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Despite the good results in surveillance of premature infants, prematurity today still presents a risk factor for neurodevelopmental morbidity later in childhood. It includes broad spectrum of motor impairments, cognitive, mental and social disturbances. 10% of preterm infant with very low birth weight (<1500 g) have cerebral palsy and 50% have behavior and attention disorders, language understanding difficulties, problem with self-confidence, visual and hearing defects. Environment of neonatal intensive care unit causes infants and parents stress, and child's neurodevelopmental morbidity has negative influence on infants and parents life quality in future. For better neurodevelopmental outcomes, today, there is emergency for changing traditional routine newborn care practice into the concept of individualized developmental care with continuous parents' attendance and involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to recent studies 85% of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) reach adulthood. Illnesses that were once fatal have now become chronic, facilitating a shift from medical to quality of life related issues. Children with congenital heart disease are at risk o negative psychosocial sequel, and within the lager group of youth with chronic illnesses, are characterized by covert fears and anxieties; low self-efficacy and self-esteem, deficits in learning and attention, depression and anxiety, difficulties with peer socialization and school absenteeism. Physical activity is necessary for the optimal physical, emotional and psychosocial development of healthy children ad well as children with CHD. It has been suggested that over restriction of children with CHD by parents, caregivers, healthcare providers, educators and sports trainers are main reason for reduced exercise capacity in most cases, because of their misperceptions regarding the relative risks versus benefits of participation. Consultations about appropriate and desirable physical activity for the type of CHD should be a part of each control visit to the paediatric cardiologist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message A surgical technique, materials used for abdominal wall reconstruction, and postoperative care are important for patient outcomes. We report the first case of neonate with Cantrell's pentalogy surviving early reconstruction of abdominal, diaphragmal and pericardial defects. Several recent investigations suggest that intraabdominal pressure monitoring may improve outcomes in this patient category. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Most authors would agree that renal parenchymal defects (scars, hypoplasia, dysplasia) in children are a major risk factor for chronic renal failure, and for development of systemic hypertension in later years. The pathophysiologic changes in acute pyelonephritis include tubulointerstitial inflammation/pus with impairment of the renal microcirculation due to compression of the glomeruli, small peritubular capillaries and vasa recta by interstitial edema. The resulting ischemia has been postulated as one of the mechanisms for the decreased accumulation of DMSA in the areas of pyelonephritis. DMSA scanning has a sensitivity of up to 99%, and specificity of up to 91% for the detection of acute pyelonephritis., Aim of the Study: The aim of the study was to investigate the value of Tc99m-DMSA scan in children with acute urinary tract infection, to estimate the degree of parenchymal changes, and to assess the relationship with vesicoureteral reflux., Patients: We reviewed 116 infants aged 0-15 years, 100 (86.2%) female and 16 (13.8%) male, who were hospitalized for urinary tract infection during a 5-year period (1996-2000). The mean age at diagnosis was 3.7 years., Results: Escherichia colli was isolated in 52 (44.8%) urine cultures. All patients underwent ultrasonography, which was normal in 57 (49.1%) infants. Tc99m-DMSA was performed after two weeks of therapy. The renal parenchymal pathology was defined as a focal or multifocal defect of low degree in 33 (28.4%), and of high degree in 35 (30%) children. Multifocal defects were mostly found in patients aged < 3 years, and focal lesions in those aged > 3 years. Renal scars were detected in 41 (35.3%) infants with first urinary tract infection., Conclusion: We recommend that ultrasound, DMSA and radionuclide cystouretherogram be routinely performed in case of first urinary tract infection in infants aged < 1 year, and voiding cystourethrogram with US and DMSA in those aged > 1 year.