There were variations in the presentation and evolution of the cases during these 12 year. The established pulsetherapy protocol continues to be useful to treat severe cases.

Introduction: The study of placentas from pregnant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive women has become the subject of numerous studies in the literature. Morphological, viral, immune and inflammatory placental aspects have been analyzed in order to grasp the vertical transmission of the virus. Objective: To identify the most frequent findings in the placentas by associating them with a viral antigen and correlating them with the infection of newborns. Material and methods: Thirty-five placentas from HIV-positive pregnant women were pathologically and immunohistochemically analyzed with the use of p24 antibody in the period from 1992 to1997 in accordance with the routine laboratory testing from the

No abstract

SummaryBackground: Mitral repair is well accepted in children with rheumatic fever.

-Objective: To analyze the metabolic constitution of brain areas through proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children affected with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder compared with normal children. Method: The sample of this case-control study included eight boys with epidemiologic history of in utero exposure to alcohol (median age 13.6±3.8 years) who were diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, and eight controls (median age 12.1±3,4 years). An 8 cm 3 single voxel approach was used, with echo time 30 ms, repetition time 1500 ms, and 128 acquisitions in a 1.5T scanner, and four brain areas were analyzed: anterior cingulate, left frontal lobe, left striatum, and left cerebellar hemisphere. Peaks and ratios of metabolites N-acetylaspartate, choline, creatine, and myo-inositol were measured. Results: Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder showed a decrease in choline/creatine ratio (p=0.020) in left striatum and an increase in myo-inositol/creatine ratio (p=0.048) in left cerebellum compared with controls. There was no statistically significant difference in all peaks and ratios from the anterior cingulate and frontal lobe between the two groups. Conclusion: This study found evidence that the left striatum and left cerebellum are affected by intrauterine exposure to alcohol. Additional studies with larger samples are necessary to expand our knowledge of the effects of fetal exposure to alcohol.Key words: fetal alcohol syndrome, alcohol-induced disorders of the nervous system, ethanol, fetal development, magnetic resonance spectroscopy. espectroscopia por ressonância magnética de prótons em crianças com transtornos do espectro alcoólico fetal resumo -Objetivo: Analisar a composição metabólica de áreas encefálicas através da espectroscopia de prótons por ressonância magnética em crianças com transtornos do espectro alcoólico fetal e crianças normais. Método: A amostra deste estudo de casos-controles incluiu 8 meninos com história epidemiológica de exposição fetal ao álcool (idade mediana 13,6±3,8 anos), diagnosticados com transtorno do espectro alcoólico fetal, e 8 controles (idade mediana 12,1±3,4 anos). Utilizou-se voxel único de 8 cm³, tempo de eco 30 ms, tempo de repetição 1.500 ms, 128 aquisições, em scanner de 1,5T para as seguintes áreas: cíngulo anterior, lobo frontal esquerdo, estriado esquerdo e hemisfério cerebelar esquerdo. estudaram-se os picos e as razões dos metabólitos N-acetilaspartato, colina, creatina e o mio-inositol. Resultados: As crianças acometidas apresentaram diminuição da razão colina/creatina (p=0,020) no estriado esquerdo, e aumento da razão mio-inositol/creatina (p=0,048) no cerebelo esquerdo. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa nos valores encontrados no cíngulo anterior e lobo frontal entre os dois grupos. Conclusão: este estudo encontrou evidências de que o estriado e o cerebelo esquerdos são acometidos pela exposição intra-uterina ao álcool. estudos adicionais com amostras maiores são essenciais para expandir nosso conhecimento dos efeitos d...

Patients with mechanical prostheses had lower mortality and required fewer reoperations, but when all combined endpoints were considered, the groups did not differ. The biological prosthesis proved to be a good option for cardiac surgery in children and adolescents with difficulties or risks of anticoagulation.

Severe cardiac abnormalities were the cause of death in some patients. In the majority of the patients, a good correlation existed between clinical and anatomical-pathological data. Cardiac evaluation was important to detect early manifestations and treat them accordingly, even in asymptomatic patients.

With the advent of potent antiretroviral therapy and the increase in life expectancy of pediatric patients infected with HIV, the quest for the promotion of enhanced quality of life should currently be the main focus in care of children with HIV/Aids. The scope of this study was to validate the Scale of Children's Quality of Life in a group of children infected with HIV receiving clinical care in Aids Service Units in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This scale consists of 26 questions and was tested on 100 children, with ages varying between 4 and 12, and their respective parents or guardians. Statistical analysis was conducted using canonical correlation and confidence interval analysis and the c² test. The results showed that the cut-off point obtained was 49; the internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha was 0.73 for the children and 0.67 for parents or guardians. The response profile revealed marked satisfaction with aspects such as vacations and birthdays, though less satisfaction with items including hospitalization and playing alone. The conclusion was that the scale revealed satisfactory psychometric measurements, proving to be a reliable, consistent, valid and recommended instrument for measuring the quality of life of children infected with HIV.