Kawasaki Disease Complicated with Cerebral Vasculitis and Severe Encephalitis.

We report a case of a 7-year-old boy with Kawasaki disease (KD) complicated with cerebral vasculitis and encephalitis. The patient was admitted with signs of encephalopathy, seizures, and coma. The diagnosis of KD was made on the 2 day of hospitalization based on the clinical features (fever >5 days, maculopapular rash, nonpurulent conjunctivitis, fissured lips, and cervical adenopathy).

Serum glutathione S-transferase Pi as predictor of the outcome and acute kidney injury in premature newborns.

Background: The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) among the neonates treated at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is high with high mortality rates. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) class Pi plays an important role in the protection of cells from cytotoxic and oncogenic agents. The aim of the study was to examine whether the levels of serum glutathione S-transferase Pi (GST Pi) determined after birth have any predictive value for the outcome and development of AKI in premature neonates.

Acute kidney injury in premature newborns-definition, etiology, and outcome.

Background: Neonatal acute kidney injury (AKI) is common and is associated with poor outcomes. New criteria for the diagnosis of AKI were introduced based on the increase in serum creatinine (SCr) levels and/or reduction of urine output (UOP). Yet, there is no generally accepted opinion so far, which criteria (whether SCr, UOP, or their combination) are the most appropriate to diagnose neonatal AKI.

Interleukin-17A Levels Increase in Serum of Children With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.

Objectives: This study aims to determine the serum levels of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and analyze the correlation between IL-17A values and disease activity, certain clinical features, and laboratory markers of inflammation.

Patients And Methods: The study included 30 children (7 boys, 23 girls; mean age 8.8±5.

Risk factors associated with failure of extubation in very-low-birth-weight newborns.

Aim: To identify risk factors associated with the failure of extubation of mechanically ventilated very-low-birth-weight newborns.

Study Design: Prospective observational study. Assessment of the occurrence of extubation failure in relation to demographic and ventilation parameters, the SpO/FiO ratio, the spontaneous breathing test (SBT) and values of the Silverman-Andersen score (SAS).

Etiology and Outcome of Severe Apparent Life-Threatening Events in Infants.

Introduction: An apparent life-threatening event (ALTE) is defined as "an episode that is frightening to the observer and is characterized by some combination of apnea, color change, marked change of muscle tone, choking, or gagging."

Objective: The aims of this study were to determine etiology and outcome of severe ALTE (requiring resuscitation measures) and to review diagnostic approaches in infants hospitalized after such an episode of ALTE.

Methods: Retrospective analysis included patients hospitalized at the Intensive Care Unit, Institute of Child and Youth Healthcare of Vojvodina, after an episode of severe ALTE over a 4-year period.

Severe neonatal subgaleal hemorrhage as the first presentation of hemophilia A.

Introduction: Subgaleal hemorrhage is a rare but potentially fatal birth trauma. It is caused by rupture of the emissary veins (connections between the dural sinuses and scalp veins), followed by the accumulation of blood between the epicranial aponeurosis and the periosteum. Usually, it is associated with instrumental delivery (vacuum extraction, forceps delivery), but it may also occur spontaneously, suggesting the possibility of congenital bleeding disorder.

Evaluation of Surfactant Replacement Therapy Effects--A New Potential Role of Lung Ultrasound.

Introduction: Previous studies suggested that effects of the surfactant administration in preterm intants with respiratory distress syndrome cannot be followed by lung ultrasound (L-US).

Objective: The aim of the paper is to evaluate the surfactant replacement therapy effects using a new, proposed grading system for L-US findings.

Methods: We report the series of 12 preterm infants with clinical and radiographic signs of respiratory distress syndrome, in whom L-US examinations were performed prior to, and within the first 24 hours after surfactant administration.

Risk Factors for Neonatal Sepsis and Method for Reduction of Blood Culture Contamination.

Background: False-positive blood cultures findings may lead to a falsely increased morbidity and increased hospital costs.

Method: The survey was conducted as retrospective - prospective study and included 239 preterm infants (born before 37 weeks of gestation) who were treated in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Institute for Child and Youth Health Care of Vojvodina during one year (January 1st, 2012 to December 31st, 2012). The retrospective part of the study focused on examination of incidence of neonatal sepsis and determination of risk factors.

Urinary kidney injury molecule-1 rapid test predicts acute kidney injury in extremely low-birth-weight neonates.

Background: The new urinary and serum biomarkers are discovered and are being investigated. With them we can diagnose acute kidney injury (AKI) faster and more precisely and they also have a significant role in the outcome prediction.

Methods: The study included 22 extremely low-birth-weight neonates who were hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care units.

Acute kidney injury in preterm infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit.

Background: The factors that contribute to the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) and treatment outcome among prematurely born neonates are not clearly understood.

