Results of a longitudinal study of rigorous manuscript submission guidelines designed to improve the quality of clinical research reporting in a peer-reviewed surgical journal.

Background/purpose: In an effort to improve the reporting quality of clinical research, the Journal of Pediatric Surgery instituted specific reporting guidelines for authors beginning June 2006. This study was conducted to evaluate whether these guidelines improved reporting of observational studies.

Methods: The Guidelines for the Reporting of Clinical Research Data (Guidelines) included 23 criteria in 3 subcategories: Methods, Results, and More than one treatment group.

Choledochoceles: are they choledochal cysts?

Objective: The aim of this analysis was to report a multidisciplinary series comparing choledochoceles to Todani Types I, II, IV, and V choledochal cysts.

Summary Background Data: Choledochoceles have been classified as Todani Type III choledochal cysts. However, most surgical series of choledochal cysts have reported few choledochoceles because they are managed primarily by endoscopists.

William H. Harridge Memorial Lecture: "Progress and its unintended consequences".

Background: Because of the development of many clinical and technological advances, significant progress has been made in the management of many neonatal and childhood conditions. The improved survival of many infants and children who formerly died has been accompanied by a number of unintended consequences.

Methods: A review is conducted of the progress achieved in 2 groups of patients requiring pediatric surgical care, newborns (especially the premature) and those afflicted with cancer, as well as the unintended consequences observed in survivors.

Annular pancreas: dramatic differences between children and adults.

Background: Annular pancreas is rare; only 737 cases have been reported in the English literature. In addition, no large analysis has compared children and adults. Recently, prenatal diagnosis and advances in imaging have led to increased experience with this condition.

Oxidative status in neuroblastoma: a source of stress?

Aim Of Study: Reactive oxygen species have been shown to be initiators/promotors of tumorigenesis. Because evidence supports the role of increased oxidative stress in solid tumors, we sought to establish this relationship in neuroblastoma (NB). The aim of the study was to investigate the extent of oxidative DNA damage and antioxidative status in a progressive animal model of human NB.

Laparoscopic splenic procedures in children: experience in 231 children.

Objectives: The purpose of this report is to evaluate the efficacy of and complications observed after laparoscopic splenic procedures in children.

Methods: Review of a prospective database at a single institution (1995-2006) identified 231 children (129 boys; 102 girls; average age 7.69 years) undergoing laparoscopic splenic procedures.

[The effects of interleukin-11 and epidermal growth factor on residual small intestine after experimental extensive small bowel resection].

Background/purpose: Interleukin 11 (IL-11) is a multifunctional cytokine derived from bone marrow, which has a trophic effect on small bowel epithelium. This study compares the effects of IL-11 with epidermal growth factor (EGF), a growth factor known to enhance small bowel adaptation.

Methods: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats (90-100 g) underwent an 85% mid-small bowel resection with primary anastomosis on day 0.

Evaluation of perioperative cholangiography in one thousand laparoscopic cholecystectomies.

Introduction: We analyzed a teaching institution's experience with intraoperative cholangiography (IOCG) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and established an algorithm for their timing and use.

Methods: The records of all patients undergoing LC during a five year period were reviewed. Patients with a history of jaundice or pancreatitis, abnormal bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, serum glutamicoxaloacetic transaminase, or radiographic evidence suggestive of choledocholithiasis were considered "at risk" for common bile duct stones (CBDS).

[Pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN)].

Pancreatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia (PanIN1-3) and Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms (IPMNs) putative precursors of and associated to pancreatic cancer represent a distinct, however pathologically heterogenous entity. Recently a new classification and nomenclature was established. We analysed the clinicopathologic and cytogenetic characteristics of six patients with PanIN and two with IPMN undergoing curative surgical resection.

Neuroblastoma detection using serum proteomic profiling: a novel mining technique for cancer?

Background: Serum proteins in neuroblastoma (NB), such as neuron-specific enolase and lactate dehydrogenase, are used as nonspecific markers of disease severity. In this study, we have generated serum protein profiles that correlate with NB by applying proteomic technologies to uncover, at the protein level, serum polypeptide expression patterns in patients with NB.

Methods: Surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to generate protein expression spectra in human NB (group I, n = 18) and healthy children (group II, n = 17) sera.

The whole truth: comparative analysis of diaphragmatic hernia repair using 4-ply vs 8-ply small intestinal submucosa in a growing animal model.

Background: Diaphragmatic reconstruction remains a challenging problem. There is limited information concerning the use of small intestinal submucosa (SIS) in congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair. A canine model was used to evaluate the use of a SIS patch in diaphragmatic reconstruction.

Incidence of persistent left superior vena cava in esophageal atresia.

Purpose: Esophageal atresia is known to be associated with a variety of additional congenital anomalies in multiple organ systems. Emphasis on cardiovascular anomalies has been focused on aortic arch and intrinsic cardiac malformations. Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is the most common venous thoracic anomaly in the general population and creates a problem when central venous access is required.

Long-term outcomes in patients with stage IV neuroblastoma.

Aim Of Study: Long-term outcome studies in survivors with stage IV neuroblastoma (NB) are sparse. This review evaluates late complications and long-term outcomes in stage IV NB survivors.

Methods: A retrospective review of stage IV NB survivors was performed to analyze outcomes, including long-term morbidity, recurrence, and survival.