[Effect of ACTH, dexamethasone, and adrenalectomy on the secretion of testosterone in the rat]

The effect of ACTH (100 micrograms/animal/day, i.p.), dexamethasone (75 micrograms/animal/day, s.c.), both for three consecutive days, and adrenalectomy, with or without dexamethasone, maintained according to the group, one, two or three days, on the plasmatic testosterone and corticosterone levels, has been studied in adult male Wistar rats. ACTH and adrenalectomy produced a high decrease in testosterone levels (p less than 0.001 for the three days studied). Dexamethasone produced lower testosterone levels in the first day followed by partial recuperation between the second and the third days of its administration. Dexamethasone produced the effects mentioned for intact animals. The changes in corticosterone levels were according to an adequate response of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal system under these experimental circumstances. ACTH exerts an inhibitory effect on testosterone secretion in the rat, so that such an effect from the data obtained after adrenalectomy and simultaneous dexamethasone injections, does not seems to be mediated either by the presence of adrenals or high corticosterone levels.

Iatrogenic bilateral tibial fractures after intraosseous infusion attempts in a 3-month-old infant

A 3-month-old girl presented to the emergency department with a clinical picture compatible with sepsis. When peripheral IV cannulation could not be attained, intraosseous (IO) access was attempted unsuccessfully in both tibias as well as in the right femur. The child was subsequently treated for S pneumoniae meningitis. Three days after discharge and 14 days after initial presentation, the family noticed swelling of the child's right leg. Radiographs revealed healing fractures of both proximal tibias. This case represents a previously unreported complication of intraosseous infusions and underscores the need for the use of proper technique and equipment.

Parenteral nutrition in propionic and methylmalonic acidemia

Although propionic acidemia and methylmalonic acidemia, two disorders of branched-chain amino acid metabolism often complicated by chronic anorexia and vomiting, are not usually treated with parenteral nutrition for fear of amino acid overload and exacerbation of biochemical derangements, we gave long-term parenteral nutrition to two critically ill patients with these disorders. Health and growth were restored, and there was minimal production of abnormal metabolites. The dramatic clinical and biochemical improvement of these patients bolsters the concept that most of the toxic metabolites produced in these diseases are not related to the administered load of nutrient precursors, but rather to endogenous turnover of amino acids, particularly during a chronic catabolic state. Suppression of catabolism can produce striking biochemical and clinical improvement. With appropriate monitoring, parenteral nutrition can be used safely in the management of patients with these disorders.

Sclerotherapy for extrahepatic portal hypertension in childhood

Ten children with extrahepatic portal hypertension who had major bleeding from esophageal varices were treated with sclerotherapy of esophageal varices by means of flexible fiberoptic endoscopy and intravenous sedation. Four had had no previous therapy, five had had previous surgery for variceal bleeding, and five had received propranolol orally. During therapy and follow-up monitoring of 1.4 to 7.1 years (mean 4.7 years), only two patients bled again from esophageal varices, one before complete obliteration of varices and one who temporarily defaulted on follow-up. The few complications were easily managed, and only three required any specific therapy. No child bled from gastric varices. Frequency of sclerotherapy sessions and quantity of sclerosant could be decreased with time, usually after 3 years of sclerotherapy, suggesting that the natural history of decreased bleeding with time in extrahepatic portal hypertension may be accelerated by sclerotherapy. Esophageal varices in children with extrahepatic portal hypertension may be treated safely with sclerotherapy, which is effective in preventing chronic and recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding.

Operative treatment for the gastroesophageal reflux syndrome in children

Surgical treatment for symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux (GER) was performed on 420 infants and children over a 19-year period. Esophageal motility disorders were present in more than 35% of patients and delayed gastric emptying (DGE) was present in approximately 50% of patients studied. Gastroesophageal fundoplication (GEF) alone was performed for 357 patients, whereas 51 patients underwent GEF and pyloroplasty; 12 patients underwent pyloroplasty alone. When there is more than 60% gastric retention of technetium-99m sulphur colloid in semisolid feedings at 90 minutes, pyloroplasty appears to be useful. Twenty-two percent of the last 275 refluxing children underwent pyloroplasty combined with GEF. Most infants and young children undergoing evaluation for severe GER, particularly those with neurologic disorders, may benefit from having a gastric emptying study. Children with severe reflux and esophageal dysmotility should have a loose GEF performed. The absence of persistent dumping, and the very low incidence of complications suggests that pyloroplasty should be used more frequently when significant DGE is present.

