[ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS OF GIRSHPRUNG ILLNESS AT CHILDREN].

Use of ultrasonic diagnostics reduces number of the low-informative, invasive and connected with beam loading procedures. Objectivity of results of ultrasonic structure of an intestinal wall depends on many subjective parameters: from the device on which examination, from the expert experience, from extent of preparation of intestines, from the applied solution for contrasting, from degree of expressiveness of a desire on a defecation is conducted when filling a thick gut.

[Ultrastructural features of vascular iridociliary system after biopuncture by antihomotoxic medicine].

OBJECTIVE: To reveal ultrastructural features of iridociliary vessels after biopuncture with antihomotoxic medicine. METHODS: Myopia model was created on 10 rabbits by injecting all trans-retinoic acid in catheter Vasofix Certo 24G in left internal carotid artery until we got low myopia. After six months of daily injections all rabbits had myopia from -2,0 to 3,0 D. Animals were separated into two groups: 5 rabbits with daily intradermal injection in three points of upper eye lid without medicine during 10 days and 5 rabbits with daily intradermal injection in three points of upper eye lid with Cerebrum Compositum N during 10 days. Morphology of iridociliary system was explored. RESULTS: Biopuncture in myopia model increases level of metabolic reactions in iridociliary system, supplies adaptive reserves by the hemodynamic enrichment of ciliary body vessels and balance of autonomic nervous system impulsation.

[Characteristics of the autonomic nervous system state in children with myopia associated with undifferentiated connective tissue dysplasia].

Autonomic nervous system disorders occur in 100% cases in patients with connective tissue dysplasia. Biomechanism of accommodation and autonomic innervation of ciliary body was not investigated clearly and presented as area of further research. The goal of the study was to evaluate features of autonomic nervous system in patients with myopia associated with connective tissue dysplasia. 50 children with myopia associated with connective tissue dysplasia went through ophtholmological examination. To evaluate function of autonomic nervous system all patients were observed with the machine "Valenta" which has ECG recording. As a result we found that children with myopia and connective tissue dysplasia have unsatisfactory adaptive reserves with imbalance of sympathetic and parasympathetic input, autonomic nervous system wasn't available to provide homeostasis in demanding level. We hypothesized that autonomic nervous system might be a reason which lead to disorders in process of accommodation during myopia and assist its progressing.

[The role of ultrasonography in diagnosis of cryptorchidism in children].

Complex preoperative ultrasonic investigation of the inguinoscrotal area and abdominal cavity was made in 265 patients with cryptorchidism aged 1 to 14 years. The data of this investigation allowed development of an original technique of differential diagnosis of testicular retention and ectopy. Informative value of ultrasonic investigation in diagnosis of testicular ectopy and retention reached 100%. Examination of 44 children with unpalpable testes diagnosed abdominal cryptorchidism in 42 (65.6%) patients. In 10 (15.6%) patients testicular visualization failed. Testicular aplasia was diagnosed in 12 (18.8%) patients. Assessment of morphofunctional condition of the retained gonade showed that all the children had deficiency of testicular volume and abnormal intratesticular blood circulation.

[Treatment tactics in intussusception in children].

Results of treatment of 235 patients with intussusception are analyzed. The treatment tactics in different period of disease is described in details, the role of echography is emphasized. For the first time the conception of functional (reversible) intussusception was offered, treatment tactics were determined. Results of treatment were studied, conservative and surgical tactics of treatment were substantiated.

[Variants of formation of v. testicularts sinistra in children with varicocele].

Biopsies of veins of 20 boys with varicocele were studied morphologically. Three types of veins were observed. The first type was represented by veins with a wide lumen and the wall consisting of three layers of smooth muscle cells. The second morphological variant--veins of varying diameter of irregular shape and thin, frequently sclerosed wall. The third type were veins of a small diameter with well developed muscular layer. Immunohistochemical studies detected disturbances of vascular wall components suggesting the development of varicocele as a complex of congenital pathology with secondary alteration and destabilisation of compensatory processes.

[Procedure for determining the initiation of tube feeding in children in an intensive care unit].

