bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Oral calcium treatment in vitamin D‐dependent rickets type II
Authors: WONG G. W. K. , LEUNG S. S. F. , LAW W. Y. , CHEUNG N. K. H. , OPPENHEIMER S. J. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractVitamin D‐dependent rickets type II is a rare hereditary disease that results from target organ resistance to the action of 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3. There is a great heterogeneity in the clinical presentation of this condition. The affected patients usually present early in childhood with clinical and biochemical evidence of rickets. Physiological replacement dosage of 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 has no therapeutic effect. Responses to pharmacological doses of vitamin D metabolites or long‐term calcium infusion have been variable. A case is reported here of an 8 year old girl, of consanguineous parents with vitamin D‐dependent rickets, type II, in whom treatment with high dose oral calcium resulted in marked biochemical and radiological improvement. It is concluded that high dose oral calcium treatment is an effective treatment option for patients with vitamin D‐dependent rickets type II.
Antimicrobial factors and microbial contaminants in human milk: Recent studies
Authors: MAY J. T. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractAn overview of recent studies of antimicrobial factors and microbial contaminants found in human milk is presented. The incidence of gastrointestinal and respiratory infections in infants receiving human milk continues to be lower than in those not breast‐fed due to the presence of specific antibody and possibly anti‐adhesion factors in the milk. Whether the many other antimicrobial factors, which have been shown to be active in vitro or in animal model systems, have any influence on infant infections is still not clear. Microbial contaminants in human milk are rare, as are associated infant infections from the milk. However, some contaminants such as cytomegalovirus are commonly transferred to infants from the milk of seropositive mothers, fortunately without any adverse effects in the infants. Human T‐lymphotropic virus type 1 is transferred via human milk in endemic areas, human milk being the main source of mother‐to‐infant transmission. While some reports suggest human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transfer may occur through human milk, this is not the predominant mode of transmission to infants.
Health beliefs among New Zealand adolescents
Authors: NADA‐RAJA S. , McGEE R. , WILLIAMS S. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractA modified version of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) scale was administered to 837 adolescents, aged 15 years, to assess their beliefs about health. There were significant sex differences on the total scores of the internal and powerful others dimensions of the scale. MHLC beliefs were not significantly associated with self‐reported ratings of general health or mental health. Significantly more distress due to the experience of negative life events was reported by females with a strong internal locus of control. Maternal health beliefs showed stronger associations with daughters' health beliefs than sons'. For males, strong beliefs in an internal locus of control and weak beliefs in chance were significantly associated with aspects of attachment, social support and self‐perceived strengths. There were weak correlations for the majority of associations between health beliefs and health measures and most of the adolescents reported either good or very good health. The findings suggest that adolescents' health beliefs may be quite different from those of adults.
Plant sources of acid stable lipases: Potential therapy for cystic fibrosis
Authors: TURSI J. M. , PHAIR P. G. , BARNES G. L. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractExogenous lipase used in the treatment of pancreatic insufficiency may be destroyed by stomach acid. This study was undertaken to search for a readily available source of acid stable lipase. Eleven plant sources (avocado, walnut, pinenut, coconut, lupin, lentils, chickpea, mungbean, oats, castor beans and eggplant) were screened for lipolytic activity using a newly developed radio‐isotopic labelled substrate method. The results obtained by this method were confirmed by thin layer chromatography. Two of the sources (castor bean and dehulled oats) showed significant lipolytic activity at pH 5.6, castor beans containing 1.5 U/mg of extracted solid and oats 400–1200 U/mg of extracted solid. Castor beans are difficult to obtain and so may be an impractical commercial source of lipase; however, oats are abundant. If simple methods of enzyme purification and concentration can be developed, oats may prove to be a practical source of acid stable lipase for use in the treatment of patients with pancreatic insufficiency, especially those who have cystic fibrosis.
Rehospitalization and growth of infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia: A matched control study
Authors: CHYE J. K. , GRAY P. H. 
Published: March 2008

