Benign paroxysmal torticollis

Benign paroxysmal torticollis is an episodic disorder that occurs beginning in the first months of life, where the patient's head tilts to one side for hours or days. The attacks can be associated with other symptoms such as vomiting, sweating, pallor, irritability and unstable gait. It is a self-limited disorder which disappears between the ages of three and five years, The differential diagnosis of the disorder includes gastroesophageal reflux, torsion dystonia and posterior fossa or craniocervical junction abnormalities. Here, a case of benign paroxysmal torticollis is presented with the aim to emphasize that the pediatricians be able to recognize this disorder, to provide appropriate prognosis and not do unnecessary exams which would only cause expenses and anxiety for the child and their parents. (Turk Arch Ped 2009; 44: 35-7

Cetirizine-induced dystonic reaction in a 6-year-old boy

Dystonia is a movement disorder that causes involuntary contractions of the muscles. Dystonia can affect just 1 muscle, a group of muscles, or all of the muscles. The most common cause acquired dystonia in childhood is drugs. Cetirizine is widely used for allergic disorders in childhood. It is without central nervous system side effects at recommended dosages. There is only 1 case of cetirizine-induced dystonia in the literature. We report a second case of cetirizine-induced acute acquired dystonia whose symptoms completely resolved after the discontinuation of the drug

A Rare Cause of Respiratory Distress in the Emergency Department Anomalous Origin of the Left Coronary Artery From the Pulmonary Artery

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery is the most common cause of myocardial ischemia and infarction in children and infants. Most of the affected individuals become symptomatic, owing to dilated cardiomyopathy during the infant period. Because of congestive heart failure, pulmonary congestion and respiratory distress can be seen. Herein, we report a 35-day-old infant with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery who presented with respiratory distress and dilated cardiomyopathy to draw attention to this rare surgically treatable anomaly

Right ventricular regional deformation analysis in patients operated for tetralogy of Fallot

Purpose: We aimed to compare the findings of a segmental speckle-tracking strain of right ventricle with those of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in this setting. Methods: In 26 patients with operated tetralogy of Fallot (mean age, 15.35 +/- 2.3 years; range 11-18 years), right ventricular segmental speckle-straining (the basal, mid, apical segments of right ventricular septum and lateral free wall, and right ventricular apex) were determined using two-dimensional echocardiography. The echocardiographic findings were compared to right ventricular ejection fraction, right ventricular indexed end-diastolic volume, indexed end-systolic volume and pulmonary regurgitation fraction at cardiac magnetic resonance. Results: Right ventricular global speckle strain was -18.6 +/- 3.7and lateral free wall strain was -17.8 +/- 4.9. Indexed right ventricular end diastolic volume was 171.7 +/- 23.3 ml/m(2), indexed right ventricular end systolic volume was 95.1 +/- 35.0 ml/m(2) and right ventricular ejection fraction was 44.76 +/- 9.39%. Basal inferior septum is correlated with indexed right ventricular end-diastolic volume (RVEDV; r = -0.521, p = 0.015) and pulmonary regurgitation fraction (r = -0.584, p = 0.015). Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-derived RVEDV is correlated with lateral free wall (r = -0.465, p = 0.034) and Global RV (r = 0.442, p = 0.045). Conclusion: Right ventricular basal inferior septal and apical longitudinal strain correlates with the measures of right ventricular performance on CMR. These parameters would be useful to monitor right ventricular performance in patients after tetralogy of Fallot repair

The Effect of Sumatriptan on Nitric Oxide Synthase Enzyme Production After Iatrogenic Inflammation in the Brain Stem of Adolescent Rats: A Randomized, Controlled, Experimental Study

BACKGROUND: Migraine is a common disabling disorder of childhood and adolescence. Despite advances in the understanding of migraine pathophysiology, treatment remains a challenge

Assessment of Microvolt T Wave Alternans in Children with Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot during 24-Hour Holter Electrocardiography

Background: We aimed to examine microvolt T wave alternans (MTWA) in 24-hour Holter electrocardiography (ECG) of children with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) to assess associations of MTWA with ventricular arrhythmias, ECG parameters, and echocardiographic findings

Investigation of the immunoreactivities of NOS enzymes and the effect of sumatriptan in adolescent rats using an experimental model of migraine

The aim was to investigate the immunoreactivities for NOS enzymes in frontal cortex and meningeal vessels after chemical stimulation of the subarachnoid space of adolescent rats and the effect of sumatriptan pre-treatment on the immunoreactivities of the NOS enzymes. Male adolescent Wistar rats were used. Rats in group 1 did not taken intracisternal injection. Rats in group 2 were taken intracisternal autologous blood injection, but no sumatriptan pre-treatment. Rats in group 3 were taken intracisternal autologous blood injection, but they were taken sumatriptan pre-treatment. Tissue samples were investigated for the presence of NOS immunoreactivity. The mean values of immunolabeling intensities for NOS enzymes in frontal cortex and meningeal vessels were significantly increased in group 2 compared to group 1. The mean values of immunolabeling intensities for NOS enzymes in frontal cortex and meningeal vessels were significantly reduced in group 3 compared to group 2. These results suggest that, chemical stimulation of the subarachnoid space increased the immunoreactivities of NOS enzymes in the brain of adolescent rats. The increased NOS immunoreactivities could be antagonized by pre-treatment with sumatriptan

Coarctation of the Aorta with Infracardiac Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Drainage: A Rare Combination

A 7-day-old female neonate was referred to the pediatric emergency department due to cyanosis and respiratory distress. Her arterial oxygen saturation was 65%. The Coarctation of the aorta, infracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage without obstruction and pulmonary artery hypertension were diagnosed by echocardiography. Emergency corrective surgery was done without confirming the diagnosis with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or cardiac catheterization due to her poor clinical status. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was extubated after the sixth day of surgery and discharged after 14 days

Evaluation of left atrial functions in children with chronic renal failure

Objective: One-quarter of deaths in children with chronic renal failure is due to cardiovascular complications. Conventional echocardiographic methods are insufficient for evaluating systolic functions in children with chronic renal failure. The aim of the present study was to investigate cardiac functions in children with chronic renal failure by evaluating left atrial volume and functions