Levetiracetam versus phenytoin in children with status epilepticus.

Background: To compare the efficacy and safety of intravenous levetiracetam and phenytoin in status epilepticus.

Methodology: A prospective, randomized controlled, nonblinded study was conducted in children 1 month to 12 years of age with active seizure and with status epilepticus. A total of 104 children were randomly allocated to either group 1 (levetiracetam) or group 2 (phenytoin) on the basis of computer-generated random number table.

Deflazacort Versus Prednisolone: Randomized Controlled Trial in Treatment of Children With Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome.

Background: Corticosteroids are the main therapy of nephrotic syndrome and goal of corticosteroid therapy is to obtain maximum clinical benefit with minimum adverse effects. Children are more vulnerable to side effects of corticosteroids related to growth and adrenal suppression, so a search for an alternative steroid with fewer side-effects is underway. Deflazacort is an oxazoline derivative and preliminary data suggest reduced osteoporosis, lesser growth retardation and weight gain with deflazacort.

The acrocallosal syndrome in a neonate with further widening of phenotypic expression.

The presentation of the typical characteristics of the acrocallosal syndrome (ACLS) are hypoplasia/agenesis of corpus callosum, moderate to severe mental retardation, characteristic craniofacial abnormalities, distinctive digital malformation, and growth retardation in a neonate. An Indian neonate presented on day 1 of life (youngest in the literature to be reported) with combination of abnormalities consistent with the acrocallosal syndrome and some additional findings. The baby, born to non-consanguineous, healthy parents, presented with macrocephaly, prominent forehead, hypertelorism, polydactyly of the hands and feet, duplication of hallux, hypotonia, recurrent cyanotic episodes, rib anomalies, dextro-positioning of heart, and delayed fall of umbilical cord.

Klippel-Trenaunay and Sturge-Weber overlap syndrome with phakomatosis pigmentovascularis.

Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome and Sturge-Weber syndrome are rare disorders with neurologic and cutaneous signs of vascular origin. Phakomatosis pigmentovascularis represents the association of widespread, aberrant, and persistent nevus flammeus and pigmentary abnormalities. We describe a case with features suggestive of overlap between them.

Comparison of 1 week versus 4 weeks of albendazole therapy in single small enhancing computed tomography lesion.

Background: The appropriate duration of albendazole therapy in neurocysticercosis is uncertain. The observation in small uncontrolled randomized trials in children that short-course therapy (1 week) is as effective as the conventional regimen (4weeks) must be tested.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of 1 and 4 weeks of albendazole therapy in children with single small enhancing computed tomographic lesion (SSECTL).