A procedure is proposed to determine the timing of tube feeding in children treated in an intensive care unit, which records the hypertonia of the pyloric sphincter and consists in the determination the time of gastric administration of distilled water before its evacuation into the duodenal lumen (water evacuation test) visualized in the real-time mode through abdominal ultrasonography. The proposed procedure was successfully applied to 42 children aged 3 months to 14 years who had severe brain injury, appendicular peritonitis, polytrauma, and polysegmental pneumonias. This determining procedure makes it possible to exclude radiation exposure in patients treated in intensive care units and to improve the outcomes of treatment, by prescribing the artificial feeding, that is adequate to the patients' status, in the periods optimal for each specific clinical case.

[Isolated aplasia of the optic nerve]. / Izolirovannaia aplaziia zritel'nogo nerva.

The results of ophthalmologic examinations, including ophthalmoscopy, ultrasound Doppler-graphy as well as neuroradiological and electrophysiological investigations, of a 6-month boy with bilateral isolated aplasia of the optic nerve are described. The discussion comprises a literature survey dedicated to pathogenesis and diagnostics of optic-nerve aplasia in children.

[The role of hormone analysis in the nosologic diagnosis and in the control of treatment of congenital primary hypothyroidism]. / Rol' gormonal'nogo analiza v nozologicheskoi diagnostike i v kontrole terapii vrozhdennogo pervichnogo gipotireoza.

A total of 125 children and teenagers, aged 1 to 15 (including 74 patients with primary congenital hypothyroidism--CH--and 51 healthy children), were investigated in the city of Moscow for the purpose of elaborating new approaches towards the differentiated diagnostics of CH and of optimizing the assessment of the adequacy of its substitutive hormonal therapy (SHT). The concentrations of the thyrotropic hormone (TTH), free fractions of triiodothyronine and thyroxin (cT3 and cT4), thyreoglobulin (Tg) and of thyreoid peroxidase (hard-phase test-tube method, electro-chemiluminescent reaction, i.e. magnetic microparticles, based on the streptovidin-biotin technology; ruthenium mark at the "Elecsys 1010" analyzer with reagents manufactured by "F. Hoffman--La Rosh Ltd.", Switzerland.) were determined early in the morning on the empty stomach. On the basis of the above mentioned, the thyroid reserve index (TRI = Tg/TG), integral thyroid index (ITI = [cT3 + cT4]/TTG), and the integral of peripheral conversion (IPC = cT3/cT4) were calculated. The thyroid gland (TG) was visualized by the "Acuson-128 XP" ultrasonic device, "Acuson Corp.", USA, with a linear sensor of 10 Mhz, as well as by the "Toshiba-90B" gamma-chamber, Japan, with a low-energy collimator in 24 hours after an oral intake of sodium iodide marked by the iodine 123-isotope with an activity of 50 Mbc and after the cessation of SHT 3 to 5 weeks before. The complex diagnosis revealed 8 variations of primary CH; aplasia and TG dystopia and defects of the synthesis of the sodium-iodine symporter or Tg-concentration were found to belong to the most severe disease types according to hormonal parameters. As for Tg, in 52% of cases it was normal, undeterminable--23% and higher--25%. A simultaneously implemented ultrasonic scanning (USS) ensured a final diagnosis in subgroups, respectively, in all cases, in 25% and in 75% of patients. On the whole, after the two diagnostic stages (Tg + USS/ITR), the indications for isotope scanning left only for 23% of CH patients, i.e. a) if the Tg values could not be determined because the organ was not located in its typical place (17%); or b) if the Tg level was higher or if there was a goiter at the TG normal volume (6%). An in-depth hormonal analysis showed that, should CHT be monitored less than once in three months, it failed to secure a total compensation of the disease in above one third of CH children (39%). Therefore, a three-stage algorithm of nosological diagnostics is recommended for primary CH; it should comprise the determination of Tg level, and USS (for all patients) as well as TG scanning (according to rare indications). The result point at the necessity of hormonal monitoring of CH children and teenagers at least one in 2-3 months. The objectivity degree of CHT goes up as a number of estimated indices, i.e. ITI and IPC, are used alongside with absolute hormonal values.

