The role of social support and stressors for mothers and infants

This correlational study of mothers and their 6-month-old infants examined the importance of social support and stressors for parenting and infant development. Mothers (n = 79) were primarily White, married, and ranged in socio-economic status from low to high. All data were collected in mothers' homes when infants were 6 months old. Diversity of sources of social support and diversity of father support were positively related to parenting (quality of stimulation in the home). Diversity of sources of social support buffered the negative relationship of maternal fatigue (stressor) to parenting. Parenting was related to social, hearing-speech, locomotor, and general development. Additionally, social support and aggravation (people in the mother's said network who make life difficult) were related to infant development, independent of parenting.     

NORMAL CIRCULATING IMMUNOREACTIVE GROWTH HORMONE RELEASING FACTOR (hGRF) CONCENTRATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH FUNCTIONAL HYPOTHALAMIC hGRF DEFICIENCY

Using a highly specific radioimmunoassay we have measured the concentrations of human growth hormone releasing factor (ir-hGRF) in the peripheral circulation of six individuals with acquired hypothalamic hGRF deficiency. Despite their hypothalamic dysfunction venous plasma ir-hGRF increased normally in every patient after the stimulus of a mixed breakfast, from an average concentration basally of 13.6 +/- 6.0 pg/ml to a maximum of 29.0 +/- 8.4 pg/ml (mean +/- SEM) at 120 min. The findings indicate that circulating hGRF is at least in large part extrahypothalamic in origin, which in turn implies a physiological role for hGRF in the periphery.     

POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUCOCYTE FUNCTION IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Controversy exists over the function of polymorphonuclear leucocytes(PMN) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We found no difference inthe phagocytic and migratory ability of PMN from 45 patientswith RA, when compared with PMN from 19 RA patients who hada history of recurrent infection, and 40 normal healthy age-and sex-matched controls. We conclude that the increased incidenceof bacterial infection reported in RA is not the consequenceof an intrinsic defect in PMN function. KEY WORDS: Polymorphonuclear leucocytes, Rheumatoid arthritis     

Creating supportive environments for health: a case study from Australia in developing national goals and targets for healthy environments

Creating healthy living and working conditions are central goalsin public health which have re-emerged in prominence in thepast decade. The roots of thLs revival of interest can be tracedto include improved under standing of the relationship betweenliving conditions and health, prompting by the World HealthOrganiza non (WHO) through its ‘Health for All’strategy which has drawn attention to underlying causes of inequitiesin health in society, and a more general international concernwith ecologically sustainable development. Australia has respondeduniquely to the challenge of developing a strategy to createsustainable, supportive environments for health through itsNational Health Goals and Targets. These targets, publishedin 1993, include a range of targets for Healthy Environmentswhich were developed from a ‘health’ perspective,but in co-operation with the different sectors of governmentresponsible for action to achieve them. These include housing,transportation, education and employment. Early responses tothe publication of the targets are encouraging, but will requiresustained governmental support to reach fruition. Critical tosuccess in develop ing and implementing the targets will berecognition by government, and particularly the health sector,of the legitimacy of inter-sectoral action for health. Negotiations to resolve potential conflicts in the priorities of differentsectors should ensure that attention is focused on the commonground for practical inter-sectoral action to improve health.The Australian Targets Report identifies a series of concreteactions required to create supportive environments for health.A willingness to account for pro gress in achieving the targetsfor Healthy Environments will be an important measure of thecom mitment of the Australian federal and state governmentsto the health and well-being of their citizens.     

Efficacy of Type 1C Antiarrhythmic Agents for Treatment of Resistant Atrial Fibrillation

In order to determine the efficacy of type lC agents (flecainide, encainide, propafenone) in patients with atrial fibrillation who have failed to maintain sinus rhythm with type 1A agents (quinidine, procainamide, disopyramide), 147 patients, that were admitted into the John Dempsey Hospital with new or recurrent atrial fibrillation between 1987–1991, were studied retrospectively. Out of the total, 29 patients converted spontaneously to sinus rhythm, 14 patients were left in atrial fibrillation, and 104 patients were given a type 1A antiarrhythmic. Sixty-five of these patients remained in sinus rhythm (54% converted on drug alone, 46% required electrical cardioversion) for at least 6 months. Of the remaining 39 patients, 28 were given a type 1C antiarrhythmic; 13 were successfully converted (61% chemical, 39% electrical) to and remained in sinus rhythm for at least 6 months; the remaining 15 either failed to convert or reverted to atrial fibrillation. New onset atrial fibrillation had a significantly lower incidence of congestive heart failure (10%) than recurrent atrial fibrillation (33%; P < 0.01). No differences in digoxin, beta blocker use, or other clinical characteristics were seen either between type 1A or type 1C successes or failures. Similarly, echocardiographic dimensions did not predict success or failure with either class of agent. In conclusion, type lC antiarrhythmics for suppression of recurrent atrial fibrillation represent a reasonable therapeutic alternative for suppression of atrial fibrillation in patients who have failed type lA agents. Prognostic factors predicting success or failure remain undetermined.     

EFFECTS OF AEROBIC CONDITIONING IN LUPUS FATIGUE: A PILOT STUDY

Fatigue, a complex symptom, significantly affects the qualityof life in many patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).To understand this phenomenon, 23 patients with SLE and fatiguewere studied. Standardized tests of depression (NIMH), fatigue,exercise tolerance (ETT) on a bicycle ergometer, and SLE activitywere obtained. At baseline, SLE patients had significantly lower maximum oxygenconsumption (Vbj max) than normals (p << 0.005). Adjustedfor age and sex, SLE patients perform at 54% of their expectedmaximum Vo₂, which is similar to published data from patientswith rheumatoid arthritis. Depression by NIMH was not correlatedwith Vo₂ max or length of time on ETT. Fatigue measured by Profileof Mood States (POMS) was correlated with ETT time (r = 0.476,p << 0.025) and with Vfoj max (r = –0.402, p <<0.07). After an 8-week aerobic conditioning programme the experimentalgroup increased their aerobic capacity by 19% in contrast to8% in controls. This change correlated with decreased fatigueas measured by visual analogue scales. Exercise did not exacerbatedisease, and only two of 16 experimental subjects experiencedtransient joint symptoms during exercise. KEY WORDS: Systemic lupus erythematosus, Depression, Mood, Oxygen consumption, Aerobic exercise, Fatigue     

Growth and Differentiation of Transplanted W/Wv Marrow

This paper reports new data on the effect of the action of the mutant genesW and W^v on murine hemopoiesis. Our studies demonstrate that the presenceof these mutant genes produces: (1) a macrocytic anemia with neithergranulocytopenia nor thrombocytopenia; (2) a severe defect in the earlystages of hemopoietic repopulation manifested by (a) an apparent block inthe differentiation of immature cells into erythroid precursors, and (b) a greatly reduced rate of proliferation of differentiated hemopoietic elements.

These data demonstrate the existence of genetic influence on repopulationand differentiation of transplanted marrow and suggest that severe anemia mayresult not only from defects in the late stages of erythroid development butalso from abnormalities in the early stages of erythroid maturation andhemopoietic repopulation.

Submitted on February 15, 1967 Accepted on May 5, 1967