OBJECTIVETo study the eletrogastrographic pattern in children diagnosed as functional dyspepsia (FD), with or without anorexia, and to investigate whether there is a link between the pattern of eletrogastrographic activity and anorexia.

METHODSThirty-two children with FD and receiving eletrogastrography (EGG) examination were classified to two groups: anorexia group (n=18) and non-anorexia (n=14). EGG was performed for 30 minutes during fasting and for 120 minutes postprandially. EEG variables measured included the percentage of normal gastric rhythm, the percentage of bradygastria and tachygastria, EGG domain frequency and its instability coefficient, and the fed-to-fasting ratio of the EEG domain power.

RESULTSThe percentage of abnormal gastric rhythm before a meal in the anorexia and non-anorexia groups was 77.8% and 78.6 % respectively (P>0.05); and that was 77.8% and 57.1% respectively after a meal (P>0.05). The fasting (31.6% vs 48.9%) and postprandial bradygastria frequencies (33.4 % vs 27.8 %) between the two groups were not significantly different. However, the percentage of tachygastria in the anorexia group was significantly higher than that in the non-anorexia group (fasting: 6.2% vs 0, P<0.01; postprandial: 14.8 % vs 1.9%, P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the instability coefficient of the dominant frequency and the fed-to-fasting ratio of the EEG domain power between the two groups both during fasting and after a meal.

CONCLUSIONSEGG abnormalities were associated with pediatric FD. Tachygastria occurred more often in the anorexia group than in the non-anorexia group.

Adolescent ; Anorexia ; physiopathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dyspepsia ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Stomach ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical response to comprehensive therapy in children with rhabdomyosarcoma.

METHODSClinical data of 13 children (8 males and 5 females) with rhabdomyosarcoma from January 1998 through October 2005 were retrospectively studied. Their ages ranged from 7 months to 12 years. The 13 cases of rhabdomyosarcoma consisted of 2 cases in stage I, 2 cases in stage II, 3 cases in stage III, and 6 cases in stage IV. Rhabdomyosarcoma was confirmed by biopsy, 12 cases (92.3%) presenting as embryonal type and 1 as alveolar type in histology. One patient underwent surgery treatment alone, one patient received surgery plus local radiation treatment, one patient received surgery plus chemotherapy and 10 patients were administered with a combination of surgery, local radiation treatment and chemotherapy. The chemotherapy protocol before 2002 was VDCA, VAC or VadrC. After 2002, the COG protocol was employed, with CDV+IE for stage III, and CT+VAC or CT+VAC+VCT for stage IV patients.

RESULTSThe 2-year overall survival was 60% in the 10 patients who received a combination of surgery, local radiation treatment and chemotherapy, but the three patients died without receiving combination therapy. The 2-year overall survival in the 13 patients was 46.2%. The 2-year overall survival of the patients after 2002 (60%, 3/5) was higher than that before 2002 (37.5%, 3/8).

CONCLUSIONSEmbryonal rhabdomyosarcoma dominates the histology type in children, which is highly malignant. A combination therapy of surgery, local radiation and chemotherapy can result in a satisfactory therapeutic effect in children with rhabdomyosarcoma.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhabdomyosarcoma ; mortality ; therapy

OBJECTIVEThe information on the ultrasonographic features of pediatric intussusception complicated by intestinal necrosis is limited at present. This study aimed to investigate the ultrasonographic findings of this disorder in children in order to provide references for selecting a right means of reduction in clinical practice.

METHODSThe ultrasonographic findings of 48 children with intussusception complicated by intestinal necrosis and who underwent operative reduction between 2004 and 2006 were reviewed retrospectively.

RESULTSThe type of intussusception was closely correlated to the development of intestinal necrosis and the ileo-ileo-colonic intussusception was the most common one resulting in intestinal necrosis. The bowel wall of the invaginated segment was obviously thickened and the center of the invaginated segment was often accompanied with swollen lymph node and appendix caecalis. The intussusceptional fluidify, the expanding of distal segment accompanied with the thickened bowels wall, and weakening or disappearance of enterokinesia were the appearances of necrosis of most of bowel walls. The secondary intussusception was an important factor resulting in intestinal necrosis, and sound image of primary lesion was found in some patients. Seroperitoneum was a common manifestation in all of infants with intussusception complicated by intestinal necrosis.

CONCLUSIONSThere are some obvious sonographic characteristics of intussusception complicated by intestinal necrosis in children. The means of intussusception reduction may be selected according to ultrasonographic characteristics.

Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Intestines ; pathology ; Intussusception ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Necrosis ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship of karyotypes and gonadal development in children with Turner syndrome.

METHODSFifty-one children with Turner syndrome were studied. Pelvic ultrasonography was performed on the children. Twenty healthy age-matched girls were used as control group.

