[Amiodarone therapy in childhood: efficacy and side effects].

In the adult, Amiodarone is a very effective drug in the treatment of ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias. The presence of severe side effects such as some alterations in the thyroid function and/or pulmonary fibrosis have restricted the use in children. Nevertheless, research has shown that there is a low incidence of collateral side effects and this therapy in infancy can be very effective.

Pulmonary valve agenesis and supravalvular pulmonary stenosis. Report of a case and review of literature.

Pulmonary valve agenesis is a rare malformation, and is usually associated with a ventricular septal defect. Occasionally it may be associated also with right ventricular outflow obstruction. Children with this syndrome usually die early in infancy either of intractable heart failure or of severe respiratory distress.

[Exercise test in 100 healthy children between 5 and 12 years of age (author's transl)].

100 healthy children, between 5 and 12 years of age underwent maximal exercise test on a bicycle ergometer in sitting position. Particularly interesting seem to be the observations on maximal heart rate during exercise, maximum work load, energy cost in terms of heart rate, EGG during exercise. As concerning the maximal heart rate, it was observed a levelling of around 195 beats min.