Intravenous fat emulsion (intralipid) delays gastric emptying, but does not cause gastroesophageal reflux in healthy volunteers

The impact of overnight intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) infusion on upper gastrointestinal tract physiology was assessed in 10 healthy volunteers. No changes in lower esophageal sphincter pressure (before infusion: 28 +/- 4 mm Hg; after infusion 20.5 +/- 3; p:NS), plasma concentrations of gastrointestinal hormones (gastrin: preprandial before/after lipids: 14 +/- 2.1/13 +/- 1.4 pM; postprandial before/after lipids: 28 +/- 2.7/30 +/- 3.4 pM, CCK: preprandial before/after lipids: 69 +/- 10/64 +/- 10 pM; postprandial before/after lipids: 96 +/- 11/95 +/- 12 pM; neurotensin: levels less than 6 pM in all samples; somatostatin levels undetectable in all samples) nor on pathologic gastroesophageal reflux episodes (% of time of pH less than 4, before/after lipids: 0.6 +/- 0.4/0.15 +/- 0.09), were found (p = NS). In contrast, technetium gastric emptying studies showed a significant delay when comparing pre- and post-lipid infusion values (37 +/- 4/54 +/- 4%) (p greater than 0.005). The mechanism of this effect remains unexplained.

Fine needle aspiration cytologic findings and differential diagnosis of solitary pseudorheumatoid nodule

The cytologic findings in fine needle aspirates of two solitary pseudorheumatoid nodules are presented. The main characteristic of the smears was a necrotic granular and filamentous background accompanied by a granulomatous inflammatory infiltrate. The differential diagnosis is analyzed. The results in these cases indicate that the diagnosis of a solitary pseudorheumatoid nodule may be made by fine needle aspiration cytology after a critical evaluation of the cytologic and clinical data and with the help of special stains and microbial culture.

[Malabsorption syndrome caused by Giardia lamblia in gastrectomized patients]

We report three adult patients with gastrectomy who had malabsorption caused by Giardia lamblia. Type II gastrectomy had been carried out in the three patients several years before, and the clinical presentation was similar: chronic diarrhea with malabsorption. A remarkable fact was that the search for parasites in feces was repeatedly negative in two patients, the protozoon being identified in the intestinal biopsy samples. In the third case, the diagnosis was made by the visualization of Giardia cysts in the feces.

Alport's syndrome and achalasia

A 7-year-old boy presented with a history of postprandial vomiting, failure to thrive, hematuria, proteinuria and decreased renal function. Electron microscopy of a renal biopsy specimen demonstrated the typical glomerular basement membrane changes associated with Alport's syndrome. Audiometry revealed a moderate bilateral high-tone sensorineural hearing loss. Bilateral anterior lenticonus and a unilateral cataract were also diagnosed. Achalasia diagnosed radiologically and confirmed by biopsy was corrected by surgery. Evaluations of the parents and three siblings were negative. The patient subsequently developed end-stage renal failure. This case report and a review of the literature suggest that achalasia may be part of Alport's syndrome in some patients.

Diagnosis and management of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction syndromes in infancy and childhood

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction is a rare disorder characterized by ineffective intestinal propulsion in the absence of mechanical factors. It depends on isolated or associated disturbances of intrinsic and extrinsic innervation of the smooth muscle, neurotransmitters and hormones. In children the most common causes are postoperative paralytic ileus, pneumonia or pancreatitis, occurring usually in the first year of life. There is also hereditary transmission, comprising the familial visceral myopathy (hollow visceral myopathy) and the familial visceral neuropathy. The pseudo-obstruction may be associated with congenital anomalies (digestive or not) in 10 to 30% of the cases, mainly malrotation, pyloric stenosis and bladder atony. Diagnostic difficulties may lead to exploratory laparotomy. A precise diagnosis requires judicious interpretation of radiologic, manometric, radioisotopic and hystologic findings. Medical treatment includes drugs acting on gastrointestinal motility as well as hydroelectric and nutritional support, besides treatment or prevention of infections. It is possible that in the future these patients may be treated by surgical implantation of electrodes promoting gastrointestinal myoelectrical stimulation.

Fiberoptic upper intestinal endoscopy in infants and children

Fiberoptic upper intestinal endoscopy has been shown in the last decade to be the most sensitive technique to diagnose upper gastrointestinal disease. Diagnostic endoscopy has been shown to be safe, with a low complication rate of less than 2 per cent, and most of those reported have been minor. Furthermore, therapeutic endoscopy has been used to treat bleeding varices by sclerotherapy, avoiding the need for shunting procedures, which often fall in young children. Dilation of strictures with wire-guided dilators, endoscopic incision of antral mucosal diaphragms, and percutaneous placement of gastrostomy tubes are other ways endoscopy is being used as a means of treatment. Electrocoagulation and photocoagulation of bleeding upper gastrointestinal lesions have not been used.

