Thirty-six percent of patients experienced an infectious event during hospitalization, which resulted in more exacerbation of TTP (p = 0.02). Infections were not overrepresented during treatment in patients who received steroids and/or rituximab. Further genetic analysis of toll-like receptor (TLR)-9 functionally relevant polymorphisms revealed that TLR-9 + 2848 G and TLR-9 + 1174 A genotypes were more frequent in TTP patients than in controls (p = 0.04 and p = 0.026, respectively) and more particularly in patients negative for the Class II human leukocyte see more antigen system susceptibility allele DRB1*11 (p = 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). Haplotypes

estimation showed that 1174A-2848G haplotype was significantly more frequent in TTP (p = 0.004), suggesting a primary role for this haplotype variation in conferring a predisposition for acquired TTP.\n\nCONCLUSION: Infections should be considered as an aggravating factor during the course of TTP. Particular polymorphisms in TLR-9 gene may represent risk factors for TTP.”
“We have evaluated the clinical, radiological and metabolic features of infantile urolithiasis (UL).\n\nWe have reviewed the medical records of 93 children who were diagnosed as having UL before 1 year of age. We recorded patient

demographics, the age at diagnosis, presenting symptoms, family history, the localizations and dimensions of stones, urinary metabolic examinations, ZD1839 clinical trial as well as physical, laboratory, and radiologic findings. Our secondary objective was to

compare some features of this group with those of older children with UL followed-up in the same clinic which were previously reported.\n\nWe evaluated 93 children referred to our pediatric nephrology clinics. A family history of UL was 56.2 % in the study group. Resolution of stones was observed in 30.1 % of the cases. Urinary DMH1 tract infections (UTIs) were detected in 65.9 % of females and 46.2 % of males. At least one urinary metabolic abnormality was found in 79.5 % of all the children. Most commonly seen metabolic abnormality was hypercalciuria. In all patients stones were located in kidneys except one infant who had an ureteral stone together with a kidney stone. Fifteen (16.1 %) children had an accompanying systemic disorder.\n\nAmong pediatric urinary stone diseases infantile UL can be regarded as a separate clinical entity. Coexistence of systemic disorders and anatomic anomalies at high frequencies may indicate a role of distinct pathogenetic mechanisms. In addition, high rates of UTIs and metabolic abnormalities in this age group justify screening for these parameters during follow-up of these children.”
“In conservation biology, increasing numbers of studies have focused on reproductive interference (RI) between a native species and related aliens. However, few studies have examined the frequency dependence of RI, despite of its key importance to invasiveness.