Evaluation of the mandatory child abuse course for physicians: do we need to repeat it?

Introduction: Child abuse is one of the most common disorders affecting children of all ages. The objective of this study was to measure and assess the effectiveness of the mandated New York State child abuse and maltreatment course, and to identify and define the need for a refresher course.

Methods: This study was conducted in two parts.

Ventricular fibrillation following blunt chest trauma from a baseball.

Objective: Baseball injuries account for a significant number of sports-related fatalities in children. We present a case of a 12-year-old male who died after being struck in the chest by a high velocity baseball propelled from a pitching machine. We examine the pathophysiology of blunt chest trauma, discuss possible explanations for the development of arrhythmias, review baseball-related fatalities, and suggest injury prevention strategies.

Primary central alveolar hypoventilation in a child: early diagnosis during acute illness; trials with respiratory stimuli; studies related to endorphins.

Primary central alveolar hypoventilation (PCAH) has been described in adults, children, and infants. It is usually diagnosed clinically at an advanced stage when the secondary effects of chronic hypoxia and hypercapnia become evident. We report here PCAH in its early stage in a 7-year-old child, whose disease appeared as acute respiratory failure during an acute illness.