Our aim was to evaluate body composition in a group of coeliac disease adolescents on a gluten-free diet and to re-examine them at the end of the adolescence spurt. We studied 48 patients (group 1A), 30 age-matched healthy controls (group 2A), 11 group 1A patients after 4 years (group 1B) and 11 adolescents who were age- and sex-matched with group 1B (group 2B). Weight, height, bone mineral content, fat mass, fat-free mass (FFM) and bone mineral density were evaluated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. All parameters were lower in group 1A than in group 2A subjects ( p<0.001). After 4 years, the body compartments of group 1B coeliac disease patients normalised, except for weight and FFM which remained lower than in group 2B subjects ( p<0.005). In conclusion, our study demonstrates that adolescence is a period where some parameters of body composition can still be recovered.

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~~a e~~~~~)~m a~~m~m~t m i m~ D1AL;NOSIS OF C P M P~R PYUlRI GASTRITIS BY -lhe usc of i & n & x 3 n (IN)) in patmt artenasus i s said to prediqxse to necrotising mtemwlitis. We have t h s e f m used dplex pllsed Lbppler ult+asand to p~~~+~~tively s-, awregal over 6 cardis cycles (03, the peak systolic velocity (m), area uut?r the pedc velocity envelope (WPVE), and the tire aver?+@ mean velccity (TW) of blmd flarr at the base O f t h e s c p e r i c r~t e r i~a r t e r y(5x4) sndinthecoeliacaxi~ (CAI. Ten studies were perf& c n 9 infants receiving their first of thme bAvs dcses of hhwtlmh (0.2 rngPxg IV). lhe velocity profiles prior to inthe5x4werecharecterisedbylcssorewn~adediastolicflarr. In mly3wasth=reatsentdiastolicflauintkCA. hb&h?chledtoa p m f o r n d f a l l b y 5 -8 h i n t h e F W , TWandWRlEinthe5MA. 5x4 k a n + sl IgG ELISASt James's University Hospital, Leeds. 11 patients age range 8-15, mdian 13 years, presenting with abdominal pain were investigated for Canpylobacter pylori (C pylori) associated gastritis by upper GI endoscopy and senm IgG anti.bcdies to C pylori. Control sera were obtained from 9 patien& aged 9-15, d i a n 12 years, mdergoing orthopedic procedures. Antral biopsies were examined for chronic gastritis and stained for C pylori using a dified Gierrsa stain. C pylori specific IgG antibodies were assayed by an indirect ELISA technique, using a soluble bacterial antigen preparation as antigen and the results expressed as optical density m u r ement. 4 patients with chronic gastritis were colonised with C pylori. Serum IgG mean optical density value was 172t35 for C pylori +ve patients and 30+16 for C pylori -ve patieiits. Co11trol patients had a mean optical density value of 2 2 . 9~4 , similar to C pylori -ve patients. Senm IgG assay for C pylori correctly identified tbse patients with C pylori associated chronic gastritis, and can be used to screen patients for the condition.It was reported that Canpylobacter pyloridis colonization of gastric nucosa is responsible for active chronic gastritis and is also etiologically related lo peptic ulceration.dccording to Marshall a very specific and of high diagnostic value is CLOtest, designed to detect the urerse enzyme of CaIIpyl~batter pyloridis. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of Campylobacter pylori antibody in a paediatric population and relate this to symptoms, and the presence of gastritis. Three groups were studied. Croup I -51 consecutive symptomatic patients 15-16 years) undergoing upper CI endoscopy. Croup I1 -51 aged-matched hospital controls with no significant GI symptoms. Croup I11 -150 well schoolchildren. Specific serum IgG antibodies were measured using a sensitive ELISA technique. Antral biopsies were cultured from all patients in Croup I and examined histologically. 20% of patients in Croup I had significant titres and in all cases 3 1: 1,600. C.pylot-i was present on the gastric mucosa in all of this sub-group and in no other, and histological gastritis was present in all but 2 cases. In contrast only 4% o...

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