Global Update

Indian Pediatrics 2001; 38: 211-212

News in Brief

State of the World’s Children: The top 5 causes of death under 5 years in 1998 were perinatal conditions (20%), respiratory infections (18%), diarrheal diseases (17%), diseases that are preventable through vaccines (15%), and malaria (7%) as reported in UNICEF’s "State of the World’s Children". UNICEF has also urged Governments and NGO’s to fund early childhood care completely. The arguments put forward to this end are that besides the fact that it is a human rights issue, early childhood care is based on sound scientific principles, and it has been proven to be economically an extremely sound investment. For every dollar invested in early childhood care, $7 is saved on a long-term basis (eBMJ 16 Dec. 2000).

Gut sensors: Scientists in different parts of the world are trying to develop a simple, unobtrusive way of visualizing the gut. The ultimate solution is a tiny robot, which can navigate the gut taking photographs, making rapid chemical analysis of gut secretions and perhaps even taking biopsies from appropriate areas. Short of that, what is in the pipeline is the capsule endoscope, a pill sized contraption which when swallowed traverses the gut with an inbuilt camera, lights and computer chip. Currently most of the capsule endoscopes depend for their navigation on gut peristalsis but improved mechanized methods are under trial (The Lancet Interactive 16 Dec. 2000).

Farm or factory: Scientists in the Roslin University, which is famous as the birthplace of Dolly the first cloned sheep, are all set to make fresh waves with transgenic chickens. They want to clone genetically altered chicken to produce eggs that will contain specific proteins required for cancer therapy. While transgenic chickens already exist, only some of the offspring have the protein in their eggs. Cloning identical chickens will ensure that all chickens will produce the protein in their eggs. These biological factories will be the new revolution for the pharmaceutical industry. Chickens are especially attractive as potential sources of protein because of their enormous egg laying capacity (eBMJ 16 Dec. 2000).

Widening the ozone hole: Inhalers currently used by asthmatics in India contain chloro-flurocarbons (CFC’s), which are known to deplete the ozone layer. Its use in other utilities is banned worldwide and CFC’s in inhalers are to be phased out in the developed countries by 2005. Alternatives are being planned out in the USA and Europe but a crisis situation may just occur in developing countries which mass produce these like India unless urgent measures are taken (The Lancet Interactive 23 Dec 2000).

Gouri Rao Passi,
Consultant,
Choithram Hospital and Research Center,
Indore 452 001, India.
E-mail: [email protected]

Injection safety - http://www.injectionsafety.org.This is the Internet site of the Safe Injection global Network, a section of the Department of Blood Safety and Clinical Technology, World Health Organization. The SIGN aims at improving public health through safe and appropriate injection practice. This website provides information regarding safe injection practices, a gallery of photos of unsafe practices, and links and resources on injection safety.

Child health record - http://hna.ffh.vic.gov. au/phd/9710045/index.htm. Information about developmental milestones at various ages, common health problems, child care, immunization, growth monitoring and injury prevention are provided in this website. This site is maintained by the Public Health Division, Department of Human Services, Victoria, Australia. It has separate sections for consultants and parents.

Lancet Oncology - http://oncology.thelancet.com. The Lancet Oncology is a new monthly journal from the Lancet publishing group. The electronic version of Lancet Oncology has been launched simultaneously with the print version. The electronic version has been designed with features similar to the Lancet online. Free access to the full-text is available for a limited period. Those registered with the Lancet can access this journal with the same password.

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry -www.aapd.org/memberinfo/RefManTOC2.html. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry reference manual has a collection of documents, provided by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, on oral health policies, treatment guidelines, quality assurance criteria and dental health objectives for children are included, along with information about the Academy itself. Some of the documents are in pdf format, and require the Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Pathology Case Studies Program - http://pathcuric1.swmed.edu/PathDemo/MainTofC.htm. This site, published on the web by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, offers medical students self-paced, self-study cases, including images on human organs and systems, based on the text Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease by R.S. Cotran, V. Kumar and S.L. Robbins, 5th edition, 1994. According to the webmasters, the case studies aim to highlight mechanisms and manifesta-tions of common and important human diseases.

Interactive grand rounds in Pediatrics - http://igr.medsite.com/ped/. Hosted by med site, a prominent health care website, this features monthly case studies that focus on contemporary issues in pediatrics authored by leading authorities in pediatrics. Each case history is followed by a question-answer session, with the readers’ responses being evaluated online. Participation in the grand rounds and getting CME credits is free.

C. Vidyashankar,
Pediatrician, Military Hospital,
Namkum, Ranchi,
Jharkhand 834 010, India.
E-mail: [email protected]