Objectives: To determine the risk of hospitalization and the growth during the first year of life in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and birthweight matched controls.Methodology: The study population consists of 78 infants of 26 to 33 weeks gestation with BPD of whom 20 were discharged on home oxygen therapy. The 78 control infants were matched with the study infants for broad based birthweight categories. Infants were reviewed at 4,8 and 12 months corrected for prematurity at which time the history of rehospitalization was recorded and growth parameters were measured.Results: Infants with BPD were found to have a higher overall rate of rehospitalization (58 vs 35%, relative risk (RR) 1.7,95% confidence interval (Cl) 1.2‐2.4) and were more likely to be readmitted for respiratory illnesses (39 vs 20%, RR 1.9, 95% Cl 1.1‐3.2) and for poor growth (14 vs 1%, RR 14, 95% Cl 1.7‐82) than the control group. Many infants, both study and control, remained below the 10th percentile at 1 year of age. More BPD infants were below the 10th percentile in weight at the 4 month visit than the control infants (30 vs 15%, P= 0.034). This difference was neither present at subsequent visits nor in the other major growth parameters. The 20 BPD infants who were on home oxygen therapy were more frequently hospitalized for concerns with failure to thrive (30 vs 9%, RR 3.3,95% Cl 1.2‐8.9) than the remaining 58 BPD infants. No significant differences were detected in the overall rate of rehospitalization. Poor growth at the corrected age of 1 year was similar in the two subgroups of infants.Conclusions: BPD infants are at increased for risk rehospitalization during the first year of life. While many infants with BPD have growth failure, it is suggested that the provision of appropriate supplemental oxygen at home may result in those infants having similar growth patterns when compared to birthweight matched preterm infants without BPD.
Clinical features of neonatal seizures
Authors: O'MEARA M. W. , BYE A. M. E. , FLANAGAN D. 
Published: March 2008

Objectives: Identification of seizures in neonates is difficult. This study analyses the clinical features of seizures in a cohort of neonates.Methodology: The clinical events of 41 neonates referred for investigation of suspected seizures were studied with prolonged video/electroencephalographic (EEG) telemetry.Results: Sixteen neonates had no seizures recorded; 25 had confirmed seizures, 13 with clinical correlates. Each neonate with electroclinical seizures had paroxysms of abnormal movements in stereotyped patterns. These patterns were consistently found to have electrical correlates. Focal clonic movements were seen most frequently. Multiple clinical features characterized the seizure repertoire in six neonates. In five neonates the clinical features became less evident during monitoring and these seizures were difficult to recognize. This change was associated with anticonvulsant administration in three cases.Conclusions: Electroclinical seizures are characterized by abnormal paroxysmal stereotyped behaviour, often with multiple clinical features. Recommendations for the management of abnormal neonatal events are proposed.
Neonatal herpes simplex infection: Keys to early diagnosis
Authors: ELDER DE , MINUTILLO C , PEMBERTON P J 
Published: March 2008

Objective: To highlight the clinical features of neonatal herpes simplex (HSV) infection that might facilitate earlier diagnosis.Methodology Fifteen year retrospective review of proven neonatal HSV cases from a regional neonatal referral unit.Results Fifteen cases reviewed: 10 with central nervous system (CNS) disease, three with skin, eyes or mouth (SEM) disease and two with disseminated disease (DIS). A median 4 day delay occurred between symptom onset and hospital admission. All cases presented after maternity hospital discharge, most commonly with feeding problems and lethargy. Six patients presented with skin lesions; parental genital herpes was reported in three (20%) cases. Seven infants died, four without acyclovir treatment and three of 11 treated cases. Three of five CNS disease survivors and all infants with SEM disease were normal at follow up.Conclusions Acyclovir improves outcome in neonatal HSV infection. To improve outcome further earlier recognition of the non‐specific presenting features of the disease is required.
Kawasaki disease associated with streptococcal infection within a family
Authors: ANDERSON DG , WARNER G , BARLOW E 
Published: March 2008

