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Biomedical subjects

C Fessard

Publications and source records attributed to C Fessard.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

[Localized neonatal convulsions and cerebral arterial infarction].

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a rare cause of neonatal seizures. CASE REPORTS: During a 5-year period, eight full-term infants were admitted to hospital for seizures due to a stroke. Seizures began shortly after birth and were always one-sided. Early CT scans showed cerebral infarctions. Motor disabilities such as hemiparesis were found in three out of seven cases; language difficulties were observed in the same proportion; however all the children had not reached school age. CONCLUSION: Neonatal localized seizures may be symptomatic of a stroke and therefore justify a computerized tomography (CT) scan. Motor and cognitive sequelae require early management.

Cerebral Infarction↗
PubMed1998

[Focal dermal hypoplasia: description of three cases].

BACKGROUND: Focal dermal hypoplasia syndrome is mainly defined by the association of abnormalities of extremities, atrophy and linear hyperpigmentation of the skin, localized deposits of superficial fat, anomalies of the eyes and of the nails. Neonates are often small for their age. CASE REPORTS: Three sporadic cases are reported. Mental delay and omphalocele were observed in the first case. The neurological development was subnormal in the second and an unusual monodactyly was seen in the third. CONCLUSION: Most cases are sporadic, but in family cases, an X-linked dominant factor is likely. When a first affected offspring is observed, skin examination and X-ray should be carried out in parents to evaluate the risk of recurrence in their children. As the gene site has not yet been determined, antenatal diagnosis should be suspected on echography when fetal growth delay is associated to distal limb and/or ocular anomalies.

Child↗
PubMed1997

Prognostic value of neonatal electroencephalography in premature newborns less than 33 weeks of gestational age.

In a prospective study of 417 premature neonates born before 33 weeks' gestational age, neonatal tracings were reviewed to evaluate the use of EEG in prognosis of neurological injuries. The population was divided into two groups: Group 1, infants who died before the age of 1, and Group 2, survivors in which two categories of motor development were considered. Category A, were abnormal, and Category B, were always normal. Positive rolandic sharp waves (PRSW), which reflect white matter injury, occurred equally in both groups, indicating a similar incidence of white matter damage in Groups 1 and 2. In Group 2, there was a significant correlation of PRSW with developmental motor sequelae (Category A). A frequency of PRSW above 2/min (suggesting more severe periventricular white matter injury) and seizures were significantly more prevalent in Group 1 than in Group 2 and in Category A of Group 2 than in Category B. Background abnormalities occurred equally in both subgroups of extremely premature infants (< or = 28 weeks' gestation) they were significantly more numerous in the subgroup of very premature infants (between 28 and 33 weeks' gestation) who died, than in the subgroup of very premature infants who survived. This study shows the potential utility of using neonatal EEG in association with transfontanellar ultrasonography in anticipating the neurological development of very (> 28 weeks' gestation) and extremely (< or = 28 weeks' gestation) premature newborns.

Asphyxia↗
PubMed1997

Prenatal ultrasound abnormalities in a patient with generalized neurofibromatosis type 1.

We describe a patient with an unusual neonatal disseminated form of neurofibromatosis (NF1). Prenatal ultrasound studies, at 35 weeks of gestation, revealed ambiguous external genitalia, an increased biparietal diameter and a decreased growth of long bones. Postnatal examination displayed generalized neurofibromatosis, with perineal, thoracic and spinal cord invasion by tumors. Spinal cord compression was responsible for paraparesis. The child died of a pulmonary infection at five years of age. No previous report of such prenatal abnormalities has been described. Genetic counselling is difficult because of the variable expression of the illness.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1996

[Fetal growth in premature infants in Haute-Normandie].

BACKGROUND: Fetal growth standards of preterm infants are different from one study to another, especially for extremely preterm babies. POPULATION AND METHODS: Between 1976 and 1990, a cross-sectional study of the resulting intrauterine growth of premature newborns from Haute-Normandie (France) was conducted by collecting data of the compulsory health certificate set up in the first week after birth. In spite of exclusions, curves for obstetrical terms ranging from 28 to 36 weeks of gestational age were settled. Equivalents of 8,042 birth weights, 7,792 statures, 8,041 head circumferences and 6,737 ponderal index were used. RESULTS: Comparing our results with those published in the literature, we observed short differences for mean or middle values: from less than 170 to more than 180 g for weight, from less than 1 to more than 2.6 cm for stature and from less than 1 to more than 1.9 cm for head circumference. CONCLUSION: The selected normal lower threshold for each parameter and the varieties of fetal growth inadequacy are under discussion.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed1994

Expression and effects of hyaluronan and of the hyaluronan-binding protein hyaluronectin in newborn rat brain glial cell cultures.

