Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (Gorlin syndrome)

Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS), also known as Gorlin syndrome, is a hereditary condition characterized by a wide range of developmental abnormalities and a predisposition to neoplasms

Automated Control of Oxygen in Neonates

Supplemental oxygen is given to a large proportion of preterm infants to maintain adequate levels of oxygenation. In this population exposure to supplemental oxygen increases the risk of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and oxygen radical injury to other organs and systems (McColm and Fleck 2001; Tin and Gupta 2007; Saugstad 2003). These effects are more pronounced in infants born at earlier gestational ages due to their immaturity and the prolonged duration of the exposure to oxygen

Advances in respiratory support for high risk newborn infants

BACKGROUND: A significant proportion of premature infants present with respiratory failure early in life and require supplemental oxygen and some form of mechanical respiratory support. FINDINGS: Many technical advances in the devices for neonatal respiratory support have occurred in recent years and new management strategies have been developed and evaluated in this population. This article describes some of these novel methods and discusses their application and possible advantages and limitations. CONCLUSION: Newer methods of respiratory support have led to marked improvement in outcome of premature infants with respiratory failure. Some of these strategies are very promising but further investigation to evaluate their short term efficacy and impact on long term respiratory and other relevant outcomes is needed before wider use

The United Kingdom Childhood Cancer Study: objectives, materials and methods. UK Childhood Cancer Study Investigators.

An investigation into the possible causes of childhood cancer has been carried out throughout England, Scotland and Wales over the period 1991-1998. All children known to be suffering from one or other type of the disease over periods of 4-5 years have been included, and control children matched for sex, age and area of residence have been selected at random from population registers. Information about both groups of children (with and without cancer) has been obtained from parental questionnaires, general practitioners' and hospital records, and from measurement of the extent of exposure to radon gas, terrestrial gamma radiation, and electric and magnetic fields. Samples of blood have also been obtained from the affected children and their parents and stored. Altogether 3,838 children with cancer, including 1,736 with leukaemia, and 7,629 unaffected children have been studied. Detailed accounts are given of the nature of the information obtained in sections describing the general methodology of the study, the measurement of exposure to ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, the classification of solid tumours and leukaemias, and the biological material available for genetic analysis