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Biomedical subjects

C Wouters

Publications and source records attributed to C Wouters.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia associated with duplication of 11q23-qter.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a relatively common birth defect with a high mortality. Although little is known about its etiology, there is increasing evidence for a strong genetic contribution. Both numerical and structural chromosomal abnormalities have been described in patients with CDH. Partial trisomy 11q and partial trisomy 22 associated with the common t(11;22) has been reported in several cases of CDH. It has been assumed that the diaphragmatic defect seen in these individuals was primarily due to duplication of material from chromosome 22q11. However, in this report we describe a family with a t(11;12) in which one of two brothers with partial trisomy 11q has a left sided posterolateral CDH. This is the second case of CDH in partial trisomy 11q due to an unbalanced translocation other than t(11;22). Using array-based comparative genomic hybridization and fluorescent in situ hybridization, we mapped the breakpoints in both brothers and their mother who is a balanced translocation carrier. Our results suggest that duplication of one or more genes on a approximately 19 Mb region of 11q23.3-qter predisposes to the development of CDH. These effects may be the primary cause of CDH in individuals t(11;22) or may be additive to effects from the duplication of chromosome 22 material. We also conclude that the partial trisomy 11q syndrome has a variable phenotype and that CDH should be added to the spectrum of anomalies that can be present in this syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Visual outcome in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis related uveitis.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence and characteristics of uveitis in a cohort of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) as well as the nature of treatment and the risk factors for visual loss. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of 52 patients with JIA, screened for uveitis between 1995 and 2005. The first group, presenting with symptoms of arthritis and uveitis, was diagnosed at screening. The second group presented with symptoms of uveitis, without any rheumatological complaints at the time of diagnosis. During follow-up, reactivation of uveitis and complications were registered and treated when indicated. RESULTS: Seventeen patients had symptoms of uveitis at time of presentation or developed uveitis at follow-up. Ten of this patient group had oligo-arthritis, 16 were antinuclear antibody (ANA) positive, 16 were girls. Three patients presented with ophthalmological symptoms without rheumatological complaints. In this group, complications were more pronounced. Treatment in all patients consisted of topical corticosteroids and dilating drops at different intervals. Visual acuity was good in most patients. CONCLUSION: In this retrospective study, the risk of uveitis was higher in ANA- positive girls with oligoarthritis. To reduce severe disease at presentation, earlier diagnosis of JIA, earlier referral for slit lamp examination and universal screening of vision in childhood are necessary.

Arthritis, Juvenile↗
PubMed2005

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia and chromosome 15q26: determination of a candidate region by use of fluorescent in situ hybridization and array-based comparative genomic hybridization.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) has an incidence of 1 in 3,000 births and a high mortality rate (33%-58%). Multifactorial inheritance, teratogenic agents, and genetic abnormalities have all been suggested as possible etiologic factors. To define candidate regions for CDH, we analyzed cytogenetic data collected on 200 CDH cases, of which 7% and 5% showed numerical and structural abnormalities, respectively. This study focused on the most frequent structural anomaly found: a deletion on chromosome 15q. We analyzed material from three of our patients and from four previously published patients with CDH and a 15q deletion. By using array-based comparative genomic hybridization and fluorescent in situ hybridization to determine the boundaries of the deletions and by including data from two individuals with terminal 15q deletions but without CDH, we were able to exclude a substantial portion of the telomeric region from the genetic etiology of this disorder. Moreover, one patient with CDH harbored a small interstitial deletion. Together, these findings allowed us to define a minimal deletion region of approximately 5 Mb at chromosome 15q26.1-26.2. The region contains four known genes, of which two--NR2F2 and CHD2--are particularly intriguing gene candidates for CDH.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed2005

Bilateral acute retinal necrosis in a 12-year-old girl.

Acute retinal necrosis (ARN) is a severe ocular syndrome consisting of a moderate-to-severe anterior uveitis, vasculitis, and vaso-occlusive retinal necrosis. It can occur in healthy individuals at any age, but reports of this condition in children are rare.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed2005

Clinical symptoms and complications of pars planitis in childhood.

