Air enema was superior to liquid enema for intussusception reduction. The success rate was higher without a difference in perforation rate. Limitations included heterogeneity and publication bias.

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In songbirds, learning to sing is a highly social process that likely involves social reward. Here, we tested the hypothesis that during song learning, the reward value of hearing a particular song predicts the degree to which that song will ultimately be learned. We measured the early song preferences of young male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) in an operant key-pressing assay; each of two keys was associated with a higher likelihood of playing the song of the father or that of another familiar adult (“neighbor”). To minimize the effects of exposure on learning, we implemented a novel reinforcement schedule that allowed us to detect preferences while balancing exposure to each song. On average, the juveniles significantly preferred the father’s song early during song learning, before actual singing occurs in this species. When they reached adulthood, all the birds copied the father’s song. The accuracy with which the father’s song was imitated was positively correlated with the peak strength of the preference for the father’s song during the sensitive period of song learning. Our results show that preference for the song of a chosen tutor, in this case the father, predicted vocal learning during development.

Objective To determine the efficacy of hydroxyurea therapy on transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia patients. Methods This study collected articles from databases, applied inclusion and exclusion criteria, and analyzed them for bias. The effects of hydroxyurea on transfusion requirements were categorized according to the following definitions. 'Good responders' were participants who became transfusion independent after treatment. 'Moderate responders' were participants who were still transfusion dependent, however, experienced a significant decline in their transfusion requirements. 'Poor responders' were defined as participants who did not respond to hydroxyurea. Results A total of 13 studies met all the inclusion and exclusion criteria providing a total of 1196 study participants. The weighted average of the odds ratio using the random effect model (P < 0.001) was determined to be 0.493 for good responders, 0.270 for moderate responders, and 0.229 for poor responders. Discussion Until now, there has not been any double-blinded placebo-controlled studies performed looking at the effectiveness of hydroxyurea with this regard, and this substantially limits this meta-analysis. More studies should be conducted to determine whether hydroxyurea preferentially treats particular type of mutations over others. Conclusion This study suggests that hydroxyurea provides some benefit to patients, and therefore, in certain clinical situations, it may be understandable to start a trial therapy of hydroxyurea to qualifying patients. However, a double-blinded placebo-controlled studies should be performed before its efficacy can be considered established.

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