A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effect of neonatal vitamin A supplementation on infant mortality, morbidity and early adverse effect was conducted. It included 6 trials from developing countries. There was no convincing evidence of a reduced risk of mortality during infancy or of an increase in early adverse effects including bulging fontanelle. Limited data did not indicate a reduced risk of mortality during the neonatal period, cause specific mortality, common morbidities (diarrhea and others), and admission to hospital. There was, however, evidence of an increased risk of acute respiratory infection and a reduced risk of clinic visits.

Iron plays an important role in the synthesis of neurotransmitters and myelination of nerves. Visual evoked potentials (VEP) were assessed in iron replete and iron deplete children (n=25 in each group; age 6-24 mo). In both eyes each of the three waves (N1, P1 and N2) of the flash VEP showed longer latencies (P<0.05) in the anemic group compared to control; there was a negative correlation between the severity of iron deficiency and latencies of waves of VEP.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial comparing a 7-day, triple eradication regimen consisting of 2 antibiotics (amoxicillin 25 mg/kg bid, and clarithromycin 10 mg/kg bid) plus a proton pump inhibitor (omeprazole 0.5 mg/kg bid), supplemented with Lactobacillus GG (LGG) or placebo in 83 children with H. pylori infection, confirmed by 2 of 3 tests (13C-urea breath test, histopathology, rapid urease test). Of the 34 children in the LGG group, 23 (69%) experienced eradication, compared with 22 of 32 children (68%) in the placebo group.

Measuring kidney function in children can be expensive, time-consuming, and tedious. Researchers at Department of Pediatric Nephrology, University of Rochester worked to find out a better formula to calculate GFR in children suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). The study included 349 patients from more than 50 institutions across North America and was based on data collected by the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) Study. The new glomerular filtration rate (GFR) formula is based on height and gender, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and cystatin C. In addition, the study developed a quick bedside calculation that offers a good approximation of the GFR formula from the child’s height in centimetres, serum creatinine level, and a constant that relates this estimate to the measured level of GFR [GFR=0.413*(height/serum creatinine)].