>>>   MEDSCAPE’s Pediatrics MedPulse®   <<<             

                     http://pediatrics.medscape.com                    

 

MedPulse is a weekly index of key news and features on Medscape’s specialty sites compiled by Medscape’s Editors.

___________________ NEW FEATURE ARTICLES THIS WEEK ____________________

MARIJUANA USE AND SOCIAL NETWORKS IN A COMMUNITY OUTBREAK OF MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE

 

Invasive meningococcal disease is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children and young adults in the United States, with an estimated 2,600 cases each year.

South Med J 94(5):482-485, 2001

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40631.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072001

 

FIRST REPORTS OF ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS (ADRS) IN RECENT WEEKS

The following table contains an overview of first published case reports of adverse drug reactions identified in the international literature in recent weeks.

Drug and Ther Perspect 17(12):15, 2001

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40647.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072001

 

___________________________________ NEWS ______________________________

IOM SCRUTINIZES LINK BETWEEN VACCINES, NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS

Mercury content in common childhood immunizations has prompted concerns.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40651.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072001

 

CANCER MORTALITY IN CHILDREN HAS DECLINED

Improvements in the treatment of childhood cancers have led to a decrease in mortality in recent years, but these patients still have an excess long-term mortality risk compared with the general population, according to the findings of two studies published in the July 1st issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40471.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072001

ASTHMA MANAGEMENT PROGRAM HAS LITTLE EFFECT IN INNER-CITY SCHOOLS

School-based asthma education programs may not succeed in cash-strapped inner-city public schools, according to results from a preliminary study in Birmingham, Alabama.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40480.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072001

NEW EDUCATIONAL TOOL TO MANAGE PEDIATRIC ASTHMA

An hour-long, interactive computer program may succeed in improving the outcome and knowledge of asthmatic children where traditional education efforts have failed, according to a report by Dr. Benjamin Francisco presented here at the Third Triennial World Asthma Meeting last week.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40543.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072001

PACIFIERS DO NOT APPEAR TO CAUSE EARLY WEANING

Physicians can be less concerned about the use of pacifiers by breast-feeding infants, according to the results of a new Canadian study that refute the widely held theory that pacifiers cause early weaning.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40558.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072001

 

INCREASED MATERNAL BMI BEFORE PREGNANCY LINKED WITH HEART DEFECTS IN INFANTS

Women who are overweight or obese before conception appear to have an increased risk of giving birth to infants with isolated heart defects, researchers from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta report in the July issue of Epidemiology.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40568.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072001

LOW APGAR SCORE MAY IDENTIFY INFANTS AT RISK OF CEREBRAL PALSY

Low Apgar scores appear to be predictive of an increased risk of cerebral palsy (CP), a Norwegian team reports in the June issue of The Journal of Pediatrics.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40569.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072001

 

DIET HIGH IN POLYUNSATURATED FATS MAY INCREASE RISK OF ASTHMA IN YOUNG CHILDREN

Preschool-age children who consume a diet high in polyunsaturated fat appear to be at twice the risk of developing asthma compared with those who consume low levels, Australian investigators report.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40570.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072001

NHS SCANDAL PROMPTS CALL FOR ‘SWEEPING CHANGES’ IN TREATMENT OF CHILDREN

After an extensive inquiry into the deaths of children at a UK heart unit, the National Health Service has called for sweeping changes to the way doctors work and how the health service treats children.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40577.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072001

GENERIC DRUG MANUFACTURERS CALL FOR ENDING PEDIATRIC EXCLUSIVITY

The generic drug industry’s lead trade group is urging Congress not to reauthorize a provision of federal law that awards brand-name drugmakers ‘monopolies’ for testing their drugs in children.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40681.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072001

FEDERAL REPORT SAYS US CHILDREN’S WELL-BEING IS IMPROVING

In 2000, US children and adolescents were less likely to smoke cigarettes than in the previous year, and in 1999 they were more likely to have health insurance coverage than in the previous year.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/40686.rhtml?srcmp=ped-072001

 

_______________________________ MEMBER NEWS ___________________________

CLINICAL TRIALS INFO NOW AVAILABLE ON CBS HEALTHWATCH    

Looking for a clinical trial for you or your patients?  Introducing the new

Clinical Trials Information Center on CBS HealthWatch by Medscape.  Find

general information and news on clinical trials, and visit our partners to

search for trials that are looking for participants.    

http://cbshealthwatch.medscape.com/mp-clinicaltrial    

MORE THAN 30 EDITIONS OF MEDPULSE NOW AVAILABLE    

Medscape offers MedPulse in more than 30 editions so you can stay up-to-date

with the latest clinical information faster and easier. Subscribe for free

to as many editions as you like. There are very specialized condition

editions like Medscape’s HIV/AIDS MedPulse and broader topics like Women’s

Health MedPulse. To add or change your subscription preferences, point your

browser to the link below and edit your profile.    

http://www.medscape.com/Home/registration/profile/Profile.html    

LESS IS MORE WITH MEDSCAPE SELECT MEDLINE    

Get more from your MEDLINE searching faster than ever. Medscape Select

limits your search to the essential journals for the practicing physician

and health care professional. Click here now to learn more.    

http://www.medscape.com/MP-Select

 

_____________________________ USER SUPPORT ____________________________

TO UNSUBSCRIBE FROM MEDPULSE, or to receive a different edition of MedPulse, edit your user profile at http://www.medscape.com/profile (<A HREF=”http://www.medscape.com/profile”>Edit Your Profile</A>).  Enter your Medscape User ID and Password, and go to the MedPulse Preferences section of the User Profile Modification Form. To subscribe or unsubscribe, simply check (to subscribe) or uncheck (to unsubscribe) the box next to the name of the relevant MedPulse edition. Be sure to click on the “Update My Profile” button at the bottom of the form to submit your changes. If you have forgotten your User ID or password, go to http://www.medscape.com/password (<A HREF=”http://www.medscape.com/password”>Get Your Account Info</A>) to retrieve your account information.

For answers to frequently asked questions or technical support, go to:

http://www.medscape.com/help/tech

(<A HREF=”http://www.medscape.com/help/tech”>Technical Support</A>)

TECHNICAL SUPPORT & MEMBER HOTLINE 800-661-9789

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.