This study highlights the significance of monitoring cardiac functions in newborns with HIE. ECG changes and serum Troponin I level at 72 h after birth are likely to have significant predictive value in the assessment of mortality in HIE. Further studies will provide additional data for the long-term prognostic value of cardiac functions in this disorder.

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients' characteristics treated with acute peritoneal dialysis (PD) and their risk factors for mortality. We also wanted to share our experience of the application of PD in neonates who required less than 60 mL of dwell volume and their PD-related problems, as well as special solutions for these problems. This study included 27 infants treated in our NICU between February 2008 and December 2011. We retrospectively analyzed these patients' records. The percutaneous PD catheter was placed by us. PD procedure was performed either by manual technique or automated PD. Statistical evaluation was performed by using χ(2)-tests and Student's t-tests. In these 27 neonates, the average gestational age and birth weight were 35.18 ± 4.02 weeks and 2534.62 ± 897.41 g, respectively. The mean PD duration time was 6.11 ± 6.30 days. Of these, 10 patients were treated by manual technique, whereas 17 patients were treated with automated system. Among 27 neonates, 16 patients died. Overall mortality rate was 59.25%. PD-related complications were seen in 25.92% of patients. In conclusion, PD application is less effective and troublesome for low-birth-weight infants. Each center should create its own solutions to accommodate problematic patients in PD treatment to improve the outcome in this special population.

High protein levels (>100 mg/dL) before the re-insertion of a VPS may be a risk factor for VPS re-infection.

The results indicated a significant association between Internet addiction and obesity. Health practitioners should take possible Internet addiction, online activities, and physical activities into consideration in follow-up of obese adolescents. In addition to pharmacologic therapies and dietary interventions, providing behavioral therapy targeting healthy Internet use may be promising to reduce the effects of obesity in adolescence.

Objective: To study the diagnostic value of fetal echocardiography in detecting congenital heart disease (CHD) during the prenatal period. Methods: One hundred and ninety-seven pregnant women with a high risk of prenatal CHD of their fetuses were included in this study. The fetal heart was scanned with echocardiography, performing complete evaluation of the cardiac system. The prenatal echocardiographic findings were correlated with postnatal echocardiography results or autopsy findings, if the pregnancy was terminated or the fetus died in utero. Results: 10 of the 197 fetuses showed CHD by fetal echocardiography, whereas postnatal echocardiography and postmortem examination revealed cardiac abnormalities in 21 patients. Of those, 7 (41.1%) had the most common referral indication, i.e., cardiac abnormality, found on routine ultrasound examination. Specificity and sensitivity of fetal echocardiography for cardiac abnormalities were found to be 98 and 42%, respectively. The positive predictive value of echocardiography was 90% and the negative predictive value 93%. Conclusions: We conclude that fetal echocardiography is a reliable tool for prenatal diagnosis in experienced hands. Pediatric cardiologists should be more aware while performing fetal echocardiography in patients referred by obstetricians for CHD.

This study compares 2 sampling methods for urine cultures in young infants. We analyzed data on urine samples obtained from 83 infants using 2 sources of urine: suprapubic bladder aspiration (SPA) and bladder catheterization. All specimens were subjected to both urinalysis and culture, and the results compared. Eighty-three infants with positive urine culture results obtained by bladder catheterization were subjected to SPA. Of these, only 24 (28.9%) and 20 (24%) yielded positive urine culture and abnormal urinalysis data, respectively. Samples obtained via catheterization had a high false-positive rate (71.1%). The sensitivity and specificity of urinalysis were 66.7% (95% CI, 44.68% to 84.33%) and 93.22% (95% CI, 83.53% to 98.08%), respectively. In infants younger than 12 months, SPA is the best method to avoid bacterial contamination, showing better results than transurethral catheterization.

No abstract

Chest pain in adolescents is rarely associated with cardiac disease. Adolescents with medically unexplained chest pain usually have high levels of anxiety and depression. Psychological stress may trigger non-cardiac chest pain. This study evaluated risk factors that particularly characterise adolescence, such as major stressful events, in a clinical population. The present study was conducted on 100 adolescents with non-cardiac chest pain and 76 control subjects. Stressful life events were assessed by interviewing patients using a 36-item checklist, along with the Children's Depression Inventory and Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for children, in both groups. Certain stressful life events, suicidal thoughts, depression, and anxiety were more commonly observed in adolescents with non-cardiac chest pain compared with the control group. Moreover, binary logistic regression analysis showed that trouble with bullies, school-related problems, and depression may trigger non-cardiac chest pain in adolescents. Non-cardiac chest pain on the surface may point to the underlying psychosocial health problems such as depression, suicidal ideas, or important life events such as academic difficulties or trouble with bullies. The need for a psychosocial evaluation that includes assessment of negative life events and a better management have been discussed in light of the results.