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F De Baets

Publications and source records attributed to F De Baets.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Survey of Pseudomonas aeruginosa genotypes in colonised cystic fibrosis patients.

The current authors aimed to examine whether cystic fibrosis (CF) patients in Belgium shared Pseudomonas aeruginosa genotypes and to compare the genotypes of isolates from the same patients during two consecutive years. A Belgian databank of the P. aeruginosa genotypes of all colonised CF patients was created. Sputum samples from a total of 276 P. aeruginosa colonised patients during 2003, and from a subgroup of 95 patients in 2004, were analysed. Patients were asked about any social contact between each other by questionnaire. All P. aeruginosa isolates exhibiting different colonial morphology on McConkey agar were first genotyped using arbitrarily primed PCR, whereafter single representatives of each randomly amplified polymorphic DNA-type were further genotyped by fluorescent amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis. In the 213 patients from whom P. aeruginosa could be cultured (resulting in 910 isolates), a total of 163 genotypes were found. The majority (75%) of patients harboured only one genotype. In most of the limited number of clusters, previous contacts between patients could be suspected. In 80% of the patients studied during both years, P. aeruginosa genotype remained unchanged. In conclusion, most colonised cystic fibrosis patients harbour only one Pseudomonas aeruginosa genotype, despite showing different colonial morphotypes. The number of clusters is limited, and most patients seem to retain the same genotypic strain during both years.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Asphyxiating tracheal bronchogenic cyst.

We report on a 7-month old infant with severe respiratory distress secondary to a paratracheal bronchogenic cyst. Respiratory relief was achieved by transtracheal puncture of the cyst. Surgical removal of the cyst was performed 1 week later because of radiological evidence of reaccumulation of fluid.

Airway Obstruction↗
PubMed2004

Oral health and habits in children with asthma related to severity and duration of condition.

AIM: This study was designed to examine the oral health status of asthmatic children and to compare the oral health condition and habits of different groups of asthmatic children. METHODS: 140 asthmatic children were involved in the present study. Of those, 30 were younger than 7 years of age, 73 were between 7 and 12, 37 were older than 12. Dental caries was scored according to the guidelines of the BASCD. No radiographs were taken. The gingival health and the amount of plaque were assessed using the bleeding index described by Mühleman and Son [1971] and the plaque index of Silness and Löe [1964] respectively. To differentiate between the asthmatic children three explanatory variables were used: the time the asthmatic symptoms had lasted, the exposure time to the medication and the severity of the asthmatic condition. Finally the parents and children were asked to fill in a questionnaire referring to oral health habits. RESULTS: The mean dmft was 1.99 (SD+/-2.74) and the mean DMFT was 1.10 (SD+/-1.98). Non-parametric correlation and multiple logistic regression analyses showed no significant difference between the caries (dmft/s, DMFT/S), the gingival health (bleeding index) and plaque indices and the three explanatory variables. The impact of possible compensatory factors as oral hygiene and dietary habits was of no significant importance. CONCLUSION: This analysis revealed that neither the period (of the disease and the medication) nor the severity of the asthma had a significant influence on the risk of caries and gingivitis in asthmatic children. No reported oral health and dietary habits could explain this lack of correlation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

[Immune deficiencies: diagnosis, management, some perspectives].

Severe primary immunodeficiencies (PID) are rare; their global incidence is comparable to that of childhood leukemia; they include more than 100 different entities. Clinical manifestations are: unusually severe or frequent infections or infections that do not respond to adequate treatment; an increased risk of certain malignancies; sometimes auto-immune manifestations. Delayed diagnosis and management of PID can lead to severe and irreversible complications or to death. PID can become manifest only in the adult; in common variable immune deficiency, the median age at diagnosis is between the 2nd and the 3rd decade of life. PID are often transmitted genetically; recent progresses in molecular biology have allowed more precise and earlier, including antenatal, diagnosis. Molecular treatment of 3 infants with a severe immunodeficiency has recently been achieved in April 2000. Those progresses were mostly based on the study of immunodeficiency databases. We present here the work of a Belgian group specialized in PID; meetings have started in June 1997. This group establishes guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of PID, adapted to the local situation. The elaboration of a national register of PID is also underway; this has to provide all guaranties of anonymity to patients and families. Such a register already exists at the European level; it has provided the basis for new diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities. The inclusion of Belgian data in this register should allow essential progresses essential for our patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Cystic fibrosis sputum: a barrier to the transport of nanospheres.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterized by the presence of a viscoelastic mucus layer in the upper airways and bronchi. The underlying problem is a mutation in the gene encoding the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator protein. Clinical studies of gene transfer for CF are ongoing. For gene delivery to the airways of CF patients to be effective, the mucus covering the target cells must be overcome. We therefore examined the extent to which CF sputum presents a physical barrier to the transport of nanospheres of a size comparable to that of lipoplexes and other transfection systems currently being clinically evaluated for CF gene therapy. We observed that an extremely low percentage of nanospheres (< 0.3%) moved through a 220-microm-thick CF sputum layer after 150 min. The largest nanospheres studied (560 nm) were almost completely blocked by the sputum, whereas the smaller nanospheres (124 nm) were retarded only by a factor of 1.3 as compared with buffer. Surprisingly, the nanospheres diffused significantly more easily through the more viscoelastic sputum samples. We hypothesize that the structure of the network in sputum becomes more macroporous when the sputum becomes more viscoelastic. Sputum from a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease retarded the transport of nanospheres to the same extent as did CF sputum. When directly mixed with CF sputum, recombinant human deoxyribonuclease I moderately facilitated the transport of nanospheres through CF sputum.

