Working parents: the impact of day care and breast-feeding on cytomegalovirus infections in offspring

The increase in the popularity of breast feeding and utilization of child care arrangements are having a major effect on the epidemiology of cytomegalovirus infections. The impact is greater for women of upper socioeconomic background who send their toddlers to day-care centers and for day-care workers. If primary cytomegalovirus infections occur during pregnancy it is logical to anticipate more cases of severe congenital infections.     

Communicative interactions of deaf and hearing children in a day care center. An exploratory study

Interactions were observed in a day care center serving deaf and hearing children. Observations focused on eight children (two deaf with deaf parents, two deaf with hearing parents, two hearing with deaf parents and two hearing with hearing parents) between 2 and 3 years of age. Center classes included deaf and hearing teachers and all children were encouraged to sign. Deaf and hearing children alike frequently interacted with other children and teachers whose hearing status differed from their own. However, each group showed a stronger tendency to initiate communication with same hearing status peers. Hearing children displayed the ability to modify their communications modes to match the hearing status of their intended communication partner. Language ability, not hearing status, was associated with the frequency of communication experienced by each child.     

Clonal and temporal patterns of nasopharyngeal penicillin-susceptible and penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae stains in children attending a day care center

The nasopharyngeal carriage of penicillin-susceptible and penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PSSp and PRSp, respectively) was analyzed in 116 children attending a day care center in Rouen, France, by three observation periods in November, January, and March of the winter of 1993 to 1994. The carriage rate of S. pneumoniae was found to be 47.7, 47.3, and 49.6% at each different observation period, and PRSp accounted for 42.2, 40.3, and 40.6% of pneumococcal isolates, respectively. The 52 isolates recovered in November were distributed in 34 electrophoretic types (ETs) by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis; 15 PRSp isolates, all of serotype 23F, belonged to a clonal complex of five ETs, representing the dominant population of PRSp in November. The temporal pattern of S. pneumoniae carriage was studied in 17 children who were colonized at the three periods by multilocus enzyme analysis of their isolates. The PSSp isolated, exhibiting distinct ETs, were transient only among these day care attendees. In contrast, most of the PRSp isolated in January and March belonged to the clonal complex. Thus, this PRSp population was resident in the day care center throughout the study period.     

Specimen culture from all children in a day care center because of an outbreak of streptococcal infection

In an outbreak of recurrent group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngotonsillitis between January and February 1997 at a Swedish preschool, involving 58% (11/19) of the children and several family members, clinical examination showed few of the children to manifest signs and symptoms of tonsillitis. However, throat specimens yielded GAS growth of the same T-type in 42% (8/19) of the children and in 30% (6/20) of family members, but in none of the staff. Strict hygiene, appropriate antibiotic treatment of all culture-positive individuals irrespective of symptoms, and non-attendance at the preschool during the first two days of treatment promptly terminated the outbreak and there were no cases of recurrence.     

Surgery in hemopathies: experience in ambulatory care and day surgery

The one day surgery experience of our team developed in many years of a Special Surgical Service in Haematologic Diseases (within the III Surgical Department directed by Prof. G. Di Matteo of the University of Rome "La Sapienza") is herein reported. From 1989 to December 1995, 2,126 haematologic patients (1127 M, 999 F) were operated in day-surgery regimen. Five-hundred-fifty-six patients were over 65 years old. In most cases surgery was required for diagnostic purposes to ascertain the type, the stadiation or re-stadiation of the haematologic disease. Five-hundred-eighty-three operations were carried on the axillary region, 825 on the cervical region, 202 on the supraclavicular region and 163 on the groin region. In 729 patients a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma was obtained, while 308 patients resulted affected by Hodgkin lymphoma. In 124 patients metastases from solid tumors (pulmonary, mammary, thyroidal adenocarcinoma, etc.) were found at histologic examination of the specimen. Furthermore, other types of pathologies such as lateral neck cysts, salivary gland adenomas, schwannomas, groin and crural hernias were identified. Outpatient surgery and one day surgery represent a valid procedure for the early diagnosis of haemotologic diseases also taking into account the low cost and the minimal invasiveness.     

