1257 isolated and propagated only in cultured human fibroblasts. Cultivated epithelial cells are not infected.4 Thus, even if
cytomegalovirus were found to be oncogenic, be expected rather than carcinoma of the colon.
sarcoma
would
Huang and
Roche admit that their study does not rule out possibility that other D.N.A. viruses are associated with tumours of the colon. Perhaps these investigators, using their hybridisation technique, will investigate the association I have found between M.D.H.v. and human cancer.
the
Makari Research Laboratories, Inc.,
Englewood, New Jersey 07631, U.S.A.
JACK GEORGE
Repeated polygraphic studies showed that respiratory patterns during sleep returned to normal. Polygraphic studies should be done in babies presenting near-miss S.I.D.S. If abnormalities are present a drug that stimulates ventilation (such as theophylline) could be tried. M. J. BOUTROY Service de Médecine Néonatale, P. MONIN M. ANDRE P. VERT
Maternité Régionale,
University of Nancy I, 54042 Nancy, France
SEASONAL VARIATION IN SUDDEN-INFANT-DEATH SYNDROME
MAKARI
SiR,—It is generally accepted that
TREATMENT WITH THEOPHYLLINE IN NEAR-MISS SUDDEN INFANT DEATH
SIR,-Sudden-infant-death syndrome (s.i.D.s.) is the
com-
S.LD.S. (sudden-infantsyndrome) is commoner in winter than in summer. Since publishing my first epidemiological study on s.i.D.s. in South Australia,’ I have further investigated seasonal incidence. In
death
of death between 1 week and 1 year of age, with a peak incidence between 2 and 4 months and a predominance in males.1-3 The cause of this syndrome is unknown. In babies who have died from s.i.D.s., short and sudden episodes of cyanosis, pallor, and sometimes respiratory-tract infections are commonly recorded in retrospect. Sometimes these antecedents are associated with apncea but respond to immediate resuscitative efforts by parents. One suggestion is that some abnormality in respiratory pattern during sleep is at the origin of this syndrome.4.5 In near-miss crib death polygraphic studies of respiratory pattern, heart-rate, E.E.&., and P,,o2would be of interest and treatment with drugs which stimulate ventilation monest cause
might also be helpful. A boy born on Sept. 1, 1977, weighing 3600 g, after normal pregnancy and delivery, did well during the first 3 months of life. On Dec. 6 the mother found her baby, which she had left 10 min before, pale, and without any respiratory movement. A doctor (the neighbour) immediately applied artificial respiration. The baby was then taken to hospital where heart and respiration were monitored continuously for 24 h. No abnormal incident was detected and the baby was discharged. The mother said that her child had had episodes of pallor and cyanosis since birth. The baby was referred to our hospital for polygraphic studies, including E.E.G., impedance pneumogram, heart-rate, and E.E.G. was
transcutaneous
normal
oxygen tension
(TcPoz).6The
but, during rapid-eye-movement sleep, epi-
sodes of periodic breathing were recorded associated with bradycardia (
cytomegalovirus were found to be oncogenic, be expected rather than carcinoma of the colon.
sarcoma
would
Huang and
Roche admit that their study does not rule out possibility that other D.N.A. viruses are associated with tumours of the colon. Perhaps these investigators, using their hybridisation technique, will investigate the association I have found between M.D.H.v. and human cancer.
the
Makari Research Laboratories, Inc.,
Englewood, New Jersey 07631, U.S.A.
JACK GEORGE
Repeated polygraphic studies showed that respiratory patterns during sleep returned to normal. Polygraphic studies should be done in babies presenting near-miss S.I.D.S. If abnormalities are present a drug that stimulates ventilation (such as theophylline) could be tried. M. J. BOUTROY Service de Médecine Néonatale, P. MONIN M. ANDRE P. VERT
Maternité Régionale,
University of Nancy I, 54042 Nancy, France
SEASONAL VARIATION IN SUDDEN-INFANT-DEATH SYNDROME
MAKARI
SiR,—It is generally accepted that
TREATMENT WITH THEOPHYLLINE IN NEAR-MISS SUDDEN INFANT DEATH
SIR,-Sudden-infant-death syndrome (s.i.D.s.) is the
com-
S.LD.S. (sudden-infantsyndrome) is commoner in winter than in summer. Since publishing my first epidemiological study on s.i.D.s. in South Australia,’ I have further investigated seasonal incidence. In
death
of death between 1 week and 1 year of age, with a peak incidence between 2 and 4 months and a predominance in males.1-3 The cause of this syndrome is unknown. In babies who have died from s.i.D.s., short and sudden episodes of cyanosis, pallor, and sometimes respiratory-tract infections are commonly recorded in retrospect. Sometimes these antecedents are associated with apncea but respond to immediate resuscitative efforts by parents. One suggestion is that some abnormality in respiratory pattern during sleep is at the origin of this syndrome.4.5 In near-miss crib death polygraphic studies of respiratory pattern, heart-rate, E.E.&., and P,,o2would be of interest and treatment with drugs which stimulate ventilation monest cause
might also be helpful. A boy born on Sept. 1, 1977, weighing 3600 g, after normal pregnancy and delivery, did well during the first 3 months of life. On Dec. 6 the mother found her baby, which she had left 10 min before, pale, and without any respiratory movement. A doctor (the neighbour) immediately applied artificial respiration. The baby was then taken to hospital where heart and respiration were monitored continuously for 24 h. No abnormal incident was detected and the baby was discharged. The mother said that her child had had episodes of pallor and cyanosis since birth. The baby was referred to our hospital for polygraphic studies, including E.E.G., impedance pneumogram, heart-rate, and E.E.G. was
transcutaneous
normal
oxygen tension
(TcPoz).6The
but, during rapid-eye-movement sleep, epi-
sodes of periodic breathing were recorded associated with bradycardia (
