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Biomedical subjects

F Feillet

Publications and source records attributed to F Feillet.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Randomised controlled trial of essential fatty acid supplementation in phenylketonuria.

OBJECTIVE: The long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) status of children with PKU is often compromised. LC-PUFA, which are important fatty acids in the development of the CNS, can be synthesised endogenously from the parent essential fatty acids (EFA) provided dietary intakes are adequate. This study was designed to assess the biochemical effect over a 20-week period of a phe-free protein substitute that has been supplemented with a balanced blend of n-3 and n-6 EFAs on LC-PUFA status of children with PKU. DESIGN, SETTING AND SUBJECTS: Fifty three community-living children aged 1-10 years diagnosed with PKU in the newborn period were recruited from seven tertiary centres in the UK and France and randomised to a fat-free control formula or the EFA-supplemented test-treatment formula in an open, prospective study. Forty four children completed the study (20 controls, 24 test-treatments). Fatty acid status was assessed at entry and 20-weeks follow-up. Three day dietary diaries were recorded at 20 weeks' follow-up. The safety, efficacy and palatability of the test-treatment formula were also assessed. RESULTS: The test-treatment group had significantly higher intakes of fat and EFA than the control group. There was a significant between group difference (P=0.04) in increases in median docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concentrations in erythrocyte phospholipids, which increased by 19% in the test-treatment group and by 0.5% in the control group over the study period. Growth and phe control were satisfactory in all subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementing the diets of children with PKU with a balanced blend of n-6 and n-3 EFA improves DHA status without compromising AA status.

Child↗

[Management of phenylketonuria and hyperphenylalaninemia: the French guidelines].

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an inherited metabolic disease affecting about one birth out of 15 000. From 1978, a national systematic neonatal screening was set up in France with a regional organisation. French rational and guidelines have been established by the national PKU group with the collaboration of all the physicians responsible for the regional centres. These guidelines specify the minimal diagnosis procedures leading to an optimal treatment of all patients. A low-phenylalanine diet must be started as soon as possible in the neonatal period for all newborns whose phenylalanine levels are above 10 mg/dl. The dietary control must keep the phenylalanine plasma levels between 2 and 5 mg/dl until 10 years of age. After this age, several data argue for a progressive and controlled relaxation of the diet, keeping the phenylalanine level below 15 mg/dl until the end of the adolescence and below 20 to 25 mg/dl in adulthood. All PKU patients must be followed up for life, in order to screen those who may not bear the diet relaxation and in order to strictly prevent maternal PKU deleterious consequences.

Child↗

[Complications of prostaglandin E1 treatment of congenital heart disease in paediatric medical intensive care].

The authors undertook a retrospective study of the modes of prescription, the tolerance and efficacy of prostaglandin E1 in 62 consecutive neonates with congenital heart disease (average Age 1.6 days: 35 boys: weight: 3.1 +/- 0.6 Kg) admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit of Nancy University Hospital between 1998 and 2002. The infusion time and cumulative dosage were 134 +/- 112 (6-480) hours and 111 +/- 94 (4-396) microg/Kg respectively. The side effects that were observed were: Apnoea (19%), abdominal distension (16%), bradycardia (13%), enterocolitis (6.5%), hypotension (6.5%), vomiting (5%), fever (1.6%) and skin rash (1.6%). Gastrointestinal disturbances are associated with a low body weight (p<0.04), to prolonged treatment (p<0.02) with no influence of initial or cumulative dosages (P=NS), with respiratory assistance (p<0.03) and longer hospital stay (p<0.01). Hypotension was commoner in cases of poor neonatal adaptation. Mortality was correlated with severe initial acidosis (p<0.02), a low Apgar score, the initial prolonged use of high doses of prostaglandin (p<0.04), and the presence of severe valvular aortic stenosis or hypoplasia of the left heart (p<0.002). The authors conclude that treatment with prostaglandin is effective in the majority of cases despite the use of low maintenance doses (0.01 microg/Kg/min). Gastrointestinal disturbances favourised by the perinatal context, the cardiac disease, and prolonged treatment are significant factors for morbidity and mortality. The beneficial role of early neonatal enteral feeding was not demonstrated in this high risk population.

Alprostadil↗

[Kawasaki disease in newborns and infants: refractory forms to immunoglobulin therapy].