RESULTSEleven kinds of karyotypes were detected in 51 children with Turner syndrome. Children were classified into two groups based on karyotypes: Group 1 (45,XO; n= 24) and Group 2 (karyotypes other than 45, XO; n=27). 45,XO karyotype was the most common (47.1%), followed by 46,X,i (Xq)/45, XO (21.6%), 46,XX/45, XO (7.8%) and 47,XXX/45, XO (5.9%). Pelvic ultrasonography showed a primordial uterus in 41 cases, infantile uterus in 7 cases, congenital absence of uterus and ovary in 3 cases, simple anovarism in 42 cases and ovarian dysgenesis in 6 cases. Uterine size in both Groups 1 and 2 were significantly smaller than those of the control group (P<0.05). Group 1 showed smaller size of uterus than Group 2 (P<0.05). Ovaries were not detected in all Group 1 patients.

CONCLUSIONSThe dysplasia and atrophy of ovaries and uterus exist in children with Turner syndrome. The patients with 45,XO karyotype had poorer gonadal development than those with other karyotypes.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Ovary ; diagnostic imaging ; Turner Syndrome ; diagnostic imaging ; genetics ; Ultrasonography ; Uterus ; diagnostic imaging

OBJECTIVETo study the therapeutic effect of ventilation tube insertion in the middle ear and the external auditory canal on chronic secretory otitis media in children.

METHODSA retrospective study on 30 patients (40 ears) with chronic secretory otitis media and who underwent the operation of middle ear exploration and ventilation tube insertion in the middle ear and the external auditory canal was performed. Poor tympanic membrane, even with adhesion, was seen in 23 ears. Ten patients had evidence of bilateral secretory otitis media. From this group one ear was first injected with drugs (dexamethasone, mucosolvin, etc) and then tube insertion into the auditory tube was performed; the other ear only received drug injections into the auditory tube. The remaining 20 patients who had evidence of unilateral secretory otitis media only received drug injections into the auditory tube.

RESULTSThe tubes inserting into the auditory tube all dropped out 5-8 days after operation. None of the ventilation tubes into the middle ear dropped out and the patients' tympanum recovered after the ventilation tubes were removed (6-8 months after operation). The total cure rate was 87.5% (35/40) and the improvement rate was 12.5% (5/40). The operation of inserting tubes into the auditorytube did not improve the therapeutic effects. In the 0.5-2 years postoperative follow-up, middle ear effusions recurred in one ear, and three ears were transferred from type C to type A.

CONCLUSIONSThe surgery of ventilation tube insertion in the middle ear and the external auditory canal for chronic secretory otitis media can prevent the tympanic membrane from damage and dropping out of the ventilation tube and reduce recurrence in children. It is a preferred selection for the patients with poor tympanic membrane or adhesive tympanic membrane. It is no use to insert the tube into the auditory tube for the improvement of therapeutic effects.

Adolescent ; Child ; Chronic Disease ; Ear Canal ; surgery ; Ear, Middle ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Ear Ventilation ; methods ; Otitis Media with Effusion ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVEInfants are usually subjected to serious complications after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a modified ultrafiltration technique (MUF) on infants undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB.

METHODSA total of 261 infants less than 1 year old with congenital heart disease and who required CPB were randomized into receive MUF during CPB (n=205) or not (n=56, control group). Bypass duration, aortic cross-clamp duration, postoperative blood effluents and transfusions, mechanical ventilation duration following operation, and hematocrit and oxygenation index 24 hrs postoperatively were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSNo ultrafiltration-related complication was found in the MUF group. There were no significant differences in the duration of bypass and aortic cross-clamp between the two groups. Postoperative blood effluents and transfusions in the MFU group were significantly reduced (79.5+/-18.6 mL vs 57.3+/-15.4 mL and 78.1+/-32.5 mL vs 67.9+/-25.6 mL respectively) compared with the control group (P<0.05). The duration of mechanical ventilation following operation in the MFU group was shorter than that in the control group (28.6 +/- 9.1 hrs vs 32.3 +/- 8.7 hrs; P<0.05). MUF produced a significant improvement in hematocrit (34.6 +/- 3.7 min vs 29.8+/-2.8 min; P<0.01) and oxygenation index (275.2+/-39.1 vs 202.2+/-25.6; P<0.01) 24 hrs postoperatively when compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONSMFU can reduce postoperative bleeding and blood transfusions, improve pulmonary function and shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation in infants undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB.

Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; methods ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Ultrafiltration ; methods

OBJECTIVEMannan-binding lectin (MBL) is a C-type serum lectin that plays a central role in the innate immune response. At present there is no a reference range of serum MBL levels for children in China. This study investigated serum MBL levels in preschool children from Shenzhen.

