Reduced alcohol use in pregnancy and changed attitudes in the population

The objectives of this study were to investigate (1) changes in consumption of alcohol among pregnant women over a period of 5 years (1984/85–1990), (2) changes of attitudes towards drinking during pregnancy in the general population over the same period of time, and (3) possible connections between (1) and (2). The investigation was designed as a cross-sectional study. Our subjects were two representative samples of pregnant women in Oslo, n = 577 and 425, and two representative samples of the Norwegian population, n = 1004 and 1204. The main outcome measures were a self-completed questionnaire for the pregnant women and a personal interview for the general population sample. There was a significant reduction (50% decrease) in alcohol consumption among the second cohort of pregnant women compared with the first. Furthermore, we found an increase during the 5-year period in the number of persons with a restrictive attitude towards alcohol use during pregnancy. There seems to be a connection between these two phenomena, but with our present state of knowledge it is hard to say anything about the causal relationship between them.     

Effects of Age, Parity, and Adherence on Pelvic Muscle Response to Exercise

OBJECTIVE: To examine factors that affect pelvic muscle response to 12 weeks of pelvic muscle exercise. DESIGN: Repeated measures design in which intravaginal pressures during pelvic muscle contractions were recorded at baseline and after four exercise levels. SETTING: College of Nursing research site in Gainesville, Florida. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-five parous, community-dwelling women, aged 35-78 years and without incontinence as a primary concern. INTERVENTIONS: A 12-week graded program of regular (three times per week, every other day) pelvic muscle exercise at home. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The hypotheses were that younger age, lower parity, higher baseline intravaginal pressures, and adherence to the pelvic muscle exercise program each would result in significant improvement in maximum intravaginal pressures. RESULTS: The only factor showing significance in predicting a successful outcome was age (t = -2.29, df = 41, one-tail probability = .0136). CONCLUSIONS: Regular, graded exercise over several weeks is needed to build pelvic muscles, and some women who exercise do not improve. Although the reasons for not improving are unclear, age is a significant factor.     

Rapid Administration of High-Dose Human Antibody Fab Fragments to Dogs: Pharmacokinetics and Toxicity

Rapid Administration of High-Dose Human Antibody Fab Fragmentsto Dogs: Pharmacokinetics and Toxicity. Keyler, D. E., Salerno,D. M., Murakami, M. M., Ruth, G., and Pentel, P. R. (1991).Fundam. Appl Toxicol 17, 83-91. The treatment of drug overdosewith drug-specific antibody fragments may require very highantibody doses. To address the feasibility of this therapy,we studied the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of high-dose humannonspecific Fab fragments in beagles. Three dogs received 5.3g/kg Fab iv over 1 hr. Because nephrotoxicity was observed,three subsequent dogs received 3.2 g/kg. The fraction of theFab dose excreted in urine (10 ± 6%%) was lower thanreported values for either high or low doses of Fab in otherspecies. The terminal serum elimination half-life (42 hr forthe higher and 48 hr for the lower dose) was also longer thanreported values for other species, due to lower renal and nonrenalFab clearance. Fab administration was tolerated without adversehemodynamic effects. One of three dogs at each dose developedtransient oliguria. All dogs developed a transient but markedincrease in the serum creatinine concentration. At 2 weeks creatinineclearance had returned to normal. Urinary protein and albuminexcretion at 2 weeks were within the normal range for dogs butwere increased over their baseline values. The histology ofall organs was normal at 3 weeks by light microscopy, and renalhistology by electron microscopy was also normal. The mechanismof Fab nephrotoxicity, not observed previously with high-doseFab in rats or lower doses of Fab in other species includingdogs, is not clear. These data suggest that further study ofthe potential toxicity of high-dose Fab, and its reversibility,is needed to assess the feasibility of treating drug overdosewith this antibody fragment The long terminal half-life of high-doseFab in the dog and its low renal clearance contrast with valuesobserved with lower doses of Fab in other species but wouldnot be expected to preclude the use of high-dose Fab for drugoverdose.     

DISTRIBUTION OF PULMONARY BLOOD FLOW IN CHILDREN WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS

Marked abnormalities of pulmonary blood flow distribution were detected in 13 out of 21 children with cystic fibrosis using lung scanning. Underperfusion of different grade was localized most frequently in the right upper area, followed by the right middle and left upper areas. Correlation between clinical condition or impairment of gas exchange and degree of perfusion disturbances was lacking. Abnormal chest roentgenograms were encountered more frequently than the definite disturbances in the distribution of perfusion. On the other hand, even profound defects of perfusion were not revealed by chest roentgenography. Repeated lung scanning might be helpful in the evaluation of the dynamics of pulmonary involvement in cystic fibrosis.     

MICROBIAL FLORA AND DISACCHARIDASE DEPRESSION IN INFANTILE GASTROENTERITIS

Abstract. Barnes, G. L., Bishop, R. F. and Townley, R. R. W. (Department of Gastroenterology, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne and Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia). Microbial Flora and Disacharidase Depression in Infantile Gastroenteritis. Acta Paediatr Scand, 63: 423, 1974.–In infants with acute gastroenteritis, disaccharidase activity in duodenum is depressed in a majority of patients. There is a statistically significant association between abundant growth of Candida albicans in the duodenum and depression of lactase activity at the same level.