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Child Health Research

• Current Research
• Previous Research
• Student Projects
• Facilities
• Research Opportunities
• Publications

Research themes include gastroenterology (Dr WM Bisset & Dr R Hansen) and paediatric respiratory health and disease (Professors P J Helms and G Devereux, Drs Richard Brooker & Stephen Turner). The Department has a strong track record in asthma research. Projects are also being conducted in autism and neurodevelopmental delay by Senior Lecturer in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Dr JHG Williams.

Paediatric Clinical Pharmacology

Current Research

Facilities Available

• Child Health Laboratory
• Meeting and Seminar Room with interactive board.

Present Research Opportunities

Paediatric respiratory health and disease

• Professor PJ Helms
• Dr Stephen Turner
• Emeritus Professor G Russell
• Dr Richard Brooker

A number of studies take advantage of the population stability of the Region and the activities of the Medical Research Council Social Biology Unit that was active in the mid-1960s. A cohort of children identified in the mid-1960s is being followed and three generation family studies are being performed. These studies seek to identify and confirm the heritability of asthma and atopic disease and its interaction with the environment. Asthma and atopy phenotypes and genotypes are being identified in collaboration with Genetics and Thoracic Medicine.

In collaboration with Environmental and Occupational Medicine a birth cohort is being followed in which the dietary hypotheses for the increase in childhood asthma and allergic disease being tested.

Assessment of airway function with special reference to monitoring of airway inflammation.

Publications

Recent publications from the department:

Black J, Baxter-Jones ADG, Gordon J, Findlay AL , Helms PJ. Assessment of airway function in young children with asthma. Comparison of spirometry, interrupter technique and tidal flow by inductance plethsmography. Ped Pulmonol. 2004; 37 :548-553

Srivastava P, Helms PJ, Stewart D, Main M, Russell G. Association of CCR5 Ddelta 32 with reduced risk of childhood but not of adult asthma. Thorax 2003; 58 :222-226.

Dimova-Yaneva D, Russell D, Main M, Brooker R, Helms PJ. Eosiniphil activation and cysteinyl leukotriene production in infants with respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis. Clin Exp Allergy . 2004: 34 :555-558.

Von Berg A, Papageorgiou Saxoni F, Wille S. Carrillo T, Kattamis C, Helms PJ. Efficacy and tolerability of formoterol Turbuhaler in children. Int J Clin Pract . 2003: 57 :852-6.

Mooney JA, Helms PJ, Jolliffe IT. Fitting mixtures of von Mises distributions: a case study involving Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Computational Statistics and Data Analysis . 2003; 41 :505-513.

Ekins-Daukes S, McLay JS, Taylor MW, Helms PJ. Antibiotic prescribing for children. Too much and too little? Retrospective observational study in primary care. Br. Jnl. of Clin. Pharm 2003; 56 :92-95

Ekins-Daukes S, Simpson CR, Helms PJ, Taylor MW, McLay JS. Burden of corticosteroids in children with asthma in primary care: retrospective observational study. BMJ 2002; 324 :1374.

Simpson CR, Anderson WJ, Helms PJ, Taylor MW, Watson L, Prescott GJ et al . Coincidence of immune-mediated diseases driven by Th1 and Th2 subsets suggests a common aetiology. A population-based study using computerized general practice data. Clin.Exp.Allergy 2002; 32 :37-42.

Helms PJ. 'Real World' pragmatic clinical trials: What are they and what do they tell us? Pediatr.Allergy Immunol. 2002; 13 :4-9.

Russell G. Asthma in the transition from childhood to adulthood. Thorax 2002; 57 :96-7.

Dean JC, Hailey H, Moore SJ, Lloyd DJ, Turnpenny PD, Little J. Long term health and neurodevelopment in children exposed to antiepileptic drugs before birth. J.Med.Genet. 2002; 39 :251-9.

Fleming S, Bodner C, Devereux G, Russell G, Campbell D, Godden D et al . An application of the United Kingdom Working Party diagnostic criteria for atopic dermatitis in Scottish infants. J.Invest Dermatol. 2001; 117 :1526-30.

Russell RI, Helps BA, Helms PJ. Normal values for phrenic nerve latency in children. Muscle Nerve 2001; 24 :1548-50.

Russell G. Community acquired pneumonia. Arch.Dis.Child 2001; 85 :445-6.

Helms PJ. Early environmental influences in the development of asthma and atopic disease. Monaldi Arch.Chest Dis. 2001; 56 :265-9.

Bunn SK , Bisset WM, Main MJ, Gray ES, Olson S, Golden BE. Fecal calprotectin: validation as a noninvasive measure of bowel inflammation in childhood inflammatory bowel disease. J.Pediatr.Gastroenterol.Nutr. 2001; 33 :14-22.

Helms PJ. Issues in pediatric asthma. Pediatr.Pulmonol.Suppl 2001; 21 :49-56.

Osman LM, Baxter-Jones AD, Helms PJ. Parents' quality of life and respiratory symptoms in young children with mild wheeze. EASE Study Group. Eur.Respir.J. 2001; 17 :254-8.

