Dopplersonographic diagnosis of subclavian steal in infants with coarctation of the aorta and interrupted aortic arch

In two newborns with severe coarctation of the aorta and interrupted aortic arch, subclaviansteal was shown by angiocardiography. In both children pulsed doppler recordings were obtained in the cerebral arteries: Normal forward flow during systole and diastole could be shown in the anterior cerebral arteries, both internal carotid arteries, the basilar artery and the right vertebral artery. In the left vertebral artery in both infants a negative flow indicating backflow from the brain could be shown. Pulsed doppler sonography of the flow in the vertebral arteries is a non invasive method for diagnosis of subclavian steal in infants with coarctation of the aorta and interrupted aortic arch.     

Demonstration of perivascular echogenicities in congenital cytomegalovirus infection by colour Doppler imaging

Two children with congenital cytomegalovirus infection and intracerebral echogenicities were investigated by computer sonography and colour Doppler imaging (CDI). By simultaneous imaging of brain tissue and CDI, blood flow within the stripe-like echogenicities of the basal ganglia was demonstrated. Using CDI the echogenicities were identified as the walls of thalamostriate vessels.     

Color-coded Doppler sonography of the kidney blood vessels in childhood. II. Pathological findings

Pathologic flow profiles in renal arteries can be found in cardiovascular and renovascular disease. Obstructions of the left hart (aortic stenosis, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, coarctation of the aorta) cause diminished flow with low peak systolic velocities. In renal arteries of infants with leakage of the aortic "Windkessel" (persistent ductus arteriosus, truncus arteriosus communis etc.) a low diastolic amplitude can be found. Significant left-to-right shunts can lead to a diminished or even retrograde diastolic flow. In renal artery stenosis a high velocity jet with spectral broadening can be found in the region of the stenosis. Distal to the stenosis low blood flow velocities can be shown. In renal vein thrombosis the obstruction of the peripheral vessels cause a missing or even negative diastolic flow in the renal arteries, whereas venous blood flow is diminished or even missing. Kidney diseases with swelling of the organ (acute rejection of a transplanted kidney) can cause diminished, missing or even retrograde diastolic flow in the renal arteries dependent on the severity of the edema. These alterations can be used for the early diagnosis of acute rejection which offers the opportunity for early and efficient therapeutic management.     

Chronic hemorrhagic pancreatitis in gallbladder polyposis as an initial symptom of metachromatic leukodystrophy

A 4 1/2 year old boy without previous neurologic disorders developed chronic hemorrhagic pancreatitis and was shown to have polyposis of the gallbladder. Neurologic symptoms emerged at the age of 5 years. The sonographic pattern of an echogenic gallbladder was suspect of metachromatic leukodystrophy. The definitive diagnosis was made by the findings of very low arylsulfatase A activity in the white blood cells and deposits of sulfatides in the stroma of the polyps of the gallbladder.     

Doppler sonographic measurement of normal values of flow velocities in the internal carotid artery of premature infants, newborn infants and infants

In 121 healthy premature born infants, full-term newborns and older infants (gestational age: 29 to 45 weeks; weight at investigation: 1070 g to 3750 g), the flow velocities in the internal carotid arteries were measured by pulsed doppler sonography. All infants were investigated by computer sonography (Acuson 128) with a 5 MHz transducer. The following parameters were measured: The maximal systolic velocity, the end-systolic and end-diastolic velocity as well as the mean flow velocities, the pulsatility-index and the resistance-index. For all parameters the relationship to the gestational age and weight were analysed. All flow velocities increased linearly with increasing gestational age and weight. In contrast to the flow velocities neither the pulsatility-index nor the resistance-index changed with increasing gestational age and weight. As flow velocities in the internal carotid arteries increase with increasing gestational age and weight these parameters must be taken into consideration when pathologic flow velocities are analysed.     

Reduction of cerebral hemorrhage and respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants by avoiding perinatal asphyxia

