Pediatr Dermatol. 2012 Feb 3;
Herro EM, Jacob SE

  Systemic manifestations of allergic contact dermatitis due to consumption of foods containing balsam of Peru (Myroxylon pereirae)-associated chemicals have recently been reported in children. We present seven children with widespread, recalcitrant dermatitis who experienced 60-80% clearance after initiating a diet low in balsam of Peru, specifically the tomato product ketchup. Furthermore, because we have observed a high prevalence of ketchup in our pediatric patients' diets, we recommend consideration of moderate consumption of this product in patients with recalcitrant widespread dermatitis.

AIDS Care. 2012 Feb 2;
Ybarra ML, Bull SS, Kiwanuka J, Bangsberg DR, Korchmaros J

Abstract Coercion is consistently reported as a risk factor for HIV in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Because of the gendered nature of previous research, however, little is known about male victims or female perpetrators. To address this gap, we report survey data from 354 sexually experienced secondary school students in Mbarara, Uganda. Findings suggest that females are more likely to report involvement in coercive sex compared to males (66% vs. 56%, respectively). Of those involved, females are most likely to report being a victim-only (40%) and males, perpetrator-victims (32%). Although involvement in violent and coercive sex is gendered, 47% of males report victim experiences and 25% of females report perpetration behavior. Furthermore, about one in ten female and male perpetrators reported using physical force or threats to compel sex. When all potentially influential factors were considered simultaneously, several characteristics seem to differentiate youth by their coercive sex (in) experience. For example, victims are more likely to have lower levels of social support from their families and feel that they have an above average or very strong chance of getting HIV compared to otherwise similar youth with no experience with coercive sex. Perpetrators are more likely to have had an HIV test but use condoms less than half the time or never compared to their otherwise similar, yet uninvolved peers. They also are significantly more likely to report dating violence perpetration. Perpetrator-victims share some similarities with other involved youth, as well as some differences. Findings underscore both the importance of asking all youth, irrespective of biological sex, perpetrator and victimization questions; and also the need for more work to be done to help youth plan for a healthy and wanted first sexual experience.

Vet Microbiol. 2012 Jan 11;
Garcia JP, Beingesser J, Fisher DJ, Sayeed S, McClane BA, Posthaus H, Uzal FA

Clostridium perfringens type C is an important cause of enteritis and/or enterocolitis in several animal species, including pigs, sheep, goats, horses and humans. The disease is a classic enterotoxemia and the enteric lesions and associated systemic effects are thought to be caused primarily by beta toxin (CPB), one of two typing toxins produced by C. perfringens type C. This has been demonstrated recently by fulfilling molecular Koch's postulates in rabbits and mice. We present here an experimental study to fulfill these postulates in goats, a natural host of C. perfringens type C disease. Nine healthy male or female Anglo Nubian goat kids were inoculated with the virulent C. perfringens type C wild-type strain CN3685, an isogenic CPB null mutant or a strain where the cpb null mutation had been reversed. Three goats inoculated with the wild-type strain presented abdominal pain, hemorrhagic diarrhea, necrotizing enterocolitis, pulmonary edema, hydropericardium and death within 24h of inoculation. Two goats inoculated with the CPB null mutant and two goats inoculated with sterile culture media (negative controls) remained clinically healthy during 24h after inoculation and no gross or histological abnormalities were observed in the tissues of any of them. Reversal of the null mutation to partially restore CPB production also increased virulence; 2 goats inoculated with this reversed mutant presented clinical and pathological changes similar to those observed in goats inoculated with the wild-type strain, except that spontaneous death was not observed. These results indicate that CPB is required for C. perfringens type C to induce disease in goats, supporting a key role for this toxin in natural C. perfringens type C disease pathogenesis.

Acta Gastroenterol Latinoam. 2011 Dec; 41(4): 317-9
Khan RA, Narasimhan KL

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy has been increasingly used in children for various diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. But this has not always been a morbidity free procedure especially in small kids. Three patients who presented with history of endoscopic intervention followed by abdominal pain and radiographic evidence of free air under diaphragm were managed conservatively over a period of two years.