Williams JH, Whiten A, Suddendorf T, Perrett DI. Imitation, mirror neurons and autism. Neurosci.Biobehav.Rev. 2001; 25 :287-95.

Bunn SK , Bisset WM, Main MJ, Golden BE. Fecal calprotectin as a measure of disease activity in childhood inflammatory bowel disease. J.Pediatr.Gastroenterol.Nutr. 2001; 32 :171-7.

Dignan F, Abu-Arafeh I, Russell G. The prognosis of childhood abdominal migraine. Arch.Dis.Child 2001; 84 :415-8.

Nicoll A, Carter E, Golden B, Robson J, Southall D, Williams T. Developing sustainable international partnerships in child health and paediatric care. Arch.Dis.Child 2001; 84 :315-9.

Helms PJ. CCR5-delta32 polymorphism in asthma. Lancet 2001; 357 :802.

Dignan F, Symon DN, AbuArafeh I, Russell G. The prognosis of cyclical vomiting syndrome. Arch.Dis.Child 2001; 84 :55-7.

McHaffie HE, Fowlie PW, Hume R, Laing IA, Lloyd DJ, Lyon AJ. Consent to autopsy for neonates. Arch.Dis.Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2001; 85 :F4-F7.

McHaffie HE, Laing IA , Lloyd DJ. Follow up care of bereaved parents after treatment withdrawal from newborns. Arch.Dis.Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2001; 84 :F125-F128.

Baxter-Jones AD, Helms PJ, Russell G, Grant A, Ross S, Cairns JA et al . Early asthma prophylaxis, natural history, skeletal development and economy (EASE): a pilot randomised controlled trial. Health Technol.Assess. 2000; 4 :1-89.

Baxter-Jones AD,.Helms PJ. Early introduction of inhaled steroids in wheezing children presenting in primary care. A pilot study. EASE Study Group. Clin.Exp.Allergy 2000; 30 :1618-26.

Helms PJ. Inhaled disodium cromoglycate as maintenance therapy for childhood asthma: time to consign to history? Thorax 2000; 55 :886.

Tookey P, Molyneaux P, Helms P. UK case of congenital rubella can be linked to Greek cases. BMJ 2000; 321 :766-7.

Helms PJ. Issues and unmet needs in pediatric asthma. Pediatr.Pulmonol. 2000; 30 :159-65.

Mansur AH, Christie G, Turner A, Bishop DT, Markham AF, Helms P et al . Lack of linkage between chromosome 5q23-33 markers and IgE/bronchial hyperreactivity in 67 Scottish families. Clin.Exp.Allergy 2000; 30 :954-61.

Helms P. The adolescent with respiratory disease. J.R.Coll.Physicians Lond 2000; 34 :134-7.

Golden BE, Corbett M, McBurney R, Golden MH. Malnutrition: trials and triumphs. Trans.R.Soc.Trop.Med.Hyg. 2000; 94 :12-3.

Helms PJ. Corticosteroid-sparing options in the treatment of childhood asthma. Drugs 2000; 59 Suppl 1 :15-22.

Moore SJ, Turnpenny P, Quinn A, Glover S, Lloyd DJ, Montgomery T et al . A clinical study of 57 children with fetal anticonvulsant syndromes. J.Med.Genet. 2000; 37 :489-97.

Selected older publications from the department:

HELMS PJ. Corticosteroid sparing options in the treatment of childhood asthma. Drugs . 2000; 59 : suppl.15-22.

MANSUR AH, CHRISTIE G, TURNER A, BISHOP DT, HELMS PJ, MORRISON JFJ.
Lack of linkage between chromosome 5q22-23 markers and IgE/bronchial hyperreactivity in 67 Scottish families. Clin Exp Allergy . 2000; 30 : 945-961

CHRISTIE GL, HELMS PJ, GODDEN DJ, ROSS SJ, FRIEND JAR, LEGGE JS, HAITES NE, DOUGLAS JG. Asthma, wheezy bronchitis and atopy across two generations. Am J Resp Crit Care Med 1999; 159 : 125-129.

HELMS PJ. Asthma in transition from childhood through adolescence to adulthood. Proc R Coll Physicians Edinb 1999; 29 : 6-10.

DOUGLAS AS, HELMS PJ, JOLLIFFE IT. Seasonality of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome but not prevalence varies by region in mainland Britain . Eur Resp J 1999; 13 : 95-99.

HELMS PJ, CHRISTIE G. Asthma prospects for prevention. Arch Dis Child 1999; 80 : 401-405.

BAXTER-JONES ADG, CARDY AH, HELMS PJ, PHILLIPS DO, SMITH WCS. The influence of socio-economic conditions on growth in infancy: The 1921 Aberdeen Birth Cohort. Arch Dis Child 1999; 81 : 5-9.

HALL IP, WHEATLEY A, CHRISTIE G, McDOUGALL C, HUBBARD R, HELMS PJ. Association of CCR5 D32 with reduced risk of asthma. Lancet 1999; 354 : 1264-1265

HAMILTON NM, FURNACE J, DUGUID KP, HELMS PJ, SIMPSON JG. Development and integration of CAL ; a case study in medicine. Medical Education 1999; 33 : 298-305.

