Sexual abuse of children. A comparative study of intra and extra-familial cases

The existing data suggest that individuals experiencing intra-familial abuse are affected more significantly than those experiencing extra-familial abuse. This study aims to identify possible differences between these types of abuse.A retrospective study was performed based on medico-legal reports related to children suspected of being sexually abused (n = 1054).The results revealed that 40.2% of the suspected abuses were intra-familial and were significantly different than extra-familial cases with respect to the following: (a) the complainants were younger; (b) their relationship to the alleged abuser was closer; (c) the alleged abusers had higher rates of previous sexual abuse; (d) the suspected abuses were less intrusive physically; (e) there was less physical but more psychological violence; (f) the delay between the last abuse and the medico-legal examination was greater; and (g) there were fewer physical signs and DNA evidence (none in the great majority of cases).These results highlight aspects of intra-familial abuse that have been identified as factors influencing the severity of its consequences – physically, these instances of abuse were less intrusive but psychologically they were more intrusive than extra-familial abuse. This justifies the use of different strategies in the diagnosis and support for victims within the family.     

Doppler Ultrasound Could Predict Varices Progression and Rebleeding After Portal Hypertension Surgery: Lessons from 146 EGDS and 10?Years of Follow-Up

Background  

Surgical treatment of variceal hemorrhagic complications for patients with schistosomal portal hypertension in our group comprised an esophagogastric devascularization procedure with splenectomy (EGDS). There are two different kinds of postoperative follow-up: prophylactic or on-demand endoscopic program of varices eradication. This program implies risks and costs and only proves necessary in 6–29% of cases. This study was designed to assess portal vein Doppler ultrasound data in these patients, and to verify correlations with progression in the number and size of varices, as well as the appearance of red spots and rebleeding during the postoperative period after EGDS.     

Benign infantile seizures with mild gastroenteritis: Study of 22 patients

PurposeTo analyze the electroclinical features, aetiology and outcome in patients with normal neurological examination and psychomotor development who presented seizures during a mild gastroenteritis (MG).Patients and methodsEvaluation of the clinical charts of 22 patients who were assessed in the Neurology Department, Hospital Nacional de Pediatría Prof. Dr. JP Garrahan between 1999 and 2007.ResultsTwelve patients were boys and 10 were girls, the age of onset ranged from 5 to 26 months, and the median age was 10 months. Rotavirus antigen test in stool was positive in 9 of 18 studied patients. The seizures were brief, focal with secondary generalization in 15 patients (68.5%), apparently generalized in 5 (22.5%) and focal in two (9%). Seven of the patients (35%) had more than one seizure in 24 h. The interictal EEG was normal in all patients. Neuroradiological studies were performed in 19 patients with a normal result. No patient was put on long-term treatment with antiepileptic drugs. Four patients had subsequent mild gastroenteritis and two of them presented convulsions during the disease. After between 12 and 67 months of follow-up, all patients had normal psychomotor development and neurological examination.ConclusionsIn this study we confirmed the association of benign infantile seizures (BIS) and MG with or without rotavirus. The identification of this entity allows avoiding unnecessary complementary studies and treatment with antiepileptic drugs.     

Focused-microwave-assisted acid digestion: Evaluation of losses of volatile elements in marine invertebrate samples

Biological samples can be acid-digested using open or closed reaction vessels. Each one has advantages and limitations related to sample mass, contamination, operational temperature range, and losses of analytes. The latter may be critical when working with thermolabile chemical compounds. In the present work, focused-microwave and cavity-microwave ovens were employed for acid digestion of marine invertebrate samples (oyster, mussel and clam). The aim of this study was to evaluate losses of volatile species containing As, Cd, Pb, Se, and Zn, in both microwave systems, after an acid digestion procedure using nitric and sulfuric concentrated acids. The elemental determinations were performed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) with axially viewed configuration. Using a focused-oven, losses of volatile elements were always higher than 12%, when compared to cavity-microwave oven. High losses were observed for Pb and Cd, while Zn was not affected by volatilization in marine invertebrate samples. Standard reference material (Oyster tissue, NIST SRM 1566b) was used to check the accuracy.