Hyperkalemia most likely associated with massive cephalhematoma in a newborn infant who was treated with urgent peritoneal dialysis: case report

Cephalhematomas rarely lead to serious complications such as infection, osteomyelitis and skull fractures. However, we present a newborn infant with hyperkalemia in the context of a serious complication believed to be caused by hemolysis of a large cephalhematoma. The patient was treated with urgent peritoneal dialysis and discharged with a successful outcome. In conclusion, neonates with massive cephalhematoma should be closely examined in terms of bilirubin counts as well as electrolyte counts.     

Volume of nerve fibers in the stress-induced bladder of adult rats following capsaicin treatment

INTRODUCTION: We have investigated the volume of nerve fibers in the rat urinary bladder following systematic exposure to cold-restraint stress and capsaicin treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult Wistar albino rats were either exposed to cold-restraint stress (vehicle group) or treated with capsaicin before exposure to cold-restraint stress (capsaicin group). In the control group, animals were neither exposed to cold-restraint stress nor given capsaicin. From each group, samples of bladder were prepared for morphological investigation and stereological evaluation of the volume of nerve fibers. RESULTS: Stress exposure was associated with urothelial degeneration, a higher incidence and degranulation of mast cell profiles in the mucosa, and an increased volume of nerve fibers in the muscular layer of the bladder wall. Capsaicin treatment prevented the stress-induced degenerative changes. In the capsaicin group, the volume of nerve fibers in the muscular layer was also significantly smaller than that in the stress group. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure of adult rats to capsaicin prevented the stress-induced degeneration of the bladder and changed the volume of capsaicin-sensitive fibers in muscular layer. We conclude that capsaicin and related compounds may be useful in treating stress-induced bladder problems.     

Evaluation of bone mineral density with dual x-ray absorptiometry for osteoporosis in children with bladder augmentation

Background/Purpose: Osteoporosis can appear as a result of metabolic acidosis in patients with bladder augmentation and total bladder replacement. These patients must be monitored for early diagnosis and osteoporosis to avoid related complications such as fracture. The current method for diagnosis of osteoporosis mainly involves bone densitometry. Dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) provides bone mineral content and bone mineral density (BMD). The purpose of this report is to determine the value of BMD measurement with DXA in the diagnosis and follow-up of osteoporosis and evaluation of response to treatment in the patients with bladder augmentation and total bladder replacement. Methods: Six patients with bladder extrophy and neurogenic bladder underwent colocystoplasty, ureterocystoplasty, and total bladder replacement. The Sigmoid colon segment was used for colocystoplasty. DXA (Hologic 2000 DXA) was used for measuring bone mineral content and density. Results for lumbar spinal BMD were expressed as the average of L1 through L4 values. Each patient's BMD was compared with the mean BMD in the young normal population (T score) and in the age- and sex-matched group (Z score). But because our patients were children, BMD was evaluated according to Z score. Arterial blood gas analysis was obtained periodically with BMD measurement. Arterial blood pH and HCO₃ levels of the patients were compared with normal values, which ranged from 7.35 to 7.45 for pH and from 22 to 27 mmol/L for HCO₃. Results: Arterial blood pH of 5 of 6 patients (83.3%) and HCO₃ levels of all patients were low. Ten BMD measurements were obtained for 6 children. One patient underwent BMD measurement 3 times, 2 patients underwent twice, and the others once. Z scores of 4 of 6 patients (66.6%) were decreased. Blood pH, HCO₃ level, and BMD of 2 patients increased after oral bicarbonate intake. Two patients had normal BMD. One of these patients had ureterocystoplasty. The other had undergone colocystoplasty but was incontinent. Conclusions: Intestinal segments have been used for bladder augmentation and total bladder replacement. Exposure of highly absorptive intestinal mucosa to urine has been associated with electrolyte abnormalities and metabolic acidosis. Hyperchloremic acidosis leads to bone demineralization. DXA provides bone mineral content and BMD for diagnosis of osteoporosis. DXA is preferred because the low radiation dose (average, 2 to 4 mrem), accuracy, low price, and short examination time. Not only can BMD confirm the diagnosis of osteoporosis, but it also can be used to monitor the course of the disease and the effectiveness of treatment. J Pediatr Surg 38:230-232.     

Adrenomedullin and total nitrite levels in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura

Nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized from endothelium and has an important role in the control of vascular tonus. Adrenomedullin (AM) is a potent vasodilator, and cytoprotective peptide is produced not only in adrenal medulla, but also in the vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells. To investigate the endothelial synthesis of AM and NO, and endothelial injury in Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP), we measured their levels in 16 children with HSP, who were evaluated during the acute and remission phases, and compared with 12 healthy controls. Plasma AM levels (pmol/ml) were significantly higher in acute phase children (46.87±11.49) than in those in remission (35.59±12.39, p<0.01) and controls (30.70±9.12, p<0.001). Similarly, plasma total nitrite levels (mol/l) were higher in acute phase patients (47.50±12.30) than in those in remission (35.94±10.08, p<0.005) and controls (34.56±11.51, p<0.05). Urinary excretion of AM (pmol/mg creatinine) was higher in acute phase patients (53.85±23.22) than in remission patients (29.97±9.33, p<0.01) and controls (37.43±15.78, p<0.05). Patients had increased urinary nitrite excretion (mol/mg creatinine) in acute phase (2.39±1.18) compared to those in remission (1.53±0.90, p<0.05) and controls (1.05±0.61, p<0.005). There was no significant difference between remission phase and controls in AM and nitrite levels (p>0.05). This study concluded that AM and NO may have a role in the immunoinflammatory process of HSP, especially in the active stage, although whether this perpetuates, or protects against, further vascular injury is not clear. Further studies are needed to clearly establish the roles of AM and NO in the pathogenesis of HSP.     

