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Biomedical subjects

D Habes

Publications and source records attributed to D Habes.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Orthotopic liver transplantation for mitochondrial respiratory chain disorders: a study of 5 children.

BACKGROUND: Liver involvement in mitochondrial respiratory chain disorders (MRCD) frequently ends in liver failure and death. Because of the high risk of extrahepatic, particularly neuromuscular, manifestations of the disease, the indication of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in these patients remains controversial. We report on 5 such children in whom OLT was carried out, in an attempt to help clarify the matter. PATIENTS: Patients 1 and 2 presented with fulminant liver failure at ages 7 and 6 months respectively. Emergency liver transplantation was performed before etiological investigations were completed. Retrospective examination of the explanted livers showed defects in complexes I, III and IV. In patient 1, severe neurological deterioration occurred 2 months after OLT with fatal outcome 9 months later. Patient 2 is alive 22 months after OLT with moderate motor impairment. Patients 3, 4 and 5 presented with progressive liver failure before 6 months of age. Surgical liver biopsies displayed a 50% defect in complex IV (patient 3), a defect in complexes I, IV (patient 4) and in complexes I, III, IV (patient 5). Because there was no clinical extrahepatic involvement on investigations, OLT was carried out in these patients. Patient 3 died of multiple organ failure soon after OLT, patients 4 and 5 are alive respectively 21 months and 12 months after OLT with normal neurological examination. CONCLUSION: OLT may be a valid therapeutic option in infants with delayed liver cell failure due to MRCD, only after performing in emergency a thorough inves tigation to exclude clinically significant extrahepatic, especially neuromuscular, involvement.

Child↗
PubMed2001

Toxicity of boric acid to Blattella germanica (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae) and analysis of residues in several organs.

Pestiferous cockroach species are associated closely with humans and are important from medical and public health points of view. Conventional insecticides have been used widely to control cockroaches which have developed resistance to these compounds. Thus, interest has again centered on lesser-used compounds such as boric acid. Boric acid has been used as an insecticide for many years, especially against cockroach. Its mode of action on insects has not been satisfactorily established. In Algeria, Blattella germanica (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae) is a serious pest in the urban environment and their infestation were controlled for many years by organophosphate, carbamate or pyrethroid insecticides. In order to obtain more information on the mode of action of boric acid, we first evaluated the oral toxicity of boric acid on B. germanica adults. Then, the compound was determined in several organs by an colorimetric method. This insecticide was incorporated into the diet and orally administered at different concentrations ranging from 1 to 40% (w/w) to newly emerged adults. Mortality was recorded at different times during treatment (24, 48, 72 and 144 h). Treatment resulted in a dose-dependent mortality since the LD50 (%) recorded are 85 at 24 h, 67 at 48 h, 39 at 72 h and 8 at 144 h, respectively. Then the quantity of boric acid accumulated in several organs (hemolymph, gut, ovaries, testicles and fat body) was determined as function the duration of treatment (1 to 5 days) for two doses (LD50 and LD90). Results revealed that bioaccumulation of residues in these organs increased as function the duration of treatment. In addition, relatively important amounts of residues, are detected in fat body.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2000

[Macrophage activation syndrome in primary human herpes virus-6 infection: a rare condition after liver transplantation in infants].

Human herpes virus-6 primary infection generally occurs during the first three years of childhood and is generally asymptomatic. The virus has been identified as the causal agent of exanthemum subitum in children or mononucleosis-like disease in adults, and may also cause several disorders in immunocompromised patients. We report a clinical case of acute rejection observed 29 days after orthotopic liver transplantation in a 22-month-old child associated with acute hepatitis and a hemophagocytic syndrome on day 38. Human herpes virus-6 primary infection was identified based on several virological tests: seroconversion, detection of viral DNA in bone marrow and peripheral blood after polymerase chain reaction, and detection of viral replication in peripheral blood. Tests for Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus or Parvovirus B19 infections were negative. After treatment by ganciclovir (Cymévan(R)), clinical status improved.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

Ursodeoxycholic acid therapy in pediatric patients with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis.

Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) is a lethal inherited childhood cholestasis of hepatocellular origin. Different subtypes of PFIC have been described according to serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activity. There is currently no effective medical therapy available for children with PFIC. We report on 39 patients with PFIC who received ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) orally (20-30 mg/kg b.w./day) for a period of 2 to 4 years. Group 1 (n = 26) consisted of children with normal GGT activity, and group 2 (n = 13) of children with high GGT activity. Within group 1, liver tests normalized in 11 children, improved in 5, and stabilized or worsened in 10. Within group 2, liver tests normalized in six children, improved in four, and stabilized or worsened in three. Improvement of parameters was associated with an enrichment of the circulating pool of bile acids with UDCA. Hepatosplenomegaly and pruritus disappeared or diminished in children in whom liver tests normalized. In nine of these children, liver tests worsened and normalized again after stopping and restarting UDCA. Liver histology assessed in four children after normalization of liver tests and 2 years of treatment showed a decrease in fibrosis. We conclude that UDCA should be considered in the initial therapeutic management of children with PFIC, because it appears effective in resolving or improving the liver function and the clinical status of a fair proportion of children. Chronic UDCA therapy might thus avoid the need for liver transplantation in some children with PFIC.

Alanine Transaminase↗