UNLABELLED: We studied 52 consecutive patients with Kawasaki disease hospitalized (1984 -2003) during the acute phase (mean age 2.5 + 2.4 years; range 0.3 to 16 years, 34 males, 18 cases with coronary aneurysms, median follow-up 6.7 years), and identified a subgroup presenting a refractory subtype to immunoglobulin therapy. RESULTS: forty-nine infants benefited from a first regimen of immunoglobulins, 8.4 + 6 days following the onset of symptoms. Eleven infants (1.4 + 1.2 years, range 0.3 - 4.3 years, median 1.7 years) were non-responders, with coronary aneurysms in 8 cases (giant aneurysms (>8 mm) in 4 cases). These 11 infants were treated a second time by immunoglobulins, but 6 cases (1.8 + 1.6 years, with two cases of severe ventricular dysfunction and 2 cases of fatal myocardial infarction) required an additive therapy with (oral or IV route) corticosteroids (2) and cyclophosphamide bolus (4) with or without repetitive plasmapheresis (4). Non-responder patients had their treatment onset later (p<0.0003) using higher dosages (p<0.005), a longer delay for fever or biological signs correction (p<0.02), a worsening of coronary lesions (p<0.05) with more coronary secondary aneurysms (p<.005). The aneurysms, more frequent at the second phase of the disease (p<0.0001) are associated with: a younger age (p<0.03), a lower weight (p<0.02), a later onset of treatment (p<0.03), prolonged fever or inflammatory syndrome (p<0.05), higher level of fibrinogene (p<0.02). The overall mortality (5.7%) is correlated with giant aneurysms (p<0.001), myocardial ischemia (p<0.0001), heart failure (p<0.0001), and lack of early response to treatment (p<0.003). CONCLUSION: immunoglobin therapy can be repeated. In case of severe forms, the use of corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide and plasmapheresis may be proposed.

Adolescent↗

Adult presentation of MCAD deficiency revealed by coma and severe arrythmias.

We report the case of a 33-year-old man who presented with headaches and vomiting. Soon after admission he became drowsy and agitated, developed ventricular tachycardia and his neurological state worsened (Glasgow coma score 6). Blood analysis showed respiratory alkalosis, hyperlactacidemia (8 mmol/l), hyperammonemia (390 micro mol/l) and hypoglycaemia (2.4 mmol/l). Subsequently, he developed supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia and ultimately ventricular fibrillation resulting in cardiac arrest, which was successfully treated. A CT scan of the head revealed cerebral oedema. Whilst in the intensive care unit, he developed renal failure and rhabdomyolysis. The metabolic abnormalities seen at the time of admission normalised within 48 h with IV glucose infusion. Biological investigations, including urinary organic acids and plasma acylcarnitines, showed results compatible with MCAD deficiency. Mutation analysis revealed the patient was homozygous for the classical mutation A985G. This is one of only a few reports of severe cardiac arrhythmia in an adult due to MCAD deficiency. This condition is probably under-diagnosed in adult patients with acute neurological and/or cardiac presentations.

Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase↗

Neonatal screening and long-term follow-up of phenylketonuria: the French database.

BACKGROUND: In France, neonatal screening of phenylketonuria (PKU) started in 1966. A national association was created in 1978 in order to organise the neonatal screening program and to control the efficacy of the screening and patients' follow-up. AIMS: To evaluate the results of the French PKU screening program in terms of hyperphenylalaninaemia epidemiology, efficacy of the screening procedure, management and outcome of the patients. STUDY DESIGN: The national database has been filled-up first with the answers to questionnaires that were sent each year by the PKU patients' physicians, and second with the results of an additional inquiry, which was set up in 1994 in order to investigate diagnosis, treatment, and school outcome of all French PKU patients. RESULTS: PKU was diagnosed in 81.6% of patients with hyperphenylalaninaemia (HPA), non-PKU HPA in 17.2% and cofactor deficiency in 1.1%. From 1980, incidence of PKU has been stable: 1 per 17,124 live births. Sensitivity of the screening procedure was 99.3%. Age at diet initiation regularly decreased to reach 14 days as a median in 1996. Until 1990, median age at diet discontinuation was 6 years of age. Later, strict diet was continued longer (at least, up to 8-10 years). PKU patients who entered to secondary school at normal age were characterised by an earlier age at diagnosis and at diet initiation and a later age at diet discontinuation, compared to those who entered 1 year or more behind normal age. CONCLUSION: These data confirm the benefit of a nationwide organised screening program. They emphasise the importance of an early neonatal diagnosis and diet initiation in PKU patients and are consistent with the benefit of a longer period of strict diet in childhood.

Child↗

Analysis of riboflavin and riboflavin cofactor levels in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography.