Health Promot Pract. 2012 Jan 30;
Evans A, Ranjit N, Rutledge R, Medina JL, Jennings R, Smiley A, Stigler M, Hoelscher D

Objectives. (1) To measure the effects of different levels of exposure to a multiple-component garden-based intervention on middle school students fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption and related variables and (2) to determine the separate effects of each of the intervention components on F&V consumption. Design. Unequal treatmentcontrol posttest only. Setting. Five middle schools in ethnically diverse communities. Participants. Two hundred and forty-six adolescents (59% Hispanic; 70% low-income). Intervention. The Sprouting Healthy Kids intervention consists of six components: (1) in-class lessons, (2) after-school gardening program, (3) farm-to-school, (4) farmers visits to schools, (5) taste testing, (6) field trips to farms. Outcome measures. F&V consumption; motivation for eating F&V; self-efficacy for eating F&V; F&V preference; preference for unhealthy foods; knowledge. Analysis. Linear regression models controlling for gender, ethnicity/race, and income. Results. Compared with students who were exposed to less than two intervention components, students who were exposed to two or more components scored significantly higher on F&V intake, self-efficacy, and knowledge and lower on preference for unhealthy foods (p < .05). The farmers visits, taste testing, and cafeteria components had the largest effect sizes but were not significant. Conclusions and implications. Interventions targeting adolescent F&V behavior change should include multiple components such as farmers visits to the school and taste testing.

Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2012 Feb; 93(2): 358-66
Andrysek J, Klejman S, Steinnagel B, Torres-Moreno R, Zabjek KF, Salbach NM, Moody K

Andrysek J, Klejman S, Steinnagel B, Torres-Moreno R, Zabjek KF, Salbach NM, Moody K. Preliminary evaluation of a commercially available videogame system as an adjunct therapeutic intervention for improving balance among children and adolescents with lower limb amputations.To examine the safety, feasibility, and balance performance effects of a 4-week home-based balance therapy program using a commercially available videogame system.A pilot study involving a preintervention and postintervention design was conducted with measurements taken at baseline, immediately postintervention (week 5), and at follow-up (week 13) for retention.University hospital outpatient clinic and participants' places of residence.Children and adolescents with unilateral lower limb amputation (n=6; 3 transfemoral [TF] and 3 Van Ness) and age-matched, typically developing individuals (n=10) for baseline comparison.Two videogames involving weight shifting in standing were each played at home for 20min/d, 4d/wk for a period of 4 weeks. A physical therapist provided initial instruction and monitoring.Postural control characteristics using center of pressure (COP) displacements during quiet standing; functional balance using the Community Balance and Mobility Scale (CB&M); and compliance, safety, and feasibility using custom questionnaires.Average playing times for the first 3 weeks ranged from 16.0 to 21.1 minutes for the 2 games. At baseline, the children and adolescents with TF amputation had substantially greater COP displacements than the Van Ness group and typically developing children and adolescents. Immediately postintervention, the COP displacements decreased in the TF amputees, resulting in values that were closer to those of the typically developing children. The average increase in CB&M score from baseline to follow-up was 6 points across participants.In-home, videogame-based balance training therapies can achieve excellent compliance in children and adolescents with lower limb amputation. With proper instructions and monitoring, the therapeutic intervention can be safely administered. Some improvements in postural control characteristics were seen in children and adolescents with balance deficits immediately postintervention, but long-term retention remains unclear.

