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Simple Summary: In this cross-sectional retrospective review of serum 25(OH)D levels in 544 children, children newly diagnosed with cancer (n = 136) had significantly lower 25(OH)D levels at diagnosis than their age-, sex-, and race-matched peers without cancer from the same geographic region of the US (n = 408). Significant differences were evident: older children exhibited lower 25(OH)D levels, children of color displayed higher levels of insufficiency, and black children were most deficient. Children with cancer have a greater risk for vitamin D concerns because of compromised health before diagnosis, the disease itself, and treatments for the cancer. This IRB-approved retrospective, matched case–control study of children with and without cancer included three race categories: black, other, and Caucasian. This is the first study to directly compare serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and status in newly diagnosed pediatric cancer patients with age-, sex-, and race-matched cancer-free children from the same geographic region of the US, all of whom are free from other conditions that negatively impact 25(OH)D levels. Univariable and multivariable ordinal logistic regressions were performed. In the 544 children (mean age of 8.5 years, 53% female), there were 136 newly diagnosed children with cancer and 408 matched non-cancer controls. Serum 25(OH)D levels at cancer diagnosis were lower (22.4 ng/mL) than in controls (30.1 ng/mL; p < 0.0001). Differences persisted across race (p < 0.001) and age (p < 0.001), but not sex. Older children exhibited lower 25(OH)D levels. Only 18.4% of the children with cancer had sufficient levels. Black children with cancer had the greatest rate of deficiency (39%). Race differences were evident: children of color (other and black) displayed higher levels of insufficiency; black children were most deficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DFT computations (ωB97X-D/6-31G(d)) of eight different cycloparaphenylenes that have three internal linking groups are shown to have two different conformations that express interesting Möbius topologies. The D3 conformers have linking numbers Lk of 3 (three half-twists as a trefoil), and the much more stable C2 conformers have a single half-twist, Lk = 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano-Saturn complexes with a planar horizontal ring can be constructed by selective nitrogen substitution into the ortho-positions in polyaryl macrocycles. A number of intriguing supermolecular complexes can be created with these planar or ribbon macrocycles, including nano-Saturns with a flat ring, nano-Saturns with an encircling belt, and nanotubes encircled by belts or rings. These systems are investigated using DFT (B3LYP-D3/6-31G(d)), which predicts their structures and finds them to have significant binding enthalpies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A number of 1,3,1′,3′‐tetrasubstituted bisadamantylidenes are examined with 4 different density functional methods (BP86‐D3, ωB97X‐D, B3LYP, and B3LYP‐D3) and the 6‐311G(d) basis set. With increasing steric bulk, these substituted bisadamantylidenes become ever more twisted about the central carbon‐carbon double bond. This manifests in significantly reduced singlet‐triplet gaps from that of typical alkenes, with the tetra‐t‐butylbisadamantylidene 17, twisted to almost 90°, having a gap of only 2.2 kcal mol−1. While its large strain energy may preclude the synthesis of 17, other less‐strained tetrasubstituted analogues are more feasible synthetic targets and still possess small singlet‐triplet gaps, which should be testable by variable temperature NMR and EPR spectroscopy. The twisted alkenes also result in a low rotational energy barrier, and 4 examples with a low barrier to cis‐trans isomerization are presented. These too should be testable by experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Increasing numbers of children are being treated with the bisphosphonate pamidronate for low bone mineral density, particularly children with increased risk of fractures caused by bone disorders or low/non-weight bearing.Objective: To determine the effect of intravenous pamidronate on the bone mineral density of children with osteogenesis imperfecta and spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy.Materials and Methods: Charts of 38 children with osteogenesis imperfecta (n=20) and spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy (n=18) treated with pamidronate were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were selected for treatment because of prior fracture and/or abnormally low bone mineral density. All received intravenous pamidronate at two-month to eight-month intervals and were periodically examined using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.Results: All patients had abnormally low bone mineral density prior to treatment. Lumbar spine bone mineral density and z-scores showed serial improvement in 31 of 32 patients. Spine bone mineral density increased 78+/-38.1% in OI and 47.4+/-39.0% in children with cerebral palsy. The area of greatest lateral distal femur bone mineral density improvement was in the metaphysis adjacent to the growth plate, with a 96+/-87.8% improvement in the osteogenesis imperfecta group and 65.7+/-55.2% improvement in the cerebral palsy group. Increases in bone mineral density exceeded that expected for age-specific growth. This was demonstrated by improvement in both spine and femur z-scores for both groups. No children with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy experienced fractures after the first week of treatment, whereas patients with osteogenesis imperfecta continued to have fractures but at a decreased rate.Conclusions: Intravenous pamidronate given at 3- to 4-month intervals proved to be effective in increasing bone mineral density in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta and spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. The greatest gains in bone mineral density were observed in the children with osteogenesis imperfecta, but they did continue to fracture, albeit at a decreased rate. Children with cerebral palsy gained bone mineral density and did not continue to fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite tremendous progress over the past four decades, challenges remain in the field of computational organic chemistry. Challenges that are likely to be addressed in the near term include tackling the complexity of large configuration spaces, reactions where dynamic effects dictate product outcomes, design of enzymes to catalyze specific reactions, and the quest for a standard computational method. WIREs Comput Mol Sci 2014, 4:482-487. Conflict of interest: The author has declared no conflicts of interest for this article. For further resources related to this article, please visit the . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: It is not uncommon for children with cerebral palsy (CP) to be discovered dead during sleep (DDDS); however, the factors associated with this pattern of mortality remain unknown. The current study aims to describe the mortality associated with children with CP from a single, tertiary care center who were DDDS. METHODS: A retrospective (case-only) design to examine proportionate mortality and patient characteristics and co-morbidities that may be related to children DDDS between 1993 and 2011.RESULTS: There were 177 patients with CP whose deaths were reported to our institution during the study period, of which 19 were DDDS at home. The period proportionate mortality (PPM) was 114.5 per 1000. The average age at time of death was 17 years and 6 months (minimum, 6 years; maximum, 25 years). All but one of the DDDS patients had gastrointestinal feeding tubes, seizure disorders, respiratory disorders, and were non-ambulatory. Very importantly, our DDDS patients manifested clusters of respiratory disorders, namely recurrent aspiration pneumonia (10/19), asthma pneumonitis (4/19), food/vomitius inhalation (6/19), reactive airway disease (16/19), respiratory failure (14/19), chronic bronchitis (7/19), chronic obstructive lung disease (9/19), and nocturnal respiratory insufficiency (16/19). CONCLUSIONS: Respiratory disorders, severe motor disability, seizures, and intellectual status are possible co-morbidities that may be associated with DDDS. There is a need for further study in order to understand what type of monitoring and care (if any) may help prevent DDDS related to these co-morbidities and sleep disorders/abnormalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the nonambulatory cerebral palsy (CP) population with a prior history of fracture, the use of pamidronate is not always effective in preventing further fractures. Objective: To test the hypothesis that when fractures occur after cyclic pamidronate, they will be at the proximal or distal end of a pamidronate band. Materials and methods: Retrospective review of our CP patient database revealed 53 children who had received one or more complete courses of pamidronate therapy (five cycles over 12 months). Medical records were screened to identify children who had sustained a fracture or fractures after completing treatment. Results: Of 53 patients treated with pamidronate, only 14 sustained fractures after treatment. Radiographs were available for 11 patients, showing 19 fractures. Sixty-three percent of these fractures were located at a junction with pamidronate bands but not within the bands. Conclusions: We propose stress risers as the mechanism for fractures that have occurred where bone mineral density abruptly changes as a result of cyclic administration of pamidronate. We show a theoretical example of how alternative dosing might reduce the ratio and therefore decrease the chance of formation of a stress riser. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The aim of this study was to assess the rate of fracture before and after a 1-year course of intravenous pamidronate in children with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy (CP) who had previously experienced fractures. Method Twenty-five children (nine males, 16 females) with quadriplegic CP in Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level IV or V who were treated with intravenous pamidronate for approximately 1 year were identified. All participants had previously experienced at least one non-traumatic fracture. Each received 15 doses of pamidronate over a mean of 13.6 months. Post-treatment observation ranged from 1 to 10 years 6 months (mean 4y 1mo). The fracture rate before and after commencement of treatment was calculated using the person-years method. Results The participants had experienced a total of 86 fractures before treatment began, occurring over 280.6 person-years, giving a fracture rate of 30.6% per year. During the post-treatment observation period, totalling 107.5 person-years, 8 of the 25 children experienced a total of 14 fractures. This fracture rate of 13.0% per year is a statistically significant decrease ( p=0.02). Interpretation Pamidronate treatment lowered the rate of fracture, and a 1-year course appears to provide a protective effect after treatment ends. For the majority of participants, this effect lasted 4 years or longer. However, a subset of children suffered a fracture soon after the drug was discontinued. In these children, a longer course of treatment appears to have been necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim There is a lack of investigation into the functional developmental profile of children with Down syndrome. On the basis of current international health paradigms, the purpose of this study was to assess the developmental profile of these children. Method Sixty children (33 males, 27 females) with Down syndrome (age range 6–16y; mean age 9y 3mo, SD 28.8mo), who had received standard, holistic, early intervention, were assessed. Of these, 42 (70%) had congenital anomalies, 12 had severe congenital heart defects. Participants were assessed on measures of cognitive function (Beery–Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual–Motor Integration; Stanford–Binet Intelligence Scale) and participation (Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales). Results No difference was found on any measure on the basis of severity of congenital anomaly. Results showed improvements in age-related body function and correlations between specific body functions and participation. No decline in IQ was found with age, and significant correlations between IQ and all other measures were noted. Although sex differences were found in the body functions of short-term memory and motor function, no difference in measures of activity performance and participation was found. Interpretation Our findings emphasize the need for paediatric Down syndrome intervention to encourage improved body functions while emphasizing the acquisition of functional skills that enable enhanced participation in age-appropriate activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical loading plays an important role in skeletal health, and this is a major reason standing devices are widely used with non-ambulatory persons. However, little is known about the true axial loading that occurs while in a stander, or the factors which may impact loading. The purpose of this study was to quantify weight borne while in a stander, and to directly compare different standers. Load measuring footplate adaptors were designed and fabricated specifically for this study. Weight bearing loads in 20 non-ambulatory persons with quadriplegic cerebral palsy aged 6 to 21 years (median 14y) were continuously monitored during routine 30-minute standing sessions. Fourteen participants were female, six were male; one was Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) Level IV, and 19 were GMFCS Level V. Each participant was monitored on four to six occasions over an 8-week period, two to three times in each of two different standers (total 108 standing sessions). Weight bearing loads ranged widely from 37 to 101% of body weight. The difference between standers was as much as 29% body weight. There is wide variance in the actual weight borne while in passive standers. The type of stander utilized is one factor which can significantly affect the amount of weight borne. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study that attempted to resolve the question of whether pregnancy complications and perinatal trauma, including brain insults, in premature infants increase the susceptibility to eating disorder symptomatology during the adolescent years. Study population; Pregnancy and perinatal complications; Illnesses during the neonatal intensive care unit hospitalization.

