bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Home Videorecording of "Spells" in Children
Authors: WOODY ROBERT C. 
Published: December 2021

The increasing availability of videorecording cameras and cassette recorders now permits the visual documentation of medical events in children at home by parents. On two occasions recently, we asked families to videorecord their children's presumed seizure activity at home.
In the first case, a 10-month-old white boy had frequent "spells" which by history appeared to be complex partial seizures. Routine awake and asleep EEG tracings were normal, and the family resisted hospital admission for financial reasons. Anticonvulsant medications were prescribed, and the family suggested that they borrow their parent's videocassette recorder to document their son's spells at home. Their videorecordings produced a high quality, permanent record of definite complex partial symptom activity clearly revealing eye deviation, nystagmus, and associated head and arm tonic activity.
Vitamin E—How Much Is Too Much?
Authors: LEMONS JAMES A. , MAISELS M. JEFFREY 
Published: December 2021

For many years a treatment in search of a disease, vitamin E (α-tocopherol) is now being prescribed widely and in large doses to small premature infants. The possibility of reducing the incidence of severe retrolental fibroplasia,1-4 intraventricular hemorrhage, and even the mortality of these tiny babies5 has, quite understandably, excited the interest of those responsible for their care.
Although concern about potential toxicity has been expressed,6,7 Hittner and co-workers4 recommend that infants weighing less than 1,500 g at birth who require oxygen receive intramuscular injections of a water miscible preparation of d,l-α-tocopherol on days 1, 2, 4, and 6 of life as well as oral α-tocopherol in a dosage of 100 mg/kg/d.5 Using this regimen, these workers report that they have not (or have rarely) encountered plasma tocopherol levels in excess of 3.5 mg/dL.8,9
Chronic Lung Disease of Prematurity
Authors: SCHICK JAMES B. , GOETZMAN BOYD W. 
Published: December 2021

To the Editor.—
The paper by Avery et al,1 further demonstrates the potential usefulness of corticosteroids in chronic lung disease of prematurity. However, initial reports in 1974 and 1975 met with criticism for the use of potentially toxic drugs in premature infants.2,3
In 1983 we retrospectively reviewed 23 infants with chronic lung disease of prematurity who received corticosteroids and identified distinct differences between responders and nonresponders which suggested different types of lung disease.4 Our responders all showed a greater than 30% decrease in AaPo2 by day 6 and showed maximal response by ten days of therapy.
Other Journals Named "Pediatrics"
Authors: SILBER DAVID L. 
Published: December 2021

To the Editor.—
The letter by W. E. Fitch, MD, in the April issue of Pediatrics (1985;75:A81) was interesting. I also was interested in the Editor's Note indicating lack of awareness of Dr Fitch's journal named Pediatrics. I thought you might be interested in yet another one.
In 1965 or 1966 the Pet Milk Company distributed 12 copies of a journal by the same name which they said were authentic reproductions of each issue of Volume 1 published in 1896.
Pediatrics and the Malpractice Crisis
Authors: BOSLEY WARREN 
Published: December 2021

In Reply.—
Dr Curtis presents an interesting approach to malpractice defense. In a society so concerned as ours with child abuse and neglect, it may indeed be reasonable to ask what kind of care the injured child has received, perhaps permitting a more aggressive defense than is sometimes possible.
The defendant physician is too often a victim of the hindsight available to the plaintiff's attorney, when it is difficult, if not impossible, to put the judge and jury in the hospital room, the intensive care nursery, or the delivery room where critical decisions must be made if a child's life is to be saved.
Hepatitis B Immunoprophylaxis of Low-Birth-Weight Infants
Authors: GENESCÀ JOAN , ESTEBAN JUAN I. , ESTEBAN RAFAEL 
Published: December 2021

To the Editor.—
In a recent statement by the Committee on Infectious Diseases, American Academy of Pediatrics (Pediatrics 1985;75:362-364) of prophylaxis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections in newborns, a point was made about the lack of data on immunogenic capacity of hepatitis B vaccine on low-birth-weight infants (&lt; 2,000 g). In a prospective study on the value of vaccine for prevention of HBV infection in newborns from hepatitis B surface antigen-carrier mothers, carried out at our institution on 111 infants, two of the vaccinees were twins who weighed 1,800 g each.
Penny Eaters Beware!
Authors: SEIFERT STEVEN , MCLAUGHLIN JAMES H. 
Published: December 2021

