REMINDERS

After this article on latest developments in medical science, lets go back to some basic information that us paediatricians must always keep in mind.

· Paediatrics- is derived from the Greek words ‘Pedia’ meaning child and ‘itrike’ meaning treatment and ‘ics’ as you probably know means ‘branch of science’

· Paediatrics was born about a century back. Now, the latest strategy for the children by WHO and UNICEF is ‘Integrated Management of Neonatal Childhood Illness Scheme’ (IMNCI)

· The sorry and shameful thing is that the infant mortality rate is still very high, i.e., around 30.

Periods Of Growth

· Ovum: 0-14 days after conception i.e., The New Life has arrived on earth at conception

· Embryo: 14 days to 9 weeks

· Fetus: 9 weeks to birth

Perinatal Period is from 22 weeks of gestation to first 7 days of life (22 weeks because if the fetus is delivered, he or she can be made to live by our progressing neonatal care services)

New Born (Neonatal Period) first 4 weeks of life

Infancy- first year of life, Toddler- 1-3 years of age, Pre-School: 3-6 years. School Age: 6-10 years, Pre-Pubescent: 10-12 year in girls and 12-14 years in boys, Pubescence: 12-14 in girls and 14-16 in boys and finally Post Pubescence: 14 -18 years in girls and 16-20 yrs in boys

Important Events during Fetal Growth

Heartbeat: 4 weeks, Circulation: 8 weeks, Ovaries and Testes: 8 weeks, External Genitalia: 10 weeks, Fetal Movement: 14 weeks, Respiration: 18 weeks, Earl Sucking: 28 weeks, Suckling and Swallowing: 34 weeks

It is important that among the factors which affect growth we must remember that the four hormones are necessary and they are:

1. GH

2. Thyroxine

3 . Androgens

4. Insulin

EDITORIAL

Do excuse me for the sleeper state of Baal Sanjeevani for approximately for 2 years. But now, it wakes on the shubh diwas of Deepawali 2010, reiterating its mission to provide the latest and most essential developments and necessary reminders to medical practitioners and students. But all of this, in the most interesting and enjoyable manner, with sincerity, dedication, devotion and the best possible efforts and knowledge.

You are welcome to send in your contributions and your critiques. Your feedback is extremely important in order to maintain the optimum level of communication and gives boost as well as direction to my efforts. So, my team and I will be meeting you every month.

On a different note: doctors or medicos in general, are usually seen by others as drab science loving geeks with no great appreciation for the more lyrical arts of the world. But anyone who has attended a casual gathering of doctors will be surprised to find the latent talents hidden behind the surgical mask and rubber gloves. One such artist I present to you, Dr.Durgesh of Najibabad, UP, an erstwhile student of the Himalayan Instt, Dehradun. The picture I have posted here was sketched by him during a tutorial in 2006.

Accept glittering best wishes on this auspicious and wonderful festival of lights. Here is wishing you all the illumination of useful knowledge and its practical utility.

MALARIA

World’s most lethal parasite is now going to be under human command, latest by 2015

There have been many trials and failures for the development of a vaccine against malaria since 1980 but now it seems that the moment of success is near at hand. There are three types of promising vaccination strategies against plasmodium.

1. Antibodies developed from mosquito enzyme called aminopeptidase injected into human beings. These antibodies when ingested by mosquito mask the enzymes in its gut. Without the enzyme, the gametocytes in the mosquito die and the cycle ends, thus rendering that mosquito harmless. Interestingly, this is A VACCINE FOR MOSQUITOES (!)

2. A VACCINE FROM MOSQUITOES: in this method, scientists grow genetically modified or irradiated parasites in the mosquitoes gut. These parasites are extracted and fragments from the weakened parasites are injected into a previously uninfected human, triggering an immune response that protects the individual from further infection.

3. A STRONGER TRADITIONAL VACCINE: Proteins from the surface of healthy sporozoites are isolated and fragments are incorporated into a scaffold. Now a chemical called an adjuvant is added to enhance the immune response by increasing the participation of B cells (antibody producing) and T cells. The resulting vaccine is injected into a previously uninfected child triggering an immune response that is partly effective at protecting individuals from future infection. A year and a half after the first injection the child receives a final booster shot to reinforce immunity.

Ref:

Extracts from article published in Scientific American Nov 2010

Author: Mary Carmichael, senior writer at Newsweek covering health and science.