Extreme prematurity, treated retinopathy, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and cerebral palsy are significant risk factors for ophthalmological abnormalities at 6.5 years of age.

AIM: This study evaluated the contributions of various prenatal and postnatal predictive factors to a documented high prevalence of ophthalmological abnormalities in children aged 6.5 years who were born extremely preterm. METHODS: We carried out a prospective population-based study of all children born in Sweden at a gestational age of 22 + 0 to 26 + 6 weeks based on the Extremely Preterm Infants in Sweden Study. The main outcome measures were a combined score of visual impairment, refractive errors and strabismus at 6.5 years of age. Models of univariate and multivariable regression were used to analyse potential prenatal and postnatal predictive factors at different clinically relevant time-points from one minute after birth to 30 months. RESULTS: We focused on 399 known extremely preterm survivors and compared them to 300 full-term controls. Significant antecedents for ophthalmological abnormalities included prematurity per se, retinopathy of prematurity that required treatment, severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia and cerebral palsy. Severe intraventricular haemorrhage was no longer a significant risk factor when we adjusted it for the 30-month cognitive and neuromotor development outcomes. CONCLUSION: This time-course risk analysis model showed a changing panorama of significant risk factors for ophthalmological abnormalities in children aged 6.5 years who were born extremely preterm.

Ophthalmologic Outcome of Extremely Preterm Infants at 6.5 Years of Age: Extremely Preterm Infants in Sweden Study (EXPRESS).

IMPORTANCE: This follow-up study of extremely preterm (EPT) children (<27 weeks' gestational age [GA] at birth) revealed major eye and visual problems in 37.9% (147 of 388) of all EPT infants and in 55.4% (67 of 121) of the most immature subgroups at 6.5 years of age. These major eye and visual problems were strongly associated with treatment-requiring retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). OBJECTIVES: To investigate the ophthalmologic outcome of a national cohort of EPT children at 6.5 years of age and to evaluate the impact of prematurity and ROP. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: All surviving EPT children born in Sweden between April 1, 2004, and March 31, 2007, were included and compared with a matched term control group, as part of a prospective national follow-up study. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Visual acuity, refraction in cycloplegia, and manifest strabismus were evaluated and compared with GA at birth and with treatment-requiring ROP. RESULTS: The study cohort comprised 486 participants. The mean (SD) GA of the children who were included was 25 (1) weeks, and 45.7% (222 of 486) were female. At a median age of 6.6 years, 89.3% (434 of 486) of eligible EPT children were assessed and compared with 300 control group children. In the EPT group, 2.1% (9 of 434) were blind, 4.8% (21 of 434) were visually impaired according to the World Health Organization criteria, and 8.8% (38 of 434) were visually impaired according to the study criteria. Strabismus was found in 17.4% (68 of 390) and refractive errors in 29.7% (115 of 387) of the EPT children compared with 0% (0 of 299) and 5.9% (17 of 289), respectively, of the control children (P < .001). Altogether at 6.5 years of age, 37.9% (147 of 388) of the EPT children had some ophthalmologic abnormality compared with 6.2% (18 of 290) of the matched control group (95% CI of the difference, 26.1%-37.2%). When treatment-requiring ROP was adjusted for, no significant association between GA and visual impairment could be detected. For refractive errors, the association with GA remained after adjustment for treatment-requiring ROP (odds ratio, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.58-0.91 for each 1-week increment). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In a Swedish national cohort of EPT children at 6.5 years of age, major eye and visual problems were frequently found. Treatment-requiring ROP was a stronger impact factor than GA on visual impairment and strabismus, but not on refractive errors, as a whole. In modern neonatal intensive care settings, ophthalmologic problems continue to account for a high proportion of long-term sequelae of prematurity.

Decreased gum bleeding and reduced gingivitis by the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri.

The primary aim of this study was to assess if the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri could be effective in the treatment of gingivitis and further to evaluate the influence of the probiotic on plaque and the lactobacilli population in the saliva. A randomised, placebo-controlled, double blind study was performed over 2 weeks. Fifty-nine patients with moderate to severe gingivitis were included and given one of two different Lactobacillus reuteri formulations (LR-1 or LR-2) at a dose of 2 x 10(8) CFU per day, or a corresponding placebo. At baseline (day 0) gingival index and plaque index were measured on two surfaces and saliva for lactobacilli determination was collected. The patients were instructed how to brush and floss efficiently and study treatment was started.The patients returned on day 14 for final assessment of gingivitis and plaque and saliva was collected. 20 patients were randomised to LR-1, 21 to LR-2 and 18 to placebo. Gingival index fell significantly in all 3 groups (p < 0.0001). LR-1, but not LR-2 improved more than placebo (p < 0.0001). Plaque index fell significantly in LR-1 (p < 0.05) and in LR-2 (p < 0.01) between day o and day 14 but there was no significant change in the placebo group. At day 14, 65% of the patients in LR-1 were colonised with Lactobacillus reuteri and 95% in the LR-2 group. Lactobacillus reuteri was efficacious in reducing both gingivitis and plaque in patients with moderate to severe gingivitis.

[Assessment of inappropriate emergency admissions. A study of 566 consecutive cases]. / Att bedöma inadekvata medicinska akutinläggningar. En studie av 566 konsekutiva fall.

We assessed the appropriateness of 566 consecutive acute admissions to three departments of internal medicine in southeast Sweden. Using a modified version of the Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol (AEP), 23 per cent of the admissions were classified as medically inappropriate. Half of them could be related to local admission routines unsupported by the AEP or lack of lower level of health services. Patients admitted inappropriately showed a lower mean cost of stay than those admitted appropriately according to AEP, 13,400 SEK and 15,100 SEK, respectively (P < 0.05). Given that the modified AEP lacks validation, uncertainty remains whether it can serve as a supportive tool in routine care management in Sweden.