To the Editor.—
Acute toxicity may complicate the ingestion of US pennies minted since October 1982. In December 1984, an 11-lb dog died from multisystem failure attributed to markedly elevated serum and tissue levels following the ingestion of two such coins (The Arizona Daily Star, Dec 4, 1984, pp 1-2).
The mostly copper alloy one-cent piece was replaced in 1982 by one with a zinc core and a thin copper jacket. Although the copper is relatively inert, a break in the copper casing in an acid environment or prolonged acid exposure of an intact coin will cause dissolution and absorption of the zinc (The Arizona Daily Star, Dec 4, 1984, pp 1-2).
Health Hazards of Cow's Milk
Authors: BARNESS LEWIS A. 
Published: December 2021

In Reply.—
Oski warns that excessive milk drinking may lead to anemia. He has demonstrated this himself, and there are sufficient references to indicate that this phenomenon is widespread in those who drink excessive milk to the exclusion of other nutrients. Limiting milk intake, after 6 months of life up to 500 mL of boiled milk as Tönz suggests is not documented, to my knowledge, to cause anemia. On the other hand, to recommend cow's milk as a source of essential fatty acids seems somewhat intemperate.
Clinical Manifestations of Allergy Related to Breast- and Cow's Milk-Feeding
Authors: HIDE D. W. , GUYER B. M. 
Published: December 2021

Studies of the influence of the initial feeding method upon the development of allergic disease have produced widely conflicting results.1 Unfortunately, the major social factors that lead a mother to choose to bottle-feed, rather than breast-feed, her infant have been ignored so that breast- and bottle-fed infants tend to be highly selected groups that cannot be directly compared unless many other variables are also taken into account.
The Isle of Wight Infant Feeding Survey was established to study the development of allergic disease in childhood in an entire infant population. The results of the study in the first year of life have been reported.2,3
Optometric Vision Training
Authors: BEAUCHAMP GEORGE R. 
Published: December 2021

Optometric vision training is controversial, and knowledgeable individuals question its targets and efficacy. In responding to a position paper of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology on learning disabilities, dyslexia, and vision,1 Flax et al2 raise issues worthy of close scrutiny, and recent literature provides useful perspective.
Before commenting on the issues, the air should be clear on the central perspective: the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology, and American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus have expressed one, and only one, concern in promulgating their position: the best interests of people with learning disabilities.
Endotracheal Tube Placement in Infants
Authors: BLOCH EDMOND C. 
Published: December 2021

To the Editor.—
A recent article1 inPediatrics describing the early experience with illuminated endotracheal tubes in premature and term infants is of considerable interest. The idea is certainly a novel one and would probably appeal to many. However, it does require a specially designed endotracheal tube and fiberoptic light source, both of which may not be available.
I would like to describe a method that I have been using for many years and that I have found most reliable.
Apnea Monitoring—It Doesn't Discriminate
Authors: ORR WILLIAM C. , STAHL MONTE L. , DUKE JAMES , MCCAFFREE MARY ANNE , TOUBAS PAUL , MATTICE CYNTHIA , KROUS HENRY 
Published: December 2021

In Reply.—
The referred to study by Guilleminault et al reports a statistically significant increase in obstructive and mixed apnea in infants referred with a history of a "near-miss for SIDS" episode. The word discriminate was used in the context of our discussion because it seemed clear from this report that the occurrence of obstructive apneic spells, as opposed to central apneic events, was a parameter that differentiated the near-miss for SIDS group from the controls.
Nutrition Study Design Questioned
Authors: WILSON MARY JESS 
Published: December 2021

To the Editor.—
Janas et al1 have reported on differences in biochemical indices of protein utilization in infants who were breastfed compared with those fed two types of cow's milk formula. Their finding of elevated plasma amino acid and serum urea nitrogen concentrations in formula-fed infants is an important confirmation of previous studies on term infants by Järvenpää et al.2 However, their results and conclusions about total dietary intake of protein, nitrogen, and amino acids are problematic due to their study design and methods.
Phenothiazine-Induced Sleep Apneas and the Opioid System
Authors: SANDYK R. 
Published: December 2021

