Antimicrobial resistance among Escherichia coli that cause childhood community-acquired urinary tract infections in Northern Italy.

Background: Resistance rate of Escherichia coli against antimicrobials that are commonly prescribed in pediatric urinary tract infections is currently a matter of concern.

Methods: The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains to the common antibimcrobials ampicillin, cotrimoxazole, coamoxyclav, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, nitrofurantoin, and gentamycin were determined in 177 children aged from 2 to 36 months. They presented with their first symptomatic community acquired urinary tract infection at the Department of Pediatrics, San Leopoldo Mandic Hospital, Merate-Lecco.

Gitelman disease associated with growth hormone deficiency, disturbances in vasopressin secretion and empty sella: a new hereditary renal tubular-pituitary syndrome?

Gitelman disease was diagnosed in two unrelated children with hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis and growth failure (a boy and a girl aged 7 mo and 9.5 y, respectively, at clinical presentation) on the basis of mutations detected in the gene encoding the thiazide-sensitive NaCl cotransporter of the distal convoluted tubule. GH deficiency was demonstrated by specific diagnostic tests in both children.

Use of calcium excretion values to distinguish two forms of primary renal tubular hypokalemic alkalosis: Bartter and Gitelman syndromes.

Clinical or biochemical findings were reevaluated in 34 pediatric patients with primary renal tubular hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis. The patients were subdivided into two groups. Bartter syndrome (primary renal tubular hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis with normocalciuria or hypercalciuria) was diagnosed in 18 patients with molar urinary calcium/creatinine ratios greater than 0.

Neonatal thrombocytopenic purpura: case reports and methodological approach.

Six emblematic cases of neonatal thrombocytopenic purpura (NTP) due to different etiologic factors are described. Various methods for the detection of platelet and leukocyte antibodies are considered: platelet suspension and lymphocyte immunofluorescence tests (PSIFT and LIFT), solid-phase platelet antibody detection test (Capture-P), immune-enzymatic assay on platelet suspension (ELISA) and on solid-phase platelets (Capture-P-ELISA), lymphocytotoxicity (Lctx). Furthermore, chloroquine stripping of HLA antigens and monoclonal antibody (MoAb) treatment of target platelets specific antigens are described.