MATERNAL CARE AND DEVELOPMENTAL PLASTICITY
2007-10-06 - English

After viewing this presentation, the participant will be able to discuss:

- Epigenetic modifications
- Gene expression and DNA methylation
- Maternal care and stress reactivity
- Transgenerational transmission

THE FOETAL ANDROGEN THEORY OF NEURAL SEX DIFFERENCES AND AUTISM
2007-10-06 - English

Background and aims: Autism (a condition leading to social and communication difficulties) affects males much more often than females. The explanation for this must either lie in diagnostic practice, hormones, or genetics, or a mix of all three. In this paper I summarize...(more)

YOUNGSTERS, OLDSTERS, VISION AND THE ESPR
2007-10-07 - English

The annual presentations of good Paediatric Research in a different European city have been one of the highlights of my academic life. Maybe not quite so academically pure or cutting edge as the equivalent US meetings, but more friendly and culturally as well as...(more)

AN AUTOMATIC SEGMENTATION OF BRAIN MRIS OF 2-YEAR-OLDS INTO 83 REGIONS OF INTEREST
2007-10-07 - English

Background and aims: Three-dimensional atlases and databases of the brain at different ages facilitate the description of neuroanatomy and the monitoring of cerebral growth and development.

Methods: We have developed an algorithm for automatic segmentation of young...(more)

SECRETORY PHOSPHOLIPASE A2 AND LUNG MECHANIICS IN NEONATAL ACUTE LUNG INJURY: PRELIMINARY RESULTS
2007-10-07 - English

Background and aims: Secretory phospholipase A2 (sPHA2) has been shown to be involved in alveolar inflammation and surfactant degradation in animal models. sPHA2 plays a role in adult RDS, but it has never been studied in human neonates with RDS. Study aim was to...(more)

SUCCESSFUL WEIGHT MANAGEMENT IN CHILDREN: CAN IT BE ACHIEVED?
2007-10-07 - English

The high prevalence of overweight children and adolescents will not likely respond to interventions directed at a single target in a single setting. Instead, like tobacco control, comprehensive programs that employ multiple strategies in a variety of settings are more...(more)

CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS VIEWED AS ADAPTATIONS TO PREGNANCY: THE MATERNAL ORIGINS HYPOTHESIS
2007-10-07 - English

I propose that cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors are the historical residue of genetic adaptations for maternal/fetal survival of pregnancy. Four CVD risk factors - obesity, fat deposition, hyperlipemia and insulin resistance - are maternal adaptations to the fetal...(more)

DEVELOPMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY: WHAT HAS TO BE KNOWN BY THE CLINICIAN.
2007-10-08 - English

When dealing with drug use in children, almost all aspects of metabolism are immature. This includes pharmacokinetic (PK) variables. There is also a great difference in term of drug pharmacodynamics (PD) between children and adults. This immature state is not static as...(more)

THE STATISTICAL ATTRIBUTION OF CAUSATION
2007-10-08 - English

Background and Aims
When using medicines for children, we need to know about their efficacy and safety. Typically evidence on efficacy comes from randomised controlled trials, which are fairly straightforward to interpret, at least when they have been carried out in...(more)