Twenty-four-hour Variations in the Effect of Nitrodilators in Rat Aorta: Lack of Influence of the Endothelium

Time-dependent variations of the vasodilator effects of sodium nitroprusside and glyceryl trinitrate on isolated smooth muscle have been studied on rings of rat thoracic aorta, both endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded. For most of the concentrations of sodium nitroprusside used the induced relaxations were significantly dependent on the time the tissues were obtained. However, significant temporal differences were obtained for glyceryl trinitrate-induced relaxations at lower concentrations only for both endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded preparations. EC50 values of sodium nitroprusside and glyceryl trinitrate (i.e. the concentrations inducing half the maximum response) were also significantly different and they had quite similar rhythmic features both in endothelium-intact and in endothelium-denuded preparations. These results clearly show that the in-vitro sensitivity of rat thoracic aorta to nitrodilator agents varies over a 24-h period and thus depends on when the animals were killed; the presence of endothelium does not change the rhythm of nitrodilator activity. These variations might be a result of circadian rhythm in the guanylate cyclase-cGMP system which mediates responses to nitrodilator agents.     

Lymphocyte subpopulations in children with vitamin D deficient rickets

Recent studies have shown 1,25(OH)₂D₃-mediated modulation of the immune system. We examined lymphocyte subpopulations of 16 children with nutritional rickets. Most of the patients suffered more frequent infection episodes than the control group of 15 healthy children and low serum levels of 25OHD and 1,25(OH)₂D, such as 38.2 ± 8.6 ng/mL and 15.7 ± 2.6 pg/mL respectively. This decrease correlated with a significant decrease in total T lymphocytes and an increase in B lymphocytes expressing surface IgA, IgM, IgG molecules. These results suggest that vitamin D plays an important role in the impaired functions of T lymphocytes which may lead to frequent infection episodes in nutritional rickets.     

Percutaneous ureterostomy as an effective diversion in a newborn

Ectopic ureter in a duplicated system in men is rare and rarely causes bilateral obstructive symptoms. The tendency of the ureter to dilate more than the caliceal system is unique to neonates and makes upper urinary diversions more challenging. However, alternative percutaneous diversions other than nephrostomy might be beared in mind in such cases with huge dilatation in ureters in suffering neonates. As discussed in this case percutaneous ureterostomy may be very effective and have a role in diagnosis and management of neonatal hydroureteronephrosis.     

Imipenem for treatment of relapsing Salmonella meningitis in a newborn infant

Salmonella meningitis is a rare clinical entity that occurs mainly during early infancy. Treatment of Salmonella infections may be complicated by the bacteria's growing resistance to clinically important antimicrobial agents, especially third-generation cephalosporins. A report is presented of a newborn infant with Salmonella meningitis who relapsed after 4 weeks of cefotaxime treatment and was cured completely with imipenem cilastatin therapy.     

Urethral polyps in children: A review of the literature and report of two cases

A solitary polyp of the urethra is a rare benign fibroepithelial growth and has often been described in boys. Its occurrence in girls is exceptional. In the present paper, two children with solitary polyps of the urethra are presented and discussed. The first case was an 18-month-old boy with a posterior urethral polyp arising from the posterior urethra and extending to the bladder. It was excised by cystostomy because of an unsuccessful endoscopic removal attempt. The second case was a 2-year-old girl with an interlabial mass arising from the posterior wall of urethra and protruding from the external urethral meatus. It was excised transurethrally.     

A patient with WT syndrome and Castleman disease

WT syndrome, an autosomal dominant condition, combines hematological abnormalities with mild lib defects. Anemia, pancytopenia, leukemia and lymphoma can occur at varying ages from childhood to middle age. Limb defects include ulnar and radial defects, bifid or hypoplastic thumbs and cutaneous syndactyly. Castleman disease is characterized by tumorous masses of lymphoid tissue showing plasma cell or hyaline vascular type changes in histological specimens. A 13 year old boy, diagnosed as WT syndrome with ulnar and radial deviation and 5th finger clinodactyly also had neutropenia, cervical and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Histology of the cervical lymph node showed angiofollicular hyperplasia of the hyaline-vascular type (Castleman disease). This interesting patient is reported because Castleman disease, together with WT syndrome has not been previously described.     

Hypernatremic dehydration in the newborn period and long-term follow up

BACKGROUND: Hypernatremic dehydration due to inadequate fluid intake can be a significant problem during the neonatal period and thereafter. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the term newborn infants admitted to Gazi University Hospital neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for hypernatremic dehydration between June 2001 and June 2003 and compare the results with those of the literature search performed via MEDLINE for infants with the same diagnosis. METHODS: Infants with weight loss > or =10% were evaluated for hypernatremia and the ones with serum Na level > or =150 mEq/L were admitted to NICU. Long-term follow-up evaluations were performed using Bayley Scales of Infant Development I (BSID I) and Bayley Infant Neurodevelopmental Screener (BINS) tests. RESULTS: Between June 2001 and June 2003, 28 newborns were admitted to NICU with hypernatremic dehydration. Literature review found 178 newborns with the same diagnosis since 1979 and detailed information was available for 150 patients. In the study and MEDLINE groups, respectively mean days of admission were 3.39 and 11.7; mean serum sodium, 156.5 and 178.6 mEq/L; and mean % weight loss, 11.5 and 25.7. Long-term follow up was performed in 15 patients from the study group, and two patients were found to be severely neurologically delayed. Five patients were found to have moderate risk scores by BINS tests. CONCLUSIONS: Early follow-up visits of newborns soon after discharge are important to determine risk for hypernatremic dehydration. Long-term follow up of this group of babies is also required to gather knowledge about the repercussions of early hypernatremic dehydration later in life.