Serum HMGB1 in febrile seizures.

The role of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in the pathogenesis of febrile seizures (FSs) is unclear. In our controlled follow-up study, we compared serum levels of HMGB1 (s-HMGB1) in the same individuals after the first FS, during febrile episodes without a FS, after recurrent FS, during healthy periods after FS, and between patients and controls. In all, 122 patients with FSs were included in the final analysis, including 18 with recurrent FSs with a complete follow-up protocol.

Multiplex PCR for respiratory bacteria in acute care.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the clinical utility of multiplex PCR for detecting bacterial respiratory pathogens in nasopharyngeal samples. Acutely ill adults in the emergency department with respiratory infection symptoms, fever, chest pain or poor general condition were enrolled for this cohort study. Samples were stored at -70 °C until being analysed with multiplex PCR for seven respiratory bacteria.

Tonsillotomy for Periodic Fever Syndrome: A Randomized and Controlled Trial.

Objective: Tonsillectomy is an effective treatment for periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome. Tonsillotomy has a milder operative risk profile and postoperative morbidity in children than tonsillectomy. We aimed to compare the efficacy of tonsillotomy to observation-only in children with PFAPA syndrome at a 3-month follow-up.

Cranberry-lingonberry juice affects the gut and urinary microbiome in children - a randomized controlled trial.

The mechanism by which cranberry-lingonberry juice (CLJ) prevents urinary tract infections (UTI) in children remains unknown. We hypothesized that it alters the composition of the gut or urinary microbiome. Altogether, 113 children with UTIs were randomly allocated to drink either CLJ or a placebo juice for 6 months.

Effect of Topical Antibiotics on Duration of Acute Infective Conjunctivitis in Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial and a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance: Although topical antibiotics are often prescribed for treating acute infective conjunctivitis in children, their efficacy is uncertain.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of topical antibiotic therapy for acute infective conjunctivitis.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A randomized clinical trial was conducted in primary health care in Oulu, Finland, from October 15, 2014, to February 7, 2020.

Recurrent febrile seizures and serum cytokines: a controlled follow-up study.

Background: The role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of febrile seizures (FSs) is unclear, and information regarding cytokine production outside of FS episodes is scarce.

Methods: In our controlled follow-up study of patients with FSs, we compared the levels of 12 serum cytokines after the patients' first FSs, during febrile episodes without FSs, after recurrent FSs, during healthy periods after FSs, and between patients and controls.

Results: Two-hundred fifty-one patients with first FS participated in the study, of whom 17 (mean age 1.

Meta-analysis of the Risk Factors for Urinary Tract Infection in Children.

Context: The incidence of urinary tract infection (UTI) varies with age, but there is limited evidence on the role of other risk factors.

Objective: The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the risk factors for UTIs in children.

Data Sources: PubMed from 1966 to May 2019.

Increased risk of respiratory viral infections in elite athletes: A controlled study.

Background: Respiratory symptoms are commonly recognised in elite athletes. The occurrence, etiology and clinical presentation of the illnesses in athletes is unclear.

Methods: We performed a prospective controlled study of respiratory viral infections in Team Finland during Nordic World Ski Championships 2019.

Efficacy of the implementation of the National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study II decision rule to clinical practice for paediatric head injury patients.

Aim: To investigate the usefulness of the National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study (NEXUS) II head trauma decision rule in clinical practice for paediatric patients in a tertiary university hospital serving as the only paediatric hospital in the area.

Methods: We compared how doctors evaluated and examined patients with head injury during two time periods, before and after the introduction of NEXUS II decision rule. Multiple implementation strategies were used as follows: education, tutoring and written instructions for the use of NEXUS II.

Tonsil Mycobiome in PFAPA (Periodic Fever, Aphthous Stomatitis, Pharyngitis, Adenitis) Syndrome: A Case-Control Study.

Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and adenitis syndrome (PFAPA) is the most common periodic fever syndrome in children with unknown etiology, effectively treated with tonsillectomy. Earlier we have shown that tonsil microbiome is different in patients with PFAPA as compared to that in controls. Recently, fungal microbiome, mycobiome, has been linked to the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases.

Diaper-embedded urine test device for the screening of urinary tract infections in children: a cohort study.

Background: There is a need for an easy and sensitive method for screening of urinary tract infections in young children. We set out to test whether a novel diaper-embedded urine test device is feasible and reliable in screening for urinary tract infections.

Methods: This prospective cohort study consisted of young children examined due to a suspected acute urinary tract infection at the Pediatric Emergency Department of the Oulu University Hospital, Finland.

