Late administration of antenatal vitamin A promotes pulmonary structural maturation and improves ventilation in the lamb model of congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Purpose: The lungs in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) are hypoplastic and immature making respiratory support one of the most challenging aspects of caring for these neonates. Vitamin A is essential for normal lung growth and development. It also promotes alveolarization.

Fetus-in-fetu: report of a case and a review of the literature.

A 2-week-old girl was found to have an asymptomatic abdominal mass on routine examination. Surgical removal revealed the mass to have 4 limb buds situated relative to a palpable vertebral column. Karyotyping revealed the mass to be 46 XX.

Antenatal vitamin A decreases ventilation-induced lung injury in the lamb model of congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Objective: Infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) are susceptible to ventilation-induced lung injury. Vitamin A may protect the lung from injury during ventilation. The authors investigated the effects of antenatal vitamin A on ventilation-induced lung injury in CDH lambs using lung myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity as an indicator of lung injury.

In vivo effects of bifidobacteria and lactoferrin on gut endotoxin concentration and mucosal immunity in Balb/c mice.

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of oral supplementation of newborn Balb/c mice with bifidobacteria (B. infantis, B. bifidum) and iron-free apo-lactoferrin (bovine, human) on gut endotoxin concentration and mucosal immunity.

Minimal access extrapleural esophagoesophagostomy.

Background/purpose: Minimal access repair of esophageal atresia is gaining acceptance but usually requires a transpleural approach. An extrapleural approach using a 2-cm incision has been described. The purpose of this study was to develop a less-invasive approach to extrapleural esophagoesophagostomy.

Beneficial effects of intraluminal nitroglycerin in intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

Background: We examined the effects of intraluminal nitroglycerin (NTG) on various physiologic functions and intestinal pathology in intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in rats.

Material And Methods: Intraluminal NTG (0.15-3.

The respiratory advantage of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication.

Background/purpose: Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is replacing the open approach in the treatment of children with gastroesophageal reflux. The postoperative respiratory advantages seem obvious but remain unproven. The authors hypothesized that laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication provides postoperative respiratory advantages in neurologically normal children as well as those with mental retardation or profound neurologic impairment.

Diagnosing Hirschsprung's disease: increasing the odds of a positive rectal biopsy result.

Background/purpose: Rectal biopsies are performed as a definitive means of diagnosing Hirschsprung's Disease (HD) in children presenting with constipation. The authors hypothesized that key features in the history, physical examination, and radiographic evaluation would allow us to avoid unnecessary rectal biopsies.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients undergoing rectal biopsy between 1995 and 2001.

Immune responses in rhesus rotavirus-challenged BALB/c mice treated with bifidobacteria and prebiotic supplements.

Bifidobacterium species (B. bifidum and B. infantis), with or without prebiotic compounds (arabino-galactan, short-chain fructo-oligosaccharide, iso-malto-dextrins), were orally fed to Balb/c pups (n = 192) to evaluate their potential synergistic effects on modulating the course of rhesus rotavirus (RRV) infection, as well as their ability to mediate the associated mucosal and humoral immune responses.