La Pediatria medica e chirurgica : Medical and surgical pediatrics
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The Authors assert that computer can give an adjunctive value to our abilities, improve the punctuality of own service, lighten the duties of routine (leaving free time for own-self or for adjournment). We have noticed a gradual but continuous increase of the use of the computer in the last years in hospital particularly in the Neonatology department and in the NICU, even because in these departments the data to compare are numerous. In the Brindisi's NICU since 1/7/1986 there has been a process of progressive increase of the use of the computer, based on three directions: filing data of the patients, computer-assisted management of the treatment of RDS, computer-assisted follow-up of the risk-baby, and management of the resources. Moreover are reported possibilities of future applications, as records of diagnosis and helped therapy, interface with medical equipment, linking with databank and with the hospital's mainframe.
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Intramuscular Immunoglobulin (IMIG) have been used for 40 years in substitution therapy for antibody deficiencies and as prophylaxis for and treatment of several infectious diseases. Modified and intact intravenous immunoglobulin preparations (IVIG) have now been available for more than 10 years: only the intact product express full Fc- mediated functions with a biological half-life of IgG (3-4 weeks). ⋯ Treatment with IVIG for immune modulation in several diseases is investigated: substantial data indicate a useful role in selected cases of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, Kawasaky disease and in some neurologic diseases. IVIG are substantially safe and severe side effects have been rarely reported.
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G. L. D. is a rare syndrome characterized by chylothorax, chylous ascites and lymphedema associated to minor symptoms following from lymphangiectasis or to lymphangiomatosis. ⋯ D. in a six months old infant with chylous ascites, chylothorax, lymphedema, hemangioma and a history of fetal ascites. The preservative (dietetic and evacuative) therapy was not resolutive, therefore an exploratory laparotomy was necessary, but no surgical solution was possible because of the absence of chylous vessels in the anatomical region of the principal lymphatic route. However, laparatomy led to a progressive recovery of ascites and chylothorax, probably due to thrombosis of dysplasic lymph vessels and to neoformation of collateral circulation.
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Obesity represents an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and in children it is often associated to the future development of essential hypertension. To evaluate the early hemodynamic alterations in obese normotensive children, ambulatory monitoring was performed in 18 obese children aged 9.6 +/- 2.9 and in 33 controls of equivalent age by ICR 5200 (Spacelabs, USA). Blood pressure daily curves in the two groups were compared by MANOVA. ⋯ The difference was observed both during the day time (115 +/- 6 vs 111 +/- 7, p less than 0.03) and during the night (107 +/- 9 vs 102 +/- 8, p less than 0.5). No differences in diastolic pressure and in heart rate were observed. Those findings indicate that in obese children blood pressure alterations unrecognized at usual blood pressure checks are detectable by ambulatory 24 hour monitoring.
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From a psychological point of view as well as in regard to facilitating breast-feeding, the practise of rooming-in is most favorable to the wellbeing of the mother-newborn relationship. An important but little researched point is whether the mother may accept rooming-in in respect to time periods, space and the manner in which it is carried out. The results of this study have made evident that time demand by the mother for contact between mother and newborn is inferior to that which is provided by the hospital, this is probably due to the lack of private space available.