Topical sucralfate cream treatment for aplasia cutis congenita with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa: a case study.

Bart syndrome consists of aplasia cutis congenita (ACC) and dominant or recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB), associated with skin fragility and nail dysplasia. ACC in DEB is thought to be caused by trauma, the most cited cause being in utero formation of bullae consequent to friction of the limbs. Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) refers to a hereditary mechanobullous disease following trauma, characterised by formation of blisters on the skin and mucous membranes. There are four categories of the disease, including epidermolysis bullosa simplex, junctional epidermolysis bullosa, dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa and Kindler syndrome. Infection, sepsis and death may occur as a consequence of generalised blistering with complication. We present the case of a newborn diagnosed with DEB and whose lesions became almost fully epithelialised after treatment with 10% topical sucralfate.

Effect of breastfeeding on serum zinc levels and growth in healthy infants.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the association among breastfeeding, serum zinc levels, and nutritional status of children. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred healthy infants were included in the study. Anthropometric measurements of the children were taken, and their plasma zinc levels were determined. The mothers were interviewed about the duration of breastfeeding and nutrition pattern of the children at the time of zinc measurement. RESULTS: Low zinc levels were associated with lower weight measurements (r=0.49, p<0.001), but the association between height and zinc level was not statistically significant (r=0.18, p>0.05). There was a negative correlation between breastfeeding duration and weight-for-age percentile (r=-0.2, p<0.05), height-for-age percentile (r=-0.3, p<0.05), and serum zinc level (r=-0.3, p=0.002). The pattern of nutrition correlated only with the weight of the infant (r=0.2, p<0.05) and not with either height or serum zinc levels (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Exclusive breastfeeding beyond 6 months of age has negative effects on serum zinc levels and can be associated with low weight gain, which will be especially important in developing countries.