Neglect in acute stroke is an important predictor of poor functional recovery. Residual neglect, which could be compensated in the follow-up tests, may nevertheless restrict patients' real-life activities and hobbies.

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Aims-To test the hypothesis that a vitamin D dose of 200 IU/kg, maximum 400 IU/day, given to preterm infants will maintain normal vitamin D status and will result in as high a bone mineral density as that attained with the recommended dose of 960 IU/day. Methods-Thirty nine infants of fewer than 33 weeks of gestational age were randomly allocated to receive vitamin D 200 IU/kg of body weight/day up to a maximum of 400 IU/day or 960 IU/day until 3 months old. Vitamin D metabolites, bone mineral content and density were determined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, and plasma ionised calcium, plasma alkaline phosphatase, and intact parahormone measurements were used to evaluate outcomes. Results-The 25 hydroxy vitamin D concentrations tended to be higher in infants receiving 960 IU/day, but the diVerences did not reach significance at any age. There was no diVerence between the infants receiving low or high vitamin D dose in bone mineral content nor in bone mineral density at 3 and 6 months corrected age, even after taking potential risk factors into account. Conclusions-A vitamin D dose of 200 IU/kg of body weight/day up to a maximum of 400 IU/day maintains normal vitamin D status and as good a bone mineral accretion as the previously recommended higher dose of 960 IU/day. Vitamin D is a potent hormone which aVects organs other than bone and should not be given in excess to preterm infants.

A combination of the criteria "serum total alkaline phosphatase activity above 900 IU/l" and "serum inorganic phosphate concentrations below 1.8 mmol/l" yielded a sensitivity of 100% at a specificity of 70%. This was the best available screening method for low bone mineral density in preterms.

Hällström M, Koivisto A-M, Janas M, Tammela O. Frequency of and risk factors for necrotizing enterocolitis in infants born before 33 weeks of gestation. Acta Paediatr 2003; 92: 111-113. Stockholm. ISSN 0803-5253Aim: To investigate the frequency of and risk factors for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) among infants of <33 wk of gestation. Methods: Prospective follow-up of 140 inpatients. Results: 26 (18.6%) subjects developed NEC stage I-III and 12 (8.6%) severe NEC (stage II-III). Breast milk fortifier and duration of morphine infusion emerged as the statistically significant factors associated with NEC stage I-III, but only the latter had a significant association with severe NEC.Conclusion: Future studies are needed to be established whether morphine is a causative factor in NEC.

The impact of very low birthweight (<1500g) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) on respiratory morbidity, on need of medical resources and rehabilitation at 2–8 y of age, and on the everyday life of the child's family was evaluated by means of a questionnaire addressed to parents of 143 very low birthweight children, 36 of whom had had BPD at 28 d postnatal age, and 131 term controls. In the preceding year, respiratory symptoms provoked by exercise, use of inhaled medications, regular follow‐up visits and hospitalizations, need for physiotherapy, occupational therapy, technical aids and financial support from society had been more common in the very low birthweight groups compared to children born at term. Children with BPD suffered respiratory infections and needed antibiotic courses more frequently than term controls. Repeated antibiotic courses, physiotherapy and occupational therapy were more common among very low birthweight children with BPD than among those without. Concern for the child and the impact of the child's health on his or her everyday life and the parents' work and education were more often reported in target families than in term controls. Compared to term families, more parents in the BPD group felt that the child's health affected the pastimes of other family members. To the families concerned, very low birthweight and BPD constitute a significant burden far beyond the neonatal period. Validated scales for the assessment of their quality of life are needed to develop supportive measures and to evaluate the effects of such interventions.

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