Social and health care factors and perinatal mortality in Spain--ecological study

The results of the multiple regression and correlation analysis between perinatal mortality and social and health care variables in Spanish provinces between 1975 and 1979 are presented. Although the perinatal mortality rates of Spanish provinces correlate significantly with a series of socioeconomic variables (family income available per capita, percentage of active population in primary sector, educational level of women at childbearing age) and health care variables (active obstetricians per 1000 live births and active pediatricians per 1000 live births), the multiple correlation and regression analysis has shown that the most important variable is the family income available per capita: 44% of the variability of perinatal mortality in Spanish provinces can be accounted for by this factor. By regression analysis, it is also possible to predict a decrease of 0.065 points in perinatal mortality for every additional 1000 pesetas in the family income available per capita.     

Prospective study of antigenemia,plasma viremia and lymphocytic viremia in HIV-infected hemophiliacs

A total of 186 blood samples from 24 HIV-1 seropositive hemophiliac patients, monitored every four months for 29 months, were investigated for the presence of viral antigen in plasma. In addition, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were cultured for HIV-1, using normal PBMC as a target for replication. Antigenemia was detected in 51 % of the patients and from PBMC in 87.5 % of the patients. The incidence of HIV isolation in asymptomatic patients (42.8 %) was similar to that found in symptomatic patients (51.4 %). Patients with opportunistic infections had a higher incidence of lymphocytic viremia (p<0.05). Plasma viremia was closely associated (p<0.05) with low CD4+ counts and infection progression. The persistence of antigenemia was also a marker of a poor clinical course. In treated patients, plasma viremia was the marker that better correlated with the clinical course, and it did not appear during the first nine months of therapy. Zidovudine doses of >500 mg/day significantly lowered the appearance of antigenemia and lymphocytic viremia (p<0.05).     

Self-regulation of food intake among rural Mexican preschool children

Access to food and the amount consumed were investigated within a group of 45 children aged 33 to 60 months, among whom growth stunting was common. Children were observed throughout 1 day; all foods offered and consumed were weighed, and food-related behaviors noted. Children ate frequently, at least 2 meals and an average of 7.4 +/- 2.6 snacks daily. Children had access to 2029 +/- 575 kcal (8493 +/- 2407 kJ) yet only consumed 1528 +/- 343 kcal (6396 +/- 1436 kJ) daily; thus food availability was not restricting intake. A higher proportion of snacks than meals (85 per cent vs. 71 per cent) was consumed. Children requested foods frequently (x = 9.2 +/- 4.3) and 76 per cent of requests were fulfilled. Neither amount of accessible food nor amount consumed differed by age, gender, or socioeconomic status. The importance of the child's role in determining food intake, and of snacking to overall food consumption, was demonstrated.     

Definitive treatment to pyriform sinus with minimum cord exposure--a case report

In every Radiation Oncology Department there is a group of patients referred for curative radiotherapy and within this group of patients there is a subset of patients who present the most difficult of treatment scenarios, maximum tumor dose and minimum spinal cord dose. The case to be presented involved the use of a head and neck five field technique of which three fields were treated isocentrically with the remaining two fields being electron boosts. It is from these patients that we extend to the maximum our planning capabilities.     

The effect of teacher reaction on student's interactive journal entries

The present study provides an analysis of the effects of particular patterns of teacher respose to students' entries in dialogue journals. It extended on previous research related to teacher-student instructional discourse by concentrating on written, teacher-student interactions. Second grade children who were participating in a daily dialogue journal activity were randomly subjected to two types of response patterns by their teacher. The results show that a teacher's elaborative responses to student journal entries directly lead to increase written output by students coupled with a distinct process #ophigher order#cp orientation of student entries.     

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of ciclesonide 160 μg once daily vs. budesonide 400 μg once daily in children with asthma

