Neutrophils from Patients with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Display Reduced Chemotaxis to CXCR2 Ligands.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), cystic fibrosis (CF), and chronic obstructive airway disease are characterized by neutrophilic inflammation in the lungs. In CF and chronic obstructive airway disease, improper functioning of neutrophils has been demonstrated. We hypothesized that the pulmonary damage in PCD might be aggravated by abnormal functioning neutrophils either as a primary consequence of the PCD mutation or secondary to chronic inflammation.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia: critical evaluation of clinical symptoms and diagnosis in patients with normal and abnormal ultrastructure.

Background: Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare disorder with variable disease progression. To date, mutations in more than 20 different genes have been found. At present, PCD subtypes are described according to the ultrastructural defect on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the motile cilia.

Sonographic assessment of the retroperitoneal position of the third portion of the duodenum: an indicator of normal intestinal rotation.

Background: The diagnosis of intestinal malrotation is based on an upper gastrointestinal contrast series (UGI), which is considered the imaging reference standard. It may however be challenging even for experienced paediatric radiologists.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the agreement between UGI and US in assessing the position of the third portion of the duodenum (D3) and to show that a retroperitoneal duodenum indicates normal forgut rotation.

Omalizumab for exacerbations of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Anti-IgE therapy was proposed to two teenagers with cystic fibrosis (CF) with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) exacerbation, reluctant to a further course of oral steroids. Both patients experienced ABPA exacerbations within the past 3 years, requiring oral steroid bursts. Clinical, laboratory and radiographic features were consistent with ABPA exacerbations (representing at the time of evaluation the fourth and third episodes for patient 1 and 2, respectively).

Towards zero prevalence of chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in children with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Data from the Belgian Cystic Fibrosis Registry consistently show that in one of the seven reference centres, the prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is half that observed at the national level.

Objectives: To report the characteristics of non-transplanted patients in this clinic at the end of 2003, with special focus on paediatric patients. To describe and discuss our policy of inhaled antibiotic therapy.

Postcricoid hemangioma: an overlooked cause of dysphagia in infants?-a case report.

Feeding and swallowing disorders in children remain a major challenge owing to a wide differential diagnosis. Hemangioma of the upper aerodigestive tract represents one of the numerous non-neoplastic causes of dysphagia. We report two cases of postcricoid hemangioma causing inhalation and recurrent respiratory infections, treated successfully with systemic corticotherapy alone.

Does in utero exposure to heavy maternal smoking induce nicotine withdrawal symptoms in neonates?

Maternal drug use during pregnancy is associated with fetal passive addiction and neonatal withdrawal syndrome. Cigarette smoking-highly prevalent during pregnancy-is associated with addiction and withdrawal syndrome in adults. We conducted a prospective, two-group parallel study on 17 consecutive newborns of heavy-smoking mothers and 16 newborns of nonsmoking, unexposed mothers (controls).