[Atypical localization of a glomus tumor]. / Une tumeur glomique de localisation atypique.

Glomous tumors are rare and benign, generally affecting the fingers. Other localizations have nevertheless been described. We report the case of a patient who presented a supra-patellar glomous tumor provoking a pain-induced limp. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis. The patient underwent complete surgical resection of the tumor followed by total resolution of the pain. Glomous tumors in an atypical localization may go unnoticed, with the risk of late or erroneous diagnosis. Symptoms are easily resolved with simple resection.

[One magnet is better than two]. / Un aimant vaut mieux que deux.

Accidental foreign body ingestion by children is not exceptional and occurs in most cases in children less than 5 years old. The impact is not well known. We present the case of a 31-month-old boy affected by peritonitis caused by several bowel perforations after swallowing three magnets at different times. A single foreign body magnetic ingestion does not often cause trouble, but if the ingestions are spaced out, then consequential complications can occur. This is why, in case of stomachaches in a child less than 3 years or a child with behavior problems, it is important to perform standard abdominal X-ray examination.

[Febrile algo-eruptive illness in a French foreign legionnaire returning from Djibouti: gonococcal arthritis]. / Fièvre algo-éruptive chez un légionnaire au retour de Djibouti.

A French foreign legionnaire returning from Djibouti developed feverish polyarthritis with acral purpura. Diagnostic workup demonstrated gonococcemia contracted during unprotected fellatio. Based on this case report, diagnostic and therapeutic management is described.

[The EXIT procedure: principles and application in congenital cervical teratomas]. / La procédure EXIT modifiée: principes et application dans les tératomes cervicaux congénitaux.

INTRODUCTION: The ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) procedure uses uteroplacental gas exchange after caesarean section for foetus oxygenation. This placental support allows establishing an airway in the newborn in case of obstruction. Maintenance of placental perfusion requires uterine relaxation. A halogenated agent is classically use while nitroglycerine is used in the modified EXIT procedure. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a newborn with a giant thyroid teratoma diagnosed on ultrasound at 20 weeks' gestation. At 32 weeks' gestation, a modified EXIT procedure was performed. The EXIT was successful and newborn was operated on the following day. Currently, the child is 32-month-old, has no sequelae and benefits from thyroid hormone substitution. DISCUSSION: The EXIT procedure allows managing airway obstruction, even when complex, at birth. Nevertheless, prolonged uterine relaxation increases the risk of flooding. Because of its short half-life, nitroglycerine reduces this risk. In this case report we chose the modified EXIT procedure because the mother was young and primipara and foetal prognosis was poor. CONCLUSION: Currently, the EXIT procedure is the technique of choice in the management of a foetal cervical mass. An exhaustive preoperative foetal workup is necessary to choose the classical or modified EXIT procedure.

[Neonatal splenic injury: a difficult diagnosis]. / La rupture splénique en période néonatale: un diagnostic difficile.

Neonatal splenic injury is a rare but serious condition, due to the risk of haemorrhagic shock. We report on the case of a newborn infant with a neonatal respiratory distress that first evoked materno-fetal infection. Clinical deterioration, with anemia and abdominal distension, led then to the proper diagnosis. Dystocia seems to be the most likely cause of the splenic rupture in this report. Medical treatment is advocated as first line, while surgical treatment may be necessary in some cases. In the case surgery is inevitable, a conservative approach is preferable.

[Pseudo-"isolated" intestinal perforation in a very low birth weight infant: exceptional presentation of Hirschsprung's disease]. / Perforation intestinale du grand prématuré en apparence "isolée": mode de révélation exceptionnel de la maladie de Hirschsprung.

