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Evidence has shown that video game play is significantly associated with children's psychological well-being. However, the findings are mixed. To what extent that different levels of video game use are associated with different dimensions of psychosocial well-being is unclear among Chinese children. This study examined the association between video game time and children's internalizing and externalizing problems as well as their prosocial behavior, and investigated the mediating role of self-esteem in these relationships. We conducted school-based surveys in M district of Shanghai among 1237 pairs of child-parent, using convenience sampling strategy. We employed the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale to measure the psychosocial well-being and self-esteem of children, respectively. Mediation model with bootstrapping was used to estimate the magnitude and the respective bias-corrected 95% confidence intervals of the indirect effects of video game use on three outcomes through self-esteem. 47.9%, 8.1% and 6.1% children spent less than one hour, 1–2 h, and more than two hours per day on video game use respectively. Compared to children without playing video game, those spending more time on video game showed more externalizing problems, poorer prosocial behavior, and lower self-esteem. The mediating role of self-esteem was discovered between the relationship of moderate- and high-levels of video game use and children's psychosocial well-being. This study underlined the importance of improving self-esteem of young video game players who suffered from psychosocial problems. More evidence-based studies are needed to provide empirical evidence for the introduction of more effective and targeted policies. Highlights: This study examined the association between video game use and children's psychosocial well-being and the mediating role of self-esteem in these relationships. Self-esteem mediated the relationship between the moderate and higher levels of video game use and psychosocial well-being. Moderate and high levels of video game use were associated with more external problems and worse prosocial behavior. High self-esteem was significantly associated with improved psychosocial well-being. This study underlined the importance of improving self-esteem of young video game players who suffered from psychosocial problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dysuria and/or hematuria are common and worrisome symptoms for most parents. Dysuria results from excessive bladder muscle contraction and peristaltic activity of the edematous and inflamed urethral mucosa. Though urinary tract infection remains the commonest cause for dysuria, non-infectious causes should also be kept in mind. Equating all cases of dysuria to urinary infection is not incorrect. Hematuria can be both macroscopic and microscopic and an important sign of genitourinary tract disease. However, systemic causes like bleeding disorder or malignancy can also present with hematuria. A thorough history and physical examination is important for arriving at a diagnosis. The investigations for both the symptoms and the urgency with which the tests are required are dictated by the patient's clinical presentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Auditory thresholds of prelingually deaf children who received cochlear implants were evaluated for the electrical stimulation to one of the medial electrodes. A go/no go operant procedure was used to teach a simple discrimination, indicated by a motor response, between the presence versus the absence of an auditory stimulus. Simple discrimination was used as a baseline upon which the electrical stimulus's intensity was manipulated in a decreasing sequence followed by an increasing sequence, according to a modified psychophysical staircase method. The accuracy of responding in the presence of the electrical stimulus was reduced for all seven participants when the stimulus intensity decreased bellow a certain value and was recovered when the stimulus intensity was increased to the previous level. The experimental design allowed reliable identification of individual thresholds. The results suggest that the psychophysical paradigm in combination with the operant procedure might be useful [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using survey data from former Head Start children in the third grade from 15 sites across the nation ( n = 576), this study examines the relationship between maternal subjective neighborhood attributions and their children’s behavioral problems. Maternal perceptions of neighborhood characteristics were measured across five domains, including collective efficacy, barriers to services, negative neighbor affects, probability of child status attainment success, and overall neighborhood rating. Children’s problem behaviors, measured with the Social Skills Rating System, includes externalizing and internalizing outcomes. Our results suggest that the worse the maternal assessments