Determinants of mortality from cystic fibrosis in Canada, 1970-1989

The frequency, prevalence, and mortality patterns of cystic fibrosis were analyzed in 3,795 patients documented in the Canadian Patient Data Registry in 1970-1989. Cystic fibrosis frequency in the 1970-1979 birth cohort was virtually identical to the commonly quoted 1 in 2,500. In 1985-1989, median survival age was 36.7 years for males and 27.8 years for females, compared with 26.6 and 19.7, respectively, in 1970-1974. However, there were significant regional differences when Canada was divided into the four regions, East, Quebec, Ontario, and West. In Quebec, patients were younger at diagnosis and until recently had greater mortality than patients in other regions, which suggests more severe disease; dramatically improved survival in the 1980s coincided with a change from a restricted fat diet to a high fat diet. Improved survival in Ontario in the 1970s accompanied this change in dietary therapy, which may also account for good survival throughout the study period in the East. The West showed gradually improving survival, similar to that reported in other parts of the world. Proportional hazards analysis showed pulmonary function to be the best predictor of survival. Poorer survival in females was associated with poorer weight, but the interrelation of declining pulmonary function, weight maintenance, sex, and mortality requires further study. The effect of pulmonary colonization with Pseudomonas aeruginosa was confounded with degree of pulmonary dysfunction, but colonization with Burkholderia cepacia (previously Pseudomonas cepacia) was associated with increased mortality at all levels of pulmonary function.     

Trends in relative mortality from cerebrovascular diseases in Brazilian state capitals, 1950-1988

This article seeks to describe trends in relative mortality from cerebrovascular diseases (CVDs) in Brazilian state capitals from 1950 through 1988. Absolute numbers of deaths from all causes; from CVDs; and from ill-defined signs, symptoms, and afflictions were obtained from official Brazilian mortality statistics. In calculating relative CVD mortality, deaths from ill-defined signs, symptoms, and afflictions were excluded. The collected data permitted calculation of relative CVD mortality in most state capitals for 1950, 1955, 1960, 1961-1965, 1966-1970, 1971-1975, 1977-1980, 1981-1985, and 1986-1988. During the study period CVD mortality was found to play an increasing role in overall mortality in all the state capitals. Regional grouping of data showed greater relative CVD mortality in the South and Southwest Regions toward the start of the study period. However, over the course of this period the part that CVD mortality played in overall mortality grew most rapidly in the less-developed North, Northeast, and Center-West Regions. In general, relative CVD mortality data in nearly all the state capitals demonstrate the attention that needs to be devoted to CVDs within the context of adult public health. In particular, there is a clear need to greatly strengthen and improve the marginal existing programs for detection and control of hypertension and diabetes in Brazil. This should be done by assessing international experience with programs of this type and adapting that experience to Brazilian conditions. Beyond that, it will be important to support health promotion and protection efforts that can deal with risk factors and secure prevention through lifestyle modification--something that can provide benefits in dealing not only with CVDs but also with diabetes, obesity, and certain neoplasias.     

Malignant melanoma in Europe: changes in mortality rates (1970-90) in European Community countries

We measured metabolic rates (mL O2 h-1, converted to kcal d-1), deep body temperatures (degree C), and skin temperatures (degree C) and calculated whole-animal thermal conductances (mL O2 g-1 h-1 degree C-1) of five 3-yr-old harbor seals (Phoca vitulina concolor) at air temperatures between -20 degrees and 35 degrees C. The mean thermal neutral zone of these seals extended from a lower critical temperature of -12.9 degrees +/- 1.6 degrees C (SD) to an upper critical temperature of 28.6 degrees +/- 1.7 degrees C. Hyperthermia was observed at an ambient air temperature of 35 degrees C. Mean standard metabolic rate was 1,553.6 +/- 168.2 kcal d-1, about 1.2 times the value expected for adult animals of similar body mass (mean mass = 49.2 +/- 7.5 kg). Mean deep body temperature increased from 37.5 degrees +/- 0.30 degrees C at an ambient temperature of 30 degrees C and reached 39.3 degrees +/- 0.33 degrees C at an ambient temperature of 35 degrees C. Skin temperature decreased with decreasing ambient temperature but remained well above ambient temperature. Mean whole-animal thermal conductance decreased from an ambient temperature of 35 degrees C until it reached a minimum value of 0.007 mL O2 g-1 h-1 degree C-1 at -4.0 degrees C; it then increased with a further decrease in ambient temperature. In comparison to the thermal limits of the same seals during their first year of life, the results indicate a broadening of the thermal neutral zone with age: an 11 degrees C decrease in the lower critical temperature and a 3.5 degrees C increase in the upper critical temperature. These findings suggest that warm ambient air temperatures should not pose any particular thermoregulatory problems for larger and older harbor seals, even beyond the limits of their current annual distribution.     

