PERINATAL MORTALITY AMONG CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANT MOTHERS IN SWEDEN

Abstract. Smedby, B. and Ericson, A. (Department of Social Medicine, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, and National Board of Health and Welfare, Stockholm, Sweden). Perinatal mortality among children of immigrant mothers in Sweden. The perinatal mortality among the infants of foreign and Swedish mothers was studied with the help of the data submitted to the medical birth register in 1973–1976. Unexpectedly, the perinatal mortality was slightly lower among the infants of the immigrant mothers. This difference could not be explained by differences in the distribution by age or parity of the mothers or by the length of gestation of the infants. A conceivable explanation is that the foreign mothers constituted a favorably selected group.     

THE EFFECT OF FEEDING ON OXYGEN CONSUMPTION, RQ AND PLASMA LEVELS OF GLUCOSE, FFA, AND D-β-HYDROXYBUTYRATE IN NEWBORN INFANTS OF DIABETIC MOTHERS AND SMALL FOR GESTATIONAL AGE INFANTS

Abstract. Eight infants of strictly controlled diabetic mothers (IDM), 8 infants of gestational diabetic mothers (IGDM) and 6 small for gestational age infants (SGA) were studied before the first feeding and during an early feeding regimen. In IDMs and IGDMs continuous monitoring from 2 hours up to 7 1/2 hours after birth before feeding revealed no consistent changes of Vo₂ and RQ. The groups of infants were studied on 4 different occasions: (I) 2 to 16 hours, (II) 1 to 2 days, (III) 3 to 4 days, and (IV) 7 to 11 days. Prefeeding Vo₂-values were not significantly different between each of the groups, but mean RQ was higher in IGDMs than in IDMs. Age of the infant and prefeeding RQ were inversely correlated (r=-0.537, p<0.02). With increasing age and milk intake Vo₂ increased significantly in all groups. RQ decreased during the first 24 to 48 hours in all groups and rose thereafter with highest values at 7 to 11 days. Plasma levels of glucose, FFA, and D-β-hydroxybutyrate were not significantly different between each of the groups. The highest values for D-β-hydroxybutyrate were found at 1–2 days when the lowest RQ values were also recorded. D-β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations and RQ values (r= -0.648, p<0.001) were inversely correlated suggesting increasing oxidation of fat. Feeding resulted in a marked rise in RQ to values around unity, which preceded a distinct increase in Vo₂ that reached a maximum at 1 to 1 1/2 hours after the feed, then slowly returned to pretest values. The rise in Vo₂ was accompanied by an increase in rectal temperature (0.4 to 1.5°C). Vo₂, RQ, and plasma levels of glucose, FFA, and D-β-hydroxybutyrate, were almost identical for each of the groups. We suggest: 1) That differences in feeding practice is the most likely explanation for the discrepancy between reported values for Vo₂, RQ, and circulating substrates in normal and low birth weight newborns. 2) That the rise in Vo₂ during the neonatal period, caused by feeding, reflects the cost of growth.     

NEONATAL MORBIDITY OF S. G. A. INFANTS IN RELATION TO THEIR NUTRITIONAL STATUS AT BIRTH

ABSTRACT. 46 consecutively born term infants with a birthweight ≤ the 2.3 percentile for gestational age were divided into two groups according to their nutritional status at birth quantified by the ponderal index (100 × weight/length³). Though all infants had a ponderal index below the 50th percentile, those with a ponderal index below the 3rd percentile (about half of the study group) were more frequently affected by asphyxia, hypoglycaemia, hypothermia, and hyperviscosity than their more proportionally grown counterparts. On this account the identification of disproportionally grown small-for-gestational age infants by using the ponderal index as a yardstick of the nutritional status at birth, is necessary because they constitute a high-risk group among small-for-gestational age infants.     

大鼠胚胎小脑提取液对培养脊髓神经细胞的作用

目的：探讨不同胎龄大鼠小脑提取液（ＣＥ）对体外培养脊髓神经细胞的影响。方法：制备不同蛋白浓度的１４,１６,１８,２０ｄ胎鼠（Ｅ１４,Ｅ１６、有８、Ｅ２０）ＣＥ〈加入原代培养的Ｅ１６胎鼠脊髓神经细胞中,２４ｈ后以微量快速自动比色法检测细胞活性。结果：实验组各胎龄ＣＥ均能促进培养脊髓神经元的存活,并有蛋白浓度依赖关系,与对照组及其它各实验组相比有极显著性差异,Ｅ１４和Ｅ１８ＣＥ分别在蛋白浓度为０．２０     