J Anim Sci. 2012 Jan 27;
Solaiman S, Min BR, Gurung N, Behrends J, McElhenney W

The objectives of this experiment were to determine the effects of two different breeds (BR) Boer and Kiko, and four post-weaning harvest ages (HA; d 0, 29, 56 and 85) on growth, carcass traits, blood metabolites, and lipogenic gene expression. Forty-eight goat kids (BW = 23.9 ± 1.50 kg; 3-4 mo) were used in a 2 x 4 factorial experiment. Goats were stratified by BW within BR and randomly assign to four HA. Kids were born between March 15 and April 7, to purebred does, and were represented by at least three purebred sires within each breed. They were fed a grain:hay (80:20) diet once a day. At designated HA, randomly pre-assigned goats (n = 6) from each BR were transported to the Meat Science Lab., Mississippi State University, MS and were harvested. There were no interactions between BR and HA. Boer BR tended (P = 0.08) to have greater initial BW, final BW (P = 0.05) and greater G:F ratio (P = 0.05). Although the 80:20 grain:hay diet was reinforced by adjusting DMI, both BRs had similar total DMI, Boer BR kept that ratio, while Kiko BR consumed more (P = 0.001) hay (70:30) and had more DMI when expressed as g/kg BW. Boer BR tended to have greater transportation shrink (P = 0.07), HCW (P = 0.08) and cold carcass weights (CCW; P = 0.08) with greater (P = 0.001) carcass fat. No differences were observed in carcass shrink, dressing percentage, 12(th) rib fat thickness, and LM area between two BR. When expressed as % empty BW, carcass bone was similar (P = 0.25), while muscle % (P = 0.02) was greater for Kiko and fat % was greater (P = 0.001) for Boer BR. Fat as a % of CCW remained relatively the same (P > 0.10) for both BR for 2(nd) and 3(rd) HA. Differences were more evident (P = 0.01) at the 4(th) HA. Boer BR reached targeted harvest weight (29 kg) at 3(rd) HA while fat deposition continued (P = 0.01) during 4(th) HA. Breed had no effect on meat color (L(*), a(*), b(*)) but HA affected (P = 0.001) all color values. Boer BR had similar 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase mRNA abundance, but was greater (P < 0.03) in acetyl CoA carboxylase compared to Kiko BR. There was no difference (P = 0.52) in total serum fatty acids (mg/mL) between the two breeds. As animals aged, their total serum fatty acids increased (P < .05) and changed to an undesirable profile. Kiko BR had a greater percentage of muscle and less fat in the carcass. We concluded that different breeds might need different harvest endpoints and feed input according to the consumer acceptability.

J Gen Virol. 2012 Jan 25;
Dassanayake RP, Schneider DA, Herrmann-Hoesing LM, Truscott TC, Davis WC, O'Rourke KI

Although PrPc expression in ovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and prion infectivity in scrapie-infected sheep blood have been demonstrated, such studies are not reported in goats. Therefore, we characterized cell-surface expression of PrPc on PBMCs subsets derived from normal goats and sheep by flow cytometry, and determined prion infectivity in blood from a scrapie-infected goat by transfusion bioassay in goat kids. Cell-surface PrPc expression was detected on all subsets of goat PBMCs. The highest PrPc cell-surface expression was found in CD2+ T-lymphocytes in goats. Transmission of infection was detected in all three recipients who received whole blood from a goat with classical scrapie. We conclude that caprine PBMCs express PrPc similar, but with relative differences among PBMCs subsets, to sheep, and that blood-borne infectious prions can be detected in scrapie-infected goats. Thus, similar to sheep, the goat blood may be a suitable diagnostic target for detection of scrapie infection.

Res Q Exerc Sport. 2011 Dec; 82(4): 702-11
Omli J, Wiese-Bjornstal DM

News reports (e.g., Abrams, 2008) and scholarly research (e.g., Wiersma & Fife, 2005) have indicated increasing concern that parent-spectator behavior at youth sport events may be problematic. Multiple strategies have been used to influence spectator behavior in youth sport contexts (e.g., "Silent Sundays"). However it is unlikely that interventions aimed at changing parent-spectator behaviors have adequately considered young athletes' perspectives, because little is known about how children want parents to behave during youth sport events. Therefore, children (ages 7-14 years) were asked to describe how parents actually behaved at youth sport events and how they wanted parents to behave. Through grounded theory analysis (Charmaz, 2000), three parent "roles" emerged from the data-supportive parent, demanding coach, and crazed fan.

