New Zealand Emergency Medicine Network: A collaboration for acute care research in New Zealand

The specialty of emergency medicine in Australasia is coming of age. As part of this maturation there is a need for high‐quality evidence to inform practice. This article describes the development of the New Zealand Emergency Medicine Network, a collaboration of committed emergency care researchers who share the vision that New Zealand/Aotearoa will have a world‐leading, patient‐centred emergency care research network, which will improve emergency care for all, so that people coming to any ED in the country will have access to the same world‐class emergency care.     

Evidence of sustained skeletal benefits from impact-loading exercise in young females: a 3-year longitudinal study.

The skeletal effects from intensive exercise throughout puberty are undefined. Forty-five female gymnasts and 52 controls were studied over 3 years, including a heredity aspect. The effects of size, maturity, exercise, and diet were identified using a multilevel regression model. Results demonstrated sustained skeletal benefits resulting from exercise throughout all stages of pubertal development. INTRODUCTION: Weight-bearing exercise is beneficial for peak bone mass development. However, whether skeletal benefits achieved with exercise are maintained if training remains intensive throughout the pubertal years is not entirely clear. The influence of familial resemblance for bone mass remains undefined in physically active versus inactive children. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term influences of impact-loading exercise on bone quantity and quality in young females after controlling for growth, maturation, and hereditary factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: At baseline, 45 gymnasts (G) and 52 normally active controls (C) 8-17 years of age were recruited. Anthropometry, diet, physical activity, and quantitative ultrasound (QUS) were measured annually for 3 consecutive years. DXA scans of total body (TB) and lumbar spine (LS) bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) were taken three times at 1-year intervals. A multilevel regression model was fitted, and the independent effects of body size, maturity, physical activity, and diet were identified over time. To assess heredity influences, 27 G mothers and 26 C mothers volunteered for cross-sectional measurements of anthropometry, QUS, and BMC/BMD. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Gymnasts were smaller and lighter (as were their mothers) than controls, but they had significantly higher QUS and axial and appendicular BMC and BMD, with > 170 g more bone mineral in TB across puberty (after adjustment for maturity [years from peak height velocity], height, weight, energy, and protein intake). Gymnasts had up to 24-51% higher BMC and 13-28% higher BMD, depending on skeletal site. These results provide evidence of sustained skeletal benefits from impact-loading exercise, which are unlikely to result entirely from heredity, throughout pubertal years.     

中共中央政治局召开会议讨论人口和计划生育工作

据新华社电讯：中共中央政治局2006年11月30日召开会议，分析当前经济形势、研究明年经济工作，讨论人口和计划生育工作。中共中央总书记胡锦涛主持会议。     

头颈部恶性肿瘤诊断治疗指南

恶性肿瘤是威胁人类生存的第一杀手,就头颈肿瘤来说虽然发病率在我国并不高,但由于我国人口众多,发病率的绝对数字也是不可忽视的。当今提倡晚期头颈肿瘤的综合序列治疗,患者的生存率及生存质量已有很大的提高,由于我国的地域差异和医学发展水平的不平衡,对于头颈肿瘤的治疗难以形成统一的治疗标准,目前国内也缺少头颈肿瘤的诊断治疗指南,客观存在着肿瘤的诊断治疗欠规范,延误诊治、过度治疗、治疗不够等现状,这不仅导致医疗资源的浪费和国家及个人的经济负担加重,而且由此导致的医患纠纷时有发生。鉴于此,本期刊出由上海交通大学医学院附属第九人民医院·口腔医学院郭伟等医师编译的2005年美国国立癌症综合信息网(National Comprehensive Cancer Network,NCCN)公布的由NCCN头颈肿瘤专家组31位专家撰写的关于头颈部恶性肿瘤诊断治疗指南的有关内容,旨在结合我国实际情况供专业人员参考。     

Empty sella syndrome in childhood

The empty sella syndrome is common in middle-aged women, usually presenting with headache, and only occasionally associated with endocrine or visual abnormalities. It is rare in childhood. Childhood cases tend to present either with endocrine disturbances, visual symptoms, or with craniofacial syndromes. We present three cases of complete empty sella with childhood onset, each discovered unexpectedly during evaluation of endocrine or visual dysfunction.     

Peanut-induced anaphylaxis in children and adolescents: Data from the European Anaphylaxis Registry

Background

Peanut allergy has a rising prevalence in high-income countries, affecting 0.5%–1.4% of children. This study aimed to better understand peanut anaphylaxis in comparison to anaphylaxis to other food triggers in European children and adolescents.

Methods

Data was sourced from the European Anaphylaxis Registry via an online questionnaire, after in-depth review of food-induced anaphylaxis cases in a tertiary paediatric allergy centre.

Results

3514 cases of food anaphylaxis were reported between July 2007 - March 2018, 56% in patients younger than 18 years. Peanut anaphylaxis was recorded in 459 children and adolescents (85% of all peanut anaphylaxis cases). Previous reactions (42% vs. 38%; p = .001), asthma comorbidity (47% vs. 35%; p < .001), relevant cofactors (29% vs. 22%; p = .004) and biphasic reactions (10% vs. 4%; p = .001) were more commonly reported in peanut anaphylaxis. Most cases were labelled as severe anaphylaxis (Ring&Messmer grade III 65% vs. 56% and grade IV 1.1% vs. 0.9%; p = .001). Self-administration of intramuscular adrenaline was low (17% vs. 15%), professional adrenaline administration was higher in non-peanut food anaphylaxis (34% vs. 26%; p = .003). Hospitalization was higher for peanut anaphylaxis (67% vs. 54%; p = .004).

Conclusions

The European Anaphylaxis Registry data confirmed peanut as one of the major causes of severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reactions in European children, with some characteristic features e.g., presence of asthma comorbidity and increased rate of biphasic reactions. Usage of intramuscular adrenaline as first-line treatment is low and needs to be improved. The Registry, designed as the largest database on anaphylaxis, allows continuous assessment of this condition.