This unique pan-European birth cohort study using the gold standard diagnostic procedure for food allergies confirmed challenge-proven CMA in <1% of children up to age 2. Affected infants without detectable specific antibodies to cow's milk were very likely to tolerate cow's milk one year after diagnosis, whereas only half of those with specific antibodies in serum 'outgrew' their disease so soon.

Decision for primary CS should take into consideration possible maternal/neonatal complications.

Aim of the study was to record the prevalence of the various types of viral hepatitis, especially hepatitis B, in pregnant Albanian refugees in Greece. The study comprised 500 pregnant refugees of mean age 25.1 +/- 4.6 years. In Albania, all women had lived in overcrowded houses and had been exposed to non throw-away needles and syringes. Various indices for all hepatitis types were determined. The prevalence of HBsAg was 13.4%, of anti-HBs 53%, of total anti-HBc 70.8%, of anti-HBc IgM 0.4%, of HBeAg 1.2%, of anti-HBe 58.6%, of anti-HAV 96.2%, of anti-HAV IgM 1%, of anti-HDV 0.4%, of anti-HCV 0.6% and of anti-HEV 2%. HBeAg was found positive in 7.5% of HBsAg carriers. Prevalence of hepatitis B markers, as determined by HBsAg and/or anti-HBs and/or total anti-HBc was significantly higher in those with a history of previous hospitalization in Albania (p = 0.01) and those with previous history of hepatitis (p = 0.02). The high prevalence of hepatitis B markers in pregnant Albanian refugees proves that HBV infection is highly endemic in Albania and the possibility of perinatal transmission to the offsprings urges for HBV vaccination programmes. On the other hand improvements in the socioeconomic conditions and the sanitation system in Albania is anticipated to reduce the incidence of HAV and HBV infections.

Neurotrophins (NTs), nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), NT-3, and NT-4 are of major importance in prenatal and postnatal brain development, due to their neuroprotective action. Developmental changes alter the neuronal responsiveness to certain NTs, which subsequently are variously expressed, to properly balance their action. The following study aimed at examining the pattern of perinatal changes of the four NTs--NGF, BDNF, NT-3, and NT-4 in 30 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) full-term fetuses and neonates by determining their circulating levels at characteristic time points. This study show a gradual decrease of circulating levels of the NTs, NT-3 and NT-4 from umbilical cord (UC) to neonates day 4 (N4), while circulating levels of NGF and BDNF present the opposite pattern: an increase from UC to N4. These patterns of perinatal changes differ according to their impact on the process of neuronal development and their reaction to perinatal stress. NT3 and NT4 have been documented to act at early stages of neuronal development and to decrease after hypoxia-ischemia, while NGF and BDNF to increase. Further studies should investigate these patterns in premature or full-term infants, presenting various pathological conditions in the perinatal period.

This is the first reported case of a woman suffering from the Bernard-Soulier syndrome who terminated pregnancy and gave birth normally to a healthy child. Although a great number of platelet and fresh blood units were transfused before and after delivery, a hysterectomy was performed the next day as the only solution to stop persisting gross hemorrhage.