Paediatric epidemiology of Pasteurella multocida meningitis in France and review of the literature.

We report on six cases of Pasteurella multocida (P. multocida) meningitis occurring between 2001 and 2011 by a French nationwide active surveillance network of paediatric bacterial meningitis (ACTIV/GPIP). The cases accounted for 0.15 % of the paediatric meningitis cases reported between 2001 and 2011 in France, all in infants <4 months old. A review of the literature allowed us to gather information on 42 other cases of P. multocida meningitis in infants <1 year old reported since 1963. Among all 48 cases, 44 % were newborns. An animal source of the infection, including 39 household dogs and cats, was suspected or identified in 42 of 48 cases. A traumatic contact between the child and a pet occurred in 8 % of cases, and a vertical transmission from mother to child during birth in 10.4 %. Most of the time, the infection resulted from non-traumatic contact between the child and the pet, through licking or sniffing. The absence of host risk factors suggests that an immature immune system is responsible, given the young age of the children. Although complications, especially neurological lesions, were not rare (37.5 %), the long-term outcome was usually good. Four infants died of meningitis. This rare disease could be prevented by reducing contact between infants and household pets, and by performing simple hygiene measures before handling babies.

[Endoscopic diagnosis of a gastric heterotopic pancreas and esophageal atresia: an incidental association?]. / Diagnostic endoscopique d'une hétérotopie pancréatique de l'estomac et atrésie de l'oesophage: une association fortuite?

UNLABELLED: Heterotopic or aberrant pancreas is a rare congenital anomaly, usually asymptomatic. The preoperative diagnosis is difficult but most cases of gastric ectopic pancreas have a unique appearance that often makes possible a diagnosis in the absence of histologic confirmation. A well-delineated submucosal, firm mass with central umbilication is characteristic of gastric ectopic pancreas. To the best of our knowledge, the association of esophageal atresia and gastric heterotopic pancreas has never been reported previously. CASE REPORTS: We report two cases of heterotropic pancreas associated with esophageal atresia. Both diagnoses were incidental findings and concerned children operated on at birth for esophageal atresia. Although a definitive diagnosis is histologic, the endoscopic appearance made it possible to maintain this diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Some symptoms have been attributed to ectopic pancreas, and malignant degeneration has been reported in adults. Management continues to be debated: some authors recommend surgical resection while others, as we do, prefer initial therapeutic abstention.

[Exhale nitric oxide (NO) and respiratory function measured with body plethysmography in children]. / Monoxyde d'azote (NO) exhalé et fonction ventilatoire mesurée par pléthysmographie corporelle chez l'enfant.

BACKGROUND: Exhaled nitric oxide (NO) may be a marker of airway inflammation. Previous studies in adults have shown that the level of NO in exhaled air is influenced by several factors (breath holding, exercise, etc), or by several disease (asthma, congestive heart failure, diseases of the upper respiratory tract, cystic fibrosis, etc). However, few studies have been performed in children less than 3 years of age. The aim of this study was to determine endogenous NO levels in children with various diseases during lung volume measurements. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-two children aged 18.3 +/- 9.5 months were studied. The population was divided in two groups, according to the underlying disease: a group of 39 children with cystic fibrosis (n = 7), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (n = 17), asthma (n = 7) or recurrent respiratory tract infections (n = 8) and a second group of 13 children without respiratory disease. Lung function was measured by whole body plethysmography and several respiratory parameters were calculated (functional residual capacity [FRC], compliance and resistances of the respiratory system, trapped volume). NO production was measured on a chemiluminescence analyzer from mixed exhaled air collected into a bag, over a period of 5 minutes. RESULTS: NO production was related to disease: exhaled NO levels were three times higher in bronchopulmonary dysplasia and cystic fibrosis, compared to NO levels in children without respiratory disease. They were higher in asthma. They were not altered in recurrent respiratory tract infections. No correlation was found between respiratory parameters and NO production. However, exhaled NO levels were correlated to trapped volume, which defined dynamic part of pulmonary hyperinflation. CONCLUSION: Levels of endogenous NO in infants were similar to those measured in adults with and without inflammatory respiratory disease. Lung distention influenced exhaled NO production.

[Specificity of female unemployment]. / Specificite du chomage des femmes.

The author develops the argument that "female unemployment should not be tackled in the same way as male unemployment because women's situation within the family and in the labor market is different. The author proposes a new vision of female unemployment, taking into account the dialectical situation experienced by women because of their double role, in the sphere of reproduction as well as in the sphere of economic production." The primary geographic focus is on the situation in Quebec. (SUMMARY IN ENG AND SPA)