Protracted hemorrhagic gastritis in an infant recovering from acute pancreatitis--successful management with prostaglandin E2 analogue

This case report describes the course and management of a 10-week-old boy with idiopathic hemorrhagic pancreatitis who presented initially with ascites. His hospital course was complicated by severe recurrent intraperitoneal bleeding, requiring, in less than 5 days three exploratory laparotomies to control the hemorrhage. In the following 11 weeks he had five major bleeding episodes attributed to ulcers, gastritis, and esophagitis. Continuous infusion of H2 blockers, antacid drip, and sucralfate combined with Nissen fundoplication, elective vagotomy, and pyloroplasty were used unsuccessfully to control the bleeding until a prostaglandin E2 analogue at 18 micrograms/kg/day in four divided doses was given enterally. During the following 19 months, there has been no recurrence of bleeding.

Surgical treatment of the gastroesophageal reflux syndrome in infants and children

During an 18 year period, 352 infants and children under 18 years of age underwent surgical treatment for symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux. Delayed gastric emptying was present in more than 50 percent as evidenced by more than 50 percent retention of technetium-99m sulfur colloid in semisolid feedings at 90 minutes. Esophageal motility disorders occurred in over 35 percent of the patients with symptomatic reflux, militating against performing a tight antireflux operation. Of 352 patients who had operation for symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux, 308 underwent gastroesophageal fundoplication alone, 26 underwent gastroesophageal fundoplication and pyloroplasty, 12 had pyloroplasty alone, and 6 had gastroesophageal fundoplication followed by pyloroplasty as a second operation because of residual delay in gastric emptying. An abnormal result of esophageal pH monitoring and decreased lower esophageal sphincter pressure with normal gastric emptying suggest use of the gastroesophageal fundoplication alone. Delay in gastric emptying combined with decreased lower esophageal sphincter pressure and abnormal results of esophageal pH monitoring indicate the use of gastroesophageal fundoplication plus pyloroplasty. A mildly abnormal esophageal pH value in combination with a high-normal lower esophageal sphincter pressure and marked delay in gastric emptying (over 60 percent retention at 90 minutes) suggest the use of pyloroplasty alone. The excellent clinical results achieved with gastroesophageal fundoplication, with or without pyloroplasty, and the low morbidity and mortality rates indicate that these procedures should be used early in the management of infants and children with symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux syndrome.

[Double outlet right ventricle with discordant atrioventricular connection. Clinical study]

The clinical and anatomic findings were reviewed in 17 patients with double-outlet right ventricle and atrioventricular discordance. Ten cases had atrial situs solitus, seven with right-sided heart three with left-sided heart. Seven cases had atrial situs inversus, five with left-sided heart and two with right-sided heart. All cases presented ventricular septal defect, 13 subvalvar pulmonary stenosis, two tricuspid regurgitation and two complete atrioventricular block. The spatial relationship between the arterial valves are variable. Most cases in atrial situs solitus had a left-sided and anterior aorta and all patients in atrial situs inversus had a right-sided and anterior aorta. In this study we compared the anomalies found in our cases with double outlet right ventricle with those in 58 patients with corrected transposition. Absolute, relative and attributable risks were calculated for the presence of subvalvular pulmonary stenosis, ventricular septal defect, tricuspid regurgitation and atrioventricular block for each the two groups. We concluded that patients with double-outlet right ventricle are more prone to present ventricular septal defect and subvalvar pulmonary stenosis, while those with corrected transposition have a greater likelihood of presenting with tricuspid regurgitation and atrioventricular block. There is no typical clinical picture for the malformations. Symptoms depend upon the associated anomalies. The final diagnosis is best achieved by the echocardiographic and angiocardiographic studies, but electrocardiogram and chest radiograph may suggest the presence of a discordant atrioventricular connection.

Antithrombotic therapy in children and adolescents

This report documents our experience with long term antithrombotic therapy (acenocoumarol plus aspirin) in 31 children and adolescents, from 5 months to 16 years of age. The valves replaced were mitral in 20 patients, aortic in 4, mitral-aortic in 4 and tricuspid in 3; the overall follow-up time was of 1336 months. Anticoagulant requirement in each children was not in correlation with age, but a significant increase (p less than 0.01) was found in association with sexual development. Our total incidence of embolic episodes was 1.49/1000 patient-months. The embolic incidence on adequate anticoagulated patients was 0.74/1000 patient-months and 93.7% of all patients were free of thrombo-embolic accidents up to 96 months of follow-up. Minor haemorrhage in relation to an excess of anticoagulant was 1.49/1000 patient-months. There has been only one major bleeding episode associated with severe sepsis, with an incidence of 0.74/1000 patient-months. No major difficulties were found in the management of anticoagulant treatment and its association with antiplatelet drugs in children.