Levels of Knowledge About Suicide Facts and Myths Among Younger and Older Adults

Abstract

Despite the fact that older adults have the highest suicide rate of any age group, little is known about the kind of information older adults possess about suicide facts. Purpose of study was to investigate the prevalence of a number of misconceptions about suicide in younger (N = 116; age range = 17-52 years;Mage = 26.2 years) and older (N = 62; age range = 55-79 years; Mage = 62.4 years) adults and to assess for differences in levels of knowledge between younger and older persons. Volunteer participants completed anonymously a 47-item suicide knowledge quiz, with items derived from the Revised Facts on Suicide Quiz (Hubbard & McIntosh, 1992) and several abnormal psychology texts. Responses to the items were analyzed for percentage of endorsement and differential endorsement as related to age. Using 70% correct per item as the criterion for adequate knowledge, results for older adults indicated that level of knowledge was good for 16 items (34%) but poor for 31 items (66%). Younger adults showed good knowledge on 19 items (40%). Chi-square revealed that older adults had poorer knowledge on 3 items and better knowledge on 3 items compared to younger adults. This study suggests that misconceptions about suicide are prevalent among younger and older persons. Education efforts aimed at decreasing myths about suicide may serve to heighten awareness of the problem and increase adaptive behaviors in some individuals.     

Cannabis use and non‐clinical dimensions of psychosis in university students presenting to primary care

Skinner R, Conlon L, Gibbons D, McDonald C. Cannabis use and non‐clinical dimensions of psychosis in university students presenting to primary care. Objective: To explore the relationship between cannabis use and self‐reported dimensions of psychosis in a population of university students presenting for any reason to primary care. Method: One thousand and forty‐nine students attending the Student Health Unit, National University of Ireland, Galway, completed self‐report questionnaires on alcohol and substance misuse, non‐clinical dimensions of psychosis [Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE)], anxiety and depression [Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)]. Association of cannabis use with psychiatric symptoms was explored whilst controlling for confounds. Results: More frequent cannabis use was independently associated with greater intensity of positive, negative and depressive psychotic symptoms. The earlier the age of onset of cannabis use, the more positive psychotic symptoms were reported. Conclusion: These findings support the hypotheses that cannabis use increases the risk of developing psychotic symptoms and that this risk is further increased in those individuals who use cannabis more heavily and commence it at a younger age.     

老年慢性肺源性心脏病合并冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病临床分析

目的探讨老年慢性肺源性心脏病（简称肺心病）合并冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病（简称冠心病）的临床特点。方法将老年肺心病患者232例根据是否合并冠心病分为观察组（合并冠心病）和对照组（不合并冠心病），将两组临床资料进行对比分析。采用SPSS13．0统计软件进行数据处理，计量资料采用t检验，计数资料采用x2检验，以P〈0．05为差异有统计学意义。结果观察组（n=42）年龄较大，病程较长，吸烟指数较大，心功能分级（NYHA）以Ⅲ、Ⅳ级偏多，合并症较多，住院天数长，死亡率高，与对照组比较差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论老年肺心病合并冠心病患者病情较复杂，诊断必须结合病史、冠心病的危险因素、临床表现。且病情重、病程长、病死率高。     

微创拔牙技术在学龄期儿童骨埋伏多生牙拔除中的应用

目的:探讨微创拔牙技术在学龄期儿童骨埋伏多生牙拔除术中的应用效果。方法:选择72例学龄期儿童共76颗骨埋伏多生牙,使用微创拔牙技术拔除患牙。结果:76颗患牙均在30 min内拔除,术后未出现感染、干槽症及邻牙损伤等并发症。结论:微创拔牙技术缩短了手术时间,减少了术后并发症的发生,减轻患儿的牙科畏惧情绪,是拔除学龄期儿童骨埋伏多生牙的好方法。     

Perceived Parental/Peer Attitudes and Alcohol-Related Behaviors: An Analysis of the Impact of the Drinking Age Law

This study examined the perceived change in parental and peer attitudes toward underage drinking associated with the raising of the legal drinking age and its effect on youthful alcohol use and drinking driving. The analysis was based on the New York State Youth Alcohol Survey, a series of four surveys conducted in 1982, before the enactment of the 19 drinking age law; 1983, after the enactment of the 19 drinking age law, 1985, before the 21 drinking law; and 1986, after the 21 drinking age law. Findings indicate that the effect of perceived parental attitudes is specific to underage alcohol use, but the effect of perceived peer attitudes is general to both underage and legal drinkers. Results from this study suggest that parental supervision is a key factor in enforcing the drinking age law and reducing youthful alcohol use. Parents' participation should be included in all enforcement and prevention/intervention efforts.     

Suprapubic Cystotomy

Suprapubic cystotomy is a simple but practical means of bladder drainage in the postoperative gynecologic surgical patient. The two technics described here are open direct cystotomy in the abdominal procedure and blind transabdominal cystotomy in the vaginal procedure. These approaches reduce morbidity, use of sedation, need for antibiotics, postoperative nursing care, and hospitalization time.