Suresh Victor

Drugs for preventing migraine headaches in children

BACKGROUND: It has been estimated that about ten per cent of children between six and 20 years of age suffer from migraine. It is estimated that children with migraine lose one and a half weeks more schooling per year than their peers. Prophylactic drugs can be prescribed when children suffer from frequent or disabling headaches. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to describe and assess the evidence from controlled trials on the efficacy and tolerability of pharmacological agents taken on a regular basis to prevent the occurrence of migraine attacks and/or reduce the intensity of such attacks in children with migraine. SEARCH STRATEGY: The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, and EMBASE were searched from 1966 through 2002. Additional strategies for identifying trials included searching the reference lists of review articles and included studies and searching books related to headache. SELECTION CRITERIA: Prospective randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of self- or parent-administered drug treatments in children (under 18 years of age) who had received a diagnosis of migraine were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two investigators extracted, assessed, and coded separately all data for each study, using a form that was designed specifically for the review. Any disagreement was resolved by discussion. Headache frequency standardised over 28 days was used as the primary outcome measure. Headache intensity, headache duration, amount of symptomatic treatment used, and headache indices were used as secondary outcome measures. Data were extracted from both parallel-group and crossover trials. Continuous and dichotomous data were used to calculate standardised mean differences (SMDs) and odds ratios (ORs), respectively. Numbers-needed-to-treat (NNTs) and numbers-needed-to-harm (NNHs) were also calculated. MAIN RESULTS: Thirty-eight studies were selected. Eighteen were excluded. Eleven preventive drugs were compared with placebo in a total of 15 studies. Drug-drug comparisons were made in just six studies. For only four drugs (L-5-hydroxytryptophan [L-5HTP], flunarizine, clonidine, and propranolol) were two or more studies selected. For only six drugs (trazodone, L-5HTP, propranolol, flunarizine, papaverine, and nimodipine) were data reported for effect on frequency. For no individual drug were comparable data reported in more than one study, thus meta-analysis was not possible.Two placebo-controlled studies showed a beneficial effect on the primary outcome measure, headache frequency. They were for the drugs propranolol and flunarizine. The propranolol study reported a dichotomous outcome (proportion of children responding), and it was possible to calculate a number-needed-to-treat to produce a two-thirds reduction in headache frequency (NNT = 1.5, 95%CI 1.15 to 2.1). The flunarizine study produced a SMD of 1.51 (95% confidence interval, -2.21 to -0.82), which was statistically significant in favour of flunarizine (p < 0.001). Nimodipine, timolol, papaverine, pizotifen, trazodone, L-5HTP, clonidine, metoclopramide, and domperidone showed no efficacy in reduction of frequency of attacks. The available studies on cyproheptadine, phenobarbitone, phenytoin, amitriptyline, carbamazepine, metoprolol, and piracetam were excluded for various reasons. REVIEWERS CONCLUSIONS: Only one study each for propranolol and flunarizine were identified showing efficacy of these drugs as prophylactics of paediatric migraine. Nimodipine, timolol, papaverine, pizotifen, trazodone, L-5HTP, clonidine, metoclopramide, and domperidone showed no efficacy in reduction of frequency of attacks. Available studies on other commonly used drugs failed to meet our inclusion criteria. The quality of evidence available for the use of drug prophylaxis in paediatric migraine was poor. Studies were generally small, with no planning of sample size, so that for many drugs, despite the negative findings of this review, we do not have conclusive evidence of

Spectral analysis of electroencephalography in premature newborn infants: Normal ranges

