The effectiveness of bowel and bladder interventions in children with spina bifida.

Aim: Using the World Health Organization International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), the aim of this study was to identify effective strategies for managing urinary and bowel complications resulting from spina bifida.

Method: Charts of 210 children between 4- and 13-years-old with spina bifida were reviewed to quantify medical interventions and continence status. Standardized quality of life (QOL) questionnaires were administered to a subset of participants; child and parent interviews were carried out to examine the experience of living with bowel and bladder incontinence.

Feeding impairments associated with plasma sterols in Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome.

Objective: To quantitatively evaluate feeding impairment in children with Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) and to correlate feeding impairment with clinical and biochemical indices of disease severity.

Study Design: The study subjects were 26 children with SLOS ranging in age from 0.4 to 19 years.