A meta-analysis of montelukast for recurrent wheeze in preschool children.

Unlabelled: There is conflicting evidence of the effectiveness of montelukast in preschool wheeze. A recent Cochrane review focused on its use in viral-induced wheeze; however, such subgroups are unlikely to exist in real life and change with time, recently highlighted in an international consensus report. We have therefore sought to investigate the effectiveness of montelukast in all children with preschool wheeze (viral-induced and multiple-trigger wheeze).

Simulation training for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a complex treatment. Despite this, there are a lack of training programs designed to develop relevant clinical and nonclinical skills required for ECMO specialists. The aim of the current study was to describe the design, implementation and evaluation of a 1-day simulation course for delivering training in ECMO.

Lung function of preterm infants before and after viral infections.

Unlabelled: Our aim was to determine whether viral lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) adversely affect prematurely born infants' lung function at follow up. Seventy infants, median gestational age 34 (range, 24-35) weeks were prospectively followed; 32 had an RSV (n = 14) or another respiratory viral (n = 18) LRTI (viral LRTI group) and 38 had no LRTI (no LRTI group). Six of the viral LRTI and five of the no LRTI group had been hospitalised.

Respiratory outcome of prematurely born infants following human rhinovirus A and C infections.

Unlabelled: Human rhinoviruses (HRVs) are a common cause of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) and are associated with chronic respiratory morbidity. Our aim was to determine whether HRV species A or C were associated with chronic respiratory morbidity and increased health care utilisation in prematurely born infants. A number of 153 infants with a median gestational age of 34 (range 23-35) weeks were prospectively followed.

Genetic predisposition of RSV infection-related respiratory morbidity in preterm infants.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to assess whether prematurely born infants have a genetic predisposition to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection-related respiratory morbidity. One hundred and forty-six infants born at less than 36 weeks of gestation were prospectively followed. Nasopharygeal aspirates were obtained on every occasion the infants had a lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) regardless of need for admission.

Rhinovirus infection and healthcare utilisation in prematurely born infants.

Our aim was to determine whether rhinovirus (RV) lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in prematurely born infants increase health-related cost of care during infancy. 153 infants born at <36 weeks of gestation were prospectively followed to 1 year. Cost of care was calculated from the National Health Service reference costing scheme and healthcare utilisation determined by examining hospital/general practitioner records.

Lung function at follow-up of infants with surgically correctable anomalies.

Infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) or anterior wall defects (AWD) can suffer abnormal antenatal lung growth, the risk, however, may be greater for CDH infants. The objectives of this study were to test the hypothesis that following surgical correction, CDH infants would have worse lung function at follow-up than AWD infants and to determine whether fetal lung volume (FLV) results correlated with the lung function results at follow-up. Thirteen infants with CDH and 13 infants with AWD had lung function measurements at a median age of 11 (range 6-24) months; 17 of the infants had had their FLV assessed.

Pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus 2009 in a prospectively followed cohort of prematurely born infants.

The hospitalization rate for pandemic influenza A (H1N1)v 2009 of 150 prospectively followed, prematurely born infants did not differ significantly from that of term-born infants from the same geographical area (0.7% vs. 0.

Detection of nine respiratory RNA viruses using three multiplex RT-PCR assays incorporating a novel RNA internal control transcript.

Real-time PCR is a significant improvement over viral isolation and immunofluorescence for routinely detecting respiratory viruses. We developed three real-time internally controlled multiplex RT-PCR assays for detecting nine respiratory viruses. An internal control transcript consisting of a chimeric plasmid was synthesised and incorporated into each multiplex to monitor amplification efficiency, including inhibition.

Lung function prior to viral lower respiratory tract infections in prematurely born infants.

Objective: Prematurely born infants who develop respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) have lung function abnormalities at follow-up. The aim of this study was to determine whether prematurely born infants who developed symptomatic RSV, or other viral LRTI(s), had poorer premorbid lung function than infants who did not develop LRTIs during the RSV season.

Methods: Lung function (functional residual capacity (FRC), compliance (Crs) and resistance (Rrs) of the respiratory system) was measured at 36 weeks postmenstrual age.

Chorioamnionitis, lung function and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in prematurely born infants.

Objective: To determine whether prematurely born infants exposed to chorioamnionitis compared to those not exposed have poorer lung function and are more likely to develop severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).

Design: Results were analysed from consecutive infants born at <33 weeks gestation with placental histology results and lung function measurement results on days 2 and/or 7 after birth and/or at 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA).

Setting: Tertiary neonatal intensive care unit.

The impact of the National Patient Safety Agency intravenous fluid alert on iatrogenic hyponatraemia in children.

