Mesenteric venous collateral vessels mimicking cystic pancreatic neoplasm.

We report an unusual case of intrapancreatic mesenteric venous collateral vessels following partial pancreatic surgical resection resembling pancreatic neoplasm upon greyscale sonographic and unenhanced CT examinations.

Behavioral interventions reduce infant distress at immunization.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of simple behavioral interventions at immunization on behavioral and biochemical indicators of distress in infants and parents in a primary care setting. DESIGN: Subjects were enrolled sequentially to control (standard care) and intervention groups. Intervention parents (n=57) were provided information about techniques to help their infants at immunization. Standard care parents (n=45) did not receive this information. Immunizations were videotaped and coded for infant and parent behaviors. Using a visual analog scale, parents rated their infant's and their own comfort at study enrollment, immediately after immunization, and at check-out. Saliva samples collected from infants and parents at study enrollment and at 15, 30, and 60 minutes after immunization were assayed for cortisol concentration by standard radioimmunoassay. Data were analyzed using chi2, analysis of variance, and general linear modeling. Patterns of salivary cortisol change after immunization were analyzed using hierarchical linear modeling. SETTING: A single, urban pediatric practice during 2 summers (1997 and 1998). SUBJECTS: Infants 2 to 24 months of age (n= 102) and their parents. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Duration of infant distress (in seconds); parent use of behavioral intervention; infant and parent salivary cortisol concentrations (in nanomoles per liter). RESULTS: Intervention parents were more likely to use a behavioral technique with their infants before immunization (P<.05). Total infant distress was shorter for intervention infants at immunization (P<.01), and these infants were rated as more comfortable by their parents (P<.001) immediately after immunization. Salivary cortisol levels were lower for intervention infants at 15, 30, and 60 minutes after immunization (P<.05). CONCLUSION: Simple behavioral interventions before immunization are associated with reductions in behavioral and biochemical indicators of infant distress.

Effect of magnesium sulfate on the development of cystic periventricular leukomalacia in preterm infants.

To determine if magnesium sulfate has an effect on the development of cystic periventricular leukomalacia in preterm infants, this retrospective case control study was conducted. There were 23,382 infants born at three teaching hospitals in the metropolitan New York area from January 1992 to December 1994. Four hundred ninety-two infants met our entrance criteria. Criteria included a birth weight < 1750 g, survival to at least 7 days of life and at least one cranial ultrasound after 7 days of life. Infants exposed to magnesium sulfate in utero were less likely to develop periventricular leukomalacia. Two of 18 (11%) infants with periventricular leukomalacia were exposed to magnesium sulfate in-utero compared to 14 of 36 controls (39%) (p = 0.035) (OR = 0.196, 95% CI = 0.039-0.988). Pre-eclampsia as an independent factor was not associated with a reduced risk (p = 0.251) (OR = 0.294, 95% CI = 0.033-2.65). Preterm infants exposed to antenatal magnesium sulfate were found to have a reduced risk of developing cystic periventricular leukomalacia.