Objective: To describe the illness occurring in four members of a family, which had clinical and laboratory features of Kawasaki disease and streptococcal infection.Methodology: A retrospective report of three siblings and an adult male living in one household. The children had serology, blood counts, cultures and echocardiography performed and were treated with antibiotics and gammaglobulin infusions.Results: The patients developed clinical, and exhibited laboratory, features suggesting streptococcal infection and 4/5 criteria suggesting the diagnosis of Kawasaki disease. All made a good clinical recovery but the youngest developed a coronary artery aneurysm.Conclusions: It may be difficult to distinguish streptococcal infection and Kawasaki disease. It is possible that some cases of Kawasaki disease are precipitated by streptococcal infection.
A pilot evaluation of conductive education‐based intervention for children with cerebral palsy: The Tongala Project
Authors: COLEMAN GJ , KING JA , REDDIHOUGH DS 
Published: March 2008

Objective:To perform an objective evaluation of a programme based on conductive education (CE).Methodology:Two groups of children with cerebral palsy were studied over 6 months. Eleven children participated in a CE‐based programme and nine children received traditional early intervention programmes. Videotapes of the children performing items from the Vulpe Assessment Battery (VAB) were scored by assessors blind to the treatment group. The questionnaire on resources and stress (QRS‐F) was administered to the primary caregiver.Results:Few statistically significant results were obtained. There was a trend for the conductive education‐based group to make slightly greater gains. The videotaped measures yielded high Chronbach coefficients and high interrater correlation coefficients suggesting that this is a useful method to evaluate progress.Conclusions:The study was limited by small sample size, the nature of the control group and the lack of random assignment to CE and control groups. It did provide a basis for the development of further research in the area.
Parent satisfaction with services in an emergency department located at a paediatric teaching hospital
Authors: BROWN K , SHEEHAN E , SAWYER M , RAFTOS J , SMYTH V 
Published: March 2008

Objective:To evaluate parents' satisfaction with the services provided in an emergency department located at a paediatric hospital.Methodology:A descriptive study in which the parents of children with non‐life‐threatening illnesses attending an emergency department completed a questionnaire describing their satisfaction with services in the department.Results:The majority of parents were satisfied with the services provided. However, less satisfied parents reported having to wait significantly longer before receiving medical attention than satisfied parents. Consistent with this finding, 77% of less satisfied parents reported that staff did not attend to their children's needs quickly enough and 62% felt that there were insufficient staff available to provide help. Twenty‐nine per cent of the less satisfied parents reported that they did not know what was required for the ongoing care of their children after their discharge from the emergency department.Conclusions:In order to address the concerns of less satisfied parents, emergency departments need to give careful attention to the maintenance of reasonable waiting times, the provision of adequate staffing, and the quality of staff‐parent communication. Addressing these issues may improve the ongoing care of children after their discharge from emergency departments.
Cleft palate, mortality and morbidity in infants of substance abusing mothers
Authors: THOMAS DB 
Published: March 2008

Objective: To investigate a high incidence of congenital malformations, morbidity and mortality in infants of drug abusing mothers.Methodology: In a 10 and a half year period from 1984–95, 497 such babies were reviewed whose mothers had abused a variety of drugs.Results: Thirty babies died or had serious disability. There were five cases of SIDS and 19 babies had major malformations, including seven with cleft lip/palate. Six babies had significant gastrointestinal disorders or feeding difficulties.Conclusion: The incidence of clefting was 10 times the normal rate and SIDS five times the expected incidence. In a group of mainly socially disadvantaged women, the abuse of narcotics, amphetamines and other substances, with possible sub‐optimal nutrition, may have been contributory to this high morbidity and mortality. No specific drug could be implicated.
Hydrometrocolpos and segmental colonic dilatation in a girl with megacystis‐microcolon‐intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome
Authors: DEWAN PA , BROWN N , MURTHY DP , DANGA‐CHRISTIAN B , HAAN E , BYARD RW , WATTERS DAK 
Published: March 2008

