Micronutrients are essential for brain development during gestation and infancy. Few randomized trials of maternal multiple micronutrient supplementation during pregnancy and postpartum have examined child outcomes beyond the neonatal period or tested which cognitive domains show long-term effects.

Children of undernourished mothers given multiple micronutrients performed as well as children of well-nourished mothers in motor and visual attention/spatial ability at age 42 months; children of undernourished mothers given iron/folic acid showed 4- to 5-month delays in these abilities. (Read the full article)

Immature animals exposed to anesthetics display apoptotic neurodegeneration and long-term cognitive deficiencies. In children, studies of cognitive deficits associated with anesthesia exposure have yielded mixed results. No studies to date have used directly administered neuropsychological assessments as outcome measures.

This study examines the association between exposure to anesthesia in children under age 3 and deficits at age 10 by using a battery of directly administered neuropsychological assessments, with deficits found in language and abstract reasoning associated with exposure. (Read the full article)

The false-positive rate of newborn screening for classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) remains high and has not been significantly improved by adjusting 17α-hydroxyprogesterone cutoff values for birth weight and/or gestational age. In response, 4 states have initiated second-tier steroid profile screening.

Under second-tier screening, the false-positive rate remains high, and classic CAH cases missed by screening (false-negatives) occur more frequently than reported. Physicians are cautioned that a negative screen does not necessarily rule out CAH. (Read the full article)

Diuretics are used in preterm infants to treat the symptoms of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), although there is little evidence of their effectiveness in improving long-term outcomes. Prescribing patterns and frequency of diuretic use in patients with BPD are unknown.

The use of diuretics in infants with BPD, including the specific medications used and length of treatment, varies widely by institution. Long-term diuretic administration to patients with BPD is commonly practiced despite minimal evidence regarding effectiveness and safety. (Read the full article)

Twin studies suggest that bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is heritable; however, only a small number of genetic loci have been associated with BPD and these explain only a limited amount of this heritability.

A genome-wide association study of singleton infants (899 BPD cases and 827 controls) of 25 to 30 weeks’ gestational age did not identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with BPD at the genome-wide significance level but did identify polymorphisms warranting further study. (Read the full article)

Respiratory outcomes of patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) range from no oxygen requirement to chronic respiratory failure. Outcomes of least severe types of BPD are well described. Limited data exist on outcomes of patients with BPD-related chronic ventilator dependency.

Along with a first estimation of the incidence of patients with severe BPD-related chronic respiratory failure who were dependent on positive pressure ventilation via tracheostomy at home, we describe their survival rate, liberation from positive pressure ventilation, and decannulation. (Read the full article)

Only 2 randomized controlled trials have addressed effects of ultrasound screening for developmental hip dysplasia. Both concluded that adding universal or selective ultrasound to routine clinical examination gave a nonsignificant reduction in rates of late presenting cases, but higher treatment rates.

This maturity review assesses long-term outcome of one of these trials. Rates of radiographic findings indicating acetabular dysplasia and degenerative change were similar across the 3 screening groups in young adulthood. Increased treatment rates were not associated with avascular necrosis. (Read the full article)

Primary ciliary dyskinesia presents in infancy with unexplained neonatal respiratory distress, yet diagnosis is often delayed until late childhood. Earlier diagnosis facilitates earlier onset of therapy, which may help to reduce long-term pulmonary morbidity and mortality.

A diagnostic workup for primary ciliary dyskinesia should be considered in a term infant presenting with unexplained respiratory distress and either lobar collapse, situs inversus, or a prolonged oxygen therapy requirement (>2 days). (Read the full article)

Sleep apnea is a common condition in childhood, mainly managed by tonsillectomy. Codeine was recently contraindicated for pain management after surgery. Controversy exists regarding the safety and effectiveness of alternative medications, morphine, and ibuprofen.

