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Thoracoschisis is a rare condition. A female newborn presented with right-sided thoracoschisis, associated with diaphragmatic hernia and protrusion of an accessory liver lobe through the chest wall defect along with deformity of the right forearm and hand duplication. Diagnosed as part of the limb-body wall complex (LBWC), management included resection of the exteriorized liver lobe followed by right hemidiaphragm and thoracic wall reconstruction.

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A chemistry module with the aqueous chemistry coupled with the complex 3D nonhydrostatic atmospheric model is used to investigate how the representation of gas-aqueous mass transfer and ice retention affect the SO2 redistribution in the presence of a convective cloud. Gas uptake to the liquid water is calculated using both Henry's law equilibrium (HE) and kinetic mass transport (KMT). The constant retention coefficients for SO2 (k ret = 0.46) and for H2O2 (k ret = 0.64) are used. It is shown that the amount of SO2 in the air at higher altitudes (10-12 km) is greater when partial retention (PR) is included. All values of k ret between 0 and 1 represented the partial retention (PR), while complete retention (CR) means the entire mass of the gas from the solution remained in the ice phase (k ret = 1). Total mass of SO2 in the air in the entire domain was greater in the case of PR than in the case when the CR was assumed (at the end of the integration time, 0.11% for HE and 0.61% for KMT) and in KMT than in the HE case (0.9% for CR and 1.4% for PR). The amount of SO2 in the ice phase was lower in the case of PR for both HE and KMT. The highest concentrations of S(IV) in rainwater were in the case of HE-CR, while the smallest values were in the case of KMT-PR. Total precipitation of S(IV) in PR exhibits 90% relative to CR, if HE was assumed. When KMT was used, PR gives 81.7% S(IV) relative to CR. Scavenging was the highest in the HE-CR case and the lowest in the KMT-PR case. If HE is assumed, averaged cumulative mass (ACM) of S(IV) precipitation per unit of domain surface for the CR case was 11.1% greater than in the PR case (if KMT was assumed, this difference was greater, 22.4%). Similarly, ACM for HE is 24.1% greater than KMT for the CR case and 36.8% for the PR case.

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BACKGROUND/AIM: Hirschsprung's disease is the most common identifiable developmental disorder of the enteric nervous system, characterized by a failure of its formation in a variable segment of distal bowel. Currently available surgical therapies for Hirschsprung's disease, although lifesaving, are associated with numerous complications. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different surgical methods and the incidence of serious complications after radical surgery of rectosigmoid Hirschsprung's disease. METHODS: A retrospective analysis, from June 1997 until May 2012 was carried out on 84 patients operated for Hirschsprung's disease of rectosigmoid colon. Transanal endorectal pull-through was performed in 30 (35.7%) patients (group I), while 54 (64.3%) patients were operated by other (Soave, Duhamel or Swenson) procedures (group II). The age at operation, the incidence and severity of postoperative complications, the need for previous colostomy and the number of reoperations are countered in order to evaluate the efficacy of surgical procedures. RESULTS: In the group I, the mean age at operation was 9.41 +/- 6.37 months and in the group II the mean age at operation was 16.8 +/- 13.9 months which was significantly higher (p < 0.01). In the group I there were only 3 (10%) patients with complications, one (3/6) of them was prone to only one redo procedure (1.00 +/- 0.00) and there was no need for previous colostomy in all patients (100%). In the group II there were 16 (30%) patients with significantly frequent complications (p < 0.05), about 2 reoperations on the average (1.94 +/- 1.84) in 4 of them (25%) and 22 (41%) redo procedures, which was, in total, significantly higher than in the group I (p < 0.01). Only Soave's procedure was performed without previous colostomy in 20 (37/6) patients. CONCLUSION: Transanal endorectal pull-through in surgical treatment of patients with Hirschsprung's disease is more effective than other procedures concerning earlier onset, low incidence and less severe complications, which would require further operations, and no scars.

