Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P D Manuel

Publications and source records attributed to P D Manuel.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Transient monosaccharide intolerance in infants with acute and protracted diarrhoea.

A retrospective clinical study was done of 38 infants with temporary monosaccharide intolerance who were admitted to hospital between November 1976 and August 1978. There were two clinical groups. Group 1 consisted of 31 infants who developed monosaccharide intolerance as a sequela to acute gastroenteritis (i.e., 4% of infants admitted with acute gastroenteritis). Rotavirus was the cause of gastroenteritis in 64% of cases of monosaccharide intolerance. Monosaccharide intolerance was easily managed by dietary manipulations and lasted a mean of 2.5 days. Group 2 consisted of seven infants who developed monosaccharide intolerance during the course of protracted diarrhoea. The monosaccharide intolerance lasted up to 70 days, with a mean of 21 days, and required a period of total bowel rest followed often by complicated dietary manipulation.

Acute Disease↗

New immunofluorescent blood test for gluten sensitivity.

A new test for the detection of antibodies to gliadin in the sera of children who are gluten sensitive is described. This test is based on the observation that wheat protein binds selectively to connective tissue fibres in cryostat sections of mammalian tissues. Sera containing antibodies to gliadin give a reticulin pattern of staining on section pretreated with wheat gliadin if tested by indirect immunofluorescence. Antibodies to gliadin were detected in this manner in sera fom all of 32 children with coeliac disease, in 16 of whom a provisional diagnosis had been given and in 16 an established diagnosis confirmed by gluten challenge. The incidence of reticulin antibodies detected on untreated sections (in the absence of gliadin) was only 28%. Gliadin antibodies were also present in sera from 15% of 152 children with gastroenterological disorders other than coeliac disease, but most of these non-positive results for coeliac disease were in patients with transient gluten in tolerance, cows' milk-sensitive enteropathy, or Crohn's disease. This new test, although not specific for coeliac disease, promises to be of value as an indicator of gluten sensitivity, and when negative excludes a diagnosis of coeliac disease. It may also be useful in monitoring diet, and in determining when rebiopsy after gluten challenge in appropriate.

Adolescent↗

Decline of hypernatraemia as a problem in gastroenteritis.

During the 5-year period 1973--77 there was a considerable change in infant feeding practice (the use of low solute cows' milk formulae instead of high solute formulae and the later introduction of solid foods into the diet) which should have led to a reduced incidence of hypernatraemia among infants admitted to hospital with gastroenteritis. We have compared the incidence of hypernatraemia in such infants admitted during three 12-month periods between January 1973 and December 1977. Our results show there was such a reduction; they also show that hypernatraemia did not occur in infants fed a low solute milk formula alone.

Animals↗

Patchy enteropathy in childhood.

Two hundred and seventy-eight duodenal biopsy specimens taken consecutively from children using either a single port paediatric Crosby capsule or a double port modification were examined both histologically and by dissecting microscopy, in order to determine the incidence of patchy mucosal lesions. One hundred and six specimens were abnormal and 49 of these were patchy. Patchy lesions occurred most commonly in cow's milk sensitive enteropathy where 66% of 33 specimens were patchy; in comparison all children with undiagnosed coeliac disease taking a normal diet showed a uniformly flat mucosa. Twenty-two per cent of specimens taken using the double port and 10% using the single port capsule were patchy, a statistically significant difference (P = 0.01) using standard errors. Where lesions were uniform, grading by dissecting microscopy correlated well with histological grading; 18 (37%) of specimens were, however, recognised as patchy only on gross appearance. The high incidence of patchy lesions of the proximal small intestine reflected the prevalence of cow's milk protein intolerance and the postenteritis syndrome in these children. The use of the double port capsule and of dissecting microscopy also contributed to the high incidence found.

Animals↗

Acute inflammatory bowel disease in childbood: a new disease?

Three children aged between 7 and 11 years, after an acute onset of diarrhoea and vomiting, developed protracted diarrhoea and severe loss of weight. None had been abroad. No significant aetiological agent was found. There was evidence of acute inflammatory disease on proximal small intestinal biopsy, and some evidence of more widespread gut involvement--of the rectum in Cases 1 and 2, and the terminal ileum in Cases 2 and 3. The disease resolved spontaneously and without relapse.

Acute Disease↗