IL-18 is expressed in the intercalated cell of human kidney

We determined the cellular location of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and caspase-1 and the purinergic receptor P2X7, two proteins necessary for its activation and secretion. The mRNA and protein of IL-18 were detectable in normal human kidney by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), in situ hybridization, and Western blot. Immunohistochemistry located IL-18 to nephron segments containing calbinbin-D28k or aquaporin-2 that suggest location in the distal convoluted and the connecting tubule and to parts of the collecting duct. IL-18 was not detected in the thick ascending limb of Henle. Confocal microscopy showed that IL-18 was expressed in cells negative for calbindin-D28k and for aquaporin-2 but positive for the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase. This demonstrates that the intercalated cells produce IL-18. These segments were also positive for caspase-1 and P2X7 that are essential for IL-18 secretion. Our results show that IL-18 is constitutively expressed by intercalated cells of the late distal convoluted tubule, the connecting tubule, and the collecting duct of the healthy human kidney. Since IL-18 is an early component of the inflammatory cytokine cascade, its location suggests that renal intercalated cells may contribute to immediate immune response of the kidney.

[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.

Organic and inorganic selenium supplementation to lactating mothers increase the blood and milk Se concentrations and Se intake by breast-fed infants

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of selenium (Se) supplementation to lactating women on Se concentrations and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in blood components of mothers and breast-fed infants and on milk Se levels and Se intake by breast-fed infants. Lactating mothers were supplied for 3 months with 200 micrograms Se/day in the form of yeast-Se (Y-Se) and sodium selenite. Initial blood and plasma Se levels of all women (n = 67) were 76.6 and 53.2 micrograms/L, respectively. After 3 months Se concentrations both in whole blood and in plasma from mothers and infants were significantly higher than the initial values. Y-Se exerts a stronger effects than selenite on blood and plasma Se levels. Initial milk Se concentration was 8.9 micrograms/L and after 1 month in both groups in reached a plateau at 14-16 micrograms/L. This resulted in an increase of Se intake in breast-fed infants from 6.1 to a plateau of 11-13 micrograms Se/day. GSH-Px activities in plasma and red cells of Y-Se group increased significantly and reached a plateau after 1 and 2 months, respectively, while in the selenite group the enzyme activities increased steadily throughout the entire period of the study. Selenite exerts a stronger effect on GSH-Px both in maternal and in infant blood components as compared with Y-Se. In milk the GSH-Px activity in the Y-Se group did not change during the study, while in the selenite group after 3 months it increased almost 2-fold compared to the initial value. In conclusion, this study shows that organic Se causes higher Se deposition than did the inorganic form.

Selenium supply and glutathione peroxidase activity in breastfed Polish infants

Selenium (Se) concentration in human milk in Poland is below 10 ng ml-1 and the Se intake by breastfed infants is about 6 micrograms day-1. Supplementation of lactating mothers with selenium-enriched yeast increases rapidly and significantly the Se concentration and glutathione peroxidase activity in maternal blood components. Se concentration in milk is also significantly elevated. After 1 month the mean Se intakes by breastfed infants were greater than the recommended dietary allowance of 10 micrograms day-1 for infants from birth to 6 months of age.

[Evaluation of the effectiveness of ceftazidime in treatment of nosocomial infections in children]

Nosocomial infections are a serious problem in treatment because they are caused by bacteria that have developed increased antibiotic resistance.

DESIGN

to estimate the efficiency of ceftazidime in nosocomial treatment among children.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We treated 20 children aged 1-20 months, mainly in their first three months of life. They were hospitalized because of some other illness or diagnosis. During hospitalization they contracted a nosocomial infection: 16 urinary tract infections (mainly E. coli), 4 others pneumonia. Ceftazidime was the choice for empirical antibiotic therapy, before we obtained the patients' microbiological results.

RESULT

We did not observe progress of pathologies which had been present when the nosocomial infection had begun, either during or after therapy.

CONCLUSION

Ceftazidime is an efficient and safe antibiotic in treatment of nosocomial infection in young children.

[Acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage in a 12-month-old child following treatment with panadol]

After the treatment of a twelve-month-old child with a small dose of Panadol, we observed an acute gastro-intestinal hemorrhage which required aggressive and ongoing medical intervention. This event should be taken into consideration when antipyretic agents are given to infants and small children.