We describe an assay which determines simultaneously riboflavin (RF), flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) in plasma, using galactoflavin (GF) as an internal standard. The flavins were extracted on a C18 Sep-Pack cartridge after protein precipitation with 10% trichloroacetic acid, and were analyzed on a C18 RP-HPLC with 85% phosphate-magnesium acetate buffer (pH 3.4) and 15% acetonitrile. FAD, FMN, GF and RF extraction recoveries were 101.0-5.6, 97.0-6.5, 97.0-2.0 and 95.0-4.1%, and reproducibilities were 5.9, 6.8, 2.1 and 4.3%, respectively. FAD, FMN and RF values in infant and adolescent plasma were in the range 53.5-108.2, 9.0-25.1 and 12.7-53.4 nM, and 36.5-157.20, 7.1-24.6 and 8.2-57.8 nM, respectively. Using GF as an internal standard improved the quantification of these B2 vitamers.

Adolescent↗

Plasma cholesterol and endogenous cholesterol synthesis during refeeding in anorexia nervosa.

Normal or high levels of cholesterol have been measured in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). Given that cholesterol intake in AN is usually very low, the reasons for this anomaly are not clearly understood. We studied lipid and lipoprotein profiles and endogenous cholesterol synthesis, estimated by serum lathosterol, in a population of 14 girls with AN, before and during a period of 30 days refeeding. The initial body mass index (BMI) of the patients was 13.41+/-1.62 kg/m(2). No changes were observed during refeeding in endocrine parameters (ACTH, cortisol and estradiol). At Day 0 the lipids data measured here showed normal levels of triglycerides, and total cholesterol at the upper limits of the normal range (5.44+/-1 mmol/l). At this time, total and LDL cholesterol were negatively correlated with transthyretin and BMI. Serum lathosterol (a precursor in cholesterol synthesis pathway) increased significantly (5.99+/-1.75 (Day 0) vs. 8.39+/-2.96 (Day 30); P=0.02) while there was a significant decrease in apo B (0.79+/-0.33 (Day 0) vs. 0. 60+/-0.17 g/l (Day 30), P=0.02) with refeeding. Thus, patients with initial high cholesterol levels have the worst nutritional status and high cholesterol levels are not related to a de novo synthesis. This profile returns to normal with refeeding. An increase of cellular cholesterol uptake may be responsible for this apparently paradoxical evolution with increase of cholesterol synthesis and decrease of apo B during renutrition.

Adolescent↗

Resting energy expenditure in disorders of propionate metabolism.

OBJECTIVES: During intercurrent illness children with methylmalonic acidemia were found to have increased resting energy expenditure (REE). We measured REE in children with disorders of propionate metabolism (methylmalonic and propionic acidemia) when they were well and compared the values with those predicted by the Schofield equation. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study in tertiary care facility. REE was measured with open-circuit indirect calorimetry under standardized conditions. Predicted REE values were calculated with the Schofield equation. Fourteen subjects with propionic acidemia (n = 3) and methylmalonic acidemia (n = 11) were studied. RESULTS: The median REE was 690 kcal/d (range 186 to 1687 kcal/d), which is significantly reduced, representing 80% +/- 18% of that predicted by the Schofield height and weight equation (P <.01). REE was significantly lower in female compared with male patients for unknown reasons. There were no differences with age or neurologic state. REE was not further reduced in those with chronic renal failure. CONCLUSION: REE in patients with disorders of propionate metabolism is reduced when they are well.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗

Concentrations of riboflavin and related organic acids in children with protein-energy malnutrition.

BACKGROUND: Riboflavin, flavin mononucleotide (FMN), and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) concentrations have been little studied in cases of malnutrition. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to investigate the effects of malnutrition on riboflavin status and riboflavin's relation with thyroid hormones and concentrations of urinary organic acids. DESIGN: Malnourished children from the savannah in Benin (group S, n = 30) and the coast in Togo (group C, n = 30), as well as 24 control subjects from both regions, were studied. Blood riboflavin, FMN, and FAD were analyzed by HPLC; urinary organic acids were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Children in group S were more severely malnourished than children in group C. Triiodothyronine concentrations were lower in group S than in group C or the control group (1.12 +/- 0.24 compared with 1.74 +/- 0.18 and 2.92 +/- 0.19 nmol/L, respectively; P < 0.0001). Plasma riboflavin concentrations in group S were higher than those in group C or the control group (66.90 +/- 12.75 compared with 28.09 +/- 9.12 and 20.08 +/- 3.03 nmol/L, respectively; P < 0.001). Plasma FAD concentrations in group S were lower than those in group C or the control group (31.57 +/- 10.19 compared with 59.02 +/- 5.60 and 65.35 +/- 5.23 nmol/L, respectively; P < 0.0001). Dicarboxylic aciduria was higher in group C than in group S or the control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Children in group S had low triiodothyronine concentrations and low conversion of plasma riboflavin into its cofactors, leading to a plasma FAD deficiency. Plasma FAD was not correlated with urinary dicarboxylic acid concentrations.