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INTRODUCTION: Extra-hepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO) is one of the most often causes of portal hypertension in children. OBJECTIVE: Establishing the importance of shunt surgery in combination with partial spleen resection in selected pediatric patients with EHPVO, enormous splenomegaly and severe hypersplenism. METHODS: Distal splenorenal shunt (DSRS) with partial spleen resection was performed in 22 children age from 2 to 17 years with EHPVO. Indications for surgery were pain and abdominal discomfort caused by spleen enlargement, as well as symptomatic hypersplenism with leucopenia, thrombocytopenia and anemia. The partial spleen resection was performed by ligation of blood vessels to caudal two thirds of the spleen. After ischemic parenchymal demarcation transection with electrocautery LigaSure was performed with preservation of 20-30% of spleen tissue, and then Warren DSRS was created. Platelet and leucocytes counts and liver function tests were obtained before, one month and one year after surgery. Growth was assessed with SD scores (Z scores) for height, weight and body mass index at the time of surgery and one year later. RESULTS: In all patients postoperative period was without significant complications. Platelets and leucocytes counts were normalized. Patency rate of shunts was 100%. Two significant shunts stenosis were observed and successfully treated with percutaneous angioplasty. During the follow-up period (1 to 9 years) all patients were asymptomatic, with improved quality of life and growth. CONCLUSION: Results of our study indicate that shunt surgery with a partial spleen resection is an effective and safe procedure for patients with enormous splenomegaly and severe hypersplenism caused by EHPVO.

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INTRODUCTION: Intussusception is a common abdominal emergency in early childhood. It is idiopathic in more than 90% of cases with incidence of 1.5-4 per 1,000 live births. The treatment of choice is nonoperative hydrostatic or air enema reduction. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of clinical presentation and symptom duration in non-operative treatment, considering the indications for delayed enema reduction and its efficacy. METHODS: From the total number of 107 patients with intusussception, aged from 2 months to 14 years (median 9 months), 102 (95%) patients with ileo-colic intussusceptions were treated initially by ultrasound guided saline enema. Records were reviewed for patients with failed initial treatment and delayed repeated enemas or operative procedure. The predictor variable included duration of presenting symptoms. RESULTS: Successful treatment by hydrostatic saline enemas had 58/102 (57%) patients. Success in reduction was greater it symptom duration was < 24 hours (54/62 cases; 87%, p < 0.001), compared with > 24 hours, (4/45 cases; 9%). Despite failed initial attempts, enema reduction was reattempted in 12 patients, with success in 7/12 (60%) patients. Children with symptom duration > 24 hours had a greater risk of requiring surgery (41/45 cases; 91%, p < 0.001), including 5 (5%) patients with ileo-ileal intussusceptions. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of ultrasound guided saline enema in intussusception reduction is high. Delay in presentation decreases success of non-operative treatment. Delayed enema reduction is important therapeutic option for intussusceptions. Surgical treatment is indicated in cases of complications.

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An aqueous chemical module is created and included into a complex three-dimensional atmospheric cloud-resolving mesoscale model. In the chemical module, oxidation of S(IV) by ozone and hydrogen peroxide in cloud-water and rainwater, as important process of the sulfate production is included. To examine the impact of topography on the sulfate redistribution in a clean and a polluted environment, the complex topography of Serbia is included in the model. Numerical simulations of an isolated summer Cumulonimbus cloud shows that thunderstorms generate very strong vertical sulfate redistribution from the planetary boundary layer to the upper troposphere. This redistribution is sensitive to cloud dynamics, while cloud microphysics and precipitation determine wet removal of the chemical species. In simulations with realistic topography, the chemical species are transported over larger distances close to the surface, while in the upper atmosphere, there is no difference compared to the simulations without topography. The sensitivity tests of cloud chemistry to the physical processes are made. Omission of nucleation and impact scavenging of aerosols in the model simulations shows that 75.8 and 62.5 % of total sulfur mass deposited in the base experiment for the clean and the polluted environment, respectively, is the result of other processes. Exclusion of oxidation accounted for 19.2 and 37.7 % of total sulfur deposited for clean and polluted environment. Ignoring the ice phase almost not change mass of deposited sulfur: there is an increase of 2.9 and 1.5 % for clean and polluted atmosphere, respectively. Real topography conditions affect the sulfate redistribution in the sense of greater possibilities of transport. Numerical simulations without real topography give an artificial increase of deposited sulfur mass of about 25-30 %.