on each neighborhood construct, the greater the extent of children’s problem behavior, holding constant child demographic factors and parental socioeconomic status. In addition, we find that family income effects on children’s problem behavior are partially mediated by these perceived neighborhood domains. Taken together, these results suggest that neighborhood deprivation is related to problematic behavioral outcomes in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. In adults, epithelial cell proliferation and apoptosis of the gastric mucosa are induced by Helicobacter pylori infection and are associated with gastric atrophy or gastric carcinoma. In children, there are few studies about such epithelial changes. To elucidate the role of H. pylori infection in gastric mucosal inflammation, we immunohistochemically examined gastric mucosa of Japanese children. Methods. Biopsy specimens obtained from the gastric antrum and corpus of H. pylori-infected (n=13) and noninfected children (n = 15) were studied for immunolocalization of Ki-67, single-strand DNA, manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), and CD68, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling. In 10 patients with successful eradication, pre- and post-treatment results were compared. Results. In both gastric antrum and corpus, neutrophil and mononuclear cell infiltration, epithelial cell proliferation, and apoptosis significantly increased in H. pylori-infected patients, predominantly in the antrum. In the antrum of H. pylori-infected patients, there was positive correlation between the degrees of neutrophil infiltration and cell proliferation (P < 0.05) or apoptosis (P < 0.05). H. pylori eradication improved mucosal inflammation, cell proliferation (P < 0.001), and apoptosis (P < 0.01) in the antrum. Mn-SOD immunoreactivity and CD68- positive macrophages in the antrum, which significantly increased in H. pylori-infected patients, decreased after the eradication. Conclusions. H. pylori infection induced gastric mucosal inflammation and epithelial cell turnover in children. Moreover, gastric mucosal defense mechanism against H. pylori infection was activated. H. pylori eradication in childhood might prevent the accumulation of gastric epithelial cell damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research evaluated an intervention strategy designed to prevent skin cancer in young adolescents. The intervention used parents as change agents to effectively communicate the risks of skin cancer and encourage their children to avoid high-risk sun-related behaviors while increasing positive sun-safe behaviors. Three hundred and forty parents in two regions of the United States were educated about the dangers of risky sun behaviors and how to convey information about skin cancer prevention to their children. Parents were then encouraged to talk with their children about these issues over a 1-month period prior to the onset of summer. Following this time period, children whose parents received and implemented the intervention materials were compared with a control sample of 129 children. These two groups were matched on age, gender, and school on number of sunburns and sunburn severity, attitudes and beliefs, and sunbathing behavior. Children in the treatment condition differed significantly from controls in the predicted directions on all outcome variables. The findings are discussed in terms of reducing skin cancer risk behaviors of children via parent-based intervention approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the validity of mediating pathways in predicting self-assessed negative affect from shyness/social withdrawal, peer rejection, victimization by peers (overt and relational), and the attitude that aggression is legitimate and warranted. Participants were 296 3rd through 5th graders (156 girls, 140 boys) from 10 elementary schools. Self-report measures of victimization, attitudes, and negative affect, and a teacher-report measure of shyness/social withdrawal and peer rejection were completed during the spring semesters of 2 consecutive years. Hierarchical regression analyses supported the mediational model in predicting negative affect at Time 2. However, an increase in negative affect over the 12-month study period was best accounted for by direct effects of increased victimization and changes in attitudes/attributions regarding aggression. Implications for the planning of school interventions designed to interrupt these victimization-maladjustment pathways are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE:: In the current study, we addressed the question if there is depot-specific expression of cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein-2 (cIAP2) already in childhood and if the relative expression changes with age in parallel with increasing risk of developing visceral adiposity. SUBJECTS:: Paired samples of human omental (OM) and subcutaneous (SC) adipose tissue were obtained from 23 patients (12 children and 11 adults). METHOD:: mRNA level of cIAP2 