Childhood attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and alcohol dependence: a 1-year follow-up

AIMS: To investigate the onset and outcome of alcohol dependence in subjects with childhood attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a Turkish sample. METHODS: Among patients being treated for alcohol dependence, 15 had a history of childhood ADHD [ADHD (+)] and 45 did not [ADHD (-)]. ADHD history was assessed according to DSM-IV criteria by a child and adolescent psychiatrist who interviewed the subjects and their close relatives. Severity of dependence was measured by the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test. Subjects were followed up for 1 year for the assessment of relapse. RESULTS: The age of onset for alcohol drinking, alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence were significantly lower in the ADHD (+) group than in the ADHD (-) group. Comorbid substance use was more prevalent in the ADHD (+) group. The study found no significant difference in the severity of alcohol dependence between ADHD (+) and ADHD (-) groups. During follow-up, 80% of the ADHD (+) subjects relapsed, compared with 55.6% in the ADHD (-) group. Relapse occurred on average 2.74 months earlier in the ADHD (+) group than in the ADHD (-) group. CONCLUSIONS: As found in other countries, alcohol dependence in Turkish subjects with childhood ADHD starts early and is relatively resistant to treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment of ADHD might help prevent alcohol- and substance-related disorders.     

The ameliorating effect of melatonin on protamine sulfate induced bladder injury and its relationship to interstitial cystitis

PURPOSE: The pineal hormone melatonin was recently shown to have free radical scavenging ability and it reduces lipid peroxidation. In this morphological study we investigated the effects of melatonin on protamine sulfate (Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, Missouri) induced bladder injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Albino Wistar female rats were catheterized and intravesically infused with phosphate buffered solution (control group) or protamine sulfate (bladder injury group) dissolved in phosphate buffered solution. In the protamine sulfate plus melatonin group after protamine sulfate instillation melatonin was injected intraperitoneally. Bladder morphology was investigated by light and electron microscopy. Tissue samples were also obtained to determine bladder malondialdehyde levels. RESULTS: In the bladder injury group ulcerated areas, an irregular glycosaminoglycan layer, increased number of mast cells, vacuole formation, dilated perinuclear cistern, formation of pleomorphic and uniform microvilli, and dilated urothelial intercellular spaces were observed. In the bladder injury plus melatonin group a relatively normal urothelial topography, glycosaminoglycan layer and decreased number of mucosal mast cells, some dilatation between intercellular areas, less uniform microvilli and in most areas regular tight junctions were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Increased malondialdehyde levels as a result of protamine sulfate induction lead us to propose that free radicals may have a critical role in this injury. The significant decrease in malondialdehyde levels in the protamine sulfate plus melatonin group was in accordance with morphological findings. Thus, melatonin appears to exert a urothelial protective activity in a bladder injury model.     

Intra-arterial simultaneous administration of anandamide attenuates endothelin-1 induced vasospasm in rabbit basilar arteries

Summary ¶Background. Anandamide induces not only endothelium-dependent vasodilatation through cannabinoid receptors but also some endothelium- independent vasodilator effect by calcitonin gene-related peptide release through vanilloid receptors. Endothelin-1, a powerful vasoconstrictive peptide derived from endothelial cells, has been shown to be converted to its active form after cleaving by a vascular matrix metalloproteinase which is also involved in inactivation of calcitonin gene-related peptide. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether anandamide inhibits the acute vascular and morphological effects of Endothelin-1 applied intra-arterially on rabbit basilar arteries. Method. Fifteen albino rabbits were anaesthetised and underwent placement of a vertebral artery catheter for angiography of the basilar artery. Animals were divided, arbitrarily, into animals in which there was either intra-arterial injection of saline (Group I, n=5), Endothelin-1 (Group II, n=5) and Endothelin-1 and anandamide (Group III, n=5). The diameter of the basilar artery between the pre and post injection angiograms was measured in each of the three groups and transmission electron microscopic investigations on basilar arteries were performed. Findings. Angiographic studies showed that simultaneous administration of anandamide significantly attenuated Endothelin-1 induced vasoconstriction. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that anandamide reversed the morphological changes induced by Endothelin-1 on the vessel wall. Interpretation. These results indicated that anandamide overcomes the angiographic and morphological effects of intrarterially administered ET-1 induced vasospasm in rabbit basilar arteries probably by induction of CGRP related vasodilatation through vanilloid receptors and prevents the acute ET-1 induced ultrastructural vessel wall damage.     

Intraosseous ganglion of the lunate: a case report

An intraosseous ganglion of the lunate treated operatively, is reported. The patient suffered 2 years of pain in the left wrist and a cystic lesion in the lunate. Curettage and bone grafting resulted in complete relief of pain.     

Andermann syndrome in a Turkish patient

Agenesis of the corpus callosum with peripheral neuropathy or Andermann syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder rarely found outside certain regions of the province of Quebec, Canada. We report a 5-year-old Turkish patient with Andermann syndrome born to consanguineous parents. She presented with diffuse hypotonic weakness, predominantly in the distal extremities, and mild mental retardation. Electromyography showed axonal-demyelinating sensorimotor neuropathy. Sural nerve biopsy was compatible with demyelinating neuropathy. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging revealed total agenesis of the corpus callosum, dilatation of the interhemispheric fissure, and enlargement of the cisterna magna. The molecular genetic analysis using microsatellite DNA markers covering the agenesis of the corpus callosum with peripheral neuropathy locus on chromosome 15q13-q15 showed that the patient is homozygous for the whole region. Our findings confirm that Andermann syndrome is a genetically homogeneous disorder.