Intestinal perforations in preterm newborn are characterized with high morbidity and mortality rates. They often are associated with necrotizing enterocolitis and seldom correspond to idiopathic spontaneous intestinal perforation. Perforations upstream of an intestinal organic obstruction (atresia), or of a functionnal obstruction (meconium-ileus, Hirschsprung disease) have been considered to be rare in preterm newborns. We report a case of caecal perforation with a pneumoperitoneum which occurred at 5 days of life, in a 28-week gestational age infant, that was treated by cecostomy. There were no signs of necrotizing enterocolitis. At 43 days of life, the preoperative contrast enema study revealed a left colon transition zone, suggesting a Hirschsprung disease, which was confirmed by rectal biopsies. Transanal pull-through was performed. There were no postoperative complication. This case demonstrates that an isolated intestinal perforation in very preterm newborn can reveal a Hirschsprung disease, especially if it occurs in the caecum.

Successful use of recombinant factor VIIa for severe surgical liver bleeding in a 5 month-old baby.

A 5 month-old baby developed non-ceasing intra-peritoneal bleeding after extensive surgical biopsy for an hepatoblastoma. A single recombinant activated factor VII injection following enlarged hepatectomy helped to resolve quickly this life-threatening haemorrhagic syndrome.

[Surgical aspects of intussusception due to lymphoma in children]. / Aspects chirurgicaux des invaginations intestinales sur lymphome chez l'enfant.

BACKGROUND: Intussusception due to lymphoma is a challenging condition for pediatric surgeons. The aim of this study is to report seven cases of this entity and to discuss its management. CASE REPORT: Six boys and one girl, 3-15-years-old, were admitted for intussusception secondary to a lymphoma. All patients underwent laparotomy: biopsy of massive abdominal tumor 6 and 8 weeks following resection of an intussusception (two cases), ileal resection of non-reductible intussusception (one case), right hemicolectomy for tumor of the appendix (one case), tumorectomy of localized ileal tumor (two cases), enlarged mesenteric lymph node biopsy associated with simple reduction of intussusception (one case). All children were successfully treated with protocol chemotherapy with a 15-month to 13-year follow-up. No relapse was observed. CONCLUSION: Surgeons should be aware of operative sights of ileal lymphomas. Diagnosis of lymphoma may be difficult after manual reduction of intussusception. A sample of any abnormality (mesenteric lymph node, peritoneal fluid) should be taken. Intestinal resection allows to reduce the intensity of chemotherapy but must be as limited as possible: ileal resection in cases of complicated intussusception, tumorectomy "in sano" in cases of ileal parietal isolated tumor. Reduction of intussusception alone (with no resection of ileal tumor) seems to be effective if diagnosis of lymphoma is possible from peripheral samples (peritoneal fluid, pleural effusion, mesenteric lymph node, bone marrow biopsy...).

Ex vivo stimulation and expansion of both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of human cytomegalovirus-seropositive blood donors by using a soluble recombinant chimeric protein, IE1-pp65.

The transfer of anti-human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) effector T cells to allogeneic bone marrow recipients results in protection from HCMV disease associated with transplantation, suggesting the direct control of CMV replication by T cells. IE1 and pp65 proteins, both targets of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, are considered the best candidates for immunotherapy and vaccine design against HCMV. In this report, we describe the purification of a 165-kDa chimeric protein, IE1-pp65, and its use for in vitro stimulation and expansion of anti-HCMV CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of HCMV-seropositive donors. We demonstrate that an important proportion of anti-HCMV CD4(+) T cells was directed against IE1-pp65 in HCMV-seropositive donors and that the protein induced activation of HLA-DR3-restricted anti-IE1 CD4(+) T-cell clones, as assessed by gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) secretion and cytotoxicity. Moreover, soluble IE1-pp65 stimulated and expanded anti-pp65 CD8(+) T cells from PBMC of HLA-A2, HLA-B35, and HLA-B7 HCMV-seropositive blood donors, as demonstrated by cytotoxicity, intracellular IFN-gamma labeling, and quantitation of peptide-specific CD8(+) cells using an HLA-A2-peptide tetramer and staining of intracellular IFN-gamma. These results suggest that soluble IE1-pp65 may provide an alternative to infectious viruses used in current adoptive strategies of immunotherapy.