UNLABELLED: Pars planitis is the idiopathic form of intermediate uveitis; it most commonly affects persons between 5 and 40 years of age. In childhood, the disease is largely asymptomatic until in a well advanced stage with markedly reduced vision. Lack of early diagnosis and treatment may lead to permanent visual loss and amblyopia. AIM: To report on the clinical symptoms, complications, treatment and visual outcome of pars planitis in childhood. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients (8 boys and 2 girls) all younger than 16 years were diagnosed with and treated for pars planitis at our clinic between January 1993 and August 2004.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Video reveals self-stimulation in infancy.

UNLABELLED: The medical literature on early childhood masturbation is sparse. Only 12 patients who presented with infantile self-stimulation under the age of 1 y are described. During the last 2 y, five girls under 1 y of age presented at our department with self-stimulating behaviour. The diagnosis of this behaviour was difficult, but could be made by watching a video of the attacks. Infantile self-stimulation is often misdiagnosed and unnecessary investigations and useless treatments are often prescribed. Video recording can be of great help to put forward the correct diagnosis. Masturbation is not so uncommon and treatment consists mostly in reassuring the parents. It can, however, be associated with behavioural problems. Few data are available on the clinical outcome of childhood masturbation, but most children seem to develop normally. CONCLUSION: Infantile self-stimulation should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of "strange episodes or attacks".

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed2001

Reye's syndrome.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMed2000

Comparative study of two cytofluorometric methods of analysis.

Cytofluorometry of lymphocytes is an important technique in experimental biology and clinical medicine. One source of variability in the results with this technique stems from the difficulty of delineating cell subpopulations on a visual basis. We have evaluated the performance of a novel software method (Attractor), which introduces cluster analysis for the more precise definition of cell populations. Using 115 blood samples from patients with various immunological diseases, we compared the results obtained for 19 lymphocyte cell populations employing either the Attractor program or a conventional program (Cellquest). The analysis focused on inter-observer and inter-method variability and comparability. Inter-observer variability was significantly lower with the Attractor software, particularly when quantifying small cell populations such as activated subsets. The results obtained with both methods showed high correlation coefficients except for some cell populations that were either very small or which had to be calculated from the sum of other counts. The performance of the novel flow cytometric software is similar to software programs currently in use, but it offers an advantage for the definition of small and/or activated lymphocyte subpopulations. Moreover, the consistency of the measurements is better. A major disadvantage for statistical analysis, however, is that the Attractor program has not been adapted for non-parametric data.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Reye syndrome revisited: a descriptive term covering a group of heterogeneous disorders.

UNLABELLED: Reye syndrome, characterised by the combination of liver disease and noninflammatory encephalopathy, is a non-specific clinicopathological entity and a descriptive term covering a group of heterogeneous disorders. Nowadays, some of these patients are diagnosed more correctly as having infectious, metabolic, toxic or other disease. The non-specific case definition implies that the epidemiological studies suggesting a link with acetylsalicylic acid have been performed on a heterogeneous group of children, whereby the value of these studies and their ensuing hypothesis is weakened. Moreover, a detailed analysis of the epidemiological surveys of the Centers for Disease Control, the Yale study and of the British risk factor study provides evidence that not only the use of acetylsalicylic acid but also that of phenothiazines and other anti-emetics is significantly greater in Reye syndrome cases than in controls. As to the decline of Reye syndrome, recent literature data reveal that this is related to more accurate modern diagnosis of infectious, metabolic or toxic disease, reducing the percentage of idiopathic or true cases of Reye syndrome. CONCLUSION: Reye syndrome is a non-specific descriptive term covering a group of heterogeneous disorders. Moreover, not only the use of acetylsalicylic acid but also of antiemetics is statistically significant in Reye syndrome cases. Both facts weaken the validity of the epidemiological surveys suggesting a link with acetylsalicylic acid.