Cystic Fibrosis↗
PubMed1998

Inhaled steroids compared with disodium cromoglycate in preschool children with episodic viral wheeze.

In school children with atopic asthma the beneficial effects of disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) and beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) are well-established. In preschool children, wheezing is quite common, and in the majority of cases the symptoms are episodic and reported to be associated with viral infections rather than atopy. We compared the efficacy of regular treatment with DSCG and BDP for prevention of wheezing in preschool children. We were interested to establish whether regular treatment with inhaled anti-inflammatory drugs could lead to a decrease in bronchial responsiveness. In 15 patients (median age, 56 months; range, 43-66 months) bronchial responsiveness was assessed by measuring specific airway resistance (sRaw) during a histamine provocation test. The concentration of histamine eliciting a 100% increase in sRaw (PC100his) was determined. In a double-blind crossover study, patients inhaled either DSCG 10 mg three times a day or BDP 100 microg three times a day for 2 months. After a wash-out period, treatment was changed to BDP or DSCG, respectively. Daily peak flow measurements were carried out, and exacerbations were noted. PC100his was measured at the start and end of each treatment period. No significant decrease in bronchial responsiveness was seen (PC100his DSCG: before 1.3, after 1.66 mg/ml, Pvalue not significant; BDP: before 1.1 after 1.22 mg/ml, Pvalue not significant). Significantly higher morning peak flows were observed on BDP therapy (160 on BDP vs. 150 L/min on DSCG, P < 0.03). BDP treatment resulted in significantly fewer wheezing exacerbations (7 vs. 16, P < 0.005) compared with DSCG therapy. We conclude that in preschool children with episodic virally induced wheezing, BDP therapy was superior to DSCG aerosol treatments for the prevention of exacerbations of wheezing, although no significant effect on bronchial responsiveness was noted during either treatment protocol.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1995

Unilateral cytomegalovirus retinitis in a patient with immunoglobulin G2 deficiency.

A benign course of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is reported in a young patient with selective immunoglobulin G2 (IgG2) deficiency, after corticosteroid treatment for inflammatory pulmonary disease. IgG2 deficiency is a specific disorder of humoral immunity and has little to do with defense against viruses. This case suggests that CMV retinitis can occur in patients with IgG2 deficiency, who have received steroids in a presumedly nonimmunosuppressive dose for associated respiratory disease.

Adenovirus Infections, Human↗
PubMed1994

Effect of administration of gamma-linolenic acid on the fatty acid composition of serum phospholipids and cholesteryl esters in patients with cystic fibrosis.

This study examined the effects of supplementing patients with cystic fibrosis daily for 4 weeks with 1,500 mg borage oil, containing 330 mg gamma-linolenic acid, on the fatty acid composition of serum phospholipids (PL) and cholesteryl esters (CE). Vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 s were also measured before and after treatment. In serum PL the content of arachidonic acid (AA) increased and that of palmitic acid decreased significantly after borage oil administration. In serum CE dihomogamma-linolenic acid increased whereas docosahexaenoic acid decreased significantly. In this lipid class, AA and the sum of AA plus its precursor, dihomogamma-linolenic acid, increased significantly with the dose fed. A positive correlation was found between change in vital capacity and change in linoleic acid content of serum CE and AA content of serum PL.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Diagnostic and therapeutic management of atypical mycobacterial infections in children.

A series of 12 children (9 girls, 3 boys) with non-tuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenitis was reviewed to define the most frequent presenting features, helpful diagnostic measures and optimal management. The mean age at diagnosis was 42 months and cervical nodes in the submandibular region were most commonly affected. In most of the children the diagnosis was made on the basis of a positive intradermal skin test with specific antigens for atypical mycobacteria. The diagnosis was confirmed in all but one case by histopathologic examination. Total excision of the affected gland was recommended as the therapy of choice in the patients treated.

Child↗
PubMed1993

Gastroenteric cyst.

The authors report a rare case of gastroenteric cyst in a 4-day-old baby with increasing cyanosis. CT and MRI demonstrated a posterior mediastinal cystic mass, which finally was characterised by pathology as a gastroenteric cyst.

Cysts↗
PubMed1992

Increase of long chain omega-3 fatty acids in the major serum lipid classes of patients with cystic fibrosis.

We studied the effects of supplementing patients with cystic fibrosis for 1 month with 3 g/day of a dietary supplement, containing 911 mg omega 3 fatty acids, on the fatty acid composition of serum cholesterol esters, free fatty acids, phospholipids and triglycerides. At the end of the supplementation period, the content of total omega 3 fatty acids was increased significantly in all lipid classes. The effect on individual omega 3 fatty acids depended on the fatty acid and lipid class studied, increased with the dose fed and decreased with the weight of the patient. One month after the end of the supplementation period, fatty acid levels had returned to pretreatment values. These results demonstrate that enrichment of serum lipid classes with omega 3 fatty acids is feasible in CF patients by dietary supplementation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Esophageal perforation in the newborn infant].

A newborn infant with traumatic perforation of the esophagus is described. Etiologic factors, clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment are discussed. The limitation of negative suction pressure used in neonatal resuscitation is emphasized.

Esophageal Perforation↗