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Biomedical subjects

J Ghisolfi

Publications and source records attributed to J Ghisolfi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

[Distribution of expenses (personnel, consumption, procedures) in a pediatric unit in a university hospital center].

A study has been undertaken in a unit of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition. The unit also deals with general pediatric emergencies. The purpose of this study was to calculate the cost of hospitalization and the distribution of the cost between the different components: personnel expenses (medical and non-medical staff), cost of products used (enteral and parenteral nutrition included), cost of medicotechnical intervention. The study was carried out over a period of 28 days and included 117 hospitalized children. Only the expenses directly linked to the patient's care were taken into account. The exact time spent with each patient by every category of staff, the quantity of products and the treatment given had to be carefully recorded. The results reveal the share of the cost which goes to non-medical staff (about 60%), except when pathological cases need frequent and detailed investigations. Once the budget has been determined, department heads are required to play administrative role and this study underlines the process of cost build-up and thus enables a selective intervention in one sector or another of hospital expenses.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Taurine and the premature.

In the human fetus and in the early postnatal period, during development, the total body taurine content, particularly of the brain, increases markedly. It can be estimated that the human fetus accumulates approximately 50-60 mumol/24 h during the last 4 weeks of pregnancy. As there is evidence for the relative inability of infants to synthesize taurine, this nitrogen compound has to be wholly supplied by the mother during pregnancy and by diet after birth, particularly for the prematures who have to constitute appreciable reserves in their tissues. In adults (mammals and humans), it has been shown that the slowly exchangeable pool of taurine (mainly brain and muscles) cannot be increased by exogenous taurine but, in growing mammals, taurine from diet is rapidly transferred to tissues. Although no real proof yet exists, it seems probable that taurine should be considered an essential nutrient for premature infants.

Fetus↗
PubMed1986

[Stool electrolyte concentration in acute infantile diarrhea in France].

Sodium, potassium and chloride stool content was studied in 107 children aged 1 to 32 months (11 +/- 8 months) presenting with acute diarrhea related to a rotavirus infection (34 cases), to an invasive pathogen (Salmonella or Shigella 14 cases, E. coli 4 cases), or of non-identified etiology (65 cases). The therapeutic protocol was the same in all cases: rehydration for the first 24 hours, progressive realimentation from the second or third day, no drugs being given. An average of 4 stools were analysed for each child (range 2-14), the fecal samples being collected over 2 to 4 consecutive days. Na+ and K+ (n = 366) were assayed by flame photometry and chloride (n = 88) by continuous colorimetry. In the stool samples taken as a whole, without taking into account etiology or day of sampling, the electrolyte concentration (mean +/- SD) was 42 +/- 20 mmol/l for Na+ (range 4-166), 51 +/- 24 mmol/l for K+ (range 5-195), and 24 +/- 11 mmol/l for Cl- (range 4-93). No significant variation of these values was observed according to etiology, duration, severity of the diarrheal syndrome, oral rehydration or nutrition.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1986

Effects of retinoic acid on hepatic cytochrome P-450 dependent enzymes in rats under different vitamin A status.

The temporal effects of retinoic acid supplementation on hepatic cytochrome P-450-dependent enzymes were studied on the rat. Four groups of male weanling rats were fed semi synthetic diets: two groups containing 0 or 4.4 mg retinol equivalents per kg diet as retinyl palmitate (A- RA- and A+ RA- groups) and two similar groups supplemented with all trans retinoic acid (12 mg/kg diet) (A- RA+ and A+ RA+ groups). After five or ten weeks of feeding, the rats were killed, liver microsomes were prepared and assayed for aniline hydroxylase, aminopyrine N demethylase activities and cytochrome P-450 levels. Whereas no change was observed between the four groups after 5 weeks, the following modifications appeared after 10 weeks: Vitamin A deficiency decreased hepatic drug metabolism by phase I enzymes (hydroxylase and N demethylase) but only when liver storage pool was not detectable. Vitamin A concentration as low as 4 micrograms/g is sufficient to avoid any perturbation of these enzymes. Parallel to a sparing effect on liver reserves of vitamin A, retinoic acid maintained a normal activity of enzymes of xenobiotic metabolism. However, retinoic acid treatment produced an alteration of phase I enzymes in vitamin A supplemented group (A+ RA+). As this was accompanied by a doubling of vitamin A liver reserves, compared to A+ RA- group, it is suggested that this might result from a liver vitamin A overloading, leading to membrane damage perturbing microsomal enzymes. These results indicate the need for a more careful use of retinoids as a therapeutic agent.

