Children and violence

The liposomal technology for preparing the immunostimulating complex (ISCOM) helped obtain a complex measles preparation whose antigens are represented by the structural proteins of measles virus in the bilayer phosphate-lipid membrane. Immunization of mice with the resultant preparation induced antimeasles antibodies with the maximum titer of antihemagglutinins 1:640 and of antihemolysins 1:1280. The biological activity of antibodies was confirmed in the neutralization test.     

Self-Perceptions of Competence in Children With ADHD and Comparison Children.

The self-perceptions of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; n=487) were compared with those of children in a local normative comparison group (n=287), relative to teacher- and parent-rated perceptions of their competence. Children were participants in the ongoing follow-up portion of the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD. Children with ADHD were much more likely than comparison children to overestimate their competence relative to adult report, regardless of who was used as the criterion rater (teacher, mother, or father). Examination by comorbidity subgroups revealed that children with ADHD inflated their self-perceptions the most in domains of greatest deficit. Gender effects also are reported. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Children of hope

Young people are emerging as a new casualty of the troubles in Northern Ireland. As the marching season begins, Craig Kenny talks to nurses who are eager to promote tolerance so the younger generation can benefit from the peace agreement.     

Children killing children

Tolerance and efficacy of a new combined antiglaucoma drug proxopheline (1% proxodolol and 0.25% clopheline) is assessed. Studies in 43 patients (63 eyes) with open-angle glaucoma showed that a single instillation of the drug decreases intraocular pressure in 1 h and in 93% of patients the hypotensive effect persists for up to 24 h. Prolonged (4 weeks) use of proxopheline resulted in normalization of intraocular pressure in 90% of treated eyes. The main side effect was dryness in the mouth (30%). The hypotensive effect of proxopheline is superior to that of proxodolol, but it involves a higher incidence of side effects, caused by clopheline--another component of proxopheline.     

Children and adults as intuitive scientists.

The metaphor of children and lay adults as intuitive scientists has gained wide acceptance. Although useful in one sense, pertaining to scientific understanding, in another, pertaining to the process of scientific thinking, the metaphor may be fundamentally misleading. Research is reviewed indicating that processes of scientific thinking differ significantly in children, lay adults, and scientists. Hence, it is the instruments of scientific thinking, not just the products, that undergo "strong restructuring" (S. Carey; see record 1987-08644-001). A framework for conceptualizing development of scientific thinking processes is proposed, centering on progressive differentiation and coordination of theory and evidence. This development is metacognitive, as well as strategic. It requires thinking about theories, rather than merely with them, and thinking about evidence, rather than merely being influenced by it, and, hence, reflects the attainment of control over the interaction of theories and evidence in one's own thinking. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Children who swallow air

Gas in the gut derives from swallowed air, intra-luminal production and diffusion from the blood. Excessive swallowed air may cause pathologic aerophagy. CASE REPORTS: This report describes four children aged from 3 to 12 years with pathologic aerophagy due to excessive air swallowing. One of them had a "Gas Bloat Syndrome". Clinical presentation was very incongruous. However, the clinical features were characteristic: abdominal distention increasing throughout the day, associated with visible and often audible air swallowing and excessive flatus. The questioning and clinical examination helped for diagnosing. Medical symptomatic treatment was associated with a psychotherapy approach. CONCLUSION: A better recognition of this condition might contribute towards earlier diagnosis.     

Children with Asperger syndrome

In 1994 Hans Asperger (1906-80), an Austrian physician, described a group of children with impaired social interaction and communication abilities. The name of this disorder today is Asperger's syndrome, and it is currently defined under the category of pervasive developmental disorder in DSM-IV and ICD-10. In this article the following aspects of Asperger's syndrome are focused on: personality, epidemiology, etiology, examination, differential diagnosis, management and prognosis. The article is based on a literature study. Asperger's syndrome seems to be considerably more common than "classic" autism. The syndrome is much more common in boys than in girls. The clinical characteristics of Asperger's syndrome are probably influenced by many factors, including organic and genetic factors. Asperger's syndrome is the term applied to the highest functioning end of the autism scale. There are several commonalities between Asperger's syndrome and autism, namely impairment of social interaction and communication abilities, and range of interests and activities. Differences exist primarily in the degree of impairment in language and cognitive development. Differential diagnosis, examination and management are discussed. There is a need for further research. It is important that the diagnostic criteria for Asperger's syndrome are as uniform as possible, and that they do not overlap with infantile autism.