Continuous EEG monitoring has not been used widely in neonatal intensive care, especially in the care of extremely premature infants, probably in part because of a lack of a reliable quantitative method. The purpose of this study was to quantify the EEG of the very premature infants just after birth by using spectral analysis and to describe the characteristics of the spectral signal when infants were clinically stable. Digital EEG recordings were performed on 53 infants who were ≤30 wk gestation for 75 min each day during the first 4 d after birth. Artefact was rejected manually after visual inspection of trace. The EEG was analyzed by manual measurement of interburst interval and automatically by spectral analysis using Fast Fourier Transformation. Spectral analysis generated the normal ranges of the relative power of the δ (0.5–3.5 Hz), θ (4–7.5 Hz), α (8–12.5 Hz), and β (13–30 Hz) frequency bands, spectral edge frequency, and symmetry. The median (range) relative power of the δ band increased significantly from 68% (62–76%) on day 1 to 81% (72–89%) on day 4 (p = 0.001). The interburst intervals became progressively shorter between days 1 [14s (10–25)] and 3 [8s (6–12)]; there were no significant differences between days 3 and 4. The relative power of the δ band seemed to be the most useful and repeatable spectral measurement for continuous long-term monitoring. However, automatic artefact rejection software needs to be developed before continuous quantitative EEG monitoring can be used in the neonatal intensive care environment.

Relationship between blood pressure, cerebral electrical activity, cerebral fractional oxygen extraction, and peripheral blood flow in very low birth weight newborn infants.

There is uncertainty about the level of systemic blood pressure required to maintain adequate cerebral oxygen delivery and organ integrity. This prospective, observational study on 35 very low birth weight infants aimed to determine the mean blood pressure (MBP) below which cerebral electrical activity, peripheral blood flow (PBF), and cerebral fractional oxygen extraction (CFOE) are abnormal. Digital EEG, recorded every day on the first 4 d after birth, were analyzed a) by automatic spectral analysis, b) by manual measurement of interburst interval, and c) qualitatively. CFOE and PBF measurements were performed using near-infrared spectroscopy and venous occlusion. MBP was measured using arterial catheters. The median (range) of MBP recorded was 32 mm Hg (16–46). The EEG became abnormal at MBP levels below 23 mm Hg: a) the relative power of the delta (0.5–3.5 Hz) frequency band was decreased, b) interburst intervals were prolonged, and c) all four qualitatively abnormal EEG (low amplitude and prolonged interburst intervals) from four different patients were recorded below this MBP level. The only abnormally high CFOE was measured at MBP of 20 mm Hg. PBF decreased at MBP levels between 23 and 33 mm Hg. None of the infants in this study developed cystic periventricular leukomalacia. One infant (MBP, 22 mm Hg) developed ventricular dilatation after intraventricular hemorrhage. The EEG and CFOE remained normal at MBP levels above 23 mm Hg. It would appear that cerebral perfusion is probably maintained at MBP levels above 23 mm Hg.

Effect of carbon dioxide on background cerebral electrical activity and fractional oxygen extraction in very low birth weight infants just after birth.

Decreased arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) results in decreased cerebral blood flow, which is associated with diminished cerebral electrical activity. In such a situation, cerebral fractional oxygen extraction (CFOE) would be expected to increase to preserve cerebral oxygen delivery. This study aimed to determine whether changes in blood gases in infants less than 30 wk gestation were associated with changes in background electroencephalograms (EEG) and CFOE. Thirty-two very low birth weight infants were studied daily for the first three days after birth. Digital EEG recordings were performed for 75 min each day. CFOE, mean blood pressure and arterial blood gases were measured midway through each recording. EEG was analysed by (a) spectral analysis and (b) manual calculation of interburst interval. Blood pressure, pH and PaCO2 did not have any effect on the EEG. On day one, only PaCO2 showed a relationship with the relative power of the delta frequency band (0.5–3.5 Hz) and the interburst interval. The relative power of the delta band remained within normal limits when PaCO2 was between 24 and 55 mm Hg on day one. There was a negative association between PaCO2 and CFOE. The associations between PaCO2 and EEG measurements were strongest on day one, weaker on day two, and absent on day three. The slowing of EEG and increased CFOE at lower levels of PaCO2 are likely to be due to decreased cerebral oxygen delivery induced by hypocarbia. When PaCO2 was higher, there was suppression of the EEG.

Niemann-Pick disease: sixteen-year follow-up of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in a type B variant.

