ABSTRACT
Transient lactose intolerance has been identified as a possible causative factor in infant colic. A double-blind randomised placebo-controlled crossover study to investigate this has been undertaken in 53 babies with symptoms of colic. Pre-incubation of the feed with lactase resulted in breath hydrogen levels and total crying time which were both at least 45% lower than figures with placebo treatment, in 26% of the full trial group (95% confidence interval 12.9% to 44.4%), and in 38% of compliers (95% confidence interval 18.8% to 59.4%). The remainder did not respond to the same extent. These findings suggest that infant colic may have a multiple aetiology, and that in a significant number of cases the immediate cause is transient lactose intolerance, in which cases pretreatment of feeds with lactase can result in considerable symptomatic benefits.
Subject(s)
Colic/etiology , Lactose Intolerance/complications , Lactose/metabolism , beta-Galactosidase/administration & dosage , Breath Tests , Cross-Over Studies , Crying , Double-Blind Method , Humans , Hydrogen/analysis , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Lactase , Time Factors , beta-Galactosidase/metabolismSubject(s)
Abdominal Injuries/complications , Hematoma/complications , Menstruation , Splenic Rupture/complications , Child , Diagnosis, Differential , Diseases in Twins , Female , Hematoma/diagnosis , Hematoma/etiology , Humans , Splenic Rupture/diagnosis , Splenic Rupture/etiology , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
A questionnaire study was carried out in a group of survivors of childhood cancer to assess their quality of life. The questionnaire was sent to 30 survivors who had completed treatment with megatherapy followed by autologous bone marrow rescue at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London. Of the 28 respondents (93%), in 27 (96%) the quality of life was judged to be good, with 11 of these 27 (40%) having no disability whatsoever and a further 9 (33%) reporting only minimal disability. The other 7 patients had moderate to severe disabilities, with pain and depression remaining ongoing problems, and some adolescents felt that they were unable to cope with everyday life alongside their peers. Nine parents and 14 of the children themselves expressed anxiety about the previous illness. The study shows that, by using a postal method, a satisfactory assessment of quality of life in survivors of childhood cancer can be made.
Subject(s)
Bone Marrow Transplantation , Neoplasms/psychology , Neoplasms/therapy , Quality of Life , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Humans , Survivors , Transplantation, AutologousABSTRACT
We report a sibship in which the syndrome of congenital arthrogryposis occurred in two male and two female neonates, three of whom died. The mother was asymptomatic at the time of the first pregnancy and the subsequent development of muscle weakness was later confirmed to be due to myasthenia gravis. The literature on this association is briefly reviewed and the extremely high risk of recurrence of this complication in subsequent pregnancies is addressed.
Subject(s)
Arthrogryposis/genetics , Myasthenia Gravis/diagnosis , Pregnancy Complications/diagnosis , Adult , Arthrogryposis/pathology , Elbow/pathology , Family , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Knee/pathology , Male , Neuromuscular Junction/pathology , Pregnancy , Recurrence , Sex DistributionABSTRACT
The triad of diabetes insipidus (DI), monosomy 7, and acute myeloid leukemia in a 7-year-old boy is described. This triad has been described in adults but not in children. The DI ran a transient, self-limiting course and required no specific therapy. The pathogenesis of DI remains unknown, and its transient nature may result in this component of the triad going unnoticed.
