Ominous cervical cytopathology in women with lupus.
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
J Ager
Publications and source records attributed to J Ager.
Cognitive behavior therapy in treatment-naive children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder: an open trial.
This work aims is to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) in pediatric patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) who had not previously been treated with either pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy and who remained medication-free during CBT. Sixteen OCD outpatients, 8-17 years of age, were treated in a 12-week open trial with manualized CBT. Target symptoms were rated at two-week intervals with the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS), the National Institute of Mental Health Global Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (NIMH Global), the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI), and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (Ham-A). Statistical analyses showed a significant benefit for treatment. Ten patients experienced at least a 50% reduction in symptoms on the CY-BOCS; seven were asymptomatic on the NIMH Global. These results build on previous reports that CBT may be effective in the acute treatment of pediatric OCD. Further, the results of this study suggest that CBT can be efficacious in alleviating OCD symptoms in the absence of pharmacotherapy. These results must be considered preliminary, given the small sample size and open administration of treatment.
Adolescent↗
Serial changes in levels of IL-6 and IL-1beta in premature infants at risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
The aim of this study was to define the inflammatory changes occurring in the lungs of infants at risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) over the first 28 days of life, and to define an optimal strategy for steroids therapy in the prevention of BPD. We measured levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta) in tracheal aspirate (TA) samples and blood of premature infants with severe respiratory distress syndrome RDS (n = 45) on the first day of life prior to initiation of surfactant therapy and on days 5-7, 12-14, 19-21, and 26-28. Levels of IL-6 and IL-1beta were determined with a commercially available enzyme-linked immunoassay. Logistic regression analyses were performed in order to examine differences in trends in levels of IL-6 and IL-1beta between groups of infants. Infants were divided into group I (n = 30, FiO(2) < or = 0.35 at 28 days) and group II (n = 15, FiO(2) > 0.35 based on their likelihood of developing BPD at 36 weeks postconceptional age (PCA). The infants were comparable with respect to mean ( +/- SEM) birth weight (895 +/- 33 g vs. 900 +/- 40 g), gestational age (27 +/- 0.38 weeks vs. 27 +/- 0.54 weeks), and severity of respiratory illness at entry into the study (mean airway pressure: 12 +/- 1 cmH(2)O vs. 12 +/- 1 cmH(2)O, and oxygen index: 15 +/- 2 vs. 19 +/- 4) (group I vs. group II, respectively). Logistic regression analyses failed to reveal any significant differences in linear trends of levels of IL-6 and IL-1beta in TA samples between both groups of infants. No particular pattern of change in levels of IL-6 or IL-1beta could be identified among groups of infants. Levels of IL-6 and IL-1beta in TA samples on the first day of life failed to predict the need for FiO(2) > 0.35 at 28 days of age. We could not identify an increasing trend or a specific pattern of changes in postnatal levels of IL-6 or IL-1beta in TA samples of infants who were at greater risk of developing BPD at 36 weeks PCA compared to infants who were not.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia↗
Abnormal cervicovaginal cytology in women with lupus: a retrospective cohort study.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to review Pap smear reports in women with systemic lupus erythematosus and compare them to a large control population. METHODS: Pap smear results of 29 women with a diagnosis of lupus seen consecutively were compared to those of a control population of 747 women attending the gynecology clinic at the same medical center during the same year. Records of lupus patients were reviewed to obtain clinical data. Fisher's exact test and chi(2) analysis were used to determine statistical significance, as appropriate. RESULTS: Of 29 women with lupus, 1/29 had high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HGSIL) and 6/29 had low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LGSIL). The control population of 747 women had 9/747 with HGSIL and 63/747 with LGSIL. chi(2) and Fisher's exact tests showed that the lupus population had a statistically significant increase in Pap smear reports of dysplasia compared to the control group (P < 0.021 for HGSIL/LGSIL combined, P < 0.036 for LGSIL alone). Examination of serial Pap smear results revealed that 45% of the lupus patients had cervical dysplasia at some time. CONCLUSION: Women with lupus have an increased prevalence of cervical dysplasia. Serial observation revealed dysplastic cytologies in nearly half of the patients, suggesting that this may be a more common problem than previously reported. Serial prospective studies are needed to assess better the risk of premalignant cervical lesions in lupus.