Hyaluronan (HA) is a polymerized nonsulfated extracellular matrix glycosaminoglycan that may be involved in brain development. We have tested the expression of HA and the HA-binding protein hyaluronectin (HN) in glial cell cultures from newborn rat brain. HA was secreted into the culture medium by type 1 astrocytes in the first stages of the primary cultures. The secretion was high during cell proliferation, reached a maximum when they were confluent, and then decreased. HA was not secreted at a detectable level by total O-2A lineage cell-enriched cultures. HA labeled small O-2A progenitor cells (GFA-, A2B5+, HA+), small O-2A progenitorlike (GFA-, A2B5-, HA+) cells, and type 2 astrocytes (GFA+, A2B5+, HA+), but not mature oligodendrocytes (Galc+, HA-). In contrast to HA, hyaluronectin labeled oligodendrocyte membranes (i.e., more mature cells) from day 8. A2B5+ GFA- cells were found to be either HA+ or HN+ at days 7-9, suggesting intermediary stages. The addition of HA to primary cultures and to O-2A progenitor-enriched cultures decreased significantly the increase in the number of O-2A progenitors, of mature (Galc+) oligodendrocytes proportionally to the decrease of the O-2A progenitor number, and of BrdU+ cells, suggesting that HA acts (directly or indirectly) on O-2A cell proliferation. This effect, which was seen for concentrations as low as 0.1 micrograms/ml, was HA specific and was not observed with other glycosaminoglycans. When primary cultures were performed in the presence of hyaluronidase-digested or HA-depleted (by passage on a HN column) fetal calf serum, the total number of O-2A lineage cells was dramatically increased (100%, p < 10(-4)) in comparison with control cultures in standard fetal calf serum. Platelet-derived growth factor increased the total number of O-2A lineage cells and of (Galc+) oligodendrocytes. This effect was opposed by HA dose dependently. The effect of HA was significantly inhibited by HN (30%, p < 10(-4)). HN had, however, no effect when it was added to culture in the presence of hyaluronidase in fetal calf serum, suggesting its effect was only due to its binding to HA. During cell maturation, HA disappears as HN appears. This and the fact that HA and PDGF have opposite effects suggest an effect of these factors, or of their balance, on myelination.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Herpes simplex hepatitis with chronic cholestasis in a newborn.

In the case of the central nervous system or hepatic involvement, the prognosis of neonatal herpes simplex infection remains poor, despite antiviral drugs, presumably effective if given early. We report the case of a neonate with herpes simplex hepatitis, where the course of the illness was unusual with chronic, ultimately fatal, cholestasis. The treatment was not effective, because its administration was delayed, because of high infant C reactive protein level and the absence of clinical maternal genital infection, and because it was interrupted due to misleading information: clinical improvement, negative viral tests and raised herpes IgG antibody titer.

Cholestasis↗
PubMed1993

Caffeine decreases glial cell number and increases hyaluronan secretion in newborn rat brain cultures.

Newborn rat brain astrocytes (type 1 astrocytes, O-2A progenitor cells, and O-2A progenitor-derived cells, i.e. oligodendrocytes and type 2 astrocytes) were cultivated to investigate the effect of addition of caffeine to the culture medium on glial cell development and secretion of hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid, HA). HA is a glycosaminoglycan, secreted by type 1 astrocytes especially, which is a major component of the extracellular matrix of immature brain involved in morphogenesis and differentiation. Caffeine was added to the culture medium of primary glial cell cultures at concentrations of 102 microM (20 mg/L) or 255 microM (50 mg/L), considered therapeutic and toxic levels, respectively, in human newborns. HA was measured in the culture medium by immunoenzyme assay using sheep brain hyaluronectin, a glycoprotein that exhibits a strong affinity for HA, as probe. In primary glial cell cultures, 102 microM (20 mg/L) caffeine had no visible effect on cell number or on HA secretion. At 255 microM (50 mg/L), there was a significant reduction of cell number (i.e. type 1 astrocytes, O-2A progenitor cells, and progenitor-derived cells) and a significant increase of HA secretion per cell. These results suggest that caffeine at a high concentration in brain could have a prejudicial effect on the number of proliferating glial cells (astrocytes and oligodendrocytes) and on the composition of the extracellular matrix, which could affect myelination onset.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Positive rolandic sharp waves in the EEG of the premature newborn: a five year prospective study.

In a prospective study of 301 premature newborn infants, neonatal tracings were done to evaluate the use of the electroencephalogram (EEG) and positive rolandic sharp waves (PRSW) in the diagnosis and prognosis of periventricular leucomalacia. Each infant had ultrasonographic studies and standardised neurological examinations at 1 year of age or later. Two hundred and eighty infants were followed up at 1 year. This study demonstrated that the absence of PRSW was correlated with a favourable motor development (98.2%) and confirmed the great value of PRSW in the diagnosis and the prognosis of periventricular leucomalacia. PRSW were sensitive (98%) and specific (84%) markers of developmental motor disability and were a sensitive (96%) marker of severe spastic diplegia. A frequency above 2/minute was a specific (92%) sign of severe spastic diplegia. Social and language developmental abnormalities were not correlated with the neonatal EEG.

Cerebral Hemorrhage↗
PubMed1992

GTP-dependent protein(Gs) activity in preterm infants.

In a previous study, we showed a renal resistance to PTH in preterm infants during their 1st week of life. We proposed it could explain early neonatal hypocalcemia. Such renal resistance is well known in type 1 pseudohypoparathyroid patients and is explained by a defect of stimulatory GTP-dependent protein (Gs). To determine if functional immaturity in the Gs protein could be involved in PTH resistance, we studied 27 newborn babies: 7 full-term and 20 preterm babies. Biological activity of the Gs unit was determined on days 1, 3 and 10 after delivery by bioassay. No correlation was found between the Gs unit activity and either gestation or birth weight at these dates. Eight infants had hypocalcemia and their Gs unit activity did not differ from those with normocalcemia. Furthermore, we showed that the Gs unit is active from 29 weeks of gestation. We conclude that the Gs protein appears not to be involved in the pathophysiology of early renal resistance to PTH and therefore in early neonatal hypocalcemia.

Adult↗