Childhood Urinary Tract Infections and Pregnancy-Related Complications in Adult Women.

Background And Objectives: Long-term outcomes of urinary tract infection (UTI) in childhood are not well known. Pregnancy may reveal latent renal damage caused by a UTI because of stress on the kidneys.

Methods: Our cohort included adult women with an ultrasonography taken because of a childhood UTI in 1981-1991 ( = 1175).

Intestinal microbiome as a risk factor for urinary tract infections in children.

As urinary tract infection (UTI) pathogens originate from the gut, we hypothesized that the gut environment reflected by intestinal microbiome influences the risk of UTI. Our prospective case-control study compared the intestinal microbiomes of 37 children with a febrile UTI with those of 69 healthy children. We sequenced the regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and used the LefSe algorithm to calculate the size of the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect.

Risk factors for periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome: a case-control study.

Unlabelled: The etiology and pathogenesis of periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome are unclear. We performed a case-control study to evaluate potential environmental or lifestyle factors associated with PFAPA morbidity. We enrolled 119 patients with PFAPA syndrome who had undergone tonsillectomy in Oulu University Hospital between 1987 and 2007.

Maternal influence on the fetal microbiome in a population-based study of the first-pass meconium.

Background: Meconium is formed before birth and may reflect the microbiome of the fetus. To test our hypothesis, we investigated whether maternal factors during pregnancy, such as biodiversity of the living environment, influence the microbiome of the first stool more than immediate perinatal factors.

Methods: We recruited 218 consecutive newborn infants from one hospital.

Comorbidity of PFAPA (periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and adenitis) patients: a case control study.

Objectives: To compare the long-term morbidity of patients with periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome treated by tonsillectomy (TE) in childhood to that of matched controls.

Methods: We identified 132 PFAPA patients from the medical records treated by TE in 1987-2007 in Oulu University Hospital, Finland. Altogether 119 patients participated the follow-up study and 94 were clinically examined on average 9.

Intravenous magnesium sulfate for acute wheezing in young children: a randomised double-blind trial.

Magnesium sulfate has been shown to be an effective treatment in older children with asthma exacerbations, but it has not been investigated in acute severe virus-induced wheezing in young children.The study enrolled 61 children aged 6 months to 4 years. Inclusion criteria were severe wheezing, classified as a score of ≥6 points as assessed by the Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument (RDAI) after initial treatment with salbutamol, and the symptoms of acute viral infection.

Symptoms, Signs and Long-term Prognosis of Vertically Transmitted Chlamydia trachomatis Infections.

Background: Although Chlamydia trachomatis infection is common in pregnant women, such infections are rarely encountered in infants. To clarify the recognition of C. trachomatis infections in infants, we analyzed symptoms and signs of perinatally acquired chlamydial infection, together with its long-term prognosis in a large population-based patient series.

Aetiology of neonatal conjunctivitis evaluated in a population-based setting.

Aim: Our aim was to study prospectively the aetiology of neonatal conjunctivitis in a population-based setting.

Methods: Altogether 173 neonates with clinical conjunctivitis aged on average 20 (SD 10) days were recruited from child welfare clinics in Oulu, Finland, in 2010-2015. Conjunctival specimens were collected from 167 neonates for multiplex polymerase chain reaction to detect 16 respiratory viruses, from 163 for polymerase chain reaction to detect Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae and from 160 for bacterial culture studies.

Probability of vertical transmission of estimated from national registry data.

Objectives: colonisation is common in pregnant women, and it has been claimed that mother-to-child transmission may occur in 10%-70% of deliveries. infections are nevertheless rarely encountered in infants in clinical practice. In order to evaluate the reason for this discrepancy, we designed a nationwide study of the vertical transmission.

Sustained High Effectiveness of RotaTeq on Hospitalizations Attributable to Rotavirus-Associated Gastroenteritis During 4 Years in Finland.

Key Points: The effectiveness of pentavalent rotavirus vaccine against rotavirus-associated hospitalization was more than 90% 4 years after introduction into the national immunization program in Finland. A major impact on hospitalization for all-cause gastroenteritis was observed also.

Background: Rotavirus vaccination with exclusive use of RotaTeq was added to the National Immunization Programme (NIP) of Finland in September 2009.

Triclosan-containing sutures versus ordinary sutures for reducing surgical site infections in children: a double-blind, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a pervasive problem in surgery. Sutures coated or impregnated with triclosan might reduce the occurrence of SSIs, but evidence of their efficacy is limited, especially in children.

Methods: We designed a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial in patients who underwent elective or daytime emergency surgery at Oulu University Hospital (Oulu, Finland).