Adult↗
Estimates of illicit drug use during pregnancy by maternal interview, hair analysis, and meconium analysis.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the sensitivity and specificity of maternal interview, maternal hair analysis, and meconium analysis in detecting perinatal exposure to cocaine, opiate, and cannabinoid. DESIGN/METHODS: The use of cocaine, opiate, and cannabinoid during pregnancy was determined prospectively in 58 women by 3 methods: structured maternal interview, maternal hair analysis, and meconium analyses. The results of the 3 methods were compared with one another. RESULTS: The maternal interview showed the lowest sensitivity in detecting cocaine and opiate exposures (65% and 67%, respectively), but it had the highest sensitivity in detecting cannabinoid exposure (58%). Both hair and meconium analyses had high sensitivity for detecting cocaine or opiate exposures. Hair analysis had a sensitivity of 100% for cocaine and 80% for opiate detection. However, it had a false-positive rate of 13% for cocaine and 20% for opiate, probably as a result of passive exposure. Meconium analysis had a sensitivity of 87% for cocaine and 77% for opiate detection, but unlike hair analysis, it had no false-positive test results for cocaine. Both hair and meconium analyses had low sensitivity in detecting cannabinoid exposure (21%-22.7%), most probably because of the sporadic use of cannabinoid. CONCLUSION: Meconium and hair analyses had the highest sensitivities for detecting perinatal use of cocaine and opiate, but not for cannabinoid. The principal drawback of hair analysis is its potential for false-positive test results associated with passive exposure to drugs. Maternal interview is a time-consuming test of low sensitivity. The high sensitivity of meconium analysis and the ease of collection make this test ideal for perinatal drug screening.
Adult↗
Prenatal alcohol exposure and childhood behavior at age 6 to 7 years: I. dose-response effect.
OBJECTIVE: Moderate to heavy levels of prenatal alcohol exposure have been associated with alterations in child behavior, but limited data are available on adverse effects after low levels of exposure. The objective of this study was to evaluate the dose-response effect of prenatal alcohol exposure for adverse child behavior outcomes at 6 to 7 years of age. METHODS: Beginning in 1986, women attending the urban university-based maternity clinic were routinely screened at their first prenatal visit for alcohol and drug use by trained research assistants from the Fetal Alcohol Research Center. All women reporting alcohol consumption at conception of at least 0.5 oz absolute alcohol/day and a 5% random sample of lower level drinkers and abstainers were invited to participate to be able to identify the associations between alcohol intake and child development. Maternal alcohol, cigarette, and illicit drug use were prospectively assessed during pregnancy and postnatally. The independent variable in this study, prenatal alcohol exposure, was computed as the average absolute alcohol intake (oz) per day across pregnancy. At each prenatal visit, mothers were interviewed about alcohol use during the previous 2 weeks. Quantities and types of alcohol consumed were converted to fluid ounces of absolute alcohol and averaged across visits to generate a summary measure of alcohol exposure throughout pregnancy. Alcohol was initially used as a dichotomous variable comparing children with no prenatal alcohol exposure to children with any exposure. To evaluate the effects of different levels of exposure, the average absolute alcohol intake was relatively arbitrarily categorized into no, low (>0 but <0.3 fl oz of absolute alcohol/day), and moderate/heavy (>/=0.3 fl oz of absolute alcohol/day) for the purpose of this study. Six years later, 665 families were contacted. Ninety-four percent agreed to testing. Exclusions included children who missed multiple test appointments, had major congenital malformations (other than fetal alcohol syndrome), possessed an IQ >2 standard deviations from the sample mean, or had incomplete data. The Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was used to assess child behavior. The CBCL is a parent questionnaire applicable to children ages 4 to 16 years. It is widely used in the clinical assessment of children's behavior problems and has been extensively used in research. Eight syndrome scales are further grouped into Externalizing or undercontrolled (Aggressive and Delinquent) behavior and Internalizing or overcontrolled (Anxious/Depressed, Somatic Complaints, and Withdrawn) behaviors. Three syndromes (Social, Thought, and Attention Problems) fit neither group. Higher scores are associated with more problem behaviors. Research assistants who were trained and blinded to exposure status independently interviewed the child and caretaker. Data were collected on a broad range of control variables known to influence childhood behavior and/or to be associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. These included perinatal factors of maternal age, education, cigarette, cocaine, and other substances of abuse and the gestational age of the baby. Postnatal factors studied included maternal psychopathology, continuing alcohol and drug use, family structure, socioeconomic status, children's whole blood lead level, and exposure to violence. Data were collected only from black women as there was inadequate representation of other racial groups. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS statistical package. Frequency distribution, cross-tabulation, odds ratio, and chi(2) tests were used for analyzing categorical data. Continuous data were analyzed using t tests, analyses of variance (ANOVAs) with posthoc tests, and regression analysis. RESULTS: Testing was available for 501 parent-children dyads. Almost one fourth of the women denied alcohol use during pregnancy. Low levels of alcohol use were reported in 63.8% and moderate/heavy use in 13% of pregnancies. Increasing prenatal alcohol exposure was associated with lower birth weight and gestational age, higher lead levels, higher maternal age, and lower education level, prenatal exposure to cocaine and smoking, custody changes, lower socioeconomic status, and paternal drinking and drug use at the time of pregnancy. Children with any prenatal alcohol exposure were more likely to have higher CBCL scores on Externalizing (Aggressive and Delinquent) and Internalizing (Anxious/Depressed and Withdrawn) syndrome scales and the Total Problem Score. The odds ratio of scoring in the clinical range for Delinquent behavior was 3.2 (1.3-7.6) in children with any prenatal exposure to alcohol compared with nonexposed controls. The threshold dose was evaluated with the 3 prenatal alcohol exposure groups. One-way ANOVA revealed a significant between group difference for Externalizing (Aggressive and Delinquent) and the Total Problem Score. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)
Alcohol Drinking↗
Postnatal maturation of human GABAA receptors measured with positron emission tomography.
