Aortic intima media thickness in fetuses and children with intrauterine growth restriction.

Objective: To measure aortic intima media thickness and diameter by ultrasonography in fetuses with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and in appropriate for gestational age (AGA) fetuses and in the same children after a mean follow-up of 18 months.

Methods: This was a prospective study performed between January 2006 and August 2008. Fetuses were classified as having IUGR if the estimated fetal weight was below the 10th percentile and umbilical artery pulsatility index was greater than 2 standard deviations; they were classified as AGA if the estimated fetal weight was between the 10th and 90th percentiles.

Intranasal phenylephrine-surfactant treatment is not beneficial in otitis media with effusion.

Background: Otitis media is the most common reason for non-well-child visits to the primary care physician. Various treatments are in use to try to ameliorate the pain arising from Eustachian tube (ET) dysfunction. One such treatment is topical phenylephrine spray, despite clinical evidence disputing its use.

Otitis media: treatment with intranasal aerosolized surfactant.

Objectives/hypothesis: The objective was to determine the effect of intranasal surfactant alone and with other medications administered by metered dose inhaler aerosol on the function of the eustachian tube and on the resolution of experimentally induced otitis media with effusion (OME) and acute otitis media (AOM).

Study Design: Randomized, experimental, controlled animal studies.

Methods: Previously unreported (experiment 4) as well as published (experiments 1-3) data were detailed so that the reader could understand the continuum of information leading to the conclusions.

Intranasal metered dose aerosolized surfactant reduces passive opening pressure of the eustachian tube: comparison study in two animal models.

Hypothesis: Intranasal metered dose aerosolized inhaler surfactant will reduce opening pressure of the eustachian tube in gerbils and mice.

Background: Eustachian tube opening pressure necessary to allow ventilation of the middle ear must exceed the contractile force exerted by the tension on the curved surface of the eustachian tube. When the active function of opening the eustachian tube is inefficient, functional collapse of the tube persists, resulting in negative middle ear pressure.