Breast cancer in Norway 1970-1993: a population-based study on incidence, mortality and survival

The incidence, mortality and survival of breast cancer patients from 1970 to 1993 were studied using data from the Cancer Registry of Norway. The age-adjusted incidence rate increased from 62.0 to 76.9 per 100,000 person-years during the period, and more than 2000 cases are now registered annually. The increase tends to be highest in the age group below 40 years. The increase is mainly found in cases with localized tumours at the time of diagnosis. The mortality rate has been almost unchanged in the period; the age adjusted mortality rate is 27.0 per 100,000 person-years at the end of the study period. The 5-year overall survival has increased among cases with axillary lymph node metastases at the time of diagnosis; the other stages show only little improvement.     

Neurosurgery in Rome: 1880-1970

Among many factors contributing to the birth of Neurosurgery, the "awareness of feasibility" of neurosurgical procedures is especially significant. June 1st, 1885 is the arbitrary birthdate of Neurosurgery in Rome: Francesco Durante, Professor of Surgery at the Royal University, successfully resects an olfactory groove meningioma, arising admiration worldwide. Roberto Alessandri succeeds Durante in 1919. In roman hospitals outstanding surgeons perform from time to time neurosurgical procedures, sometimes with satisfactory results: Paolo Postempski, Cesare Antonucci, Guido Egidi and Raffaele Bastianelli, first director of the "Regina Elena" Cancer Institute (IRE) (April 1933) and friend of Harvey Cushing. Angelo Chiasserini sr. is however the first roman surgeon constantly committed to Neurosurgery and founder of the first neurosurgical unit in Italy, in 1937; also, from 1941 to 1944 he directs a neurosurgical service at the "Celio" military hospital of Rome, to which patients from the various battle theatres are referred. While Mario Margottini and Piero Frugoni follow Bastianelli's steps at the IRE, the roman neurosurgeons Felice Visalli and Libero Ugelli serve in the Army, during the greek-albanian conflict and in Russia, respectively. In May 1955 Beniamino Guidetti, an Olivecrona pupil, is called at "La Sapienza" University of Rome and elevates the neurosurgical clinic at the highest standards. The other main neurosurgical pole is founded in 1958 at the San Camillo Hospital: within both institutions modern neurosurgical teams are formed along with neuroradiological and neuroanesthesiological staffs.     

Values expressed in American children's readers: 1800-1950.

"Content analysis of children's readers from schools in the United States demonstrated a rise in achievement imagery from 1800 to about 1900 and then a steady decline… . A steady decline over the period 1800-1950 was found in the amount of moral teaching in readers… [and] an increase in affiliation imagery… . the data correspond… with certain cultural trends pointed out by students of cultural change." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Poliomyelitis outbreak in Israel, 1950-1

The epidemicity of poliomyelitis in Israel since 1950 is reviewed, and the influence of the mass immigration which took place between 1948 and 1952 is discussed. Age distribution and attack-rates among Arabs, among Jewish population-groups originating in different countries, and among old residents and new immigrants, are examined. It is suggested that the change from endemicity to epidemicity of the disease may have been due to general overcrowding during the pre-epidemic period, and to enhanced circulation of virus (type 1), and a resulting increase in its pathogenicity.     

APA Visiting Psychologist Program: 1970-1971.

