Benign transient hyperphosphatasemia of infancy (BTH) is a condition characterized by disproportionately high levels of serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP). We report 4 cases of healthy patients with an elevated SAP. The mean age of the patients was 33 (14-52) months, with three females and one male. All children had a normal physical exam and anthropometric measures. The maximum values of serum alkaline phosphatase recorded in the 4 patients were: 11900, 6500, 9700 and 7600 UI/L respectively, with the rest of the laboratory exams and diagnostic images being normal. The clinical course of all the patients was favourable and no patient presented signs of symptoms of illness. Blood was drawn on 6 occasions in patients 1 and 5 occasions in the rest. Benign transient hyperphosphatasemia of infancy was diagnosed. It is important to know the characteristics of this condition to order the necessary amount of complementary studies.

We assessed the long-term rehabilitation and quality of life after kidney transplantation in 17 recipients of transplants during their childhood who had reached 10 years or more after grafting. We found that all recipients considered themselves to be in good to excellent health, and 59% were completely satisfied with their life. Ninety-four percent of the recipients did not report any interference of their health with their family life. Only one recipient was unemployed, and five recipients have to miss work (n=2) and school (n=3) a few days a year due to their health status. Health seldom or never interfered with social life in 11 recipients, and in 6 of 9 sexually active recipients, their health status was not an obstacle in their sexual relationships. Two recipients expressed concerns about their short stature, and three were concerned with their body appearance. In conclusion, we describe a group of young adult recipients who presented a highly satisfactory rehabilitation and quality of life after their successful transplantation.

HRQOL in children after LT has not been systematically measured in transplant recipients from South American countries. The aim of this study was to determine the HRQOL using a validated measure for children. The CHQOL-PF50 was completed by the parents of 54 patients after the clinical assessment. Subscale mean scores were compared with both a normal population (n = 274) and a group of chronic illness patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (n = 23). Compared with the normal population, LT recipients had lower subscales scores for general health perceptions, role/social emotional, mental health, and parental impact on time. Bodily pain was significantly lower in our study group. Both mean physical and psychosocial summary scores were lower compared to the normal population but similar to the JIA group. Within the LT population, gender, original diagnosis, type of immunosuppression, type of transplant and time elapsed since LT did not significantly influence any of the summary scores. Our study showed LT children's physical and psycho-social areas were lower compared with those of the general population. LT children had less limitations due to pain. Family functioning appeared normal.

Objective: To assess psychosocial quality of life in school-age children of divorced parents. Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted at the pediatric outpatient clinic of a community hospital. Children 5 to 12 years old from married families and divorced families were included. Child quality of life was assessed through maternal reports using a Child Health Questionnaire -Parent Form 50. A multiple linear regression model was constructed including clinically relevant variables significant on univariate analysis (beta coefficient and 95%CI).Results: Three hundred and thirty families were invited to participate and 313 completed the questionnaire. Univariate analysis showed that quality of life was significantly associated with parental separation, child sex, time spent with the father, standard of living, and maternal education. In a multiple linear regression model, quality of life scores decreased in boys -4.5 (-6.8 to -2.3) and increased for time spent with the father 0.09 (0.01 to 0.2). In divorced families, multiple linear regression showed that quality of life scores increased when parents had separated by mutual agreement 6.1 (2.7 to 9.4), when the mother had university level education 5.9 (1.7 to 10.1) and for each year elapsed since separation 0.6 (0.2 to 1.1), whereas scores decreased in boys -5.4 (-9.5 to -1.3) and for each one-year increment of maternal age -0.4 (-0.7 to -0.05). Conclusion:Children's psychosocial quality of life was affected by divorce. The Child Health Questionnaire can be useful to detect a decline in the psychosocial quality of life.J Pediatr (Rio J). 2009;85(6):547-552: Argentina, child, health status, health-related quality of life, family relations, Child Health Questionnaire. ResumoObjetivo: Avaliar a qualidade de vida psicossocial em filhos de pais separados em idade escolar.Métodos: Conduziu-se um estudo transversal no ambulatório pediátrico de um hospital comunitário. Foram incluídas crianças de 5 a 12 anos de idade, de famílias intactas e de famílias separadas. A qualidade de vida das crianças foi avaliada através de relatórios maternos, utilizando-se o Child Health Questionnaire -Parent Form 50. Um modelo de regressão linear múltipla foi construído incluindo variáveis clinicamente relevantes significativas para a análise univariada (coeficiente beta e IC de 95%).Resultados: Trezentas e trinta famílias foram convidadas a participar e 313 preencheram o questionário. A análise univariada demonstrou que a qualidade de vida estava significativamente associada à separação parental, sexo da criança, tempo passado com o pai, padrão de vida e nível de instrução materno. Em um modelo de regressão linear múltipla, os escores de qualidade de vida se mostraram mais baixos em meninos -4,5 (-6,8 a -2,3) e mais altos para tempo passado com o pai 0,09 (0,01 a 0,2). Em famílias separadas, a regressão demonstrou que os escores de qualidade de vida foram maiores quando a separação dos pais ocorrera em acordo mútuo 6,1 (2,7 a 9,4), quando a mãe possuía nível universitário 5,9 (...

Introduction. The transition of adolescents with chronic conditions to adult follow-up care is an increasingly complex process. Patients need to acquire knowledge and skills that ensure continuity of their care. The goal of this study was to validate the Argentinian Spanish version of the Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ) 5.0 tool in adolescents and young adults with chronic conditions. Population and methods. Descriptive, crosssectional, quantitative study. Patients with chronic conditions aged 14 years or older treated at Hospital Garrahan were included. The TRAQ is made up of 20 items divided into 5 subscales (Managing Medication, Appointment Keeping, Tracking Health Issues, Talking with Providers, Managing Daily Activities), and is designed to be self-administered. Patients completed the TRAQ, as well as an opinion survey about its use and a self-perceived autonomy scale; their physicians answered a scale about patients' health impairment due to the condition. Sociodemographic, clinical and TRAQ-related variables were recorded. Results. A total of 191 patients participated. The majority of patients (96.3%) understood the TRAQ 5.0 questionnaire and completed it correctly, in self-administered modality, in a short time (median: 5 minutes), with little or no help (81%). Patients who live in poverty or have a lower education level than the one expected for their age needed more help. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) for the overall score was 0.81. Construct validity was demonstrated by testing different hypotheses (all p < 0.05): discrimination by age ≥ 16 years (3.01 vs. 3.34), sex (women: 3.38 > men: 3.12) and having plans for the future (without plans: 3.01 < with plans: 3.34); correlation with self-perception scale (r= 0.49). Conclusion. The TRAQ 5.0 tool is available for use in Argentinian adolescents with chronic conditions.

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Objective. To assess different aspects of the perception of sexuality among students before and after a workshop. Population and methods. Descriptive, qualitative, and quantitative before and after intervention study without a control group. School year, status in relation to sexuality, preferred sources of information, and perception of self-care in relation to sexuality care were analyzed. Results. A total of 272 surveys were completed before the workshop and 259, after the workshop. The perception about a better level of information increased (72.3 % versus 90.7 %), and doubts, fears, and embarrassment decreased. The preference for the workshop as an information source increased (49.1 % versus 69.9 %), and an improvement was observed in the perception of a correct use of condoms (66.8 % versus 81.1 %), birth control pills (20.3 % versus 42.5 %), and emergency contraception (18.5 % versus 40.9 %). Conclusion. Students' information and perception of self-care in relation to sexuality increased.

The quality of information received during patient handoff and the chance of mistaking the information of one patient with that of another one were associated with environmental, organizational and educational aspects that can potentially be improved.