Clinical and endoscopic features of the upper digestive tract pathology in children and adolescents depending on age

Background. The purpose was to determine the structure and age characteristics of clinical and endoscopic features of gastroduodenal pathology in adolescence. Materials and methods. The study included 493 adolescents between 10 and 14 years of age and 444 adolescents aged 15 to 18 years. Clinical, laboratory and instrumental studies were conducted (esophagogastroduodenoscopy, intragastric pH-metry, Helicobacter pylori DNA). Results. The study showed that in adolescence, the inflammatory lesions of the upper digestive tract predominate in both age groups. Destructive lesions occur in 8–10 % of patients in the 10–14 age group, and their incidence increases 2 times in boys and 1.5 times — in girls in the 15–18 age group. Motility disorders of the upper digestive tract are determined in 30 % of patients regardless of age, more often in girls. Lesions of the upper digestive tract are usually accompanied by basal gastric hyperacidity in boys, while in girls the basal normacidity is more often determined. Helicobacter pylori infection is detected in 2/3 of adolescents with disorders of the upper digestive tract, slightly more often in the 10–14 age group. Conclusions. The results obtained in the course of the study can focus the directions of etiotropic and pathogenetic therapy for the upper digestive tract diseases depending on the age and gender of the patients

Therapeutic correction of liver and biliary tract pathology among adolescents with obesity

Background. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of hepatoprotectors in comprehensive treatment of adolescents with obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and dysfunctional disorders of the biliary tract (DDBT). Materials and methods. The study involved 80 adolescents with obesity and insulin resistance aged 10 to 18 years. Biochemical research and ultrasound investigation of the hepatobiliary system were conducted in all the patients. The metformin was used for all the patients in the treatment of obesity. According to the results of examination, all patients were divided into two groups: 1st group — patients with clinical and ultrasound signs of DDBT, who received artichoke extract preparations; 2nd group — patients with clinical and ultrasound signs of DDBT and biliary sludge, in whom ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) preparations were used. Control examinations were conducted after treatment and after the sixth month. Results. Adolescents with obesity complained of increased appetite, abdominal pain and dyspepsia. Pain in the right upper quadrant and signs of atherogenic dyslipidemia were determined in these patients. According to the ultrasound investigation, signs of steatohepatosis were found in one-third of patients. Improvement of contractile function of the gallbladder and decrease of steatohepatosis symptoms were more significant in those patients received artichoke extract preparations than in the comparison group. Homogenization of the bile, decrease in the signs of steatosis and hypotonia of the gallbladder were more significant in patients, who received UDCA preparations, than in the comparison group. Conclusions. The prescription of the artichoke extract preparations for the period of 1.5–2 months is reasonable for adolescents with obesity and hypotonia of the gallbladder. The administration of the UDCA preparations for the period of 2–3 months is reasonable in case of clinical signs of DDBT and biliary sludge presence. The positive effect of treatment after 6 months was observed only in patients, who were motivated to change their lifestyle