During brain development in nonhuman primates, there are large changes in GABAA receptor binding and subunit expression. An understanding of human GABAA receptor ontogeny is highly relevant in elucidating the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders in which GABAergic mechanisms play a role as well as in understanding differences that occur during development in the pharmacology of drugs acting on this system. We have measured age-related changes in the brain distribution of the GABAA receptor complex in vivo using positron emission tomography (PET) in epileptic children under evaluation for surgical treatment. PET imaging was performed using the tracer [11C]flumazenil (FMZ), a ligand that binds to alpha subunits of the GABAA receptor. FMZ binding was quantified using a two-compartment model yielding values for the volume of distribution (VD) of the tracer in tissue. All brain regions studied showed the highest value for FMZ VD at the youngest age measured (2 years), and the values then decreased exponentially with age. Medial temporal lobe structures, primary visual cortex, and thalamus showed larger differences between values for age 2 years and adults (approximately 50% decrease) than did basal ganglia, cerebellum, and other cortical regions (25-40% decreases). Furthermore, subcortical regions reached adult values earlier (14-17.5 years) than did cortical regions (18-22 years). The ontogeny data of FMZ VD from children may contribute to understanding regional differences in synaptic plasticity as well as improve rational therapeutic use of drugs acting at the GABAA receptor in the pediatric population.
Adolescent↗
Multimodality imaging for improved detection of epileptogenic foci in tuberous sclerosis complex.
OBJECTIVE: Using interictal alpha-[11C]methyl-l-tryptophan ([11C]AMT) PET scan, the authors have undertaken a quantitative analysis of all tubers visible on MRI or 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-d-glucose ([18F]FDG) PET, to determine the relationship between [11C]AMT uptake and epileptic activity on EEG. BACKGROUND: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant disorder, often associated with cortical tubers and intractable epilepsy. The authors have shown previously that [11C]AMT PET scans show high tracer uptake in some epileptogenic tubers and low uptake in the remaining tubers. METHODS: Eighteen children, age 7 months to 16 years, were studied. Patients underwent video-EEG monitoring, PET scans of [11C]AMT and [18F]FDG, and T2-weighted or fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) MRI. [11C]AMT uptake values were measured in 258 cortical tubers delineated with coregistered MRI or [18F]FDG scans. Uptake ratios were calculated between the [11C]AMT uptake in tubers and those for normal cortex (tuber/normal cortex). Using the region of epileptiform activity, the authors performed receiver operator characteristics (ROC) analysis and determined the optimal uptake ratio for detecting presumed epileptogenic tubers. RESULTS: Tuber uptake ratios ranged from 0.6 to 2.0. Tuber uptake ratios in the epileptic lobes were higher than those in the nonepileptic lobes (p < 0.0001). All 15 patients with focal seizure activity showed one or more lesions with uptake ratio above 0.98 in the epileptic lobe. ROC analysis showed that a tuber uptake ratio of 0.98 resulted in a specificity of 0.91. CONCLUSIONS: Cortical tubers with [11C]AMT uptake greater than or equal to normal cortex are significantly related to epileptiform activity in that lobe. Together, interictal [11C]AMT PET and FLAIR MRI improve the detection of potentially epileptogenic tubers in patients with TSC being evaluated for epilepsy surgery.
