Plasma amino acid and protein concentrations in infants fed human milk or a whey protein hydrolysate formula during the first month of life

The aim of the study was to compare growth parameters, biochemical indices of protein metabolism and plasma amino acid concentrations in infants fed either human milk ( n = 12) or a whey protein hydrolysate formula ( n = 13) during the first month of life. Growth and gain in skin fold thickness were similar in both groups whereas serum protein concentration was significantly decreased (57.4 ± 3.9 versus 61.2 ± 2.9 g/l) in the infants fed the whey hydrolysate formula. The discrepancies between the plasma amino acid pattern of the whey hydrolysate formula group and that of the human milk group lessened during the first month. Nevertheless, at a mean age of 33 days the plasma threonine concentration remained twice as high and the plasma tyrosine, phenylalanine and proline concentrations were Significantly lower in the whey hydrolysate formula group than in the human milk group. Thus, compared with breast-fed infants, growth and most of the biological indices of protein metabolism were satisfactory in infants fed during the first month of life on a whey protein hydrolysate formula. Nevertheless, the decrease in total plasma protein concentration needs to be confirmed in a larger cohort of infants. In addition, further research is necessary to investigate the possible ways of reducing the hyperthreoninemia and preventing other plasma amino acid disturbances since it would be desirable to obtain plasma amino acid levels similar to those of breast-fed infants.     

Red blood cell fatty acid composition in low-birth-weight infants fed either human milk or formula during the first months of life

The fatty acid composition of red blood cell (RBC) phospholipids in low-birth-weight infants was determined immediately after delivery and during the first 3 months of life. In the first study, infants were fed either human milk or two formulas with different fatty acid compositions but no long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA). Both groups of formula-fed infants had significantly lower levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in RBC phospholipids compared with breast-fed infants. RBC phospholipid DHA was similar in the two formula groups at all ages. In the second study, infants received either a non-supplemented or a LCPUFA-supplemented formula. DHA remained stable in RBC phospholipids of infants supplemented with LCPUFA, whereas DHA decreased in RBC phospholipids of unsupplemented infants. These results confirm that adding DHA to formulas is more effective than increasing 18:3 n-3 content, in maintaining RBC phospholipid DHA levels.     

Scintigraphic diagnosis of tricuspid regurgitation

The authors describe a simple technique for diagnosis of tricuspid regurgitation. Red blood cells were labeled in vivo with 99mTc and 22 patients were studied with ECG-gated blood-pool imaging of the liver. A single region of interest was manually drawn around the liver and a time-activity curve obtained. The per cent change in liver counts during the cardiac cycle was found to be significantly higher in the 12 patients with tricuspid regurgitation (Group I) (mean, 4.04 +/- 1.6%; range, 1.3-21.4%) compared with the 10 controls (Group II) (mean, 0.35 +/- 0.16%; range, 0.013-1.3%) (p less than 0.05). Using a 1% change in liver counts as the criterion of a positive study, all 12 cases in Group I were diagnosed correctly, but there was one false positive in Group II; thus the sensitivity was 100% and the specificity 90%.     

Burkholderia gladioli osteomyelitis in association with chronic granulomatous disease: case report and review

We describe a case of insidious small bone osteomyelitis and soft tissue abscess with Burkholderia gladioli in a 6-year-old Caucasian boy with chronic granulomatous disease. DNA sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene confirmed the bacterial identification. Clinical cure was achieved with a combination of antimicrobial therapy and surgical debridement. A review of infections caused by Burkholderia spp., other than Burkholderia cepacia complex, in pediatric patients with chronic granulomatous disease is provided.     

子宫颈妊娠1例

１　病例报告　患者,２８岁,因“停经３ｍｏ余,不规则阴道流血２ｍｏ余,于１９９９－０６－３０入院．患者１９９３年足月妊娠剖宫产一男婴．末次月经１９９９－０３－１２,０６－１４始阴道少量流血,无腹痛．０４－２８当地医院Ｂ超提示“不全流产”,未行清宫术．...     

Distinct variants of erythrocyte protein 4.1 inherited in linkage with elliptocytosis and Rh type in three white families

Hereditary elliptocytosis is a heterogeneous disorder resulting from defects in the erythrocyte membrane skeleton. Although some cases of elliptocytosis result from defects in spectrin, the specific structural abnormality has yet to be identified in the majority of cases. Protein 4.1 plays an essential role in erythrocyte membrane physiology, and deficiencies have been implicated in only a few rare cases of elliptocytosis. By using 4.1 immunoblots and a 4.1 radioimmunoassay we identified distinct variants of protein 4.1 in 15 elliptocytic members of three US white families with the Rh-linked form of elliptocytosis. Elliptocytic members of family G were heterozygotes for a low-molecular weight (mol wt) 4.1 variant (65,000 to 68,000 daltons; normal, 80,000) inherited in linkage with the Rz phenotype. Elliptocytic members of family C expressed a simple partial deficiency of protein 4.1 (63% of the normal level) that was inherited in linkage with the r phenotype. Elliptocytic members of family N were heterozygotes for a high-mol wt 4.1 variant (100,000 daltons) also inherited in linkage with the r phenotype. These studies indicate that mutant forms of protein 4.1 are not uncommon in elliptocytosis among whites and that different kindreds probably express different mutations. The observed linkage of elliptocytosis and Rh blood type most likely results from the close proximities of the 4.1 gene (site of the mutation) and the Rh gene, which is located nearby on the short arm of chromosome 1.