was determined using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and protein expression confirmed by Western blotting. Apoptosis indices were determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-fluorescein nick-end labelling (TUNEL). RESULTS:: cIAP2 mRNA was 1.51-fold higher in OM compared with SC adipose tissue (OM>SC in 20 of 23 subjects; P<0.001). Western blots were in agreement with mRNA expression (OM>SC in nine of 10 subjects, P<0.01). Subgroup analyses showed depot difference in both children (P<0.01) and adults (P<0.05). Contrary to the hypothesis, depot-specific difference in mRNA expression of cIAP2 was significantly higher in children compared with adults (P<0.05). We were unable to demonstrate any difference in the basal apoptosis rate between adipocytes from the two depots. There was no significant association between cIAP2 mRNA expression and BMI or sex. CONCLUSIONS:: The results demonstrated for the first time that depot-specific difference in cIAP2 expression is consistent in children and adults. This suggests that the higher expression of cIAP2 in OM than in SC adipose tissue may be due to inherent properties of cells from the two depots. The more pronounced depot-specific difference in children than in adults may reflect a net gain in visceral adipose tissue during growth.International Journal of Obesity (2004) 28, 352-356. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0802566 Published online 13 January 2004 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic resonance (MR) urography is performed by pursuing two different imaging strategies. On the one hand, heavily T2-weighted turbo spin-echo sequences are employed for obtaining unenhanced static-water images of the urinary tract. On the other, the T1-weighted MR urographic technique imitates conventional intravenous pyelography and is, therefore, referred to as excretory MR urography. For this reason, a gadolinium contrast agent is injected intravenously and, after its renal excretion, the gadolinium-enhanced urine is imaged with fast T1-weighted gradient-echo sequences. Both MR urographic techniques can be combined for a comprehensive examination of the upper urinary tract. This article reviews the current technical principles, imaging capabilities, and clinical applications of T2- and T1-weighted MR urography in adult and pediatric patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Liver tumors are a relatively rare pathologic condition in children and young patients. The aim of the present study was to categorize the sonographic (US) and color Doppler results of liver tumors in these patients.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the US findings of 23 such cases: malignant tumor (13 cases)-hepatoblastoma (four cases), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; four cases), and hepatic metastasis (five cases); benign tumor (10 cases)-hepatocellular adenoma (four cases), focal nodular hyperplasia (two cases), mesenchymal hamartoma (two cases), cystadenoma (one case), and hemangioendothelioma (one case).Results: There was no specific US findings for each tumor type. HCC usually developed on a normal liver and was imaged as multiple nodules. Color Doppler US helped in differentiating multiple metastatic nodules (hypovascular) from multiple HCC nodules (hypervascular). Presence of intratumoral cystic areas was usually suggestive of benign tumors. Follow-up US was useful for detecting small nodules in high-risk groups (congenital biliary atresia, glycogen storage disease). Color Doppler US helped in diagnosing portal thrombus or intratumoral shunt.Conclusion: Although there were no highly specific findings, US and color Doppler results contributed, to a certain degree, to the diagnosis of liver tumors in children and young adults by showing intratumoral cystic areas or vascularity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the level of behavior problems, academic skill delays, and school failure among school-aged children in foster care. We also examine how behavior problems are associated with academic problems, and explore how these outcomes are related to children's placement characteristics. Foster parent and child home interviews, as well as teacher telephone interviews were conducted from a randomly selected sample of 302 children aged 6 through 12 years living in out-of-home placement. Interviews included standardized screening measures. Results showed that 27% of the children scored in the clinical range for a behavior problem, and 34% were rated as having at least one behavior problem in the classroom. Twenty-three percent of the children had severe delays in reading or math, 13% had repeated a grade, and 14% had a history of school suspension and/or expulsion. Behavior problems by foster parent report were related to child suspension and/or expulsion from school, but were not associated with severe academic delays or grade retention. Placement characteristics were only sometimes related to these outcomes. Future studies examining the mental health and