Passive leg raising test versus rapid fluid challenge in critically ill medical patients.

Background: The passive leg raising (PLR) test is a simple test to detect preload responsiveness. However, variable fluid doses and infusion times were used in studies evaluating the effect of PLR. Studies showed that the effect of fluid challenge on hemodynamics dissipates in 10 min.

Heterogeneous Liver on Research Ultrasound Identifies Children with Cystic Fibrosis at High Risk of Advanced Liver Disease: Interim Results of a Prospective Observational Case-Controlled Study.

Objective: To assess if a heterogeneous pattern on research liver ultrasound examination can identify children at risk for advanced cystic fibrosis (CF) liver disease.

Study Design: Planned 4-year interim analysis of a 9-year multicenter, case-controlled cohort study (Prospective Study of Ultrasound to Predict Hepatic Cirrhosis in CF). Children with pancreatic insufficient CF aged 3-12 years without known cirrhosis, Burkholderia species infection, or short bowel syndrome underwent a screening research ultrasound examination.

Ultrasound-Guided Liver Biopsy With Gelatin Sponge Pledget Tract Embolization in Infants Weighing Less Than 10 kg.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to describe and assess the technical success and safety of ultrasound-guided liver biopsy with gelatin sponge pledget tract embolization technique in infants <10 kg across 3 tertiary pediatric hospitals.

Materials And Methods: There were 67 pediatric patients weighing <10 kg (36 boys; 31 girls; average age 202 days; average weight 6 kg, range 1.5-9.

The transverse diameter of the chest on routine radiographs reliably estimates gestational age and weight in premature infants.

Background: Prior to digital radiography it was possible for a radiologist to easily estimate the size of a patient on an analog film. Because variable magnification may be applied at the time of processing an image, it is now more difficult to visually estimate an infant's size on the monitor. Since gestational age and weight significantly impact the differential diagnosis of neonatal diseases and determine the expected size of kidneys or appearance of the brain by MRI or US, this information is useful to a pediatric radiologist.

Hypocaloric vs Normocaloric Nutrition in Critically Ill Patients: A Prospective Randomized Pilot Trial.

Background: Optimal nutrition of critically ill patients is still a matter of debate. This pilot trial aimed to compare the impact of normocaloric vs hypocaloric feeding in critically ill patients in the first 7 days in the intensive care unit (ICU). The primary end point was the rate of nosocomial infections during the ICU stay.

Flooding patterns of the Okavango Wetland in Botswana between 1972 and 2000.

The inundated area of the Okavango Delta changes annually and interannually. The variability relates to regional precipitation over the catchment area in the Angolan highlands, and to local rainfall. The patterns of the wetland were captured using more than 3000 satellite images for the period 1972 to 2000, near daily NOAA AVHRR data for 1985-2000, and less frequent images of the Landsat sensors from 1972 onwards.