Current Pediatric Reviews - Volume 11, Issue 2, 2015

The surgical treatment of tetralogy of Fallot can be considered as a success story in the history of congenital heart diseases. Since the early outcome is no longer the main issue, the focus moved to the late sequelae of TOF repair, i.e. the pulmonary insufficiency and the secondary adaptation of the right ventricle. This review provides recent insights into the pathophysiological alterations of the right ventricle in relati Read More

Non-transfusion-dependent thalassemias (NTDT) encompass a group of hereditary chronic hemolytic anemia, which, as the name indicates, not require regular blood transfusion for survival. These include β-thalassemia intermedia, hemoglobin E/β-thalassemia, and Hemoglobin H disease (α- thalassemia intermedia). Individuals with structural variant of hemoglobin especially Hemoglobin S and Hemoglobin C associated with “α Read More

In this review, we discuss the evidence supporting the causative role of increased FGF21 expression in reduced GH action and impaired longitudinal bone growth. Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) 21 (FGF21) is a member of a subfamily of FGFs which lack the FGF heparin-binding domain. Thus, these FGFs can function as endocrine as well as paracrine factors. During fasting, increased expression of FGF21 induces gluconeogenesis, fat Read More

Medulloblastoma, the most common primary pediatric malignant brain tumor is a molecularly heterogeneous disease with different developmental origins, distinct phenotypes, diverse biological behaviour, and contrasting clinical outcomes. The current clinico-radiological risk-classification fails to take account of this heterogeneity and existent prognostic variability. It is widely accepted that dysregulation of normal developmenta Read More

Exercise is important in the management of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Modern diabetes care includes the goal that all youth meet guidelines for regular physical activity. Evidence suggests regular physical activity improves cardiovascular health, lipid profiles, psychosocial wellbeing and, possibly, glycemic control in youth with T1DM. However, exercise is especially problematic for children and adolescents because wide gl Read More

Objectives: Clinicians often refer to published or local guidelines when counselling expectant parents on perinatal care decisions at the limits of viability. The objectives of this study are to systematically review the literature and assess the quality of published international guidelines regarding perinatal care of 22-25 week gestational age infants. Study Design: MEDLINE, Pre-MEDLINE and TRIP databases were systematically sea Read More

Objective: To assess the effect of chronic middle ear effusion (CMEE) on balance and equilibrium. Material and Methods: Prospective study controlling two groups of children. The active arm consisted of children having a unilateral or bilateral CMEE that persisted for at least 3 months. The control group consisted of children presenting with normal middle ear. Children and parents in both groups were questioned about Read More