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Objective: To determine whether a defect in energy metabolism exists in infants with cystic fibrosis (CF)., Design: Unselected, newly-diagnosed subjects with CF (n = 46) and 24 healthy infants aged <20 weeks had measurements of resting energy expenditure (REE), total energy expenditure (TEE) (n = 25), and body composition. Metabolizable energy intake (MEI) was calculated. Genotype, energy intake, and pancreatic status was determined in all subjects with CF, and 24 underwent bronchial lavage., Results: At diagnosis, infants with CF detected by newborn screening had significant anthropometric deficits (mean [SD] z-weight = 0.5 [1.0], z-length = 0.7 [1.3]) associated with pancreatic insufficiency. Their REE, TEE, or MEI (absolute measurements, per unit body weight or fat-free mass) were not increased. No relationship between REE, TEE, or MEI and Delta F(508) genotype, and no proportional differences in individual components of MEI between subjects with CF and controls, or between subjects with CF who were homozygotes or compound heterozygotes for Delta F(508) were observed. REE and TEE were not correlated with bronchial infection or inflammation., Conclusion: Growth impairment during the first weeks of life in infants with CF is associated with pancreatic insufficiency. However, there is no evidence for a defect of energy metabolism related to Delta F(508), and in infants with CF, minimal lung disease is unaccompanied by increased energy expenditure.

A cohort of 378 asthmatic children was studied from 7 to 35 yr of age at 7-yr intervals. On selection for inclusion in the study sample, the children had a wide range of severity of wheezing. At each 7-yr review, asthma severity, the presence of eczema or hay fever, and skin test reactivity to house dust mite or rye grass were recorded by questionnaire or clinical interview. We report on the course of asthma and these atopic conditions over the study period and discuss associations between the two phenomena. The presence of an atopic condition in childhood was found to increase the odds of more severe asthma in later life (odds ratio [OR] = 1.66, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17 to 2.36 in the case of eczema; OR = 1. 39, 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.92 for hay fever; and OR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.49 to 3.39 for skin test reactivity). Additionally, the odds of eczema and hay fever in later life increased with severity of asthma in childhood. The findings of this study provide substantially new quantitative information on the extent of association between asthma and atopic conditions from childhood into middle adulthood.

Casemix funding for hospitals with the use of diagnosis-related groups (DRGs), which organise patients' conditions into similar clinical categories with similar costs, was introduced in Australia five years ago. It has been applied in different ways and to a greater or lesser extent in different Australian States. Only Victoria and South Australia have implemented casemix funding across all healthcare services. Attempts have been made to formally evaluate its impact, but they have not met the required scientific standards in controlling for confounding factors. Casemix funding remains a much-discussed issue. In this Debate, Braithwaite and Hindle take a contrary position, largely to stimulate policy debate; Phelan defends the casemix concept and advocates retaining its best features; and Hanson adds a plea for consumer input.

Purpose: The improved life-expectancy in cystic fibrosis (CF) results in the fact that the majority of affected young women now survive to face the same reproductive health decisions as other women, in addition to those that specifically relate to CF. The aim of this study was to assess the reproductive health knowledge of women with CF, to investigate the range of their reproductive health problems, and to review their reproductive health attitudes and behaviors., Methods: Women aged 18 years and over attending CF services in the state of Victoria, Australia were invited to complete a reproductive health questionnaire. Comparison subjects (n = 76) were enrolled from 2 primary care practices., Results: Fifty-five women participated (89%), with a median age of 22 years (range 18-50). There was no significant difference in marital status between the two groups and a similar proportion were sexually active, yet women with CF were less likely to use contraception. A majority of women with CF believed that fertility was reduced, and there was poor knowledge of the potentially deleterious effect of pregnancy. A relatively high proportion were planning to become pregnant in the near future. Twenty-two percent had tried to conceive, with a success rate of 67%., Conclusions: Women with CF are currently lacking important information about reproductive health that potentially has a major impact on their health and their lives.

Respiratory morbidity in 334 patients aged 1 to 37 years with repaired oesophageal atresia and tracheo-oesophageal fistula is reported. Just under half the patients were subsequently hospitalised with respiratory illness. Two thirds of admissions were before 5 years of age. Five percent were admitted on more than five occasions. Patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux and low birth weight were more likely to be admitted. Thirty one percent of patients had one or more episodes of pneumonia in the first five years of life and 5% after 15 years. The prevalence of annual bouts of bronchitis in these age groups was 74% and 41% respectively. The prevalence of wheeze was about 40% in all age groups. Patients with symptoms persisting after 15 years were more likely to have had lower respiratory tract illness in early childhood and a history of atopy. In the 12 months before review, weekly episodes of wheezing were present in one third under 5 years and 15% over 15 years. Thirty two percent of patients aged 5-10 years and 8% over 15 years missed two or more weeks of school or work in the previous year with respiratory illness.

Objective: To determine whether the high prevalence of reported asthma in Melbourne schoolchildren is seen in rural Victoria., Design: A questionnaire on respiratory symptoms was distributed to children to be completed by parents and returned to the school. Results were compared with a previous Melbourne study., Setting: Two hundred and twenty-seven government and non-government primary schools in five rural regions of Victoria: coast, wheatbelt, riverland, highland and Latrobe valley., Subjects: All children enrolled in grade 2 were invited to join the study. Parents completed questionnaires for 4661 children after 4886 questionnaires were distributed (response rate, 95%)., Main Outcome Measure: History of wheeze in the past 12 months., Results: The overall prevalence of wheeze in the last 12 months was 23.6%. There was a significant difference overall in this rate across the five rural areas and Melbourne, with the Latrobe Valley (26.2%) and highland areas (25.0%) having the highest rate, and the wheatbelt the lowest (19.6%). The spectrum of severity of asthma was similarly distributed across rural regions, although severe episodes were significantly more frequently reported by parents from rural areas than by parents in Melbourne. The reported use of bronchodilators and diagnosis of asthma showed a similar pattern of variation to that of the 12-month prevalence of wheeze., Conclusion: The prevalence of asthma in 7-year-old children is similar for rural Victoria as a whole compared with Melbourne, but there is variability in asthma prevalence in individual rural areas which is difficult to account for in terms of known environmental precipitants.