Oxpentifylline (penoxifylline) inhibits production of tumour necrosis factor and phosphatidic acid. In a randomised trial in Poland (Critical Care Medicine1999;27:807–14) 78 preterm babies with neonatal septicaemia diagnosed after the first week of life were given either oxpentifylline or placebo intravenously. One of 40 treated babies and 6 of 38 controls died. The clinical course was more severe in the placebo group.

A study of children after emergency surgery in Glasgow (British Journal of Anaesthesia1999;82:715–7) has shown that rectal diclofenac, but not paracetamol, significantly reduced the amount of morphine taken in patient controlled analgesia over the first 24 hours after surgery. Despite taking less morphine the children given diclofenac had better pain control.

A large population study of 5–11 year old children in England and Scotland (Thorax1999;54:476–81) showed that parents in an English representative sample were more likely than those in a Scottish representative sample or in an English inner city sample to report that their children had asthma attacks. In contrast the inner city children (selected for socioeconomic deprivation) were more often said by their parents to have persistent wheeze or cough. The authors interpret this as showing that severe asthma is related to deprivation.

A study at multiple …