Genetic variants in PLCB4/PLCB1 as susceptibility loci for coronary artery aneurysm formation in Kawasaki disease in Han Chinese in Taiwan.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute, inflammatory, and self-limited vasculitis affecting infants and young children. Coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) formation is the major complication of KD and the leading cause of acquired cardiovascular disease among children. To identify susceptible loci that might predispose patients with KD to CAA formation, a genome-wide association screen was performed in a Taiwanese KD cohort.

Influenza B virus-associated pneumonia in pediatric patients: clinical features, laboratory data, and chest X-ray findings.

Background: The clinical significance of influenza B is frequently overlooked, and reports on influenza B pneumonia in children are limited. Therefore, the clinical features of associated complications have rarely been reported. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics in pediatric patients with influenza B virus-associated pneumonia.

Reporting an outbreak of Candida pelliculosa fungemia in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Background: Fungemia in preterm infants is associated with high mortality and morbidity. This study reports an outbreak of unusual fungemia in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Methods: Ten Candida pelliculosa bloodstream isolates were identified from six infants hospitalized in the NICU from February to March 2009.

Efficacy of creamatocrit technique in evaluation of premature infants fed with breast milk.

Background: Most premature babies are discharged with low body weight. Creamatocrit represents the lipid concentration of breast milk. We expected the creamatocrit technique could be applied in the nutrition plan for premature infants who were exclusively fed by human milk.

Are empiric antibiotics for acute exudative tonsillitis needed in children?

Background: Empiric antibiotics are frequently given for children with acute exudative tonsillitis. A few studies have investigated the causative agent of acute "exudative" tonsillitis in children to evaluate the necessity of antibiotic therapy. This study tried to explore the common causative agent of acute exudative tonsillitis among children.