Pediatrics international : official journal of the Japan Pediatric Society
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Interferon (IFN)-alpha and lamivudine (LAM), a nucleoside analog, are frequently used drugs for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and their combined therapy has been shown to be effective. The purpose of the present study was to examine the therapeutic efficacy of sequential and simultaneous combination therapies of IFN-alpha and LAM in children with CHB. ⋯ When the therapeutic efficiency of two different treatment regimens applied for 1 year was evaluated in childhood CHB therapy, it was remarkable that there was a sustained response and a higher complete response in group 2, although there was no considerable difference between the therapy results of both groups.
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The purpose of the present paper was to investigate the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and clinical symptomatology, breast-feeding and socioeconomic level. The relationship between H. pylori and iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) and the effect of H. pylori infection on growth were also investigated. ⋯ Low socioeconomic status seems to be an important risk factor for H. pylori infection. Exclusive breast-feeding at least for 4 months can have a protective role against H. pylori infection. Increased frequency of growth retardation and IDA in H. pylori-infected patients in the present study supports similar findings in the literature, although there is still need for detailed studies to clarify the causative mechanisms.