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Background: Various frequencies of adverse motor outcomes (cerebral palsy and hemiplegia) after paediatric ischaemic stroke have been reported. Few reports on the risks of adverse motor outcomes in nationwide cohorts and contributing risk factors are available. Objectives: To assess risk of adverse motor outcome and potential risk factors thereof after paediatric ischaemic stroke in a nationwide cohort. Methods: This nationwide matched cohort study identified 877 children <18 years of age diagnosed with ischaemic stroke through the Swedish national health registers from 1997 to 2016. These children, exposed to ischaemic stroke, alive 1 week after stroke, were matched for age, sex and county of residence with 10 unexposed children. Using Cox regression, we estimated the risk of adverse motor outcomes in children with stroke compared to that in unexposed children. Logistic regression was applied to compare the characteristics of children with and without adverse motor outcomes after stroke. Results: Out of the 877 children with ischaemic stroke, 280 (31.9%) suffered adverse motor outcomes compared with 21 (0.2%) of the 8770 unexposed: adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 167.78 (95% confidence interval (CI) 107.58, 261.66). There were no differences between risk estimates of adverse motor outcome according to age at stroke: perinatal stroke (aHR 124.11, 95% CI 30.45, 505.84) and childhood stroke (aHR 182.37, 95% CI 113.65, 292.64). An association between adverse motor outcome and childhood stroke aOR 1.56 (95% CI 1.05, 2.31) was found when analysing only children with ischaemic stroke. No associations were found between adverse motor outcome and sex, gestational age or parental age at birth. Conclusions: The risk of adverse motor outcome is substantial after paediatric ischaemic stroke, especially childhood stroke, confirming results of previous smaller studies. This study found no associations between sex, gestational age or parental age and adverse motor outcome after paediatric ischaemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The Swedish National Patient Register offers unique opportunities for epidemiological research of paediatric ischaemic stroke. We aimed to validate the diagnosis of paediatric ischaemic stroke in the National Patient Register to ensure the quality of future research. Methods: The PedStroke cohort consists of 1606 individuals aged <18 years with a diagnosis of paediatric ischaemic stroke (ICD‐10: I63, I64; ICD‐8 and 9: 433, 434, 436) in Swedish national health registers between 1969 and 2016. We selected 292 cases for validation by reviewing medical charts. Results: In all, 277 of the 292 medical charts were received, of which 273 had enough information to qualify for review. The diagnosis was correct in 242/273 cases, yielding a positive predictive value (PPV) of 89% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.85–0.92) for paediatric ischaemic stroke in the National Patient Register. After validation, seven cases of 222 with childhood stroke were re‐categorised to perinatal stroke, resulting in a total of 56 perinatal stroke cases. In the Medical Birth Register, 38 stroke cases were identified of which 37 had correct diagnosis, generating a PPV of 97% (95% CI: 0.92–1.0). Incorrect diagnoses decreased over time and the number of diagnoses confirmed by radiology increased correspondingly. Conclusion: The National Patient Register is reliable for epidemiological research of paediatric ischaemic stroke because of its high PPV for this diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate longitudinal serum insulin‐like growth factor‐I (IGF‐I) in a large cohort of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in relation to hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), age, diabetes duration, and body mass index (BMI), its association to height and retinopathy, and in comparison with healthy subject references. Methods: A total of 2683 serum IGF‐I values were obtained from 806 children and adolescents with T1DM, from annual blood samples for up to 6 consecutive years. Results: In a multiple regression analysis IGF‐I values were negatively correlated to HbA1c and diabetes duration, and positively correlated to BMI (P < .001, P < .001, and P < .001, respectively, adjusted r2 = 0.102). Children and adolescents with T1DM had lower mean IGF‐I levels and reference interval limits compared to healthy subjects. In boys, mean (SD) IGF‐I SD score (SDS) levels were −1.04 (±1.3) calculated from the healthy reference. IGF‐I peaked at 15 years of age, similarly to healthy controls, but with markedly lower levels in late puberty. Girls were more affected at later stages of puberty but with a slightly less depressed overall mean IGF‐I SDS of −0.69 (±1.2). In a subgroup of 746 subjects with fundus photography, a negative correlation was seen between individual mean IGF‐I SDS and preproliferative retinopathy (P = .004, adjusted r2 = 0.021). In another subgroup of 84 adolescents, no correlation was seen between individual mean IGF‐I SDS and target height SDS or distance to target height SDS. Conclusion: Poor metabolic control and diabetes duration impact negatively on serum IGF‐I levels. A low individual mean IGF‐I level was associated with progression of retinopathy