Henna: a potential cause of oxidative hemolysis and neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

Objective: To evaluate the in vitro oxidation potential of lawsone (2-hydroxy-1,4 naphthoquinone). Lawsone is a chemical present in henna, the crushed leaves of which are used worldwide as a cosmetic agent to stain the hair, skin, and nails.

Methodology: Venous blood from glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-normal and G6PD A- subjects were incubated with various amounts of lawsone for 2 hours at 37 degrees C.

Office pediatrics. Physical growth and general nutrition.

Obesity is now one of the most prevalent diseases in the US population. Many observations suggest that two and possibly three critical periods exist for the development of obesity and its complications. An expert committee has developed guidelines for obesity in adolescence and recommendations for preventive services, whereas others have examined adolescent obesity and its cardiovascular risks and have suggested a rational approach to management and the effects of persistent physical activity and inactivity on coronary risk factors in children and young adults.

Infant nutrition, physical growth, breastfeeding, and general nutrition.

Breastfeeding and its consequences continue to attract the attention of investigators. Breastfeeding has again been shown to reduce the development of otitis media during the 1st year of life. Although the development of hyperbilirubinemia is increased with breastfeeding it has been shown to be easily controllable without the discontinuation of breastfeeding.

Infant nutrition, physical growth, breastfeeding, and general nutrition.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that infants who receive human milk develop differently from infants who receive infant formulas. Infants who receive human milk appear to have higher scores on tests of intelligence even after controlling for confounding variables. These differences have been demonstrated to persist in children for as long as 15 years of age.

Kernicterus in preterm newborns: past, present, and future.

This historical overview of kernicterus in prematurity, from the 1950s to the present, provides a unique perspective on this clinical conundrum. Three separate periods of pediatric history are detailed in relationship to our understanding of kernicterus in the preterm newborn: (1) the pre-intensive care era (1950 to 1965); (2) the low bilirubin kernicterus era (1965 to 1982); and (3) the 1980s. Each period demonstrates selected insights regarding kernicterus in prematurity, and together with recent reports suggest that premature newborns are now at extremely low risk of developing kernicterus when managed using current standards of care.

Attitudes and factors affecting the decisions of men and women pediatrics residents toward having children during their residencies.

This study examines attitudes and factors affecting the decisions of pediatrics residents of both sexes toward having children during their residencies. In 1987, the authors surveyed by mail all 742 pediatricians who had trained at eight university-based residencies from 1981 to 1987; 417 responded. Of these, the men were significantly more likely than the women to have had children during their residencies (p less than .

Twenty-five years of residents: what and where are they now.

To evaluate the effectiveness of our program in meeting the subsequent career needs of our graduates and to describe their professional experiences as a microcosm of pediatrics, a survey was completed of the 419 pediatricians who had completed the Harriet Lane Residency Program at The Johns Hopkins Hospital between 1960 and 1984. Overall, the 326 respondents found the program to have been effective in the areas they deemed appropriate to be taught in residency years. In decreasing order, the chief resident, fellow house officers, and full-time faculty were rated to have had the greatest teaching effectiveness.

Assessing the need for transfusion of premature infants and role of hematocrit, clinical signs, and erythropoietin level.

There are no clear criteria for administration of blood to premature infants. In the past, indications for transfusion have included tachypnea, tachycardia, poor weight gain, apnea, bradycardia, pallor, lethargy, decreased activity, or poor feeding. Some have suggested that erythropoietin levels may also be useful in determining the need for transfusion.

The impact of a total ban on smoking in the Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

We report the results of a ban on smoking in The Johns Hopkins Children's Center, Baltimore, Md, beginning in July 1987. A survey 6 months before and 6 months after implementation of the ban showed current smoking prevalences to be 15% and 13.8%, respectively.

Effect of pancreatic enzyme supplements on iron absorption.

Iron deficiency has been reported in one third of patients with cystic fibrosis. There are data that suggest that iron absorption is increased with exocrine pancreatic deficiency and that administration of pancreatic enzymes may impair oral iron absorption. We compared oral iron absorption over a 3-hour period in the presence and absence of exogenous pancreatic enzymes in 13 stable young-adult patients with cystic fibrosis and 9 age-matched control patients.

Banning smoking in a children's hospital: are employees supportive?

This study surveyed 762 professional and auxiliary employees in a large urban children's hospital to assess readiness for a total ban on smoking. The prevalence of never smokers was 63.1%, former smokers was 21.