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Group B ,-haemolytic Streptococcus (GBS) may cause severe septic shock and death in neonates, whereas this is rarely the case in adults. As impaired red blood cell (RBC) deformability might disturb microcirculation in septic shock, the in vitro effects of GBS (1-7X108 cfu/ml) on RBC deformation (rheoscope) and haemolysis were studied in blood from preterm infants, term neonates, and adults. Furthermore, RBC deformation was studied in term neonates with GBS sepsis. RBC deformation at a shear stress of 4 Pa decreased significantly within 5 minutes of GBS incubation in preterm infants (-13%) and term neonates (-/9%). In adults RBC deformation did not change during the first 15 minutes, but decreased significantly after 30 (-10%) and 60 minutes (-13%). In the term infants there was little further decrease in RBC deformation between 5 and 60 minutes of GBS incubation; RBC deformation in preterm infants decreased by 19% after 60 minutes compared with the preincubation values. RBC deformation in septic neonates was significantly decreased at shear stresses of 1, 2, and 3 Pa (-19%, -18%, and -9%). Sixty minutes of incubation of RBC from adults and neonates with GBS and without GBS resulted in haemolysis below 4°/.It is concluded that neither neonatal nor adult RBC are haemolysed by GBS. In vitro, neonatal RBC deformability is more impaired than that in adults. This may contribute to the high risk of neonates for compromised microcirculation and circulatory shock as a result of GBS sepsis. (Arch Dis Child 1996; 74: F187-FI90)

Lipid A is responsible for the endotoxic activities of gram-negative bacteria. Binding of lipid A (50 μg/ml) to RBC was studied using a passive hemolysis test. RBC from adults, cord and venous RBC from full-term infants and RBC from preterm infants were studied. Lipid A sensitized RBC were hemolysed with anti-lipid A and guinea pig complement. Hemolysis was expressed as hemoglobin concentration (absorbance at 546 nm) in the supernatant after centrifugation. 50 μg/ml lipid A did not increase spontaneous hemolysis ( < 3%) after 60 min of incubation in any of the four groups. The passive hemolysis test did not result in additional hemolysis (5%) of umbilical cord RBC. RBC of preterm infants showed a significant increase in hemolysis (24%) after 60 min of incubation. In RBC of full-term neonates, increased hemolysis (14 and 46%) was detected after 30 and 60 min of incubation. Adult RBC hemolysed stronger (26 and 64%) after 30 and 60 min than neonatal RBC. We conclude that lipid A binds less to neonatal RBC compared to adults.

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hemoglobin c o n c e n t r a t i o n (e x t i n c t i o n a t 546 nm) i n t h e s u p e r n a t a n t. RESULTS : I n c u b a t i o n t i m e o f l i p i d A (m i n) : 0 3 0 60 Hemolysis: A d u l t 0.046 0.262 0.636 Term n e o n a t e s 0.025 0.136 0.464 P r e t e r m n e o n a t e s 0.045 0.069 0.245 Cord b l o o d 0.031 0. 0 5 1 0.049 CONCLUSIONS: T h e s e r e s u l t s i n d i c a t e t h a t l i p i d A i s bound t o RBC membranes i n a d u l t s , t e r m and p r e t e r m n e o n a t e s a f t e r 30 a n d 60 min i n c u b a t i o n. The h e m o l y t i c a c t i v i t y was s t r o n g e r f o r a d u l t RBC compared w i t L t e r m a n d p>eterm n e o n a t e s. No h e m o l y s i s was d e t e c t e d a f t e r l i p i d A i n c u b a t i o n o f c o r d b l o o d RBC. We s p e c u l a t e t h a t c o r d and l e s s pronounced n e o n a t a l RBC a r e p r o t e c t e d a g a i n s t l i p i d A i n s e r t i o n i n t o membranes. 26 children (12 boys, 14 girls) with endoscopic and morphologic proved diagnosis chronic gastritis aged 4-15 years have been treated. Treatment was carried out by semiconductor AlGaAs laser (wavelength 890 nm, pulse power 4.0 w, pulse frequency 600 Hz, 64-128 sec per procedure). Irradiation was conducted out every day, 6-7 times. epigastric area. Disappearance of pain syndrom observed after 2-4 seances, appetite improved in 87% children. It was obtained decrease of infiltration changes and reparation of mucosa defects in 73% and normalisation of gastrointestinal motility in 68% children after treatment. Using morpometric biopsies method in gastric mucosa was revealed decrease of cell infiltration density from 5492 +/-371 until 4815 +/-265 cell/mm2, alteration of plasmacytes and lymphocytes, increase of capillar quantity from 105 +/-20 until 511 + /-17 cell/mm2 3 days after lasertherapy. It was observed a reparation effect after 14 days of treatment in increasing fibroblasts number and surface epithelia from 3102 + /-126 until 7248 + /-315 cell/mm2. The main conclusion is that laserother-apy activates the microcirculation in gastric mucosa, decreases morphological signs of inflammation and significantly increases reparative processes. 195 HEALTH KNOWLEDGE, A'ITITUDES AND BEHAVIOURS IN FAMILIES WITH PRESCHOOL AGE CHILDREN Audrone Prasauskiene, Lab. for Social Paediatrics, Kaunas Medical Academy , Kaunas, Lithuania OBJECT: To asses current practices of health promotion in families with preschool age children: the parents and children's knowledge on healthy lifestyle, their attitude and behaviour, social values relating to good health, the content and nature of health education. METHOD: Health knowledge, attitudes, behaviourial indicators in families were estimated before and after one year health teaching course in experimental and control groups. RESULTS: We questioned 6 year old children (N=442) and their parents (N=409). Health knowledge before education in families was quite good and relates to common education. More than 50% of the respondents knew the right answers. Heal...