Pediatr Neonatol
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Anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis is a treatment-responsive encephalitis associated with anti-NMDA receptor antibodies, which bind to the NR1/NR2 heteromers of the NMDA receptors. It is a highly characteristic syndrome evolving in five stages: the prodromal phase (viral infection-like symptoms), psychotic phase, unresponsive phase, hyperkinetic phase, and gradual recovery phase. It has been considered as a paraneoplastic syndrome usually affecting childbearing-age female with ovarian tumors; however, recent reports suggest a much higher incidence of nonparaneoplastic cases in children. We report a 14-year-old girl with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis without a detectable tumor who showed a nearly complete recovery after intensive immunotherapy.
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Early-onset sepsis (EOS) is the major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Maternal group B Streptococcus (GBS) screening and intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) were implemented in our hospital in 2004. Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of the program and changes in pathogens and antibiotic susceptibility. ⋯ GBS screening plus IAP is effective in decreasing the incidence of GBS EOS; however, an increase in EOS caused by E coli was noted. Monitoring of pathogens causing EOS is important for effective treatment.
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Case Reports
Ovarian torsion caused by teratoma masquerading as perforated appendicitis in a 5-year-old girl.
Ovarian torsion is a well-known but poorly recognized disease. Although ovarian torsion is the most common complication of ovarian tumors in children, it is an uncommon cause of abdominal pain in pediatric patients. Ovaries can be only salvaged by prompt diagnosis and timely surgical intervention. ⋯ She was initially diagnosed with appendicitis based on physical examination and abdominal computed tomography scan and was sent to the operating room for surgical exploration. The definite diagnosis of the patient was acute ovarian torsion complicated with cystic teratoma. Primary clinicians in the ED should pay more attention to acute ovarian torsion in young children because it is difficult to diagnose in time to salvage the gynecological function when the clinical presentations masquerade as perforated appendicitis.
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The PalmLab glucometer is a newly designed plasma separation glucose oxidase (GO)-based glucometer. Past studies have shown that the accuracy of GO-based glucometers is compromised when measurements are taken in patients with high PO(2) levels. We performed a two-arm study comparing the fitness of the PalmLab blood glucometer with that of a standard glucose analyzer in monitoring blood glucose levels in pediatric patients, especially when arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PO(2)) was high. ⋯ The PalmLab glucometer provides accurate results in samples with high PO(2) and is suitable for measuring arterial glucose levels in pediatric patients.
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Pharmaceuticals involved in childhood poisoning vary, and treatment of poison exposure can be a challenge for primary physicians when children are unconscious or histories are lacking. Knowledge of the clinical manifestations and prognosis of poisoning will help primary physicians perform appropriate clinical assessments. In this study, we aim to report on patient characteristics, outcomes, and clinical features of pediatric poisoning in the emergency department. ⋯ Neurologic system agents and analgesics were responsible for the majority of cases. Intentional poisoning caused longer hospital length of stay than accidental poisoning, and the factors associated with intentional poisoning were older age, female, and neurologic system agents.