[Calprotectin levels in meconium measured with an automated immunoassay (Liaison® XL)]. / Valeurs de référence de la calprotectine méconiale (immuno-dosage Liaison® XL).

A threshold of 50 µg fecal calprotectin per g stool sample (µg/g) is commonly used to diagnose chronic inflammatory bowel disease in adult patients and children over 4 years of age. In younger children, fecal calprotectin values are physiologically increased. For the first time, the objective of our study was to establish reference ranges in newborns for the measurement of meconium calprotectin with an automated assay (Liaison® XL, DiaSorin). A prospective study was conducted in 2022 in the Maternity Unit of the Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital, with the inclusion of full-term newborns without intestinal involvement. The quantitative automated Liaison® XL calprotectin assay was assessed on a panel of meconium samples. In our cohort of 132 term neonates, calprotectin values ranged from 21 to 855 µg/g of meconium (2,5th to 97.5th percentile) and the median value was 194 µg/g. In our cohort, only sex-related differences were observed for calprotectin values. No significant differences were found for the other factors studied (maternal or neonatal). Because of inter-individual variability, a sequential measurement of newborn calprotectin from meconium should be considered.

Left Ventricular Strains and Myocardial Work in Adolescents With Anorexia Nervosa.

BACKGROUND: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is accompanied by bradycardia, low blood pressure (BP) and cardiac morphological remodeling. Systolic and diastolic functions are relatively preserved when assessed by standard ultrasound methods. However, novel advances based on speckle tracking echocardiography (STE), that could detect subtle and early alterations of left ventricular (LV) function, remained poorly used in AN patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the cardiac function of AN patients by evaluating LV myocardial strains, myocardial work (MW) and LV mechanical dispersion. We hypothesized that LV strains and global myocardial work would be decreased and LV twisting mechanisms enhanced to preserve the systolic function. METHODS: Fifty-nine adolescents including 26 women AN patients (14.6 ± 1.9 yrs. old) with a mean duration of AN of 19 ± 9 months and 33 controls (14.1 ± 2.0 yrs. old) underwent STE to assess LV morphology and myocardial regional strains. RESULTS: The global longitudinal strain (GLS) was higher in AN patients compared to controls (-18.8 ± 2.0 vs. -16.9 ± 2.8%, p = 0.006). The area under the pressure-strain loop, representing the global MW was not altered but was shifted to the left and downwards in AN patients, due to their lower BP and higher GLS. Intraventricular mechanical dispersion was similar in both groups. Circumferential strains, twisting/untwisting mechanics were preserved. CONCLUSION: Our results strongly support that the cardiac morphological remodeling observed in our AN patients was associated with normal ventricular regional myocardial functions. Only GLS was higher in AN patients, but its clinical significance remains to be demonstrated.