Seasonal variation of blood pressure in children.

Seasonal blood pressure (BP) variation is mostly found between the summer and winter months. Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of hypertension in children have not considered this variation until recently. This review aims to present an overview of seasonal BP variation in childhood along with potential underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and long-term implications as well as conclusions for future studies.

Exercise capacity in children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia at school age.

Objective: To assess the exercise capacity, exercise habits, and lung function of preterm born children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) compared to term born controls at school age.

Methods: Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) by cycle ergometer and pulmonary function test were performed in children with BPD (n = 42) and compared with a term born control group (n = 42). Daily activity, participation in sports and respiratory symptoms were assessed by questionnaire.

Incompatible intravenous drug combinations and respective physician and nurse knowledge: a study in routine paediatric intensive care.

Objectives: To identify incompatible intravenous drug combinations in routine paediatric intensive care and evaluate physician and nurse knowledge.

Methods: In a university paediatric intensive care unit, intravenous drug incompatibilities were analysed using a database and physician and nurse knowledge of incompatibilities was assessed using a questionnaire.

Results: We analysed 665 prescriptions in 87 patients.

Invasive pneumococcal diseases in children and adolescents--a single centre experience.

Background: S. pneumoniae is a major cause of meningitis, pneumonia and sepsis in children. In 2006 universal pneumococcal vaccination was recommended in Germany for all children up to their second birthday.

Blood pressure tracking in children and adolescents.

Background: High blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Blood pressure tracking could help to identify individuals with potential hypertension. Therefore, we have asked whether or not tracking was of predictive value for the development of hypertension in early life.

Influence of seasonal variation on blood pressure measurements in children, adolescents and young adults.

Background: Seasonal fluctuations in outdoor temperature have been shown to affect blood pressure in adults. The aim of our study was to determine whether blood pressure measurements in children and adolescents in Central Europe undergo seasonal variation or are influenced by outdoor temperature.

Methods: The blood pressure of 6,714 subjects (3,497 boys, 3,237 girls) aged 3 to 21 (median age 10.

Citric acid as the last therapeutic approach in an acute life-threatening metabolic decompensation of propionic acidaemia.

The tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle represents the key enzymatic steps in cellular energy metabolism. Once the TCA cycle is impaired in case of inherited metabolic disorders, life-threatening episodes of metabolic decompensation and severe organ failure can arise. We present the case of a 6 ½-year-old girl with propionic acidaemia during an episode of acute life-threatening metabolic decompensation and severe lactic acidosis.

Fulminant and fatal course of acute lymphoblastic leukemia due to lactic acidosis and suspected abdominal compartment syndrome.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood malignancy and its prognosis has considerably improved over the past 2 decades due to new therapeutic approaches. In some cases, however, it can develop very rapidly and cause possibly fatal complications. We report on the case of an 11-year-old boy with ALL, who rapidly developed severe lactic acidosis and abdominal compartment syndrome.

Combined partial trisomy 11q and partial monosomy 10p in a 19-year-old female patient: phenotypic and genotypic findings.

Constitutional partial trisomy 11q in man mostly occurs in combination with partial trisomy 22 due to a balanced parental translocation t(11;22). Occasionally a chromosome other than 22 is involved in the parental translocation with chromosome 11, resulting in partial monosomy for the other participating chromosome. We report of a patient with partial trisomy 11q and partial monosomy 10p [46,XX,der(10)t(10;11)(p15;q22)] due to a paternal balanced translocation [46,XY,t(10;11)(p15;q22)].

Acute cerebral infarction and extra pontine myelinolysis in children with new onset type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Neurological complications of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) are still associated with significant mortality and morbidity. We report on two children who suffered from acute cerebral infarction (CI) and extra pontine myelinolysis (EPM) at onset of type 1 diabetes. Initially, clinical management had not been performed according to generally accepted guidelines.

[Retrospective analysis of 44 childhood drowning accidents].

Background: Worldwide, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional death and the leading cause of cardiovascular failure for children [1-3]. The number of near-drownings, where the incident is survived for at least 24 hours, is assumed to be four times as high [5]. In the years 1994 until 2008 there were 44 cases of drowning treated at the children's department of the University of Leipzig.

Increased arterial stiffness in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: no association between arterial stiffness and serum levels of adiponectin.

Objective: Type 1 diabetes is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis. Adiponectin serum levels correlate inversely with cardiovascular disease in adults. The aim of this study was to examine associations between arterial stiffness indices and serum adiponectin concentrations in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes and to study the impact of metabolic control.

Combination of spit fistula advancement and external traction for primary repair of long-gap esophageal atresia.

Primary repair of long-gap esophageal atresia with almost complete absence of thoracic esophagus was usually believed to be impossible. Thus, esophageal replacement with colon or gastric interposition seemed inevitable. Esophageal lengthening techniques could be an alternative approach.

Successful liver transplantation in a child with Caroli's disease.

CD is a rare autosomal recessive disease, characterized by multifocal cystic dilatation of intrahepatic bile ducts. The course of the disease is characterized by intrahepatic cholelithiasis, recurrent episodes of cholangitis, because of cholelithiasis, hepatic abscesses often ending in death caused by uncontrolled infection. Other conditions such as choledochal cyst and renal cystic disease are frequently associated, and patients have a higher risk for the development of cholangiocarcinoma.

Central lactic acidosis, hyperventilation, and respiratory alkalosis: leading clinical features in a 3-year-old boy with malignant meningeal melanoma.

Meningeal tumors are extremely rare in children and are diagnostically as well as therapeutically challenging. Among the least common types of malignancies in childhood is malignant melanoma, counting for less than 1% of pediatric tumors. Due to the rarity and the wide spectrum of appearance, initial clinical features may be misleading.

Successful therapy of paediatric ethylene glycol poisoning: a case report and annual survey by a regional poison centre.

Unlabelled: Severe poisoning with ethylene glycol, often used as antifreeze, is a rare, life-threatening event. Neurological symptoms are accompanied by metabolic acidosis with elevated anion gap and osmotic gap. We report on a 7-year-old boy suffering from severe ethylene glycol intoxication.

Unusual presentation of congenital disorder of glycosylation type 1a: congenital persistent thrombocytopenia, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and hydrops-like aspect due to marked peripheral oedema.

Unlabelled: Of the congenital disorder of glycosylation (CDG) syndromes, type 1a is the most common. CDG 1a is a multisystem disorder with a wide clinical spectrum. We report on a term newborn with a severe and fatal clinical course of CDG 1a syndrome.

Tachydyspnea in an infant chimpanzee.

Reports on intensive care and invasive treatments of primates are scarce. Generally, there is little knowledge and experience in regard to resuscitation, cardiac support and ventilation support especially in small infants of primate species. We therefore report on our experience with respect to the successful treatment of a former small-for-date chimpanzee infant with severe cardiorespiratory distress due to pneumonia inflicted by an unknown infective agent.