Minerva pediatrica
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Review
[Neonatal hepatic cholestasis with particular regard for the use of radioisotopes in its diagnosis].
The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of hepatobiliary scintigraphy using a 99mTc-HIDA compound to differentiate intrahepatic cholestasis from extrahepatic forms during the first months of life. The tracer used was acid N-(2,6)-diethylacetanylido-iminodiacetic (diethyl-HIDA) with almost exclusively biliary excretion and a high concentration of radioactivity in the bile. Each neonate was injected with 0.5 mg/kg i.v. of the compound marked with a dose of 99mTc equivalent to 80-100 microCi/kg. ⋯ On the contrary, the absence of the intestinal excretion of the tracer is nor constantly associated with biliary atresia. This study has confirmed this finding in 10 cases of intrahepatic cholestasis (4 hypoplasias of the intrahepatic biliary tract, 3 thick bile syndromes, 3 cases of hepatitis due to cytomegalovirus). In conclusion, the Authors state that hepato-biliary scintigraphy represents a straightforward and non-invasive diagnostic method which enables the permeability of the biliary tract to be assessed in subjects with jaundice.
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Comparative Study
[Children and adolescents with epilepsy. Cognitive abilities, learning disorders and depression].
The authors studied some psychological and psychopathological problems in epileptic children and adolescents. 47 cases (range 6.6-16 ys), with well controlled seizures and learning difficulties, have been examined and compared with 80 children and adolescents with learning disorders. The analysis of anamnestic data about early minimal brain damage (MBD) differentiated 4 groups: with an without epilepsy, with and without MBD. ⋯ The depression symptoms are similar in these 2 groups and above all sustained by psychogenic pathogenesis. The authors conclude with a critical reflection on prejudices regarding children and adolescents with epilepsy.