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Protein hydrolysates from white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) with different degrees of hydrolysis (DH—10 and 20%) were prepared using the enzymes Alcalase 2.4 L and Protamex. The hydrolysates were evaluated for amino acid composition, solubility, foaming properties, emulsifying and antioxidant activity. All the hydrolysates showed high concentrations of Glutamic Acid, Aspartic acid, Arginine, Glycine, Lysine, Proline. It was found that the increase in the production of negatively charged amino acids was related to increase in DH. The hydrophobic amino acids were higher for hydrolysates obtained with Alcalase (10% DH) and Protamex (20% DH). The results indicated that higher degree of hydrolysis showed positive relation with the protein solubility of the hydrolysates, while negatively influenced foam and emulsification properties. The antioxidant properties presented by the white shrimp protein hydrolysates were influenced by the composition and peptides size. Hydrolysates with higher peptide chain showed the highest antioxidant power for the 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging and reducing power, while hydrolysates with lower peptide chain showed higher antioxidant power for 2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline sulfonic acid) radical scavenging. All hydrolysates showed dose-dependent antioxidant activities. Therefore, the results of the present study suggest that white shrimp is a potential source of protein hydrolysates as bioactive ingredients for the use in the formulation of functional foods as well as natural antioxidants in lipid food systems.

Protein hydrolysates from white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) with different degrees of hydrolysis (DH—10 and 20%) were prepared using the enzymes Alcalase 2.4 L and Protamex. The hydrolysates were evaluated for amino acid composition, solubility, foaming properties, emulsifying and antioxidant activity. All the hydrolysates showed high concentrations of Glutamic Acid, Aspartic acid, Arginine, Glycine, Lysine, Proline. It was found that the increase in the production of negatively charged amino acids was related to increase in DH. The hydrophobic amino acids were higher for hydrolysates obtained with Alcalase (10% DH) and Protamex (20% DH). The results indicated that higher degree of hydrolysis showed positive relation with the protein solubility of the hydrolysates, while negatively influenced foam and emulsification properties. The antioxidant properties presented by the white shrimp protein hydrolysates were influenced by the composition and peptides size. Hydrolysates with higher peptide chain showed the highest antioxidant power for the 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging and reducing power, while hydrolysates with lower peptide chain showed higher antioxidant power for 2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline sulfonic acid) radical scavenging. All hydrolysates showed dose-dependent antioxidant activities. Therefore, the results of the present study suggest that white shrimp is a potential source of protein hydrolysates as bioactive ingredients for the use in the formulation of functional foods as well as natural antioxidants in lipid food systems.

Intra-abdominal lymphangiomas are rare benign tumours that can cause various symptoms, mainly during childhood. They are diagnosed by ultrasonography, CT scanning or at laparotomy; ultrasonographic examination often shows a voluminous tumoral cystic formation with septa. The location of the cyst may be determined either by ultrasonography alone or by CT scanning. The definitive histological diagnosis is confirmed by immunohistochemical staining techniques. Rarely intra-abdominal lymphangiomas can occur in the abdominal wall. Complete resection is the treatment of choice. The case of a 2-year-old-boy with a large lymphangioma involving the lower half of the abdominal wall is reported. The patient underwent the complete removal of lymphangioma with good cosmetic result.

The association of congenital anal stenosis, or other anal and rectal malformation, sacral defect and a presacral mass is known as the Currarino syndrome described for the first time in 1981. Currarino et al. proposed that abnormal endoectodermal adhesions and notochordal defects in early fetal life may result in a fistula between the gut and the spinal canal with enteric elements ventrally and neural elements dorsally. This abnormality appears to be a variant of the split notochord syndrome. The occurrence of Currarino's triad of anomalies is familial in more than 50% of cases. The most important suggested hypothesis of transmission is an X-linked dominant pattern, but most of the other reports are consistent with an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. The medical therapy is poorly successful and, therefore, the surgical treatment is recommended for Currarino's syndrome.

The authors report a case of skin infection, Buruli ulcer, which is widespread in several parts of Africa: Ghana, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Senegal and most central African countries. This infection is caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans which belongs to the non-tubercular species Mycobacterium. It resembles Mycobacterium tuberculosis in colour and morphology, but differs in its speed of growth, its nutritional requirements, its capacity to produce pigments with enzymatic activities, its heat sensitivity and its resistance to anti-tubercular agents. Mycobacterium infection follows the percutaneous inoculation of the latter and appears as a painless, erythematous nodule that develops central necrosis and ulceration. Initially, the lesion appears as skin necrosis leading to the ulceration of the dermis and epidermis. The histological lesion shows a coagulative necrosis of the deep dermis and epidermis with destruction of the nerves and blood vessels; interstitial edema is also present. Healing is accompanied by a granulomatous response and the affected area is generally covered by a depressed scar. The authors initially treated the case in question using a conservative approach. A gel (Intrasite Gel) was used whose properties allowed the destruction of necrotic tissue present on the ulcer bed and the stimulation of granulation tissue formation. The layer of gel was in turn covered with a triple layer of polyurethane which enabled the humidity of the lesion to be maintained constant, thus promoting healing and acting as a barrier against external germs. This treatment enabled the skin lesion to be completely sterilised in about 30 days using new dressings every 3 days. Surgical treatment then led to complete healing after a further 20 days.