Adult day care: Psychological practice and evaluation.

The unnecessary institutionalization of frail adults most often occurs when emotional factors exhaust the relationship between the caretaker and the frail adult. 14 60–93 yr olds with diagnoses of depression, chronic schizophrenia, or organic brain syndrome participated in a program that attempted to remediate depression and enrich affective involvement with caretakers. The program met twice weekly for 6 hrs and provided an intervention structured around familylike relationships, group psychotherapy, and task activity. Salient themes for the group were family relations, fear of institutionalization, and grief. Analysis of pre- and posttest scores on the Life Satisfaction Index (Form A), Mental Status Questionnaire, and the Self-Rating Depression Scale showed a reduction in depression, improved life satisfaction, increased knowledge of community resources, and a broader range of community activities. The role of psychology in adult daycare and the usefulness of linking evaluation to service delivery are discussed. (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Illness and injury in family day care: a seasonal survey

Many mothers with children under age 6 are employed and it is not usually feasible for a parent to stay home with a child who is mildly ill. Such ill children likely remain in child day care programs. The extent to which this occurs and the management of these children in family day care was studied. Over the course of a year, 1 to 3 visits were made to 714 family day care homes in order to survey providers. With enrollments ranging between 0 and 18 children per day care home at the time of each visit, information on 3,630 "child enrollment days" was collected. The median age of children in care was 2 years. An average of 16% of all children were ill on any one day (with seasonal variation); 1% were injured. Of ill children, 82% attended day care that day, 49% had contacted a physician about that illness, and 28% were administered a medication at the day care setting. Twenty-one percent of children receiving medication in day care had no contact with a physician for that illness. These data show that mild childhood illnesses are routinely managed by child day care providers. Physicians who traditionally limit their illness-management education to parents need to recognize the health education and consultation needs of day care providers.     

The image of I/O psychology: A cross-national perspective by personnel executives.

The image of industrial/organizational (I/O) psychologists was examined by executives responsible for the policy formation and implementation of human resources in their own organizations. Data from 223 Israeli executives were compared with published results from studies of New Zealand and US executives. Results suggest that executives perceived I/O psychology's major contribution to human resources management to be in the traditional areas of personnel selection, training, and attitude surveys. Although there was recognition of the potential contribution of I/O psychologists to various personnel functions, few executives had employed their services in these areas. Directions for improving the exposure of the field to managers are suggested. (11 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Beliefs of foster parents regarding the children in their care and their natural parents

The propagation of pluripotential mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells is sustained by leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) or related cytokines that act through a common receptor complex comprising the LIF receptor subunit (LIF-R) and the signal transducer gp130. However, the findings that embryos lacking LIF-R or gp130 can develop beyond gastrulation argue for the existence of an alternative pathway(s) governing the maintenance of pluripotency in vivo. In order to define those factors that contribute to self-renewal in ES cell cultures, we have generated ES cells in which both copies of the lif gene are deleted. These cells showed a significantly reduced capacity for regeneration of stem cell colonies when induced to differentiate, confirming that LIF is the major endogenous regulatory cytokine in ES cell cultures. However, self-renewal was not abolished and undifferentiated ES cell colonies were still obtained in the complete absence of LIF. A differentiated, LIF-deficient, parietal endoderm-like cell line was derived and shown to support ES cell propagation via production of a soluble, macromolecular, trypsin-sensitive activity. This activity, which we name ES cell renewal factor (ESRF), is distinct from members of the IL-6/LIF family because (i) it is effective on ES cells lacking LIF-R; (ii) it is not blocked by anti-gp130 neutralizing antibodies; and (iii) it acts without activation of STAT3. ES cells propagated clonally using ESRF alone can contribute fully to chimaeras and engender germline transmission. These findings establish that ES cell pluripotency can be sustained via a LIF-R/gp130-independent, STAT-3 independent, signaling pathway. Operation of this pathway in vivo could play an important role in the regulation of pluripotency in the epiblast and account for the viability of lifr -/- and gp130 -/- embryos.     