educational needs of this population should take into account the child's sociodemographic and placement characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: The aim of this study was to determine whether breastfeeding in early life is associated with bone mass in prepubertal children. We studied 330 8-year-old male and female children from Southern Tasmania representing 47% of those who originally took part in a birth cohort study of risk factors for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in 1988. Breastfeeding intention and habit were assessed in both 1988 and 1996. Bone mineral density was measured by dual-energy X-ray densitometry. Children who were breastfed had higher bone mineral density at the femoral neck (+0.20 SD, p= 0.07), lumbar spine (+0.25 SD, p= 0.03) and total body (+0.29 SD, p= 0.006) compared with those who were bottle-fed. This association with breastfeeding was present in children born at term (femoral neck: +0.26 SD, p= 0.05; lumbar spine: +0.34 SD, p= 0.007; total body: +0.41 SD, p= 0.0008) but not those born preterm, and remained significant after adjustment for size, lifestyle factors and socioeconomic factors. Breastfeeding for less than 3 months was not associated with increased bone mass at any site. In conclusion, this study has demonstrated a beneficial association between breastfeeding in early life and bone mass in 8-year-old children born at term, particularly those breastfed for 3 months or longer, which appears biological. If this association is confirmed in other populations and persists until the attainment of peak bone mass then the implication would be that osteoporosis prevention programs need to start very early in the life cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the relationship between scores on the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS) and several indicators of functioning assessed in the national evaluation of the demonstration grants funded by the Center for Mental Health Services System of Care Initiative. The sample included 3187 youths, ranging in age from 4 to 23, with serious emotional disturbance (SED) who were evaluated at intake. At 6 month post-intake, 873 of these youths were re-evaluated. As predicted, higher CAFAS scores were associated with previous psychiatric hospitalization, more serious psychiatric diagnoses, and more restrictive living arrangements. Youths in residential inpatient settings were significantly more impaired than youths living in their own home or in regular foster care. Below average school performance, poor attendance, and contact with law enforcement personnel were also associated with greater impairment. Youth's total CAFAS scores decreased significantly from intake to 6 months. These results indicate that the CAFAS is a measure of functioning which has both statistical and clinical significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We functionally defined and tested a model of psychological distress for mothers of children diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This operationalized model includes three latent constructs which are hypothesized to influence mother's psychological symptomatology: Parenting Stress, Parent Characteristics, and Environment Characteristics. Structural equation modeling was used to reformulate and test the measurement models and the overall model. Data supported a model with some empirically-based model revisions founded on both comparisons of best fit and by an examination of statistical modification indices. The final model maintained the Parenting Stress and Parental Characteristics constructs, but replaced independent environmental variables with a more generalized construct of life stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Der Chirurg is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aims/hypothesis. The aims of this study were to analyse the changes of serum leptin in newly diagnosed children and adolescents with Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus after insulin treatment and to examine the possible impact of ketoacidosis on these changes. Methods. Baseline serum leptin concentrations were measured in 28 newly diagnosed Type I diabetic patients [age 8.75 ± 4.05 years (means ± SD); BMI 15.79 ± 2.47 kg/m2; HbA1 c 11.3 ± 1.9 %] with ( n = 18) and without ( n = 10) ketoacidosis before commencement of insulin treatment, at the time of diagnosis. Thereafter, during a 4-day course of continuous intravenous insulin injection to gain and maintain euglycaemia, serum leptin concentrations were assessed. Results. Baseline serum leptin concentrations, adjusted to age, BMI, sex and pubertal stage, differed among these patients. There was, however, an increase of leptin in all subjects from 1.37 ± 0.56 ng/ml (mean ± SD) up to 2.97 ± 1.52 ng/ml by 117 % ( p < 0.0001) after insulin therapy. On average, peak serum leptin concentration was obtained after 42 h of insulin treatment. Further, there was no difference in the mean increase of serum leptin concentrations in the two groups, namely