Methods: This retrospective study included 150 prematurely born neonates. AKI was defined as an increase of serum creatinine levels ≥0.

Early biomarkers of renal injury and protective effect of erythropoietin on kidneys of asphyxiated newborn rats.

Background: The aims of this study were to determine which of the two biomarkers of renal injury, kidney injury molecule-1 or cystatin C, is more sensitive and to evaluate whether erythropoietin protects kidneys injured by perinatal asphyxia.

Methods: Animals were split into three groups designated as follows: AE, pups that survived perinatal asphyxia and subsequently received 2.5 μg (0.

Infantile peripheral neuropathy, deafness, and proximal tubulopathy associated with a novel mutation of the RRM2B gene: case study.

Mitochondrial DNA depletion syndromes are a group of autosomal recessive hereditary disorders characterized by reduction of the amount of mitochondrial DNA in the affected tissue (muscle, liver, brain, or kidneys). We report a case of an infant with myopathy, deafness, peripheral neuropathy, nephrocalcinosis, proximal renal tubulopathy, moderate lactic acidosis, and a novel mutation of the RRM2B gene.

Idiopathic arterial calcification of infancy-- peritoneal dialysis for treatment of hypertension.

Idiopathic infantile arterial calcification (IIAC) is a rare autosomal recessive disease usually diagnosed postmortem. The clinical presentation is not typical, but usually implies refractory hypertension and cardiorespiratory failure. We present a case of a newborn with IIAC who had fetal hydrops and refractory hypertension which normalized soon after initialization of peritoneal dialysis.

Neuroprotective effects of hypothermia and erythropoietin after perinatal asphyxia in newborn rats.

Objective: Evaluation of neuroprotective effects of hypothermia, erythropoietin and their simultaneous use after perinatal asphyxia in newborn rats.

Method: Hysterectomy was performed to Wistar female rats on the last day of gestation. Perinatal asphyxia was induced by submersion of uterus containing pups in saline for 15 min.

Mild form of 3-methylglutaconic aciduria type IV and mutation in the TMEM70 genes.

The case study presents a 3-year-old boy diagnosed with a mild form of 3-methylglutaconic aciduria. During infancy and early childhood, he had lactic acidosis, dilated cardiomyopathy and failure to thrive with growth retardation. A genetic analysis revealed a mutated TMEM70 gene.

[Tests of screening criteria for retinopathy of prematurity].

Introduction: Retinopathy of prematurity is a disease of the eye, i.e. the retinal blood vessels, which occurs exclusively in premature infants.

The influence of EPO and hypothermia on the kidneys of rats after perinatal asphyxia.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of erythropoietin (EPO), moderate hypothermia, and a combination thereof on the kidneys of newborn rats damaged during perinatal asphyxia. An animal model of perinatal asphyxia (Wistar rats) was used in which after birth, newborn rats were divided into four groups of 15 animals each: G1, rats exposed only to asphyxia; G2, rats exposed to asphyxia and hypothermia (rectal temperature 32°C) and which received EPO (darbepoetin alpha) intraperitoneally; G3, rats exposed to asphyxia and hypothermia; G4, rats exposed to asphyxia and which received EPO. The rats were sacrificed on the 7th day of life and histopathological evaluation of kidneys was performed.

Intracranial haemorrhage after transport of premature newborns.

Intracranial hemorrhage remains an important factor of premature newborns' morbidity. Its incidence is significantly influenced by adequate perinatal care and safe neonatal transport. Risk factors for the development of intracranial hemorrhage in premature newborns after neonatal transport were analyzed in the retrospective transversal clinical study.

[Morbidity and mortality of premature neonates after introduction of national in vitro fertilisation programme--our experience].

Introduction: Infertility occurs in approximately 10% of couples and in vitro fertilisation (IVF) is its most efficient treatment method. The National IVF Programme started in October 1st, 2006.

Objective: Examination of morbidity and mortality of premature neonates conceived by IVF after initiation of the National IVF Programme.

[Acute renal failure in premature neonates].

Background/aim: Hemodynamic stress is the leading cause of acute renal failure (ARF) in premature neonates. Incidence of ARF in this population is between 8 and 24%. The aim of this study was to determine the frequence of presence of ARF in premature neonates, as well as its impact on their survival.

A case of transient hyperammonemia in the newborn transient neonatal hyperammonemia.

A case of transient hyperammonemia of the newborn (THAN) is described in this paper. THAN is the disorder that is much more frequently present than diagnosed. Therefore, it is necessary to estimate the serum ammonia level in every preterm newborn infant, who develops the signs of respiratory distress syndrome in the first hours of life, along with the symptoms of hyperammonemia (lethargy, hypotonia, seizures, and coma).