Numbering of atoms in myo-inositol. Recommendations 1988. Nomenclature Committee of the International Union of Biochemistry.

A relaxation of previous recommendations on the numbering of the atoms of myo-inositol is suggested, so that substituents are not necessarily numbered so that the smallest possible locant is used. This allows an alternative designation to be used, when authors wish, to bring out structural relationships.     

Recommendations for screening programs for congenital hypothyroidism: Newborn Committee of the American Thyroid Association.

The newborn committee of the American Thyroid Association recommends establishment and expansion of screening programs for congenital hypothyroidism because of the high frequency of the disease (1/5000 to 1/6000 births), the difficulty in making a clinical diagnosis and the fact that the disease is easily curable. The regional approach for such a program is recommended, and the Quebec experience with measurement of thyronine and thyrotropin concentrations by means of filter-paper blood spots can serve as a model.     

Jaundice after repeated exposure to halothane: a further analysis of reports to the Committee on Safety of Medicines.

Aanalysis of data derived from 170 reports of jaundice developing after anaesthesia with halothane received after January 1974 confirmed the relations between multiple exposure to halothane and jaundice and between the number of exposures and the rapidity with which jaundice develops after exposure. When these reports were combined with 130 received earlier complete anaesthetic histories were available for 251 patients, 205 (82%) of whom had been exposed to halothane more than once; of these patients, 154 (75%) had been exposed more than once within 28 days. Altogether 139 (46%) of the 300 patients died.     

Recommendations for prevention of neonatal ophthalmia. Infectious Diseases and Immunization Committee,Canadian Paediatric Society.

Without preventive measures, gonococcal ophthalmia will develop in approximately 28% of infants born to women with gonorrhea, a disease that is relatively frequent and largely asymptomatic in pregnant women. In addition, in some settings conjunctivitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis may be more frequent than gonococcal conjunctivitis among neonates. The Canadian Paediatric Society therefore recommends that, as soon as possible after birth, all infants receive prophylaxis with silver nitrate, tetracycline or erythromycin, administered according to specific guidelines.