Expression of microbiota, Toll-like receptors, and their regulators in the small intestinal mucosa in celiac disease.

Objectives: Less than one-tenth of the carriers of the risk genes HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8 develop celiac disease, suggesting that other genetic and environmental factors are important in the pathogenesis. The role of gut microbiota has been addressed previously with inconsistent findings. Our aim was to evaluate microbiota, its receptors (Toll-like receptors [TLRs]), and regulators of the TLRs in the small intestinal mucosa in celiac disease.

Age at development of type 1 diabetes- and celiac disease-associated antibodies and clinical disease in genetically susceptible children observed from birth.

Objective: To compare the ages and sequence in which antibodies associated with type 1 diabetes and celiac disease appear and overt diseases develop in children with an HLA-conferred susceptibility to both diseases.

Research Design And Methods: We observed 2,052 children carrying genetic risks for both type 1 diabetes and celiac disease from birth until the median age of 5.7 years and analyzed diabetes- and celiac disease-associated antibodies in serum samples collected at 3- to 12-month intervals.

Four novel mutations in the lactase gene (LCT) underlying congenital lactase deficiency (CLD).

Background: Congenital lactase deficiency (CLD) is a severe gastrointestinal disorder of newborns. The diagnosis is challenging and based on clinical symptoms and low lactase activity in intestinal biopsy specimens. The disease is enriched in Finland but is also present in other parts of the world.

Burden of influenza in children in the community.

Background: Influenza vaccination of healthy children is encouraged because children are frequently hospitalized for influenza-attributable illnesses. However, most children with influenza are treated as outpatients, and scarce data are available on the burden of influenza in these children.

Methods: We performed a prospective study of respiratory infections in preenrolled cohorts of children < or = 13 years old during 2 consecutive respiratory seasons (2231 child-seasons of follow-up).

Incidence of influenza in Finnish children.

Background: Influenza is an important cause of respiratory illness in children, but data on virologically confirmed influenza infections in children treated as outpatients are limited.

Methods: We carried out a prospective cohort study of normal children younger than 13 years (n = 1338) in the winter of 2000 to 2001. During the study period of 32 weeks, the children were examined at the study clinic whenever they had fever or signs of respiratory infection.

Impact of dietary intervention, sex, and apolipoprotein E phenotype on tracking of serum lipids and apolipoproteins in 1- to 5-year-old children: the Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project (STRIP).

The effects of dietary intervention, sex, and apolipoprotein E phenotype on tracking of serum lipid values in young children have remained poorly characterized. We investigated these associations in 1062 infants who were randomized into control and intervention groups (n=522 and n=540, respectively) at age 7 months; the intervention group received counseling aimed at maintaining a low-saturated fat, low-cholesterol diet. In 519 children in the control (n=254) and intervention (n=265) groups, serum lipid values were studied annually between 13 months and 5 years of age.