Aminopyrine N-Demethylase↗
PubMed1986

[Screening of essential fatty acid deficiency in children. Respective value of the assay of fatty acids in total lipids and lipid fractions of the serum].

This study was carried out in metabolically stable infants aged from one to six months receiving artificial food. The lipid serum fraction presenting changes characteristic of essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency was determined. A preliminary study (n = 13 samples) showed that analysis of total fatty acids (TFA) and of phospholipids (PL) was more discriminatory than analysis of free fatty acids (FFA), triglycerides (TG) or esterified cholesterol (EC). Comparison of TFA and PL (n = 25 samples) confirmed literature data; in particular, C18: 2 n-6 and C20: 4 n-6 decreased whereas C20: 3 n-9 increased. These changes were clearer and significantly greater (p less than 0.001) for C20: 3 n-9 and C20: 4 n-6 of the PL, but were also very significant for the TFA compared to healthy controls. The C20: n-9/C20: n-6 ratio was identical for all fractions. TFA analysis by gas-liquid chromatography is faster and less costly than analysis of lipid fractions and provides sufficient data for screening of EFA deficiency.

Chemical Fractionation↗
PubMed1985

[Acute drug-induced esophagitis].

Esophageal lesions due to treatment with medication in the form of tablets are frequent. The authors report the case of a 10 year-old child who presented with extended mucosal necrosis of the esophagus after having been given a tablet of Rhinasal in the evening, without concomitant ingestion of water. A fiberoptic endoscopy was performed 3 days after the onset and showed the recovery of the mucosal inflammatory lesions, without local or general treatment, allowing oral feeding of the child after the 4th day.

Acetaminophen↗
PubMed1985

Evidence for two subcellular pools and different kinetic behaviour of retinyl palmitate in rat liver.

Rats were fed vitamin A deficient diets (-A) or supplemented with vitamin A (+A) (4.4 mg retinol equivalents/kg diet), either without (-RA) or with retinoic acid (+RA) (12 mg/kg diet) supplementation for up to six weeks. Plasma and liver levels as well as the subcellular localization of vitamin A were determined. In rats reared on the vitamin A rich diet the localization of retinyl palmitate (principal reserve form) is shown to be dependent on age. Two pools exist, i.e. one consisting of the nuclear and mitochondrial-lysosomal fractions and the other containing the microsomal and cytosol fractions. A rapid replenishment of mitochondrial-lysosomal fractions occurs in the first weeks after the weaning. During six weeks of deficient diet an identical mobilization was seen from the different subcellular fractions. Supplementation with RA caused an immediate and sustained reduction of serum vitamin A levels but did not disturb the subcellular localization of retinyl palmitate. A relationship between these phenomena and the subcellular distribution of the retinyl palmitate hydrolase (RPH) and the cellular vitamin A binding proteins (CRBP) is likely to exist.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

[Hydrocephalus during central parenteral feeding. Role of vitamin A poisoning].

Five children receiving central parenteral nutrition presented between the 6th and 16th day of renutrition with hydrocephalus unrelated to intercurrent neurologic disorder. Repeated determinations of plasma retinol and of the transport complex components made the proof of vitamin A intoxication in 2 cases. Vitamin A had been provided in the form of a water-soluble vitamin-solution incorporated in the nutrition mixture (doses: 1,500 micrograms and 3,000 micrograms retinol equivalent respectively). These 2 case reports have to be compared with 3 other cases of hydrocephalus occurring during total parenteral nutrition. One child presented with bilateral jugular thrombosis secondary to percutaneous venous approach trials, while the 2 other were probably within the framework of an accelerated weight recovery following nutritional marasmus.

Female↗