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Childhood Infections (childhood + infections)
Selected AbstractsPeriodontitis lesions are the main source of salivary cytomegalovirusMOLECULAR ORAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2009ahin Background:, Herpesviruses play causal or cooperative roles in childhood infections, tumorigenesis, ulcerogenesis, and periodontitis. Saliva is a common vehicle of herpesvirus horizontal transmission, but the source of salivary herpesviruses remains obscure. To evaluate the significance of periodontal disease in shedding of oral herpesviruses, this study determined the genome-copy counts of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Epstein,Barr virus (EBV) in whole saliva of subjects with periodontitis, gingivitis, or no natural teeth. Methods:, Whole saliva was collected from 14 periodontitis patients, 15 gingivitis patients and 13 complete denture wearers. The study subjects were systemically healthy and had not received periodontal treatment in the past 3 months. Real-time TaqMan polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the salivary load of HCMV and EBV. Results:, Salivary HCMV was detected in seven (50%) periodontitis patients, but not in any gingivitis or edentulous subjects (P < 0.001). Salivary EBV was detected in 11 (79%) periodontitis patients, in five (33%) gingivitis patients, and in seven (54%) edentulous subjects (P = 0.076). Salivary samples showed copy counts of HCMV in the range of 3.3 × 103,4.2 × 104/ml and of EBV in the range of 3.6 × 102,1.6 × 109/ml. Conclusions:, HCMV and EBV are commonly present in the saliva of periodontitis patients. Periodontitis lesions of systemically healthy subjects seem to constitute the main origin of salivary HCMV, but do not comprise the sole source of salivary EBV. [source] Potential health effects from non-specific stimulation of the immune function in early age: The example of BCG vaccinationPEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 5 2008Marie-Claude Rousseau There is increasing, but still inconsistent evidence that vaccinations and childhood infections may play a role in the normal maturation of the immune system, and in the development and balance of immune regulatory pathways, both of which might impact health later in life. This review covers the epidemiological evidence regarding the role of Bacillus Calmette,Guérin (BCG) vaccination on the following inflammatory or autoimmune diseases: asthma and allergic diseases, Crohn's disease (CD), insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), and specific cancers. The literature is more comprehensive for asthma and allergic diseases, with 16 studies reporting the absence of an association while seven rather suggest a protective effect of BCG. We found insufficient evidence on CD to conclude at this point. Overall, the evidence for IDDM based on four studies leans towards no association, although some effects were observed in population subsets. Five epidemiological investigations provide evidence on a possible link with cancer incidence or mortality at various sites, with indications of both increased and decreased risks. Given the potential public health implications, it is imperative to acquire a better understanding of how BCG vaccination could influence the development of such chronic health conditions in the population. [source] Soluble CD14 at 2 yr of age: Gender-related effects of tobacco smoke exposure, recurrent infections and atopic diseasesPEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 4 2006K. C. Lødrup Carlsen The endotoxin receptor soluble CD14 (sCD14) has been implicated in the ,hygiene hypothesis' suggesting reduced allergic sensitization with bacterial stimulation. However, the relationship between early life sCD14 and allergic diseases is conflicting. We aimed to investigate whether possible risk factors for allergic diseases were associated with sCD14 levels at 2 yr of age. In the nested case,control study of the birth cohort studies ,Environment and Childhood Asthma study in Oslo' 411 children selected with recurrent bronchial obstruction (rBO) (n = 241) and no bronchial obstruction (n = 170) by 2 yr were investigated with skin prick test and structured parental interview at age 2 yr. Exposure to tobacco smoke, pets and infections was recorded semi-annually by questionnaires (0,2 yr). The sCD14 was analysed from frozen, stored serum by ELISA technique. Regression analyses were performed in all subjects with complete data (n = 406, 180 girls), and in girls and in boys separately. Mean sCD14 (ng/ml) was significantly higher among girls 2035 (1973,2096) vs. 1947 (1890,2004) (boys). The sCD14 was significantly reduced among girls exposed to antenatal maternal smoking and with parental asthma, after adjusting for age, parental rhino-conjunctivitis, pet keeping and childhood infections. Recurrent otitis media (OM) increased and common colds significantly decreased sCD14 levels in girls. Boys with atopic dermatitis and rBO had reduced sCD14. Pet exposure was not significantly associated with sCD14. We report novel gender-related effects of sCD14 in early life and suggest that gender, tobacco smoke exposure, age and middle ear disease in