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___________________ NEW FEATURE ARTICLES THIS WEEK ____________________

61^ST SCIENTIFIC SESSIONS OF THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION - PEDIATRIC AND ADOLESCENT TYPE 2 DIABETES

Zachary T. Bloomgarden, MD, reports from the 61^st Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association.

Medscape, 2001. © 2001 Medscape, Inc.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40812.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072701

61^ST SCIENTIFIC SESSIONS OF THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION – DIABETES AND PREGNANCY: GLUCOSE-MEDIATED MACROSOMIA AND THE FETUS

Lois Jovanovic, MD, discusses the physiology of the diabetic pregnancy and strategies for achieving successful outcomes.

Medscape, 2001. © 2001 Medscape, Inc.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40813.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072701

___________________________________ NEWS ______________________________

ASTROVIRUSES ARE A COMMON CAUSE OF DIARRHEA IN YOUNG HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN

Astroviruses are an important cause of acute diarrhea in hospitalized children <2 years old and, after rotaviruses, these pathogens are the second most common cause of community-acquired and nosocomial infections, US researchers report in the Journal of Infectious Diseases for July 1.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40728.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072701

PATERNAL MARIJUANA USE LINKED TO SIDS

Paternal marijuana use during the time of conception and the pre- and postnatal periods is significantly associated with SIDS.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40764.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072701

RATE OF HIV INFECTION FROM HETEROSEXUAL SEX SOARING AMONG US TEEN GIRLS

Teenage girls’ rate of HIV infection from heterosexual sex rose by nearly 117% between 1994 and 1998, US researchers report.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40778.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072701

CELIAC DISEASE IN THE FATHER HAS A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON NEONATAL OUTCOME

Treated celiac disease (CD) in either the mother or the father has a negative effect on the newborn, according to a report in the August issue of Gut.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40779.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072701

APPROPRIATE USE OF C-SECTION CANNOT PREVENT ALL CASES OF SHOULDER DYSTOCIA

Performing a cesarean section based on ultrasonic fetal weight estimates can prevent some but not all cases of shoulder dystocia, according to the findings of a study conducted by Israeli researchers.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40785.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072701

THAI PROGRAM REDUCES VERTICAL AIDS TRANSMISSION

In Thailand, a simplified zidovudine regimen given to HIV-infected mothers reduced the rate of vertical transmission by over 50%, according to a report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40786.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072701

EEG SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN CHILDREN WITH NEW-ONSET SEIZURES

Children who present in the emergency department with new-onset seizures and unexplained altered consciousness should undergo prompt electroencephalography (EEG), according to a report in the July issue of the Journal of Child Neurology.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40837.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072701

NORWEGIAN CHILDREN LEFT WAITING FOR PSYCHIATRIC CARE

A shortage of child psychiatrists in Norway has left 2400 children and adolescents waiting months for psychiatric treatment.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40856.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072701

BASELINE DISABILITY SCORE PROGNOSTIC IN PEDIATRIC GUILLAIN-BARRE SYNDROME

Clinical and electrophysiological features can be used to predict the outcome of Guillain-Barre syndrome in children, according to a report published in the July issue of the Journal of Child Neurology.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40882.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072701

CARBAMAZEPINE IN FIRST TRIMESTER LOWERS BIRTHWEIGHT, DOUBLES RISK OF BIRTH DEFECTS

Carbamazepine more than doubles the risk of major congenital anomalies

when used during the first trimester of pregnancy, according to the

results of a prospective study conducted in Israel.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40883.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072701

PRENATAL EXPOSURE TO RITODRINE LOWERS RISK OF SEVERE INTRACEREBRAL HEMORRHAGE IN VLBW INFANTS

Ritodrine tocolysis reduces the incidence of grade III to IV

periventricular/intraventricular haemorrhage among premature infants with very low

birthweight (VLBW), report investigators in Israel.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40886.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072701

ALL RADIOTHERAPY REGIMEN SHOWS EXCELLENT EFFICACY WITH MINIMAL LATE NEUROTOXICITY

While the use of cranial radiation therapy (CRT) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a controversial topic, it appears that an 18-Gray dose of CRT is effective in preventing central nervous system disease recurrence and it is associated with minimal late neurotoxic effects.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40890.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072701

PERIODONTAL DISEASE ASSOCIATED WITH PREMATURE BIRTH

Pregnant women with periodontitis have an increased risk of delivering prematurely, according to a report in the July issue of Journal of the American Dental Association.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40898.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072701

STATES URGED TO BOOST OUTREACH TO UNINSURED KIDS

Simply expanding access to healthcare coverage for low-income children doesn’t guarantee that uninsured kids will enroll, according to a study released today by the health policy journal Health Affairs.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40905.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072701

NATUROPATHIC EAR DROPS RELIEVE PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH ACUTE OTITIS MEDIA

Otikon, a naturopathic herbal extract, is as effective as anesthetic ear drops for reducing ear pain associated with acute otitis media (AOM), according to a report in the July issue of the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40955.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072701

PARENTING PROGRAMS MAY REDUCE SOCIETAL COST OF ANTISOCIAL CHILDREN

Children and adolescents with conduct disorder are likely to incur public service costs by 28 years of age that are much higher than those of unaffected children, but parenting programmes may help, according to the findings of two studies published in the July 28^th issue of the British Medical Journal.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40963.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072701

GROUPS URGE INVESTMENT IN CHILDREN’S HEALTH RESEARCH

Congress needs to immediately renew the law that encourages drug companies to test their products on children, and the Bush administration needs to fully implement a law passed last year aimed at increasing research on diseases affecting children, a new coalition urged at a Capitol Hill news conference Thursday.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40973.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072701

CONNECTICUT FORBIDS TEACHERS TO RECOMMEND PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS FOR CHILDREN

To reduce the inappropriate medication of children with behavioral problems, a new Connecticut law takes aim at the schoolhouse. http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40974.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072701

RESEARCH INITIATIVE WILL FOCUS ON CHILDHOOD COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced on Thursday a $10 million research initiative aimed at determining the social and environmental determinants of healthy childhood cognitive development.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40976.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072701

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.