Pulmonary venoocclusive disease: case report and review of the literature.

A fatal case of pulmonary venoocclusive disease in a 4-year-old boy is reported, with emphasis on the radiologic features of this condition. The disease is characterized by fibrous intimal obliteration of the lumina of small pulmonary veins and venules leading to severe secondary pulmonary arterial hypertension. The clinical picture is usually indistinguishable from that of other forms of pulmonary arterial hypertnesion, but radiologic features of postcapillary pulmonary hypertension, in conjunction with a normal venoocclusive disease. The diagnosis is definitively established by lung biopsy.     

Epidemiologic and bacteriologic evaluation of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis.

The incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in our neonatal unit has varied from 4.7% to zero to 4.4% during three time periods. Simultaneously, significant changes have occurred in the spectrum of bacterial species in the gastrointestinal tract of unaffected infants in the same unit. During the first period of increased attack rate, 82% of gastric and 88% of fecal Enterobacteriaceae were E. coli and K. pneumoniae. When the attack rate decreased the frequencies were 11% (gastric) and 47% (fecal), and P. mirabilis was retrieved with increased frequency. The return of E. coli and K. pneumoniae as the dominant organisms was associated with an increase in NEC. Infants with NEC, compared with controls, had a statistically significant increased frequency of retrieval of E. coli and K. pneumoniae from gastric and fecal samplings. The data suggest an active role for certain enteric bacteria in the pathogenesis of NEC.     

Axial radiography of the spine: a projection for evaluation of the neural arches in children.

The axial projection of the spine is a useful view for evaluation of possible neural arch defects in children. The projection is easy to perform and allows visualization of the arches without confusing overlap by other structures.