[Chronic constipation in children--typical and atypical diagnosis--case reports]. / Przewlekle zaparcia u dzieci--typowe i nietypowe rozpoznania--opis przypadków.

Constipation in children is a common health problem. It accounts for 3% of visit to general pediatrics clinics and 30% of visits to pediatric gastroenterologist. Fun(TK)ional constipation is the most common causa of contipation in children. We present three cases with chronic contstipation.

[TA90--new neoplastic marker]. / TA90--nowy marker nowotworowy.

TA90 is a glycoprotein, occurring on the cell surface of many types of cancer. Determination of its concentration in human serum appears to be a good screening test in the direction of many cancers, and also can act as a monitoring index of disease, particularly in respect of melanoma. Further clinical studies are necessary in order to obtain accurate data on the TA90, and after that its determination might be made to everyday clinical practice in oncology.

Intentional poisonings in urban and rural children - a 6-year retrospective single centre study.

INTRODUCTION: Intentional poisonings among children and adolescents are a problem not only for paediatricians, but also constitute a big issue for public health. In many countries worldwide, including Poland, an increase has been observed in suicidal behaviours at developmental age. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was a retrospective evaluation of patients hospitalized due to intentional poisoning in the Department of Paediatrics, Children's University Hospital in Lublin, Poland, in 2007-2012. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the study period, 149 patients were hospitalized in the Paediatric Department of the Children's University Hospital in Lublin, due to intentional poisoning with medicines or other chemical substances. The study group comprised 135 girls and 14 boys; The majority of patients (n=105) were urban inhabitants, and only 44 lived in the rural areas. Medical records were analyzed, with consideration of medical, psychological and psychiatric examinations. RESULTS: Girls constituted as much as 90.6% of the study group. The majority of patients lived in urban areas - 70.46%. A total of 16.77 % of patients came from incomplete families. Alcohol problem occurred in 19 families. The most frequent cause of a suicide attempt was conflict in the family, followed by school problems. During the 6-year-study period, an upward tendency in the incidence of intentional poisoning was observed, particularly in the first 4 years. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Suicide attempts in adolescents were mostly undertaken by girls from the urban environment. The majority of those attempts were caused by family problems, including alcoholism.

Patterns of Poisoning in Urban and Rural Children: A Single-Center Study.

BACKGROUND: Poisoning among children is a current issue in pediatrics. The pattern and risk factors of poisoning are heterogeneous and vary within the same country. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to analyze the determinants in the incidence and nature of poisoning between urban and rural children, in order to identify children at higher risk. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study entailed a retrospective analysis of the medical records of 848 children admitted to the Department of Pediatrics at the Medical University of Lublin, Poland, due to exposure to poison from July 2008 to December 2012. The patients were divided into urban and rural. RESULTS: The majority of the subjects came from urban areas (64.50%). In both groups the most numerous were children aged ≤ 5 years and 14-15 years. Among urban boys, children younger than 5 years old predominated, while among urban girls, teenagers aged 14-15 years comprised the largest group (p = 0.00). In the rural population children younger than 5 years were the most prevalent regardless of gender. The incidence of intentional intoxication increased with age, while the incidence of accidental poisoning decreased with age (p = 0.00). Among urban children there was a significant association between gender and the nature of poisoning (p = 0.00). The most common cause of poisoning was the use of non-pharmaceuticals, with alcohol predominating. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates that poisoning is more likely in urban children. Among urban children there is a bimodal gender distribution with a preponderance of pre-school boys in accidental poisoning and of teenage girls in intentional ones. However, among rural children the most prevalent was accidental poisoning by improperly stored medicines and household chemicals. Urban children commonly use alcohol and narcotics.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis in a 17-year-old girl with Epstein-Barr virus infection.

Acute cholecystitis is most frequently concomitant with cholelithiasis, whereas acute acalculous cholecystitis is usually of an infectious aetiology. Among the aetiological factors, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is also mentioned. The case of a 17-year-old girl is described, hospitalised in the Children's Clinical Hospital, Paediatric Clinic, at the Medical University in Lublin, due to fever, upper abdomen pain lasting for a week, and nausea for several days. Based on the diagnostic - laboratory tests performed and ultrasonographic examination, acute acalculous cholecystitis was diagnosed, taking course with elevated aminotransferase activity and features of cholestasis. Serological tests confirmed an acute infection with Epstein-Barr virus. After 2 weeks of hospitalisation, the patient, receiving conservative treatment, was discharged home in good condition. A follow-up examination performed 2 weeks later did not show deviation from normal.

Effect of acutely and chronically administered venlafaxine on the anticonvulsant action of classical antiepileptic drugs in the mouse maximal electroshock model.

The influence of acute and chronic treatments with intraperitoneal venlafaxine, a selective serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, on the anticonvulsant activity of selected antiepileptic drugs was studied in the maximal electroshock test in mice. Venlafaxine (12.5 and 25mg/kg), given either acutely or chronically, significantly increased the electroconvulsive threshold. Moreover, both acute and chronic venlafaxine, applied at the highest subprotective dose of 6.25mg/kg, enhanced the anticonvulsant effect of valproate, without affecting the protective action of carbamazepine, phenobarbital and phenytoin. The antidepressant did not affect brain concentration of valproate, indicating that the interaction between the two drugs seems pharmacodynamic in nature. Despite the lack of effect on the antielectroshock action of the remaining antiepileptics, acute venlafaxine increased the brain concentration of phenobarbital, while chronic venlafaxine reduced the brain level of phenytoin. In terms of adverse effects, acute/chronic venlafaxine and antiepileptic drugs alone, as well as their combinations, did not produce significant motor or long-term memory deficits in mice. Summing up, it seems that venlafaxine may be considered as a safe drug for the clinical use in patients with epilepsy and depressive disorders.