Ultrasound screening for congenital pyelectasis in term pregnancies.

The purpose of this study was to compare the role of antenatal ultrasound screening for congenital pyelectasis at term with postnatal screening. An ultrasonographic prospective study of 231 fetuses of low-risk pregnancies was performed, evaluating the renal pelvis at term (38 to 42 weeks gestation) and after birth (first and third months of life). Cut-off points used were 9 mm antenatally, and 10 and 12 mm, respectively postnatally, all in an anteroposterior view.

Intrauterine growth retardation is a risk factor for cisapride-induced QT prolongation in preterm infants.

Background: Cisapride is a possible cause of potentially life threatening QT prolongation.

Aims: We investigated these cardiac side effects in premature infants, mainly in relation to fetal growth.

Patients: Forty six preterms (mean birth weight 1.

Congenital infection with human herpesvirus 6 variant B associated with neonatal seizures and poor neurological outcome.

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV 6) has neurotropic and neuroinvasive properties. The virus has been found in the cerebrospinal fluid of many children with aseptic meningoencephalitis. Intrauterine transmission has been documented by HHV 6 DNA detection in cord blood specimens of apparently healthy newborns and in fetuses following spontaneous abortions.

Association of dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) exon III repeat polymorphism with temperament in 3-year-old infants.

The long forms of the dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) exon III repeat polymorphism (L-DRD4) have been linked in some studies to the adult personality trait of novelty seeking (NS), as well as to infant personality traits related to interest and activity. The current investigation extends the results of our previous longitudinal study on 1- to 5-month-old neonates assessed by the Early and Revised Infancy Temperament Questionnaire (EITQ/RITQ), in which we found a significant correlation between the DRD4 polymorphism and the adaptability trait at 1 month of age. In this study, we examined the relationship between children's behavior at 3 years of age, measured with the Toddler Temperament Scale (TTS), and DRD4 exon III repeat polymorphism.

HLA DR13 and HCV vertical infection.

Risk factors affecting vertical hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission are not completely known, if we exclude maternal HIV coinfection. We hypothesized that immunogenetic factors related to maternal or neonatal HLA profiles may affect HCV vertical transmission. HLA typing (microcytotoxicity assay on blood samples) was performed in 18 infants affected by vertically transmitted HCV infection and in 17 serum-reverted infants.