The prevalence of enamel defects in primary dentition is significantly influenced by birth weight, gestational age and several systemic factors. Orotracheal intubation probably plays an important role as a result of laryngoscope trauma on the maxilla.

Modifications in a patient's respiratory assistance were made depending on the clinical, blood gas, and radiologic evolution of the patient. Mean airway pressure and Fio2 values of >11.5 and 0.6, respectively, predict failure and possibly set the limit above the patient's risk of delayed intubation increases.

The present study aims to define, characterize and compare the long-term effects on offspring of delayed parenthood. Data published so far on this topic show that maternal and paternal ageing may affect offspring by different mechanisms. Delayed motherhood is characterized by increased probability of obstetric complications and/or fetal and perinatal problems which, in turn, may increase the risks of mortality and morbidity in newborns and later life. Furthermore, maternal ageing is distinguished by a decreased ratio of male to female infants and higher odds of conceiving a trisomic child and/or an individual suffering from mitochondrial DNA disorders. In contrast, delayed fatherhood is associated with higher risks of conceiving an individual suffering from new inheritable-mutation disorders. The different pattern of disease in offspring associated with maternal and paternal ageing may be explained, among other factors, by the fact that (i) oocytes of middle-aged women may suffer oxidative stress because their mitochondria produce higher amounts of reactive oxygen species; (ii) diplotene oocytes and to a lesser extent metaphase I and II oocytes have an efficient DNA repair system which is essentially independent of maternal age; and (iii) mitochondria are transmitted to the next generation along the matrilineal line. Moreover, (i) the activities of antioxidant enzymes within the seminal plasma and spermatozoa from older men may be reduced and so spermatozoa may be more vulnerable to mutational changes than spermatozoa from younger men; and (ii) late spermatids, and immature and mature spermatozoa do not have a DNA repair system.

Objective: To examine the association between cardiovascular risk and childhood overweight and obesity using the BMI cut-offs recommended by the WHO. Design: Children were classified as normal weight, overweight and obese according to the WHO BMI-for-age reference. Blood pressure, lipids, glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and uric acid levels were compared across BMI groups. ANOVA and tests of linearity were used to assess overall mean differences across groups. Crude and adjusted odds ratios were calculated for adverse plasma levels of biochemical variables. Setting: Paediatric care centres. Subjects: Children (n 149) aged 8-18 years. Results: About 37 %, 22 % and 41 % of children were classified respectively as normal weight, overweight and obese. There were significant linear mean differences between BMI groups in systolic blood pressure, HDL-cholesterol, TAG, insulin, HOMA-IR and uric acid. Obese children were 10?6 times more likely than normal-weight children to have hypertension; OR for other associations were 60?2 (high insulin), 39?5 (HOMA-IR), 27?9 (TAG), 16?0 (HDL-cholesterol), 4?3 (LDL-cholesterol) and 3?6 (uric acid). Overweight children were more likely than normal-weight children to have hypertension (OR 5 3?5), high insulin (OR 5 28?2), high HOMA-IR (OR 5 23?3) and high TAG (OR 5 16?1). Nearly 92 % and 57 % of the obese and overweight children, respectively, had one or more risk factor. Conclusions: Obesity and overweight defined using the WHO BMI-for-age cutoffs identified children with higher metabolic and vascular risk. These results emphasize the importance of prevention of overweight and obesity in childhood to reduce cardiovascular risk.

Background:  Healthcare professionals advise earlier gastrostomy tube (GT) placement in children with severe developmental disabilities, marked feeding disorders and risk of malnutrition. However, a delay in acceptance of the procedure by parents/guardians is the main issue of concern. The present study aimed to investigate: (i) parental satisfaction with GT feeding and whether parents/carers would have accepted earlier GT placement and (ii) subsequent nutritional outcome. Methods:  Twenty‐six disabled children with GT feeding were recruited. A structured questionnaire by telephone was held to record parental perceptions of GT (mainly satisfaction with the procedure and patient management). A longitudinal study (0–6–12 months) was designed to investigate anthropometric outcome. Nutritional support mode and GT‐related complications were also recorded. Results:  Parents/carers showed high satisfaction (91%). Furthermore, 87% recognised that they would have accepted an earlier placement of the GT had they anticipated the outcome. Patient management and family dynamics were acknowledged to have improved considerably. Nutritional assessment demonstrated a positive trend in weight. Height improved significantly 6 months post‐implantation (P = 0.045) and body mass index improved after 12 months (P = 0.041). When comparing nutritional outcome between children in whom the GT was placed before 18 months of age and those in whom it was placed later, height was found to improve significantly in the first group (P = 0.04). Conclusions:  Most parents/carers would have agreed to earlier GT feeding of their children had they acknowledged its benefits. Although nutritional response was positive, it was less so than the parental perception of children’s overall improvement. Growth rates were significantly increased when GT was placed early in life.

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The aim of this study was to establish the possible effects of the sampling protocol (between-breast, within-feed, and diurnal differences) and the mother's personal factors (age, parity, iron supplementation, smoking habits, and lactation period) on the copper, iron, and zinc contents in human milk. One hundred thirty-six human milk samples identified by their origin and sampling conditions were analyzed. The samples were obtained from the 2nd to 15th d postpartum from 62 women. The data on the individuals required for the study were available. Mineral determinations were analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry following a standardized protocol. The results showed that iron contents were higher in hind-milk samples and at the nighttime feeding and depended on the breast from which the sample was taken. The copper and zinc concentrations showed no significant variations. There was no significant relationship among the mothers' age, parity, smoking habits, iron supplementation, and copper content. Milk from older women had lower zinc contents than that of younger women. Increased amounts of iron were found in multiparous women. Between colostrum and transitional milk, a sharp decrease in zinc content was observed, whereas copper and iron contents remained constant. All of these results make it clear that standardized sampling protocols are needed in order to obtain comparable values.

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