Home parenteral nutrition in the infant

Home parenteral nutrition has become an important technique for the provision of nutritional support to infants in their home environment. It allows infants to exhibit long-term growth and development while the slow process of intestinal adaptation occurs. An important insight into the role of specific nutrients and their effect on body metabolism has been gained with the clinical use of total parenteral nutrition.

The clinical features and diagnosis of a discordant atrioventricular connexion

Seventy-three patients were studied with a discordant atrioventricular connexion (ages 3 months to 46 years). In 58 the diagnosis was proved by angiography and in the other 15 at necropsy. Forty-eight had usual atrial arrangement and 25 mirror-image atria. Fifty-two patients had ventriculo-arterial discordance, 13 double outlet right ventricle, 4 ventriculoarterial concordance, 3 single outlet of the heart and 1 double outlet left ventricle. Nine with ventriculoarterial discordance had no other associated defects. The spatial relationship of the ventricles was variable, but in usual atrial arrangement the morphologically left ventricle tended to be on the right, and in mirror-image arrangement to the left of the morphologically right ventricle. The spatial relationship between the arterial valves was also variable, but in ventriculoarterial discordance and double outlet right ventricle the aortic valve was anterior and either to the right or left of the pulmonary valve in all but 3 cases. There is no typical clinical picture for these malformations. Symptoms depend upon the associated anomalies or the presence of atrioventricular dissociation. The diagnosis of a discordant atrioventricular connexion is best achieved by the echocardiographic and haemodynamic studies, but the electrocardiogram, chest radiograph and nuclear medicine studies may suggest its presence. Most patients are asymptomatic and progress normally to adult life. Only the symptomatic patients require surgical correction. Postoperative follow-up in the survivors is excellent, only 2 of 14 patients dying after surgery.

Anapsos, an antipsoriatic drug which increases the proportion of suppressor cells in human peripheral blood

Anapsos, an antipsoriatic drug, was administered to normal volunteers in order to study its possible activity on the immune system. After three days of treatment, the drug decreased the lymphoblastic response to PWM and very slightly reduced the serum levels of immunoglobulins. After five days of treatment, however, both values were normal. The response to ConA decreased, and there was an increase in the suppressor index and in the proportion of OKT 8+. The drug did not vary the proportion of OKT 4+ and OKT 3+ cells. These results suggest that anapsos acts by increasing the number of suppressor cells. Such anapsos-induced suppressor cells are probably responsible for the diminished response to ConA, but did not seem to significantly affect response to PWM and serum levels of Ig after five days of treatment.

[Value of digestive manometry in scleroderma of childhood]

The authors report a case of systemic scleroderma in a 7 year-old boy, with digestive, cardiac and cutaneous involvement. They stress for the first time the pediatric significance of esophageal and recto-anal manometry from an etiologic topographic point of view.

Prolonged constant rate elemental enteral nutrition in Crohn's disease

Constant rate enteral nutrition (CREN) has been used in 17 pediatric patients with Crohn's disease. Exclusive CREN was maintained from 2 to 7 months and progressively reduced to assure fractioned oral intakes from 12 to 22 months. From this preliminary study, CREN appeared to be as effective as steroid therapy in initiating remission of active Crohn's disease and was able to suppress steroid dependence. In some cases with prolonged CREN, reduction or disappearance of stenotic lesions of the bowel was observed. Two other positive points must be emphasized: the favorable psychological impact of the method and the ability to avoid growth suppression secondary to steroids. The long-term effects and longer remissions must be confirmed by a multicenter study in a larger group of patients.

[Double outlet chamber from the right ventricle with restrictive interventricular communication]

We report two cases with double outlet right ventricle and subaortic restrictive ventricular septal defect. Both had atrial situs solitus and atrioventricular concordance. There were no other associated defects. Both cases were diagnosed by means of an angiocardiographic study and case two was also studied anatomically. Additional data for the diagnosis were findings of left ventricular overload by the EKG; left atrial enlargement and signs of venocapillary hypertension by the chest X-rays; left ventricular/right ventricular pressure gradient by the hemodynamic study and the angiographic findings. One case had mitro-aortic discontinuity. Case two had a double infundibulum, being the left one the responsible for the restrictive ventricular septal defect. We conclude that double-outlet right ventricle with restrictive ventricular septal defect cases have their own clinical, hemodynamic and angiographic features which have to be accurately studied in order to offer an adequate surgical treatment.

