Temporal validation of the SORG 90-Day and 1-Year machine learning algorithms for survival of patients with spinal metastatic disease.

Purpose: The SORG-MLA was developed to predict 90-day and 1-year postoperative survival in patients with spinal metastatic disease who underwent surgery between 2000 and 2016. Due to the constant changes in treatment methods, it is essential to perform temporal validation with a recent patient population. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to validate the Skeletal Oncology Research Group machine learning algorithms (SORG-MLA) using a contemporary patient cohort.

Artificial Intelligence and Predictive Modeling in Spinal Oncology: A Narrative Review.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) tremendously influences our daily lives and the medical field, changing the scope of medicine. One of the fields where AI, and, in particular, predictive modeling, holds great promise is spinal oncology. An accurate patient prognosis is essential to determine the optimal treatment strategy for patients with spinal metastases.

Sedation for children undergoing magnetic resonance imaging: efficacy and safety of rectal thiopental.

Unlabelled: The need to reappraise sedation policy is dictated by newer noninvasive imaging modalities. In this study we evaluate the safety and efficacy of rectally-administered thiopental in children undergoing MRI. Eighty-three consecutive patients with congenital heart disease (mean age 2.

The acid steatocrit: a much improved method.

The steatocrit method has recently been introduced as a simple screening test for steatorrhea. As it seemed likely that separation of fecal homogenate by centrifugation into a lipid phase, a watery phase, and a solid phase would be pH-dependent, we evaluated the effect of fecal acidification on steatocrit results. We also compared classical and acid steatocrit results in healthy children and in patients with cystic fibrosis and studied the relationship between two steatocrit methods and fecal fat content as measured by a reference chemical method.

Maternal diet and risk of astrocytic glioma in children: a report from the Childrens Cancer Group (United States and Canada).

N-nitroso compounds and their precursors, nitrites and nitrates, have been hypothesized as risk factors, and vitamins C and E, which inhibit N-nitroso formation, as protective factors for brain tumors. A case-control study of maternal diet during pregnancy and risk of astrocytoma, the most common childhood brain tumor, was conducted by the Childrens Cancer Group. The study included 155 cases under age six at diagnosis and the same number of matched controls selected by random-digit dialing.

Family history of cancer and seizures in young children with brain tumors: a report from the Childrens Cancer Group (United States and Canada).

The occurrence of cancer and neurological disorders in first- and second-degree relatives of children in the United States and Canada diagnosed with brain tumor before age six was investigated. A pair-matched case-control study with 155 astrocytoma and 166 primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) cases was performed. Cases were identified through the Childrens Cancer Group.

Relation between maternal diet and subsequent primitive neuroectodermal brain tumors in young children.

Background: It has been hypothesized that a high dietary intake of nitrosamines and their precursors, nitrites and nitrates, is a risk factor for brain tumors. Vitamins C and E inhibit the formation of nitrosamines and thus may be protective.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study of maternal diet and the risk of primitive neuroectodermal tumors of the brain in children.

Cow's milk protein intolerance in infants under 1 year of age: a prospective epidemiological study.

Incidence and clinical manifestation of cow's milk protein intolerance (CMPI) were studied in 1158 unselected newborn infants followed prospectively from birth to 1 year of age. No food changes were required in 914 infants who were used as healthy controls. When CMPI was suspected (211 infants), diagnostic dietary interventions according to a standard protocol were performed.

Small intestinal mucosa IgE plasma cells and specific anti-cow milk IgE in children with cow milk protein intolerance.

In a prospective study we looked for the presence of both IgE plasma cells in small bowel mucosa and specific serum IgE antibodies to cow milk in children suspected of cow milk protein intolerance. Thirty-one children with complaints possibly due to cow milk intolerance were submitted to two consecutive cow milk elimination/challenge tests. The diagnosis of cow milk protein intolerance was confirmed in 16 of our 31 patients on the basis of two positive elimination/challenge tests.

The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori serum antibodies in children with recurrent abdominal pain.

As part of a large, prospective study we investigated the prevalence Helicobacter pylori serum antibodies in children with recurrent abdominal pain (RAP). All patients suffered from recurrent bouts of abdominal pain for at least 6 months and ranged in age from 6 to 12 years. H.

Follow up study of cow's milk protein intolerant infants.

Over a period of 4 years, 88 infants with cow's milk protein intolerance (CMPI) were followed prospectively in order to evaluate the persistence of CMPI and its relationship between either serum IgE levels or RAST results for cow's milk. After exclusion of lactose intolerance, two positive cow's milk elimination challenge tests were considered diagnostic for CMPI. At the age of 1, 2, 3 and 4 years respectively, 85%, 78%, 49% and 33% of the children still were cow's milk intolerant.

