Effects of liver transplantation on long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid status in infants with biliary atresia.

Background: The long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) status of infants with untreated biliary atresia (BA) is known to be poor and is correlated to the severity of the liver disease. Liver transplantation (LT) markedly increases survival of patients with BA but the extent to which this reverses poor LC-PUFA status is not known.

Methods: To explore this question, the erythrocyte (red blood cell, RBC) phospholipid content of eight infants with BA who underwent LT was determined 2 months after an initial portoenterostomy, immediately before LT, and 6 and 12 months after LT.

Neurenteric cyst: antenatal diagnosis and therapeutic approach.

We hereby report the second case of antenatally diagnosed "neurenteric cyst" in the literature. The patient we describe presented as a neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) which did not respond to a vigorous resuscitation. Anomaly of the antenatal ultrasonography and of the initial chest x-ray added to the non-response to therapy, led us to an urgent thoracic scan and to a lifesaving thoracotomy.

[Hydrocarbon poisoning in children].

Carbohydrate poisoning is among serious children intoxications, made possible by inadequate stocking; boys, one to five years old, are particularly at risk in a series of 43 children examined and admitted in Hôtel-Dieu de France Hospital over a 10-year period. Outcome is constantly good, after a short hospital care; clinical exam and chest X-ray are of particular value on admission. Some cases may need home care, whereas others should undertake hospital day care; treatment is discussed and long-term follow-up is being stressed on.