Weight changes in caregivers of Alzheimer's care recipients: Psychobehavioral predictors.

Relationships of changes in body mass index (BMI) were examined with changes in psychobehavioral variables in spouse caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease (n?=?81) and matched spouses of controls (n?=?86). Men caregivers had significantly greater BMI and obesity than men controls at both times. Over 15–18 months, women caregivers gained significantly more weight than did women controls. A trend for greater obesity occurred in women caregivers than in women controls at follow-up. Although weight gain was not related to psychobehavioral variables in controls, in men caregivers decreased perceived control and increased fat intake explained significant variance in weight gain. In women caregivers, increased anger control and increased calories explained weight gain. Such caregivers may be at risk for health problems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of usual and experimental patients in a psychiatric day center.

In a previously reported study by the authors (see record 1976-28530-001) of inpatient and day hospitalization, 59 seriously ill female psychiatric patients were randomly assigned to an inpatient or a day hospital setting. The present study compared the 29 seriously ill patients randomly assigned to the day hospital with a control group of 34 "usual" day patients. Ss were assessed on 14 outcome measures, some of which were derived from the Psychiatric Status Schedules and the Psychiatric Evaluation Form. The experimental group showed significantly more improvement from baseline to subsequent time periods in 3 distinct areas: global mental status, subjective distress, and family adjustment. The controls, on the other hand, spent fewer nights in the hospital, used the hospital facilities significantly less during the 1st 3 mo, and incurred a significantly lower cost for the same period. Two measures—number of social work contacts and amount of time spent in the treatment milieu—indicated that experimentals initially required more staff effort than controls, but at later time periods the reverse was true. (29 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Quality of the caregiver–care recipient relationship: Does it offset negative consequences of caregiving for family caregivers?

This study examined whether relationship quality mediates, moderates, or both mediates and moderates the associations between caregiving stressors (e.g., disability and behavioral problems) and negative consequences associated with caregiver well-being (overload, role captivity, and depression). Data on family (spouses and children) caregivers (n?=?118) came from a longitudinal study of a representative sample of disabled older people and their primary caregivers. Relationship quality mediated the linkages between the presence of problem behaviors and the outcomes of role captivity and depression. That is, when problem behaviors were present, they related to higher levels of captivity and depression because quality of the relationship suffered. Relationship quality moderated the linkage between disability and overload. Specifically, for those with a higher quality of relationship, increased disability was related to higher levels of perceived overload. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Child day care, smoking by caregivers, and lower respiratory tract illness in the first 3 years of life. Group Health Medical Associates

BACKGROUND: Day-care attendance has been associated with an increased risk of hospitalization for lower respiratory tract illnesses (LRIs). This study examines, in a health maintenance organization population of children, the associations between child day care and the occurrence of LRIs in the first 3 years of life. Smoking by caregivers and a possible protective effect of longer day-care enrollment in relation to LRIs are also addressed. METHODS: Information on day-care arrangements was elicited from 1006 parents of infants for five age intervals in the first 3 years of life: birth through 3 months, 4 to 6 months, 6 to 12 months, 1 to 2 years, and 2 to 3 years. Data on LRIs in the first 3 years of life were recorded by pediatricians at the time of the acute illnesses. RESULTS: After controlling for other risk factors, the presence of three or more unrelated children in the care setting was associated with significant risks of LRI of up to twofold or more from 4 months of age to 3 years. Type of care setting was not a significant risk factor during this time period. In the third year of life, the risk of wheezing LRI in the presence of a smoking caregiver was more than threefold for those in another residential home setting. No significant protective effect against LRIs in the third year of life associated with longer prior day-care enrollment was demonstrated. CONCLUSION: The presence of three or more unrelated children in the care setting and the presence of a smoking caregiver were significant independent risk factors for LRIs during the first 3 years of life. Prolonged day-care did not protect against LRIs in the third year of life.