Diagnostic tests for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in preschool children.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a behaviourally diagnosed condition. It is defined by impairments in social communication or the presence of restricted or repetitive behaviours, or both. Diagnosis is made according to existing classification systems.

What is the connection between red hair and Tourette syndrome?

Tourette syndrome is a chronic, idiopathic, childhood onset neuropsychiatric disorder with both motor and vocal tics. Tourette syndrome occurs worldwide and the clinical features are similar irrespective of the country of origin, with genetic causes suspected, but to date not proven. A link between red hair colour and Tourette syndrome has been hypothesised as a result of an observation that red hair is over represented in this condition.

Multiagent chemotherapy studied in a xenograft model of medulloblastoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumour: analysis of the VETOPEC regimen.

Brain tumours remain the most important challenge in the treatment of childhood cancer. The intraocular (io) xenograft model was used to study components and variations of the VETOPEC multiagent chemotherapy regimen in the medulloblastoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumour (MB/PNET) xenograft cell line JRMB-6. VETOPEC, a combination of vincristine (VCR), etoposide (VP-16) and escalated dose cyclophosphamide (CPA), has been shown to be highly active in clinical trials.

Use of the Internet by parents of paediatric patients.

Aim: We aimed to determine the rate of Internet use for obtaining medical information by health-care patients at a tertiary paediatric hospital, whether the Internet may influence patients' attitudes to health-care services and health-care providers and whether patients would prefer the assistance of a professional informatics officer.

Methods: An anonymous questionnaire randomly distributed to 450 subjects at Sydney Children's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.

Results: A total of 294 (65%) questionnaires were returned.

Experience with inhaled nitric oxide therapy in hypoxic respiratory failure of the newborn.

Background: Respiratory diseases are the commonest cause of morbidity and mortality in newborns. Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) has been shown to be effective in the management of persistent pulmonory hypertension of newborn (PPHN).

Objectives: To retrospectively analyse data to determine the effectiveness of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) in the management of newborns with PPHN in terms of survival and changes in oxygenation status.

Biodistributions of intact monoclonal antibodies and fragments of BLCA-38, a new prostate cancer directed antibody.

Background: Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) are used for targeting agents to tumours while minimizing normal tissue exposure.

Methods: A new anti-prostate cancer MAb, BLCA-38, was radioiodinated (I125) and assessed for its ability to target subcutaneous human prostate cancer (DU-145) xenografts after systemic intraperitoneal administration. For comparison, the profile of J591 MAb (now in clinical trial) against LNCaP-LN3 tumours was examined.

Cytotoxic properties of immunoconjugates containing melittin-like peptide 101 against prostate cancer: in vitro and in vivo studies.

Background: Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) can target therapy to tumours while minimising normal tissue exposure. Efficacy of immunoconjugates containing peptide 101, designed around the first 22 amino acids of bee venom, melittin, to maintain the amphipathic helix, to enhance water solubility, and to increase hemolytic activity, was assessed in nude mice bearing subcutaneous human prostate cancer xenografts.

Methods: Mouse MAbs, J591 and BLCA-38, which recognise human prostate cancer cells, were cross-linked to peptide 101 using SPDP.

The role of xenografting in pediatric brain tumor research with specific emphasis on medulloblastoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumors of childhood.

Pre-clinical models have an important role in cancer research. This review looks at the history as well as advantages and limitations of several animal models used in the study of pediatric brain tumors. The neoplasms of specific interest are the medulloblastoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor category of brain tumors, because of their relevance to concurrent clinical research and practice.