To the Editor.—
I was interested in the report by Kahn et al.1 demonstrating an increase in the number of central apneas following phenothiazine administration to infants. Administration of phenothiazines to infants less than 1 year of age could precipitate sudden death in apnea-prone subjects. Although the authors suggested several possible mechanisms linking the effects of phenothiazines with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), an apparent role of the opioid system has not been mentioned.
The endogenous opioid system has been implicated in the central control of respiration.2
Child Mothers
Authors: FISCHER HOWARD 
Published: December 2021

To the Editor.—
The report by Wharton and Mandell (Pediatrics 1985;75:1120-1123) is frightening and well written. One obvious point, however, has been overlooked: If viewing of television violence causes aggressive behavior in children, should one be surprised that it causes aggressive behavior in child-parents? We are told that the mother in case I is young? How young? 16? 22?
Pediatricians tend to attribute maturity to a child's mother regardless of her age. The 15-year-old who is a patient may be asked "How are you feeling, Jane?"
In Defense of Circumcision
Authors: WISWELL THOMAS E. 
Published: December 2021

In Reply.—
Do neonatal circumcisions need infant consent? Obviously, no. Because neonates are minors, the burden is on the parents to make the necessary decision based on informed consent. The general belief in the past 10 to 15 years has been that there is no medical indication for routine performance of circumcision in the newborn. However, we recently published data demonstrating a decreased incidence of urinary tract infections during the first year of life in circumcised male infants.1
Salicylate Toxicity Rediscovered
Authors: HOWRIE DENISE L. 
Published: December 2021

In Reply.—
We thank Dr Pearlman for his comments regarding our brief report. We were aware of Drs Shirreff and Pearlman's previous observations. However, it was clear that many physicians and laypersons in the community were unaware of the continued availability of methyl salicylate as a candy-flavoring agent, a "previously unappreciated source" in our area. We hoped that our report would serve as a reminder that a well-known and highly toxic substance is still accessible to children.
Gelatin Sign: Ultrasonographic Evidence of Cerebral Necrosis in Infants
Authors: COLAN RICHARD V. 
Published: December 2021

Since its introduction, real-time ultrasonographic imaging of the neonatal brain has proven valuable in detecting a variety of pathologic and anatomic disturbances of the newborn brain.1-3 High resolution scanning heads, bedside technique, and video recording also allow study of the intracranial movement and responses to intrinsic and extrinsic forces. This paper reports six cases of infants with severe brain disease of widely different etiologies, in which abnormal response was found to cranial percussion, termed the "gelatin sign."
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 506 consecutive real-time cranial ultrasound scans were obtained in 333 cases from a Level 3, regional neonatal intensive care unit. The scans were ordered by attending neonatologists to study the CNS in low birth weight infants and infants suspected of having intracranial disease.
Measles Elimination
Authors: ORENSTEIN WALTER A. , HINMAN ALAN R. 
Published: December 2021

In Reply.—
The effort to control and eliminate measles in the United States has had tremendous success, as mentioned by Dr Levy. The reported cases in 1983 represented a 99.7% reduction from the annual average of 525,000 in the 10 years preceding vaccine licensure. Although the 69.3% increase from 1983 to 1984 might seem alarming, the provisional total of 2,534 reported cases still represents less than 0.5% of the cases reported annually during the prevaccine era.
Will Neonatology Vanish in 1995?
Authors: CRAFT HUGH , SIEGEL EARL 
Published: December 2021

To the Editor.—
It was encouraging to see the results of the recent study from France on the prevention of preterm births published in Pediatrics.1 Pediatricians have long supported preventive measures to improve infant and child health. But, pediatricians, in general, and neonatologists, in particular, have been slow to assume an advocacy position for an obvious, important preventive effort, namely, reducing the incidence of low birth weight.
During the last 20 years, the United States has experienced a dramatic improvement in neonatal mortality, from rates of neonatal death of 18 per 1,000 live births in 1965 to 6.8 per 1,000 live births today.2,3
Will Neonatology Vanish in 1995?
Authors: PAPIERNIK EMILE 
Published: December 2021