Anal canal duplication in infants and children--a series of 6 cases.

The authors present a series of six anal canal duplications (ACD), duplications of the alimentary tract located along the posterior side of the anal canal, with a perineal opening just behind the anus. Five asymptomatic duplications were diagnosed before the age of one year, by simple perineal inspection. A twelve-year-old girl presented with perineal and anal pains and diarrhoea. Fistulography revealed a tubular structure in five cases and a cystic structure in one case, behind the normal anal canal, in one case communicating with it. A presacral sacrococcygeal teratoma was found in two children and in one case it was visualised by preoperative US in an infant with a lumbosacral myelomeningocele. Surgical excision was performed by a perineal approach in 5 cases, by a combined sacral and perineal approach in the last case, because of the associated teratoma. Non-invasive preoperative investigations, consisting of a pelvic X-ray, US examination, barium enema and fistulography, are sufficient in most cases; MRI is reserved for special indications. Surgical treatment restores a normal perineal aspect, without sequelae, and avoids complications like those described in other types of digestive duplications: infection, ulceration, bleeding, malignant changes during later adult life. Associated anomalies are frequently described in the literature, especially presacral tumours (16%) and anorectal malformations (21%); they can influence the management, the surgical approach and the functional prognosis.

[An unusual care of intestinal invagination: jejunojejunal invagination]. / Un cas rare d'invagination intestinale: l'invagination jéjunojéjunale.

BACKGROUND: Jejunal intussusception is uncommon in comparison with ileocolic form. It is more frequent in children over 2 years of age and has an atypical subacute presentation. An underlying anatomical cause is usually found. CASE REPORT: A 14-year-old boy was admitted for abdominal pain with bilious vomiting. The physical examination was normal, with only the ultrasonography showing an intussusception in the left hypochondrium. At laparotomy the diagnosis of jejunal intussusception was made; its reduction was impossible. A resection and end to end anastomosis was performed. The anatomopathology examination found a polyp in ectopic gastric mucosa. CONCLUSION: Jejunal intussusception must be better understood as its diagnosis could be made too late. Surgical exploration is the treatment of choice because of the usual underlying anatomical cause.

Assignment of linkage groups to the electrophoretically-separated chromosomes of the fungus Podospora anserina.

An electrophoretic karyotype of the filamentous fungus Podospora anserina has been obtained using contour-clamped homogeneous electric field gel electrophoresis. Six chromosomal bands were separated with one migrating as a doublet. The size of the chromosomes was estimated to be between 3.8 and 6.0 megabase pairs (mb) using the chromosomes of Schizosaccharomyces pombe as size standards, giving a total genome size of about 34 mb for the P. anserina genome. Homologous probes were used to assign five of the seven linkage groups (LGs) to chromosomal bands on the gel. Analysis of reciprocal translocation strains allowed us to complete the karyotype. In decreasing size order, the P. anserina chromosomes are LG I (6.0 mb); LG II (5.5 mb); LG V (5.1 mb); LG III (4.9 mb); LGs VI and VII (4.3 mb) and LG IV (3.8 mb).

[Effect of the addition of sorbitol to the feed of lactating cows on their performance and blood composition]. / Effet de l'addition de sorbitol à la ration des vaches laitières sur leurs performances et sur la composition de leur sang.

One hundred and nineteen dairy cows were given 0, 50 or 100 g sorbitol per day in the diet, in 4 trials. Three trials were conducted at the beginning of lactation, with maize silage, grass silage or grass silage and hay based diets. In the fourth trial conducted in mid-lactation, the concentrate had been enriched with fat. No sorbitol or fructose was found in blood. Sorbitol decreased free cholesterolemia (P less than 0.01), ester-cholesterolemia (P less than 0.10) and glycemia (P less than or equal to 0.05). No changes in performance were noted.