Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) in adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to disorders associated with progressive inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal system. IBD consists of two major forms, Crohn's disease (CD), and ulcerative colitis (UC). IBD became a global disease in the 21^st century. Its pathogenesis is still not fully understood. Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a pattern-recognising molecule, involved in anti-microbial and anti-cancer immunity. It is able to opsonize microorganisms and abnormal host cells, and to initiate complement activation. The aim of this study was to investigate possible involvement of MBL in inflammatory bowel disease in adults. Forty persons diagnosed with CD and 28 with ulcerative colitis were recruited. The control group consisted of 136 healthy persons. Single nucleotide polymorphisms of the MBL2 gene (localised to both promoter and exon 1) were determined as were serum MBL concentrations. The exon 1 variant alleles and MBL deficiency-associated genotypes were more frequent among patients compared with controls, although this difference was not statistically significant. No differences of MBL levels were found between the major groups. However in MBL2 A/A homozygous IBD patients, the median was significantly higher than in corresponding healthy subjects. That was particularly evident in the case of active Crohn's disease (1493 ng/ml vs. 800 ng/ml, p = 0.021). It may suggest that MBL and MBL-dependent complement activation contributes to excessive inflammation and its adverse effects in the course of CD. It cannot also be excluded that high MBL activity constitutes in some cases part of a multifactorial network conducing to development of CD.

[Somatic development of children who recovered from secondary malabsorption syndrome]

The aim of the study was to estimate somatic development of children who recovered from secondary malabsorbtion syndrome. We examined 24 children 2.5-13 years old. Their weight when diagnosed was between 10-3 percentiles. Patients were treated with gluten free diet 8-36 month. After recovery (normal mucose in biopsy) 20 children (83.3%) had normal somatic development and 4 (16.7%) abnormal development. This abnormal development was caused by infantile cerebral palsy and Silver-Russel syndrome. Therapy by elimination diets gave villi regeneration and normal development in most of our patients.

[Helicobacter pylori--an etiopathogenic factor of stomach and duodenal diseases among children]

One of the newest conceptions on the causes of gastritis, duodenitis, peptic and duodenal ulcers states that an infectious factor--Helicobacter pylori is responsible. The purpose of the this study was to estimate the frequency of Helicobacter pylori among children and the correlation between its presence and gastritis, duodenitis, peptic and duodenal ulcers and biliary reflux. Helicobacter pylori infection seems to be a serious etiopathogenic factor of stomach and duodenal diseases among children. Inflammatory changes of the gastric mucosa, as well as peptic and duodenal ulcers more frequent in children with H. pylori.

[Curling's ulcer in a 9-month-old infant]

Burns are the most frequent severe trauma in childhood. Curling's ulcer is a complication of burn shock which occurs in the gastrointestinal tract in burned children. Prognosis in Curling's ulcer is always serious. A rare case of acute duodenal ulcer in a nine-month-old infant after deep burns of both lower extremities is described. It seems that it is necessary to take into consideration the possibility of Curling's ulcer in every case of deep and extensive burns in children.

[Evaluation of treatment effectiveness for Helicobacter pylori infections in children]

An assessment was performed of the effectiveness of treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection and coexisting diseases in children with two and three drugs. A high percent of bacterial eradication and cure of the coexistent conditions were achieved particularly in the group of children treated with three drugs.

[High esophageal perforation in a 2.5 year old child]

A case is presented of a 2,5-year-old child in whom high oesophageal perforation developed after gastric lavage due to ingestion of lethal dose of salicylates. Strong, locally irritating action of salicylates on the oesophageal mucosa was demonstrated which, most probably, was the cause of the perforation.

[Holter EKG method of monitoring during gastroscopic examination in children]

Assessing the results of ECG monitoring by the Holter method during gastroscopic examination in children a more frequent incidence was found of isolated ventricular ectopic beats than in the control group. No complex forms of arrhythmia were found in either group.