The outcome of primary liver transplantation from deceased donors in children with body weight < or =10 kg.

Between November 1982 and March 2006, 67 children with body weight < or =10 kg had a primary liver transplantation from deceased donors in our unit. The aim of this study was to analyze the outcome in terms of patient and graft survival and to search for factors affecting this outcome. Overall, one-, three-, five-, and 10-yr primary patient and graft survival rates were 73%, 71%, 66%, 63% and 59%, 56%, 53%, 48%, respectively.

Obesity in asylum seekers' children in The Netherlands--the use of national reference charts.

Background: Growth assessment can be used to monitor health at individual and population level. For asylum seekers' children with different geographic backgrounds, growth reference values are frequently not available. We assessed nutritional condition and growth of asylum seekers' children upon arrival and follow-up in The Netherlands, using national growth charts, and related these parameters to geographic origin.

Vitamin D levels in children of asylum seekers in The Netherlands in relation to season and dietary intake.

Low dietary intake and limited sun exposure during Dutch winters, in particular when combined with highly pigmented skin, could compromise the vitamin D status of asylum seekers' children in The Netherlands. We determined the vitamin D status of children living in The Netherlands, but originating from Africa, Central Asia, or Eastern Europe. In a subgroup, we reassessed the vitamin D status after the summer, during which the children had been assigned at random to remain unsupplemented or to receive vitamin D supplementation.

Cyclosporine A withdrawal during follow-up after pediatric liver transplantation.

It is unclear whether cyclosporine A (CsA) can be withdrawn safely during follow-up after pediatric liver transplantation. In our transplant program we have been using a strict protocol to withdraw CsA. The aim of this study was to retrospectively assess the effects of CsA withdrawal after pediatric liver transplantation on the incidence of rejection and renal function.

Development of an adenocarcinoma of the esophagus 22 years after primary repair of a congenital atresia.

Esophageal cancer development after previous atresia repair is extremely rare in young patients. We present the clinical course of a patient who developed an adenocarcinoma of the esophagus at the age of 22 years, after repair of a tracheoesophageal fistula with esophageal atresia in the neonatal period. She developed a stricture of the esophageal anastomosis requiring frequent dilatations.

The effect of HLA mismatches, shared cross-reactive antigen groups, and shared HLA-DR antigens on the outcome after pediatric liver transplantation.

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and HLA-DR mismatching, sharing cross-reactive antigen groups (CREGs), and sharing HLA-DR antigens on the outcome after pediatric liver transplantation. Outcome parameters were graft survival, acute rejection, and portal fibrosis. A distinction was made between full-size (FSLTx) and technical-variant liver transplantation (TVLTx).

Cyclosporine A-induced reduction of bile salt synthesis associated with increased plasma lipids in children after liver transplantation.

Hyperlipidemia is a common side effect of cyclosporine A (CsA) after solid organ transplantation. CsA also markedly reduces the synthesis rate of bile salts in rats and can inhibit biliary bile salt secretion. It is not known, however, whether CsA inhibits the synthesis of bile salts in humans, and whether the hyperlipidemic effects of CsA are related to bile salt metabolism.

In vivo imaging of hepatobiliary transport function mediated by multidrug resistance associated protein and P-glycoprotein.

Multidrug resistance associated proteins (MRPs) and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) are involved in hepatobiliary transport of various compounds. Our aim was (1) to define transporter specificity of the cholescintigraphic agents 99mTc-HIDA and 99mTc-MIBI, which are used clinically for myocardial perfusion measurements; and (2) to deduce MRP and P-gp functions in vivo from hepatic 99mTc kinetics. Accumulation of radioactivity was measured in the human tumor cell lines GLC4, GLC4/ADR150x (MRP1-overexpressing/P-gp-negative) and GLC4/P-gp (P-gp-overexpressing).

Development and validation of challenge materials for double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges in children.

Background: The use of double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges (DBPCFCs) is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of food allergy. Despite this, materials and methods used in DBPCFCs have not been standardized.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop and validate recipes for use in DBPCFCs in children by using allergenic foods, preferably in their usual edible form.

Comparison of near infrared reflectance analysis of fecal fat, nitrogen and water with conventional methods, and fecal energy content.

Objectives: To evaluate Near-Infrared Analysis (NIRA) method for determining fecal fat, water and nitrogen.

Design And Methods: The results of fecal fat, water and nitrogen by NIRA were compared with results of van de Kamer and Acid Steatocrit (AS), Dumas and vacuum drying methods for fat, nitrogen and water respectively. Results of fat determining methods were also compared with total fecal energy as obtained by bomb calorimeter.

Graft loss after pediatric liver transplantation.

Objective: To describe the epidemiology and causes of graft loss after pediatric liver transplantation and to identify risk factors.

Summary Background Data: Graft failure after transplantation remains an important problem. It results in patient death or retransplantation, resulting in lower survival rates.