Baby sleeping bag and conventional bedding conditions--comparative investigations by infrared thermography.

BACKGROUND: Thermal stress is a risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Recently, baby sleeping bags have been recommended as a preventive measure against SIDS. The aim of this study was to describe in which way the use of baby sleeping bags might influence thermoregulation of sleeping infants and maybe the incidence of SIDS. METHODS: Body surface temperature was recorded by use of infrared thermography in 15 infants (median age 49 days). Recordings were done twice: after sleeping for 60 min under a blanket and after sleeping for 60 min in a baby sleeping bag. Temperature was recorded and compared for defined sites of body surface. RESULTS: Infants' mean body surface temperature as well as core temperature after sleeping in a baby sleeping bag did not show significant differences when compared to infants sleeping under a conventional blanket. CONCLUSION: Under controlled conditions, core temperature and mean body surface temperature are comparable, equally if using a baby sleeping bag or conventional bedding. However, under the more uncontrolled conditions of baby care at home, sleeping bags might provide a more constant temperature profile, while other bedding conditions may lead to significant variations of temperature pattern.

Necrosis of a skin autograft after short-term treatment with sunitinib in a 14-year-old girl with metastatic alveolar soft part sarcoma of the thigh.

A 14-year-old girl was diagnosed with alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) of the thigh and lung metastases. She underwent tumor resection and pulmonary metastasectomy followed by hyperfractionated local radiotherapy (44.8 Gy). A mesh graft transplant was used to cover the postoperative skin defect on the thigh. Since ASPS do not respond to conventional chemotherapy antiangiogenic treatment with peginterferon alfa-2b and thalidomide was started. Immunohistochemical analysis of tumor tissue showed expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR) 1, 2, 3, and platelet derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)-alpha and -beta. Hence, additional treatment with multitargeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor sunitinib (Sutent) was started on a compassionate use basis. 2 weeks later the patient presented with necrosis of the skin transplant requiring necrectomy and skin grafting. This case illustrates that drugs inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor receptors have to be used very cautiously in cancer patients with severe pre-existing skin damage.

[Uterus duplex with hematometrocolpos and ipsilateral agenesis of the kidney]. / Uterus duplex mit Hämatometrokolpos und ipsilateraler Nierenagenesie.

BACKGROUND: Malformations of the mullerian-duct-system occur with an incidence of about 0.001-0.005% of the population, and they are frequently associated with unilateral agenesis of the kidney. CASE: A 12-year-old girl presented to our emergency department with cyclic abdominal pain which increased with each of her menses. Ultrasound investigation showed a uterus duplex with obstructed hemivagina and hematometrocolpos as well as an ipsilateral absence of the kidney. Additionally, a cystic expansion in the small pelvis was detected which required further investigations (MRT and MR-angiography) to establish the diagnosis of a hematosalpinx. Excision of the vaginal septum resulted in drainage of the hemato-metrocolpos and the hematosalpinx. CONCLUSION: Unilateral hematometrocolpos should be considered as an important differential diagnosis in female adolescents with relapsing lower abdominal pain, even if normal menstruation occurs.

[Pernio as cause of a blue toe syndrome]. / Pernio als Ursache eines Blue-toe-Syndroms.

The evaluation of a blue toe syndrome in children is a diagnostic challenge. The differential diagnosis includes pernio (chilblains) if all diagnostic tests are negative and a corresponding anamnesis is presented. In this report we illustrate the case of a 7 1/2- year-old girl who presented with two blue toes and discuss differential-diagnostic considerations.