Predominance of G9P[8] rotavirus strains throughout France, 2014–2017

ObjectivesGroup A rotavirus is a major cause of acute gastroenteritis in young children worldwide. A prospective surveillance network has been set up in France to investigate rotavirus infections and to detect the emergence of potentially epidemic strains.MethodsFrom 2014 to 2017, rotavirus-positive stool samples were collected from 2394 children under 5 years old attending the paediatric emergency units of 13 large hospitals. Rotaviruses were genotyped by RT-PCR with regard to their outer capsid proteins VP4 and VP7.ResultsGenotyping of 2421 rotaviruses showed that after a marked increase in G9P[8] (32.1%) during the 2014–2015 season, G9P[8] became the predominant genotype during the 2015–2016 and 2016–2017 seasons with detection rates of 64.1% and 77.3%, respectively, whereas G1P[8] were detected at low rates of 16.8% and 6.6%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of the partial rotavirus VP7 and VP4 coding genes revealed that all of these G9P [8] strains belonged to the lineage III and the P [8]-3 lineage, respectively, and shared the same genetic background (G9-P[8]-I1-R1-C1-M1-A1-N1-T1-E1-H1) as did most of previously detected G9P[8] strains and particularly the emerging G9P[8] strains from the 2004–2005 season in France.ConclusionsG9P[8] rotaviruses have become the predominant circulating genotype for the first time since their emergence a decade ago. In the absence of rotavirus immunization programmes in France, our data give an insight into the natural fluctuation of rotavirus genotypes in a non-vaccinated population and provide a base line for a better interpretation of data in European countries with routine rotavirus vaccination.     

Eosinophilic granuloma of the sternum in a child treated with closed biopsy

Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a rare neoplastic proliferative disorder of the Langerhans cells. The clinical course is variable, ranging from a low symptomatic single bone lesion to fatal multiple organ involvement. Rarely, the sternum can be the first and single location of the disease. We report on a 12‐year‐old boy who presented with an aggressive lytic lesion of the proximal sternum associated with local pain and afternoon fever. Histopathological analysis of the closed biopsy specimen indicated eosinophilic granuloma of bone/Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Soon after the biopsy procedure the pain and fever subsided. Computed tomography at 2 months showed healing of the lytic lesion. The patient received no other type of treatment. At 2 year follow up he was symptom and disease free.     

轻度胃肠炎伴婴幼儿良性惊厥患儿血清硫化氢水平变化的研究

目的 研究轻度胃肠炎伴婴幼儿良性惊厥(BICE)患儿血清硫化氢(H2S)水平的变化及意义.方法 选择住院治疗的42 例BICE 患儿为观察组,同期因单纯急性胃肠炎入院治疗的46 例患儿为对照组.使用分光光度计法检测其血清H2S 水平.结果 观察组患儿血清H2S 水平显著低于对照组(28±12 μmol/L vs45±10 μmol/L,P<0.O1).惊厥发作次数≥ 2 次患儿血清H2S 水平显著低于发作次数<2 次患儿(P<0.O5).BICE 患儿惊厥发作次数与血清H2S 水平呈负相关(r=-0.485,P=0.001);惊厥持续时间≥ 5 min 组患儿的发作时间与血清H2S 水平呈负相关(r=-0.736,P=0.004).结论 内源性H2S 水平的降低可能是BICE 患儿发病原因之一;血清H2S 水平下降程度与惊厥发生的次数及发作超过5 min 的持续时间有关,其临床意义有待于更多的研究证实.     

A single weekly dose of imatinib is sufficient to induce and maintain remission of chronic eosinophilic leukaemia in FIP1L1-PDGFRA-expressing patients

Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is defined as chronic, unexplained hypereosinophilia with organ involvement. A subset of HES patients presents an interstitial deletion in chromosome 4q12, which leads to the expression of an imatinib-responsive fusion gene, FIP1L1-PDGFRA. These patients are diagnosed as chronic eosinophilic leukaemia (CEL). We treated seven CEL and HES patients, six of which expressed FIP1L1-PDGFRA , with imatinib using initial daily doses ranging from 100 to 400 mg. In a remission maintenance phase, the patients were treated with imatinib once weekly. All imatinib-treated patients achieved a complete haematological remission (CHR), and five of the six patients with FIP1L1-PDGFRA expression exhibited molecular remission. The decreased imatinib doses were as follows: 200 mg/week in three patients, 100 mg/week in two patients and 100 mg/d in the remaining two patients. For remission maintenance, imatinib doses were set at 100 mg/week in five patients and 200 mg/week in two patients. At a median follow-up of 30 months all patients remained in CHR and FIP1L1-PDGFRA expression was undetectable in five of the six FIP1L1-PDGFRA -expressing patients. These data suggest that a single weekly dose of imatinib is sufficient to maintain remission in FIP1L1-PDGFRA - positive CEL patients.     