Summary: Allogenic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) was carried out on a 3-year-old white caucasian girl with Niemann–Pick disease (NPD) type B. The donor was her unaffected brother. The patient was neurologically normal at the time of transplantation. Engraftment was based on cytogenetic studies and increased leukocyte acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) activity. However, liver biopsies taken up to 33 months post transplantation showed only a moderate reduction in stored sphingomyelin and no significant increase in ASM activity. The post-transplantation period was complicated by severe graft-versus-host disease and a respiratory arrest. By 6 years of age, neurological involvement was observed, including bilateral cherry red spots. The proband is now severely mentally and physically disabled. Liver cirrhosis has continued to progress despite the BMT, and haematemesis due to portal hypertension occurred at 17 years of age. However, pulmonary infiltration regressed after BMT and there has been no clinical evidence of pulmonary insufficiency.

The Relationship between Cardiac Output, Cerebral Electrical Activity, Cerebral Fractional Oxygen Extraction and Peripheral Blood Flow in Premature Newborn Infants

Cardiac output is a determinant of systemic blood flow and its measurement may therefore be a useful indicator of abnormal hemodynamics and tissue oxygen delivery. The purpose of this study was to investigate in very premature newborn infants the relationships between cardiac output (left and right ventricular outputs), systemic blood pressure, peripheral blood flow (PBF) and two indicators of cerebral oxygen delivery (cerebral electrical activity and cerebral fractional oxygen extraction (CFOE)). This was a prospective observational study performed on 40 infants of less than 30 wk gestation. Digital electroencephalograms (EEGs) were recorded for one hour every day during the first four days after birth and subjected to qualitative and quantitative analysis. Left and right ventricular outputs, mean blood pressure (MBP), CFOE, PBF and arterial blood gases were measured at the same time. Within the ranges studied, there was no apparent relationship between left or right ventricular output (RVO), PBF and indicators of cerebral perfusion (cerebral electrical activity and CFOE). The EEG was normal in infants with low left and right ventricular outputs (<150 mL/kg/min) and MBP > 30 mm Hg. Infants with low cardiac output and normal MBP seem able to maintain cerebral perfusion, possibly through vasodilatation of the cerebral microvasculature.

Effect on skin hydration of using baby wipes to clean the napkin area of newborn babies: assessor-blinded randomised controlled equivalence trial

BackgroundSome national guidelines recommend the use of water alone for napkin cleansing. Yet, there is a readiness, amongst many parents, to use baby wipes. Evidence from randomised controlled trials, of the effect of baby wipes on newborn skin integrity is lacking. We conducted a study to examine the hypothesis that the use of a specifically formulated cleansing wipe on the napkin area of newborn infants (<1u2009month) has an equivalent effect on skin hydration when compared with using cotton wool and water (usual care).MethodsA prospective, assessor-blinded, randomised controlled equivalence trial was conducted during 2010. Healthy, term babies (nu2009=u2009280), recruited within 48 hours of birth, were randomly assigned to have their napkin area cleansed with an alcohol-free baby wipe (140 babies) or cotton wool and water (140 babies). Primary outcome was change in hydration from within 48 hours of birth to 4u2009weeks post-birth. Secondary outcomes comprised changes in trans-epidermal water loss, skin surface pH and erythema, presence of microbial skin contaminants/irritants at 4u2009weeks and napkin dermatitis reported by midwife at 4u2009weeks and mother during the 4u2009weeks.ResultsComplete hydration data were obtained for 254 (90.7u2009%) babies. Wipes were shown to be equivalent to water and cotton wool in terms of skin hydration (intention-to-treat analysis: wipes 65.4 (SD 12.4) vs. water 63.5 (14.2), pu2009=u20090.47, 95u2009% CI -2.5 to 4.2; per protocol analysis: wipes 64.6 (12.4) vs. water 63.6 (14.3), pu2009=u20090.53, 95u2009% CI -2.4 to 4.2). No significant differences were found in the secondary outcomes, except for maternal-reported napkin dermatitis, which was higher in the water group (pu2009=u20090.025 for complete responses).ConclusionsBaby wipes had an equivalent effect on skin hydration when compared with cotton wool and water. We found no evidence of any adverse effects of using these wipes. These findings offer reassurance to parents who choose to use baby wipes and to health professionals who support their use.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN86207019

Olive Oil, Sunflower Oil or no Oil for Baby Dry Skin or Massage: A Pilot, Assessor-blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial (the Oil in Baby SkincaRE [OBSeRvE] Study).

