Tube weaning according to the Graz model in two children with Alagille syndrome.

Two children were weaned from long-term tube feeding after liver transplant because of Alagille syndrome. The children were successfully weaned, one in seven days and the other in 13 days, using our standard and highly specialized intensive treatment protocol. Normal feeding behavior and stabilization of body weight were established.

Groin exploration for nonpalpable testes: laparoscopic approach.

Purpose: Diagnostic laparoscopy (DL) is the technique of choice for exploration of nonpalpable testes (NPT). Nevertheless, groin exploration is necessary to evaluate the cord and gonadal structures entering the internal ring. This retrospective analysis evaluates our hypothesis that hypoplastic cord structures entering the internal ring predicts absence of a viable testicle and a laparoscopic groin exploration in these cases can reduce the number of unnecessarily performed open groin exploration (OGE).

[Effects of the chemokine MIP-1alpha on anemia and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis].

Macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha) is an interesting chemokine because in addition to its variety proinflammatory activities including chemotaxis and immunomodulation, it is a potent inhibitor of hematopoetic stem cell proliferation. Inhibition of erythroid progenitor cells due to MIP-1alpha or other cytokines can play a role in the pathogenesis of anemia which is one of the most common extra-articular features of active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In 84 patients with RA, serological and immunological parameters were assessed to detect inflammatory mechanisms and anemia in relation to the serum concentrations of MIP-1alpha.

Absent or reversed end-diastolic blood flow in the umbilical artery and abnormal Doppler cerebroplacental ratio--cognitive, neurological and somatic development at 3 to 6 years.

Unlabelled: The objective of this study was to examine the cognitive, neurological and somatic developments of children who had in utero an absent or reversed end-diastolic blood flow (ARED) in the umbilical artery or an abnormal cerebroplacental ratio (ABF).

Methods: 16 children with ARED blood flow and 15 children with ABF were each matched to children with the same gestational age, appropriate for gestational age, the same sex and born within 4 months. Data were assessed at the age of 3-6 years.

[Cardiovascular manifestations in inflammatory rheumatic diseases].

Inflammatory rheumatic diseases show an increased cardiovascular mortality. The reasons for this are unclear. Possible associations between atherosclerosis and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus can be illustrated.