Biliary atresia is a severe neonatal malformation in which the entire extrahepatic biliary tract or part of it is absent and replaced by fibrosclerotic tissue. Having been described for the first time by Thomson in 1891, biliary atresia has an incidence of 1:10,000-15,000 live neonates with a slight predominance in the female sex; it is associated with other malformations in 25% of cases. In 1993 Davenport et al. identified a subgroup of patients with biliary atresia who presented a splenic malformation. This condition was known as biliary atresia and splenic malformation syndrome (BASM). The cases of biliary atresia and BASM are still not clear and a number of etiopathogenetic hypotheses have been put forward. The treatment is surgical and includes a first stage of hepatic-porto-enteroanastomosis using a defunctionalised Roux loop (Kasal), followed by the definitive operation comprising liver transplant. We report the case of a boy who was brought to our attention with jaundice, polypnea and hepatosplenomegalia; instrumental tests allowed the diagnosis of biliary atresia, median liver, stomach and spleen on the right, polysplenia, atresia of the intrahepatic tract of the inferior vena cava, presence of a superior vena cava to the left that drained into the upper left portion of the common atrium. Moreover, the cardiac apex was present on the right, extensive DIA of the common atrium type, extensive DIV and right aortic arch.

In a case control study of adverse drug reactions in children, the odds ratio of developing a serious mucocutaneous event among users of niflumic acid, adjusted for concomitant use of all other drugs, was 4.9 (95% CI 1.9 to 12.8). Given the availability of safer analgesics and antipyretics, there is no indication, in our opinion, that requires the prescription of substances which bear an increased risk.

In the last decade, transumbilical open laparoscopy has been widely used and accepted because it safely allows the insertion of the initial trocar without complication, such as major vascular or intra-abdominal visceral penetration. To avoid these complications, many authors have proposed using the open technique with a Hasson trocar. Pediatric-size laparoscopic equipment is difficult to obtain, however, so since 1992 the authors have used a simple device for open laparoscopy in pediatric patients. The open procedure is performed in the standard fashion. A small incision is made through the umbilical crease and is deepened through the linea alba. The peritoneum is picked up between hemostats and opened under direct vision. The distal part of a soft-seal endotracheal tube is forced over the end of the usual 5-mm cannula. The device thus assembled is inserted into the abdomen, and the balloon is inflated and is held back against the abdominal wall by the assistant. This maneuver avoids both gas leakage and sutures on the fascia and/or peritoneum. Since 1992 the authors have performed a total of 58 diagnostic and/or operative laparoscopies, using this simple device for open laparoscopy in 55 of them. No complications such as balloon burst or gas leakage have been recorded. This technique is safe, is time-saving, and does not require any sutures.

Many authors have shown the role of uroflowmetry in the follow-up of patients operated on for hypospadias. This technique has also been used to assess the validity of the operative technique.Sixty patients have been selected among those operated on for hypospadias from January 1990 till January 1996 at the Pediatric Surgery Department of the Second University of Naples, Italy. These patients underwent uroflowmetry with a rotating disk sensor at clinic. Postoperative time at uroflowmetry ranged between 6 months and 6 years. Flow pattern, maximum flow rate (Q max) and mean flow rate (Q ave) were measured. Results are expressed as percentiles and compared with those obtained from Toguri. Q max and Q ave greater than 25 degrees percentile were considered normal; Q max and Q ave between 25 degrees and 5 degrees percentile were considered query obstructed; Q max and Q ave below the 5 degrees percentile were considered obstructed.Forty-two patients (70%) presented values above the 25 degrees centile, 8 patients (13.4%) presented an obstructed-like flow and 10 children (16.6%) showed a query obstructed flow. Three patients from the latter group presented within three months an obstructed-like flow.Uroflowmetry is an important tool in the follow-up of patients operated on for hypospadias that are at risk for stenosis and then requiring a further treatment, either dilatation or surgery.

In a case control study of adverse drug reactions in children, the odds ratio of developing a serious mucocutaneous event among users of niflumic acid, adjusted for concomitant use of all other drugs, was 4.9 (95% CI 1.9 to 12.8). Given the availability of safer analgesics and antipyretics, there is no indication, in our opinion, that requires the prescription of substances which bear an increased risk.