Dig Dis Sci 2006 May 23; (Read article online)

Gupta SK, Hassall E, Chiu YL, Amer F, Heyman MB

Children and adolescents with symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and erosive esophagitis (EE) of grade >/=2 (n=45) or nonerosive esophagitis (NEE) (n=45) were assessed to determine the relationship between presenting symptoms, esophagitis severity, and patient age. Overall, regurgitation/vomiting, abdominal pain, and cough were the most frequent symptoms. The prevalence and severity of anorexia/feed refusal was significantly greater in EE versus NEE children; this symptom was also significantly more prevalent in younger (1-5 years) children (both NEE and EE groups) compared to older children. Cough was significantly less severe in NEE adolescents than in younger children. Cough, anorexia/feed refusal, and regurgitation/vomiting were more severe and heartburn was less severe in EE children aged 1-5 years compared with older patients. In conclusion, GERD in children manifests differently than that in adults and symptoms vary with patient age. Symptoms were not predictive of presence or lack of mucosal damage.

J Pain Symptom Manage 2006 May; 31(5): 457-464 (Read article online)

Llanes LR, Fassbender K, Baracos VE, Watanabe S

Drugs are indispensable for the management of symptoms in palliative care patients, and account for a significant proportion of expenditures on a Tertiary Palliative Care Unit (TPCU). Drug expenditures for Edmonton's TPCU increased by 40% in 2002 compared to 2001. Fifty-five percent of the increase was attributable to injectable fentanyl, oral and injectable ondansetron, and total parenteral nutrition (TPN). As there was no increase in the unit cost of these drugs between 2001 and 2002, the increased expenditures reflected increased utilization. The hypothesis of this study was that the increased utilization of these drugs reflected appropriate prescribing. The objective was to compare the indications for prescribing these drugs in 2002 against evidence- and consensus-based criteria. Patients who received these drugs while admitted to the TPCU from January 1 to December 31, 2002 were identified through the pharmacy database. Evidence- and consensus-based criteria for drug utilization were developed. Prescribing indications were retrospectively compared against the criteria. Drug prescriptions were categorized as follows: (1) meeting criteria, (2) not meeting criteria, or (3) uncertain. The drugs under study were prescribed during 48 out of 234 admissions to the TPCU in 2002. Prescriptions for fentanyl met criteria in 26 of 29 cases. Indications were unsuccessful therapy with morphine, hydromorphone, and oxycodone (20), requirement for rapid titration from fentanyl patch (5), renal failure (2), and sublingual administration for breakthrough pain (1). Prescriptions for ondansetron met criteria in 19 of 21 cases. Indications were nausea refractory to metoclopramide and dexamethasone (13), and nausea related to radiotherapy or chemotherapy (6). Prescriptions for TPN met criteria for initiation in only one of five cases. However, in all cases, TPN had been started prior to admission. In cases where death was considered imminent, TPN was continued pending consultation with the patient and family regarding discontinuation. These data indicate that the increased prescribing of fentanyl and ondansetron on the TPCU satisfied evidence- and consensus-based criteria in most cases, apparently justifying the associated increase in drug expenditures. This type of analysis may be useful whenever increased drug utilization requires review. A cost effectiveness analysis would be the next step in evaluating the costs vs. the benefits. The issue of discontinuing TPN in palliative care patients requires further investigation.

Scand J Gastroenterol 2006 Jun; 41(6): 657-66 (Read article online)

Howell SC, Quine S, Talley NJ

Objective. The epidemiology of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms has been described in population surveys, yet their distribution by socio-economic (social) class remains largely uninvestigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of social class on GI symptoms in an urban sample of Australian adults.Material and methods. The prevalence of 25 GI symptoms was determined by postal questionnaire. Five latent symptom groups were identified by a principal components analysis (PCA) (Esophageal, Dysmotility-like, Nausea/vomiting, Constipation and Diarrhea). These components were used to model the association between GI symptoms and adult social class. Social class was assigned according to a census-based measure of area disadvantage, and to highest level of completed education. Age- and sex-adjusted odds ratios - as identified by unconditional logistic regression - were used to describe the relationship between symptom groups and adult social class.Results. The effects of area disadvantage and education on Esophageal and Dysmotility-like symptoms were pronounced, with persistent trends for elevated symptom rates amongst the lower social classes (all p<0.01 on age- and sex-adjusted effects). When defined by area disadvantage, the odds ratios for Nausea/vomiting were significantly elevated among the lowest social class group (p=0.01), whereas the odds for Constipation were significantly elevated among the upper-middle social class when defined by education (p=0.001). Diarrhea was not associated with social class whether defined by area disadvantage or education.Conclusions. Low social class is a risk factor for upper GI complaints.

