Clearance of branched chain amino acids by peritoneal dialysis in maple syrup urine disease.

Thirty-eight hours of peritoneal dialysis (PD) was used in an 8-day-old, 3.35 kg boy with maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) to enhance the removal of branched chain amino acids (BCAA). PD clearances for leucine, isoleucine, and valine were 3 ml/min/1.

[Role of ultrasound in studying the first urinary infection in children].

A retrospective study comparing the findings of ultrasonography (5 MHz transducer) versus intravenous pyelography and voiding cystourethrography was conducted in 92 patients during the course of an initial urinary tract infection (greater than or equal to 10(5) bacteriae/ml, WBC greater than 25/mm3) gathered over a period of 5 years. The average interval of time between ultrasonography and intravenous pyelography was 8 days (range 1-70). False positive results for ultrasonography were noted in 11% (5 of 45 cases), while false negatives were observed in 36% (17 of 47).

Methylcellulose cultures clotted and stained for permanent record.

Whereas methylcellulose cultures have been valuable for biochemical studies on hemopoiesis in vitro, it has been difficult to study cellular morphology in these cultures. We have found that clotting factors can be added at any time during the culture period and non-adherent cells become entrapped in a semisolid clot. The clot can be removed, fixed and stained for detailed microscopic examination.