Increasing Prevalence of Headache in 7-Year-Old Schoolchildren

Reports of increased prevalence of headache in adults end clinical impressions of similar trends in children prompted this epidemiological study on migraine and other headache. The first stage was carried out in 1974 In children starting school, and the second stage in 1992 using the identical study design, the same age group, and a similar urban child population.
The overall prevalence of present headache (having occurred in the previous 6 months) was found to he significantly increased over time, from 14.4% in 1974 to 51.5% in 1992. Similarly, the prevalence of migraine headache had Increased from 1.9% to 5.7%. The causes of the increase are as yet unknown. The highest but not significant increases were found in schools which were situated in the districts of the city with the highest social instability, which was reflected in the high percentage of council houses and also in the higher frequency of family relocations. Increase over time in the prevalence of migraine end other headaches in children pears to be at least as dear as in adults. This should alarm the community to study the underlying stress factors and to try to relieve the children's distress.     

Quantitative x ray microanalysis of pulmonary mineral particles in a patient with pneumoconiosis and two primary lung tumours.

The right upper lung lobe of a 74 year old man was resected for a central tumour. Two primary cancers were found; a central small cell carcinoma and a peripheral squamous cell carcinoma. In addition, the peripheral lung tissue showed generalised peribronchiolar fibrosis extending from the non-respiratory bronchioles to the level of the alveolar ducts. Abundant asbestos bodies and large amounts of black dust were seen around the bronchioles. Pulmonary mineral particles were studied by quantitative energy dispersive x ray microanalysis (EDS) using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). The x ray spectra for mineral particles were measured in thin sections, and the characteristic peak intensities of the elements were converted to weight fractions (in oxides). The results enabled the minerals present to be identified and their presence confirmed by calculating the mineral formula. These originated from nine natural minerals, anthophyllite and chrysotile asbestos, talc, and quartz, feldspars, and muscovite, which are components of sand, and also from two artificial mullites used in fire clay. The exposure history of the patient explained the most likely origins of the minerals detected. The patient had been a mason for 23 years, repairing and demolishing stoves and fireplaces and using asbestos for insulation work.     

Body iron stores in relation to growth and pubertal maturation in healthy boys

During male puberty, erythropoiesis is exceptionally active. Pubertal development and iron status were followed in 60 healthy boys at 3-month intervals for 24 months to evaluate changes in body iron stores with the serum transferrin receptor–ferritin ratio. The estimated amount of stored iron declined by about 50% over a 2-year period. Remarkable changes in iron stores were found even after as short an interval as 3 months and pubertal development was closely linked with a decrease in stored iron. The annual increments of estimated red blood cell (RBC) iron showed strong positive correlations with velocities in testicular volume and certainly in body height and weight. In contrast, the estimated changes in individual iron stores were not associated with any of those parameters. The lacking associations between iron stores and growth parameters are probably indicative of increasing intestinal absorption. Despite the relatively small quantitative role of iron stores in supplying iron for growth, falling iron stores probably play a more important regulatory role by stimulating iron absorption.     

Iron status and anaemia in preschool children in Sydney

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the iron status of preschool children in Sydney. We assessed 678 children aged 9 to 62 months living in 32 randomly selected census collection districts in central and southern Sydney for iron status using plasma ferritin; of these 678 children, 542 had zinc protoporphyrin tests, red cell indices and haemoglobin tests. Risk factors for iron deficiency were assessed by an administered questionnaire. Overall, the prevalence of iron depletion was 10.5 per cent, iron deficiency 2.8 per cent and iron deficiency anaemia 1.1 per cent. The 24-to-35-month age group (176 children) had the highest prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia of 3.0 per cent, although iron depletion (18.7 per cent) and iron deficiency (5.4 per cent) were highest among the 9-to-23-month age group (182 children). Low iron status was related to age of under 24 months (odds ratio (OR) 2.86, 95 per cent confidence interval (CI) 1.72 to 4.76). After adjustment for this age effect, the consumption of red meat fewer than four times a week was significantly associated with iron depletion (OR 2.27, CI 1.25 to 4.17) and there was a tendency for children who were being given a vitamin supplement to be less likely to be iron depleted (OR 4.00, CI 0.95 to 16.67). Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia do not represent a major public health problem in preschool children in Sydney. However, for children in the age range of 12 to 36 months there is scope for interventions to further reduce the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia.     

Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of selegiline

Abstract– Selegiline is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. It is distributed rapidly into the tissues, including the brain. It is the L-form of selegiline that is an active MAO-B inhibitor, the D-(+)-form being 25 times less active. Selegiline is metabolised into L-(−)-desmethylselegiline (DES), L-(−)-amphetamine (A) and L-(−)-methamphetamine (MA), mainly in the liver. We measured the steady state concentrations of the metabolites in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with Parkinson's or Alzheimer's diseases who were on continuous selegiline therapy. The mean concentrations in serum and CSF were similar, and were not affected by the addition of levodopa. The mean concentrations of patients with Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease were 6.5±2.5 ng/ml for A, 14.7±6.5 ng/ml for MA and 0.9±0.7 ng/ml for DES. The metabolites of selegiline were excreted in urine, and the recovery as metabolites was 87%. Due to the stereospecificity and the low CSF concentrations of the (−)amphetamine metabolites during the therapy with 10 mg selegiline, these metabolites do not seem to contribute significantly to the clinical efficacy of selegiline.     

Health status and social conditions of the elderly in remote districts. Results of a screening programme

In 1978 a cohort of 1040 individuals aged 65 years or over was screened by public health nurses in Kuusamo. The screening produced basic data about health status and social conditions for an intervention of active medical care of the elderly by means of a mobile unit in rural districts. The response rate of the screening was 90%. 72% of the men and 35% of the women lived with their spouse; 6% of the men and 20% of the women lived alone. Poor health was assessed least commonly (36%) by those living alone, and most commonly by women living with their spouse (51%), even though 87% of them were under 75 years old. A visit to a physician during the past 12 months was more common among younger subjects. 15% of the men and 18% of the women had slightly restricted mobility. Men living alone had better mobility than women living alone.     

Bronchial stenosis after aspiration of an iron tablet

Stenosis of the right intermediate bronchus was found in a 60-year-old woman four months after aspiration of an iron tablet. Right middle and lower lobe lobectomies were performed. By light microscopy, small amounts of foreign, iron-positive material surrounded by giant cells, large collections of hemosiderin containing macrophages, and severe fibrosis with only minimal inflammation were observed in the bronchial wall. Early diagnosis and management are stressed in order to avoid the stenosing process which is also possible after aspiration of some tablets.     

Penetration of naproxen and salicylate into inflammatory exudates in the rat.

Acute inflammation was induced in rats by subcutaneous implantation of plastic sponges, and the penetration of salicylate and naproxen into the inflammatory exudate was studied after oral dosing with these compounds. The penetration of intravenously administered 22Na and 125I-albumin was also studied. It was found that salicylate and 22Na penetrated very rapidly, reaching maximum concentration in the exudate within 3 hours of administration. In contrast, naproxen and 125I-albumin penetrated much more slowly, maximum concentrations in the exudates not being reached until 5 hours after administration. The significance of these results and the role of protein binding is discussed.     

Effects of some inhibitors of phosphodiesterase on neuromuscular transmission

Summary Phosphodiesterase inhibitors antagonized the d-tubocurarine-induced paralysis of the indirectly stimulated rat phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation. Ro 7-2956, papaverine and hydrochlorothiazide were active in 1/5 to 1/100 the concentrations of theophylline. This antagonism may be caused by the intracellular accumulation of c-AMP, which in turn may facilitate the release of acetylcholine from motor nerve endings.Some of these results have been presented at the Sixth Annual Meeting of Finnish Medical Societies, Helsinki, March 23–25, 1972.