Time use of mothers with young children: the impact of a child's disability

This study examined the impact of children's disabilities on the time use of mothers of young children. 45 mothers of young children with multiple disabilities and significant functional impairments and 45 mothers of children with Down syndrome were compared with 45 mothers of typically developing children. The children were aged between six months and five years. Using a seven-day time diary (the CARE inventory), it was found that mothers of children with multiple disabilities spent significantly more hours on child-related activities than did mothers of children with Down syndrome and controls. There were no significant differences between groups in the amount of time that mothers spent in recreational leisure activities; however, control mothers spent significantly more time socializing with other people than did mothers of children with disabilities.     

Traits and metatraits: Their reliability, stability, and shared genetic influence.

Metatraits measure individual differences in construct relevancy, whereas traits measure individual differences in construct extremity. 24 traits and metatraits were examined in this study using 157 pairs of identical twins reared together, 95 pairs of identical twins reared apart, 211 pairs of fraternal twins reared together, and 228 pairs of fraternal twins reared apart obtained from the Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging (see N. L. Pedersen et al, 1991). Reliability and stability analyses of the metatraits revealed generally lower reliability and stability across time compared to traits. Quantitative genetic analyses of the relationship between traits and metatraits indicated that approximately 69% of the metatrait's genetic variance is shared with the trait, with 31% of its genetic variance unique to the metatrait. These results suggest that metatraits provide a useful additional view of personality. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Genetic influences on memory performance in adulthood: Comparison of Minnesota and Swedish twin data.

Results from 2 twin studies of aging differ concerning the heritability of memory performance in adulthood. Heritability estimates from the Minnesota Twin Study of Adult Development and Aging (MTSADA; D. Finkel & M. McGue, see record 1994-17107-001) are larger than estimates from the Swedish data (N. L. Pedersen, R. Plomin, J. R. Nesselroade, & G. E. McClearn; see record 1993-20499-001). Memory data were available from MTSADA on a sample of 112 monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs and 111 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs ages 27 to 88 years and from the Swedish study on a sample of 86 MZ and 110 DZ twin pairs who were reared together and were ages 27 to 85 years. Univariate and multivariate behavior genetic analyses were conducted to determine the significance and source of differences in heritability across studies. No significant age differences were found in either study. Study differences were found at the level of specific memory measures, but not at the level of a general memory factor. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborn infants

On the basis of a review of the literature, a survey is presented concerning persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. In this article the authors focus on the pathophysiology, diagnostic criteria and treatment, including mechanical ventilation, pharmacological vasodilation and extracorporal membrane oxygenation. Particular emphasis is placed on the treatment of the condition with inhaled nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a selective pulmonary vasodilator and able to improve ventilation/ perfusion mismatching in cases where there is an affection of the pulmonary parenchyma. Data from randomized trials with close long-term follow-up is necessary before routine nitrogen oxide treatment can be recommended.     

Analysis of chromatin structure in vivo

Comb-like polyethylene oxide (PEO) surfaces were prepared on low-density polyethylene (PE). The comb-like PEO chain density was changed gradually along the sample lengths by corona discharge treatment with gradually increasing power and the following graft copolymerization of poly(ethylene glycol) monomethacrylate macromers (PEO-MA). The macromers with different PEO repeat unit, 1, 5, and 10, were used. The prepared comb-like PEO gradient surfaces were characterized by water contact angle, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in the attenuated total reflectance mode, and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis. All these measurements indicated that the PEO chains are grafted on the PE surface with gradually increasing density of PEO. Plasma protein adsorption and platelet adhesion on the PEO gradient surfaces decreased with increasing PEO chain length and surface density. As observed by scanning electron microscopy, PEO10-MA-grafted surface with high PEO density was very effective in preventing protein adsorption and platelet adhesion and did not activate the platelets.     

Dislocation following primary posterior-stabilized total knee arthroplasty

From 1981 through 1991, 3,032 primary total knee arthroplasties were performed using the Insall-Burstein Posterior Stabilized Condylar Prosthesis (IB-I, IB-II, and IB-II modified) (Zimmer, Warsaw, IN). Fifteen posterior dislocations occurred: 4 with the IB-I system occurring 2 or more years after surgery, 10 with the IB-II system (8 occurring 6 months after surgery and 2 occurring 2-3 years after surgery), and 1 with the IB-II modified system occurring 9 months after surgery. Statistically significant differences for the rate of dislocation between both the IB-I and IB-II modified arthroplasties versus the IB-II arthroplasties were found (P < .001). In an attempt to identify a cause for these dislocations, the authors retrospectively assessed the 15 dislocated cases with respect to sex, age, weight, height, preoperative and postoperative Hospital for Special Surgery scores, preoperative and postoperative alignment, preoperative versus postoperative reconstruction dimensions, patellar thickness and height, and postoperative flexion and compared the results with those patients who did not experience dislocation. Possible etiologies and mechanisms of dislocation were sought. There were no significant differences between the control and study groups for any variable assessed, with the exception of postoperative flexion, which averaged 118 degrees for the study group and 105 degrees for the control group (P < .001). Conservative management was successful in 11 cases. In September 1988 the IB-II system was introduced; modification of the tibial insert was made in January 1990.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)