Pediatr Neurosurg 2006; 42(4): 245-8 (Read article online)

Yano S, Kuroda J, Makino K, Tsuiki H, Morioka M, Kuratsu J

Ependymal cysts are generally located in the cerebral parenchyma but rarely found in the third ventricle. A 4-year-old boy presented with headache, vomiting, and upward gaze palsy. His consciousness gradually deteriorated in the course of 6 h. A magnetic resonance imaging study disclosed dilation of the lateral ventricle and a cystic mass in the third ventricle. We performed an endoscopic resection of the cyst wall. The cyst originated on the lateral wall of the third ventricle and obstructed the aqueduct. Histological examination confirmed a diagnosis of ependymal cyst. The patient recovered quickly and his headache and nausea disappeared. Third ventricular ependymal cysts are a rare cause of acute hydrocephalus but an important differential diagnosis. Their neuroendoscopic resection can resolve disturbances in cerebrospinal fluid circulation, is useful for cyst wall removal, and appears to be superior to shunt placement. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Anesth Analg 2006 Jun; 102(6): 1884-98 (Read article online)

Gan TJ

Knowledge of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) risk factors allows anesthesiologists to optimize the use of prophylactic regimens. Modern PONV risk research began in the 1990s with publication of studies using logistic regression analysis to simultaneously identify multiple independent PONV predictors and publication of meta-analyses and systematic reviews. This literature shows that female gender post-puberty, nonsmoking status, history of PONV or motion sickness, childhood after infancy and younger adulthood, increasing duration of surgery, and use of volatile anesthetics, nitrous oxide, large-dose neostigmine, or intraoperative or postoperative opioids are well established PONV risk factors. Possible risk factors include history of migraine, history of PONV or motion sickness in a child's parent or sibling, better ASA physical status, intense preoperative anxiety, certain ethnicities or surgery types, decreased perioperative fluids, crystalloid versus colloid administration, increasing duration of anesthesia, general versus regional anesthesia or sedation, balanced versus total IV anesthesia, and use of longer-acting versus shorter-acting opioids. Early-phase menstruation, obesity and lack of supplemental oxygen are disproved risk factors. Current risk scoring systems have approximately 55%-80% accuracy in predicting which patient groups will suffer PONV. Further research examining genetic and under-investigated clinical patient characteristics as potential risk factors, and involving outpatients and children, should improve predictive systems.

Int J Eat Disord 2006 May 19; (Read article online)

le Grange D, Binford RB, Peterson CB, Crow SJ, Crosby RD, Klein MH, Bardone-Cone AM, Joiner TE, Mitchell JE, Wonderlich SA

OBJECTIVE:: The purpose of the present work is to determine whether bulimia nervosa (BN) and eating disorder not otherwise specified, BN type (EDNOS-BN) were qualitatively distinct in terms of eating and general psychopathology. METHOD:: This study presents a comparison of 138 women with BN and 57 with EDNOS-BN from a multisite study on eating-related and general psychopathology measures. RESULTS:: Although women with BN reported higher lifetime history rates of anorexia nervosa, greater binge eating and vomiting frequency, and more eating concerns, no significant differences were observed between groups on measures of perfectionism, impulsivity, obsessive-compulsiveness, anxiety, depressive symptomatology, or alcohol/substance problems. Based on the partial eta(2) values, the distinction between BN and EDNOS-BN accounted for < 5% of the criterion variance in general psychopathology measures. Post hoc analyses comparing EDNOS-BN with objective bulimic episodes (OBEs; n = 34) versus no OBEs (n = 23) found greater EDEQ-4 Restraint subscale scores for EDNOS-BN without OBEs. However, there was no significant difference on the EDEQ-4 Eating Concern subscale between the two EDNOS-BN subgroups. CONCLUSION:: The findings highlight the clinical significance of BN partial syndrome and prompt reevaluation of existing BN diagnostic boundaries. Post hoc analyses also underscore the need for greater differentiation within EDNOS. (c) 2006 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2006.