Objective: To report a case of a newborn female infant noted to have features of the megacystis‐microcolon‐intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome (MMIHS) with the additional features of hydrometrocolpos and segmental colonic dilatation and review the literature.Methodology: The details of the case were collated and compared with the previous published experience with this condition.Results:Thus far there have been 58 previous cases of MMIHS described, only four of which have had colonic dilatation. A number of concurrent anomalies have been described, but not the hydrometrocolpos or dysmorphic features seen in this patient.Conclusion: This case appears to be MMIHS with additional features not previously recorded.
Electroencephalograms, clinical observations and the monitoring of neonatal seizures
Authors: BYE AME , FLANAGAN D 
Published: March 2008

Objective: To identify neonatal seizures and evaluate the efficiency of clinical observations and short duration electroencephalograms (EEG).Methodology: Sixty‐three neonates were investigated using prolonged video/EEG monitoring. Patients with confirmed seizures were treated with sequential doses of phenobarbitone and, if seizures persisted, phenytoin. The likelihood of correct management if short duration EEG and clinical observations had been employed was determined.Results: Thirty‐two patients had confirmed seizures. After administration of anticonvulsants, clinical observations identified seizures in a mean of 66% (s.d. 7.3%) of the cohort. A 60 min EEG after each stage of phenobarbitone therapy would guarantee electrographic seizure capture in a mean of 76% (s.d. 10%) of the cohort. A 60 min EEG after addition of phenytoin would guarantee capture in 50%.Conclusions: An EEG would avoid misdiagnoses in most patients with ambiguous clinical signs. After anticonvulsant infusions, EEG add substantial information to that gained by clinical observations.
Pattern of preschool behaviour problems in New Zealand, using the Behaviour Check List
Authors: PAVULURI MN , LUK S‐L 
Published: March 2008

Abstract Objective: The main aim of the study was to identify the pattern of behaviour problems in preschool children to enable early recognition and intervention. Methodology: Three hundred and twenty children, in eight randomly selected preschool centres, aged between 2.5 and 5 years, were included in the study. Parents completed the Behaviour Check List (BCL), a screening measure for preschool behaviour problems. Results: Dependency, temper tantrums, and being difficult to manage were the commonly rated symptoms when moderate‐severe problems were examined. Developmental problems decreased with increasing age, while relationship problems and worries that were cognitively mediated worsened. There were no major differences in the patterns between boys and girls. On cross‐cultural comparison, parents in New Zealand rated their children lower on the BCL compared to those in the UK. Factor analysis of the BCL yielded seven factors. The two main factors ‘predominantly conduct’ and ‘predominantly emotional’ consisted of a mixture of conduct (difficulty in managing, temper tantrums, sibling rivalry) and emotional (unhappy mood, worry, fears) problems. The other five factors were related to developmental problems. Conclusions: These results help clinicians identify the emerging pattern of preschool behaviour problems that change with increasing age and vary with differing cultures. Categorical presentation of preschool behaviour problems support the view that they should be included in a classification system.
Bacterial colonization of indwelling vascular catheters in newborn infants
Authors: NARENDRAN V , GUPTA G , TODD DA , JOHN E 
Published: March 2008

Objective: To determine the incidence of bacterial colonization of intravascular catheters, to compare the incidence of colonization of intra‐arterial (IA), intravenous (IV) and central venous catheters (CVC), and to determine the association, if any, between catheter withdrawal and bacterial sepsis. Methodology: A prospective observational study was carried out at the neonatal intensive care unit of a university‐affiliated regional referral centre. A total of 155 catheters (45 IA, 54 IV and 56 CVC) were obtained from 96 infants admitted to the unit and the distal 0.75 cm studied under the scanning electron microscope. The adjoining 0.75 cm was cultured for bacteria. Results: Scanning electron microscopy revealed that 46% of catheters had bacteria on the internal surface and 13% had bacteria on the outer surface. Greater numbers of CVC were colonized with bacteria compared to IA and IV catheters (P < 0.01). Bacterial colonization of intravascular catheters was not significantly associated with the duration the catheter remained in situ or local reaction at the site of entry of the catheter. Colonization of the external surface of the catheter was significantly associated with bacterial septicaemia (P= 0.0466). Eighty‐three per cent of 155 catheters studied had coagulum on the inner or outer surface. Only 53% of these were colonized with bacteria. Bacterial colonization occurred in the absence of a coagulum in only three instances. Catheter withdrawal was not associated with bacterial sepsis. Lack of coagulum on the internal surface of the catheter was strongly associated with septicaemia during the 7 days after catheter withdrawal. Conclusions: Although significant numbers of intravascular catheters were colonized with bacteria, only colonization with the external surface was associated with catheter‐related sepsis.
Genotype of the cystic fibrosis population of the Hunter Region of New South Wales
Authors: HENRY RL , HETTIARACHCHI LC , COLLEY P , COLLLINS C , O'LOUGHLIN EV , COOPER DM 
Published: March 2008

