[Relationship between primary lactose malabsorption and consumption of dairy products]. / Influencia de la hipolactasia primaria sobre el consumo de productos lácteos.

This study was designed to determine the influence of lactose malabsorption on the consumption of dairy products. We studied 157 children and 43 adults. The Breath-hydrogen test was used to define their level of lactose digestion. The prevalence of lactose maldigesters was 12%. We found a large relationship between the consumption of milk and milk products and age. Malabsorbers consumed more fermented dairy products (ripened cheese and yogurt) than did absorbers (p < 0.05). Subjects with normal lactose absorption consumed more milk, butter, cream cheese and global lactose than the maldigesters (p < 0.05). Lactose intolerance, familiar consumption and geographic origins had little influence on an individual's consumption habits.

[Cardiac tamponade in children as a complication of central venous catheterization. Report of four cases]. / Taponamiento cardiaco en niños como complicación de la cateterización venosa céntral. Presentación de cuatro casos.

Very few cases of children with cardiac tamponade from central venous catheterization have been reported. Four cases are described. In 3 patients the diagnosis was suspected, a pericardiocentesis was performed and they survived. The other patient died and, at autopsy, diagnosis was made. The available literature on cardiac tamponade from central venous catheters in children is reviewed, preventive measures are considered in detail and the need for a high index of suspicion is highlighted.

[Enhancing factors in the cardiotoxicity of anthracyclines]. / Factores coadyuvantes de la toxicidad cardiaca por antraciclínicos.

We have studied 60 pediatric patients with different neoplastic diseases, treated with anthracyclines. We have followed them clinically and echocardiographically to detect the cardiotoxicity due to anthracyclines and the enhanced factors promptly. We have detected a more important incidence of cardiomyopathy in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, osteosarcoma and neuroblastoma despite cumulative doses under 550 mg/m2 of anthracyclines. The 2 first groups were treated with high doses of cyclophosphamide and methotrexate, and neuroblastomas with melphalan. The anthracyclines cardiotoxicity is evaluated around 5% in patients treated with doses under 550 mg/m2, and is increased in case of previous or simultaneous aggressive therapy. Continued echocardiography enables a premature detection of cardiotoxicity in these high risk patients.

[Treatment of status asthmaticus. Experience of intravenous beta-adrenergic bronchodilator therapy in 71 cases]. / Tratamiento del estado asmático. Experiencia del tratamiento broncodilatador beta-adrenérgico EV sobre 71 casos.

A retrospective study of the patients admitted during the last 8 years with status asthmaticus is reported. We compare the requirement of mechanical ventilation with the beta-agonist therapy received and the type of asthma. About 71 patients admitted, 67% were IgE dependent asthmatic (EDA) children and 31% no-IgE dependent asthmatic (nEDA) ones. They needed intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) in 20 instances; no difference was found between both types of asthma. We studied the ventilatory parameters used. The 33% of EDA children was treated using a continuous IV infusion of hexoprenalina, requiring IPPV in 5 (31%) of them. The rest received a continuous IV of isoproterenol, and only the 16% required IPPV. We found isoproterenol to be more effective than hexoprenalina in the treatment of status asthmaticus. Similar results were obtained with the nEDA group. The Downes score was showed to be a good predictor-index scoring system in many cases.

[Cardiac complications in Kawasaki disease]. / Complicaciones cardiacas en la enfermedad de Kawasaki.

We present 3 patients, aged 7 and 12 months. and 5 years, who meet the diagnostic criteria for Kawasaki's disease. In these, there was coronary artery involvement. which was identified by two dimensional echocardiography. In two of these, a coronary artery involvement which was identified by two dimensional echocardiography. In two of these, a coronary artery aneurysm was demonstrated within the 3rd week. The aneurysm resolved after 4 months in one patient, and still persist after 15 months in the other. The third patient had a left coronary artery aneurysm, confirmed by angiocardiography, which also showed small aneurysms in the right coronary artery. The electrocardiographic study of this patient, performed 3 months after onset, showed a patterns of necrosis (anterolateral infarction), confirmed by mean of a thallium scintigraphy. We have performed a study about the management of this kind of patients, and can conclude: 1. Coronary angiocardiography may permit the detection of right coronary artery aneurysms, not visualized by echocardiography. 2. Patients with coronary artery aneurysms, with no stenotic lesions 1 the coronary angiocardiography, may evolve into myocardia infarction. 3. We expose our doubts about the indication and right time to perform the angiocardiographic study.