Topical oils on baby skin may contribute to development of childhood atopic eczema. A pilot, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial assessed feasibility of a definitive trial investigating their impact in neonates. One-hundred and fifteen healthy, full-term neonates were randomly assigned to olive oil, sunflower oil or no oil, twice daily for 4 weeks, stratified by family history of atopic eczema. We measured spectral profile of lipid lamellae, trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), stratum corneum hydration and pH and recorded clinical observations, at baseline, and 4 weeks post-birth. Recruitment was challenging (recruitment 11.1%; retention 80%), protocol adherence reasonable (79-100%). Both oil groups had significantly improved hydration but significantly less improvement in lipid lamellae structure compared to the no oil group. There were no significant differences in TEWL, pH or erythema/skin scores. The study was not powered for clinical significance, but until further research is conducted, caution should be exercised when recommending oils for neonatal skin.

The developing human connectome project: A minimal processing pipeline for neonatal cortical surface reconstruction

The Developing Human Connectome Project (dHCP) seeks to create the first 4-dimensional connectome of early life. Understanding this connectome in detail may provide insights into normal as well as abnormal patterns of brain development. Following established best practices adopted by the WU-MINN Human Connectome Project (HCP), and pioneered by FreeSurfer, the project utilises cortical surface-based processing pipelines. In this paper, we propose a fully automated processing pipeline for the structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the developing neonatal brain. This proposed pipeline consists of a refined framework for cortical and sub-cortical volume segmentation, cortical surface extraction, and cortical surface inflation, which has been specifically designed to address considerable differences between adult and neonatal brains, as imaged using MRI. Using the proposed pipeline our results demonstrate that images collected from 465 subjects ranging from 28 to 45 weeks post-menstrual age (PMA) can be processed fully automatically; generating cortical surface models that are topologically correct, and correspond well with manual evaluations of tissue boundaries in 85% of cases. Results improve on state-of-the-art neonatal tissue segmentation models and significant errors were found in only 2% of cases, where these corresponded to subjects with high motion. Downstream, these surfaces will enhance comparisons of functional and diffusion MRI datasets, supporting the modelling of emerging patterns of brain connectivity.

The metabolomics of necrotising enterocolitis in preterm babies: an exploratory study

Abstract Objective: No single diagnostic investigation is currently available for necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). We implemented a novel, untargeted, exploratory study to determine whether metabolomics can reveal early biomarker(s) of NEC. The effect of gestational age on the metabolome was also investigated. Methods: Two serum samples were obtained from 12 preterm babies (born <30 weeks gestation) and eight term controls: sample “A” at ≤1 week of age and sample “B” once fully fed. Samples were subjected to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Metabolomic data was analysed by principal component analysis (PCA), univariate and network analysis. Results: Sixteen metabolite features significantly differed when B samples were compared between preterm babies who subsequently developed NEC and preterm/term controls (p value <0.05). Of these seven metabolites were linked to up-regulation of IL-1β. Significant differences in 54 metabolite features (p value <0.05) were observed between preterm and term metabolomes. Of these, 12 metabolite features were linked to one network involved in carbohydrate/lipid metabolism (pu2009=u20091u2009×u200910−30). Conclusions: Metabolomic differences were observed in preterm babies at risk of NEC. However, sample sizes were insufficient to confidently identify a biomarker. Network modelling of preterm and term metabolomes suggest possible nutritional deficiency and altered pro-insulin action in preterm babies.