Responses of six-month-olds to the distress of their peers

Observations of 12 pairs of 6-month-old infants interacting in a laboratory playroom in the presence of both mothers indicated that the estimated frequency, duration, and temporal distribution of one infant's distressed vocalizations were statistically independent of those of the peer. The absence of toys in the environment was a reliable predictor of the extent of an infant's distress, whereas the peer's estimated frequency and duration of distress and the infant's own gender and locomotor status were not. Infants watched their distressed peers during a majority of distress episodes and occasionally directed other behaviors to them but only rarely became distressed themselves. However, there were some indications in the pattern of distress in the trial when toys were absent that suggest one infant's distress had cumulative effects on the peer. Such cumulative effects would seem to be tempered by environmental conditions and the reactions of caregivers.

Prevalence of malocclusion in relation to premature loss of primary teeth

The influence of premature extraction of primary teeth. The influence of the site of extraction was analyzed by studying the frequency of malocclusion in the group of children with extraction in the mandible or maxilla only. It was found that early loss of primary teeth would result in an increased frequency of sagittal, vertical as well as transversal malocclusion. As a consequence the need for treatment would increase significantly by early extraction of primary teeth. Whereas extraction in the maxilla would tend to result in need for extraction of permanent teeth; extraction in the mandible would often lead to need for orthodontic treatment of longer duration. On the basis of these findings it could be concluded that maintaining a high standard of dental service for preschool children must be considered good economy, since the need for premature extractions is reduced.

Congenital malformations: the possible role of diabetes care outside pregnancy

A consecutive and prospective series comprising 949 newborn infants of diabetic mothers treated during pregnancy and delivery in the period 1966--1977 has been analysed. The malformation rate was 8.2%. As compared to infants of mothers (White classes B-F alone) controlled outside pregnancy elsewhere, the rate of malformations was significantly reduced (from 14.1 to 7.4%) in fants whose mothers attended two hospitals specializing in the treatment and ambulatory control of diabetics. For diabetics not controlled at a diabetic centre outside pregnancy the malformation rate was 9% in classes B + C and 19.4% in classes D + F, compared to 6.2 and 8.5%, respectively, for those who were controlled. The rates of malformation (total as well as severe alone) were significantly reduced in infants of White's classes D + F, and insignificantly reduced in classes B + C (in class A no comparison could be made). The findings indicate that poor diabetic control outside pregnancy is teratogenic, although the 'disastrous malformation factor' of diabetes appears not to be totally dependent on the degree of compensation of the disbetic metabolism, as measured by the variables usually applied.

Low concentration of plasma amino acids in newborn babies of diabetic mothers

Plasma amino acid concentrations were measured in maternal peripheral vein and in umbilical vein and artery at birth (caesarean section) in 6 diabetic and 5 non-diabetic pregnancies. The mean birth weight in the control group amounted to 3.9 kg as oversize of the foetus in three cases contributed to the indication for caesarean section. The infants in the diabetic group consisted of "small for gestational age" babies (mean weight 2.8 kg). Free amino acid levels in the normal group and in diabetic maternal blood were in agreement with previous investigations. No difference in amino acid concentrations in the maternal plasma was found, but the concentrations of the umbilical vein plasma were significantly lower in the diabetic group. Foetal hyperinsulinaemia may be a cause of the low amino acid concentrations. Besides, abnormalities of the placenta and maternal vascular complications increase and the mean birth weights decrease significantly through the White classes. Conditions of impairment of placental transfer of amino aicds may thus be present. Characteristics features of the foetus may be consistent with the hypothesis as follows: The foetus in diabetic pregnancy is in varying degree exposed to an oversupply of glucose, hyperinsulinaemia, imbalanced uptake and a slightly diminished supply of amino acids.

Human placental lactogen concentration during physiological fluctuations of serum glucose in normal pregnant and gestational diabetic women

Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) were carried out in 9 normal pregnant women and 11 non-obese gestational diabetics in late pregnancy. All samples were analysed for the content of glucose, insulin and placental lactogen hormone (HPL). Furthermore, spontaneous changes in the serum HPL concentration during a 3 h period were studied in 6 normal women in the 2nd half of pregnancy. During OGTT only small and insignificant changes in the level of HPL were observed in both the normal subjects and the gestational diabetics. Furthermore, the mean HPL concentration curves of the normal subjects and the gestational diabetics were superimposed although the mean glucose concentration curves were significantly different. The study of spontaneous changes in HPL revealed only small and insignificant fluctuations in the serum HPL level, and the mean concentration curve resembled those obtained from the OGTT-study. It is concluded that neither the absolute serum glucose level, nor physiological fluctuations in the serum glucose concentration seemed to influence the serum concentration of HPL in this type of patients.