Aust Occup Ther J. 2012 Feb; 59(1): 2-9
Sawatzky B, Rushton PW, Denison I, McDonald R

Aim:  Wheelchair skills are not typically provided when a child gets a new wheelchair. The purpose of this prospective pilot study was to determine the effectiveness of a two-day modified Wheelchair Skills Programme 3.2 for children. Methods:  Six children (ages 6-19 years) with spinal cord injuries or spina bifida were invited to participate in a two-day wheelchair skills programme provided on subsequent Saturdays. Children were tested before and after training using a modified Wheelchair Skills Test 3.2. To assess for the effect of the programme on participation, the Activity Skills for Kids was used before and one month after training. For a more qualitative reflection, an Impact Questionnaire was given at four months post-training. Results:  There was a significant (14%) increase in skills based on the Wheelchair Skills Test 3.2. No change in participation was measured with the Activity Skills for Kids. The Impact Questionnaire suggests the skill training allowed participants to do more, with less pain and fatigue post-training. Conclusions:  A two-day wheelchair skills programme can potentially improve skill level in children with spinal cord injuries or spina bifida.

PLoS Med. 2012 Jan; 9(1): e1001158
Berry JG, Poduri A, Bonkowsky JL, Zhou J, Graham DA, Welch C, Putney H, Srivastava R

Care advances in the United States (US) have led to improved survival of children with neurological impairment (NI). Children with NI may account for an increasing proportion of hospital resources. However, this assumption has not been tested at a national level.We conducted a study of 25,747,016 US hospitalizations of children recorded in the Kids' Inpatient Database (years 1997, 2000, 2003, and 2006). Children with NI were identified with International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification diagnoses resulting in functional and/or intellectual impairment. We assessed trends in inpatient resource utilization for children with NI with a Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test using all 4 y of data combined. Across the 4 y combined, children with NI accounted for 5.2% (1,338,590) of all hospitalizations. Epilepsy (52.2% [n = 538,978]) and cerebral palsy (15.9% [n = 164,665]) were the most prevalent NI diagnoses. The proportion of hospitalizations attributable to children with NI did not change significantly (p = 0.32) over time. In 2006, children with NI accounted for 5.3% (n = 345,621) of all hospitalizations, 13.9% (n = 3.4 million) of bed days, and 21.6% (US$17.7 billion) of all hospital charges within all hospitals. Over time, the proportion of hospitalizations attributable to children with NI decreased within non-children's hospitals (3.0% [n = 146,324] in 1997 to 2.5% [n = 113,097] in 2006, p<.001) and increased within children's hospitals (11.7% [n = 179,324] in 1997 to 13.5% [n = 209,708] in 2006, p<0.001). In 2006, children with NI accounted for 24.7% (2.1 million) of bed days and 29.0% (US$12.0 billion) of hospital charges within children's hospitals.Children with NI account for a substantial proportion of inpatient resources utilized in the US. Their impact is growing within children's hospitals. We must ensure that the current health care system is staffed, educated, and equipped to serve this growing segment of vulnerable children. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary.

Pain Physician. 2012 Jan; 15(1): 65-74
Varhabhatla NC, Zuo Z

Intrathecal delivery of baclofen (ITB) is effective at controlling spasticity. However, it requires the placement of a catheter into the intrathecal space, and a pump with a reservoir for the medication. The process of placing the catheter and pump are prone to complications.The objective of this paper is to determine factors contributing to rising complication rates after intrathecal catheter/pump placement in a national sample of pediatric patients.This was a retrospective observational database study.We queried the Kids' Inpatient Database for all children greater than 4 years old and under 20 years old for the years 1997, 2000, 2003, and 2006 who had an intrathecal catheter and pump placed. We then compared demographics and hospital characteristics of patients with and without complications. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses to determine the relative contribution of various factors to the development of complications.We identified 2,843 patients who met our criteria, and 514 of these patients had one or more complications after placement of intrathecal pump/catheter. There were 1.14 complications per patient. The complication rate was 10.2% in 1997, and increased to 21.9% in 2006. Mechanical complications were the most common type of complication in this population, account for nearly two-thirds of all complications occurring. Age, hospital type, hospital size, and admission source were independent predictors of complications.We did not have access to ASA status, operative details, and access to patient charts.Complication rates after placement of intrathecal pump/catheters have increased in the pediatric population between 1997 and 2006 mainly due to an increase in mechanical complications.