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OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the descriptive epidemiology of infant botulism, the flaccid paralysis that results when neurotoxigenic Clostridium species produce botulinum toxin (BoNT) in the infant colon, in its first 40 years following initial recognition in California in 1976. STUDY DESIGN: Cases were defined by laboratory identification of BoNT and/or neurotoxigenic Clostridium species in patients' feces. Parents were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive epidemiologic characteristics were compared between 1976-1996 and 1997-2016. RESULTS: From 1976-2016, 1345 cases of infant botulism occurred in 45 of 58 California counties (6.5 cases/100 000 live-births/year) caused by BoNT types A, B, Ba, Bf, and F; 88% of cases were ≤6 months of age and 51% were female. Cases were white (84.2%), Asian (8.9%), other races (3.8%), and African American (2.8%); 29.4% of cases were Hispanic. More than 99% of cases were hospitalized. Case occurrence peaked in summer-fall. Of 8 designated geographic regions, the Central Coast counties had 3 times the statewide incidence in both 20-year time periods. Breast-fed patients (83%) were more than twice as old at onset as formula-fed patients (median, 4.4 vs 1.7 months, respectively; P < .001). BoNT/A cases were older at onset than BoNT/B cases (median, 3.8 vs 2.9 months, respectively; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive continuous surveillance of infant botulism for 40 years in a large, diversely populated state identified fundamental epidemiologic characteristics of this uncommon illness. Unusual features included greater than 99% case hospitalization, absence of male preponderance, and a distinctive age distribution.

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BACKGROUND: In utero exposure to tobacco smoke is associated with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and cardiac arrhythmias in newborns. The arrhythmogenic mechanisms seem linked to alterations of the cardiac sodium current (INa). We previously reported that in utero exposure to nicotine delays the postnatal development of the heart sinoatrial node in rabbits and altered expression of the sodium channels NaV1.5 and NaV1.1 in the atrium surrounding it. These channels react differently to sympathetic stimulation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to test whether nicotine altered the response of INa to stimulation by the ß-adrenoreceptor agonist isoproterenol in atrial myocytes. Our hypothesis is that changes in the sympathetic response of sinoatrial node peripheral cells may create a substrate for arrhythmia. METHODS: Using the patch-clamp technique we measured the effect of nicotine on the response of INa to adrenergic stimulation in isolated cardiomyocytes. RESULTS: Isoproterenol increased INa by 50% in newborn sham rabbits but had no effect in newborn rabbits exposed to nicotine in utero. Our data also show that nicotine increases the late sodium current, an effect that may promote QT prolongation. CONCLUSION: We provide the first evidence linking fetal exposure to nicotine to long-term alterations of INa response to isoproterenol. These changes may impair INa adaptation to sympathetic tone and prevent awakening from sleep apnea, thus leading to arrhythmias that could potentially be involved in SIDS. Our data also raise concerns about the use of nicotine replacement therapies for pregnant women.

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Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS; also known as crib death) describes the sudden unexpected death of an infant under one year of age, which remains unexplained after a thorough investigation. SIDS is a public health concern. It is the fourth leading cause of infant death in Canada. Newspapers are a major source of health information for the public, shape public perceptions and can direct the discussion around issues. Despite the potential influence of newspapers, no study has examined the portrayal of SIDS in Canadian newspapers over time. The purpose of our study was to gain an understanding of SIDS coverage in Canadian English language newspapers using the Canadian Newsstream database from 1970 to 2015 and the historical database: The Globe and Mail from 1844 to 1977. Generating descriptive quantitative and qualitative data, we noted a decline in SIDS coverage over time. Blame and misdiagnosis were two dominant themes in the coverage of SIDS with many other aspects around SIDS missing; for example, indigenous people, who are at higher risk for SIDS, were rarely mentioned. Our findings suggest problems in the content and frequency of coverage of SIDS that have the potential to shape the public understanding of SIDS.

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Since antiquity, cot death has been explained as accidental suffocation, overlaying, or smothering. Parents were blamed for neglect or drunkenness. A cage called arcuccio was invented around 1570 to protect the sleeping infant. Up to the 19th century, accidents were registered as natural causes of death. From 1830, accidental suffocation became unacceptable for physicians and legislators, and "natural" explanations for the catastrophe were sought, with parents being consoled rather than blamed. Two assumed causes had serious consequences: thymus hyperplasia was irradiated, causing thyroid cancer, and the concept of central apnea was widely accepted, which led to home monitors and distracted from epidemiological evidence. Prone sleeping originated in the 1930s and from 1944, it was associated with cot death. However, from the 1960s, many authors recommended prone sleeping for infants, and many countries adopted the advice. A worldwide epidemic followed, peaking at 2‰ in England and Wales and 5‰ in New Zealand in the 1980s. Although epidemiological evidence was available by 1970, the first intervention was initiated in the Netherlands in 1989. Cot death disappeared almost entirely wherever prone sleeping was avoided. This strongly supports the assumption that prone sleeping has the greatest influence on the disorder, and that the epidemic resulted from wrong advice.

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In-utero exposure to tobacco smoke remains the highest risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). To alleviate the risks, nicotine replacement therapies are often prescribed to women who wish to quit smoking during their pregnancy. Cardiac arrhythmias is considered the final outcome leading to sudden death. Our goal in this study was to determine if exposing rabbit fetus to nicotine altered the cardiac conduction system of newborn kittens in a manner susceptible to cause SIDS. Using neuronal markers and a series of immunohistological and electrophysiological techniques we found that nicotine delayed the development of the cardiac pacemaker center (sinoatrial node) and decreased its innervation. At the molecular level, nicotine favored the expression of cardiac sodium channels with biophysical properties that will tend to slow heart rate and diminish electrical conduction. Our results show that alterations of the cardiac sodium current may contribute to the bradycardia, conduction disturbances and other cardiac arrhythmias often associated to SIDS and raise awareness on the use of replacement therapy during pregnancy.

