Herpes gestationis--oral corticosteroids cannot be avoided

An immunpathologically proven gestational herpes case is presented. Herpes gestationis may begin at any stage of pregnancy but it is usually seen during the second trimester. As a rule oral prednisolone therapy is required. We report on a patient who initially insisted on local therapy only. However this local treatment with steroids proved to be insufficient.     

Risk factors for perinatal and postnatal mortality in lambs

Factors associated with preweaning mortality in lambs were identified by developing risk profiles with logistic regressions for perinatal and postnatal mortality. Compared with heavy lambs, lambs of low birth weight had almost twice the risk of perinatal mortality (odds ratio [OR] = 1.9) and lambs of average weight had a slightly lower risk (OR = 0.7). Two of four lambing location categories affected perinatal mortality, with lambs born at unmonitored areas at greatest risk (OR = 2.7). Multiple births increased the risk of perinatal mortality (OR = 1.5), especially among Targhee lambs (OR = 4.0). Breed variations in perinatal mortality were significant in Suffolk lambs (OR = 1.9) and Booroola Rambouillet lambs (OR = 2.1). Lambs born weak had an increased risk of postnatal mortality while strong lambs had a decreased risk (OR = 3.7 and 0.6, respectively) if the dam had an adequate milk supply. Poor milk supply increased the risk of postnatal mortality for lambs of average vigour (OR = 3.3), but did not change the risk for weak or strong lambs. Male lambs castrated at 30 days of age were at less risk of postnatal mortality (OR = 0.3) than females. There were slight increases in the risk of postnatal mortality for intact males (OR = 1.3), low birth weight lambs (OR = 1.6), and lambs born in sheds (OR = 1.3). Suffolk lambs (OR = 1.8) and Targhee lambs (OR = 1.6) had a higher risk of postweaning mortality.     

Causes of perinatal mortality in twins

The author analyses perinatal mortality in 244 twin pregnancies. In 80% the twins' Apgare score at birth was 10 to 8 and neonatal mortality in this group 1.26%. The slightly asphyxial group (Apgar 7 to 4) comprised 62 (38.75%) twins and the neonatal mortality in this group was 14.51%. There were 20 (12.5%) severely asphyxial (Apgar 3 or less) twins, their neonatal mortality amounting to 80.0%. Out of 193 twins weighing at birth less than 2500 g, 45 (23.31%) died, while in the twins weighing more than 2500 g there was not a single death. The perinatal mortality of twins up to the 37th week of pregnancy amounted to 17.37% and from the 38th week of pregnancy to 1.22%. The mean duration of pregnancy in twins was 38.1 +/- 2 SD 6.3 weeks. The most frequent cause of death in twins has proved to be immaturity and asphyxia at birth, leading to the development of hyaline membranes (80.0%). Other causes were far less frequent. The author concludes that in the perinatal mortality of twins their vitality at birth (assessed by the Apgar score), birth weight, and the duration of pregnancy play an important role.     

Impact of the introduction of a partogram on maternal and perinatal mortality. Study performed in a maternity clinic in Niameny, Niger

Maternal mortality remains one of the major problems in public health today especially in developing countries where maternal mortality is estimated to be between 500 and 1000 deaths for 100,000 live births. In 1987, the safe motherhood initiative was launched with the objective of reducing maternal mortality by 50% within ten years. One of the methods introduced to reduce the high incidence of maternal and neonatal mortality in developing countries, is the partogram, a visual means used in evaluating a normal delivery. It acts as an early warning system, allowing for the early detection of abnormal evolution in labour as well for the mother as for the foetus. This instrument was introduced in all the maternity wards in Niger in 1990 by the Ministry of Public Health. A study was conducted in one of the maternities of the capital to ascertain the effectiveness of this new instrument to both the mother during labor and the newborn child. 1299 women in labor, primi-and multiparous, participated in the study. Two groups were formed: one consisted of women that delivered prior to the introduction of the partogram, the second group was comprised of women who delivered after its introduction. The results of this study have shown that the introduction of the partogram: reduces the amount of time that a women is in labor, improves the follow-up care the pregnant woman receives, results in a more timely decision made by the health official, and consequently, a prompt referral to a specialised center. The authors estimate that, if used correctly, the introduction of this instrument can have along with other appropriate measures, a considerable impact in the reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality.     

Grand theories of personality cannot be integrated.

Comments on the original article "A New Big Five: Fundamental Principles for an Integrative Science of Personality," by Dan P. McAdams and Jennifer L. Pals (see record 2006-03947-002). McAdams and Pals (April 2006) presented a new model to integrate the field of personality psychology. Cultural and evolutionary factors interact with an individual's basic traits, characteristic adaptations, and life narratives, which in turn are linked to roles, demands, and behaviors. The current authors welcome McAdams and Pals's (2006) model for providing a way to integrate much of the previously disparate empirical findings in personality psychology. However, the current authors also think that McAdams and Pals (2006) overstated the inclusiveness of the model, and more generally, the current authors dispute their assertion that the grand theories of personality can be integrated within a single model. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Maternal and perinatal mortality due to eclampsia

Forty-four mothers with eclampsia and their newborns managed during the year 1988 at the University Hospital of Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi were analyzed. The incidence of eclampsia was 2.2% of all hospital deliveries. Eclampsia was more common in women (below 20 years) and at gestation of 36 weeks and below, and amongst the mothers deprived of antenatal care. The maternal mortality amongst cases of eclampsia was 31.8% and perinatal loss was 38.6%. A relatively high incidence of eclampsia and maternal and perinatal loss was considered to be related to lack of antenatal care and late referral to the hospital. Our findings suggest that more frequent use of properly timed cesarean section can improve the maternal outcome.     

Global shape cannot be attended without object identification.

Tested whether the global shape of objects can be processed without accessing semantic or identity information. Ss judged which of 2 fragmented forms had the same global shape as a reference stimulus. Matching stimuli could be physically identical, semantically related, or unrelated. The reference stimulus and nonmatching (distractor) form could be semantically related or unrelated. Similarity effects in the related condition were unconfounded with matches nameable and nonnameable forms. For nameable forms, related matching forms facilitated performance; a related distractor disrupted performance. Semantic interference was eliminated when nameable distractors were replaced with nonnameable partners; semantic similarity effects on matching were eliminated with a nonnameable reference stimulus and with inverted targets and distractors. Access to information concerning global shape does not normally occur without object identification. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Processing information about covariations that cannot be articulated.

Three experiments with 134 undergraduates and 80 recent high school graduates investigated processing of covariation between verbally described psychological characteristics and appearance of a set of stimulus persons. Based on S. Glucksberg and M. McCloskey's (see record 1982-07068-001) 2-stage question-answering model, it was hypothesized that if the information related to the manipulated covariation was processed and registered, it would result in an increase of processing time for questions that might be considered relevant to the covariation. Results indicate that although Ss were unable to articulate the manipulated covariation in any of the experiments, the pattern of response latencies obtained conformed exactly to the predictions. In 2 of these experiments, effects of the stimulus material in Ss' subsequent judgments were found, consistent with the model. Ss behaved as if they had "learned" the rule implied by the covariation and followed it in their subsequent judgments. (30 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)