Drug Education: Supporting Parents to Support Children

Such research evidence as exists on effective drug strategies in prevention and education draws attention to the importance of involving parents along with other community agencies and school governors. Much depends nevertheless on the way in which 'involvement' is interpreted and the assumptions that are made about parents' knowledge of drugs and drug education as well as their attitudes to drug issues. As the age of initial experimentation and contact with drugs continues to fall, the importance of enskilling parents to support drug education programmes for 5 year olds and upwards continues to rise. This paper reports the first wide ranging survey of parents' knowledge of drugs and drug issues across an entire English county embracing younger as well as older children. The need for more coordinated, informed and systematic guidance to parents is established.     

Haemoptysis in healthy children due to unsuspected foreign body

Abstract: Haemoptysis in otherwise healthy children is an uncommon event. Two cases of massive haemoptysis, subsequently requiring lobectomy, are discussed. In each case, foreign vegetable matter was identified despite previously normal bronchoscopy and minimal changes on chest radiograph.     

A review of the epidemiology, pathogenesis and management of tetanus

Tetanus remains an important disease worldwide. In the United Kingdom, the elderly and intravenous drug users are at particular risk of acquiring clinical tetanus. Tetanus is associated with a high morbidity and mortality. Once the diagnosis of tetanus is suspected, intensive management is necessary. In this article we review the history, epidemiology, microbiology, clinical features, mode of transmission, pathogenesis, differential diagnosis, management, complications and prevention of this life threatening disease.     

Urinary morbidity after 125I brachytherapy of the prostate

OBJECTIVE: To assess urinary morbidity within the first 6 months after transperineal prostate brachytherapy (TPBT) with 125I for localized prostate adenocarcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between September 2000 and July 2001, 50 consecutive patients with favourable early-stage prostate cancer were treated with TPBT. Clinical and objective investigations, including uroflowmetry and postvoid residual urine measurements, were evaluated for short-term urinary morbidity; predictive factors were also sought. RESULTS: Thirty-eight (76%) patients developed urinary disorders, but severe urinary complications were exceptional. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) changed significantly during the first and third month after implantation and then improved during the sixth month. Concomitantly, the maximum and the average urinary flow rate deteriorated significantly. The variations in postvoid residual were less significant. An initial IPSS of > 8 and previous alpha-blocker treatment were identified as significant predictive factors of urinary morbidity, as were the TPBT dose received by 90% of the target volume and by 30% of the urethra, and the volume of prostate receiving 144 Gy. CONCLUSION: Urinary morbidity after TPBT is frequent but rarely exceptionally severe; patients must therefore be given full information. Patients with a higher initial IPSS or having had previous alpha-blocker treatment, with their associated dosimetric factors, are at greater risk of these urinary morbidity.     

Intestinal pseudo-obstruction as an initial presentation of systemic sclerosis in two children

Two children are reported in whom intestinal pseudo-obstruction was the initial manifestation of systemic sclerosis. Gastrointestinal symptoms and skin changes resolved or improved in both children following treatment with prednisone and penicillamine (case 1) or methotrexate (case 2), although radiological changes of the gastrointestinal tract persisted at 3 and 2 yr of follow-up, respectively.      

Investigation of the structural,optical and gas sensing properties of PANI coated Cu–ZnS microsphere composite

Polyaniline (PANI)/Cu–ZnS composites with porous microspheres are prepared by a hydrothermal and in situ polymerization method. The structural, optical, and morphological properties are characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, FTIR, UV-vis, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope. The XRD results confirmed that the PANI/Cu–ZnS composite is formed. The morphological analyses exhibited that the PANI/Cu–ZnS composite comprises the porous microspherical structures. The emission peaks obtained in photoluminescence spectra confirm the presence of surface defects in the prepared composite. The UV-DRS study shows that the bandgap of the samples is found to decrease for the PANI/Cu–ZnS composite compared to the pure Cu–ZnS sample. The calculated band gap (E_g) value of PANI/Cu–ZnS composite is 2.47 eV. Furthermore, the fabricated gas sensor based on PANI/Cu–ZnS can perform at room temperature and exhibits good gas sensing performance toward CO₂ gas. In particular, PANI/Cu–ZnS sensor shows good response (31 s) and recovery time (23 s) upon exposure to CO₂ gas. The p/n heterojunction, surface defects, and porous nature of the PANI/Cu–ZnS composite microsphere enhanced sensor performance.

Polyaniline (PANI)/Cu–ZnS composites with porous microspheres are prepared by a hydrothermal and in situ polymerization method.     

Nocturnal Medications Dosing: Does It Really Make a Difference in Blood Pressure Control Among Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease?

Ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring is superior to clinic BP monitoring in predicting long-term consequences of hypertension. This has raised interest in diurnal variation in BP and elevation in nighttime BP as a prognostic and therapeutic target. Several studies have identified prevalence of nocturnal hypertension in patients with accelerated progression of chronic kidney disease and target organ damage. Some studies suggest that nocturnal BP can be lowered by changing administration of antihypertensive medication to bed time; whether that results in retarding kidney disease progression is not very clear. Further research is needed to determine if certain classes of medications or interventions are superior in controlling nocturnal hypertension, and protocols need to be developed to screen patients for monitoring nocturnal BP. Further studies are needed to evaluate long-term renal outcomes of evening dosing in patients with nocturnal hypertension and chronic kidney disease.