with and without ketoadicosis, of insulin-dependent diabetic children and adolescents. In addition, there was no correlation between serum leptin concentrations and correction of ketoacidosis during insulin treatment. Conclusions/interpretation. Insulin increases serum leptin, within 1 day, in children and adolescents with newly diagnosed Type I diabetes. Ketoacidosis does not influence this interaction between insulin and leptin. [Diabetologia (1999) 42: 1067–1070] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence suggests that weight-bearing exercise during the growing years may enhance peak bone mass. The purpose of this study was to compare ultrasound bone measurements, serum alkaline phosphatase (S-ALP), serum osteocalcin (S-OC), and dietary calcium in highly active and normal healthy male children. Subjects were 33 elite and subelite male gymnasts and 40 normoactive controls matched for age (9.4 +/- 1.1 years), height (133.9 +/- 5.9 cm), and weight (30.1 +/- 3.8 kg). Measurements of broadband ultrasound attenuation (dB/MHz) through the calcaneus (CBUA) and ultrasound velocity (m/s) through the calcaneus (CVOS), distal radius (RVOS), and proximal phalanx of the index finger (PVOS) were performed using a Contact Ultrasonic Bone Analyzer (CUBA Research). Gymnasts had significantly greater CVOS (P < 0.001), RVOS (P < 0.0001), and PVOS (P < 0.05). There were no differences in CBUA, S-ALP, or S-OC between groups. RVOS correlated significantly with dietary calcium intake in all subjects (P < 0.05) and training time in the gymnasts (P < 0.05). Though gymnasts had significantly greater calcium intakes than controls (P < 0.05), whose mean value was below the RDA, after controlling for calcium intake in the gymnasts alone, RVOS was still significantly correlated with training time (P < 0.05). These preliminary results suggest that the heavy musculoskeletal loading inherent in gymnastics training produces positive adaptive responses in the growing skeleton. Furthermore, ultrasound appears to provide a safe, noninvasive means of comparing the skeletal status of exercising and normal healthy children, whereas single samples of biochemical markers did not discriminate between the groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Der Chirurg is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

To establish whether impaired hypoglycaemic awareness is associated with increased rate of severe hypoglycaemia and to assess clinical predictors of severe episodes without warning symptoms a prospective study of 130 insulin-dependent diabetic children and adolescents was undertaken for 1 year. Using a structured questionnaire, 48 patients reported impaired awareness and 82 reported normal awareness of hypoglycaemia at baseline of the study. The two groups did not differ regarding clinical and metabolic characteristics. Episodes of severe hypoglycaemia were recorded for 1 year. The rate of severe hypoglycaemia was higher in the group with impaired awareness than in the group with normal awareness ( p < 0.0001). Of the severe hypoglycaemic episodes, 34.0 % developed without warning symptoms. Patients with impaired awareness experienced more severe episodes without warning symptoms than those with normal awareness ( p = 0.0054). Severe hypoglycaemia occurred more frequently in patients with impaired awareness aged 6 years and less ( p = 0.0041) than in older counterparts. Impaired awareness reported at baseline [adjusted odds ratio (OR): 5.8; p = 0.0021], age 6 years or less (3.4; p = 0.0121), previous severe episode (4.8; p = 0.0043) and more than 5 % of home blood glucose readings 3.3 mmol/l or less in the preceding month (4.2; p = 0.0211) proved to be independently predictive of severe hypoglycaemic events without warning symptoms. In conclusion, impaired hypoglycaemic awareness is associated with an increased rate of severe hypoglycaemia in diabetic children and adolescents. One third of severe episodes developed without warning symptoms. Impaired awareness, young age and recent biochemical or severe hypoglycaemias are independent risk factors for such episodes. Avoidance of hypoglycaemia should be a priority in pre-school children with diabetes. [Diabetologia (1998) 41: 898–903] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary factors are suspected to play an aetiological role in the development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). We analysed cow's milk formula, betalactoglobulin, and bovine serum albumin antibodies by an enzyme-linked immunoassay in unselected children with newly diagnosed IDDM and in their non-diabetic siblings and enquired about infant feeding practices by questionnaire. Among 410 diabetic sibling pairs matched for age and sex, by logistic regression analysis – including overall duration of breast-feeding, age at introduction of dairy products, recent consumption of cow's milk and HLA-DQB1 genotype (“high/moderate” vs “low/decreased” risk of IDDM) – bovine serum albumin IgG antibody levels (OR 2.12, 95 %CI 1.25–3.57) and genetic risk (OR 