Improved Diagnostic Sensitivity of Bowel Disease of Prematurity on Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound

Bowel diseases of prematurity, including necrotizing enterocolitis, are dreaded ailments of neonates. Early diagnosis is difficult, with clinical and radiographic findings often inconclusive. We present a novel use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in detection of pediatric bowel disease. Early identification of compromised blood flow or an at-risk bowel can be quantitatively detected and monitored. This ability has implications for guidance of emerging therapies, allowing targeting of inflammation. These findings represent an advancement in detection of bowel disease in neonates.     

Intussusception in a premature neonate: A rare and often misdiagnosed clinical entity

Intussusception is a very rare cause of intestinal obstruction in neonates. It is of extremely rare occurrence among premature neonates. We present a case of 11-day-old premature neonate who presented with abdominal distension, intolerance to feeds, vomiting, significant bilious aspirate and bleeding per rectum. The initial diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) led to a delay in the diagnosis. On exploratory laparotomy, it turned out to be a case of ileo-colic intussusception with Meckel''s diverticulum as a lead point. This site of intussusception (ileo-colic) and presence of a lead point among premature neonate is of exceedingly rare occurrence and very few such cases have been reported.In this article, the published work about clinical features and management on intussusceptions in premature neonates has been reviewed. The authors intend to highlight the difficulty in distinguishing the NEC and intussusception. Subtle clinical and radiological features which can help in differentiating the two conditions have been emphasized. This can avoid the delay in diagnosis and management which can prove critical. High index of suspicion with timely intervention is the key for optimizing outcome. A diagnosis of intussusception should always be considered in any preterm infant with suspected NEC.     

Necrotizing soft tissue infections

Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTI) represent a spectrum of diseases characterized by extensive rapidly progressive necrosis that may involve the skin, subcutaneous tissues, fascia or muscle. Their progress is extremely fast, leading often to sepsis and septic shock that ends up in multiple organ failure with abrupt and high mortality. A variety of classification systems have been developed based on parameters such as anatomic location of the disease or microbiology. There are a number of factors that predispose to the spread of these soft tissue infections, such as delays in recognition, immune suppression, diabetes mellitus and advanced age. The use of broad‐spectrum antibiotics tends to mask the severity of the underlying infection, modulates the clinical presentation, and even delays hospital admission. The most important factor affecting outcome in NSTI is early diagnosis and aggressive radical surgical treatment. The medical records of 13 patients who had been treated for NSTI from 1996 to 2005 were reviewed, retrospectively. There were eight men (61.5%) and five (38.5%) women. Mean age was 56 years (range 27–73). Seven cases of infection involved the perineal region (54%), two the lower limb, one the upper limb and three the abdominal wall/trunk. The most common associated comorbidity was diabetes mellitus in five patients (38.5%). A single organism was identified in two (15%) and multiple organisms in 11 (85%) patients. Necrotizing aponeurositis Type I was the most common of the polymicrobial necrotizing infections. Overall survival was 85%, and the mean hospital stay for survivors was 35 days (range 17–92).     

CT对急性坏死性胰腺炎的诊断和预后评价

目的探求CT对急性坏死性胰腺炎的诊断及预后的关系。方法回顾性分析符合急性坏死性胰腺炎15例患者并做CT扫描,其中10例增强扫描。结果胰腺呈局限性肿胀者9例,普遍性肿胀者6例,胰腺实质内见到点状低密度灶5例,片状低密度影10例,其中4例同时有小片状高密度出血影;10例增强扫描中,低密度坏死灶与正常胰腺有明显的对比。胰腺周围有大量渗出和3例形成假囊性肿物,1例形成＂气泡＂样脓肿。结论CT征象不仅能对急性坏死胰腺炎做出正确诊断,同时对预后的评价都有重要的指导意义。     

Acute encephalopathy associated with influenza and other viral infections

Acute encephalopathy is the most serious complication of pediatric viral infections, such as influenza and exanthem subitum. It occurs worldwide, but is most prevalent in East Asia, and every year several hundreds of Japanese children are affected by influenza-associated encephalopathy. Mortality has recently declined, but is still high. Many survivors are left with motor and intellectual disabilities, and some with epilepsy. This article reviews various syndromes of acute encephalopathy by classifying them into three major categories. The first group caused by metabolic derangement consists of various inherited metabolic disorders and the classical Reye syndrome. Salicylate is a risk factor of the latter condition. The second group, characterized by a systemic cytokine storm and vasogenic brain edema, includes Reye-like syndrome, hemorrhagic shock and encephalopathy syndrome, and acute necrotizing encephalopathy. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as diclofenac sodium and mephenamic acid, may aggravate these syndromes. Severe cases are complicated by multiple organ failure and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Mortality is high, although methylprednisolone pulse therapy may be beneficial in some cases. The third group, characterized by localized edema of the cerebral cortex, has recently been termed acute encephalopathy with febrile convulsive status epilepticus, and includes hemiconvulsion-hemiplegia syndrome and acute infantile encephalopathy predominantly affecting the frontal lobes. Theophylline is a risk factor of these syndromes. The pathogenesis is yet to be clarified, but an increasing body of evidence points to excitotoxicity and delayed neuronal death.     

