[Successful trial for introduction of the WHO surgical safety checklist].

Background: The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist was published in 2008 as an attempt to decrease complications and death from surgery. This checklist was implemented and evaluated using questionnaires in an intermediate size general hospital. We attempted to confirm how the WHO checklist has been implemented and assessed as a medical safety system.

[Ultrasound role in assessment of vesicoureteral reflux endoscopic treatment results].

Introduction: Since the beginning of the application of the RVU treatment, the use of the ultrasound was used taking into account two main indications/symptoms: a) identification of the complications; b) assessment of the result (visualization of the implanted material and the presence of the "uretheral jet" by means or through/of ecodoppler-color).

Objective: To determine the value of the ultrasound in the assessment of the result of the endoscopic treatment of the RVU and in the detection of its complications.

Material And Method: From 2001-2002 we have carried out the endoscopic treatment to an overall of 261 ureteral units of all degree and etiology.

Comparison of the X-ray absorption properties of the binuclear active site of molluscan and arthropodan hemocyanins.

The structural characteristics of oxy- and deoxy-hemocyanins have been investigated using X-ray absorption spectroscopy both in the near-edge (XANES) and for the first shell contribution in the EXAFS region. Several arthropodan and molluscan hemocyanins have been studied in order to trace the inter- and intra-phyla differences. The XANES spectra of oxy-hemocyanins of the different species are remarkably similar, consistent with a very strongly conserved co-ordination geometry of the copper active site.

Significance of rises in urinary bicarbonate contents and pH related with increased atmospheric carbon dioxide in Tokyo.

Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was measured at several locations in Tokyo, for two weeks, in December, 1995 and 1996, and was found to be increased up to 550 ppm, while it was shown by us to be 450 ppm in December, 1994. These results demonstrate that atmospheric carbon dioxide is steadily increasing at faster rates in Tokyo than we expect, though it has been considered that the atmospheric carbon dioxide is still as much as 350 ppm. Bicarbonate concentration and pH of urine of 13 medical students in Tokyo were also measured for the same period in December of 1995 and 1996, and were found to be significantly increased compared with the values that were reported in the past.

[Our experience in portal cavernomatosis in childhood: cross-sectional study and analysis of results].

A retrospective and transversal study of our patients with portal cavernomatosis is developed, with the aim of comparing the evolution and the present status of the patients that have undergone different therapeutical approaches. Between 1975 and 1995, 15 patients with portal cavernomatosis have been treated. Personal history, signs and symptoms at the moment of diagnosis, and treatment were analyzed.

Plasma cell granuloma of the lung in childhood: atypical radiologic findings and association with hypertrophic osteoarthropathy.

Three cases of pulmonary plasma cell granuloma in the pediatric age group are presented. Although rare, it is the most frequent primary lung tumor in childhood. In two of the cases, there was a close adherence between the tumor and the surrounding mediastinal structures and diaphragm, a very uncommon feature in these tumors.

Congenital medulloblastoma. Report of two cases.

Congenital medulloblastoma caused severe hydrocephalus in two patients, one aged one day and the other 5 months.

Occlusion of the cerebral arteries in Recklinghausen's disease.

Two children, aged 18 months and 6 years, who had Recklinghausen's disease, had occlusion of cerebral arteries. One child had no motor deficit but the other had right hemiparesis and partial occlusion of the left posterior cerebral artery, a fact not found in the literature.

Humero-spinal dysostosis.

A 2 year old boy with humero-spinal dysostosis is described. This is the third case of this disease reported in the literature. Humero-spinal dysostosis is characterised radiologically by distal humeral bifurcation, elbow subluxation and coronal cleft vertebrae.

[Experience and application of diagnostic pneumoperitoneum in the anomalies in the umbilical region (author's transl)].

By means of 30 pneumoperitoneograms performed "postmortem" and five performed for diagnosis, the exploratory technique, radiologic anatomy of umbilical region, and the usefulness of the process in the diagnosis in children are discussed. Pneumoperitoneum may be indicated in diagnosis of bleeding Meckel's diverticulum, in exclusion or confirmation of remnants of the omphalomesenteric duct in cronically moist lesions of the umbilicus resistent to symptomatic treatment, in cases of non-communicating urachal cysts which can not be diagnosed by cystogram, and in the differential diagnosis of abdominal tumors related to the umbilical region.

[Some additional facts about thymus (author's transl)].

Three cases are presented of eventual diagnostic errors concerning the thymus. In the first case right aberrating lobe appeared radiologically as a tumour of posterior mediastinum. In the second case, the large thymic malleability, enabled it to invade medium mediastinum and to show an extraordinary variability in shape when in decubitus.