[Iodine prophylaxis and the health status of infants of the first year of life, living in a mild iodine-deficiency industrial megapohs].

Adequate iodine prophylaxis in women living in an iodine-deficiency region, startingfrom early pregnancy, positively affects its course and in their babies' neonatal period, somatic and psychoneurological status (increased the mean neuropsychological status by 4-5 scores, by Improving the parameters of cognitive functions). This necessitates the use of potassium iodine agents in a dose of at least 200 fig/day, as recommended by the WHO (2001), in all early pregnancy women living in an iodine-deficient region.

[Evaluation of renal blood flow by Doppler study in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes]. / Otsenka pochechnogo krovotoka metodom dopplerometrii u detei i podrostkov s sakharnym diabetom 1 tipa.

Renal blood flow was ultrasonographically studied in 220 children, adolescents, and young, postpubertal patients who had fell ill with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) in childhood (of them there were 111 (49.8%) males and 112 (50.2%) females with a disease history of 1 to 27 years (73 patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) and 150 without DN). Thirty apparently healthy children and adolescents made up a comparison group. Doppler duplex scanning and Doppler pulse-wave study (DPWS) were made at the level of the great renal artery, segmental, interlobar, and arcuate arteries. With DPWS, the values of peripheral resistance were lower than the normal values at the level of interlobar and arcuate arteries in all patients with microangiopathies. There were significant differences between the groups of patients with different types of microangiopathies, the group of patients with DM without DMA, and the control group. Echography was used to determine the volumes of the kidneys in 220 patients. In patients with DM, renal volume was significantly greater than that in the control patients (p<0.05).

[X-ray diagnosis of the causes of chronic constipation in children]. / Rentgenologicheskaia diagnostika prichin khronicheskikh zaporov u detei.

The genesis of chronic constipation in children remains the subject of discussion so far. A programme for examining patients with this condition has not been fully developed. X-ray studies of more than 300 children with chronic constipation from different age groups established that colonoproctodefecography was the most informative technique. The authors revealed that intestinal transit suffered slightly impaired and the cause of chronic constipation was impaired defecation due to the asynergy of the structures of the pelvic bottom. Dysfunction of the muscular structures of the pelvic diaphragm manifested itself as three main variants and their combinations.

[Ultrasonographic evaluation of the thyroid palpation method in determining its dimensions in children and adolescents]. / Ul'trasonograficheskaia otsenka metoda pal'patsii shchitovidnoi zhelezy pri opredelenii ee razmerov u detei i podrostkov.

The authors analyze the diagnostic value of thyroid palpation method (two modifications) comparing its results with those of ultrasonographic volumetry. The study involved 118 children aged 5 and 14 of both sexes living in regions endemic for goiter. The thickness of thyroid isthmus was found virtually the same no matter how greatly the gland was enlarged. The results proved the necessity of age-specific corrections in the criteria of current interpretation of palpation data: the first degree in preschool children was most often indicative of thyroid hypertrophy whereas in the pubertal age it was just a variant of normal size. Interpretation with due account of these amendments improved the reliability of diagnostic value of palpation, its sensitivity being 63 +/- 6, specificity 67 +/- 6, and accuracy 65 +/- 4%. When the results of palpation are adequately interpreted, the examinees' age and sex and the method of examination proper do not influence the data accuracy. The sensitivity of palpation in detection of nodules up to 10 mm in diameter proved to be null (in 6 of the 81 examined adolescents sonographic signs of encapsulated formation were seen in the thyroid). Bearing all this in mind, the authors discuss differentiated approaches to management of children and adolescents with the first degree of palpated enlargement of the thyroid.

[Potentialities of echography in the diagnosis of uncomplicated acute appendicitis in children]. / Vozmozhnosti ékhografii v diagnostike neoslozhnennykh form ostrogo appenditsita u deteí.