DOUGLAS AS, HELMS PJ, JOLLIFFE IT. Seasonality of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by age at death. Acta Paediatrica 1998; 87 : 1033-1038.

HOPES E, McDOUGALL C, CHRISTIE G, DEWAR J, WHEATLEY A, HALL IP, HELMS PJ. Association of the GLN27 b2-Adrenoceptor polymorphism with reported childhood asthma: Population based study. Brit Med J 1998; 316 : 664.

CHRISTIE GL, McDOUGALL CM, HELMS PJ. Is the increase in asthma prevalence occurring in children without a family history of atopy. Scot Med J 1998; 43 : 180-182.

MARTINEZ FD, HELMS PJ. Types of asthma and wheezing. Eur Resp J 1998; 12 : S27 3-8.

DOUGLAS AS, HELMS PJ, JOLLIFFE IT. Seasonality of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in mainland Britain and Ireland 1985-1995. Arch Dis Child 1998; 79 : 269-270.

SELBIE RD , FLETCHER M, ARESTIS N, WHITE R, DUNCAN A, HELMS P, DUFFTY P. A signal processing technique to determine respiratory function parameters in infants using inductance plethysmography. Med Engineering & Physics 1997 ; 19 : 501-511.

CHRISTIE GL, HELMS PJ, ROSS SJ, GODDEN D, FRIEND JAR, LEGGE JS, HAITES NE, DOUGLAS JG. Outcome for children of parents with atopic asthma and transient childhood wheezy bronchitis. Thorax 1997; 52: 953-957.

DOUGLAS AS, ALLAN TM, HELMS PJ. Seasonality and the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome during 1987-9 and 1992-3 in Australia and Britain . BMJ 1996; 312 : 1381-1383.

GUPTA R, HELMS PJ, JOLLIFFE IT, DOUGLAS AS. Seasonal variation in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and bronchiolitis - a common mechanism? Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1996; 154 : 431-435.

Douglas AS, Allan TM, Helms PJ . Seasonality is still a feature of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Brit Med J 1996; 312 : 1381-1383.

Furnace J, Hamilton NM , Helms P, Duguid K . Undergraduate medical teaching at a peripheral site using videoconferencing. Medical Education 1996; 30 : 215-220.

Gupta R, Helms PJ, Jolliffe IT, Douglas AS . Seasonal variation in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and bronchiolitis - a common mechanism? Am J Respir Crit Care Me d 1996; 154 : 431-435.

Omran M, Russell G. Continuing increase in respiratory symptoms and atopy in Aberdeen schoolchildren. Brit Med J 1996; 312: 34.

Golden BE, Clohessy PA, Russell G, Fagerhol MK. Calprotectin as a marker of inflammation in cystic fibrosis. Arch Dis Child 1996; 74: 136-139.

Olson JA, Forrester M, Clohessy PA, Golden BE, Herriot R, Forrester JV. Calprotectin is raised in endogenous posterior uveitis. Occular Immunol Inflamm 1996; 4 : 91-98.

Baxter-Jones ADG, Helms P, Maffulli N, Preece M . Growth and development of male gymnasts, soccer and tennis players. A longitudinal study. Ann Hum Biol 1995; 22 : 381-394.

Abu-Arafeh I, Russell G . Cyclical vomiting syndrome in children: a population-based study. J Ped Gastro Nutr 1995; 21 : 254.

Ninan TK, Macdonald L, Russell G . Persistent nocturnal cough in childhood: a population based study. Arch Dis Child 1995; 75 : 403-407.

Clohessy PA, Golden BE . Calprotectin-mediated zinc chelation as a biostatic mechanism in host defence. Scand J (Immunol) 1995; 42 : 551-556.

Christie G, Helms P . Childhood asthma: what is it and where is it going? Thorax 1995; 19 : 137-149.

Abu-Arafeh I, Gray E, Youngson G, Auchterlonie I, Russell G . Myocarditis and haemolytic uraemic syndrome. Arch Dis Child 1995; 72 : 46-47.

Manzoor A, Abu-Arafeh I, Cole GF . Alcohol intoxication in adolescents. Amb Child Health 1995; 1 : 99-104.

Abu-Arafeh I, Russell G . Prevalence of headache and migraine in schoolchildren. Brit Med J 1994; 309 : 765-769.

Austin JB, Russell G, Adam MG et al. Prevalence of asthma and wheeze in the Scottish Highlands. Arch Dis Child 1994; 71 : 211-216.

Book Chapters and Invited Reviews

McIntosh N, Helms PJ, Smyth R. Forfar and Arneil's Textbook of Paediatrics 6 th Edition, Churchill Livingstone 2003.

Helms PJ, Henderson J. Respiratory Disorders in Forfar and Arneil's Textbook of Paediatrics 6 th Edition. Eds. McIntosh N, Helms PJ, Smyth RJ, Pub: Churchill Livingstone 2003.

Helms PJ. Is early treatment of children necessary? In Asthma critical debates. Pub: Blackwell Science. Ed Johnston SL, Holgate S. 2002.