Transcervical intraamniotic infusion of saline (amnioinfusion) may not prevent meconium aspiration syndrome. In a multinational trial including 1998 women with thick meconium staining of amniotic fluid in labour (

) there were no significant differences between amnioinfusion and control groups in the rate of the composite primary outcome (perinatal death, moderate or severe meconium aspiration syndrome, or both). The rates of each separate outcome and of caesarean section were also similar in the two groups. These researchers conclude that amnioinfusion should not be used to prevent meconium aspiration syndrome in centres with standard peripartum surveillance.

Daily supplementation with zinc prevents pneumonia and diarrhoea among young children in developing countries. Now researchers in Bangladesh (

) have assessed the use of weekly supplements. The trial included 1665 children aged between 60 days and 12 months who were randomised to zinc (70 mg of zinc acetate) or placebo, once weekly for 12 months. Zinc supplementation significantly reduced the number of incidents of pneumonia (by 17%) and the incidence of diarrhoea (by 6%). Two children in the zinc group and 14 in the placebo group died. The authors of this paper suggest that compliance with a weekly regimen might be poor outside a clinical trial.

The Lancet has had it with homeopathy. In a recent paper (

) it was concluded that …