以腹水为主要表现的嗜酸细胞性胃肠炎临床分析

目的探讨嗜酸细胞性胃肠炎（EG）的临床特征,提高对以腹水为主要表现的EG的识别。方法对我院1995年3月-2011年5月收治的15例EG患者的临床资料进行系统性回顾分析。结果 15例EG患者主要表现为腹痛（15/15,100%）、腹泻（11/15,73.3%）、腹胀（8/15,53.3%）、恶心（2/15,13.3%）等。其中3例（20.0%）主要表现为腹水,1例（6.7%）表现为不全性肠梗阻。所有患者外周血嗜酸细胞明显增高,其百分比为9.8%～63.7%,平均（27.2±13.6）%;绝对计数为（1.1～6.0）×109/L,平均（3.1±1.4）×109/L。15例胃镜检查中,13例（86.7%）显示胃窦、十二指肠有不同程度充血、水肿、糜烂,其中1例为十二指肠球部溃疡;7例肠镜检查患者中,5例（71.4%）结肠黏膜出现类似改变,并以回盲部多见。活检组织病理学检查均见大量嗜酸细胞浸润。3例腹水均为渗出液,腹水中嗜酸细胞占白细胞总数的36%～65%,平均（53±15.1）%。所有患者均经泼尼松治愈,疗程32～60 d。结论 EG临床表现呈多样性,无特异性。腹水型患者少见,不易早期诊断。治疗主要应用糖皮质激素,预后良好。     

Recurrent abdominal pain in children: a clinical approach

The term ‘recurrent abdominal pain’, or RAP, refers mainly to the duration of painful period and frequency of pain. The commonly accepted duration is at least three months in the preceding period, and over this three-month period, there are at least three episodes of pain that are severe enough to affect the daily activities of the affected patients. Over the years, with advances in medical technology and better understanding of the pathophysiology of abdominal pain, more and more organic causes have been identified. However, the most common cause of RAP in children is still functional in origin.     

误诊为嗜酸粒细胞增多症1例分析

回顾性分析我院收治的1例误诊为嗜酸粒细胞增多症的腹水型嗜酸粒细胞性胃肠炎(EG)患者的临床资料,并复习相关文献,探讨EG的临床特征、误诊原因及防范措施。患者以“腹胀半个月”入院,入院前腹部CT提示腹腔及盆腔积液,入院后查血常规示嗜酸性粒细胞计数及比例异常增多,腹水有核细胞涂片镜检可见大量嗜酸粒细胞。骨髓穿刺提示嗜酸粒细胞增多症;直肠黏膜组织活检镜下见黏膜内散在淋巴细胞、嗜酸粒细胞及中性粒细胞浸润。临床诊断嗜酸粒细胞增多症。患者转上级医院继续诊疗,上级医院修正诊断为腹水型EG。EG发病率低,外周血及骨髓检查类似嗜酸粒细胞增多症,临床医师应注意鉴别;临床对不明原因的腹水患者,应警惕浆膜型EG存在的可能性,以免误诊。     

Genetic analysis of PRRT2 for benign infantile epilepsy,infantile convulsions with choreoathetosis syndrome,and benign convulsions with mild gastroenteritis

Purpose: PRRT2 mutations were recently identified in benign familial infantile epilepsy (BFIE) and infantile convulsions with paroxysmal choreoathetosis (ICCA) but no abnormalities have so far been identified in their phenotypically similar seizure disorder of benign convulsions with mild gastroenteritis (CwG), while mutations in KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 have been recognized in benign familial neonatal epilepsy (BFNE). The aim of this study was to identify PRRT2 mutations in infantile convulsions in Asian families with BFIE and ICCA, CwG and BFNE. Methods: We recruited 26 unrelated Japanese affected with either BFIE or non-familial benign infantile seizures and their families, including three families with ICCA. A total of 17 Japanese and Taiwanese with CwG, 50 Japanese with BFNE and 96 healthy volunteers were also recruited. Mutations of PRRT2 were sought using direct sequencing. Results: Heterozygous truncation mutation (c.649dupC) was identified in 15 of 26 individuals with benign infantile epilepsy (52.1%). All three families of ICCA harbored the same mutation (100%). Another novel mutation (c.1012+2dupT) was found in the proband of a family with BFIE. However, no PRRT2 mutation was found in either CwG or BFNE. Conclusions: The results confirm that c.649dupC, a truncating mutation of PRRT2, is a hotspot mutation resulting in BFIE or ICCA regardless of the ethnic background. In contrast, PRRT2 mutations do not seem to be associated with CwG or BFNE. Screening for PRRT2 mutation might be useful in early-stage differentiation of BFIE from CwG.     

Successful treatment of eosinophilic otitis media associated with severe bronchial asthma with an anti-IL-5 monoclonal antibody,mepolizumab

Eosinophilic otitis media (EOM), which is characterized by the accumulation of eosinophils in middle ear effusion and the middle ear mucosa, is a refractory type of otitis media that is often associated with asthma. Although an early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are necessary to prevent the progression of hearing loss in patients with EOM, there are currently no well-established treatments for this condition. We treated a 60-year-old male patient with asthma and EOM. The patient’s asthma was poorly controlled, despite the use of high-dose inhaled corticosteroids, long-acting beta-agonist treatment, and the regular use of systemic corticosteroids. Mepolizumab, an anti-IL-5 monoclonal antibody, was started to treat the patient’s refractory asthma. At 4 months after the initiation of mepolizumab treatment, the patient’s asthma, hearing, and middle ear effusion improved. The present case suggests that mepolizumab therapy can control EOM and asthma.     

Calls to Poison Centers for hookah smoking exposures

Over the past decade, smoking behaviors have changed in the US. Hookah or waterpipe smoking is increasing, especially among youth and young adults. Social media sites describe the “hookah high” or “buzz”, which may be related to nicotine, carbon monoxide, or other inhalants in hookah smoke. Most important is the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Case reports include a high number of victims presenting with loss of consciousness from either syncope or seizures. Anaphylaxis and a very rare respiratory hypersensitivity reaction, acute eosinophilic pneumonia, have also been reported from hookah smoking in previously healthy young adults. This article provides background information on hookah smoking, describes hookah-induced acute injuries that could precipitate poison center calls, and offers suggestions for exposure characterization.