Association between school performance, breast milk intake and fatty acid profile of serum lipids in ten-year-old cleft children

The fatty acid profiles of serum lipids were examined in 53 ten-year-old cleft children. The children presented with different cleft types (cleft lip, cleft lip and palate, isolated cleft palate and submucuous cleft palate) and were recruited from the Finnish Cleft Center. We also studied associations between serum lipid fatty acids and early breast milk intake, cognitive development in terms of preschool language learning and school achievement. The fatty acid profiles of serum lipids did not differ between boys and girls. The proportion of myristic acid in serum cholesteryl esters (CE) was higher and proportion of nervonic acid in phospholipids (PL) lower in children with isolated palatal clefts than in those with submucuous clefts. Out of the present children, 30% and 60% received breast milk less than 1 or 3 months, respectively. The proportions of docosahexaenoic acid in CE and in PL were significantly higher in the children whose breast milk intake was longer than 3 months. The number of children requiring special education was higher among those who received breast milk less than 1 month than among those with longer breast milk intake. In conclusion, the fatty acid profiles of serum lipids seem to be comparable among children with different cleft types. Short breast milk intake was associated with poorer school performance.     

The proteolytic proenzymes in the peritoneal exudate during acute experimental pancreatitis of the rat.

Precursors of proteolytic enzymes were demonstrated in the peritoneal inflammatory exudate during acute experimental pancreatitis of the rat. This was done by separating the proteinase inhibitors and proenzymes by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. After elution the proenzymes could be demonstrated by activating them with enterokinase or with trypsin. The proenzymes were eluted after the main protein bulk and proteinase inhibitors. Enzyme precursors were absent from the exudate of formalin-induced peritonitis, which suggests that the proenzymes present in the exudate of pancreatitis are of pancreatic origin. The demonstration of proenzymes in perripheral blood during pancreatitis was tested with the several modifications of the same methods, but the results were not convincing, probably owing to the insensitivity of the methods used.     

Interactive skills of infants with their high-risk mothers

In this pilot study, the interactive skills of infants with their high-risk, substance-dependent mothers were explored in residential treatment from pregnancy until the infant was 6 months of age. Fourteen mother-infant pairs were videotaped in feeding and free play situations at 6 months after birth. A comparison, low-risk group consisted of 12 ordinary Finnish mother-infant pairs with minimal clinical risks. The findings show significantly higher levels of dyadic interactive deficiencies among the high-risk mother-infant pairs compared to the low-risk pairs, displayed especially in the feeding situation as lack of mutuality and flat, empty, constricted affective tone of interaction. Also, more interactive deficiencies were found among the high-risk infants compared to the low-risk infants, but the differences were not significant. In this study, this finding might reflect the reduced amount of somatic complications and the benefits of treatment, the impacts of which were not explored. The differences between the high- and low-risk infants were displayed as more withdrawal, depressed mood and avoiding behavior and as less alertness and attentional abilities, robustness and focus on parent's emotional state among the high-risk group.     

A case study of amnion rupture sequence with acalvaria, blindness, and clefting: clinical and psychological profiles

The purpose of this article is to report the case of a 10-year-old girl born with anophthalmia, bilateral oblique facial clefts, and missing scalp and bones over the temporal and parietal areas of the cranial vault bilaterally. Early amnion rupture seems to be the most probable cause of this rare combination of anomalies. Because no similar case has been reported in the literature so far, we describe here the clinical and psychosocial history of this unusual patient, who has been able to live the intellectually and socially normal life of a blind child in spite of the major craniofacial deformities. The already completed and possible future therapeutic strategies are discussed.     

Human leukocyte antigens B8-DRB1*03 in pediatric patients with nephropathia epidemica caused by Puumala hantavirus

In adults, HLA haplotype B8-DRB1*03 is clearly associated with a severe clinical course of nephropathia epidemica caused by Puumala hantavirus. We investigated whether the same applies in pediatric patients. This HLA haplotype was found in 20 of 39 (51%) of the patients, a significantly higher figure than in the Finnish population (19%). There were, however, no significant differences in the clinical picture between patients with and without HLA B8-DRB1*03.     

Endovascular coil occlusion of 1811 intracranial aneurysms: early angiographic and clinical results

OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the early angiographic and clinical outcomes of the first session of endovascular coil occlusion of a large number of patients with intracranial aneurysms treated by five neurointerventionalists during a decade at a single center. METHODS: We performed retrospective analyses of pre- and postprocedural angiographic studies and early clinical outcomes. Enrolled patients underwent endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms with detachable coils. RESULTS: A total of 1811 aneurysms in 1579 patients were treated with coil occlusion. Of these, 90 to 100% occlusion of 86.5% of the aneurysms was achieved. In 82.3% of the procedures, no complications occurred. The clinical outcome profile at primary discharge according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale was as follows: Grade V, 74.6%; Grade IV, 6.7%; Grade III, 11.1%; Grade II, 3.1%; and Grade I, 4.5%. In patients with large aneurysms with wide necks, a lower occlusion rate and an increased complication rate were encountered. The use of three-dimensional and fibered coils resulted in higher occlusion rates. Balloon remodeling and stent deployment increased the complication rate. Previous aneurysm rupture, procedural complications, and vasospasm correlated with poor outcome. Of the patients in poor grade after aneurysm rupture, 42% recovered to Glasgow Outcome Scale Grade IV or V, as opposed to 90% of patients who were treated for unruptured aneurysms. The ischemic complication rate was 9%, and the hemorrhagic complication rate was 3%. The early procedural morbidity rate was 5.3%, and the procedural mortality rate was 1.5%. The management mortality rate was 4.4%. CONCLUSION: These data confirm the safety and efficacy of endovascular coil occlusion for patients with intracranial aneurysms.     

Micronutrients and the risk of type 1 diabetes: vitamin D, vitamin E, and nicotinamide

Evidence from animal experiments and human observational studies suggests that some dietary micronutrients may protect against the development of type 1 diabetes. The most promising data so far have been obtained for a beneficial role of vitamin D. Beneficial effects of vitamin E (or other antioxidants) in diabetes development remain hypothetical. Despite plausible theoretical background evidence from animal experiments and supportive data from pilot studies, randomized, controlled trials using nicotinamide have not provided any evidence for a beneficial effect.