Association between Helicobacter pylori Infection and Nasal Polyps: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has definite or possible associations with multiple local and distant manifestations. H. pylori has been isolated from multiple sites throughout the body, including the nose. Clinical non-randomized studies with H. pylori report discrepant data regarding the association between H. pylori infection and nasal polyps. The aim of this first systematic review and meta-analysis was the assessment of the strength of the association between H. pylori infection and incidence of nasal polyps. METHODS We performed an electronic search in the three major medical databases, namely PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane, to extract and analyze data as per PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS Out of 57 articles, 12 studies were graded as good quality for analysis. Male-to-female ratio was 2:1, and age ranged between 17-78 years. The cumulative pooled rate of H. pylori infection in the nasal polyp group was 32.3% (controls 17.8%). The comparison between the two groups revealed a more significant incidence of H. pylori infection among the nasal polyp group (OR 4.12), though with high heterogeneity I$^{2}$ = 66%. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that in European studies, the prevalence of H. pylori infection among the nasal polyp group was significantly higher than in controls, yielding null heterogeneity. Subgroup analysis based on immunohistochemistry resulted in null heterogeneity with preserving a statistically significant difference in H. pylori infection prevalence between the groups. CONCLUSION The present study revealed a positive association between H. pylori infection and nasal polyps

Clinical features, acute complications, and outcome of Salmonella meningitis in children under one year of age in Taiwan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Salmonella </it>meningitis remains a threat to children below two years of age in both developing and developed countries. However, information on such infections has not been well characterized. We analyzed data related to twelve years of experience in order to clarify the comprehensive features of <it>Salmonella </it>meningitis in our patients, including admission characteristics, acute complications, and long-term outcome.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The records of patients with spontaneous <it>Salmonella </it>meningitis from 1982 to 1994 were retrospectively reviewed. The long-term outcome was prospectively determined for survivors at school age by the developmental milestones reported by their parents and detailed neurological evaluation along with intelligence, hearing, visual, speech and language assessments.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the twenty-four patients, seizures were noted in fifteen (63%) before admission and thirteen (54%) during hospitalization. Acute complications mainly included hydrocephalus (50%), subdural collection (42%), cerebral infarction (33%), ventriculitis (25%), empyema (13%), intracranial abscess (8%), and cranial nerve palsy (8%). Three patients (13%) died during the acute phase of <it>Salmonella </it>meningitis. The twenty-one survivors, on whom we followed up at school age, have sequelae consisting of language disorder (52%), motor disability (48%), intelligence quotient < 80 (43%), epilepsy (33%), sensorineural hearing loss (17%), visual deficits (10%), abducens nerve palsy (5%), microcephaly (5%), and hydrocephalus (5%). Overall, good outcome was noted in six (28.6%) of twenty-one survivors, mild sequelae in three (14.2%), moderate in six (28.6%), and severe in six (28.6%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p><it>Salmonella </it>meningitis in neonates and infants had a wide spectrum of morbidity and acute complications, leading to a complicated hospital course and subsequently a high prevalence of permanent adverse outcome. Thus, early recognition of acute complications of <it>Salmonella </it>meningitis and a follow-up plan for early developmental assessment of survivors are vital.</p

First Report from the Asian Rotavirus Surveillance Network

Rotavirus remains the most common cause of severe, dehydrating diarrhea among children worldwide. Several rotavirus vaccines are under development. Decisions about new vaccine introduction will require reliable data on disease impact. The Asian Rotavirus Surveillance Network, begun in 2000 to facilitate collection of these data, is a regional collaboration of 36 hospitals in nine countries or areas that conduct surveillance for rotavirus hospitalizations using a uniform World Health Organization protocol. We summarize the Network's organization and experience from August 2001 through July 2002. During this period, 45% of acute diarrheal hospitalizations among children 0–5 years were attributable to rotavirus, higher than previous estimates. Rotavirus was detected in all sites year-round. This network is a novel, regional approach to surveillance for vaccine-preventable diseases. Such a network should provide increased visibility and advocacy, enable more efficient data collection, facilitate training, and serve as the paradigm for rotavirus surveillance activities in other regions

Burden of community-acquired and nosocomial rotavirus gastroenteritis in the pediatric population of Western Europe: a scoping review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Rotavirus affects 95% of children worldwide by age 5 years and is the leading cause of severe dehydrating diarrhea. The objective of this review was to estimate the burden of rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) in the Western European pediatric population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A comprehensive literature search (1999-2010) was conducted in PubMed and other sources (CDC; WHO, others). Data on the epidemiology and burden of RVGE among children < 5 years-old in Western Europe --including hospital-acquired disease--were extracted.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>76 studies from 16 countries were identified. The mean percentage of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) cases caused by rotavirus ranged from 25.3%-63.5% in children < 5 years of age, peaking during winter. Incidence rates of RVGE ranged from 1.33-4.96 cases/100 person- years. Hospitalization rates for RVGE ranged from 7% to 81% among infected children, depending on the country. Nosocomial RVGE accounted for 47%-69% of all hospital-acquired AGE and prolonged hospital stays by 4-12 days. Each year, RVGE incurred $0.54-$53.6 million in direct medical costs and $1.7-$22.4 million in indirect costs in the 16 countries studied. Full serotyping data was available for 8 countries. G1P[8], G2P[4], G9P[8], and G3P[8] were the most prevalent serotypes (cumulative frequency: 57.2%- 98.7%). Serotype distribution in nosocomial RVGE was similar.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This review confirms that RVGE is a common disease associated with significant morbidity and costs across Western Europe. A vaccine protecting against multiple serotypes may decrease the epidemiological and cost burden of RVGE in Western Europe.</p

Investigation of the Correlation of Family Resilience of Parents with a Child with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Parenting Stress and Social Support

Stress is an extremely serious symptom in the care of an autistic child and it deteriorates mainly in women and depending on the seriousness of the autism symptoms. As a result, physical and mental health problems are caused in the children’s carers, having as a consequence the attack on family resilience. Social support, standard or non-standard, seems that it can be related to the parents’ reduced stress levels as well as to an increase in resilience, even though not all researches agree on this conclusion. The correlation of these parameters in this study comes from a wider quantitative research, the sample of which were the parents of 312 autistic children in Greece, all of them couples, namely 624 men and women, divided in equal numbers. The scales’ correlations in this research showed a strong correlation of the family communication and problem solving with the utilization of resources that concern the social and financial field, and also with important management strategies of autism, such as maintaining a positive outlook and the ability to make meaning of adversities.</jats:p

Religion and Resilience of Parents with a Child with Autism Spectrum Disorders

The resilience of parents with children with autism is a key concept in the confrontation of the autism challenges which demand parents who are mentally healthy and who will be in a position to satisfy the special needs of their autistic children, however, without sinking into loneliness and isolation which affect the less resistant families and upset their inner balance. The parents resort to various sources for the strengthening of resilience, it is the power of God both as a cause of the origin of autism and as the unique or one of the possible ways of resolving the problem. This survey investigated the views on divine will as to the origin and confrontation of autism in families of Christians and Muslims and it attempted to highlight the possible differences in the culture of these groups that are different in terms of culture and religion. The parents of 312 autistic children in Greece, all of them couples, namely 624 men and women, constituted the population sample. The quantitative survey results showed that the Greek Christians satisfy more efficiently their child’s needs, perhaps because they attribute lesser importance to the factor of the Divine compared to the parents of other religions. The weaker connection between the origin and management of the disease and the Divine will allows them to invest in scientific help for addressing a problem which in fact they perceive in more positive social terms than the Muslims do.</jats:p