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et al. Iron and ferritin in substantia nigra in Parkinson’s disease. Adv Neurol 1993;
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296Zecca L, Youdim MB, Riederer P, Connor JR, Crichton RR. Iron, brain aging and
rodegenerative disorders. Nat Rev Neurosci 2004;5:863-73.
Kaur D, Peng J, Chinta SJ, Rajagopalan S, Di Monte DA, Cherny RA, et al.
eased murine neonatal iron intake results in Parkinson-like neurodegeneration with
. Neurobiol Aging 2007;28:907-13.
Peng J, Peng Li, Stevenson FF, Doctrow SR, Andersen JK. Iron and Paraquat as
rgistic environmental risk factors in sporadic Parkinson’s disease accelerate age-
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ply
the Editor:
We are grateful for the interest of Sola et al1 in our
icle and their emphasis on assessing the consequences for
term infants in a lifelong perspective. Unfortunately, good
nical evidence for optimal iron doses for premature infants
lacking. The results of a study of rats supplemented with
l iron2 are not readily extrapolated to the situation in
man infants, partly because the regulation of iron in the 2
cies differs in the neonatal period, and partly because the
dy does not include iron metabolic variables showing iron
orption and status. Epidemiologic studies associating hu-
n infants’ iron status and possible adult development of
rkinson’s disease are needed. Magnetic resonance imaging
dies of preterm infants have not reported signs of iron
posits in substantia nigra after iron supplementation to
mature infants.3,4
Our study reports infant serum iron and ferritin concen-
tions after a standard iron supplementation regime, neither
icating iron overdose.5 Unless supplemented with iron, pre-
m infants will have iron depletion in their first year of life; iron
ciency associated with suboptimal brain development has
n reported in several animal and human studies.6
As also indicated by our study, there seems to be great
erindividual variations in iron status around 5 to 7 weeks of
,5 possibly depending on birth weight, gestational age, and
tory of transfusions, phlebotomies, and diet. It is quite
ssible that iron supplementation should be more individu-
zed than it is at present. Our study does not cover the
plete history of preterm infants’ development, but pre-
ts a broad picture of infant oxidative status measurements
ore and after a week of iron supplementation, which could
o be useful for further studies and evaluations of fetal health
d development.
Kristin Braekke, MD
Department of Pediatric Intensive Care
Anne Grete Bechensteen, MD, PhD
Department of Pediatrics
Anne Cathrine Staff, MD, PhD
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Ulleval University Hospital
Oslo, Norway
Letters to the EditorSola A, Rogido M. Iron, oxidant injury and practice choices in preterm infants.
diatr 2008;152:295-6.
Kaur D, Peng J, Chinta SJ, Rajagopalan S, Di Monte DA, Cherny RA, et al.
eased murine neonatal iron intake results in Parkinson-like neurodegeneration with
. Neurobiol Aging 2007;28:907-13.
Dyet LE, Kennea N, Counsell SJ, Maalouf EF, Jayi-Obe M, Duggan PJ, et al.
ural history of brain lesions in extremely preterm infants studied with serial magnetic
nance imaging from birth and neurodevelopmental assessment. Pediatrics
6;118:536-48.
Skranes JS, Martinussen M, Smevik O, Myhr G, Indredavik M, Vik T, et al.
ebral MRI findings in very-low-birth-weight and small-for-gestational-age children
5 years of age. Pediatr Radiol 2005;35:758-65.
Braekke K, Bechensteen AG, Halvorsen BL, Blomhoff R, Haaland K, Staff AC.
dative stress markers and antioxidant status after oral iron supplementation to very
birth weight infants. J Pediatr 2007;151:23-8.
Lozoff B, Georgieff MK. Iron deficiency and brain development. Semin Pediatr
rol 2006;13:158-65.
ntoring and the development of the
ysician-scientist
the Editor:
The article by Rivkees and Genel (J Pediatr 2007;151:
3-4) succinctly and correctly points out research funding
d financial implications of what will be necessary to develop
d sustain a group of pediatric physician-scientists. The
hors also make the statement that “The research compo-
nt of pediatric fellowship training will not succeed if viewed
a hobby or if mentors are chosen by fellows on the basis of
legiality.” They go on to say that the Pediatric Scientist
velopment Program has demonstrated that “pediatric aca-
micians do know how to train physician-scientists” by
acing talented individuals with great mentors” [italics-
ne].
As much as, but not to the exclusion of, anything
ntioned in their article, the issue of the “great” mentor
st be addressed. Although every mentor will not be “great,”
ny will be very successful if they are chosen carefully and
re is an understanding of what it means to be a mentor.
cause collegiality should not be the only criteria, neither
uld simply being on the faculty and desiring to have a
ior person as a resource. Mentors must be carefully chosen
their willingness to spend the time and accept the responsi-
ity of mentoring, and who are committed to junior faculty
d trainees.
Criteria must be developed for mentors. The Research
terprise must ensure that each medical fellow and junior
ulty has a mentor who is taking his or her responsibilities
iously, has an active interest in the success of the mentee,
d is spending the time and effort needed to adequately
ntor someone early in his or her research career.
Selection of mentors should be based on the following
alities of the prospective mentor:
Appreciation that having a trainee is a responsibility
d a privilege, not a right.
Adequate research expertise/experience. With unusual
eption, assistant professors relatively early in their faculty
eers should not be primary mentors because of their inex-
The Journal of Pediatrics  February 2008