Zinc and Vitamin A in Liver of Foetuses and Infants

ABSTRACT. The association of zinc and vitamin A levels was studied in liver of foetuses and infants which were stillborn or died of various causes between the age of 26 weeks of gestation up to 16 weeks post-partum. No correlation between zinc and vitamin A was observed ( r =0.07). Although smaller infants had more hepatic vitamin A than larger infants no significant difference was observed between these groups for liver zinc values.     

Follow-up of the Antibody Response to Measles Vaccine in a Rural Area of Guinea-Bissau

ABSTRACT. One hundred and fourty-four children who either were already immune or had been successfully immunized against measles were reexamined after 16 months. All still had circulating Elisa antibodies at a clearly detectable level. Titres were higher in the group of children stated to have had measles prior to the immunization. None of the children had measles after immunization. Boostering by the wild virus may have occurred, whereas no evidence of a booster effect from the vaccine was found. About one third of the children were underweight. Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia rate, and also its seasonality, varied with the location of the child's homestead. Even children exposed to mesoendemic P. falciparum malaria and moderate malnutrition can be successfully immunized with a conventional live attenuated measles vaccine from 8 months of age, which probably results in a lasting protection.     

Modulation of the allergic reactivity of slum children by helminthic infection

Infection by helminthic parasites can cause the polyclonal stimulation of IgE synthesis, possibly via an enhanced production of interleukin-4 (IL-4), and this has been suggested to influence the allergic reactivity of tropical populations where these parasites are endemic. We evaluated a group of urban slum children in Caracas, Venezuela, with a high prevalence of helminthic infection (70.8%), to establish the relationship between the elevated IgE levels (3696 IU/ml) induced by these parasites and various aspects of the allergic response. Although the absolute levels of IL-4 detected in the sera of these children were low (0.65 ± 0.20 ng/ml), a strong positive correlation (r = 0.78) was found between these and serum IgE. The cutaneous immediate hypersensitivity reactivity to extracts of common environmental allergens was relatively low (17.5% to house dust), although that to Ascaris extract was moderately high (49.4%). Significant inverse correlations were found between total IgE levels and the different skin test reaction diameters, including Ascaris. The positivity of Prausnitz-Kustner passive transfer tests was low in this group (34%), with a strong inverse correlation (r= -0.75) being found between this and total IgE levels. Significant inverse correlations were also found between total IgE levels and specific IgE antibody to environmental allergens, and to Ascaris antigen. We suggest that the polyclonal production of IgE stimulated by helminthic infection can suppress the allergic response to environmental and parasite allergens via both mast cell saturation and inhibition of specific IgE production.     

Influence of Age, Lead Axis, Frequency of Arrhythmic Episodes, and Atrial Dimensions on P Wave Triggered SAECG in Patients with Lone Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Signal-averaged P wave of 42 patients with lone paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) and 29 normal subjects (N) were recorded, using three orthogonal leads and analyzed in the time and frequency (entire P wave or a 100-ms segment ranging from 75 ms before to 25 ms after the end of P wave) domains. PAFs were divided into a group of 12 having ≥ 2 attacks a month (HF) and a group of 30 having ≤ 2 attacks a year (LF). Statistically significant differences were absent with regard to ages of PAF and N; ages of HF, LF, and N at the time of signal-averaged ECG; ages of HF and LF at the time of the first arrhythmic episode; and elapsed times from the first episode. Length of P wave and some frequency-domain parameters were found to be significantly correlated with age. PAF showed a significantly longer duration of P wave in the frontal plane using the time-domain analysis. Frequency analysis was found to be useful in evaluating the influence of attack frequency. HF showed significantly higher values of some frequency-domain parameters than LF and N, while the three groups did not differ for time-domain analysis. P wave duration and frequency content of the three orthogonal leads proved to be significantly different in PAF and N. Right and left atrial echocardiographic dimensions proved to be higher (even if within normal limits) in HF than in LF and N. Results suggest that frequency analysis should be performed on the entire P wave.     

Family Mental Health Care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

The potential role of the neonatal intensive care nurse in mental health promotion is explored. The focus is upon assessment and intervention of families who are at risk for child abuse and future dysfunction. The importance of support systems during a crisis period is emphasized.     

EFFECTS OF HYPERTONIC SOLUTIONS AND OF MERCURIC CHLORIDE ON THE UPTAKE OF [14C]GLUCOSE ANALOGUES BY RABBIT BRAIN

Intracarotid perfusion of hypertonic solutions of urea, NaCl or acetamide increased the brain uptake index (BUI) of glucose analogues by rabbit brain, while isotonic urea was without effect. Lactamide, whether isotonic or hypertonic, decreased the BUI of glucose analogues. The increased BUI produced by the other hypertonic solutions could be inhibited by unlabeled substrate, unlabeled glucose or by phloridzin, and may reflect stimulated carrier-mediated transport of monosaccharides into brain. Although the increases could also have been due to altered cerebral blood flow, radioautography showed no gross evidence of such alterations. The BUI of 2-2-deoxy-D-[1-¹⁴C]glucose was decreased by intracarotid injection of 0.01mM HgCl₂, to the same level seen following maximal inhibition with unlabeled 2-deoxy-D-glucose, while 0.08mM HgCl₂ gave BUI's above this level. The lower concentration of HgCl₂ probably inhibited carrier-mediated monosaccharide transfer, while the higher concentration appeared to increase passive diffusion into the brain as well.