Benin↗

Necrotizing encephalopathy and macrocephaly with mitochondrial complex I deficiency.

A neonate presented in the first weeks after birth with vomiting. He was unresponsive, with hypotonia, macrocephaly, and lactic acidosis. The cranial computed tomographic scan revealed a hypodense brain, with increased brain volume and extensive cerebral edema. He died at 6 weeks of age; postmortem examination revealed necrotizing encephalopathy with marked brain edema, spongiosis, thalamic necrosis, and basal ganglia calcifications. Enzyme studies of the mitochondrial respiratory chain revealed complex I deficiency in both muscle and liver.

Acidosis, Lactic↗

Nuclear DNA origin of mitochondrial complex I deficiency in fatal infantile lactic acidosis evidenced by transnuclear complementation of cultured fibroblasts.

We have studied complex I (NADH-ubiquinone reductase) defects of the mitochondrial respiratory chain in 2 infants who died in the neonatal period from 2 different neurological forms of severe neonatal lactic acidosis. Specific and marked decrease in complex I activity was documented in muscle, liver, and cultured skin fibroblasts. Biochemical characterization and study of the genetic origin of this defect were performed using cultured fibroblasts. Immunodetection of 6 nuclear DNA-encoded (20, 23, 24, 30, 49, and 51 kDa) and 1 mitochondrial DNA-encoded (ND1) complex I subunits in fibroblast mitochondria revealed 2 distinct patterns. In 1 patient, complex I contained reduced amounts of the 24- and 51-kDa subunits and normal amounts of all the other investigated subunits. In the second patient, amounts of all the investigated subunits were severely decreased. The data suggest partial or extensive impairment of complex I assembly in both patients. Cell fusion experiments between 143B206 rho degrees cells, fully depleted of mitochondrial DNA, and fibroblasts from both patients led to phenotypic complementation of the complex I defects in mitochondria of the resulting cybrid cells. These results indicate that the complex I defects in the 2 reported cases are due to nuclear gene mutations.

Acidosis, Lactic↗

Respiratory oscillation mechanics in infants with bronchiolitis during mechanical ventilation.

The aim of the study was to describe the pattern of respiratory oscillation mechanics and responses to positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) in bronchiolitis. Six infants were studied during the course of mechanical ventilation. A 20 Hz sinusoidal pressure variation was applied at the endotracheal tube where flow was measured with a pneumotachograph. Resistance and reactance obtained from the complex pressure-flow ratio were separated during inspiration (R(rs,i); X(rs,i)) and expiration (R(rs,e); X(rs,e)), and the differences between R(rs,i) and R(rs,e) (deltaR(rs)) and X(rs,i) and X(rs,e) (deltaX(rs)) were calculated. The data were corrected for the mechanical characteristics of the endotracheal tube. The measurements were repeated while PEEP was varied between 0 and 8 hPa. Two infants were found to have normal R(rs) and near-zero X(rs) and both parameters exhibited little change within the respiratory cycle or with varying PEEP. Four infants had high R(rs) at zero PEEP. In two, R(rs,i) was markedly elevated (108.5 and 85.2 hPa.s/L, respectively), and X(rs,i) was markedly negative (-25.0 and -22.5 hPa.s/L, respectively) at zero PEEP, while deltaR(rs) and deltaX(rs) were small. R(rs,i) and the absolute value of X(rs,i) decreased with increasing PEEP. This pattern of oscillation mechanics was consistent with low lung volumes and atelectasis, being reversed by increasing PEEP. In the remaining two subjects, R(rs,i) was moderately elevated (57.8 and 53.6 hPa.s/L, respectively) and X(rs,i) moderately negative (-12.5 and -7.7 hPa.s/L, respectively) at zero PEEP. DeltaR(rs) (-59.8 and -56.5 hPa.s/L, respectively) and delta(rs) (28.1 and 48.7 hPa.s/L, respectively) were large, but were dramatically reduced by increasing PEEP. These patterns were consistent with expiratory airflow limitation. Measurements of respiratory impedance are, therefore, informative in regard to the pathophysiological mechanisms occurring in bronchiolitis during mechanical ventilation, and they may be helpful in setting the level and assessing the effect of PEEP.

Airway Resistance↗