Relieving airway obstruction by NPA is an effective and safe treatment for babies with PRS until they have grown out of their respiratory and feeding difficulties. It avoids the need for surgery and can be used on neonatal wards using the monitoring described.

To develop stable and high‐yielding maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids for a diverse target population of environments (TPE), breeders have to decide whether greater gains result from selection across the undivided TPE or within more homogeneous subregions. Currently, CIMMYT subdivides the TPE in eastern and southern Africa into climatic and geographic subregions. To study the extent of specific adaptation to these subregions and to determine whether selection within subregions results in greater gains than selection across the undivided TPE, yield data of 448 maize hybrids evaluated in 513 trials across 17 countries from 2001 to 2009 were used. The trials were grouped according to five subdivision systems into climate, altitude, geographic, country, and yield‐level subregions. For the first four subdivision systems, genotype × subregion interaction was low, suggesting broad adaptation of maize hybrids across eastern and southern Africa. In contrast, genotype × yield‐level interactions and moderate genotypic correlations between low‐ and high‐yielding subregions were observed. Therefore, hybrid means should be estimated by stratifying the TPE considering the yield‐level effect as fixed and appropriately weighting information from both subregions. This strategy was at least 10% better in terms of predicted gains than direct selection using only data from the low‐ or high‐yielding subregion and should facilitate the identification of hybrids that perform well in both subregions.

Objective Several methods of treating babies with Pierre Robin sequence have been described since the condition itself was first documented in 1923. The main aim of treatment has been to relieve upper airway obstruction. Treatment methods used range from positioning of the baby to invasive surgery. The aim of this article was to describe the assessment, treatment, and monitoring methods used for babies referred with Pierre Robin sequence (PRS). Setting/Patients From December 1995 to May 2000, 22 consecutive patients were admitted to Birmingham Children's Hospital with PRS. Their airway and nutritional status were assessed and continuously monitored. Interventions Treatment concentrated on the relief of airway obstruction with a nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) and nutritional support of the babies until they grew out of their respiratory and feeding difficulties. Main Outcome Measures Outcome measures were oxygen saturation, growth of the babies, and the need for surgery. Results All babies were managed successfully with an NPA and nutritional support. No baby required surgery, and the majority showed good weight gain. Conclusion Relieving airway obstruction by NPA is an effective and safe treatment for babies with PRS until they have grown out of their respiratory and feeding difficulties. It avoids the need for surgery and can be used on neonatal wards using the monitoring described.

The diagnosis of milk curd obstruction should be considered in all premature babies with signs of bowel obstruction who are fed expressed breast milk with caloric fortification.