[Apical hypertrophic myocardiopathy. Report of the first case identified on the American continent]

What appears to be the first case of hypertrophic apical myocardiography described in the western hemisphere is presented in this report. The diagnosis was confirmed by angiocardiography and echocardiography. The electrocardiogram showed the characteristic giant T waves. It is of interest that the coronary radioangiography suggested alterations in the microcirculation which could explain the striking electrocardiographic pattern of subepicardial ischemia seen in these patients.

[Congenital intrapericardial parietal aneurysm of the left atrium. The electrocardiogram and echocardiogram as methods of diagnostic value]

A case of congenital intrapericardial aneurysm of the left atrium associated with functional mitral insufficiency is described; it was resected successfully. Clinical, radiographic, vecto-electrocardiographic, ecocardiographic and angiocardiographic findings are shown. Those are compared with those of other nine similar cases. The finding of qR or QS complexes in L-I and a VL in the electrocardiogram as a sign of left atrial enlargement and eco-fre space posterior to the left ventricular endocardium in the ecocardiogram is mentioned as useful data in the diagnosis of left atrial aneurysmal dilatation not previously reported. Considering that the surgical result is always good, it is concluded that the congenital intrapericardial aneurysm of the left atrium is a rare malformation which needs to be resected irregardless of the presence or absence of arrhythmias, embolisms or heart failure.

[Pulmonary arterial hypertension in disorders of oxygen diffusion]

Twenty three cases with impairment of greater than 40% of DLCO were studied in a search of frequency, severity and pathophysiological mechanisms of PAH. Hemodinamic studies, pulmonary angiography (PA), lung scan (LS), lung biopsies (LB) were performed. The venous admixture was estimated and expressed as percentage ratio of the cardiac output (Qva/Qt x 100). Anatomical pulmonary artery to vein shunt (Qs/Qt) was estimated breathing pure O2. Ninety one percent of cases had PAH; mild to moderate in 76% of cases. Cardiac index (CI) was less than 2.8 in 26% and greater than 4.2 in 39%. The right ventricular work index (RVWI) was greater than 1.25 in 86%. The alveolar arterial oxygen tension gradient (A-aDO2) was abnormal in all cases (greater than 18 mmHg) with a Qva/Qt of greater than 30% in 78% of these cases. The Qs/Qt was found 6% in 39% of cases.

IN CONCLUSION

PAH was mild to moderate in DL impairment. The RVWI was usually increased with a normal or high CI. Increase in Qva/Qt that result from V/Q abnormalities and extreme impairment of DL is to be considered as the major factor functional features in the genesis of PAH. Reduction of the cross sectional area of the pulmonary vascular bed and lung function abnormalities are equally important relevants features in the genesis of PAH.

[Disorders of the right intraventricular conduction in chronic pulmonary hypertensive cardiopathy]

Disorders of the right intraventricular conduction were analyzed in cases of chronic pulmonary hypertensive cardiopathy (C.P.H.C.), diagnosed on basis of the anatomic data. The series studied here (40 cases) was obtained from the review of 3,000 reports of autopsies at the Instituto Nacional de Cardiología de México. Thickness of the free right ventricular wall, thickness of the interventricular septum at three levels, thickness of Wolf's spur and the circumference of the 4 valvular rings, were determined in each heart. Haemodynamic studies and respiratory function tests were revised in those cases in which they had been practiced. Electrocardiographic study essentially analyzes the time of onset of intrinsicoid deflection as well as the morphology of ventricular complexes in the unipolar leads. In 37 cases (92.5%), a disturbance of the right intraventricular conduction was present. R.B.B.B. was observed in 29 cases (72.5%): 12 of minor degree, 19 of intermediate and 1 of advanced degree. Right peripheral block was diagnosed in 8 cases (20%): anterior type in 2 cases (5%); posterior type in 6 cases (15%). In the cases with R.B.B.B., the anatomic data of right ventricular hypertrophy were predominant; in those with R.A.S.B., anatomical data suggested right ventricular enlargement. The facts exposed here permit the following conclusions: 1) Diagnosis of right fascicular block can be suggested even in the presence of hypertrophy of the corresponding ventricle. 2) Hypertrophy of the right ventricle appears more directly related to the homolateral bundle branch block than to distal or segmentary blocks. 3) Topographic diagnosis of delay in the right ventricle activation process can be established by an electrocardiographic thoracic mapping that permits to explore the ventricular structures at different levels.