Recognition of heat shock protein 60 epitopes in children with type 1 diabetes.

Background: Treatment with a specific HSP60 epitope in new onset of type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients has been shown to preserve endogenous insulin production. Previously, recognition of pan HLA-DR-binding HSP60 epitopes in various autoimmune diseases was found; this study investigated recognition of these epitopes in newly diagnosed T1D patients and correlated findings to the occurrence of a partial remission.

Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 18 children with T1D were prospectively collected at disease onset and a few months after diagnosis.

Early recognition of basal cell naevus syndrome.

Unlabelled: The basal cell naevus syndrome is an autosomal dominant syndrome characterised by major manifestations such as basal cell carcinomas, jaw cysts, palmar or plantar pits, and intracranial calcifications. Early recognition is important in order to reduce morbidity due to cutaneous and cerebral malignancy and oromaxillofacial deformation and destruction, although diagnosis in infancy is rare. We describe three unrelated children with basal cell naevus syndrome who appeared to be the first patient in each family.

[The 'acute scrotum' in children: the clinical presentation as indicated by a rapid operation].

Four boys, aged 2 months, 1 month, 16 years and 17 years, presented with an acute painful swelling in the scrotum. Both newborns were considered to have an inguinal hernia, but one of them turned out to have a testicular torsion. Both adolescents, however, were assumed to have a testicular torsion, yet one of them had an incarcerated scrotal hernia.

Management of an outbreak of Enterobacter cloacae in a neonatal unit using simple preventive measures.

Enterobacter cloacae is becoming an increasingly important nosocomial pathogen. Outbreaks of E. cloacae in intensive care units and burns units have been described frequently.

Vascular endothelial growth factor in bacterial meningitis: detection in cerebrospinal fluid and localization in postmortem brain.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent vascular permeability factor and a mediator of brain edema. To assess the role of VEGF during bacterial meningitis, VEGF was measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood of 37 patients with bacterial meningitis and 51 control patients, including 16 patients with viral meningitis. Circulating VEGF levels were similar in bacterial meningitis patients and control patients.