Identifying metabolic syndrome without blood tests in young adults--the Terneuzen Birth Cohort.

Background: Within the context of the obesity epidemic identifying young adults at risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease is important. A practical approach is based on the identification of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Our objective was to develop a simple and efficient stepwise strategy to identify MetS in young adults.

Bed-sharing in the first four months of life: a risk factor for sudden infant death.

Aim: To investigate the risk of sudden infant death in the Netherlands during bed-sharing in the first half year of life and the protective effect of breastfeeding on it.

Methods: During a 10-year period between September 1996 and September 2006 nationwide, 213 cot deaths were investigated.

Results And Discussion: Of 138 cot deaths of less than 6 months of age, 36 (26%) bed-shared.

Epidemiology of neonatal group B streptococcal disease in The Netherlands 1997-98.

Group B streptococcal (GBS) infection is still an important cause of morbidity and mortality in newborn infants. In The Netherlands, there are no published data on the incidence of neonatal GBS infection. We collected data of all infants with GBS disease during the first 3 months of life, as reported to the Dutch Paediatric Surveillance Unit (DPSU) during a period of 2 years (1997-98).