In Reply.—
The interest of neonatologists in preventing preterm deliveries is remarkable in the United States. In France, where a policy of prevention was developed nationally in 1971, the first impulse also came from the neonatologists and specifically Alex Minkowski, who challenged the obstetricians to propose a real prevention program. The results of this program have now been published.1 incidence of very low birth weight infants in France in 1972 was 0.8 and in 1981 0.4.2
Statement on Time-Limited Certification
Authors: PIEL CAROLYN F. 
Published: December 2021

At its annual meeting in November 1985, the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) established a policy of time-limited certification. This new policy will become effective for those individuals who are certified in general peditrics after April 30, 1988. By this action, the ABP provides assurance to the public that pediatricians certified after this date have been and will continue to be evaluated periadically by the ABP. Anyone certified prior to this date will not be affected by this new policy; however, those who choose to do so may achieve certification renewal on a voluntary basis.
The duration of the original certificate issued after April 30, 1988, will be 7 years.
Chance and Ventricular Septal Defect
Authors: NORA JAMES J. 
Published: December 2021

To the Editor.—
Newman1 has restated the multifactorial inheritance hypothesis of the etiology of congenital heart diseases to emphasize the element of chance (which is, of course, inherent in the hypothesis) and proposes what he considers to be a new hypothesis. There is, of course, a very large element of chance in multifactorial inheritance for an individual with a genetic predisposition to ventricular septal defect or other congenital heart defect also to have a genetic predisposition to an environmental teratogen and finally to have these two predispositions triggered during the very short vulnerable period of cardiogenesis (approximately 1 month or less in duration for most lesions).
Phototherapy for Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia
Authors: BRYLA DOLORES A. , BROWN AUDREY , GARTNER LAWRENCE , LIPSITZ PHILIP 
Published: December 2021

In Reply.—
We appreciate the thoughtful review and comments of Dr Poland regarding the analysis of mortality in the NICHD phototherapy study. The essence of Dr Poland's letter seems to be that, for infants of birth weights less than 1,000 g, a difference of mortality was observed with more deaths in the phototherapy group than the control group and that this difference may be a real difference even though it was not found to be statistically significant.
Megavitamins and Hyperactivity
Authors: HASLAM ROBERT H. A. 
Published: December 2021

In Reply.—
We became interested in studying the effect of megavitamins in children with attention deficit disorders following a report on megavitamins published in 1976.1 Our research protocol, which was developed at that time, was designed to replicate a report2 that suggested that more than 500 children had benefited "significantly with decreased hyperactivity and improved concentration and attention span which led to improved capacities for learning" with the daily use of massive doses of niacin, ascorbic acid, pyridoxine, and calcium pantothenate.
Vitamin E Problems
Authors: FRIEDMAN ZVI 
Published: December 2021

To the Editor.—
I read with great interest the commentary by J. A. Lemons and M. J. Maisels on vitamin E.1 The timing for such a critical review of the subject could not be more appropriate because vitamin E is now being prescribed widely and in large doses to very low birth weight infants. I have two basic comments to the report by Lemons and Maisels.
First, the authors reported their experience with the oral administration of vitamin E and pointed out that serum levels are frequently elevated following the oral administration of 100 mg/kg of vitamin E. Thirty-eight percent of their patients had serum levels greater than 3.5 mg/dL, whereas 13% exceeded 5.5 mg/dL.
Life Insurance for Disabled Children
Authors: M R J 
Published: December 2021

In Reply.—
Dr Vince's letter was submitted to an insurance consultant, who verified that Dr Vince's scheme would work in the United States as well as in Canada. He also stated the following with regard to the issue of dissemination of information in the second paragraph of Dr Vince's letter:
The life insurance industry many years ago created the Medical Information Bureau. All data submitted to any participating insurer is transmitted in code form to the Bureau, where it is filed. It is accessible only to participating insurers and certainly never to prospective employers.
Insomnia and Cow's Milk Allergy in Infants
Authors: KAHN A. , BLUM D. , MONTAUK L. 
Published: December 2021

