ABSTRACT
Heatstroke, which is a major disorder related to environmental hyperthermia, is a rare event in children. The risk is increased with predisposing medical conditions and specific medications. We report the case of a 10-year-old epileptic patient, who received topiramate. Topiramate causes hypohydrosis and hyperthermia. We suggest that topiramate treatment may be a risk factor for heatstroke.
Subject(s)
Fructose/analogs & derivatives , Heat Stroke/chemically induced , Neuroprotective Agents/adverse effects , Child , Epilepsy/complications , Epilepsy/drug therapy , Fructose/adverse effects , Heat Stroke/epidemiology , Humans , Male , Risk Factors , TopiramateABSTRACT
A high proportion of commercial plane passengers are children: two million fly every year on Air-France airlines. In this field, the physician can be called upon to authorize or prohibit travelling. He could take measures or offer his services at the request of the cabin staff. The authors review flight physiology and stress, their potential effects on healthy children or those with medical conditions, and their fitness to fly.
Subject(s)
Aviation , Physical Fitness , Aviation/standards , Child , France , Humans , Stress, Physiological/etiologyABSTRACT
CASE REPORT: The authors report the case of an infant presenting with status epilepticus, apneas and hypothermia, related to hyponatremia. The cause was water intoxication, secondary to feeding a dilute formula and free water. The parents were notoriously challenged by the care of their children. Such disorder could have been prevented. CONCLUSION: Dietary history may be key to the diagnosis of hyponatremia in children. Water intoxication of nutritional origin can be prevented.
Subject(s)
Hyponatremia/etiology , Infant Formula/chemistry , Water Intoxication/diagnosis , Adult , Apnea/etiology , Child of Impaired Parents , Female , Humans , Hypothermia/etiology , Infant , Male , Status Epilepticus/etiologyABSTRACT
Ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency is an X-linked disorder of the urea cycle mapped to chromosome Xp21.1. Here, we show that apparent segregation of null alleles at the OTC locus and flanking polymorphic loci mimicked false maternity or false paternity in three affected families. Based on these observations, we suggest giving consideration to gene deletion when dealing with segregation of null alleles in OTC deficiency.
Subject(s)
Alleles , Ammonia/blood , Gene Deletion , Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase Deficiency Disease , Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase/genetics , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Male , Pedigree , X ChromosomeABSTRACT
A 18-months-old boy, without antecedent nor abdominal trauma, revealed a congenital choledochal cyst by massive hemobilia. This way of revelation is extremely rare and to our knowledge has not been previously reported. The difficulties of diagnostic and surgical management are discussed.
Subject(s)
Common Bile Duct Diseases/congenital , Cysts/congenital , Hemobilia/etiology , Common Bile Duct/surgery , Common Bile Duct Diseases/complications , Common Bile Duct Diseases/diagnosis , Common Bile Duct Diseases/surgery , Cysts/complications , Cysts/diagnosis , Cysts/surgery , Humans , Infant , MaleABSTRACT
Glucose uptake and O2 consumption of confluent glial cells grown in culture were measured in the presence of serum-free buffer and compared with those measured in the presence of serum from a normal volunteer, from an hGH-deficient dwarf and from a Laron dwarf. Cellular glucose uptake and respiration in the absence or presence of insulin or hGH are inhibited by Laron serum.
Subject(s)
Dwarfism/blood , Glucose/metabolism , Neuroglia/metabolism , Oxygen Consumption , Blood , Cell Line , Growth Hormone/deficiency , Growth Hormone/pharmacology , Humans , Insulin/pharmacology , Neuroglia/drug effects , Oxygen Consumption/drug effectsABSTRACT
A clitoral hypertrophy in a girl presenting with Recklinghausen's disease should suggest the possibility of a local neurofibromatosis without any endocrine etiology. Thirteen cases collected in the literature and a new one reported here, give the opportunity to discuss such a possibility. Better knowledge of this unusual localization should, in each case, allow to discuss the extent of hormonal investigations needed.
Subject(s)
Disorders of Sex Development/diagnosis , Neurofibromatosis 1/diagnosis , Clitoris/pathology , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Hypertrophy , InfantABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to investigate the nocturnal secretion of growth hormone and prolactin in a particular model where nutrients are delivered continuously. Six children with severe intestinal diseases undergoing total constant rate enteral nutrition for 1.5 to 8 months have been studied; all children had a normal nutritional status at the time of the recording. Sleep patterns were studied by the usual polygraphic methods from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. Blood samples were taken every 20 min through an indwelling catheter for growth hormone and prolactin plasma level determination. Several growth hormone peaks were observed with a peak always secreted in connection with stage III-IV of the first cycle. This early peak was significantly higher than the following ones. Nocturnal patterns of prolactin secretion showed individual differences characterized by a series of episodic releases which consisted of a few long rises (4 patients) and several small fluctuations; no correlation was found with the sleep patterns; no increase in the level throughout the night was observed. Loss of the rhythmicity of alimentation does not alter the secretion of growth hormone during sleep.
Subject(s)
Enteral Nutrition , Growth Hormone/blood , Prolactin/blood , Sleep/physiology , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Male , Sleep, REM/physiologyABSTRACT
The aim of this work was to study gastrin secretion in children receiving constant rate enteral nutrition (CREN) then avoiding intermittent stimulation induced by meals. Induced hypergastrinemia was performed in 12 children during CREN and compared with that in 8 children with intermittent oral feeding as a control group. Before stimulation by protein load there was no significant difference between the 2 groups; 20 minutes after stimulation, there was no change in the serum gastrin concentration in the CREN group, but a dramatic increase in the control group. The hypothetic role of gastrin and/or intestinal factors is advanced to explain the inhibition of gastrin secretory response during CREN. A progressive substitution from continuous to discontinuous intakes is suggested to avoid weaning complications of this nutritional technique.
Subject(s)
Enteral Nutrition , Gastrins/metabolism , Adolescent , Child , Gastrins/blood , Humans , Infant , Time FactorsABSTRACT
A 7 year-old boy had had partial complex seizures from the age 6 years. Two days after commencing a treatment by VPA in a daily dose of 55 mg/kg body weight, disturbances of consciousness became obvious. He was admitted to hospital two days later. The E.E.G. on admission showed bilateral delta activity. The plasma levels of VPA was 140 mg/l. Diazepam, 7 mg, was given intravenously. Four minutes later, the clinical state and the E.E.G. returned to normal. This observation supports the hypothesis that VPA may have a paradoxical epileptogenic effect in some types of epilepsy.