Adolescent↗
Contraceptive decision making among Medicaid-eligible women.
The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of sociodemographic factors, attitudes, knowledge, and experiences regarding the use of various contraceptive methods, future plans prenatally, and actual use postpartum among a population of low income pregnant women. Women were interviewed prenatally and during the postpartum period in a large, urban academic health center serving primarily an indigent population. The primary analytic method employed was logistic regression. The key finding in this study is that women are not consistently using the method of contraception postpartum that they planned during the prenatal period. Only 54.7% of the women planning to use oral contraceptive pills were using them postpartum, and only 31.3% of the women planning to use condoms were actually using them postpartum. Expanding contraceptive education and counseling throughout the perinatal period may assist women's decision making.
Contraception↗
The influence of attitudes about unintended pregnancy on use of prenatal and postpartum care.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of feelings about pregnancy and consideration of abortion on late initiation of prenatal care and postpartum appointment. STUDY DESIGN: A descriptive study was conducted in a tertiary clinic in Detroit using a convenience sample comprised of 518 low-income pregnant and postpartum women with a large number of unintended pregnancies. A series of chi-square analyses and logistic regression models were conducted to identify variables predictive of these outcomes. RESULTS: Teenagers were 1.8 times more likely to initiate late prenatal care versus early care (p = 0.05), and women who considered an abortion were 3.7 times more likely to initiate late prenatal care (p = 0.01). Having considered abortion but deciding against it due to psychologic/moral reasons was protective against late initiation of prenatal care (OR = 0.23; p = 0.01). Multiparity was the only predictor of a missed postpartum appointment. Multiparous women were three times more likely to miss the appointment (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Success in improving early access to prenatal care will involve addressing the issue of unintended pregnancy. This challenge will require that health care providers assess feelings and values related to a pregnancy. Understanding women's feelings and values about the pregnancy will allow providers to more effectively assist with decision-making and positive pregnancy behaviors. In addition, community-based education related to family planning and the value of prenatal and postpartum care is needed to involve women's partners, family, and friends, because social support systems influence decisions regarding pregnancy behaviors.
Abortion, Legal↗
Teacher-assessed behavior of children prenatally exposed to cocaine.
OBJECTIVE: Prenatal cocaine exposure has been associated with alterations in neonatal behavior and more recently a dose-response relationship has been identified. However, few data are available to address the long-term behavioral effects of prenatal exposures in humans. The specific aim of this report is to evaluate the school-age behavior of children prenatally exposed to cocaine. METHODS: All black non-human immunodeficiency virus-positive participants in a larger pregnancy outcomes study who delivered singleton live born infants between September 1, 1989 and August 31, 1991 were eligible for study participation. Staff members of the larger study extensively screened study participants during pregnancy for cocaine, alcohol, cigarettes, and other illicit drugs. Prenatal drug exposure was defined by maternal history elicited by structured interviews with maternal and infant drug testing as clinically indicated. Cocaine exposure was considered positive if either history or laboratory results were positive. Six years later, 665 families were contacted; 94% agreed to participate. The child, primary caretaker (parent), and, when available, the biologic mothers were tested in our research facilities. Permission was elicited to obtain blinded teacher assessments of child behavior with the Achenbach Teacher's Report Form (TRF). Drug use since the child's birth was assessed by trained researchers using a structured interview. RESULTS: Complete laboratory and teacher data were available for 499 parent-child dyads, with a final sample size for all analyses of 471 (201 cocaine-exposed) after the elimination of mentally retarded subjects. A comparison of relative Externalizing (Aggressive, Delinquent) to Internalizing (Anxious/Depressed, Withdrawn, Somatic Complaints) behaviors of the offspring was computed for the TRF by taking the difference between the 2 subscales to create an Externalizing-Internalizing Difference (T. M. Achenbach, personal communication, 1998). Univariate comparisons revealed that boys were significantly more likely to score in the clinically significant range on total TRF, Externalizing-Internalizing, and Aggressive Behaviors than were girls. Children prenatally exposed to cocaine had higher Externalizing-Internalizing Differences compared with controls but did not have significantly higher scores on any of the other TRF variables. Additionally, boys prenatally exposed to cocaine were twice as likely as controls to have clinically significant scores for externalizing (25% vs 13%) and delinquent behavior (22% vs 11%). Gender, prenatal exposures (cocaine and alcohol), and postnatal risk factors (custody changes, current drug use in the home, child's report of violence exposure) were all related to problem behaviors. Even after controlling for gender, other prenatal substance exposures, and home environment variables, cocaine-exposed children had higher Externalizing-Internalizing Difference scores. Prenatal exposure to alcohol was associated with higher total score, increased attention problems, and more delinquent behaviors. Prenatal exposure to cigarettes was not significantly related to the total TRF score or any of the TRF subscales. Postnatal factors associated with problem behaviors included both changes in custody status and current drug use in the home. Change in custody status of the cocaine-exposed children, but not of the controls, was related to higher total scores on the TRF and more externalizing and aggressive behaviors. Current drug use in the home was associated with higher scores on the externalizing and aggressive subscales. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study suggest gender-specific behavioral effects related to prenatal cocaine exposure. Prenatal alcohol exposure also had a significant impact on the TRF. Postnatal exposures, including current drug use in the home and the child's report of violence exposure, had an independent effect on teacher-assessed child behavioral problems. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATE
Black or African American↗
Myocardial blood flow, function, and metabolism in repetitive stunning.
