Fecal Calprotectin in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review

Background

Inflammatory bowel disease frequently begins during childhood or adolescence. Current tests and procedures for diagnosing and monitoring inflammatory bowel disease are invasive, uncomfortable and costly. Fecal calprotectin is an inflammatory marker tested in several studies including pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Methods

A search for articles published up to October 2011 was conducted using MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. We included original English-written articles referred to pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease and measured fecal calprotectin levels. We extracted data concerning fecal calprotectin levels in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and in the controls groups, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratio.

Results

Thirty-four studies were included. Fecal calprotectin levels of patients with inflammatory bowel disease are much higher than those of healthy controls or patients with functional disorders or other gastrointestinal diseases. The results vary greatly when taking all studies into consideration. Nevertheless, in cases of newly diagnosed and/or active inflammatory bowel disease, the results are more homogeneous, with high sensitivity and positive likelihood ratio, low negative likelihood ratio, but moderate specificity. Moreover, 50 μg/g seems to be the most proper cut-off point for the fecal calprotectin test.

Conclusions

The fecal calprotectin test could be used for supporting diagnosis or confirming relapse of inflammatory bowel disease in pediatric patients. A positive result could confirm the suspicion of either inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis or inflammatory bowel disease relapse, due to the high sensitivity of the test, but a negative result should not exclude these conditions, due to its moderate specificity.     

The somatostatin receptor (sst1) modulates the release of somatostatin in rat retina

The aim of this study was to examine the ability of somatostatin receptor (sst(1)) to regulate the release of somatostatin in rat retina. Immunohistochemistry studies were performed to locate the somatostatin neurons, and radioligand binding to ascertain the presence of sst(1). The neuronal release of somatostatin was examined ex vivo in rat retinal explants in the presence of KCl (50 and 100 mM), and absence of Ca(++) (EGTA; 10 mM). Somatostatin levels, quantified by radioimmunoassay, were increased in the presence of KCl (100 mM, 151%) and attenuated in the absence of Ca(++) (31%). CH275 (sst(1) agonist) reduced the somatostatin levels in a concentration-dependent manner (10(-5)-10(-7) M), and this effect was reversed by NVP-SRA 880 (sst(1) antagonist;10(-5) M). MK678 (sst(2) agonist; 10(-5) M) had no effect. These data suggest an autoreceptor role for sst(1) in retina.     

Isolation and phylogenetic grouping of equine encephalosis virus in Israel

During 2008-2009 in Israel, equine encephalosis virus (EEV) caused febrile outbreaks in horses. Phylogenetic analysis of segment 10 of the virus strains showed that they form a new cluster; analysis of segment 2 showed ≈92% sequence identity to EEV-3, the reference isolate. Thus, the source of this emerging EEV remains uncertain.     

Processing and Characterization of Cellulose Nanocrystals/Polylactic Acid Nanocomposite Films

The focus of this study is to examine the effect of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) on the properties of polylactic acid (PLA) films. The films are fabricated via melt compounding and melt fiber spinning followed by compression molding. Film fracture morphology, thermal properties, crystallization behavior, thermo-mechanical behavior, and mechanical behavior were determined as a function of CNC content using scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, dynamic mechanical analysis, and tensile testing. Film crystallinity increases with increasing CNC content indicating CNC act as nucleating agents, promoting crystallization. Furthermore, the addition of CNC increased the film storage modulus and slightly broadened the glass transition region.     

The contribution of dispositional optimism to understanding insomnia symptomatology: Findings from a cross‐sectional population study in Austria

Attitudes and expectations of people towards their lives are essential to future health outcomes. Growing evidence has linked dispositional optimism to beneficial health outcomes, such as exceptional longevity, healthy aging and better sleep quality. We describe the association between dispositional optimism and chronic insomnia, considering potential mediators, in the Austrian Sleep Survey (N = 1,004), a population‐based cross‐sectional study conducted in 2017. Optimism was measured using the validated Life Orientation Test‐Revised, and four different definitions were used to assess chronic insomnia. Three definitions were based on the criteria of chronic insomnia according to the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (3rd edn). Age‐ and multivariable‐adjusted logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Among Austrians who were more optimistic, chronic insomnia risk was lower compared with those less optimistic (middle versus bottom tertile of optimism score: OR = 0.39, 95% CI, 0.22–0.70; and top versus bottom tertile: OR = 0.28, 95% CI, 0.14–0.54; p‐trend < .001). Results were similar for all four definitions of insomnia, and differed slightly between men and women. Happiness, depression and health status confounded the association, whereas lifestyle did not. Promoting dispositional optimism could represent a simple and accessible strategy to improve sleep quality and lower insomnia risk, with downstream beneficial health effects. Further research is needed to clarify the prevention potential of interventions targeting this mental trait.     

Cardiac manifestations in children with inborn errors of metabolism

Need and purpose

Cardiac involvement is a part of many inborn errors of metabolism, but has not been systematically studied. This review focuses on studies describing cardiac manifestations of inborn errors of metabolism in childhood.

Methods

Two independent reviewers searched the topic using PubMed database. Studies published within 20 years were considered, without applying any restrictions related to study design.Despite the small number of existing systematic studies on the topic, several case series/reports were identified.

Conclusions

Cardiomyopathy is the most frequent heart disorder in most metabolic defects. Heart rhythm disorders are mainly encountered in mitochondrial disorders and acidemias, whereas valvular dysfunction is a prominent finding in storage disorders. Cardiac involvement in mitochondrial disorders, congenital disorders of glycosylation and acidemias usually constitute an early symptom. On the contrary, in storage disorders, heart problems are revealed in later stages during routine multisystemic evaluation, with the exception of Pompe disease. As a variety of cardiac manifestations can be found in inborn errors of metabolism, these children should be systematically screened for heart problems during their follow-up.