the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in H. pylori strains isolated from Portuguese children in 1999-2003; to evaluate eradication rate after antibiotic susceptibility testing-based treatment; and to identify factors associated with resistance and eradication outcome.

Real-time PCR assay for rapid and accurate detection of point mutations conferring resistance to clarithromycin in Helicobacter pylori.

The main cause of failure of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy is resistance to clarithromycin. The resistance is due to three point mutations in two positions on the 23S rRNA (A2142C, A2142G, and A2143G). Our aim was to develop a rapid and accurate method to detect these mutations directly on biopsy specimens.

Detecting Helicobacter pylori infection in hospitalized frail older patients: the challenge.

Objectives: Helicobacter pylori infection has not been well studied in older people, especially in hospitalized, frail patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of the infection in this population using five H. pylori diagnostic tests.

Evaluation of a Western blot test, Helico blot 2.1, in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in a pediatric population.

Background: Noninvasive diagnostic tests are useful as screening tools for Helicobacter pylori infection in pediatric populations. The aim of this study was to evaluate performance of the immunoblot assay, Helico Blot 2.1, for the diagnosis of H.