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OBJECTIVES: The role of viral respiratory tract infections in the onset of childhood asthma and allergy is controversial, partly because of limited understanding about postnatal viral exposures. We investigated the prevalence of 3 common respiratory viruses and associated respiratory symptoms in 2-week-old infants at high risk for having asthma and allergy. STUDY DESIGN: Frozen nasal specimens from 2-week-old children at high risk (n = 495) underwent reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for picornavirus-, parainfluenza-, and respiratory syncytial virus-specific nucleic acid. RT-PCR findings were related to respiratory symptoms (cold, cough, and wheeze) and to characteristics implicated with increased risk for asthma and allergy. RESULTS: Viral RT-PCR was positive in 199 (40.2%) of 495 specimens examined, with picornavirus and parainfluenza significantly associated with respiratory symptoms. Viral prevalence was significantly higher in children born during the winter and summer months. CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage (40.2%) of infants at high risk for asthma and allergy had been exposed to common respiratory viruses at 2 weeks of age. RT-PCR is a powerful diagnostic method that can be used in epidemiologic studies examining the role of viral respiratory tract infections in the pathogenesis of pediatric asthma and allergy.

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BACKGROUND: There is little published, objective information about pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine in the treatment of children. Our goal was to determine the pharmacokinetics of these medications in young subjects. METHODS: In two sequential double-blind, parallel-group, single-dose studies, 21 children received either pseudoephedrine, 30 or 60 mg, or placebo, and 20 children received either phenylpropanolamine, 20 or 37.5 mg, or placebo. Before dosing and at intervals up to 7 hours after dosing, serum pseudoephedrine or phenylpropanolamine concentrations were measured, and pulse and blood pressure were recorded. In two children receiving each drug, these tests were also performed at 12 and 24 hours, and urine was collected from 0 to 12 and from 12 to 24 hours. RESULTS: In children, the mean (+/-SEM) terminal elimination half-life values for pseudoephedrine, 3.1 +/- 0.5 hours, and for phenylpropanolamine, 2.6 +/- 0.6 hours, were significantly shorter than those found by other investigators in adults. Pharmacokinetics were not dose dependent in the dose ranges studied. CONCLUSION: Further studies of pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine should be performed in children with the use of objective measurements. The widespread use of these medications in young subjects should be reevaluated.

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Ebastine is a new piperidine-containing, relatively nonsedating second-generation H1-receptor antagonist. In a double-blind, parallel-group study of a single 5 mg or 10 mg dose of ebastine syrup used to treat allergic rhinitis in 20 children aged 6 to 12 years, we tested the hypothesis that the medication would have a duration of action of at least 24 hours. We measured plasma concentrations of carebastine, the pharmacologically active metabolite of ebastine, and the wheals and flares produced by epicutaneous tests with histamine phosphate, 1.0 mg/ml. Ebastine was absorbed well; peak carebastine concentrations occurred approximately 3 hours after dosing. Mean plasma elimination half-life values of carebastine ranged from 10 to 14 hours. The pharmacokinetics of carebastine were linear and dose independent in the dosage range studied. After the 5 or 10 mg dose, there were no significant differences between mean plasma elimination half-life values, mean oral clearance values, or mean apparent volumes of distribution. Mean peak plasma carebastine concentrations and mean areas under the plasma carebastine concentration-time curve after the 10 mg dose were 1.93 and 1.76 times, respectively, the values obtained after the 5 mg dose. Both doses significantly reduced the histamine-induced wheal-and-flare areas for up to 28 hours compared with predose values. The differences in effect between the doses generally were not statistically or clinically significant. No adverse effects were noted. We conclude that ebastine, an effective H1-receptor antagonist with a prompt onset of action and a long duration of action, is suitable for once-daily administration to children.

