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Biomedical subjects

B Holaday

Publications and source records attributed to B Holaday.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Fecal contamination in child day care centers: cloth vs paper diapers.

OBJECTIVES: Cloth diapers with front closure and all-in-one design were compared with paper diapers containing absorbent gel material for their influence on fecal contamination of the environment in licensed child day care centers. METHODS: One infant room and two toddler rooms in each of four day care centers were monitored for the presence of fecal bacteria. Microbial samples were taken from the play/sleep area, the diaper-changing area, and the hands of the caregivers and the children. Sampling was done twice weekly for two 4-week periods. Each center used either cloth or paper diapers during the first period, changing to the other diaper type during the second period. RESULTS: A total of 1722 samples were cultured, 881 during the first 4 weeks and 841 during the second 4 weeks. The frequency of isolation of fecal organisms ranged from a low of 12% of the total bacteria isolates at a center using cloth diapers, to highs of 46% and 45%, respectively, at a center using first paper and then cloth diapers. Sink faucets and the hands of the caregivers and the children were often contaminated. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of the results of comparisons between cloth and paper diapers showed no significant difference in the frequency (F = .380, P < .535) or the intensity of fecal contamination in child day care centers.

Bacteria

Sampling rare pediatric populations.

The sampling of general populations of individuals or households for survey research is well described. However, much of the focus of pediatric nursing research is on special or rare populations. This article presents techniques that may be used to locate rare populations for pediatric nursing research. Additionally, development and analysis of one technique used to locate a sample frame for a survey of time use of chronically ill school-age children is discussed.

Child

Stability of school-age children's survey responses.

School-age children may have low levels of response stability on many questions asked in survey research. This article incorporates evidence from a three-wave panel study into a discussion of some possible causes of low stability. In general, children's responses to questions of fact were more stable than responses to questions of opinion. The findings suggest that when questionnaires are carefully developed, school-age children are reliable respondents.

Child

Patterns of fecal coliform contamination in day-care centers.

During a six-month period, on four separate occasions, six licensed day-care centers had cultures taken from environmental surfaces as well as the hands of children and teachers. Fecal coliforms were recovered from 64 (9.5%) of the 675 surfaces sampled. Recovery rate was not influenced by a center's socioeconomic status, time of year, or presence of children who were not toilet trained. Recovery rates did differ significantly in different areas, with the kitchen showing a relatively high recovery rate (19%), and toys and toilets showing remarkably low rates (2% and 4%). Centers with formal hand-washing procedures had lower recovery rates than those without such practices. We also demonstrated a high recovery rate from hands of staff (16%); 6% of children had positive cultures. Contamination of hands and classroom objects is a potential source for the transmission of enteric diseases for children in day-care centers. A program directed at reducing contamination would be important in preventing the spread of diarrheal illness.

Child

Physical growth and behavioral adaptations of children with renal insufficiency.

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between physical growth and behavioral adaptations of children in the early stages of renal insufficiency. Twenty children between the ages of two and ten years were evaluated along with their parents. The results showed that there was a relationship between growth velocity and the balance of stresses to supports.

Adaptation, Psychological

Isolation of protective T cells from BALB/cJ mice chronically infected with Leishmania donovani.

BALB/cJ mice, which are homozygous for Lshs on chromosone 1, are genetically susceptible to Leishmania donovani (S3), but spontaneously reduce their parasite burdens late in the course of infection. Spleens from chronically infected mice (5 to 8 mo) were found to have T cells that responded to leishmanial Ag by proliferating and secreting immune IFN. An IFN-secreting T cell line derived from the spleen of a chronically infected mouse, after boosting with leishmanial Ag and treatment with Pentostam to kill residual parasites, was able to activate macrophages to kill amastigotes in vitro. Furthermore, after adoptive transfer of this cell line, naive BALB/cJ mice challenged with amastigotes demonstrated a 42-fold reduction in parasite burden compared to controls. Four of five clones derived from the protective T cell line secreted IFN and proliferated between days 7 and 14 after Ag stimulation. All clones were Ly1+2-, L3T4+. Another T cell line, which had Ly1+2-, L3T4+ phenotype, was derived from the lymph nodes of s.c. immunized, uninfected mice. It multipled but never produced IFN in response to leishmanial Ag and failed to protect macrophages against L. donovani infection in vitro or in vivo. This nonprotective T cell line and the fifth clone from the protective line, which also did not secrete IFN, proliferated between days 2 and 7 after Ag stimulation. In summary, leishmania-responsive helper/inducer T cells, which produced IFN but were slow to proliferate in response to Ag in vitro and which were able to activate macrophages to reduce amastigotes in vitro and in vivo, are present in chronically infected BALB/cJ mice and may mediate the decrease in parasite burden during chronic infection.

Animals

Patterns of interaction between mothers and their chronically ill infants.

This study describes the general style of interaction between mothers and their chronically ill infants using a dialogic states model. The mother's and infant's vocal and visual behaviors are defined as "communicative acts" and are regarded as the elements of a behavioral dialogue between the pair. Interaction is viewed as a series of four possible dyadic states: quiescent, infant alone, mother alone, and coacting. The flow of interaction was analyzed sequentially and described with transition probabilities. All the observations were carried out in the home. The data on 5 mother-infant dyads suggest some atypical patterns of interaction are present. Non-contingent responses were likely to occur. The mothers also engaged in controlling or interruptive behavior patterns. The infants frequently broke off an interaction with the mother. Patterns of maternal conceptual set development are also described.

Chronic Disease

Psychosocial factors associated with physical growth and behavior adaptations of children with renal dysfunction.

To probe factors related to growth in children with renal insufficiency, who often grow poorly, 21 patients age 2 to 10 yr. were studied. Relationships among height rates, calorie intake, and staff ratings of compliance were positive but nonsignificant. The balance of stresses and supports was significantly related to growth and ratings of adjustment. Variables related to parent-child-staff communications were explored.

Adaptation, Psychological