Journal of investigative medicine : the official publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research
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There are no studies evaluating the epidemiology of pediatric acute lung injury (ALI) in the emergency department (ED), where early identification and interventions are most likely to be helpful. The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiology of the ALI precursor acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) in the ED. ⋯ We found nonintubated AHRF to be prevalent in the ED. The low R(2) for the regression model for AHRF underscores the lack of criteria for early identification of patients with respiratory compromise. Our findings represent an important first step toward establishing the true incidence of ALI in the pediatric ED.
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Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality can be prevented by identification and modification of specific risk factors. Ethnic minorities have a higher incidence of cardiovascular risk factors. Additionally, ethnic minorities often reside in medically underserved areas and are subject to health care disparities. We hypothesized that ethnic minorities residing in medically underserved areas would experience greater health care disparities related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention and treatment compared with those residing near an urban academic medical center. ⋯ Hispanics have more CVD risk factors than non-Hispanic whites but receive equivalent prevention initiatives. Residing in a rural, medically underserved area, regardless of ethnicity, was associated with the largest CVD treatment and health care disparity.
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Retracted Publication
Mutation analysis of WASF2 and GALE genes in one Chinese family with benign familial infantile convulsions with a novel locus.
Benign familial infantile convulsions (BFIC) are an autosomal dominant form of idiopathic epilepsy in which partial and generalized seizures commence in the first 3 months of life and spontaneously remit by age 1 year. As it is still unknown whether WASF2 and GALE genes are responsible for pure BFIC syndromes, in this article, mutations of the WASF2 and GALE genes in the proband of one Chinese family with pure BFICs were studied. ⋯ One exonic variant (1047A-->G) and one intronic variant (IVS10+13A-->G), neither causing a modification of the physiologic messenger ribonucleic acid maturation, were found. The WASF2 and GALE genes do not appear to be involved in the ethiopathogenesis of pure BFIC syndromes, at least in the Chinese family we studied.
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Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a pulmonary disorder that causes significant morbidity and mortality in premature infants. BPD is pathologically characterized by inflammation, fibrosis, and mucosal necrosis, which leads to emphysematous coalescence of alveoli. We tested the hypothesis that azithromycin, a macrolide antibiotic, would decrease the severity of lung injury in an animal model of BPD. ⋯ Azithromycin significantly decreased lung damage as determined by the mean linear intercept in the hyperoxia groups (p < .001). Finally, azithromycin-treated pups had lower levels of IL-6 in lung homogenate from the hyperoxia groups (p < .05). Azithromycin treatment resulted in improved survival, less emphysematous change, and decreased IL-6 levels in an animal model of BPD.