J Clin Oncol 2006 May 22; (Read article online)

Bourhis J, Rivera F, Mesia R, Awada A, Geoffrois L, Borel C, Humblet Y, Lopez-Pousa A, Hitt R, Villegas ME, Duck L, Rosine D, Amellal N, Schueler A, Harstrick A

PURPOSE: This was an open, randomized, multicenter, phase I/II study to investigate the safety and tolerability of cetuximab in the first-line treatment of recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Treatment comprised cetuximab (initial dose 400 mg/m(2) with subsequent weekly doses of 250 mg/m(2)) in combination with 3-week cycles of either cisplatin (100 mg/m(2)) or carboplatin (area under the curve, 5), each in combination with a 5-day infusion of fluorouracil (FU) at escalating doses of 600, 800, and 1,000 mg/m(2)/d. The study was divided into two phases: A, the first two cycles (6 weeks) focusing on the safety and tolerability of combination therapy; and B, the remaining time for those benefiting from therapy until disease progression or intolerable toxicity. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients were enrolled onto the study. The incidence of dose-limiting toxicities in phase A was acceptable. The most common grade 3/4 adverse events in both groups were leucopenia (38%), asthenia (25%), vomiting (14%), and thrombocytopenia (15%), which are consistent with the known safety profiles of cetuximab, cisplatin/carboplatin, and FU. The overall response rate among patients was 36%, with no clear trend toward an increased efficacy at the highest dose of FU, and no impact of the concomitant chemotherapy regimens on cetuximab pharmacokinetics. CONCLUSION: The combination of cetuximab, cisplatin/carboplatin, and FU was reasonably well tolerated and active in recurrent/metastatic SCCHN, and merits additional investigation. An FU dose of 1,000 mg/m(2)/d in combination with cisplatin or carboplatin can be recommended for additional studies.

Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann 2006 Jun; 14(3): 244-6 (Read article online)

Demircan S, Kurul IC, Tokur M, Memis L, Okur I

An 18-month-old girl presented with high fever and vomiting. Pneumothorax and a cystic formation in the right hemithorax were found on a chest radiograph. The cyst measuring 10 x 10 x 8 cm was resected by a simple wedge resection. Histology revealed a complicated bronchogenic cyst with abscess formation.

CMAJ 2006 May 23; 174(11): 1589-94 (Read article online)

Furlan AD, Sandoval JA, Mailis-Gagnon A, Tunks E

BACKGROUND: Chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) is a major health problem, for which opioids provide one treatment option. However, evidence is needed about side effects, efficacy, and risk of misuse or addiction. METHODS: This meta-analysis was carried out with these objectives: to compare the efficacy of opioids for CNCP with other drugs and placebo; to identify types of CNCP that respond better to opioids; and to determine the most common side effects of opioids. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL (up to May 2005) and reference lists for randomized controlled trials of any opioid administered by oral or transdermal routes or rectal suppositories for CNCP (defined as pain for longer than 6 mo). Extracted outcomes included pain, function or side effects. Methodological quality was assessed with the Jadad instrument; analyses were conducted with Revman 4.2.7. RESULTS: Included were 41 randomized trials involving 6019 patients: 80% of the patients had nociceptive pain (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or back pain); 12%, neuropathic pain (postherpetic neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy or phantom limb pain); 7%, fibromyalgia; and 1%, mixed pain. The methodological quality of 87% of the studies was high. The opioids studied were classified as weak (tramadol, propoxyphene, codeine) or strong (morphine, oxycodone). Average duration of treatment was 5 (range 1-16) weeks. Dropout rates averaged 33% in the opioid groups and 38% in the placebo groups. Opioids were more effective than placebo for both pain and functional outcomes in patients with nociceptive or neuropathic pain or fibromyalgia. Strong, but not weak, opioids were significantly superior to naproxen and nortriptyline, and only for pain relief. Among the side effects of opioids, only constipation and nausea were clinically and statistically significant. INTERPRETATION: Weak and strong opioids outperformed placebo for pain and function in all types of CNCP. Other drugs produced better functional outcomes than opioids, whereas for pain relief they were outperformed only by strong opioids. Despite the relative shortness of the trials, more than one-third of the participants abandoned treatment.