Ultrasonography was performed in 97 children admitted to hospital for suspected acute appendicitis. According to the results of primary surgical examinations and the magnitude of clinical manifestations, all the patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 comprised 53 patients with clinically diagnosed acute appendicitis and with a worded indication for an emergency surgical intervention; this group was formed for describing the ultrasonic semiotics of different types of acute appendicitis in children. Group 2 (n = 44) was enrolled to study the differential diagnostic potentialities of echography in the primary diagnosis of acute appendicitis in children with acute stomach ache and they are diagnostically unclear. All echocardiographic findings are supported by intraoperative data and pathohistological evidence. The ultrasonic semiotics of different forms of uncomplicated acute appendicitis is described, the optimal procedure has been developed for examining children with this pathology. The results of the study confirm the high informative value of the proposed algorithm of an echographic examination and sensitivity of the method as to the patients of this group. Thus, the sensitivity of the echographic method in uncomplicated acute appendicitis was 88%.

[Differential diagnosis of gallbladder diseases in children]. / Differentsial'naia diagnostika zabolevanii zhelchnogo puzyria u detei.

To estimate the information content of different methods of diagnosing biliary diseases, 103 children aged 5 to 15 years, including 25 practically healthy children as control, were examined. Abdominal organs, particularly the liver and gallbladder were examined by echography. The duodenal contents was explored by microscopy of the sediment and biochemistry which included analysis in the vesicular and liver portions of the concentrations of phospholipids, activity of phospholipases A and C as well as measurements of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, C-reactive protein and of the diphenylamine index. Ultrasonography was found to be highly informative. The characteristic echographic alterations seen in dyskinesia of the biliary tract, dyscholias and chronic cholecystitis were defined. For differential diagnosis of dyscholia and chronic cholecystitis it is necessary to carry out biochemistry of the duodenal contents including measurements of phospholipids, activity of phospholipases A and C, alkaline phosphatase, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein and the diphenylamine index. Based on the similarity of the alterations seen in children with different cholepathies, a concept is advanced of the mechanisms by which functional and organic diseases of the gallbladder are formed.

[Possibilities of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of sex differentiation disorders in children]. / Vozmozhnosti ékhografii v diagnostike narushenii formirovaniia pola u detei.

Ninety-five children with different forms of hermaphroditism aged 3 months to 14 years were examined to assess the potentialities of echography. Ultrasonic examinations of the kidneys, adrenals, pelvic organs (with full bladder, during and after miction), scrotum, and inguinal area were carried out. Echographic picture of urogenital organs in mixed ovarian dysgenesis, congenital deficiency of testosterone biosynthesis or metabolism due to enzymatic deficit, testicular feminization, congenital adrenocortical dysfunction was analyzed and criteria of differential diagnosis of these conditions discussed. The informative value of the method was assessed. Ultrasonic findings were compared with the data other diagnostic methods and reliability and high sensitivity of ultrasonography was demonstrated.

Effects of low level radiation from the Chernobyl accident in a population with iodine deficiency.

UNLABELLED: To determine the effects of low dose radiation from 131I and 137Cs resulting from the Chernobyl disaster on the expression of endemic goiter in children, we studied children in regions with and without evidence of radiocontamination but comparable iodine insufficiency. We included 89 children in the study (radiocontaminated) region (SR) and 116 in the control region (CR) because they were either fetuses, infants, or pre-adolescents at the time of exposure. We evaluated thyroid dimensions by clinical examination and ultrasound; thyroid function by hormonal levels, and thyroglobulin measurement; histology of the thyroid by fine needle aspiration; and thyroid autoimmunity. SR subjects had 5 times the frequency of thyroid enlargement as those from CR, greatest in the younger patients. There were no instances of clinically apparent thyroid dysfunction. Antithyroid microsomal and antithyroglobulin antibodies were present in a markedly greater percentage of SR subjects. Fine needle biopsy demonstrated greater cellular proliferation in samples from SR. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated findings of autoimmune thyroid disease at markedly increased frequency in a population of children with poor iodine nutriture who were exposed to low level radiation, compared to a more iodine deficient population not so exposed. These results suggest that low level radiation may induce thyroid gland changes in children who have inadequate iodine intake nutriture and reinforce the importance of adequate dietary iodine.