Probiotics for infantile colic: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigating Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 for the treatment of infantile colic in breastfed Canadian infants, compared with placebo.

Study Design: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted involving 52 infants with colic, according to modified Wessel criteria, who were assigned at random to receive L reuteri DSM 17938 (10(8) colony-forming units) (n = 24) or placebo (n = 28) for 21 days. Daily crying and fussing times were recorded in a structured diary, and maternal questionnaires were completed to monitor changes in infant colic symptoms and adverse events.

Office-based randomized controlled trial to reduce screen time in preschool children.

Objective: To determine if an intervention for preschool-aged children in primary care is effective in reducing screen time, meals in front of the television, and BMI.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at a primary care pediatric group practice in Toronto, Canada. Three-year-old children and their parents were randomly assigned to receive a short behavioral counseling intervention on strategies to decrease screen time.

Parental factors associated with screen time in pre-school children in primary-care practice: a TARGet Kids! study.

Objective: To identify child and parental factors associated with screen time in 3-year-old children.

Design: Observational study.

Setting: Participants were recruited from a large primary-care paediatric group practice in Toronto, Canada.

Office-based intervention to reduce bottle use among toddlers: TARGet Kids! Pragmatic, randomized trial.

Objective: The goal was to determine whether an office-based, educational intervention for parents of 9-month-old children could reduce bottle use and iron depletion at 2 years of age.

Methods: Between January 2006 and 2007, 251 healthy, 9-month-old infants attending a routine health maintenance visit were assigned randomly to intervention or control groups. Parents in the intervention group were introduced to a 1-week protocol to wean their children from the bottle.

Idiopathic suppurative pylephlebitis: interventional radiological diagnosis and management.

We report the imaging findings and management of a case of suppurative pylephlebitis of unknown cause in a 10-year-old girl. Percutaneous aspiration of frank pus from the portal vein confirmed the diagnosis and contributed to therapy. Percutaneous transhepatic thrombolysis was attempted but was unsuccessful.

Common medical pains.

Pain in infancy and childhood is extremely common. Sources of pain include illness, injury, and medical and dental procedures. Over the past two decades, tremendous progress has been made in the assessment, prevention and treatment of pain.

Iron depletion is associated with daytime bottle-feeding in the second and third years of life.

Objective: To measure the association between daytime bottle-feeding and iron depletion in young children.

Design: Cross-sectional design with concurrent measurement of exposure and outcome. The exposure was the current container (bottle or cup) used for daytime milk consumption.

Is it all right to drink a little during pregnancy?

Question: When I told a female patient who just transferred from another city to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy, she was surprised. She mentioned that, in the past, several doctors had told her it was all right to drink moderately. I am confused.

Mercury intoxication: it still exists.

A3-year-old boy presented to the Hospital for Sick Children with systemic symptoms and oropharyngeal and peripheral extremity changes suggestive of Kawasaki disease. He was found to have severe hypertension. Investigation for a catecholamine-secreting tumor was negative.

Systemic exposure to morphine and the risk of acute chest syndrome in sickle cell disease.

Background: The etiology of acute chest syndrome, the most severe complication of the sickle cell crisis, is unknown.

Objective: Our objective was to assess exposure to morphine as an etiologic factor for acute chest syndrome in sickle cell disease.

Methods: A post hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial comparing oral with continuous infusion of morphine was performed.

Parents' responses to symptoms of respiratory tract infection in their children.

Background: Little is known about the determinants of parental response when children appear to have a respiratory tract infection (RTI). Our objective was to identify what factors predict that parents will seek medical consultation.

Methods: In a prospective cohort study we consecutively recruited 400 children aged 2 months to 12 years from the urban, largely middle-class, primary-care practices of 7 pediatricians in Toronto.

Comparison of oral versus normal and high-dose rectal acetaminophen in the treatment of febrile children.

Objectives: To compare the defervescent effect of high-dose rectal suppository acetaminophen with the recommended oral and rectal dosages and to evaluate acceptability of rectal acetaminophen.

Methods: A randomized, controlled trial was performed in 70 patients aged 6 months to 6 years with fever > or =39 degrees C. Group A received rectal acetaminophen 15 mg/kg, group B received rectal acetaminophen 30 mg/kg, and group C received oral acetaminophen 15 mg/kg.