Focuses on the critical evaluation of chemical publications. Limited terms of information on chemical publication of journals; Identification of cost, publishing, and libraries on the scholarly publication; Use of the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition services by the Association of Research Libraries on publishing.

Determines the safety and efficacy of glycopyrrolate in the treatment of developmentally disabled children with sialorrhea in the United States. Effective dosage of glycopyrrolate; Percentage of children who exhibited adverse side effects severe enough to require discontinuation; Response to medication; Common adverse effects.

Describes how the 'Internet Journal of Chemistry' came into existence and examines how many of the publication choices were made. Publishing of peer-reviewed articles in all areas of chemistry; Publication model employed by the journal; Significant advantages afforded by the electronic medium; Enhanced articles in user-customizable format.

Background. Children with cerebral palsy (CP), often nonambulatory and/or on anticonvulsants, are at increased risk for fractures. Bone mineral density (BMD) measured by the conventional techniques of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) often cannot be reliably or easily measured in these patients. Objective. To find an alternative site to whole body, spine and hip that can be conveniently used to measure BMD in CP patients. Materials and methods. Having observed that CP patients prefer to lie on their sides, we explored measuring BMD at the distal femur in the lateral projection. A total of 92 scans were performed without sedation in 34 children and adolescents with CP, aged 4–19 years. Four femoral shaft subregions were created: two trabecular and two cortical. Results. The coefficients of variation (CV %) were generally higher for opposite-side comparisons ( n = 12 patients) than for same-side comparisons ( n = 16 patients). For intra- and interobserver analyses, CV % were higher for cortical regions than for trabecular regions. Overall, the CV % were similar to those for hip and spine. Conclusion. This peripheral site in the femur should be considered as an alternative for patients with CP when whole-body, hip and spine DXA are not practical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents the results of a survey of parents and caretakers of children with cerebral palsy on their use of antisialorrheic medication for excessive drooling. Number of respondents using glycopyrrolate; Side effects; Use of benzhexol hydrochloride.

Shortly after being weaned off the respirator, 43 infants with severe chronic bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) were transferred from an intensive-care nursery at a teaching hospital to an affiliated children's rehabilitation hospital in a program that included special staff instruction. Morbidity, measured by rate of transfer back to the acute-care hospital, was lower than in a comparison group of 15 infants treated for severe BPD during the previous two years. Average length of stay was significantly shortened and an average of $60,000 per patient was saved. Using a rehabilitation hospital as a step-down unit shifts the emphasis from acute needs to chronic and developmental needs and from intensive monitoring and nursing care to care given at home by parents with nursing assistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An outbreak of shigellosis is described in an intermediate care hospital for children, where routine isolation procedures failed to halt the outbreak. Two weeks after the appearance of the first case, small numbers of patients became symptomatic with fever and diarrhea, but remained culture-negative. One week later, two patients with positive cultures were identified, with many other symptomatic patients having negative cultures. Twenty-five days after identification of the first case, there were fourteen cases identified with shigellosis and many more symptomatic patients. It was at that time that hospital-wide measures of infection control were instituted, and treatment of all patients, infected and uninfected, was initiated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX). No new cases of shigellosis were diagnosed after initiation of treatment, and symptoms abated within 72 hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]