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The pharmacokinetics of enprofylline (3-propylxanthine) were studied in 10 children with asthma (mean age 7.9 years), after enprofylline 1 mg/kg given intravenously and after enprofylline 7.5 +/- 1.3 mg/kg given as a sustained-release tablet after 8 days of oral dosing twice daily. The mean +/- SD enprofylline serum elimination half-life was 1.06 +/- 0.20 hours, considerably shorter than the half-life reported in adults. The mean steady-state volume of distribution was 0.55 +/- 0.05 L/kg. The mean clearance rate was 0.44 +/- 0.06 L/hr/kg. The mean enprofylline serum concentration at steady state was 1.7 +/- 0.5 mg/L. The mean peak to trough ratio was 3.02 +/- 1.31. On the first and ninth study days, 87% +/- 8% and 90% +/- 16%, respectively, of the dose of enprofylline was recovered as unchanged drug in the urine. Enprofylline has a short half-life in children, but the sustained-release formulation provides stable serum concentrations and satisfactory relief of asthma throughout the 12-hour dosing interval.

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La polipectomía endoscópica es un procdimiento sin mayor riesgos en manos experimentadas. Son elementos fundamentales en éxito, una buena preparación colónica, adecuada sedación y analgesia, equipamiento adecuado y experiencia del ejecutante. En 71 pacientes 176 pólipos resecados en los dos últimos años no hubo accidentes mayores (muerte, perforación). En dos casos hubo hemorragias leves, 80% de los pólipos son de tipo adenonmatoso tubular; carcinoma se encontró en el 6% de los casos. El síntoma más habitual fue hemorragia rectal o sangre oculta en materia fecal (56%). Dos o más pólipos se encontró en el 60% de los pacientes. El 70% se ubicaron distamente en relación al ángulo esplénico. 15% tenían más de 2 cm. de diámetro. La frecuencia y el tipo de seguimiento es motivo de discusión

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La polipectomía endoscópica es un procdimiento sin mayor riesgos en manos experimentadas. Son elementos fundamentales en éxito, una buena preparación colónica, adecuada sedación y analgesia, equipamiento adecuado y experiencia del ejecutante. En 71 pacientes 176 pólipos resecados en los dos últimos años no hubo accidentes mayores (muerte, perforación). En dos casos hubo hemorragias leves, 80% de los pólipos son de tipo adenonmatoso tubular; carcinoma se encontró en el 6% de los casos. El síntoma más habitual fue hemorragia rectal o sangre oculta en materia fecal (56%). Dos o más pólipos se encontró en el 60% de los pacientes. El 70% se ubicaron distamente en relación al ángulo esplénico. 15% tenían más de 2 cm. de diámetro. La frecuencia y el tipo de seguimiento es motivo de discusión (AU)

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Colonoscopic polypectomy is well established as an outpatient procedure. In skilled hands it is essentially safe. The components of a satisfactory therapeutic outcome are good bowel preparation, adequate sedation analgesia, an experienced operator and the proper range of equipment. In this two year series of 71 patients (176 polyps) there were no fatalities, no perforations and only two minor bleeds. Eighty percent of the polyps were of the tubuloadenomatous or tubulovillus type. Carcinoma was present in 6% and their outcome is described in detail. The commonest presentation of colonic polyps was rectal bleeding or occult blood in the stools (56%). Two or more polyps were present in 60% of patients. Seventy percent were located distal to the splenic flexure and the rest proximally. Fifteen percent were over 2 cm in maximum diameter. Policies for the type and frequency of follow-up are a matter for ongoing discussion.

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Colonoscopic polypectomy is well established as an outpatient procedure. In skilled hands it is essentially safe. The components of a satisfactory therapeutic outcome are good bowel preparation, adequate sedation analgesia, an experienced operator and the proper range of equipment. In this two year series of 71 patients (176 polyps) there were no fatalities, no perforations and only two minor bleeds. Eighty percent of the polyps were of the tubuloadenomatous or tubulovillus type. Carcinoma was present in 6

and their outcome is described in detail. The commonest presentation of colonic polyps was rectal bleeding or occult blood in the stools (56

). Two or more polyps were present in 60

of patients. Seventy percent were located distal to the splenic flexure and the rest proximally. Fifteen percent were over 2 cm in maximum diameter. Policies for the type and frequency of follow-up are a matter for ongoing discussion.

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