Our findings suggest that ibuprofen does not increase tonsillar bleeding and in combination with acetaminophen is effective for pain management after tonsillectomy. Furthermore, standard morphine doses increased postoperative respiratory events and were not safe in all children. (Read the full article)

Little is known about the impact of tobacco smoke exposure on preterm children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. It is essential to understand how environmental exposures, such as tobacco smoke, influence respiratory morbidities in this vulnerable population.

Chronic tobacco smoke exposure is common in children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. In children who required home respiratory support, hair nicotine levels were a better predictor of hospitalization and activity limitation than caregiver self-report. (Read the full article)

Increasing data suggest that neonatal pain has long-term consequences. Pharmacologic interventions for minor pain are ineffective, and nonpharmacologic techniques (sucrose taste, pacifier suckling, breastfeeding) are effective and now widely used.

The taste of sucrose has been shown to be an effective and widely used analgesic for infants, and this study demonstrates that combining brief exposure to natural radiant warmth with the taste of sucrose improves the analgesic effect for the infant. (Read the full article)

Clinical trials of the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine show it to be highly efficacious in preventing vaccine-type–specific cervical dysplasia and anogenital warts, but few studies have assessed its effects in the real world and none have done so at the program/population level.

This study provides strong evidence of the early benefits of quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccination on reductions in cervical dysplasia and possible reductions in anogenital warts among girls aged 14 to 17 years, offering additional justification for not delaying vaccination until girls are older. (Read the full article)

Permanent neuronal deletion and neurocognitive impairment after anesthetic exposure in animals raised substantial concern that similar effects occur in children. Human studies were equivocal but have not combined structural and intelligence tests in otherwise healthy children after childhood anesthesia.

Anesthetic exposure for surgery did not lead to measurable neuronal elimination in brain regions previously identified in animals. However, language comprehension and performance IQ were decreased in exposed children and associated with decreased gray matter, primarily in posterior brain regions. (Read the full article)

An overemphasis on calculus in high school may be harming students, writes Dickinson College professor Jeffrey Forrester.

Indonesia was rattled by more than 11 500 earthquakes last year, almost double the annual average of the past decade, according to the nation’s meteorological agency.

On the currency market, the rand traded softer against the greenback as it slipped to a session low of R18.77/$.

If you're buying for someone who lives by the SoulCycle schedule, or wants to get in shape in 2020, this is the gift guide for you.

Italy, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Portugal, Spain, Kazakhstan and Russia joined hosts Slovenia in the finals by winning their main round groups while the eight play-off contenders are confirmed.

Richard A. Ehrenkranz
Dec 1, 2005; 116:1353-1360
ARTICLES

The world is abandoning cash in favor of cashless payment systems, but Asia (not North America) is where the trend is growing the most.

When she began the biology program at Penn State Schuylkill, senior Dominique Varra thought she wanted to study plants. But after conducting field research studying gray catbirds with Luke Redmond, assistant professor of biology, she has discovered a passion for ornithology. And all of her accomplishments have inspired the next generation of scientists, chiefly her five-year-old daughter Hayden, who hopes to follow in her mother’s footsteps.

The International Crisis Group congratulates the members of the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet as this year’s recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. It is an apt recognition of its achievement in allowing the spirit of inclusion and compromise to triumph over the polarisation and violence that has been all too prevalent in the region, and of the central role civil society can play at moments of crisis.

Russia and Portugal are through to the FIFA Futsal World Cup semi-finals but Spain and Italy, along with holders Brazil, are among the casualties in the knockouts so far.

Argentina beat Russia 5-4 despite three Eder Lima goals in a meeting of two first-time finalists in Colombia while Portugal were pipped to bronze by Iran.

"Going into overseas ministry made me face reality", says 28-year old Vanilda Vaz from Brazil. She has been travelling through Latin America to tell as many people as possible about her work in South Asia.

An app of praise and worship songs is allowing Central Asian believers to share and access music in their heart languages.

Central Asians experienced God’s transformation in their own lives. Now they mobilise others to the least reached in their region.

Books played an important role in Aslan's salvation. Now he provides literature to other Central Asians.

A small team share stories and spread hope among least-reached Muslims in Central Asia.