Aspirin↗
PubMed1999

A 15-month evaluation of the effects of repeated subgingival minocycline in chronic adult periodontitis.

BACKGROUND: A double-blind, randomized, parallel, comparative study was designed to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of subgingivally administered minocycline ointment versus a vehicle control. METHODS: One hundred four patients (104) with moderate to severe adult periodontitis (34 to 64 years of age; mean 46 years) were enrolled in the study. Following scaling and root planing, patients were randomized to receive either 2% minocycline ointment or a matched vehicle control. Study medication was administered directly into the periodontal pocket with a specially designed, graduated, disposable applicator at baseline; week 2; and at months 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12. Scaling and root planing was repeated at months 6 and 12. Standard clinical variables (including probing depth and attachment level) were evaluated at baseline and at months 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15. Microbiological sampling using DNA probes was done at baseline; at week 2; and at months 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15. RESULTS: Both treatment groups showed significant and clinically relevant reductions in the numbers of each of the 7 microorganisms measured during the entire 15-month study period. When differences were detected, sites treated with minocycline ointment always produced statistically significantly greater reductions than sites which received the vehicle control. For initial pockets > or =5 mm, a mean reduction in probing depth of 1.9 mm was seen in the test sites, versus 1.2 mm in the control sites. Sites with a baseline probing depth > or =7 mm and bleeding index >2 showed an average of 2.5 mm reduction with minocycline versus 1.5 mm with the vehicle. Gains in attachment (0.9 mm and 1.1 mm) were observed in minocycline-treated sites, with baseline probing depth > or =5 mm and > or =7 mm, respectively, compared with 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm gain at control sites. Subgingival administration of minocycline ointment was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the results demonstrate that repeated subgingival administration of minocycline ointment in the treatment of adult periodontitis is safe and leads to significant adjunctive improvement after subgingival instrumentation in both clinical and microbiologic variables over a 15-month period.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis in a boy with hypocomplementaemic urticarial vasculitis.

UNLABELLED: The present paper reports the fourth case of hypocomplementaemic urticarial vasculitis in a child. We describe a boy who, after many years of arthritis, urticaria, eye inflammation and hypocomplementaemia, developed rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis which was completely reversed by immunosuppressive therapy. CONCLUSION: Only three paediatric patients with hypocomplementaemic urticarial vasculitis have been described. Severe renal involvement was reversible with early appropriate treatment.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1996

Comparative activity of piperacillin/tazobactam against 5625 isolates from hospitalised patients. Multicentre Study Group.

The comparative activities of piperacillin/tazobactam and other antibiotics against 5625 Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria freshly isolated from hospitalized patients was examined. The percentage of Enterobacteriaceae susceptible to piperacillin/tazobactam, ceftazidime, imipenem and ciprofloxacin was very similar and varied from 81% to 84% in the Enterobacteriaceae with inducible type 1 beta-lactamases and from 93 to 97% in the non-inducible organisms. Piperacillin/tazobactam was similar in activity to ceftazidime against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and more active than imipenem or ciprofloxacin. Piperacillin/tazobactam is more active than ceftazidime against Gram-positive bacteria (staphylococci, enterococci) and seems to be a promising antibiotic for nosocomial infections.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1994

Long-term effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in active rheumatoid arthritis. A 12-month, double-blind, controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: To study the long-term effects of supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids (omega 3) in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: Ninety patients were enrolled in a 12-month, double-blind, randomized study comparing daily supplementations with either 2.6 gm of omega 3, or 1.3 gm of omega 3 + 3 gm of olive oil, or 6 gm of olive oil. RESULTS: Significant improvement in the patient's global evaluation and in the physician's assessment of pain was observed only in those taking 2.6 gm/day of omega 3. The proportions of patients who improved and of those who were able to reduce their concomitant antirheumatic medications were significantly greater with 2.6 gm/day of omega 3. CONCLUSION: Daily supplementation with 2.6 gm of omega 3 results in significant clinical benefit and may reduce the need for concomitant antirheumatic medication.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