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.

Mycophenolate mofetil as an alternate immunosuppressor for autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome.

Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is a disorder due to a genetic defect concerning programmed cell death (apoptosis). Most patients are carriers of a heterozygous mutation affecting the TNFRSF6 (Fas). Treatment of autoimmune complications of ALPS includes corticosteroids, gamma-globulin infusions, and in refractory cases, splenectomy, cytostatic agents, and bone marrow transplantation.

Invasive meningococcal disease in children in Greece: comparison of serogroup A disease with disease caused by other serogroups.

Although invasive meningococcal disease caused by serogroup A is not prevalent in developed countries, a considerable number of cases were recently recorded in Greece. In this study, serogroup A meningococcal disease was compared prospectively with meningococcal disease caused by other serogroups, using similar settings of testing and management during a 5-year period between 1999 and 2003. The Neisseria meningitidis serogroup was determined in 262 cases.

Immunogenicity and immunological memory induced by a 7-valent pneumococcal CRM197 conjugate vaccine in symptomatic HIV-1 infected children.

A 7-valent CRM197 conjugate pneumococcal vaccine (PCV)-induced immune response were evaluated in all Greek symptomatic HIV-1 infected children and 21 age-matched controls. PCV immunogenicity was inferior in HIV patients compared with the controls although differences in geometric mean concentrations (GMC) were not significant (P>.05).

Salmonella bacteraemia in a tertiary children's hospital.

A retrospective study was conducted between July 1990 and July 2002 to investigate the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and the outcome of Salmonella bacteraemia in children. A total of 148 episodes of bacteraemia were identified in 144 children. The annual incidence ranged from 1.

Petrositis and cerebellar abscess complicating chronic otitis media.

A 12-year-old girl with chronic otitis media complicated by petrositis and cerebellar abscess is presented. Early surgical intervention, in combination with broad-spectrum antibiotics, provided a good outcome. Life-threatening complications of otitis media, although rare, still occur in developed countries.

Swyer-James (MacLeod's) syndrome following pertussis infection in an infant.

Pertussis is a potentially severe disease, especially in infancy. The case of an 8-month-old infant is described who presented the typical radiographic image of unilateral hyperlucent lung or Swyer-James (MacLeod's) syndrome. The infant suffered from pertussis at 20 d of age.

The evolving epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease: a two-year prospective, population-based study in children in the area of Athens.

In response to an increase in the incidence in invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) due to Neisseria meningitidis, a system of hospital- and laboratory-based surveillance was used in a prospective epidemiological and clinical assessment of IMD in children 0-13 years of age hospitalized in the Athens area between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2000. The annual incidence of laboratory-confirmed disease was 10.2/100,000.

Hepatitis in children hospitalized with measles: the experience acquired after a Greek epidemic.

Objective: In childhood, hepatitis is an uncommon and ill-defined complication of measles. We studied prospectively the prevalence of hepatitis in 189 children with measles, admitted to hospital during a measles epidemic in Greece.

Methodology: Diagnosis of measles was based on clinical features and a fourfold rise of the haemagglutination inhibiting antibody titre, while liver impairment was based on a twofold or greater increase in liver enzymes.

Molecular epidemiology of vertical human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transmission in Greece: evidence of non-B subtypes.

Objectives: To investigate the subtype classification of the circulating virus strains among human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected children in Greece.

Study Design/methods: Since the beginning of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic in Greece in 1982, 23 children have been reported to be vertically infected with HIV-1. Blood samples were available for 19 of these children, and the C2-C4 env region was successfully amplified by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for 16 subjects.

Paediatric AIDS--related linear gingival erythema: a form of erythematous candidiasis?

Three vertically HIV-infected children showed, in addition to oral candidiasis, HIV-gingivitis, which healed on antimycotic treatment. The intense linear gingival erythema of a fourth child was also clinically evaluated as a possible form of erythematous oral candidiasis. Direct microscopic examination of material from the gingival lesions of the latter disclosed yeast cells and hyphae.

Oral lesions in children with perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Fifteen vertically HIV-infected children aged between 2 and 12 years were followed up for 1 year, weekly to monthly, to study the incidence of oral lesions. At the time of first examination, oral candidiasis (OC) was observed in nine children. Seven children presented with the erythematous type only and two with pseudomembranous oral candidiasis.

Epidemiology of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b infections among children in Greece before the introduction of immunization.

We prospectively examined the epidemiology of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infections among children under 5 y of age in the Greater Athens area before the introduction of immunization. The annual incidence of systemic Hib infections was 12/100000. Meningitis was the most common clinical entity and accounted for 69% of the cases.

Herpes zoster in children.

Background: The clinical studies of series of children with herpes zoster (HZ) are rather limited.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the epidemiologic conditions, clinical manifestations, therapy, and outcome of HZ in children.

Methods: Twenty-one patients with HZ have been studied.

Enterobacter sepsis in infants and children due to contaminated intravenous fluids.

Sixty-three cases of nosocomial sepsis occurring from April through October 1981, in a 500-bed pediatric hospital, were traced to bacterial contamination of intravenous fluid produced by a single manufacturer. Two species of uncommon blood stream pathogens, Enterobacter cloacae and Enterobacter agglomerans contaminated the fluid. Infections with these organisms might have contributed to the death of four patients; two who were immunosuppressed, one who was asplenic and one premature infant.