These data suggested that D. fragilis is as prevalent and pathogenic as G. lamblia, and secnidazole seems to be highly effective in achieving parasitologic and clinical cure. To our knowledge, this is the first report of secnidazole being used in the treatment of dientamoebiasis.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity is a well-known risk factor of atherosclerosis. Recent studies showed that obesity is associated with enhanced lipid peroxidation. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of weight reduction with orlistat treatment on lipid peroxidation levels. We assessed lipid peroxidation by measuring the concentration of plasma malondialdehyde (MDA). DESIGN: A randomized, controlled, open-label 6-month study. SUBJECTS: In total, 36 obese (body mass index (BMI) 430 kg/m 2 ) and 11 healthy age-matched control subjects were enrolled in the study. MEASUREMENTS: Fasting glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol and MDA levels were measured in both groups. Obese subjects received orlistat, 120 mg three times daily together with hypocaloric diet. After 6 months of treatment laboratory tests were repeated. RESULTS: MDA levels were significantly higher in obese patients than the control group (Po0.0001). After 6 months of treatment in obese subjects, the mean weight of the patients decreased by 6.8 kg, the BMI by 3.2 kg/m 2 . Plasma MDA levels were significantly reduced by weight loss from 270.77 to 0.8970.41 nmol/ml (Po0.001). BMI correlated with MDA levels at baseline (r ¼ 0.6, Po0.0001). Changes in BMI was positively associated with plasma MDA level reduction (r ¼ 0.36, Po0.05). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that obesity is associated with increases in endogenous lipid peroxides. Our data show that the indicator of lipid peroxidationFMDAFfalls markedly in association with weight loss with orlistat. The demonstration of decreased free radical generation has important implications for oxidative mechanism underlying obesity-associated disorders.

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Non-invasive techniques used in the present study were not indicative of early findings of atherosclerosis in H. pylori infection during childhood. Further studies are required to evaluate the relationship between early endothelial dysfunction and H. pylori infection in children with cardiovascular risk factors.