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Introducción. Las campanas públicas en países desarrollados con recomendaciones para el sueño seguro del lactante lograron aumentar la adherencia a la posición supina para dormir a más del 70% y generaron, simultáneamente, una reducción del 53% en la incidencia del síndrome de muerte súbita del lactante. Objetivo. Valorar el impacto a los 60 días de vida de una intervención educativa realizada en las maternidades para mejorar la adherencia a las recomendaciones sobre sueño seguro del lactante. Población, material y métodos. Estudio de intervención con control histórico entre el 1/2 y el 30/9 de 2014, realizado en la Maternidad Meisner y el Hospital Universitario Austral. Dicha intervención se denominó "tapeta cuna" y consistió en capacitar al equipo de salud y brindar información a las familias sobre sueño seguro a través de clases, adhesivos en las cunas y material escrito. Resultados. Fueron incluidos 550recién nacidos. Se observó un incremento del 35% en la posición supina al dormir tras la intervención (p < 0,0001); la lactancia materna exclusiva se incrementó un 11% (p= 0,01); se redujo el colecho de un 31% a un 18% (p < 0,0005). No se encontraron diferencias en la cohabitación, entre convivientes fumadores ni en la utilización del chupete a los 60 días. Conclusiones. La intervención educativa resultó útil para mejorar la adherencia a las recomendaciones sobre sueño seguro a los 60 días de vida: se evidenció una mejora en la posición supina, la lactancia materna y la reducción del colecho. No existieron cambios en la proporción de convivientes fumadores, la cohabitación y el uso del chupete.

Introduction. In developed countries, public campaigns promoting recommendations on safe infant sleep increased adherence to the supine sleeping position to more than 70% and, at the same time, reduced the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome by 53%. Objective. To determine the impact, at 60 days of life, of an educational intervention conducted in maternity centers aimed at improving adherence to the recommendations on safe infant sleep. Population, material and methods. Intervention study with historical control conducted between February 1st and September 30th of 2014 at the Maternity Center of Hospital Meisner and Hospital Universitario Austral. The intervention was called "crib card" and consisted in training health care team members and providing families with information on safe infant sleep by means of lessons, written material and using stickers on cribs. Results. Five hundred and fifty newborn infants were included. After the intervention, a 35% increase in the supine sleeping position (p < 0.0001) was observed; exclusive breastfeeding increased by 11% (p= 0.01); and co-sleeping decreased from 31% to 18% (p < 0.0005). No differences were observed in relation to bedroom sharing, living with tobacco users, or pacifier use at 60 days of life. Conclusions. The educational intervention was useful to improve adherence to the recommendations on safe sleep at 60 days of life: using the supine position and breastfeeding improved, and the rate of co-sleeping decreased. No changes were observed in the number of household members who smoke, bedroom sharing, and pacifier use.

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INTRODUCTION: In developed countries, public campaigns promoting recommendations on safe infant sleep increased adherence to the supine sleeping position to more than 70% and, at the same time, reduced the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome by 53%. OBJETIVE: To determine the impact, at 60 days of life, of an educational intervention conducted in maternity centers aimed at improving adherence to the recommendations on safe infant sleep. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Intervention study with historical control conducted between February 1st and September 30th of 2014 at the Maternity Center of Hospital Meisner and Hospital Universitario Austral. The intervention was called "crib card" and consisted in training health care team members and providing families with information on safe infant sleep by means of lessons, written material and using stickers on cribs. RESULTS: Five hundred and fifty newborn infants were included. After the intervention, a 35% increase in the supine sleeping position (p < 0.0001) was observed; exclusive breastfeeding increased by 11% (p= 0.01); and co-sleeping decreased from 31% to 18% (p< 0.0005). No differences were observed in relation to bedroom sharing, living with tobacco users, or paci er use at 60 days of life. CONCLUSION: The educational intervention was useful to improve adherence to the recommendations on safe sleep at 60 days of life: using the supine position and breastfeeding improved, and the rate of co-sleeping decreased. No changes were observed in the number of household members who smoke, bedroom sharing, and pacifier use.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Las campanas públicas en países desarrollados con recomendaciones para el sueño seguro del lactante lograron aumentar la adherencia a la posición supina para dormir a más del 70% y generaron, simultáneamente, una reducción del 53% en la incidencia del síndrome de muerte súbita del lactante. OBJETIVO: Valorar el impacto a los 60 días de vida de una intervención educativa realizada en las maternidades para mejorar la adherencia a las recomendaciones sobre sueño seguro del lactante METODOLOGIA: Estudio de intervención con control histórico entre el 1/2 y el 30/9 de 2014, realizado en la Maternidad Meisner y el Hospital Universitario Austral. Dicha intervención se denominó "tarjeta cuna" y consistió en capacitar al equipo de salud y brindar información a las familias sobre sueño seguro a través de clases, adhesivos en las cunas y material escrito. RESULTADOS: Fueron incluidos 550 recién nacidos. Se observó un incremento del 35% en la posición supina al dormir tras la intervención (p < 0,0001); la lactancia materna exclusiva se incrementó un 11% (p = 0,01); se redujo el colecho de un 31% a un 18% (p < 0,0005). No se encontraron diferencias en la cohabitación, entre convivientes fumadores ni en la utilización del chupete a los 60 días. CONCLUSIÓN: La intervención educativa resultó útil para mejorar la adherencia a las recomendaciones sobre sueño seguro a los 60 días de vida: se evidenció una mejora en la posición supina, la lactancia materna y la reducción del colecho. No existieron cambios en la proporción de convivientes fumadores, la cohabitación y el uso del chupete.

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