The Visiting Psychologist Program, under the sponsorship of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), has completed its fourth year of operation. The program has been receiving over 100 inquiries and applications from agencies wishing to have a visitor, and interest in serving as a visitor continues to be very strong as indicated by the large number of applications and inquiries received from a broad spectrum of psychologists. This year, 42 agencies were visited, of which 29 were newly selected agencies, while 13 were return visits to agencies previously visited. The agencies and visitors are listed in Table 1 (initial visits) and Table 2 (return visits). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

APA Visiting Scientist Program: 1970-1971.

The NSF-sponsored Visiting Scientist Program has just completed 11 years of operation under the auspices of the Educational Affairs Office of APA. During this time, 925 visits have been made to educational institutions in all states except Wyoming; 74 of these visits were made during 1970-1971. This year, 32 of these visits were made by black psychologists to black institutions. The visit assignments to black educational institutions were made with the assistance of the Association of Black Psychologists and their regional coordinators. The remaining 42 visits were conducted in the usual manner of the Visiting Scientist Program. The primary focus, once again, was on institutions that do not have graduate programs. The Educational Affairs Office would like to express its appreciation to all of those who contributed to the success of the Program. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sudden incapacitation: USAF experience, 1970-80

During the period 1970-80, there were reported 146 cases of in-flight sudden incapacitation in the USAF. Of these, 62 involved pilots, 14 were navigators, and 70 were student pilots. The etiologies of sudden incapacitation included illness without loss of consciousness, loss of consciousness, spatial disorientation, and improper M-1 maneuver. Each of these categories is analyzed with emphasis upon prevention, for example, not flying with symptomatic preexisting disease, continued emphasis upon spatial disorientation training, and correct performance of the M-1 maneuver. Based upon the data, conclusions and recommendations are suggested to minimize the risk of episodes of in-flight sudden incapacitation.     

The California F scale in psychological research: 1950-1955.

The purpose of this paper is to present a review of those studies using the F scale in substantially its original form which appeared in the literature between 1950 and 1955. The studies were grouped into five major categories: (a) ideology; (b) personality correlates; (c) interpersonal behavior; (d) cultural and sub-cultural variations; and (e) studies of the instrument. It was concluded that "many questions still remain to be answered before its (the F scale) use would have much meaning in terms of predicting human behavior." 64-item bibliography. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Therapeutic approaches to children in residential treatment: Changes from the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s.

Describes changes during the past 20 yrs in the role and therapeutic functions of psychologists in a residential treatment center for children. The older therapeutic approaches, which focused on psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy, the child therapist's relations with parents, and psychotherapy with psychotic children are compared with innovative approaches currently employed, including family therapy, behavior therapy with psychotic children, and a recently instituted treatment known as "unit therapy." These newer therapeutic roles have affected the training of psychology interns and the work of staff psychologists and have led to changes in interpersonal perceptions among psychologists and nonprofessionals who are now recognized as playing a more significant role in the therapeutic process. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Research with the Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence Scale: 1950-1955.

Research concerned with the W-B as a test of general intelligence and as a diagnostic aid is summarized in this article. In comparison with an earlier review of the research with the W-B (see 26: 930) there has been an increase in the number of well controlled studies. In addition, it was noted that "research with psychiatric syndromes has been reduced, whereas a larger proportion of the studies reviewed deal with the W-B as a test of general intelligence, investigating its reliability, validity, rationale, etc." Research using various psychiatric populations and employing various scatter and patterning methods remains inconclusive. Methodological weaknesses in the current research are pointed out and new areas of research endeavor with the instrument are suggested. 139-item bibliography. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Irene Lisa McCann (1950-2002).

Remembers the life of Irene Lisa McCann. The author recalls her life and career, highlighting her contributions to clinical psychology. McCann was founder and clinical director of The Traumatic Stress Institute in South Windsor, Connecticut. She also coauthored the seminal article on vicarious traumatization (McCann & Pearlman, "Vicarious Traumatization: A Contextual Model for Understanding the Effects of Trauma on Helpers," 1990), a concept that became invaluable to therapists working with trauma victims, and Psychological Trauma and the Adult Survivor: Theory, Therapy, and Transformation (1990), a self-psychological, social-constructivist perspective on trauma and its effect on individuals. Shortly before her untimely death, she received the Diploma in Analytic Training from the Jung Institute in Zurich. In addition to her analytic practice, she was involved in supervision, teaching, and writing in New York City. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)