Azacitidine-induced massive pericardial effusion in a child with myelodysplastic syndrome.

Introduction: Pericardial effusions are rare yet potentially fatal conditions in children. Azacitidine is a DNA-hypomethylating agent used in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome. Although seldomly described in adults, no cases of azacitidine-induced pericardial effusion have been reported in children.

Helicobacter pylori antimicrobial resistance in a pediatric population.

Background: The increasing prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) antimicrobial resistance, primarily for clarithromycin decreases the success of treatment. The aim of this study is to determine the local pattern of first-line antimicrobials resistance and the eradication rate.

Performance of PRISM III and PELOD-2 scores in a pediatric intensive care unit.

Unlabelled: The study aims were to compare two models (The Pediatric Risk of Mortality III (PRISM III) and Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction (PELOD-2)) for prediction of mortality in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and recalibrate PELOD-2 in a Portuguese population. To achieve the previous goal, a prospective cohort study to evaluate score performance (standardized mortality ratio, discrimination, and calibration) for both models was performed. A total of 556 patients consecutively admitted to our PICU between January 2011 and December 2012 were included in the analysis.

Serum uric acid and cardiovascular risk among Portuguese adolescents.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the association between serum uric acid (SUA) and cardiovascular risk classes (CRCs) in adolescents using a cluster-based approach.

Methods: A cross-sectional evaluation was carried out in the 2007-2008 school year, including adolescents born in 1990 and enrolled in the schools of Porto, Portugal. The analysis included 1,286 adolescents.

[Provocative tests in the diagnosis of childhood onset growth hormone insufficiency].

Introduction: The incidence of short stature associated with growth hormone deficiency has been estimated to be about 1:4000 to 1:10000. It is the main indication for treatment with recombinant growth hormone.

Objectives: The aims of the study were to evaluate the results of growth hormone stimulation tests and identify the growth hormone deficiency predictors.

[Fractional exhaled nitric oxide in monitoring and therapeutic management of asthma].

Introduction: Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by hyper-responsiveness and bronchial inflammation. The bronchial inflammation in these patients can be monitored by measuring the fractional exhaled nitric oxide. This study aims to determine fractional exhaled nitric oxide association with peak expiratory flow and with asthma control inferred by the Global Initiative for Asthma.

Novel ABCA3 mutations as a cause of respiratory distress in a term newborn.

We report here the case of a term female newborn that developed severe respiratory distress soon after birth. She was found to be a compound heterozygote for both novel mutations in the ABCA3 gene. ABCA3 deficiency should be considered in mature babies who develop severe respiratory distress syndrome.

Short-time variation in serum uric acid concentrations in post-myocardial infarction patients.

Background: Studies on SUA temporal profile in relation to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the SUA level variations following myocardial infarction.

Methods: We studied 222 patients more than 18 years old diagnosed with AMI.

[The Alvarado score validation in diagnosing acute appendicitis in children at Braga Hospital].

Introduction: Acute appendicitis (AA) is the leading cause of emergency abdominal surgery in children. The diagnosis is essentially clinical, but some methodologies, such as Alvarado score (AS), have been developed in order to avoid non-therapeutic laparotomy (15-30%). AS ≥ 5 or 6 is compatible with AA and is an indication for the patient to remain on observations, if AS ≥ 7 a laparotomy procedure may be indicated.

A novel de novo deletion of chromosome 7 [46,XX,del(7)(p14.2 p15.1)] in a child with feeding problems.

The phenotype and severity of symptoms associated with deletions on chromosome 7 are directly proportional to the size of the deleted segment. Distal and interstitial deletions have been described in 40 cases. In this report the authors aim to report a child with a novel de novo interstitial deletion on chromosome 7, with the following karyotype: 46,XX,del(7)(p14.