Mother‐to‐infant transmission of hepatitis C virus

To estimate the risk of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and identify correlates of transmission, 245 perinatally exposed singleton children followed prospectively beyond 18 months of age were studied. Overall, 28 (11.4%) of the 245 children acquired HCV infection. Transmission occurred in 3 of 80 children (3.7%) whose mothers had HCV infection alone and in 25 of 165 (15.1%; P < .01) whose mothers had concurrent infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The percentage of HIV-1-infected children was similar (22 of 165, 13.3%), but each virus was transmitted independently; only six infants (3.6%) were coinfected with HCV and HIV-1. The risk of HCV transmission was not associated with maternal HIV-1-related symptoms, intravenous drug use, prematurity, low birth weight, or breast-feeding, whereas it was lower with cesarean section than with vaginal delivery (5.6% vs. 13.9%, P = .06). This suggests that transmission occurs mainly around the time of delivery.

Increased Risk of Maternal-Infant Hepatitis C Virus Transmission for Women Coinfected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1

Gianotti-Crosti syndrome.

https://www.journal-of-hepatology.eu/article/S0168-8278(99)80392-4/pdf

Hepatitis C: public health strategies

This study evaluated the sleep–wake pattern, plasma melatonin levels and the urinary excretion of its metabolite, 6-sulphatoxy-melatonin among children with severe epileptic disorders, before and after a therapeutic trial with melatonin. Ten paediatric patients, suffering from severe epileptic disorders, were selected and given a nightly dose of 3 mg of a placebo, for 1 wk; for the next 3 months, the placebo was replaced with a nightly dose of 3 mg of melatonin. At the end of each treatment period, the urinary excretion of 6-sulphatoxy-melatonin (for the intervals 09.00 – 21:00 hr or 21:00–09:00 hr) and plasma levels of melatonin (recorded at 01:00, 05:00, 09:00, 13:00, 17:00 and 21:00 hr) were recorded, over a period of 24 hr; an actigraph record was also kept. Sleep efficiency among patients who received melatonin was significantly higher than among those given the placebo, with fewer night-time awakenings. Periodic plasma melatonin levels were regained and a better control gained of convulsive episodes, in that the number of seizures decreased. We conclude that melatonin is a good regulator of the sleep–wake cycle for paediatric patients suffering from severe epilepsy, moreover, it to a better control of convulsive episodes.

Normalization of the sleep-wake pattern and melatonin and 6-sulphatoxy-melatonin levels after a therapeutic trial with melatonin in children with severe epilepsy.

[Gianotti-Crosti syndrome due to a mixed infection produced by the mumps virus and the parainfluenza virus type 2].

OBJECTIVE The objectives of this study were to know the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a population of pregnant women, to evaluate the vertical transmission rates of HCV in a prospective study and to determine the repercussions and consequences in children born to infected mothers. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 6556 pregnant women were tested for HCV antibodies from January 1993 to August 1995. We followed 50 babies born to infected mothers for at least 12 months (mean 15 months). Serological assays employed included a screening ELISA II confirmed with immunoblot. Viral detection was performed by qualitative and quantitative PCR for HCV-RNA. RESULTS Fifty-nine pregnant women were AcHCV(+). This represents a seroprevalence of 0.9%. Of the 50 babies followed, 6 were PCR(+) and 44 were PCR(-). The risk of transmission is correlated with the titer of HCV-RNA in the mother. All mothers of infected babies were HIV (-). CONCLUSIONS The rate of prevalence in our pregnant women population is 0.9%. We found a vertical transmission rate of 12%. The high serum HCV-RNA titers in the mothers are a risk factor of transmission of HCV. The viremia in the children does not predict the apparition of the clinical disease, although they can exhibit intermittent increases of transaminases.

Vertical transmission of hepatitis C virus

The role of sleep and sleep deprivation as inducer of paroxysmal abnormalities in EEG was studies in 104 infants and children under 14 years of age. These children suffered from various types of seizures and of normal standard EEG. These children who suffered from seizures of epileptic origin, after sleep deprivation had an EEG that showed a paroxysmal activity of 70.91% of the cases (p less than 0.001). The forced lack of sleep and the sleep that follows were found to be equally important as activators of paroxysmal abnormalities. The method of activation was found to be efficient in both partial an generalized seizures. The paroxysmal abnormalities were noted as being greater in phase II sleep. The EEG in sleep deprivation can show paroxysmal abnormalities, in children with epileptic seizures, that were hidden from standard EEG.

EEG with sleep deprivation in epileptic children

Encephalitis due to the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus

Authors report results of treatment of two patients with congenital pulmonary arteriovenous fistulae by means of percutaneous transcatheter embolization utilizing metallic coils. They found a total regression of clinical signs after a follow-up of 36 and 30 months respectively.

González Hachero J

Papers

[Gianotti-Crosti syndrome due to a mixed infection produced by the mumps virus and the parainfluenza virus type 2].

Vertical transmission of hepatitis C virus

EEG with sleep deprivation in epileptic children

Encephalitis due to the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus

Pulmonary arteriovenous fistula treated using percutaneous transcatheter embolization