3.81, 95 %CI 2.43–5.17) were positively associated with IDDM; cow's milk formula IgM antibodies were inversely associated with the risk of IDDM (OR 0.50, 95 %CI 0.29–0.87). Of the diabetic sibling pairs, 42 were identical for HLA-DQB1 alleles associated with IDDM risk or protection (DQB1*0201, *0301, *0302 and *0602/03). In these 42 pairs, children with IDDM had higher median levels of bovine serum albumin IgG, of betalactoglobulin IgG, and of cow's milk formula IgG and IgA antibodies than the non-diabetic siblings ( p < 0.05). In conclusion, children with IDDM have higher levels of cow's milk protein antibodies than their HLA-DQB1-matched sibling controls, and these high levels of antibodies are independent risk markers for IDDM. [Diabetologia (1998) 41: 72–78] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In adults low birthweight and thinness at birth are associated with increased risk of glucose intolerance and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. We have examined the relations between size at birth (birthweight, thinness at birth) and levels of plasma glucose and serum insulin in children, and compared them with the effects of childhood size. We performed a school-based survey of 10–11-year-old British children (response rate 64 %) with measurements made after an overnight fast. One group of children ( n = 591) was studied fasting while the other ( n = 547) was studied 30 min after a standard oral glucose load (1.75 g/kg). Serum insulin was measured by a highly specific ELISA method. Birthweight was assessed by maternal recall and thinness at birth using birth records. Neither fasting nor post-load glucose levels showed any consistent relationship with birthweight or ponderal index at birth. After adjustment for childhood height and ponderal index, both fasting and post-load insulin levels fell with increasing birthweight. For each kg increase in birthweight, fasting insulin fell by 16.9 % (95 % confidence limits 7.1–25.8 %, p = 0.001) and post-load insulin by 11.6 % (95 % confidence limits 3.5–19.1 %, p = 0.007). However, the proportional change in insulin level for a 1 SD increase in childhood ponderal index was much greater than that for birthweight (27.2 % and − 8.8 %, respectively, for fasting insulin). We conclude that low birthweight is not related to glucose intolerance at 10–11 years, but may be related to the early development of insulin resistance. However, in contemporary children obesity is a stronger determinant of insulin level and insulin resistance than size at birth. [Diabetologia (1997) 40: 319–326] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a case of a large pyogenic granuloma of the tongue causing swallowing difficulties in an 8-week-old infant. In the literature, we found no case reports of pyogenic granuloma in such a young infant. It is a quickly growing, hypertrophic inflammatory change consisting of exceptionally richly vascularized granular tissue. The granuloma was located in the central part of the tongue and appeared dark pink in color. It was an easily bleeding pedunculated tumor measuring 3×2.5 cm. The etiology of the tumor is unknown; it can arise in sites of previous injury, chronic irritation and infection. The course of the disease is benign and painless, though it can be recurrent. No recurrence was found in the control examination after 3 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) has now become the preferred technique for facilitating enteral nutrition in children with inadequate caloric intake. Because many problems related to PEG insertion have recently been reported, we were motivated to reassess this established technique. We have therefore added a new step--laparoscopic monitoring--to the classic PEG procedure.Methods: Fifteen children who required PEG during the previous year were studied. Their ages ranged from 2 months to 18 years. Six children were < 1 year old at the time of operation. In 11 patients, the PEG was performed at the end of a laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication. In the others, it was done as a single procedure.Results: In all 15 children, the PEG was performed safely and quickly, without complications.Conclusion: The addition of 'laparoscopic monitoring' to the classic PEG procedure introduced by Gauderer et al. changes the first and last parts of the procedure from an almost 'blind' undertaking to a well-controlled and safer procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case of acute common bile duct obstruction caused by a roundworm in a 6-year-old girl is reported. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed "bull's-eye" and "eye-glass" appearances of the ascaris in the common bile duct. On reformation of the transverse CT and coronal MR images, the tubular Ascaris was better depicted. MRI and navigator endoscopic demonstrations of the common bile duct ascaris have not been described previously in the literature. These CT and MRI findings may be helpful in the diagnosis of Ascaris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]