Sensory profile in infants and toddlers with behavioral insomnia and/or feeding disorders.

BACKGROUND: Sleep and feeding difficulties are two common disorders in early childhood. It has been shown that feeding difficulties are more common among children with sleep disorders and vice versa. Since a child's characteristics play a substantial role in these two conditions, we aimed to investigate the sensory profile of infants and toddlers with behavioral insomnia (BI) or feeding disorders (FDs) in comparison with healthy age-matched controls. METHODS: Children aged 7-36 months with BI or FD were recruited from the sleep and feeding disorders clinics. Healthy controls were recruited from well-baby clinics. Parents completed a questionnaire which included demographics and socioeconomic status, as well as a sensory profile evaluation using the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile (ITSP). RESULTS: Twenty-five children with BI, 28 with FDs and 32 controls were recruited. Oral processing scores were significantly lower in both BI and FD groups vs the controls (p = 0.015 and 0.001, respectively). Auditory processing scores were lower in the FD group vs the controls (p = 0.028). The scores of three out of the four ITSP sensory quadrants (Low Registration, Sensory Sensitivity, and Sensation Avoiding) were significantly lower in the FD group vs the controls (p = 0.027, 0.025, and 0.001, respectively), and in one quadrant (Sensation Avoiding) in the BI group vs the controls (p = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: There were considerable differences in sensory processing, as reported by parents between children with BI and those with FDs compared to healthy controls, most often in the direction of the 'hypersensitive' profile. These differences may underlie the development and partially explain the coexistence of the two disorders. Sensory profile may be a target of intervention as part of the management of sleep and feeding disorders in early childhood.

Effect of religious observance on infants' sleep position in the Jewish population.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the effect of the level of religiousness on infants' sleep position in the Jewish population. METHODS: A longitudinal telephone survey of randomly selected 608 2-month-old Jewish infants repeated at 4 and 6 months. Results were analyzed versus the four levels of Jewish religion observance. RESULTS: A significant correlation was found between the level of religious practice and sleep position (P < or = 0.002). 56.8% (50/88) of ultra-orthodox parents put their babies to sleep in the non-prone position, compared with 79% (411/520) in the other three groups (P < 0.001). Non-prone sleeping decreased when infants grew. Higher parity correlated with the level of religiousness and with prone sleeping in religious families (OR = 1.15, 95% CI 1.00-1.33, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Jews and especially the ultra-orthodox families comply significantly less with recommendations to avoid prone sleeping. Specific measures may be required in this population that rely more on personal experience and belief than on health care provider advice.

Lack of association between varicocele and angiokeratoma of the scrotum (Fordyce).

Angiokeratoma of the scrotum is thought to be associated with varicocele. Our study population consisted of young soldiers and adult reservists. The young population was screened during routine medical examination for the existence of varicocele or angiomas on the scrotum, while the adult reservists, who according to their medical records had varicocele, were randomly questioned for the existence of any kind of spots or lesions on their scrota. We found no association between varicocele and angiokeratoma of the scrotum. Since the prevalence of varicocele is high, it is possible that in the reported cases the association of varicocele and angiokeratoma of the scrotum was coincidental.

Low back pain and body mass index.

We have examined the association between body mass index and the prevalence of low back pain in about a quarter of a million male recruits aged 17-18 years at the time of their medical draft examination. Low back pain prevalence is shown to rise with increasing body mass index. This statistically significant association may suggest a role of body weight and height in the pathogenesis of low back pain and supports the previously reported need for education regarding weight reduction as a useful implement in low back pain prevention.

Combatting traffic accidents in the Israel Defence Forces: the role of the Medical Corps.

A combined plan of action of the Medical Corps in the battle against traffic accidents is described. The plan covers sound medical standards for military driver licensing, disqualification of drivers with medical problems, reporting of problematic drivers (epileptics and others) to the Israeli Ministry of Health, evaluating the driving fitness of drivers involved in traffic accidents, and finally, an education program for all Israel Defence Forces soldiers to be delivered by military physicians. Several medical aspects of traffic safety are highlighted. Scientific research and greater involvement of physicians and psychologists in this area is required if the trauma occurring daily on highways is to be eliminated and acute care hospital costs minimized.

Medical limitations of gas masks for civilian populations: the 1991 experience.

Using a gas mask (GM) may involve considerable inconvenience, impairment of respiration and communication, and serious psychological reactions. The medical literature is primarily focused on the occupational aspects of using the GM by young and healthy workers. In contrast, there is hardly any information concerning the use of GMs by large, unselected populations, including children, the elderly, and the sick. Issuing GMs to all residents of Israel prior to Operation Desert Storm created an urgent need to define the populations whose health might be jeopardized by using the standard GM. Adding an active air supply system (AASS) to a standard GM may ease the burden on this high-risk group. We evaluated the physiological aspects of breathing with a GM, with and without AASS, in respect to pathophysiology of diseases, and reached a set of criteria for identifying those who may be endangered by a GM and are expected to benefit from the AASS. The method used to sort and identify those entitled to the AASS is described.

Seasonal variation in paired maternal-newborn serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations in Israel.

Seasonal changes were observed in the vitamin D status of mothers and their newly born infants in sunny Israel. Maternal and newborn serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) were lower (less than 0.01) in March-April (n = 45 pairs), than in September-October (n = 33 pairs). Parallel seasonal changes were also found in serum 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [24, 25-(OH)2D] concentrations. In the spring, 20% of the mothers and 40% of their infants had vitamin D deficiency or borderline serum 25-OHD levels. In the autumn, in contrast, none of the mothers and only one newborn were vitamin D-deficient, and one mother and two newborns had borderline serum 25-OHD levels. The results demonstrate that even in Mediterranean climates there are seasonal changes in maternal vitamin D status, which have a significant effect on the serum levels of vitamin D metabolites in their newborn infants. This raises the question as to whether vitamin D supplements should be given to pregnant women in Israel, at least during the winter.