The Frequency of Clinic Visits Was Not Associated with Medication Adherence or Outcome in Children with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Background: Medication nonadherence is a challenge in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Poor adherence can result in disease flare-ups, disease complicationstherapy escalation, and the need for corticosteroids. The aim was to determine if clinic visit frequency was associated with treatment adherence.

A Canadian Study toward Changing Local Practice in the Diagnosis of Pediatric Celiac Disease.

Background. The European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition endorses serological diagnosis (SD) for pediatric celiac disease (CD). The objective of this study was to pilot SD and to prospectively evaluate gastrointestinal permeability and mucosal inflammation at diagnosis and after one year on the gluten-free diet (GFD).

Prospective cohort study of the outcome of and risk factors for intravascular catheter-related bloodstream infections in children with intestinal failure.

Background: Children with intestinal failure (IF) have frequent catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs). The purpose of this study was to prospectively study the clinical course of CRBSIs and to seek modifiable risk factors for CRBSIs in children with IF.

Materials And Methods: Children with IF were enrolled prospectively and data on potential risk factors collected monthly.

Histopathological changes in anatomical distribution of inflammatory bowel disease in children: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Anatomical progression of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease is under-reported. The aim of this work was to examine possible changes in the anatomical distribution of IBD in pediatric patients at diagnosis and at follow up.

Methods: In a retrospective cohort study, the medical records of children with inflammatory bowel disease were examined.

Immune-related disorders in families of children with inflammatory bowel disease--a prospective cohort study.

Background: The aim of this paper was to examine the prevalence of immune-related disorders in families of children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) compared to those without IBD.

Methods: Children ≤18 years of age presenting to the IBD clinic between September 2007 and August 2009 with an established diagnosis of IBD were recruited. Age and sex matched controls without IBD were recruited.

Trace elements and vitamins at diagnosis in pediatric-onset inflammatory bowel disease.

Aim: To compare serum vitamin and mineral levels at diagnosis in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) versus a control group without.

Methods: In a retrospective cohort study, serum levels of iron, zinc, folate, selenium, vitamin B( 12), vitamin A, and vitamin E in children with IBD at diagnosis were compared with gender- and age-matched controls.

Results: A total of 154 patients with IBD (mean age 11.

Three swipes and you're out: how many swipes are needed to decontaminate plastic with disposable wipes?

At our hospital, health care workers use commercially available wipes to reduce bacterial counts on plastic surfaces. The workers use the wipes in a cursory fashion--swiping objects once for one to two seconds. We sought to measure the ability of wipes to reduce bacterial counts when swiped across plastic surfaces using various routines.

Swine outbreak of pandemic influenza A virus on a Canadian research farm supports human-to-swine transmission.

Background: Swine outbreaks of pandemic influenza A (pH1N1) suggest human introduction of the virus into herds. This study investigates a pH1N1 outbreak occurring on a swine research farm with 37 humans and 1300 swine in Alberta, Canada, from 12 June through 4 July 2009.

Methods: The staff was surveyed about symptoms, vaccinations, and livestock exposures.

Typhlitis in children with malignancy: a single center experience.

In a case-control study, medical records of all children (below 18 y of age) who were diagnosed with any malignancy between January 1988 and December 2008 were reviewed. Children who developed typhlitis during the course of their malignancy were identified. Age and sex-matched controls who were diagnosed with malignancy during the same time period but did not develop typhlitis were identified (1:4 ratio).

Bone mineral density, vitamin D, and disease activity in children newly diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background And Aim: The aim of this study was to examine bone mineral density and serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D in relation to disease activity in children newly diagnosed with IBD.

Methods: In a cross-sectional analytic study, 60 children newly diagnosed with IBD (39 with Crohn's disease [CD], mean age 12.2 ± 2.

Practices and attitudes of surgeons toward the prevention of surgical site infections: a provincial survey in Alberta, Canada.

We surveyed 589 surgeons in Alberta, Canada, about the prevention of surgical site infections and compared their practices to the recommendations of evidence-based guidelines. Of the 247 (42%) who responded, most (156 [63%]) were not in compliance with guideline recommendations for preoperative bathing, hair removal, antimicrobial prophylaxis, or intraoperative skin preparation (although 91 [37%] state they are following guidelines).