In Reply.—
Dr Lecks reminds us that the entity called "infantile colic" is frequently encountered in infants younger than 3 months of age. It is characterized by signs of paroxysmal abdominal pain, severe crying, a flushed face, and a tense abdomen. The painful episodes occur mainly during the late afternoon or early evening hours. The paroxysmal pain can last several hours and appears to be relieved with the passage of feces or when the child falls asleep, usually exhausted.
Oral and Dental Aspects of Child Abuse and Neglect
Authors:   Committee on Early Childhood, Adoption, and Dependent Care
Published: December 2021

In all 50 states, physicians are required to report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect to social service or law enforcement agencies. Dentists are similarly required to report such suspected cases in most states and are allowed to report in all states; however, a minority of dentists are aware of these legal requirements.1-4 Physicians and dentists could aid in educating each other and in collaborating to increase the detection, treatment, and prevention of these disorders. Physicians typically receive limited training in dental injury and disease and thus may not detect dental abuse or neglect as readily as they do child abuse and neglect involving other areas of the body.
PHYSICAL ABUSE
Because craniofacial injuries occur in half of child abuse cases,3,5,6 evaluation of these injuries is essential. Some authorities believe the oral cavity may be a central focus for physical abuse because of its significance in communication and nutrition.2 The injuries are most commonly inflicted as blunt trauma with an instrument, eating utensil, hand, or finger or by scalding liquids or caustic substances. The abuse may result in ecchymoses, lacerations, traumatized or avulsed teeth, facial fractures, burns, or other injuries. Discolored teeth may result from repeated trauma.7,8 Gags applied to the mouth may leave bruises, lichenification, or scarring at the corners of the mouth. 9 Multiple injuries, injuries in different stages of healing, injuries inappropriate for the child's stage of development, and/or a discrepant history should arouse suspicion of abuse.
SEXUAL ABUSE
The oral cavity is a frequent site of sexual abuse in children.
Virilizing Adrenocortical Tumors in Childhood
Authors: GREEN ORVILLE C. 
Published: December 2021

In Reply.—
The biochemical data reported by Honour, Price, and Grant from their publication in 1984 is of interest, and we regret that we did not include it in our review due to overlapping submission and publication dates. They have added 12 additional cases of virilizing tumors to the literature with the very important demonstration of bio-chemical heterogeneity in the secretion and serum analysis of the hormones produced. Their point that serum dehydroepiandrosterone and testosterone levels may not define the steroidogenic potential of a specific tumor is useful knowledge, and we agree that additional androgens should be evaluated by newer techniques if these two assays are not diagnostic.
Overinterpreting Sleep Problems
Authors: VENTIS DEBORAH G. , FOSS-GOODMAN DEBORAH 
Published: December 2021

To the Editor.—
We write in regard to the article, "Sleep Problems Seen in Pediatric Practice," by Lozoff et al (Pediatrics 1985; 75:477-483). Overinterpretation of problems that may be typical of development in young children is a pitfall in developmental-behavioral pediatrics which can be the result, in part, of methodologic and statistical inadequacies. Two of the most serious problems that may occur are use of designs that do not provide a direct test of the theoretical question(s) posed and speculation about causality where causal ordering cannot be determined.
Circumcision Debate
Authors: COHEN MARK L. 
Published: December 2021

To the Editor.—
It appears that the circumcision pendulum is swinging back, before it even had a chance to swing forth. I am prepared to believe that Wiswell and his colleagues1 will be proved right and that the operation really does protect against urinary tract infection. Although the possibility still exists that the gene coding for the Escherichia coli receptor in bladder mucosa is linked to the one that induces noncircumcision-directed behavior in a parent, I am willing to concede the point.
Circumcision Debate
Authors: OZERE R. L. 
Published: December 2021

To the Editor.—
Drs Wiswell, Smith, and Bass (Pediatrics 1985;75:901-903) report an association between circumcision and decreased frequency of urinary tract infection in infancy. This report has all the makings of a pediatric cause celebre, perhaps overshadowing the significance or lack of same of this study. They indicate that their latest study includes a series of infants, 92% of whom were cultured by bladder tap, with the same observed difference in frequency of urinary tract infection between the circumcised and noncircumcised.