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AIM: Evaluation of the effectiveness of oral atropine versus surgical therapy for hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS). METHODOLOGY: A total of 66 consecutive patients with HPS were treated at the University Children's Hospital between January 2006 and December 2011. The diagnosis was initially based on medical history and confirmed by ultrasonography (US). The patients were divided into two groups according to the treatment preferred by their parents. The conservatively treated group, consisting of 33 boys and 7 girls, mean age 22.25 days, was given water-soluble atropine sulfate therapy at an initial dose of 0.05 mg/kg/day divided into 8 single doses, and administered after stomach decompression, 20 minutes prior to feeding. If vomiting persisted, the daily dose was progressively increased up to 0.18 mg/kg. If vomiting did not stop and full oral feeding was not reestablished in a week, surgery was done. The second group of 26 patients, mean age 20.86 days, underwent an operative procedure, Ramstedt extramucosal pyloromyotomy after the initial resuscitation. US evaluation was performed on days 7, 14, and 21. The outcome of the treatment was tested by Yates modification of the χ2 test. RESULTS: In the group of patients treated with atropine sulfate, 10 (25%) failed to respond to therapy, therefore, 8 boys and 2 girls underwent surgical treatment between the fifth and seventh day following institution of therapy. The remaining patients who received atropine sulfate (75%) were discharged when vomiting ceased, between the sixth and eighth day. They continued to take oral medication for 4 to 6 weeks, and were followed up by an ultrasound examination. The operated patients were discharged between the third and fifth day after surgery. There was a significant statistical difference between the groups regarding the outcome at a significance level of p < 0.05 (Yates χ2 = 5.839), with no complications regardless of the treatment option. However, at the significance level of p < 0.01 (Yates χ2 = 7.661), these methods demonstrate a difference in favor of surgical treatment. CONCLUSION: Further investigation of oral, intravenous or combined atropine sulfate treatment may clarify its position as an alternative to pyloromyotomy.

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PURPOSE: To establish the importance of shunt surgery combined with partial resection of the spleen for selected pediatric patients with extra-hepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO), enormous splenomegaly and severe hypersplenism. Severe hypersplenism is often refractory to treatment with endoscopic sclerotherapy or band ligation and shunt surgery; however, to our knowledge, this is the first such study to be published. METHODS: Distal splenorenal shunt with partial resection of the spleen was performed in 16 of 60 children treated for EHPVO in the Gastroenterology Department of our hospital. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy had shown esophageal varices of varying grade in all patients and band ligation or endoscopic sclerotherapy had been done for children with a history of bleeding. The indications for surgery were pain and discomfort caused by a large spleen (5-15 cm below the costal margin) and symptomatic hypersplenism with leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia. Partial resection of the spleen was performed, starting with ligation of the branches and tributaries of the caudal two-thirds. When an ischemic line demarcated the splenic parenchyma, it was transected using electrocautery or LigaSure, leaving 20-30 % of splenic tissue. After the spleen resection, a Warren shunt was performed. Platelet and white blood cell counts and liver function tests were performed before and after the operation. Growth was assessed using SD scores (z scores) for height, weight, and body mass index at the time of surgery and 1 year later. RESULTS: Postoperative recovery was uneventful and the leukocyte and platelet counts normalized. The shunt patency rate was 100 %. Two cases of shunt stenosis were treated successfully with percutaneous angioplasty. There was no postoperative mortality. During the follow-up period, from 1 to 7 years, all 16 children were asymptomatic, with improved quality of life, growth, and nutrition. No episodes of variceal bleeding, sepsis or encephalopathy occurred. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that shunt surgery with partial resection of the spleen is effective and safe for pediatric patients with massive splenomegaly and severe hypersplenism secondary to EHPVO.

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The benign cystic mesothelioma of the peritoneum is a rare lesion that occurs predominatly in women of reproductive age and has a high propensity for local recurrence. It is very rare in childhood, especially in boys, being reported in only 4 cases. A new case of benign cystic mesothelioma of the peritoneum in an 11-year-old boy is reported. The lesion occupied the entire left abdomen, arising from the transverse mesocolon, and it was accompanied by 4 small cysts. The patient had a coexistent right-sided renal agenesis. The mesothelial nature of the cysts epithelial lining cells was confirmed by immunopositivity for calretinin, cytokeratin 5/6, HBME1, and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA). No recurrence of the lesion was noted in the 7-month follow-up. Pathologists and clinicians should be aware of the existence of this rare entity in childhood to establish an accurate diagnosis and provide close follow-up after the surgery.