Pharmacotherapy 2006 Jun; 26(6): 840-52 (Read article online)

Obering CD, Chen JJ, Swope DM

As Parkinson's disease progresses, fluctuations between akinesia, or hypomobility ("off" times), and mobility ("on" times) increase in frequency despite optimized pharmacotherapy. Motor fluctuations include predictable shortening of therapeutic effects, nocturnal or early morning akinesia, random hypomobility, and delayed mobility (variable responses to individual doses of drugs). Current oral antiparkinson drugs are inadequate for rapid and consistent relief of symptoms during hypomobility. Apomorphine, an injectable dopamine agonist recently introduced in the United States, is indicated for the management of hypomobility associated with advanced Parkinson's disease. Subcutaneous apomorphine is effective for rapid and consistent rescue from hypomobility, with a magnitude of motor improvement similar to that of levodopa. The effect begins within 20 minutes after dosing and lasts approximately 100 minutes. Therapeutic rescue doses are 2-6 mg, and patients typically require approximately three rescue doses/day. Apomorphine is associated with a clinically significant potential to cause nausea and orthostatic hypotension. These potential effects can be managed with antiemetic prophylaxis and appropriate determination of the therapeutic rescue dose.

World J Gastroenterol 2006 May 7; 12(17): 2656-9 (Read article online)

Chua AS

Dyspepsia itself is not a diagnosis but stands for a constellation of symptoms referable to the upper gastrointestinal tract. It consists of a variable combination of symptoms including abdominal pain or discomfort, postprandial fullness, abdominal bloating, early satiety, nausea, vomiting, heartburn and acid regurgitation. Patients with heartburn and acid regurgitation invariably have gastroesophageal reflux disease and should be distinguished from those with dyspepsia. There is a substantial group of patients who do not have a definite structural or biochemical cause for their symptoms and are considered to be suffering from functional dyspepsia (FD). Gastrointestinal motor abnormalities, altered visceral sensation, dysfunctional central nervous system-enteral nervous system (CNS-ENS) integration and psychosocial factors have all being identified as important pathophysiological correlates. It can be considered as a biopsychosocial disorder with dysregulation of the brain-gut axis being central in origin of disease. FD can be categorized into different subgroups based on the predominant single symptom identified by the patient. This subgroup classification can assist us in deciding the appropriate symptomatic treatment for the patient.

World J Gastroenterol 2006 May 7; 12(17): 2681-7 (Read article online)

O'mahony S, Dinan TG, Keeling PW, Chua AS

Functional dyspepsia is a symptom complex characterised by upper abdominal discomfort or pain, early satiety, motor abnormalities, abdominal bloating and nausea in the absence of organic disease. The central nervous system plays an important role in the conducting and processing of visceral signals. Alterations in brain processing of pain, perception and affective responses may be key factors in the pathogenesis of functional dyspepsia. Central serotonergic and noradrenergic receptor systems are involved in the processing of motor, sensory and secretory activities of the gastrointestinal tract. Visceral hypersensitivity is currently regarded as the mechanism responsible for both motor alterations and abdominal pain in functional dyspepsia. Some studies suggest that there are alterations in central serotonergic and noradrenergic systems which may partially explain some of the symptoms of functional dyspepsia. Alterations in the autonomic nervous system may be implicated in the motor abnormalities and increases in visceral sensitivity in these patients. Noradrenaline is the main neurotransmitter in the sympathetic nervous system and again alterations in the functioning of this system may lead to changes in motor function. Functional dyspepsia causes considerable burden on the patient and society. The pathophysiology of functional dyspepsia is not fully understood but alterations in central processing by the serotonergic and noradrenergic systems may provide plausible explanations for at least some of the symptoms and offer possible treatment targets for the future.

Ind Health 2006 Apr; 44(2): 225-9 (Read article online)

Katagiri H, Suzuki T, Aizawa Y, Kadowaki T

We measured the environmental glutaraldehyde (GA) levels during the disinfection of endoscopes and also investigated the subjective symptoms of the workers engaged in that work. At 6 hospitals in the Tokyo and Kanagawa area, 8 rooms for endoscope washing and disinfecting the endoscopy equipment were surveyed. The geometric mean environmental GA levels in the 8 rooms were 1.3 to 19.6 ppb. The personal exposure levels at the time of replacing the antiseptic solution containing GA in two of the disinfecting rooms were 94.2 and 84.9 ppb. Subjective symptoms such as ophthalmic, nasal, respiratory, pharyngeal symptoms and nausea were more prevalent among workers than controls as evidenced from the questionnaire survey.