McKusick-Kaufman syndrome: the diagnostic challenge of abdominal distension in the neonatal period.

We report a newborn girl with McKusick-Kaufman syndrome who presented at birth with severe life-threatening abdominal distension due to hydrometrocolpos. In children with polydactyly and cystic masses in the lower abdomen should hydrometrocolpos be especially considered. Ultrasonography is of great value in the correct assignment of lower abdominal tumours, but should be completed by vagino(cysto)scopy when hydrometrocolpos is suspected.

Parental occupation and childhood astrocytoma: results of a case-control study.

Parental occupations were investigated as possible risk factors for astrocytoma, the most frequently occurring brain tumor in children. A case-control study of 163 pairs was performed. Cases under 15 years of age at diagnosis in 1980-1986 were identified through the tumor registries of eight hospitals in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

Gastroesophageal reflux in children with recurrent abdominal pain.

In this study we investigated the presence of gastroesophageal reflux in children with recurrent abdominal pain and its possible relationship to food intolerance-associated duodenal inflammation. Twenty-four-hour intra-esophageal pH monitoring, an endoscopic duodenal biopsy and a small bowel 51Cr-EDTA permeability test were performed in 25 children with recurrent abdominal pain. In 14 cases (56%) the pH monitoring was abnormal, pointing to the presence of pathological gastroesophageal reflux.

[Bleomycin and pulmonary function changes in children with malignant lymphomas].

In 25 patients under 18 years of age with Hodgkin's disease or non-Hodgkin lymphoma treated with bleomycin as part of the treatment with several cytostatics, the diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) was determined before, during and after this treatment to investigate the damaging effect of bleomycin on the lungs. The DLCO decreased in 18 of the 25 children; the degree of decrease depended both on the total dosage (max. 120 mg/sq.

Gestational and familial risk factors for childhood astrocytoma: results of a case-control study.

Gestational and familial risk factors were investigated for their association with astrocytoma, the most frequently occurring brain tumor in children. A case-control study of 163 matched pairs was performed. Cases under 15 years of age at diagnosis in 1980-1986 were identified through the tumor registries of 8 hospitals in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

Diagnostic value of ultrasound in children with recurrent abdominal pain.

In order to investigate the diagnostic value of ultrasound in children with recurrent abdominal pain and to estimate the clinical relevance of rare organic causes of abdominal pain in these patients, we prospectively examined 93 children aged between 5.5 and 12 years by means of abdominal ultrasound. In 3 patients (3.

Recurrence of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in the transplanted kidney.

The clinical and renal biopsy findings in 3 patients with recurrent focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSG) are reported, as well as the results of a survey among 17 European centers totaling 27 kidney-transplanted children with FSG. From these 27 patients, 10 had recurrent FSG. The duration of the original disease was less than 3 years in 9 of them.

Haemolytic uraemic syndrome.

The haemolytic uraemic syndrome is an acute illness characterised by the occurrence of renal injury, haemolytic anaemia with red cell fragmentation and thrombocytopenia. Haemorrhagic diathesis, arterial hypertension and neurological manifestations often complicate the acute phase of the disease. In this article, we shall discuss in more detail the aspects of this phase.

Liver damage in the hemolytic uremic syndrome.

During the recovery stage of the hemolytic uremic syndrome in 2 cases an increase of serum levels of GOT, GPT, LDH, gammaGT, 5'ND and AP was noticed, without signs of a recurrence of the disease. In one patient also jaundice and hepatomegaly were found. The observations suggest a parenchymal damage of the liver.

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia after treatment of nephrotic syndrome with immunosuppressive drugs.

The authors present a 4-year-old girl with nephrotic syndrome who developed actue lymphoblastic leukaemia 5 months after the start of a combined treatment of alternate day prednisone and daily cyclophosphamide during 3 months. The nephrotic syndrome was due to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. The occurrence of leukaemia might be related to the preceeding treatment with cyclophosphamide.

Measurement of intravesical and rectal pressures simultaneously with electromyography of anal sphincter in children with myelomeningocele.

This paper reports a technique for simultaneous measurement of intravesical pressure, intra-abdominal pressure, electromyographic activity of the external and sphincter and urinary flow. Using this technique during filling of the bladder and during micturition in 38 children with myelomeningocele and neurogenic bladder disturbance, it was possible to identify four main types of bladder dysfunction in these children. Once the type of bladder dysfunction is established for each child, adequate management can be planned far in advance of the detection of inherent upper urinary tract damage.