particular should be accounted for when assessing the role of sCD14 in childhood allergic diseases. [source] Multiple sclerosis incidence in the era of measles-mumps-rubella mass vaccinationsACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 5 2009C. Ahlgren Background,,, Viral childhood infections may be involved in the multiple sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis. Following national Swedish vaccination programs, measles sharply declined in the 1970s, and measles, mumps, and rubella were virtually eliminated in cohorts born from 1981. Objectives,,, To examine whether the vaccination induced reduction in these infections influences the MS incidence. In addition, the public health aspect justified an early evaluation of beneficial as well as harmful effects of mass vaccinations. Materials and methods,,, From an incidence material of 534 MS patients, born 1959,1990, we selected one unvaccinated cohort and four cohorts, each corresponding to a vaccination program (MS patients = 251). Results,,, With the ability to detect a decrease by 30,35%, and an increase by 37,48% in the MS incidence in the first three cohorts, we found no vaccination related MS incidence changes. The background MS incidence showed a significant gradual age dependent increase. Conclusions,,, While the present follow-up provided limited power in the last cohort, there is no evidence as yet that the radical decline in three viral infections influenced the MS incidence. However, the increasing background MS incidence of unknown cause may have concealed a reduction in MS risk associated with mass vaccinations. [source] Risk factors and characteristics associated with severe and difficult to treat asthma phenotype: an analysis of the ENFUMOSA group of patients based on the ECRHS questionnaireCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 7 2005M. Gaga Summary Background Severe and difficult to treat asthma impairs health status and accounts for about half of asthma expenditure. In 1994, a European Network For Understanding Mechanisms of Severe Asthma (ENFUMOSA) was formed. A large group of patients from nine European countries has been selected. Objective To examine the risk factors and symptoms associated with a phenotype of severe/difficult to treat asthma. Methods The present report presents data assessed through the use of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) Questionnaire in 148 mild,moderate controlled and 155 severe asthmatics from the ENFUMOSA group. Results There is a negative association of severe asthma with reported allergy and with a family history of allergy (Odds ratio (OR)=0.45). Sharing a bedroom before the age of five is associated with a higher risk of severe asthma (OR=1.5) while childhood infections, play school attendance and exposure to allergens or animals are not. A larger proportion of severe asthma patients report symptoms at work (OR=2.7) or have to change jobs (OR=4.3) and fewer severe than mild patients are currently employed (OR=0.39). Smoking and exposure to smoke is similar in mild and severe asthma. Dietary habits do not differ between the groups, but severe asthmatics report eating less savoury snacks and there is a trend for lower intake of sweets. Conclusions Analysis of the ECRHS questionnaire in the ENFUMOSA study shows that severe asthma patients experience more symptoms and their health status is impaired by their inability to work and perhaps eat freely. Personal and maternal history of allergy is associated with mild but not severe asthma. Other than sharing a bedroom before the age of 5 years, no childhood exposure risk factors associated with severe asthma could be identified from this analysis. [source] The increasing prevalence of allergy: a challenge for the physicianCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY REVIEWS, Issue 1 2002R. Mösges Summary The prevalence of allergic disorders has increased markedly throughout the world during the past three decades. There has been considerable controversy about the extent to which the increase is real, or attributable to increased awareness or better diagnosis. It seems probable that the increased prevalence is real because longitudinal studies have shown a rapid exponential increase in allergic disorders such as asthma. Since there is a marked difference in the occurrence of allergic disorders between Western and less developed countries, as well as between rural and urban areas, it is likely that environmental (,lifestyle') factors are aetiologically involved. It also seems probable that contact with microbial antigens, in the form of childhood infections, vaccinations and contact with farm animals, can exert some protection against the later development of allergies. Studies are in progress to determine whether reduction in risk factors or intervention with anti-allergic therapies can modify the long-term outcome in populations at high risk. [source] Soluble transferrin receptor levels and soluble transferrin receptor/log ferritin index in the evaluation of erythropoietic status in childhood infections and malignancyACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 3 2002P Triantafyllou No abstract is available for this article. [source] | ||||||||||