American journal of diseases of children (1911)
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Three fatal cases of prune-belly syndrome were associated with nonrenal features of Potter syndrome. The abdominal muscle hypoplasia is thought to be a result of large kidneys compression the developing abdominal musculature during a critical phase of fetal development. Thus, Potter syndrome and prune-belly syndrome may coexist when nonfunctioning large kidneys result in oligohydramnios. A teratogenic role of cytomegalovirus inclusion disease and other viruses is possible in the pathogenesis of these syndromes.
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We describe the activities of a pediatrician in the field of medical archeology. Having pioneered the use of electron microscopy in the examination of Egyptian mummified tissue, we also describe some of the exciting pathological findings from various autopsies of ancient Egyptian mummies. These findings give us a glimpse of disease and death in ancient Egypt and of the evolution of these diseases as they affect man today.
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In a 7-year-old boy with acrodermatitis enteropathica, oral administration of zinc sulfate brought about complete relief of symptoms and signs, with clearing of the skin lesions, arrest of diarrhea, and growth of new hair. Considering the dramatic results obtained, we believe that oral treatment with zinc sulfate is an innocuous, inexpensive, and very effective medication for acrodermatitis enteropathica, which can replace the previously used and toxic diiodohydroxyquin-like drugs.
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Siblings, aged 9 and 7 years, had simultaneous onset of vomiting, disorientation, ataxia, and coma. Both children had prodromal symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections, and had been treated with large doses of aspirin. ⋯ The child who died had autopsy evidence of cerebral edema and fatty liver. The difficulty in clinically differentiating Reye syndrome from salicylate intoxication is discussed.
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Thirty-four patients with life-threatening childhood status asthmaticus were treated with intravenous isoproterenol infusions. Twenty-seven responded favorably; seven failed to respond and underwent mechanical ventilation. ⋯ Complications in these cases were rare, but cardiac arrhythmia, rebound bronchospasm, and acute mobilization of secretions need to be considered. Further evaluation of the efficacy of intravenous infusions of isoproterenol in status asthmaticus would be valuable.