Incidence of ceftriaxone-associated gallbladder pseudolithiasis.

We prospectively evaluated the incidence of gallbladder pseudolithiasis in children treated with high doses of ceftriaxone for a variety of serious infections. We also monitored the time interval needed for this phenomenon to develop and resolve completely after initiation and cessation of treatment, respectively. Included in this study are 44 children treated with ceftriaxone 100 mg/kg/d divided into 2 equal intravenous doses and followed by serial abdominal sonography.

Elevated umbilical erythropoietin levels during labor in newborns of smoking mothers.

Umbilical cord blood erythropoietin levels and hematocrit are significantly higher in smoking mothers than those nonsmoking ones. In addition, the incidence of newborns with low birthweight is higher in women who smoke. We conclude that in addition to other parameters, cord blood erythropoietin might be used as a valuable indicator of fetal distress in smokers.