independently of HbA1c, age, gender, and diabetes duration. Disease, sex and age related IGF‐I SDS may become clinical helpful as a supplement to HbA1c in predicting the long‐term outcome for children and adolescents with T1DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growth hormone ( GH) is widely prescribed for children with short stature across a range of growth disorders. Recombinant human (rh) insulin-like growth factor-1 (rhIGF-1) therapy is approved for severe primary IGF-I deficiency - a state of severe GH resistance. Evidence is increasing for an unacceptably high rate of poor or unsatisfactory response to growth-promoting therapy (i.e. not leading to significant catch up growth) in terms of change in height standard deviation score ( SDS) and height velocity ( HV) in many approved indications. Consequently, there is a need to define poor response and to prevent or correct it by optimizing treatment regimens within accepted guidelines. Recognition of a poor response is an indication for action by the treating physician, either to modify the therapy or to review the primary diagnosis leading either to discontinuation or change of therapy. This review discusses the optimal investigation of the child who is a candidate for GH or IGF-1 therapy so that a diagnosis-based choice of therapy and dosage can be made. The relevant parameters in the evaluation of growth response are described together with the definitions of poor response. Prevention of poor response is addressed by discussion of strategy for first-year management with GH and IGF-1. Adherence to therapy is reviewed as is the recommended action following the identification of the poorly responding patient. The awareness, recognition and management of poor response to growth-promoting therapy will lead to better patient care, greater cost-effectiveness and increased opportunities for clinical benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salemyr J, Bang P, Örtqvist E. Lower HbA1c after 1 year, in children with type 1 diabetes treated with insulin glargine vs. NPH insulin from diagnosis: a retrospective study. Objective: Insulin glargine offers sustained insulin delivery for 24 h. Change to glargine treatment consistently results in lower fasting glucose and fewer hypoglycemic episodes in children with type 1 diabetes compared to continuation of NPH, although glargine has not been shown to improve HbA1c in randomized trials. Studies comparing glargine and NPH in multiple injection therapy in children treated from diagnosis of type 1 diabetes are lacking. Methods: HbA1c and insulin requirement were compared in a retrospective study of children (7-17 yr of age) with type 1 diabetes treated from diagnosis with basal insulin glargine (n = 49) or NPH (n = 49) in a multiple injection therapy (MIT) regimen with a rapid-acting insulin analogue. Patients were followed every third month for 1 yr. HbA1c, insulin dose, and weight data were retrieved. Results: HbA1c (mean ± SD) was lower at 3-5 months (5.5 ± 0.89 vs. 6.2 ± 0.89%, p < 0.05) and 6-9 months (5.6 ± 1.14 vs. 6.6 ± 0.99%; p < 0.001) in glargine treated. After 12 months, HbA1c was significantly lower in glargine treated (6.3 ± 1.56 vs. 7.1 ± 1.28; p < 0.01). Reported total insulin doses were similar at nadir (0.5 U/kg BW × 24 h), but significantly lower at 12 months in glargine treated (0.64 ± 0.23 vs. 0.86 ± 0.3 U/kg BW × 24 h; p < 0.001). Conclusions: HbA1c 1 yr from diagnosis was lower in children treated with glargine from start as compared with those on NPH. This observation should be viewed in the light of a significantly lower dose of total daily insulin in the glargine group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Purpose: To estimate the clinical significance of low serum concentrations of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) during initial cancer chemotherapy. Patients and methods: 80 consecutive, newly diagnosed, and unselected AML patients (age 18–77 yr) undergoing remission induction chemotherapy. The patients were examined for 28 d. Main findings: Low levels of serum MBL (<1000 μ g/L) were found in 16/80 patients at diagnosis. This frequency is similar to what is found in the general population. In the remaining 64 patients, MBL concentrations were significantly higher than in controls and showed only a slight rise during the period of antineoplastic chemotherapy with its associated infectious complications. Low levels of MBL did not affect overall survival or morbidity in terms of incidence or duration of fever, or occurrence of septicaemia or pneumonia. Long-term survival was likewise independent of MBL concentration. Conclusion: MBL levels have no discernible influence on the occurrence or course of infections in AML patients during the initial hospitalisation. The predominant immunodeficiency during this phase is the profound granulocytopenia, which also compromises important effector functions of MBL. The finding in most AML patients of elevated MBL concentrations on admission is most likely because of the role of MBL as an acute phase reactant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the changes made in the Danish Bankruptcy Act of 1977 in 1996. Duties of an interim trustee of the estate in a bankruptcy case; Political goal reflected in the act; Provisions of the act concerning avoidance.