Association of environmental markers with childhood type 1 diabetes mellitus revealed by a long questionnaire on early life exposures and lifestyle in a case-control study.

Background: The incidence of childhood type 1 diabetes (T1D) incidence is rising in many countries, supposedly because of changing environmental factors, which are yet largely unknown. The purpose of the study was to unravel environmental markers associated with T1D.

Methods: Cases were children with T1D from the French Isis-Diab cohort.

[Necrotic skin lesions caused by pet rats in two teenagers].

We report 2 observations in young girls who, after exposure to domestic rats from the same pet shop, presented with inflammatory and necrotic skin wounds in the neck and face. Since lesions did not improve with antibiotic therapy, surgical excision of necrosis healed the wounds, with a 2nd intervention necessary in 1 patient. All bacteriological investigations appeared to be negative; finally, electron microscopy of excised subepidermal tissue and PCR characterization provided the diagnosis of cowpox virus (CPXV) infection.

[Exposure of a cohort of newborn infants to tuberculosis in a neonatology service].

Introduction: A nursery nurse that was working in the neonatology service had been diagnosed with tuberculosis. As a consequence, the newborn infants were in danger of a possible contamination during a 4-month period.

Methodology: One hundred and thirty kids that had been in touch with the nurse were given attention.

Cowpox virus transmission from pet rats to humans, France.

In early 2009, four human cases of cowpox virus cutaneous infection in northern France, resulting from direct contact with infected pet rats (Rattus norvegicus), were studied. Pet rats, originating from the same pet store, were shown to be infected by a unique virus strain. Infection was then transmitted to humans who purchased or had contact with pet rats.

Molecular analysis of the fibrinogen gene cluster in 16 patients with congenital afibrinogenemia: novel truncating mutations in the FGA and FGG genes.

Congenital afibrinogenemia is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the complete absence of detectable fibrinogen. We previously identified the first causative mutations for this disease in a non-consanguineous Swiss family. These were homozygous deletions of approximately 11 kb of the fibrinogen alpha chain gene (FGA).

Subclinical vitamin D deficiency in neonates: definition and response to vitamin D supplements.

To determine the biological criteria for neonatal vitamin D deficiency, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (calcidiol), parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, phosphates, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were measured during the winter-spring period in 80 healthy neonates and their mothers 3-6 d after delivery. A longitudinal 3-mo survey of the serum biology of 52 of these neonates consuming formula was also performed to test the influence of their neonatal vitamin D status on the effects of two oral ergocalciferol supplements (500 and 1000 IU or 12.5 and 25 micrograms/d).

[Fortified milk and supplements of oral vitamin D. Comparison of the effect of two doses of vitamin D (500 and 1,000 UI/d) during the first trimester of life].

Background: Administration of oral vitamin D supplements has been the usual strategy used in France for the prevention of rickets. But this strategy needs reevaluation since the fortification of infant formulas with vitamin D is authorized in this country. We report the effects of oral daily supplements of vitamin D on the calcium metabolism and vitamin D status of infants receiving or not fortified milk during the first trimester of life.

Upper limb malformations in DiGeorge syndrome.

We report on upper limb anomalies in two children with a complete DiGeorge sequence: conotruncal defects, hypocalcemia, thymic aplasia, and facial anomalies. One child had preaxial polydactyly, and the other had club hands with hypoplastic first metacarpal. In both patients, molecular analysis documented a 22q11 deletion.

[Prognosis factors in severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia. A retrospective study of 65 premature infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia].

The annual incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is presently 1.3 case p. 1,000 alive births.