丹参与雷公藤多甙联合治疗急性坏死性胰腺炎的实验研究

目的　探讨丹参与雷公藤多甙联合应用对急性坏死性胰腺炎 (acutenecrotizingpancreatitis,ANP)的治疗作用。 方法　采用单次过量 2 0 %L 精氨酸 (10 0 0mg/ 10 0g大鼠体重 )皮下注射建立ANP动物模型。测定血清淀粉酶、TNF α、IL 1β水平 ,并观察胰腺组织的病理变化。根据血清淀粉酶、TNF α、IL 1β水平及胰腺组织的变化来评价胰腺炎的严重程度。 结果　大鼠皮下注射过量L 精氨酸后 ,血清淀粉酶、TNF α、IL 1β水平升高 ,胰腺变性坏死。丹参与雷公藤多甙联合治疗ANP ,可显著降低血清淀粉酶、抑制炎症细胞因子的过度生成 ,组织受损程度明显减轻。结论　丹参与雷公藤多甙联合应用对ANP动物模型具有很好治疗效果 ,可能具有临床应用价值     

脂质体介导NF-κB decoy ODN对重症急性胰腺炎大鼠肺炎症因子mRNA表达和肺损伤的影响

目的 探讨脂质体（liposome）介导转录因子NF—κB诱捕物（decoy）寡聚脱氧核苷酸（oligodeoxynucleotide，ODN）对重症急性胰腺炎SD大鼠肺部NF-κB活性及受其调控炎症基因mRNA表达和肺损伤的影响。方法 以牛磺胆酸钠（STC）诱导SD大鼠建立重症急性胰腺炎模型，以假手术组为对照组，于建模后1h分别静脉注射裸ODN、脂质体／decoy ODN复合物、脂质体／scrambled ODN复合物和生理盐水，注射4h后应用电泳迁移率变动（EMSA）分析NF-κB的活性，利用逆转录-聚合酶链反应法（RT-PCR）检测肺组织ICAM-1、IL-1α、IL-2、TNF—α、VCAM-1mRNA表达，同时检测氧分压、肺组织湿／干重比率和肺组织髓过氧化物酶（MPO）。结果 EMSA显示脂质体／decoy ODN复合物组NF—κB活性明显低于生理盐水组、脂质体／scrambled ODN复合物组和裸ODN组（P〈0.05），RT—PCR显示脂质体／decoy ODN复合物组ICAM-1、IL-1α、IL-2、TNF—α、VCAM-1mRNA表达小于生理盐水组、脂质体/scrambled ODN复合物组和裸ODN组（P〈0．05）。与生理盐水组、脂质体／scrambled ODN复合物组和裸ODN组相比，脂质体／decoy ODN复合物组动脉血氧分压升高，肺组织湿／干重比率和肺组织髓过氧化物酶（MPO）活性降低（P〈0．05）、结论 NF—κB decoy ODN可特异性抑制肺NF-κB活性及其调控的炎症因子ICAM-1、IL—1α、IL-2、TNF-α、VCAM-1mRNA的表达，减轻肺损害。     

Deep Granuloma Annulare (Pseudorheumatoid Nodule) in Children: Clinicopathologic Study of 35 Cases

Deep granuloma annulare (DGA) is one of several lesions of skin and superficial soft tissues whose histologic character is a palisading granuloma with a small central focus of necrosis or necrobiosis. Unlike the other palisading necrobiotic lesions, DGA has a predilection for children in the first 5 to 6 years of life. A painless subcutaneous nodule(s) in the lower anterior tibial region or foot and the scalp, typically in the occiput, was the most common presenting feature in this study of 35 cases. Additional or recurrent lesions were reported in approximately 70% of cases with clinical follow-up. All lesions showed the presence of necrobiosis; however, one of the characteristic features was the multinodular character of the predominantly mononuclear cellular aggregates. The presence of vascular spaces at the periphery of the nodular profiles served as a clue to the diagnosis of DGA. The palisading arrangement of the mononuclear cells was evident only in those foci with central necrobiosis. A histiocytic disorder or fibrohistiocytic process was a common consideration in the differential diagnosis, especially in those cases with less apparent foci of necrosis. Palisading histiocytes with prominent eosinophilic cytoplasm and some nuclear atypism were problematic with regard to possible epithelioid sarcoma. Our study failed to identify any underlying or predisposing factors in the development of DGA. Despite the fact that DGA is a well-documented lesion in children, it occurs sufficiently infrequently that it is often not considered clinically when it presents as a subcutaneous mass or masses in a child. Its recognition by the pathologist is especially important as the occurrence of additional lesions in a high proportion of children can be anticipated without undue concern. Received June 16, 1997; accepted October 28, 1997.     

Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis

PURPOSE: A retrospective, 12-year review of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis was undertaken at a county hospital, with emphasis on presentation signs and symptoms. METHODS: Eighty-two patients with presence of intramural air were included in the study. The following signs and symptoms were studied: evidence of respiratory distress, use of umbilical catheters, white blood cell count and temperature at presentation, time interval from birth to diagnosis and time interval from diagnosis to operative intervention, presence of intramural air, air in biliary tree or free air, changes in abdominal girth, and presence of occult or gross blood in stools. Comparison was done among infants who had surgical or medical treatment, premature and full-term infants, and infants who had neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis less than or more than 20 days after birth. RESULTS: Eleven patients had a fatal outcome, with an overall survival of 87 percent. Sixty-four patients were treated medically and 18 had operative treatment. Mortality of the surgically treated group was 44 percent. Neonates who had surgical intervention had a left shift of the white blood cell count more commonly present, and all had documented abdominal distention. There were 62 premature and 20 full-term neonates in the group. Full-term neonates developed neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis earlier after birth (5.3 days compared with 15.3 days in the premature neonate group). Full-term neonates had a better prognosis in our series. Presentation of symptoms more than 20 days after birth did not change outcome. CONCLUSION: Our results reflect the experience of a community-based hospital. Clinical acumen remains the cornerstone of diagnosis and management.