Persistent organochlorine compounds in human milk collected in Croatia over two decades.

The distribution and time trend of organochlorine pesticide (OCP), polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin/polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDD/PCDF) concentrations in human milk samples from Croatia collected in 1981-2003 are presented. Between 1981/1982 and 1987/1989, the concentrations of HCB, beta-HCH, DDE, and total PCBs decreased about 50%, while for the last decade, the concentrations have been decreasing very slowly. In 2002/2003 the range of PCB congeners and OCPs was from below the limit of determination to 332 ng g(-1) milk fat.

Met-enkephalin effects on histamine-induced bronchoconstriction in guinea pigs.

We investigated the effects of the neuropeptide met-enkephalin on histamine-induced bronhoconstriction in an experimental model of asthma. Classic Konzett and Rössler's method of whole body plethysmography modified by Gjuris, was applied in the study. This method represents a standard experimental model of bronchoconstriction, suitable for the evaluation of peptide effects on the histamine-induced bronchoconstriction.

Diagnostic value of a peroral sucrose permeability test in children with recurrent upper abdominal pain.

The access of ingested sucrose into blood and urine indicates the presence of mucosal lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract. The study involved 42 children, aged 5-15, having recurrent upper abdominal pain and 43 peers with minor extra-abdominal complaints. Sucrose in urine was determined by thin layer chromatography.

[General psychosomatics in children and adolescents].

The purpose of this study is a review of contemporary knowledge from the field of children and adolescent psychosomatics by using standard textbooks and journals. Data are chosen according to their importance and easy reference for a clinical study and scientific research. Psychosomatics can be defined as medicine of mutual relationships in the widest sense.

Correlation of clinical symptoms and laboratory findings in children with milk allergy.

Food hypersensitivities can be divided into toxic and nontoxic, and the latter can further be subdivided into immune and nonimmune hypersensitivities. Cow's milk allergy or intolerance occurs in 5-15% of infants, mostly during the first year of life, or occasionally later. The symptoms may involve different organ systems, especially the gastrointestinal system, skin, and respiratory system.

[Sideropenic anemia in infants and toddlers].

Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common anemia in infants. In the routine pediatric care this problem is encountered every day. Numerous factors in infancy (low birth weight, rapid growth, insufficient nutrition) are involved in the development of iron-deficiency anemia, and they must be considered when establishing diagnosis, counselling parents, and prescribing oral iron preparations.

Value of the urinary stone promoters/inhibitors ratios in the estimation of the risk of urolithiasis.

An imbalance between urinary-promoting and -inhibiting factors has been suggested as more important in urinary stone formation than a disturbance of any single substance. To investigate the value of promoter/inhibitor ratios for estimation of the risk of urolithiasis, urinary citrate/calcium, magnesium/calcium oxalate, and oxalate/citrate x glycosaminoglycans ratios were determined in 30 children with urolithiasis, 36 children with isolated hematuria, and 15 healthy control children. The cutoff points between normal children and children with urolithiasis, accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity for each ratio were determined and compared with those of the 24-h urine calcium and oxalate excretion and urine saturation calculated with the computer program EQUIL 2.

Study of eating attitudes and body image perception in the preadolescent age.

Eating attitudes and body image have been studied in a group of 109 girls, pupils of the fifth primary school grade (average age 10 years and 8 months). The Children's Eating Attitude Test (ChEAT) has been used in the study of eating attitudes. The mean questionnaire score is 11.

Tc-99m DTPA renal scintigraphy using deconvolution analysis with six functional images of the mean time to evaluate acute pyelonephritis.

In 38 children with proved P-fimbriated Escherichia coli acute pyelonephritis, Tc-99m DTPA dynamic renal scintigraphy in the zoom mode using deconvolution analysis was performed, and the results were compared with those of Tc-99m DMSA scans. From the dynamic study, six functional images of the mean time were generated. Each functional image was analyzed separately to search for focal areas of increased mean time within the kidney contour, especially over the kidney parenchyma.

[The intestinal immune system in children and their disorders].

The specificities of arrangement and normal function of the intestinal immunological system are presented, and non-immunological and immunological gastrointestinal defense mechanisms are described. Of immunological defense mechanisms, cellular and humoral mechanisms are described separately, and their characteristics in childhood are highlighted. After a general survey of the intestinal immunological system disorders and their role in various diseases, three most frequent such diseases are described in detail: food intolerance, gluten enteropathy and chronic inflammatory bowel disease.

Determination of urine saturation with computer program EQUIL 2 as a method for estimation of the risk of urolithiasis.

To investigate the risk for the development of urolithiasis in 30 children with urolithiasis, 36 children with isolated hematuria, and 15 healthy control children, 24-h urinary excretion of calcium, sodium, oxalate, citrate, sulfate, phosphate, magnesium, urate, chloride, ammonium, and glycosaminoglycans was determined and urine saturation for calcium oxalate was calculated with the computer program EQUIL 2. Compared with controls, children with urolithiasis had significantly increased calcium excretion, oxalate excretion, and urine saturation, whereas children with isolated hematuria had significantly increased calcium excretion only. The best estimation of the relative risk of urolithiasis can be made after urine saturation, using logistic regression.

Organochlorine pesticides and PCBs in human milk collected from mothers nursing hospitalized children.

Organochlorine compounds in milk were analyzed in samples collected over a nine-year period (1987-1995) from nursing mothers (N = 139) whose children were hospitalized for various disorders. All samples contained p,p'-DDE and PCBs; the median concentrations were 318 micrograms/kg milk fat and 220 micrograms/kg milk fat resp. Higher levels were found in mothers (N = 12) nursing neonates with impaired neurodevelopmental competencies or an inappropriate arousal reaction.

Glycosylated hemoglobin and fetal growth in normal, gestational and insulin dependent diabetes mellitus pregnancies.

Aims of the study were: evaluation of HbA1c levels in the peripheral blood of pregnant women with insulin dependent diabetes, gestational diabetes, glucose intolerance, and healthy pregnant controls; implications of HbA1c concentration on detection and the control of women with impaired carbohydrate metabolism in pregnancy; comparison of HbA1c levels with appearance of miscarriages, and premature deliveries; comparison of weight gain during pregnancy to HbA1c levels; comparison of difference from ideal body weight with HbA1c in diabetic pregnant women; comparison of neonatal birth weight and HbA1c levels. 290 pregnant women were enrolled to the study. The highest value of HbA1c was in the group IDDM pregnant women (7.

Transvaginal color flow imaging of the uterine artery during fertile period and postmenopause.

Transvaginal sonography with color flow mapping has been used in order to study various parts of uterine circulation during fertile period and postmenopause. The Doppler wave forms were analysed by pulsatility index and maximum systolic velocity of uterine artery and its ascending branches. A significantly lower vascular resistance was established in distal parts of the uterine artery.