In March 2007, the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) issued an alert regarding intravenous fluid (IVF) prescription to hospitalised infants and children, to be implemented in UK hospitals by September 2007. Previously, the most commonly used IVF (0.18% saline/4% dextrose) has been associated with iatrogenic hyponatraemia, resulting in four deaths and one near miss since 2000.

Lung function in prematurely born infants after viral lower respiratory tract infections.

Background: Chronic respiratory morbidity has been reported in prematurely born infants after respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). The aim of this study was to determine the impact of viral LRTI on lung function at follow-up of prematurely born infants.

Methods: Fifty-nine infants born before 32 weeks of gestational age were prospectively followed after neonatal unit discharge.

Very prematurely born infants wheezing at follow-up: lung function and risk factors.

Objectives: To determine whether abnormalities of lung volume and/or airway function were associated with wheeze at follow-up in infants born very prematurely and to identify risk factors for wheeze.

Design: Lung function data obtained at 1 year of age were collated from two cohorts of infants recruited into the UKOS and an RSV study, respectively.

Setting: Infant pulmonary function laboratory.

Effect of electronic compensation on plethysmographic airway resistance measurements.

Objectives: To compare the performance of a plethysmograph which incorporated electronic compensation (Jaeger) to one which incorporated a heated humidified breathing system (Hammersmith plethysmograph).

Working Hypothesis: The performance of a plethysmograph which incorporated electronic compensation would be impaired compared to that which incorporated a heated humidified system.

Study Design: In vitro and in vivo comparison.

Temporal relationship of asthma to acute chest syndrome in sickle cell disease.

Acute chest syndrome (ACS) is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in children with sickle cell disease (SCD). An association between asthma and ACS has been reported. Our aims were to determine whether asthma was more common in SCD children than controls and the relationship of the timing of the SCD children's first ACS episode to a diagnosis of asthma.

Impact of acute chest syndrome on lung function of children with sickle cell disease.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that children with sickle cell disease (SCD) who experienced an acute chest syndrome (ACS) hospitalization episode would have worse lung function than children with SCD without ACS episodes.

Study Design: Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)); forced vital capacity (FVC); FEV(1)/FVC ratio; peak expiratory flow (PEF); forced expiratory flow at 25% (FEF(25)), 50% (FEF(50)), and 75% (FEF(75)) of FVC; airway resistance (Raw); and lung volumes were compared in 20 children with ACS and 20 aged-matched children without ACS (median age, 11 years; range, 6 to 16 years). Fourteen age-matched pairs were assessed before and after bronchodilator use.

Problems in the measurement of functional residual capacity.

Accurate assessment of lung volume in infancy is important to determine the impact of disease and the efficacy of therapies. A new generation of infant plethysmographs with lower apparatus deadspace has been produced, but gives lower volume results than those from older traditional plethysmographs. We hypothesized that the new plethysmographs might have greater sensitivity to the adiabatic effect and hence they, rather than the traditional plethysmographs, produced erroneous results.

Chronic manifestations of respiratory syncytial virus infection in premature infants.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in healthy infants born at term results in long term sequelae. Infants born prematurely are at increased risk of severe acute RSV infection; thus it would seem likely that such infants would be at increased risk of long term respiratory sequelae.

Methods: Methods of assessing the long term outcome of RSV infection are discussed and the results of retrospective and prospective studies investigating chronic respiratory morbidity after RSV infection in premature infants are reviewed.

Lung volumes in infants who had mild to moderate bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

"New" bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) has been suggested to be a maldevelopment sequence with reduced alveolarisation of the lungs; affected infants then would be predicted to have low lung volumes. The aim of this study was to test that hypothesis by comparing the lung volumes of infants who had had mild-moderate BPD with those without BPD of similar postmenstrual age. Lung volumes of 17 infants who had mild-moderate BPD (oxygen dependent beyond 28 days, but not past term) (BPD infants) were compared to those of 17 infants without BPD (non-BPD infants).

Drugs for the management of respiratory syncytial virus infection.

The management of infants hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus infection is essentially supportive. Drug therapy can have benefits, but these may only be short-term. Systematic review of randomized trials has demonstrated that bronchodilator administration only significantly improves clinical scores.

The mortality index for neonatal transportation score: a new mortality prediction model for retrieved neonates.

Objective: To develop a mortality prediction score for retrieved neonates based on the information given at the first telephone contact with a retrieval service.

Methods: Data from the New South Wales Newborn and Pediatric Emergency Transport Service database were examined. Analysis was performed with the results for 2504 infants (median gestational age: 36 weeks; range: 24-43 weeks) who were <72 hours of age at the time of referral and whose outcome (neonatal death or survival) was known.