METHODSA total of 118 children (62 boys and 56 girls) at ages of 3-6 years and sampled randomly from three kindergartens of Shenzhen were enrolled in this study. Serum MBL concentrations were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSThe mean serum MBL concentration in these children was 779.07+/-268.98 ng/mL. There were no significant differences in the value of serum MBL between boys and girls (783.89+/-252.30 ng/mL vs 773.65+/-288.29 ng/mL) (P>0.05). Sixteen children (13.6%) had MBL concentrations less than 500 ng/mL (the low limited value used abroad), including 14 cases with 50-500 ng/mL and 2 cases with less than 50 ng/mL.

CONCLUSIONSThis study provides a reference range of serum MBL concentration for preschool children. MBL may be a useful marker for the prevention of infection in children.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Male ; Mannose-Binding Lectin ; blood

OBJECTIVEThis study examined the changes of serum levels of interleukin 12 ( IL-12), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFbeta 1) and immunoglobulin E ( IgE) in children with asthma as well as the correlation of IL-12 and TGFbeta 1 with IgE in order to investigate their roles in asthma.

METHODSSerum levels of IL-12 , TGFbeta 1 and IgE were detected using ELISA in 85 asthmatic children at the acute and the remission stages. Thirty healthy children served as control group.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, serum IL-12 and TGFbeta 1 levels were significantly lower and serum IgE levels were significantly higher in the asthmatic group through the acute to the remission stages. Serum IL-12 and TGFbeta 1 levels (40.42+/-15.26 ng/L and 65.41+/-22.38 pg/mL) significantly increased in the asthmatic group at the remission stage compared with those at the acute stage (28.42+/-10.73 ng/L and 40.25+/-11.73 pg/mL) (P<0.01), but remained lower levels than those in the control group (67.42+/-20.58 ng/L and 178.54+/-90.56 pg/mL) (P<0.01). The asthmatic patients at the remission stage showed significantly decreased serum IgE levels (145.67 +/-51.25 IU/mL) compared with those at the acute stage (280.35 +/-80.54 IU/mL) (P<0.01), but the IgE level in the remission stage was obviously higher than in the control group (53.61+/-13.32 IU/mL) (P<0.01). Serum IL-12 and TGFbeta 1 levels were negatively correlated with serum IgE level in asthmatic children.

CONCLUSIONSThere might be an imbalance in serum IL-12, TGFbeta 1 and IgE levels in asthmatic children. IL-12, TGFbeta 1 and IgE may play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma. They may be useful in the diagnosis and severity evaluation of asthma.

Asthma ; etiology ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Interleukin-12 ; blood ; Male ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; blood

OBJECTIVETo understand the etiology of pneumonia in hospitalized patients less than 3 years of age.

METHODSA total of 316 children with pneumonia admitted to the Children's Hospital of Suzhou University in Jiangsu Province from March, 2006 to January, 2007 were enrolled in this study. Sputum samples were obtained by deep nasotracheal aspiration technique for bacterial and viral cultures.

RESULTSOf the 316 samples, specific microbial etiology was obtained in 192 cases (60.8%). Bacterial infection was found in 162 cases (51.3 %), viral infection in 19 cases (6.3%)and compound infection with virus and bacteria in 11 cases (3.5 %). Haemophilus influenzae was the most common agent (46 cases; 14.6%) in bacterial infection, followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae (32 cases; 10.1%). Respiratory syncycial virus (RSV) was the most common agent (12 cases; 4.0%) in viral infection, followed by adenovirus (11 cases; 3.6%).

CONCLUSIONSBacterial infection was a leading cause of pneumonia in children less than 3 years of age in Suzhou area. Haemophilus influenzae was the most common agent, followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Child, Preschool ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Pneumonia ; etiology ; Sputum ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate clinical features of X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) in children.

METHODSThe medical records of 17 children with XLA between January 2001 and April 2007 were reviewed.

RESULTSThe age at first diagnosis in 88.2% of patients was more than 6 years, with a mean of 7.7 years. Twelve patients (70.6%) presented first symptoms over 2 years old, with a mean of 4.2 years. Respiratory infections as first symptoms and complaints occurred in 64.7% of the patients and 35.3% of the patients presented with polyarthritis. Skin and soft tissue infections were rarely seen in less than 1 year old group children. Abrupt sepsis and abscess in deep tissues were seen in the older children. CD4+ T cells decreased and CD8+ T cells increased in 9 patients and an inversed ratio of CD4+/ CD8+ was observed in 11 patients.

CONCLUSIONSBoth the age presenting first symptoms and the age at first diagnosis in children with XLA in this study were later than the reported data. Respiratory infection was the most common manifestation. High prevalence of polyarthritis was observed. Abnormal T cell phenotypes occurred in more than one half of patients.

Agammaglobulinemia ; complications ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Genetic Diseases, X-Linked ; complications ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Humans ; Male