Zinc as an adjunct to the treatment of severe pneumonia in Ecuadorian children: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Studies of zinc as an adjunct to treatment of severe pneumonia in children have shown mixed results, possibly because of poor information on zinc status and respiratory pathogens. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the effect of zinc given with standard antimicrobial treatment on the duration of respiratory signs in children with severe pneumonia. Zinc status and pathogens were assessed. DESIGN: Children aged 2-59 mo with severe pneumonia who were admitted to the main children's hospital in Quito, Ecuador, were given standard antibiotics and randomly allocated to receive zinc supplements twice daily or a placebo. Measurements included anthropometric variables, breastfeeding, hemoglobin, plasma zinc, and common bacteria/viral respiratory pathogens. The primary outcome was time to resolution of respiratory signs. The secondary outcome was treatment failure. RESULTS: We enrolled 225 children in each group. There was no difference between groups in time to resolution of respiratory signs or treatment failure; pathogens were not associated with outcomes. Tachypnea and hypoxemia resolved faster in older children (P = 0.0001) than in younger ones. Higher basal zinc concentration (P = 0.011) and better height-for-age z score (HAZ) (P = 0.044) were associated with faster resolution of chest indrawing. Better weight-for-height z score (WHZ) (P = 0.031) and HAZ (P = 0.048) were associated with faster resolution of tachypnea. Increased C-reactive protein was associated with a longer duration of tachypnea (P = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: Zinc did not affect time to pneumonia resolution or treatment failure, nor did type of respiratory pathogens affect outcomes. Higher basal zinc and better HAZ and WHZ were associated with reduced time to resolution of respiratory signs. These results suggest the need for prevention of chronic zinc deficiency and improvement of general nutritional status among Ecuadorian children.

[Variations of vital signs and peripheral oxygen saturation in critically ill preterm newborn, after sponge bathing]. / Variaciones de los signos vitales y saturación periférica de oxígeno en el recién nacido de pretérmino críticamente enfermo después del baño de esponja.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the variability of the vital signs (temperature, heart rate and respiratory frequency), skin coloration and peripheral oxygen saturation in critically ill preterm newborns (CI PTNB) before, during and after sponge bathing as well as to determine the possible presence of secondary complications of this procedure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a quasi-experimental study (experimental, prospective, comparative and clinical study with intervention) May to December 2008, in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. We included CI PTNB of 0 to 28 days of extrauterine life who have practiced in the routine sponge bathing. Area of significance was considered when p < 0.05. RESULTS: During or after the events in any of the patients presented any complications after 12 h of monitoring, but it was necessary to increase the inspired fraction of oxygen and temperature in the incubator or radiant heat cradle temporarily. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the sponge bath is not safe for a CI PTNB and this should be performed in the shortest time possible, and the medical must be very alert to the possibility that patients require more support than they had prior to sponge bathing, mainly in the temperature of the incubator or radiant heat cradle and inspired fraction of oxygen for the required time according to the evolution of these variables.

Dose-modifying factor for captopril for mitigation of radiation injury to normal lung.

Our goal is to develop countermeasures for pulmonary injury following unpredictable events such as radiological terrorism or nuclear accidents. We have previously demonstrated that captopril, an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, is more effective than losartan, an angiotensin type-1 receptor blocker, in mitigating radiation-pneumopathy in a relevant rodent model. In the current study we determined the dose modifying factors (DMFs) of captopril for mitigation of parameters of radiation pneumonitis. We used a whole animal model, irradiating 9-10-week-old female rats derived from a Wistar strain (WAG/RijCmcr) with a single dose of irradiation to the thorax of 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15 Gy. Our study develops methodology to measure DMFs for morbidity (survival) as well as physiological endpoints such as lung function, taking into account attrition due to lethal radiation-induced pneumonitis. Captopril delivered in drinking water (140-180 mg/m(2)/day, comparable with that given clinically) and started one week after irradiation has a DMF of 1.07-1.17 for morbidity up to 80 days (survival) and 1.21-1.35 for tachypnea at 42 days (at the peak of pneumonitis) after a single dose of ionizing radiation (X-rays). These encouraging results advance our goals, since DMF measurements are essential for drug labeling and comparison with other mitigators.