'Short Bars Crossed' to Remodel the Entire Chest Wall in Children and Adolescents with Pectus Excavatum.

Background: The cross-bar technique of minimally invasive pectus excavatum (PE) correction remains underreported, which is especially true of pediatric patients. We therefore reviewed the experience of a Turkish and an Austrian center. An additional novelty characterizing both pediatric cohorts was the use of short bars.

Evaluation of cross-bar and parallel-bar techniques in MIRPE surgery in different countries: a multicenter study.

Parallel- and cross-bar techniques are surgical methods used in the pectus excavatum. While the parallel bar is used in many centers, the cross bar is a new technique. The aim of the study is to evaluate the data of centers using cross bar and parallel bar.

Serum levels of interleukin-8 and gut-associated biomarkers in diagnosing necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants.

Background: In recent years several potential biochemical markers have been evaluated to facilitate a reliable diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), but none have made progress to clinical routine. We performed a comparative assessment in premature infants to evaluate the diagnostic value of the routinely available cytokine interleukin (IL)-8, and two promising experimental biomarkers, the gut barrier proteins liver fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) and intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP), respectively, for the diagnosis of NEC.

Methods: IL-8, L-FABP, and I-FABP concentrations were analyzed in the serum of 15 infants with NEC and compared with 14 gestational age-matched infants serving as a control group.

The plasma activities of lysosomal enzymes in infants with necrotizing enterocolitis: new promising class of biomarkers?

Background: Intestinal ischemia plays a major role in the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). The diagnosis of intestinal ischemia would be highly desirable, as it is impossible to achieve with the current diagnostic regimes. Preliminary data from an animal NEC model indicate a possible correlation between the plasma activity of the lysosomal enzyme beta-glucosidase and intestinal ischemia.