q Father's age
is a risk factor for schizo-phrenia, according to a study from New
York, which evaluated the incidence of schizophrenia in 88,000
children. The study found that the risk was 2.5 per 1,000 children for
fathers less than 25 years. It rose to 4.4 per 1,000 children for
fathers aged 35 to 40, and to 11.4 per 1,000 for children born to men
older than 50 years. The older paternal age may lead to mutations,
which could be cause of schizophrenia, the researchers concluded.
(Arch Gen Psychiatr; April 2001)
q
Lactobacillus, a probiotic can reduce the incidence of
hospital-acquired diarrhea, a study from Poland has reiterated. Eighty
one children under 3 years of age admitted for various illnesses were
divided into two groups, with half the number receiving Lactobacillus
GG formula and the other half serving as controls. Eighty per cent
reduction in the incidence of diarrhea was documented in the study
group (7% versus 33%). The researchers explained that synthesis of
anti microbial compounds could explain its effect, while suggesting
lactobacillus supple-ments in a high risk setting (J Pediatr
2001;138:361).
q Interleukin
levels have been found to be high in acute asthma, according to a
study from Taiwan. In this study, the researchers estimated the serum
soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2r) and IL-4 levels in 20 cases of
acute asthma and an equal number of controls. The samples were taken
during the acute episode and after a 7-day course of prednisolone. The
study found that serum sIL-2r levels were significantly higher during
acute asthma and these levels decreased after a 7-day course of
steroids. The researchers recommend that serum sIL-2r can be used as a
marker of treatment response in acute asthma (Ann Allergy Asthma
Immunol 2001; 86: 314).
q Autism and
mental retardation can be predicted at birth, according to a study
from National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke,
Bethesda, Maryland. The study analyzed stored blood samples of
neonates who were normal, developed autism, mental retardation or
cerebral palsy. The study found that the concentrations of vasoactive
intestinal peptide, calcitonin gene-related peptide, brain-derived
neurotrophic factor, and neurotrophin 4/5 were higher in patients with
autism and mental retardation as compared to infants who went on to
develop normally. The increase in neurotropic factors seen in autism
and mental retardation may lead to disruption of the normal
differentiation process of the neurons, leading to abnormalities, the
researchers explained (Ann Neurol; May 2001)
q Recombinant
human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) has been found
to be effective in correcting neutropenia and improving the outcome in
sepsis in very low birth weight neonates. Thirteen neonates with
neutropenia and clinical evidence of sepsis were given rhG-CSF in
doses of 10 µg/kg/day for 14 days. Fifteen neonates served as
controls. The study reported a decrease in mortality, increase in
neutrophil count and decrease in duration of ventilation among
neonates given rhG-CSF. As this study was on a small sample, the
researchers recommend larger studies on this subject. (Arch Dis Child
Fetal Neonatal Ed 2001; 84: F172)
q
Erythromycin, a macrolide has been found effective as a prokinetic in
preterm neonates.In this study on 56 preterm neonates, 27 were given
oral erythromycin (12.5 mg/kg), every six hours for 14 days. The rest
served as controls. Neonates on erythromycin were able to tolerate
oral feeds earlier than the controls. Though it can help in management
of gastrointestinal dysmotility in preterms, the researchers do not
recommend prophylactic use of erythromycin as its safety in preterms
is yet to be confirmed (Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2001;84:F177)
q A new Vi
conjugate typhoid vaccine has produced good results in children less
than 5 years of age. In this study from Vietnam, over 11000 children
received either new vaccine, a Vi conjugate, bound to nontoxic
recombinant Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A (rEPA) or a placebo.
Four of the 5525 children in the study group and 47 of the 5566
children in the placebo group developed typhoid fever. The Vi-rEPA
conjugate typhoid vaccine was safe and had an efficacy of more than
90% in children between two to five years of age. A related editorial
has described it a major advance in the fight against enteric fever (NEJM
2001; 344:1263, 1322)
q Children
with depression have been found to have high BMI as adults, according
to a study from New York. In this report, 90 children aged between
6-17 years and an equal number of controls were followed up for 15
years. The study reported that children with depression had a
significantly higher BMI 15 years later as compared to controls. The
study also reported a positive correlation between the duration of
depression and BMI. Stress could be the linking factor, the
researchers suggest (Pediatrics 2001;107:1049)
q Piracetam
does not produce beneficial effects in Downs' syndrome. Twenty-five
children with Downs' syndrome were given either piracetam in doses of
80-10mg/kg/day or a placebo for 4 months. There was no significant
difference in the cognitive function between the two groups. The study
concluded that piracetam does not produce beneficial effects, and is
also associated with adverse effects like CNS stimulation (Arch
Pediatr Adolesc Med 2001;155:442).
q
Sensitization to silk has been identified as a risk factor for
childhood asthma in China. Eight hundred and seventy one children
hailing from a rural province of China, where silk farming is a major
occupation, were included in this study. Skin test for 10 allergens
including silk was conducted. The study found that sensitization to
silk was associated with a more than two-fold risk of developing
asthma. The researchers con-cluded that silk could be an important
factor in influencing pathogenesis and severity of asthma, especially
in silk rearing countries like China, India and Japan (Pediatrics
2001; 107: e80).
C. Vidyashankar, Pediatrician,
Military Hospital, Namkum,
Ranchi - 834010, Jharkhand, India.
E-mail: [email protected].
