[Atriocaval shunt. Report of two cases].

The mortality of grade V and VI liver trauma fluctuates between 30% and 70%. The atriocaval shunt, described by Shrock et al, in 1968, is a therapeutic option that, after being installed, allows to repair the suprahepatic veins and retrohepatic cava in a bloodless surgical field. Its use requires an experienced and skilled surgeon to obtain survival rates similar to those obtained with other methods.

Clinical features and biochemical data of Caucasian children at diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis.

Objective: Evaluation of systematic epidemiological data regarding clinical characteristics, sex distribution and autoantibody pattern in Caucasian children with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH).

Study Design: Data of 142 children presenting with AIH (97 girls and 45 boys) have been analysed for their clinical, serological, and histological profile.

Results: Clinical findings were jaundice (58%), unspecific weakness (57%), anorexia (47%), abdominal pain (38%) and paleness (26%).

Mother-to-infant transmission of TT virus: prevalence, extent and mechanism of vertical transmission.

Objective: It is currently unknown which mechanisms are responsible for TT virus (TTV) infection in early childhood and whether it may be transmitted in utero from mother to infant.

Methods: The prevalence, mode and extent of maternal TTV transmission was investigated by testing blood, cord blood and breast milk samples from mother-infant pairs for the existence of the novel DNA virus.

Results: By means of polymerase chain reaction, TTV DNA was detected in 57 (41.

Production of reactive oxygen intermediates by human macrophages exposed to soot particles and asbestos fibers and increase in NF-kappa B p50/p105 mRNA.

Alveolar macrophages (AM) play a decisive role in the immunologic defense system of the lung and in inflammatory pulmonary pathomechanisms. AM and blood monocytes (BM) were exposed to chrysotile B, soot FR 101, and Printex 90 (P 90). We evaluated the reactive oxygen intermediate (ROI) release of AM and BM after particle exposure.