Intra- and periventricular haemorrhage (IVH/PVH) and, under certain conditions, the respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) seem to be typical sequelae of perinatal asphyxia in preterm born infants. Therefore, an association of IVH/PVH and RDS can be expected. We have retrospectively analyzed the data of 118 premature infants born between 1982 and 1986, weighing between 750 and 1499 g. 11 of these had experienced a severe IVH/PVH and a severe RDS at the same time, whereas 75 infants did not develop either of those. (2 of the 118 showed a severe IVH/PVH without evidence of severe RDS whereas 29 developed severe RDS without signs of serious IVH/PVH. 1 could not be evaluated due to missing data). This association of severe intracerebral haemorrhage and severe respiratory distress syndrome was statistically significant (p less than 0.005). The number of severe IVH/PVH has decreased during 1984-1986 in comparison to 1982/83 (4/76 vs. 9/42; p less than 0.05); the incidence of severe RDS has slightly declined. Comparing the perinatal conditions we found that the infants of the years 1984-1986 were more rarely delivered after an interval exceeding 24 h after premature rupture of the membranes (p less than 0.05), were more often delivered by caesarean section (p less than 0.005), and were nearly always primarily cared for by an experienced paediatrician (p less than 0.01). There were no significant differences between these two groups as far as dexamethasone-prophylaxis, mean birth weight, percentage of small-for-gestational-age infants and mean Apgar scores were concerned.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Sonographic characteristics of the Arnold-Chiari syndrome and hydrocephalus in children with meningomyelocele

22 children with myelomeningocele had serial examination by gray scale ultrasonography through the open fontanelle as an acoustic window. 18 children (82%) developed a progressive hydrocephalus and were eventually shunted. In 18 children the hydrocephalus was caused by an Arnold-Chiari-II-malformation with the sonografic signs of a caudal displacement of the dysplastic cerebellum, brainstem, 4th ventricle and cisterna magna. The forth ventricle was elongated and flattened in all babies with Arnold-Chiari-syndrome. The cisterna magna was not visible in any child. The Arnold-Chiari-II-malformation caused an occlusive hydrocephalus which was characterized by the dilatation of the occipital horns (91%) and frontal horns (86%) of the side ventricles, whereas the temporal horns were normal in size (86%). The dysplastic 3. ventricle was displaced caudally and ventrally and showed a prominent suprapineal recess in 41%. Associated malformations of the brain were a large massa intermedia (55%), a prominent plexus choriodeus (50%) and agenesia (36%) or fenestration (9%) of the septum pellucidum. Gray scale ultrasonography is the best method not only for early diagnosis of Arnold-Chiari-malformation and resulting hydrocephalus in infants but also for further controls after shunt implantation, especially for early detection of shunt complications and shunt insufficiency.     

Hemopoietic cell transplantation for myelodysplastic syndromes

Myelodysplastic syndromes are clonal stem cell disorders, and allogeneic hemopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is the only therapy with curative potential. Among patients with less-advanced myelodysplastic syndromes, 3-year survivals of 65% to 75% are achievable with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical related and HLA-matched unrelated donors. The probability of relapse is less than 5%. Among patients with advanced disease (> or = 5% marrow blasts), 35% to 45% and 25% to 30%, respectively, are surviving in remission after transplantation from related or unrelated donors. The incidence of post-transplant relapse is 10% to 35%. Criteria of the International Prognostic Scoring System, originally developed for nontransplanted patients, also predict relapse and survival after HCT. Refined conditioning regimens have permitted successful HCT even in patients in their seventh decade of life. Results with a regimen using a combination of busulfan (targeted to predetermined plasma levels) and cyclophosphamide are particularly encouraging. Improved survival with transplants from unrelated volunteer donors reflects selection of donors on the basis of high-resolution (allele-level) HLA typing. Nevertheless, transplant-related morbidity and mortality, including graft-versus-host disease, remain challenges that need to be addressed with innovative approaches. Some patients who achieve a chemotherapy-induced complete remission may also benefit from autologous HCT.     

Longitudinal relationship between pain and depression in older adults: sex, age and physical disability

Objective Better understanding of the relationship between pain and depression in older adults in the community is of particular importance considering the high prevalence of both conditions in these adults. In the present study, the longitudinal relationship between pain and depression in older adults was examined, thereby taking into account the role of physical disability and the possibly modifying effect of sex and age. Methods The study is based on a sample which at the outset consisted of 325 non-depressed and 327 depressed persons (55–85) drawn from a larger random community-based sample in the Netherlands. Depression (CES-D) and pain (subscale of the Nottingham Health Profile) were measured at eight successive waves over 3 years. Results Pain was very persistent over time as was to a lesser extent depression. The prognosis of comorbid pain and depression was poor. In longitudinal analyses (Generalized Estimating Equations), pain and depression were strongly associated. At the symptom level, the pain-depression relationship was found to be stronger in men than in women. There was no effect of age on the pain-depression relationship. No support was found for the hypothesis that the pain-depression relationship is mediated by disability. Conclusion The persistent nature of pain and to a lesser extent depression and the intimate and probably reciprocal association between them stress the need for adequate treatment strategies. Accepted: 30 October 2001