Ciclesonide is an onsite-activated inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) for the treatment of asthma. This study compared the efficacy, safety and effect on quality of life (QOL) of ciclesonide 160 microg (ex-actuator; nominal dose 200 microg) vs. budesonide 400 microg (nominal dose) in children with asthma. Six hundred and twenty-one children (aged 6-11 yr) with asthma were randomized to receive ciclesonide 160 microg (ex-actuator) once daily (via hydrofluoroalkane metered-dose inhaler and AeroChamber Plus spacer) or budesonide 400 microg once daily (via Turbohaler) both given in the evening for 12 wk. The primary efficacy end-point was change in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1). Additional measurements included change in daily peak expiratory flow (PEF), change in asthma symptom score sum, change in use of rescue medication, paediatric and caregiver asthma QOL questionnaire [PAQLQ(S) and PACQLQ, respectively] scores, change in body height assessed by stadiometry, change in 24-h urinary cortisol adjusted for creatinine and adverse events. Both ciclesonide and budesonide increased FEV1, morning PEF and PAQLQ(S) and PACQLQ scores, and improved asthma symptom score sums and the need for rescue medication after 12 wk vs. baseline. The non-inferiority of ciclesonide vs. budesonide was demonstrated for the change in FEV1 (95% confidence interval: -75, 10 ml, p = 0.0009, one-sided non-inferiority, per-protocol). In addition, ciclesonide and budesonide showed similar efficacy in improving asthma symptoms, morning PEF, use of rescue medication and QOL. Ciclesonide was superior to budesonide with regard to increases in body height (p = 0.003, two-sided). The effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis was significantly different in favor of ciclesonide treatment (p < 0.001, one-sided). Both ciclesonide and budesonide were well tolerated. Ciclesonide 160 microg once daily and budesonide 400 microg once daily were effective in children with asthma. In addition, in children treated with ciclesonide there was significantly less reduction in body height and suppression of 24-h urinary cortisol excretion compared with children treated with budesonide after 12 wk.     

Characterization of the effects of histamine on the transmembrane electrical activity of guinea-pig and rabbit SA- and AV-node cells

Summary The effects of histamine on the transmembrane electrical activity of cells of small preparations (0.5 × 0.5 mm) of guinea-pig and rabbit sinoatrial- and atrioventricular-nodes were studied. Histamine at concentrations above 10^–7 mol/l increased the firing rate, the rate of diastolic depolarization, the maximum diastolic potential, the amplitude and the maximum rate of depolarization of the action potential of pacemaker cells of rabbit and guineapig sinoatrial cells and rabbit atrioventricular cells. These effects were antagonized by the HZ-receptor blocker cimetidine (2.5 × 10^–6 mol/1) but they were not modified by the H₁-receptor blocker chlorphenamine (2.5 and 5×10^–6 mol/1). Small preparations of guinea-pig atrioventricular node did not exhibit spontaneous activity, but it was induced by histamine and blocked by cimetidine. Histamine increased the maximum upstroke velocity of propagated action potential of cells of the central part of complete atrioventricular node in both species studied. These effects were blocked by cimetidine, but not by chlorphenamine. It is concluded that the increase in automaticity induced by histamine in guinea-pig and rabbit sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodes was due to stimulation of H₂receptors. Histamine did not depress electrical activity of atrioventricular node cells, but rather increased it. This effect was due to H₂-receptor stimulation. Send offprint requests to: J. Sanchez-Chapula at the above address     

Protein kinase-A and the effects of parathyroid hormone on phosphate uptake in opossum kidney cells

Current evidence indicates that signal transduction after receptor binding of PTH involves the stimulation of adenylate cyclase as well as stimulation of phosphoinositide metabolism. Recent studies, showing that PTH alters phosphate transport in opossum kidney cells at concentrations which do not increase cAMP production and that activators of protein kinase-C also alter phosphate transport, have led to the suggestion that there is a dual mechanism for the regulation of phosphate transport by PTH, namely, protein kinase-C at physiological levels of PTH and cAMP at higher levels of PTH. The present studies were designed to evaluate the relationship between cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PK-A), a more sensitive indicator of alterations in cAMP metabolism than measurements of total cellular cAMP, and phosphate transport in opossum kidney cells, in response to bovine (b)PTH 1-34 and [Nle8,Nle18,Tyr34]bPTH 3-34 amide. While bPTH 1-34 markedly stimulated cAMP accumulation (half-maximal stimulation between 1 and 10 nM), PTH 3-34 analog did not. Phosphate transport was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by bPTH 1-34, with half-maximal effect occurring between 0.1 and 1 nM. [Nle8,Nle18,Tyr34]bPTH 3-34 amide also altered phosphate transport, although this peptide was 3 orders of magnitude less potent than bPTH 1-34. PK-A activity increased in response to bPTH 1-34 and correlated closely with the effects of PTH on phosphate transport. [Nle8,Nle18,Tyr34]bPTH 3-34 amide, which did not appear to increase cAMP, also resulted in a significant increase in the activity of PK-A. Studies of inhibition of cAMP accumulation using 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine demonstrated that while this agent markedly inhibited the accumulation of cAMP in response to PTH, the effects of PTH on phosphate transport were not altered. However, in spite of the reduction in cAMP the activation of PK-A was similar to control. These data indicate that the effects of PTH peptides on phosphate transport are more closely related to changes in the activity of PK-A than to levels of total cAMP. Activation of PK-A in response to PTH is demonstrable at the lowest doses of PTH that alter phosphate transport.