  September 3, 2019 Delaware is a finalist for non-Asian domicile of the year.  Captive Review magazine released the shortlists for the 2019 Asia Captive Awards for both captive insurance domiciles in Asia and non-Asian domiciles having a significant presence on the continent. “The Delaware Insurance Department has one of the highest international profiles of […]

Javier Sotomayor talks to Sonam Saini about entering the hinterlands, rising ticket prices, and the threat from OTT players.

With the merger we had set out to create a new agency breed — a creative, data and technology agency that can offer genuine end-to-end solutions to our clients.

Realising that sourcing within India helps cut costs, Uniqlo established an office in Bengaluru in 2016 to identify and work with partner factories in India. The company currently procures cotton fibre from India, as a result.

I am very organised; my entire day is well planned. After a quick short walk in the morning, I reach office by 8.30 am. I like to review what I wish to accomplish at the beginning of my day and schedule all the meetings beforehand.

"I find my job very exciting; every day is new, as we are creating a brand in the Indian market which is a challenge in itself," says Rahul Vira, CEO, Skechers, South Asia.

Three more Indians based in the UAE have either been fired or suspended from their jobs over controversial posts on social media, days after the Indian ambassador to the Gulf nation warned the...

 Regarding imposing of anti-dumping duty on all imports of Recordable Digital Versatile Disc [DVD] of all kinds origina

Before matters started getting worse between Russia and the United States, Russians could get the US travel visa within a week. But now, Russians have to wait for a minimum of eight months, making them restless. It is too long to wait for a travel visa…

Dr. Datuk Noor Zari Secretary-General Tourism Ministry Malaysia stated that the tourists from India and China were among the top contributors to the tourism sector in the country.Focus on Two NationsAlso, the number of arrivals from India and China is…

The stakes in finding a vaccine against the coronavirus couldn’t be higher. In just a few months the disease has claimed more than a quarter of a million lives and shattered economies worldwide.

Charges against US President Donald Trump’s first national security adviser, General Michael Flynn, have been dropped due to new evidence showing they were baseless. Flynn was the first to be targeted in the ‘Russiagate’ probe.
Read Full Article at RT.com

House Intelligence Committee chair Adam Schiff has published all the transcripts of ‘Russiagate’ interviews he had kept secret, blaming President Donald Trump for the delay, but their content belied his conspiracy narrative.
Read Full Article at RT.com

After weeks of rumor and speculation, Mikhail Saakashvili, the former Georgian president who is wanted for embezzlement at home, has been appointed as head of Ukraine’s executive council on reforms.
Read Full Article at RT.com

A 10-year-old boy and his younger sister sparked a bizarre GTA-style car chase in the Siberian city of Tomsk after the pair grabbed hold of the family vehicle and went for the ride of their lives, which police won’t soon forget.
Read Full Article at RT.com

A one-of-the-kind Russian website has enabled anyone to pay vocal tribute to the 75th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat – by performing a beloved Russian Victory Day song with lyrics available in multiple languages.
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Victory Day brought a rare positive moment between Russia and the UK, as President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Boris Johnson agreed on the need to improve the badly soured relations between the two countries.
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Hot summer days may finally rid humanity of the Covid-19 scourge as the virus becomes almost non-infectious at air temperatures of over 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), according to the Russian consumer watchdog.
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High taxes, bad healthcare, police repression, lack of culture, poor education… Telegram founder Pavel Durov wants you to know he really doesn’t like Silicon Valley and thinks living or doing business in the US is a terrible idea.
Read Full Article at RT.com

When Russian quad-jumping prodigy Alexandra Trusova parted ways with her famed coach, Eteri Tutberidze, she was quickly denounced as a traitor by some of her former colleagues.
Read Full Article at RT.com

Russian MMA fighter Dmitry 'Anubis' Kuznetsov has revealed scorned fans threatened he would receive "a bullet in the head" in response to releasing a diss track titled 'Hypocrisy King,' aimed at UFC champ Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Read Full Article at RT.com