Schock

Shock is defined as a disproportion between oxygen supply and consumption based on a deficient perfusion of vital organs. Reduction of circulating blood volume (hypovolemic shock), cardiac failure with low output (cardiac shock) or the failure of peripheral vascular resistance (distributive shock) can result in shock. Preclinically the diagnosis of shock is determined by exploration, physical examination and – some – monitoring only. Therapy is directed towards the underlying cause whilst recovery and maintenance of adequate perfusion of vitals and tissue are of primary importance. This strategy includes the application of oxygen, fluids and catecholamines. Moreover, the choice of the hospital for further therapy is crucial in case of emergency.     

Structure-activity relations of antineoplastic platinum II and platinum IV coordination compounds

Five diammine-Pt(II) or Pt(IV) coordination compounds, namely cis-diammine-dichloro-platinum (II) "cis-DDP", transdihydroxy-cis-diammine-dichloro-platinum (IV) "trans-ODDP", and derived substitution products of lactic acid (racemates or L-forms) with diminished toxicity in comparison to cis-DDP have been tested against mouse leukemia P388, and partly on melanoma B16 for antineoplastic activity. The results have been compared with those obtained with the clinical approved cis-DDP. They were not in every way equal to the antitumor efficiency of cis-DDP. Improved physicochemical properties as well as favorable differences of side effects in contrast to cis-DDP, could be decisive for the potential value of these substances.     

Donor insemination: child development and family functioning in lesbian mother families

Findings are presented of a comparative study investigating the family relationships and the emotional and gender development of children raised in lesbian mother families. A total of 30 lesbian mother families with 4-8 year old children created as a result of donor insemination (DI) were compared with 38 heterosexual families with a DI child and with 30 heterosexual families who had a naturally conceived child. A variety of assessment measures, including a standardized interview and questionnaires from the parents and psychological testing of the child were used to collect the data. The quality of the couples' relationships and the quality of the mother-child interaction did not differ between lesbian mother families and either of the heterosexual family groups. The quality of the interaction between the social mother and the child in lesbian families was superior to that between the father and the child in both groups of heterosexual families. Childrens' own perception of their parents was similar in all family types; the social mother in lesbian families was regarded by the child to be as much a 'parent' as the father in both types of heterosexual families. With regard to their emotional/behavioural development, boys and girls raised in lesbian mother families were well adjusted and their gender role development did not differ from that of children raised in heterosexual families. These results indicate that child and family development in lesbian mother families is similar to that of heterosexual families.      

Donor insemination: Dutch parents' opinions about confidentiality and donor anonymity and the emotional adjustment of their children

Results from a comparative study investigating 38 donor insemination (DI) Dutch families with 4-8 year old children are presented. The aims of this study were to investigate parents' opinions on the issues of confidentiality and donor anonymity, to assess the emotional development of the children, and to examine in DI families the association between secrecy with regard to the use of a donor and the emotional adjustment of the children. The DI families were compared to families with a child conceived by in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and to families with a naturally conceived child. Secrecy appeared to be associated with DI and not with IVF: 74% of the DI parents intended not to inform the child about the way in which she/he was conceived, whereas none of the IVF parents intended to keep the secret. Only one set of DI parents and two sets of IVF parents had actually told the child. As to donor anonymity, a spread of opinions appeared among DI parents; 57% preferred an anonymous donor, 31% would have liked non- identifying information about the donor, 9% preferred the donor's identity to be registered and 3% remained unsure. Parents' major concern was to know more about the medical/genetic background of the donor. Mothers and fathers in the DI families differed in their opinions concerning the issues of confidentiality and donor anonymity: fathers, more often than mothers, were secretive with regard to the use of a donor and husbands, more often than their wives, were in favour of donor anonymity. With regard to the emotional development of the children, more emotional/behavioural problems were revealed among DI children than among children who were naturally conceived. No association was found between secrecy and the emotional/behavioural adjustment of the children.