A survey of Alberta physicians' use of and attitudes toward face masks and face shields in the operating room setting.

Background: There is little evidence that surgical mask use by physicians in the operating room (OR) reduces surgical site infections (SSIs), but masks do protect the wearer from potentially infectious splashes. Face shields offer even more protection because they cover the eyes, but they may be perceived as offering less protection to the patient than do masks. The objectives of this study were to ascertain if there were predictors to determine which OR physicians are continuing to use masks and what their reasons are for doing so, and which OR physicians would accept face shields and their reasons for doing so.

Socio-economic status and types of childhood injury in Alberta: a population based study.

Background: Childhood injury is the leading cause of mortality, morbidity and permanent disability in children in the developed world. This research examines relationships between socio-economic status (SES), demographics, and types of childhood injury in the province of Alberta, Canada.

Methods: Secondary analysis was performed using administrative health care data provided by Alberta Health and Wellness on all children, aged 0 to 17 years, who had injuries treated by a physician, either in a physician's office, outpatient department, emergency room and/or as a hospital inpatient, between April 1st.

Frequency of apnea, bradycardia, and desaturations following first diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis-inactivated polio-Haemophilus influenzae type B immunization in hospitalized preterm infants.

Background: Adverse cardiorespiratory events including apnea, bradycardia, and desaturations have been described following administration of the first diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis-inactivated polio-Haemophilus influenzae type B (DTP-IPV-Hib) immunization to preterm infants. The effect of the recent substitution of acellular pertussis vaccine for whole cell pertussis vaccine on the frequency of these events requires further study.

Methods: Infants with gestational age of < or = 32 weeks who received their first DTP-IPV-Hib immunization prior to discharge from two Edmonton Neonatal Intensive Care Units January 1, 1996 to November 30, 2000 were eligible for the study.

Follow-up of infants given measles vaccine at 6 months of age: antibody and CMI responses to MMRII at 15 months of age and antibody levels at 27 months of age.

The worldwide elimination of measles is an important target. In developed countries, to control measles outbreaks, immunization from 6 months of age is recommended. In this study, infants (n = 290) who were (1) born to mothers with natural immunity or to vaccinated mothers and (2) previously immunized with Connaught (CLL) or AIK-C measles vaccine at 6 months of age, were evaluated for measles immunity before and after measles-mumps-rubella (MMRII at 15 months of age.

Bartonella seropositivity in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura.

Background: An association between Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) and seropositivity for Bartonella henselae (BH) has been described. The objective of this study was to see if such an association exists in northern Alberta.

Methods: Immunofluorescent antibody testing utilizing an antigen prepared from B.

Medical and psychiatric comorbidity and health care use among children 6 to 17 years old.

Background: The association of psychiatric disorders (PDs) with other PDs and medical disorders (MDs) has been insufficiently explored in children and adolescents.

Objectives: To estimate medical and psychiatric comorbidity present in children with PDs and to determine the medical service usage of children with PDs.

Design: We use administrative health care data to describe the health care provided for study children.

Accuracy of parents in measuring body temperature with a tympanic thermometer.

Background: It is now common for parents to measure tympanic temperatures in children. The objective of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of these measurements.

Methods: Parents and then nurses measured the temperature of 60 children with a tympanic thermometer designed for home use (home thermometer).

Patterns of injury in children: a population-based approach.

Objective: We describe the frequency and patterns of injury affecting 96 359 children between 0 and 10 years old and living in Alberta, Canada.

Design: This population-based, longitudinal study involved children born in the 3 fiscal years of April 1, 1985 to March 31, 1988, recruited before age 1, and who remained in the study until at least age 5. We used the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification chapter-17 diagnostic codes provided by physicians.

The spatial and temporal dimensions of child pedestrian injury in Edmonton.

Objectives: This paper describes the temporal and spatial distribution of child pedestrian injury within Edmonton, Alberta for four fiscal years (1995-96 through 1998-99), and compares this pattern to temporal and spatial data on traffic volume.

Methods: We used injury data obtained through an ongoing emergency department (ED) surveillance system involving all hospitals in Alberta's Capital Health Region. We identified peak times of injury occurrence and the location of high injury incidence as indicated by census tract of residence.