Int J Eat Disord 2006 May 19; (Read article online)

Yucel B, Ozbey N, Demir K, Polat A, Yager J

OBJECTIVE:: Although chronic physical illness may be associated coincidentally with an eating disorder, some clinicians may overlook the possibility that another medical illness may coexist and contribute concurrently to symptoms such as peculiar eating behaviors, restrictive eating, and/or vomiting accompanied by body dissatisfaction. We present a 31-year-old single woman initially diagnosed with an atypical eating disorder. METHOD:: After a gastroenterology consultation prompted by the atypical characteristics of her eating disturbance, the diagnosis of celiac disease was established. RESULTS:: Cause-and-effect relationships between anorexia nervosa and celiac disease are unclear, and celiac disease may lead to confusion in the differential diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. CONCLUSION:: Particularly in atypical cases, and in cases where nausea and bloating are prominent complaints, workup for celiac sprue may reveal the presence of this condition. In such instances, patients may achieve additional relief through the implementation of gluten-free diets. (c) 2006 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2006.

Br J Radiol 2006 Jun; 79(942): 497-503 (Read article online)

Milano MT, Garofalo MC, Chmura SJ, Farrey K, Rash C, Heimann R, Jani AB

The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and toxicity of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in the treatment of gastric cancer. Seven patients with gastric cancer were treated with IMRT. Six patients (all Stage III) received post-operative chemoradiotherapy with concurrent 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin. One received planned pre-operative radiation, though did not proceed to surgery. All patients were planned to receive 50.4 Gy in 1.8 Gy fractions. IMRT planning was compared with opposed anterior-posterior: posterior-anterior (AP/PA) and 3-field conventional three-dimensional plans. When compared with either AP/PA or 3-field plans, IMRT significantly reduced the volume exceeding the threshold dose of the liver and at least one kidney. Target coverage with IMRT was excellent, with 98+/-1% of the target receiving >/=100% of the dose. Compared with AP/PA and 3-field plans, IMRT plans had a greater percentage of target receiving the prescribed dose, but also a greater volume receiving >110% of the dose. IMRT was well tolerated; no patients developed acute gastrointestinal toxicity greater than grade 2. All seven experienced grade 2 nausea, three had grade 2 diarrhoea and two had grade 2 oesophagitis. Weight loss ranged from 0-12% (mean 6.1% and median 5.8%). IMRT in the treatment of gastric malignancies reduces the mean and above threshold doses to critical normal tissues. In an initial cohort of seven patients, 50.4 Gy delivered by IMRT is well tolerated and safe.

Ann Fr Anesth Reanim 2006 May 19; (Read article online)

Diemunsch P, Haliska W, Szczot M, Noudem Y

Fasting during labour is questioned in France despite the historical recommendations by Curtis Mendelson. Solid food diet increases maternal nausea and vomiting of non digested food associated with a theoretical risk of severe aspiration syndrome. Clear fluids may improve the comfort of some parturients but it remains uncertain whether or not the obstetric consequences (i.e. duration of labour, Caesarean section rate) of carbohydrate supplementation are beneficial.

Pediatr Neurosurg 2006; 42(4): 203-7 (Read article online)

Boran BO, Boran P, Barut N, Akgun C, Celikoglu E, Bozbuga M

Approximately 5 million children present to emergency departments, seeking care for head injuries, each year, and 80% of these children are classified as cases of mild head injury. Due to the huge number of patients and low frequency of intracranial lesions in this group, obtaining a computed tomography scan for each and every patient is a significant economic problem. This study was conducted to identify the clinical parameters and the radiographic findings that may be associated with intracranial lesions in children with mild head injury. 421 patients, with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15 and without any focal neurological deficit, were studied. Intracranial lesion was noted in 37 cases (8.8%). Sensitivity of a plain radiogram was 43.2%, and specificity was 93%. An intracranial pathology was demonstrated in 28.9% of the patients with a linear skull fracture. The only clinical parameters associated with an increase in the frequency of detection of intracranial lesions were posttraumatic seizures and loss of consciousness. Age, sex, headache, vomiting and scalp lacerations were not associated with a higher frequency. Even when patients with a history of loss of consciousness or posttraumatic seizure were subtracted from the study group, intracranial lesions were noted in 4.1% of the cases, and in 1.8% neurosurgical intervention was required. Computed tomography is the gold standard in the evaluation of pediatric patients with mild head trauma, and every child who has experienced a head injury should undergo a cranial computed tomography evaluation, even if he or she appears in perfect health. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Anesth Analg 2006 Jun; 102(6): 1789-97 (Read article online)

