New alternatives to holder pasteurization in processing donor milk in human milk banks.

Infectious and toxicological risks are the main potential hazards that operators of Human Milk Banks (HMBs) encounter and must eliminate. HMBs are trying to implement procedures that allow to manage and sanitize human milk without altering significantly its nutritional and biologically protective components, obtaining a product characterized by a valid balance between safety and biological quality. The history of human milk processing is linked to the origins of HMBs themselves.

Real-World Experience of Carglumic Acid for Methylmalonic and Propionic Acidurias: An Interim Analysis of the Multicentre Observational PROTECT Study.

Background And Objective: Methylmalonic aciduria (MMA) and propionic aciduria (PA) are organic acidurias characterised by the accumulation of toxic metabolites and hyperammonaemia related to secondary N-acetylglutamate deficiency. Carglumic acid, a synthetic analogue of N-acetylglutamate, decreases ammonia levels by restoring the functioning of the urea cycle. However, there are limited data available on the long-term safety and effectiveness of carglumic acid.

Systemic primary carnitine deficiency induces severe arrhythmia due to shortening of QT interval.

Background: Systemic primary carnitine deficiency (PCD) is characterized by cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia. Without carnitine supplementation, progression is usually towards fatal cardiac decompensation. While the cardiomyopathy is most likely secondary to energy deficiency, the mechanism of arrhythmia is unclear, and may be related to a short QT interval.

Systemic corticosteroids for the treatment of acute episodes of rhabdomyolysis in lipin-1-deficient patients.

Mutations in the LPIN1 gene constitute a major cause of severe rhabdomyolysis (RM). The TLR9 activation prompted us to treat patients with corticosteroids in acute conditions. In patients with LPIN1 mutations, RM and at-risk situations that can trigger RM have been treated in a uniform manner.

Infantile primary carnitine deficiency: A severe cardiac presentation unresponsive to carnitine supplementation.

Primary carnitine deficiency (PCD) is an inherited disease of fatty acid beta-oxidation with autosomal recessive inheritance. The disease manifests as metabolic decompensation with hypoketotic hypoglycaemia associated with cardiomyopathy, hepatomegaly, rhabdomyolysis, and seizures. Various outcomes are described from asymptomatic adults to dramatic sudden infant death syndrome cases.

Individual and Family Determinants for Quality of Life in Parents of Children with Inborn Errors of Metabolism Requiring a Restricted Diet: A Multilevel Analysis Approach.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the quality of life (QoL) for parents of children with inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs) requiring a restricted diet with French population norms and investigate parental QoL determinants.

Study Design: This cross-sectional study included mothers and/or fathers of children < 18 years of age affected by IEMs requiring a restricted diet (except phenylketonuria) from January 2015 to December 2017. Parents' QoL was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF questionnaire and compared with age- and sex-matched reference values from the French general population.

Determinants of Quality of Life in Children with Inborn Errors of Metabolism Receiving a Restricted Diet.

Objective: To investigate the determinants of quality of life (QoL) in children with inborn errors of metabolism with restricted diet (IEMRDs) using a single theory-based multidimensional model.

Study Design: In this multicenter cross-sectional study, data from children aged 8-17 years with IEMRDs (except phenylketonuria) and their parents were collected from January 2015 to December 2017. Measurements included a child's self-reported QoL, self-rated behavioral problems and anxiety, and parental anxiety.

Real-world management of maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) metabolic decompensations with branched chain amino acid-free formulas in France and Germany: A retrospective observational study.

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is a rare inborn metabolic disorder, managed with a strict protein-restricted diet. At any time or age patients may still experience metabolic decompensations, requiring administration of branched chain amino acid (BCAA)-free formula to reduce leucine levels. This retrospective observational study of 126 decompensation episodes from 54 MSUD patients treated at five centers in France and Germany from 2010 to 2016, describes episodes and outcomes for patients stratified into groups who received enteral/oral or intravenous (IV) BCAA-free formula, and by pediatric or adult age categories.

Health Status of French Young Patients with Inborn Errors of Metabolism with Lifelong Restricted Diet.

Objective: To describe the health status of young patients affected by inborn errors of metabolism that require adherence to a restricted diet (IEMRDs) and to describe and compare their self- and proxy (parent)-reported quality of life (QoL) with reference values.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015-2017 in patients affected by IEMRDs (except phenylketonuria) younger than 18 years. Data collection was based on medical records, clinical examinations, parents' and children's interviews, and self-reported questionnaires.

