[Does the placebo effect exist in newborn infants?].

Although comparison with a placebo is necessary to demonstrate the "true" effect of a drug, neonatologists are usually reluctant to use a placebo. The reason given is the lack of placebo effect in neonates. We studied heart and respiration rates and behaviour in normal neonates during heelstick for diagnosis of phenylketonuria.

Comparative efficacy and tolerance of ibuprofen syrup and acetaminophen syrup in children with pyrexia associated with infectious diseases and treated with antibiotics.

A double-blind, randomised, parallel group study has been done comparing the efficacy and tolerability of 7.5 mg/kg ibuprofen syrup (n = 77) and 10 mg.kg-1 acetaminophen syrup (n = 77) in 154 children (6 months to 5 years) with fever (> or = 38 degrees C) associated with infectious diseases and treated with antibiotic therapy.

Plasma levels of oxybutynine chloride in children.

Anticholinergic adverse-effects in children treated with conventional doses of oxybutynine led us to measure plasma oxybutynine levels in children. 18 children, aged 5 to 13 y, who required treatment with oxybutynine chloride for daytime incontinence were studied. Plasma concentrations were measured on the fifth day of a course of treatment in which the dose was adapted to the child's body weight; the dose was given twice daily at 12-hour intervals.

[Children's participation in biomedical research. A planned survey of 541 parents].

Background: We have interviewed the parents of children born at two maternity hospitals to evaluate the knowledge of parents concerning the French Huriet law and their consent to the participation of their child in a randomized therapeutic trial.

Methods: The inquiry was conducted between 15 February and 30 April 1991. Each couple of parents of whom the mother had given birth in one of the hospitals was sent an explanatory letter and a questionnaire on the second day after delivery.