Influence on fetal growth of exposure to tobacco smoke during pregnancy

We analysed the effect of exposure to tobacco smoke during pregnancy on fetal growth parameters in 129 term newborns. Children were classified into four depending on exposure on the basis of a questionnaire completed by the mother. The results confirmed that tobacco smoking reduced weight, length, cranial and thoracic perimeters at birth when exposure was due to either active or passive smoking. Weight deficits of infants whose mothers smoked heavily (458 g) were higher than those whose mothers were exposed to passive smoking (192 g). We conclude that passive smoking is a very important variable and should be taken into account in any study of neonatal growth parameters.     

Peripheral multineuritis pointing at systemic sarcoidosis

We report a patient with a peripheral neuropathy as the first symptom of sarcoidosis. The systemic illness was proved by the presence of typic granulomes in the bone marrow. The fact that sarcoidosis is the cause for the neuropathy is supported by the temporary relation and by the good response of all clinical picture to the corticosteroid therapy.Sarcoid neuropathy can rarely be the presenting feature of sarcoidosis.     

Does the evidence about health risks associated with nitrate ingestion warrant an increase of the nitrate standard for drinking water?

Several authors have suggested that it is safe to raise the health standard for nitrate in drinking water, and save money on measures associated with nitrate pollution of drinking water resources. The major argument has been that the epidemiologic evidence for acute and chronic health effects related to drinking water nitrate at concentrations near the health standard is inconclusive. With respect to the chronic effects, the argument was motivated by the absence of evidence for adverse health effects related to ingestion of nitrate from dietary sources. An interdisciplinary discussion of these arguments led to three important observations. First, there have been only a few well-designed epidemiologic studies that evaluated ingestion of nitrate in drinking water and risk of specific cancers or adverse reproductive outcomes among potentially susceptible subgroups likely to have elevated endogenous nitrosation. Positive associations have been observed for some but not all health outcomes evaluated. Second, the epidemiologic studies of cancer do not support an association between ingestion of dietary nitrate (vegetables) and an increased risk of cancer, because intake of dietary nitrate is associated with intake of antioxidants and other beneficial phytochemicals. Third, 2–3 % of the population in Western Europe and the US could be exposed to nitrate levels in drinking water exceeding the WHO standard of 50 mg/l nitrate, particularly those living in rural areas. The health losses due to this exposure cannot be estimated. Therefore, we conclude that it is not possible to weigh the costs and benefits from changing the nitrate standard for drinking water and groundwater resources by considering the potential consequences for human health and by considering the potential savings due to reduced costs for nitrate removal and prevention of nitrate pollution.     

抗生素在流感大流行中的应用

随着禽流感病毒H5N1的不断蔓延,越来越有可能发生人类流感的大流行。如果现在发生流感的大流行,不仅还没有有效的疫苗,而且还可能造成抗病毒药物的缺乏。目前尚没有证据表明抗流感药物神经氨酸酶抑制剂(neuraminidaseinhibitor对)禽流感和流感大流行的病毒有效,给予神经氨酸酶抑制剂后,感染H5N1禽流感病毒的患者的死亡率仍然很高。而且流感病毒的耐药会进一步限制抗病毒药物的疗效。假如继发性细菌感染是流感常见且重要的致命性并发症,那么抗生素在人类流感大流行中将占有重要的一席地位。     

Motor performance and functional ability in preschool- and early school-aged children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: a cross-sectional study

Objective  

To describe the level of motor performance and functional skills in young children with JIA.     

Why did soft drink consumption decrease but screen time not? Mediating mechanisms in a school-based obesity prevention program

Objectives  

This paper aims to identify the mediating mechanisms of a school-based obesity prevention program (DOiT).     

An evaluation of alcohol attendances to an inner city emergency department before and after the introduction of the UK Licensing Act 2003

Background  

The Licensing Act 2003 (The Act) was implemented on the 24th November 2005 across England and Wales. The Act allowed more flexible and longer opening hours for licensed premises. We investigated the effect of The Act on alcohol related attendances to an inner city emergency department in Birmingham, UK.