Efficacy and tolerance of calcium alginate versus vaseline gauze dressings in the treatment of diabetic foot lesions.

Background: The study aimed at comparing the efficacy and tolerance of an alginate wound dressing with a vaseline gauze dressing in the treatment of diabetic foot lesions.

Methods: This open-label randomized multicenter controlled study was designed to assess the effect of an up to 6-week treatment with either calcium alginate or vaseline gauze dressings. Lesions were either acute or chronic, under cleansing, and with a surface area of 1-50 cm(2); osteomyelitis and severe hypovascularization were non-inclusion criteria.

[Health costs associated with the diabetic foot in developed countries.A plea for the creation of health care networks].

COST OF DIABETIC FOOT: A limited number of epidemiological and economical studies on diabetic foot in France is available. Studies conducted in other countries, namely USA, Netherlands, UK and especially Sweden, have evidenced major direct and indirect costs that generally are underestimated in overall economical cost of diabetes forecast. The rapid increase of diabetes prevalence throughout the world, combined with diabetic population aging, allows to speculate that this situation may dramatically worsen in the future.

[Contribution of molecular biology to the diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemias in children].

The detection of children at high risk in families with a genetic form of hypercholesterolemia is important for acceptance of prevention under medical control. However, usual lipidic parameters are difficult to interpret during infancy. So we studied by a molecular biology approach 11 families presenting with syndrome of pure hypercholesterolemia where a defect of the LDL receptor (LDL-R) gene was suspected (Familial Hypercholesterolemia: FH IIa).

[A fatal respiratory form of type C Niemann-Pick disease].

An unusual case of Niemann-Pick disease type C is reported. The disease was first manifested in utero with hepatomegaly and ascitis. At the age of 3 months, respiratory signs were noted due to diffuse alveolar and interstitial pneumonia.

[Diet in familial hypercholesterolemia type IIa. Grenoble survey 1983-1988].

In 19 children with familial hypercholesterolemia type IIa measures to reduce the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol in the diet lead to a mean decrease of cholesterolemia of 15%, thus confirming the favorable effect of the diet previously reported in the literature. However, there were large variations in the efficacy of the diet from no effect up to a 30% decrease. "Non-responders", in whom the diet was not effective, require treatment with drugs.

[Familial form of hypoglycemia due to leucine hypersensitivity].

The authors report on a boy and his mother showing signs of hypoglycemia due to hypersensitivity to leucine that is related to a that dominant autosomal. The cyclic inheritance glycemia test shows hyperinsulism; oral as well as intravenous loading dose of leucine tests showed that this hyperinsulism is due to hypersensitivity to leucine. The clinical picture, outcome of the disease dietary and medical treatment with diazoxide, and the role of GIP in insulin secretion is discussed.

[Epstein-Barr virus encephalitis. Apropos of a case in a child].

Encephalitic illnesses with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) only represent a small percentage of the causes of viral encephalitis. Clinical symptoms are not specific. Biological standards tests carry few elements of direction, only serologic test of infectious mononucleosis confirms the diagnostic of recent EBV infection.