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Pyogenic granuloma (PG), also known as lobular capillary hemangioma, is a benign vascular tumor, most commonly arising on the skin and the oral mucosa. Gastrointestinal localization of PG, except for the oral cavity, is exceptionally rare. We describe a case of ileal PG occurring in a 13-year-old girl, presenting with intestinal obstruction. Histological examination revealed proliferation of capillary-sized vessels, with prominent intravascular component, involving the entire thickness of the intestinal wall. Immunohistochemistry showed positivity for CD31, CD34 and von Willebrand factor, whereas immunostaining for glucose transporter-1 protein (GLUT1) and for human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) was negative. We suggest that PG should be considered in the differential diagnosis of childhood gastrointestinal polypoid lesions.

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It is certain that in the past the types of bacterial agents responsible for neonatal sepsis and their sensitivity to antibiotics were not the same in all historical periods. However, the reports confirming the conclusion have been published only in the last three years. According to these facts, the bacterial causes of neonatal sepsis were analyzed in patients treated at the University children's hospital in Belgrade (S&M) as well as their sensitivity to antibiotics to determine the most effective initial therapy. Between January 2001 and June 2004, 35 neonates, aged from 1-30 days, with positive blood culture were treated. Gram-negative bacteria were the cause of sepsis in 57% of patients (Pseudomonas--20%, Klebsiella--20%, E. coli--8.5%, Acinetobacter--8.5%), gram-positive in 43% (coagulase-negative Staphylococci--14%, Staphylococcus epidermidis--14%, Staphylococcus aureus--9%, Streptococcus group B--3%, Listeria monocytogenes--3%). The bacteria were the most sensitive to carbapenems (85-89%), amikacin (68%), third-generation cephalosporins (47-50%), while the sensitivity to gentamicin was less than expected (48.5%). Sensitivity to ampicillin (8%) confirmed a high level of resistance to this antibiotic. All isolated Staphylococci were sensitive to vancomycin, and the overall methicillin resistance was 46%. Combined cefotaxime and amikacin therapy was the most effective of all suggested initial combinations of antibiotics (74%). The sensitivity to all other combinations of antibiotics was 51-71%. The most adequate initial combination of antibiotics for the treatment of neonatal sepsis is cefotaxime plus amikacin. The most adequate antibiotic for the treatment of nosocomial neonatal sepsis is carbapenem.

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Prenatal diagnosis allows for insight into the evaluation of fetal lung anomalies. Serial ultrasonographic studies of fetuses helped in evaluation and definition of the natural course of these lesions as well as necessity for fetal therapy. It has been found that the overall prognosis depends on the size of the lung mass and the secondary derangement of normal lung tissue and cardiovascular system. Although much is known about the prenatal course of these anomalies, little is known about the postnatal course of asymptomatic patients. Infants who are symptomatic at birth require early surgical treatment. During the period from 1984-2003, 23 patients with congenital lung anomalies were treated, out of whom 19 were diagnosed postnatally and 4 prenatally. All postnatally diagnosed patients (9 congenital lobar emphysema, 5 congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations, 3 pulmonal cysts, 1 bronchopulmonary sequestration and 1 arteriovenous malformation) underwent surgical excision (lobectomy or sequestrectomy) after becoming symptomatic (main symptoms were infection or respiratory distress). Prenatally diagnosed patients (2 bronchopulmonary sequestrations and one enteric mediastinal cyst) underwent elective surgical interventions (sequestrectomy and excision of the cyst) in infancy. Postoperative course was uneventful in all patients. One patient probably had spontaneous involution of the mass. We believe that elective resection is indicated in asymptomatic neonates with congenital lung anomalies, because of the potential risk of infection and occult malignant transformation. Early resection also maximizes compensatory lung growth. This approach eliminates any risk of pulmonary infection, lung abscess formation or malignant transformation. In addition, subsequent exposure to radiation will be avoided.

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Persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglicemia of the neonate is a rare heterogenous disease (clinically, histologically, metabolically and genetically), which is characterized by inadequatly high insuline rates in the presence of severe hypoglicemia. Hyperinsulinism, rather a syndrome than a disease, of which the main metabolic feature is hypoglicemia and decreased concentration of free fatty acids and ketones in serum (insulin inhibits lypolisis and synthesizes ketonic bodies), presents a major diagnostic and therapeutic chalenge. The disease is often followed by brain atrophy contributed by the attacks of hypoglicemia. It is inherited as an autosomally recessive and autosomally dominant disease. The genetic defects is located on the short arm of the chromosome 11. The authors report a successfully applied conservative treatment in a neonate with persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglicemia.

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