van Dorp EL, Romberg R, Sarton E, Bovill JG, Dahan A

In searching for an analgesic with fewer side effects than morphine, examination of morphine's active metabolite, morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G), suggests that M6G is possibly such a drug. In contrast to morphine, M6G is not metabolized but excreted via the kidneys and exhibits enterohepatic cycling, as it is a substrate for multidrug resistance transporter proteins in the liver and intestines. M6G exhibits a delay in its analgesic effect (blood-effect site equilibration half-life 4-8 h), which is partly related to slow passage through the blood-brain barrier and distribution within the brain compartment. In humans, M6G's potency is just half of that of morphine. In clinical studies, M6G is well tolerated and produces adequate and long lasting postoperative analgesia. At analgesic doses, M6G causes similar reduction of the ventilatory response to CO(2) as an equianalgesic dose of morphine but significantly less depression of the hypoxic ventilatory response. Preliminary data indicate that M6G is associated less than morphine with nausea and vomiting, causing 50% and 75% less nausea in postoperative and experimental settings, respectively. Although the data from the literature are very promising, we believe that more studies are necessary before we may conclude that M6G is superior to morphine for postoperative analgesia.

Fertil Steril 2006 May 20; (Read article online)

Tempfer CB, Kurz C, Bentz EK, Unfried G, Walch K, Czizek U, Huber JC

OBJECTIVE: To compare a combination treatment of prednisone, aspirin, folate, and progesterone with no treatment in women with idiopathic recurrent miscarriage (IRM). DESIGN: Matched-pair study. SETTING: Academic research institution. SUBJECT(S): Women with a history of IRM, defined as three or more consecutive miscarriages before 20 weeks' gestation without associated anatomic, cytogenetic, hormonal, and infectious pathologies or antiphospholipid syndrome. INTERVENTION(S): Eighty of 210 eligible women consented to participate and were treated with prednisone (20 mg/d) and progesterone (20 mg/d) for the first 12 weeks of gestation, aspirin (100 mg/d) for 38 weeks of gestation, and folate (5 mg every second day) throughout their pregnancies. Fifty of 80 women became pregnant; they were compared with 52 women with IRM (matched for age and number of miscarriages), who became pregnant without treatment during the same observation period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Live birth rate, complications of pregnancy, such as preeclampsia, premature birth, and intrauterine growth restriction, and therapy-related side effects. RESULT(S): The overall live birth rates of the treatment and control groups were 77% (40 of 52) and 35% (18 of 52) (P=.04). The rates of first and second trimester miscarriage among the treatment and control groups were 19% (10 of 52) and 0 (0 of 52), and 63% (33 of 52) and 2% (1 of 52), respectively (P=.09 and P=1.0, respectively). The median gestational age at birth and median birth weight did not differ between the groups. We observed two and three cases of premature birth among the treatment and control groups, respectively (P=.3) and no cases of intrauterine growth restriction and Cushing's disease. Of 80 women who started treatment, one woman had an ectopic pregnancy and one woman terminated her pregnancy due to fetal chromosome aberration (trisomy 18). Three women stopped treatment due to nausea, depression, and tachycardia. CONCLUSION(S): A combination treatment of prednisone, aspirin, folate, and progesterone is associated with a higher live birth rate compared with no treatment in women with IRM.

Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2006 May 22; (Read article online)

Savenije OE, Brand PL

OBJECTIVE: To assess accuracy and precision of test weighing to estimate the amount of milk intake in newborn infants. Study design: 94 newborn infants fed by bottle, cup, or nasogastric tube, were weighed before and immediately after feeding by a blinded investigator. Actual milk intake was determined by reading the ml scale of the milk container before and after feeding. The accuracy and precision of test weighing was assessed by examining the frequency distribution of the difference between weight change and actual milk intake. Weighing performance of the scale was assessed by calculating the standard deviation (SD) of repeated weighing standard weights of 1.5 and 4 kg. RESULTS: The mean difference between weight change and actual milk intake (accuracy) was 1.3 ml, with 95% of differences ranging from -12.4 to 15 ml (precision). The maximum difference was 30 ml. This difference was not influenced by the presence of monitor or oxygen saturation wires, intravenous lines, or vomiting of the infant. The maximal SD of repeated weighings was 0.97 g. CONCLUSIONS: Test weighing is too imprecise to be clinically useful in newborn infants. Infant weighing scales are not sensitive enough to pick up small changes in infants' weight after feeding.