Letter to the editor: clarifying some aspects and the terminology of individualized human milk fortification.

This letter has been written by the components of the European Milk Bank Association (EMBA) Working Group on Human Milk Fortification in response to a recent paper published by Mathes et al. (BMC Pediatr. 2018 May 8;18(1):154) with the aim of drawing attention to the importance of the use of a metabolic marker to adapt protein intake in preterm infants.

Fortification of Human Milk for Preterm Infants: Update and Recommendations of the European Milk Bank Association (EMBA) Working Group on Human Milk Fortification.

Evidence indicates that human milk (HM) is the best form of nutrition uniquely suited not only to term but also to preterm infants conferring health benefits in both the short and long-term. However, HM does not provide sufficient nutrition for the very low birth weight (VLBW) infant when fed at the usual feeding volumes leading to slow growth with the risk of neurocognitive impairment and other poor health outcomes such as retinopathy and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. HM should be supplemented (fortified) with the nutrients in short supply, particularly with protein, calcium, and phosphate to meet the high requirements of this group of babies.

Diagnostic approach to neurotransmitter monoamine disorders: experience from clinical, biochemical, and genetic profiles.

Background And Aim: To improve the diagnostic work-up of patients with diverse neurological diseases, we have elaborated specific clinical and CSF neurotransmitter patterns.

Methods: Neurotransmitter determinations in CSF from 1200 patients revealed abnormal values in 228 (19%) cases. In 54/228 (24%) patients, a final diagnosis was identified.

Fluxomic evidence for impaired contribution of short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase to mitochondrial palmitate β-oxidation in symptomatic patients with ACADS gene susceptibility variants.

Background: Despite ACADS (acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, short-chain) gene susceptibility variants (c.511C>T and c.625G>A) are considered to be non-pathogenic, encoded proteins are known to exhibit altered kinetics.

Effects of Maternal Supplementation With Omega-3 Precursors on Human Milk Composition.

Background: Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) are important for newborn neurosensory development. Supplementation of breastfeeding mothers' diets with omega-3 PUFAs, such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), may increase their concentration in human milk. Research aim: This study aimed to assess human milk composition after 15-day supplementation regimens containing either omega-3 PUFAs or olive oil, which does not provide ALA.

Neurocognitive profiles in MSUD school-age patients.

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), an inborn error of amino acids catabolism is characterized by accumulation of branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) leucine, isoleucine, valine and their corresponding alpha-ketoacids. Impact on the cognitive development has been reported historically, with developmental delays of varying degree. Currently, earlier diagnosis and improved management allow a better neurodevelopment, without requirement of special education.

Severe transient ADAMTS13 deficiency in pneumococcal-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Thrombotic microangiopathies comprise different entities, including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), and several other conditions. TTP is characterized by hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and multiorgan failure. TTP is the result of severe von Willebrand factor multimer cleaving protease (ADAMTS13) deficiency that is either inherited or the result of acquired autoantibodies.

Successful treatment with rituximab for acute refractory thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura related to acquired ADAMTS13 deficiency: a pediatric report and literature review.

Objective: To report the case of a child with severe autoimmune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) resistant to plasma exchange and steroids who was successfully treated with rituximab.

Design: Case report and review of the literature on pediatric acquired TTP. The report was approved by an independent local ethics committee.

Sonography-guided positioning of intravenous long lines in neonates.

Objective: In neonates, proper positioning of the tip of intravenous long lines (LL) is essential in order to prevent potential life-threatening complications. The gold standard for the evaluation of LL position in neonates is the chest X-ray with or without contrast. We performed a prospective study to assess the use of transthoracic ultrasonography (US) for the positioning of LL in neonates and to compare it to plain radiography.

Altered vascular function in fetal programming of hypertension.

Background And Purpose: Reduced endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation partly due to loss of nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability occurs in most cases of chronic hypertension. Intrauterine nutritional deprivation has been associated with increased risk for hypertension and stroke, associated with relaxant dysfunction and decreased vascular compliance, but the underlying mechanisms are not known. The present studies were undertaken to investigate whether endothelial dysfunction associated with altered NO-dependent vasodilatation pathways is also observed in a model of in utero programming of hypertension.