UNLABELLED: Myocardial hibernation refers to a state of persistent left ventricular dysfunction resulting from a chronically reduced blood flow, which is improved or reversed with revascularization. Increased glucose uptake in areas with reduced blood flow at rest on PET has been used successfully to diagnose hibernating myocardium. However, hibernation may represent persistent myocardial stunning resulting from repeated episodes of ischemia and reperfusion rather than from chronic underperfusion. We sought to determine the inter-relationship between blood flow, metabolism, and function in a canine model of repetitive myocardial stunning. METHODS: Ten dogs underwent 4 sequential 5-min intervals of balloon occlusion of the anterior descending or circumflex arteries, each separated by 5 min of reperfusion. Regional blood flow, metabolism, and function were evaluated 3-4 h after reperfusion in all dogs and 24 h and 1 wk after reperfusion in 5 dogs. Regional wall motion was evaluated with echocardiography. Regional blood flow was assessed with radioactive microspheres and by [(13)N]ammonia and PET. Measurements of oxidative metabolism and glucose uptake (during hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamping) were derived with [(11)C]-acetate, FDG, and PET. RESULTS: Regional wall motion was severely decreased after the 4 cycles of ischemia, remained impaired 24 h after reperfusion, and normalized after 1 wk. During reflow, blood flow in stunned regions was restored to near-normal levels (0.89 +/- 0.07 versus 0.95 +/- 0.07 mL/g/min, P = 0.023). However, glucose uptake in stunned regions was significantly decreased at 4 h (73% +/- 5% of remote, P < 0.001), remained depressed after 24 h of reflow (83% +/- 4% of remote, P = 0.013), and fully recovered at 1 wk (101% +/- 10% of remote, P = 0.88). Similarly, oxidative metabolism in stunned regions was significantly decreased at 4 h (84% +/- 2% of remote, P < 0.001) and at 24 h (90% +/- 2% of remote, P = 0.005) and recovered to near-normal levels after 1 wk of reperfusion (97% +/- 1% of remote, P = 0.024). The time course of change in postischemic dysfunction correlated with the recovery of oxidative metabolism (r=0.57; P=0.009). CONCLUSION: Myocardium subjected to repetitive stunning showed a prolonged yet reversible reduction in systolic function that was associated with a significant downregulation of glucose and oxidative metabolism despite restoration of normal myocardial blood flow. These findings suggest a unique metabolic adaptation in repetitive stunning that is different from that typically seen in clinical and experimental models of hibernation.
Animals↗
A mathematical model for the analysis of cross-sectional brain glucose metabolism data in children.
1. The authors present here a 5-parameter developmental function designed to describe quantitatively the time-course of changes in glucose metabolism with age. This function consists of a plateau phase which is described by the rate of increase with age and the height of the plateau, followed by a decline phase characterized by the rate of decrease to adult levels. These two phases are separated by a distinct point in time, at which the transition between the two phases occurs. 2. The model is designed to fit published data showing that glucose metabolic rate in frontal cortex at birth is about 60% of adult values (mean adult value is 24 mumol/100 g/min) and increases to slightly less than triple adult value by age 3. The metabolic rate remains at this level until the age of approximately 8 years when it starts the decline to adult values. 3. A procedure is presented which allows the approximate computation of the 98% confidence contours in data space for the developmental function. The computation is based on the joint probability function obtained from the model covariance matrix. 4. The newly designed 5-parameter developmental function is well suited to describe maturational changes of glucose metabolism. Due to its excellent model identifiability and the interpretability of individual parameters, this function is better suited for description of maturational changes than the gamma-function. Furthermore, this function may provide a useful framework for interpretation of other data sets during development.
