No abstract

Aerosolized prostacyclin improves oxygenation in children with acute lung injury. Future trials should investigate whether this treatment will positively affect outcome.

No abstract

European Union's Seventh Framework programme.

Alveolar fibrinolytic capacity is suppressed during mechanical ventilation with high pressure amplitudes due to local production of PAI-1.

Male gender predisposes to severe sepsis and septic shock. This effect has been ascribed to higher levels of testosterone. The ESPNIC ARDS database was searched, to determine if there was evidence of a similar male preponderance in severe sepsis in prepubertal patients in spite of low levels of male sex hormones at this age. A total of 72 patients beyond neonatal age up to 8 years of age with sepsis were identified. The male/female (M/F) ratio was 1.7 (1.0;2.7) and differed significantly from non-septic ARDS patients in this age group [n = 209; M/F = 1.0 (0.8;1.3)]. The highest M/F-ratio was observed in the first year of life. The gender-ratio was the same as reported in adult patients with sepsis. In infants between 1 month and 12 months of age, the ratio was 2.8 (1.2;6.1) (Chi2= 5.6; P< 0.01), in children from 1 year to 8 years of age it was 1.2 (0.7;2.2) (n.s.). In a subgroup of patients with severe sepsis or septic shock, caused by other bacteria than Neisseria meningitidis, the M/F-ratio was 2.1 (1.2;3.6) (Chi2= 4.9; P<0.05), while in patients with meningococcal sepsis (n=20) the M/F-ratio was 1.0 (0.4;2.3). In prepubertal ARDS patients with sepsis an increased frequency of male patients is found, comparable to adults. No male preponderance exists in patients with ARDS due to meningococcal septic shock. Since levels of testosterone and other sex hormones are extremely low at this age, we conclude that factors others than testosterone are involved in the male preponderance in severe sepsis.

Both Sulthiame and Levetiracetam influence the EEG of children with BECTS. Persistent EEG pathologies are associated with treatment failures.

We describe a boy with Kawasaki disease (KD) whose clinical course was marked by a rapid improvement upon treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and oral aspirin, which - within 14 days - was followed by the development of a large pericardial effusion with symptoms of impending cardiac tamponade as part of a polyserositis syndrome (pleural effusions, ascites). Upon treatment with pulsed methylprednisolone, the pericardial and pleural effusions and ascites rapidly disappeared within 48 h. This is the first case reported with a polyserositis syndrome and impending cardiac tamponade during KD.