Objective: To determine the genotype of patients attending the cystic fibrosis clinic at John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, Australia. Methodology: Seventy‐five of the 76 patients attending the clinic over a 6 month period had blood collected for genetic analysis of 17 of the cystic fibrosis (CF) gene mutations. Results: Sixty‐one per cent of the patients were homozygous for the ΔF508 mutation and all except one child had at least one ΔF508 mutation. Discussion: Nearly 80% of the CF genes were the ΔF508 mutation. This prevalence suggests that the obligatory false negative rate of a newborn screening programme for CF based on a combination of immunoreactive trypsin and the ΔF508 gene may be as low as 4‐5%.
Serum lipid profiles in Malay mothers and neonates: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: CHOO KE , DAVIS TME , MANSUR MA , AZMAN E , ACHANA S 
Published: March 2008

Objective: Preliminary epidemiological data suggest that dyslipidaemia contributes significantly to rising mortality due to atherosclerosis in Peninsular Malays. The aim of this study was to determine whether abnormal serum lipid profiles are present at birth in this population. Methodology: The patents were 487 non‐diabetic Malay women who had an uncomplicated antenatal course and delivered healthy singleton babies at term. Cord blood and maternal post‐partum venous blood samples were taken for assay of serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations using standard enzymatic methods. Results: Maternal total serum cholesterol concentrations (mean±SD; 7.5±2.5 mmol/L) were higher than in other reported series (range of published means 5.2‐6.5 mmol/L) with a correspondingly low high‐density lipoprotein (HDL):total cholesterol ratio. The mean cord blood total serum cholesterol (1.7±1.0 mmol/L) was consistent with previously reported population means (1.5‐1.9 mmol/L) but there was a relatively high low‐density lipoprotein (LDL)‐cholesterol and depressed HDL: cholesterol ratio. Significant correlations between maternal and neonatal serum total (P= 0.038) and especially HDL‐cholesterol (P <0.001) were observed. Maternal and cord blood serum triglyceride levels were comparable to those in other series. Conclusions: These cross‐sectional data provide evidence that abnormal serum cholesterol profiles are found in pregnant Malay women and their neonates which may have implications for the prevalence of macrovascular disease in the Malay population.
New South Wales population‐based birthweight percentile charts
Authors: BEEBY PJ , BHUTAP T , TAYLOR LK 
Published: March 2008

Objective: To derive newborn percentile charts using NSW population and hospital‐based data. Methodology: Birthweight data for liveborn singleton infants were obtained from the New South Wales Midwives Data Collection (MDC) from 1990 to 1994 inclusive (n= 422139). Data were also collected from King George V Hospital (KGV) for liveborn singleton infants less than 35 weeks of gestation for 1982‐89 inclusive, and for all gestations for 1990‐95 inclusive (n= 30 610). Birthweight percentiles were derived using the MDC data separately for mates and females. Head circumference (n= 29 090) and birth length percentiles (n= 26 973) were derived from the KGV data. Results: The charts derived from MDC data had generally higher percentiles than previously published charts. These represent the largest Australian population‐based study published to date. Conclusions: Periodic review of newborn growth charts is recommended because of changing ethnic and socio‐economic factors.