Childhood through the eyes of child psychiatrists and paediatricians.

Attitudes to childhood in general and towards one's own childhood in particular are compared in a survey of 152 Australian and New Zealand child psychiatric and paediatric trainees. Results confirm the findings of Enzer et al that paediatricians view childhood more positively than do child psychiatrists. Although there is a significant difference between the two groups on measures of their perceptions of the parenting they received with child psychiatrists rating their own parents as less caring than do paediatricians, there is no relationship between attitudes to childhood and perceptions of the parenting they received. Implications of these findings are examined, both in terms of motivation for choosing one or other specialty and for the working relationship between the two professions.     

Anaphylaxis to omeprazole: diagnosis and desensitization protocol.

BACKGROUND: Omeprazole is an inhibitor of the parietal cell enzyme H+/K+ adenosine triphosphatase. Immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions, such as urticaria, angioedema, and hypotension, induced by omeprazole and other proton pump inhibitors are rare. OBJECTIVES: To confirm the immediate-type mechanism of recurrent anaphylactic reactions to the repeated administration of omeprazole using skin testing and to enable safe administration of the drug after successful oral desensitization. METHODS: Intradermal skin tests were performed with omeprazole (0.04 and 0.4 mg/mL) prepared from the oral and intravenous commercial preparations and with pantoprazole (0.02 and 0.2 mg/mL) prepared from the oral commercial preparation. Skin tests were repeated after completion of the desensitization. Oral desensitization was applied at a starting dose of 0.001 mg of omeprazole, and a full dose of 16 mg was achieved after 5.6 hours (cumulative dose of 32.6 mg). RESULTS: Intradermal skin test results were positive to omeprazole and pantoprazole at all tested concentrations. After successful desensitization, omeprazole was administered in the full dose uneventfully. The wheal size of the intradermal skin tests performed after completion of the desensitization was significantly reduced. CONCLUSION: When indicated, this newly designed desensitization protocol may be used in patients with omeprazole-induced anaphylaxis.     

Colonoscopic snare polypectomy: analysis of 1485 resections comparing two types of current.

The complications related to 1485 colonic snare polypectomies were analyzed according to the type of current which was used for resection. From January 1982 to August 1986 (period 1), blended current was used in 758 snare polypectomies, while continuous coagulation current was applied in 727 polypectomies from September 1986 to October 1989 (period 2). The incidence of complications observed in the entire series was low, consisting of 0.26% perforations and 0.9% major hemorrhages. There were no deaths in this series. Twelve of 14 hemorrhages occurred after resection of polyps larger than 1 cm. Although the incidence of complications was not statistically different in the two groups, there was a significant difference in the timing of hemorrhages. All of the major hemorrhages were immediate (eight) when the blended current was used, but delayed (six; from 2 to 8 days after polyp resection), when pure coagulation current was applied.     

Effect of otitis media on development: a community-based study.

Otitis media history until age 3 years were recorded for 233 children as part of the surveillance in a Community Program for Promotion of Growth and Development (PROD) conducted in a western neighborhood of Jerusalem. Recurrent otitis media (6 or more episodes) occurred more frequently among children who were of North African or Asian origin, of lower social class and maternal education, and whose duration of breast feeding was less than 26 weeks. Children with recurrent otitis media also failed the 7-month hearing test more frequently than other children. The mean Developmental Quotient score at 2 years and the mean Stanford Binet score at 3 years were statistically significantly lower among children with recurrent otitis media, even after controlling for maternal origin and length of breast feeding. These findings underscore the importance of early identification and early intervention for otitis media.     

Olanzapine reduces craving for alcohol: a DRD4 VNTR polymorphism by pharmacotherapy interaction.

Separate investigations have suggested that olanzapine, a D4 antagonist, decreases craving after a priming dose of alcohol and that the DRD4 variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism influences the expression of craving after a priming dose of alcohol. The present study tested the hypothesis that olanzapine may be differentially effective at reducing cue-elicited craving based on individual differences in DRD4 VNTR in a sample of heavy social drinkers. Participants were randomly assigned to receive olanzapine (5 mg) or a control medication (cyproheptadine, 4 mg) prior to consuming three alcoholic drinks. Participants completed subjective measures of craving and euphoria after each drink. Participants who were homozygous or heterozygous for the 7 (or longer) repeat allele of the DRD4 VNTR were classified as DRD4 L, while the other participants were classified as DRD4 S. The findings indicated that olanzapine reduces craving for alcohol at baseline for both DRD4 S and DRD4 L individuals, but only reduces craving after exposure to alcohol cues and after a priming dose of alcohol for DRD4 L individuals.     

A transient granulocyte killing defect secondary to a varicella infection

A varicella infection in a previously healthy young girl was complicated by bacterial sepsis, arthritis, and osteomyelitis in multiple locations. This secondary complication caused by Staphylococcus aureus was associated with a transient defect in granulocyte function and an alteration in the representation of CD4 and CD8 positive lymphocyte subpopulation. The mechanism responsible for secondary bacterial infections following varicella may be due to transient defects in granulocyte function.     

Hyperglobulinemia may spuriously elevate measured serum inorganic phosphate levels

Pseudohyperphosphatemia was noted in four patients with hyperglobulinemia when inorganic phosphate levels were measured on the Vickers M-300 discrete automated analyzer (Vickers, Raritan, NJ) used by our clinical laboratory. When the same samples were reanalyzed after protein removal by sulfosalicylic acid precipitation, ultrafiltration, or more extensive dilution, the measured serum inorganic phosphate levels were invariably normal. The addition of human globulin (but not albumin), to pooled normal sera, caused an increase in serum inorganic phosphate levels as measured by the discrete analyzer. The increase correlated with the amount of globulin added (r = 0.72, P less than 0.05), but measured levels did not reach those observed in the hyperphosphatemic, hyperglobulinemic patients. Identification of 13 additional hyperglobulinemia patients revealed that hyperglobulinemia was not invariably associated with hyperphosphatemia. These data suggest that (1) with discrete automated analyzer use, hyperglobulinemia but not hyperalbuminemia may falsely elevate serum inorganic phosphate levels; (2) increased measured serum inorganic phosphate levels appear to be determined by both the concentration and the physicochemical characteristics of the globulin; (3) physicians should avoid prescribing phosphate binders to hyperglobulinemia patients with "hyperphosphatemia" unless they have ascertained that the serum inorganic phosphate level has been measured in a specimen that is free of protein; and (4) the occurrence of "pseudohyperphosphatemia" should suggest the need for an evaluation to rule out the presence of a monoclonal gammopathy.