Resistant Chorea Successfully Treated With Intravenous Immunoglobulin: A Case Report*

Sydenham’s chorea (SC) is common cause of acquired chorea in childhood. SC occurs mainly in children with untreated streptococcal infections. An effective list of therapeutic options has been used to treat this disorder: antiepileptic drugs (valproic acid, carbamazepine etc.), haloperidol, chlorpromazine, amphetamines, steroids, plasma exchange and intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG). We report a 12-year-old girl with carditis and severely generalized chorea and successfully treated with IVIG. This case report shows that IVIG is an effective treatment for the chorea cases resistant to anticonvulsants, dopamine antagonists and steroids, although larger studies are needed to confirm this conclusion

Acute necrotizing encephalopathy causing human bocavirus.

Acute necrotizing encephalopathy is characterized by multiple, symmetrical lesions involving the thalamus, brainstem, cerebellum, and white matter and develops secondarily to viral infections. Influenza viruses are the most common etiological agents. Here, we present the first case of acute necrotizing encephalopathy to develop secondarily to human bocavirus. A 3-year-old girl presented with fever and altered mental status. She had had a fever, cough, and rhinorrhea for five days. The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit with an initial diagnosis of encephalitis when vomiting, convulsions, and loss of consciousness developed. Signs of meningeal irritation were detected upon physical examination. There was a mild increase in proteins, but no cells, in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed symmetrical, heterogeneous hyperintensities bilaterally in the caudate nuclei and putamen. Ammonium, lactate, tandem mass spectroscopy, and urine organic acid were normal. No bacteria were detected in the CSF cultures. Human bocavirus was detected in a nasopharyngeal aspirate using real-time PCR, while no influenza was detected. Oseltamivir, acyclovir, 3% hypertonic saline solution, and supportive care were used to treat the patient, who was discharged after two weeks. She began to walk and talk after one month of physical therapy and complete recovery was observed after six months. Human bocavirus is a recently identified virus that is mainly reported as a causative agent in respiratory tract infections. Here, we present a case of influenza-like acute necrotizing encephalopathy secondary to human bocavirus infection

Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 shortens acute infectious diarrhea in a pediatric outpatient setting

OBJECTIVE: Two randomized controlled clinical trials have shown thatLactobacillus (L) reuteri DSM 17938 reduces the duration of diarrhea in children hospitalized due to acute infectious diarrhea. This was the first trial evaluating the efficacy of L. reuteri DSM 17938 in outpatient children with acute infectious diarrhea.METHODS: This was a multicenter, randomized, single-blinded, case control clinical trial in children with acute watery diarrhea. A total of 64 children who presented at outpatient clinics were enrolled. The probiotic group received 1 × 108 CFU L. reuteri DSM 17938 for five days in addition to oral rehydration solution (ORS) and the second group was treated with ORS only. The primary endpoint was the duration of diarrhea (in hours). The secondary endpoint was the number of children with diarrhea at each day of the five days of intervention. Adverse events were also recorded.RESULTS: The mean duration of diarrhea was significantly reduced in the L. reuteri group compared to the control group (approximately 15 h, 60.4 ± 24.5 h [95% CI: 51.0-69.7 h] vs. 74.3 ± 15.3 h [95% CI: 68.7-79.9 h], p < 0.05). The percentage of children with diarrhea was lower in the L. reuteri group (13/29; 44.8%) after 48 h than the control group (27/31; 87%; RR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.34-0.79,p < 0.01). From the 72nd hour of intervention onwards, there was no difference between the two groups in the percentage of children with diarrhea. No adverse effects related to L. reuteri were noted.CONCLUSION:L. reuteri DSM 17938 is effective, safe, and well-tolerated in outpatient children with acute infectious diarrhea

Dealing with the gray zones in the management of gastric cancer: The consensus statement of the Istanbul Group

The geographical location and differences in tumor biology significantly change the management of gastric cancer. The prevalence of gastric cancer ranks fifth and sixth among men and women, respectively, in Turkey. The international guidelines from the Eastern and Western countries fail to manage a considerable amount of inconclusive issues in the management of gastric cancer. The uncertainties lead to significant heterogeneities in clinical practice, lack of homogeneous data collection, and subsequently, diverse outcomes