Adolescent↗
Prenatal coke: what's behind the smoke? Prenatal cocaine/alcohol exposure and school-age outcomes: the SCHOO-BE experience.
Despite media reports and educators' concerns, little substantive data have been published to document or refute the emerging reports that children prenatally exposed to cocaine have serious behavioral problems in school. Recent pilot data from this institution have indeed demonstrated teacher-reported problem behaviors following prenatal cocaine exposure after controlling for the effects of prenatal alcohol use and cigarette exposure. Imperative in the study of prenatal exposure and child outcome is an acknowledgement of the influence of other control factors such as postnatal environment, secondary exposures, and parenting issues. We report preliminary evaluation from a large ongoing historical prospective study of prenatal cocaine exposure on school-age outcomes. The primary aim of this NIDA-funded study is to determine if a relationship exists between prenatal cocaine/alcohol exposures and school behavior and, if so, to determine if the relationship is characterized by a dose-response relationship. A secondary aim evaluates the relationship between prenatal cocaine/alcohol exposures and school achievement. Both relationships will be assessed in a black, urban sample of first grade students using multivariate statistical techniques for confounding as well as mediating and moderating prenatal and postnatal variables. A third aim is to evaluate the relationship between a general standardized classroom behavioral measure and a tool designed to tap the effects thought to be specific to prenatal cocaine exposure. This interdisciplinary research team can address these aims because of the existence of a unique, prospectively collected perinatal Database, funded in part by NIAAA and NICHD. The database includes repeated measures of cocaine, alcohol, and other substances for over 3,500 births since 1986. Information from this database is combined with information from the database of one of the largest public school systems in the nation. The final sample will be composed of over 600 first grade students for whom the independent variables, prenatal cocaine/alcohol exposures, were prospectively assessed and quantified at the university maternity center. After informed consent, the primary dependent variable, school behavior, is assessed, using the PROBS-14 (a teacher consensus developed instrument), the Child Behavior Check List, and the Conners' Teacher Rating Scale. The secondary dependent measure, school achievement, is measured by the Metropolitan Achievement Text and the Test of Early Reading Ability. Control variables, such as the environment and parenting, are measured by several instruments aimed at capturing the child and family ecology since birth. All analyses will be adjusted as appropriate for prospectively gathered control variables such as perinatal risk, neonatal risk, and other prenatal drug and cigarette exposures. Further adjustment will be made for postnatal social risk factors which may influence outcome. Of particular concern are characteristics of the home (adaptation of HOME), parent (depression, stress), and neighborhood (violence exposure). Finally, postnatal exposure to lead and other drugs is being considered.
Achievement↗
Prenatal cocaine exposure and child behavior.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate previous teacher reports that children exposed to cocaine prenatally have more problem behaviors. METHODS: A historical, prospective design was used. Maternal subjects (n = 116) of 6-year-old singleton, term (>/=36 weeks) children, and the children's first-grade teachers (n = 102) agreed to participate. The child's first-grade teacher, blinded to study design and exposure status, rated the child's behavior with the Conners' Teacher Rating Scales (CTRS) and an investigator-developed scale, the Problem Behavior Scale (PROBS 14), measuring behaviors reported by educators to be specific to cocaine exposure. Mothers were interviewed by telephone regarding demographic and socioeconomic factors. RESULTS: Although the cocaine-exposed group had higher (more problem behaviors) for each of the CTRS subscales, the overall multivariate analysis of variance for the CTRS was not significant. Children exposed to cocaine prenatally had higher scores (more problem behaviors) for 11 of the 14 PROBS items and the overall multivariate analysis of variance relating prenatal cocaine exposure to the PROBS was significant (Wilkes' lambda =.775), even after controlling for gender and prenatal exposure to alcohol and cigarettes. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study supports that teachers blinded to exposure status of early elementary students did rate the cocaine-exposed group as demonstrating significantly more problem behaviors than control children. Although an important first step, postnatal factors that also may influence behavior were not evaluated; hence, causation is not addressed.
Case-Control Studies↗
Carrier localization of as-grown n-type gallium nitride under large hydrostatic pressure.
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Journal Article↗
Using incentives to increase participation in prenatal care.
OBJECTIVE: To test the effectiveness of offering two kinds of incentives to encourage low-income women's participation in prenatal and postpartum care. METHODS: Two hundred five Medicaid-eligible women enrolled in a prenatal clinic were randomly assigned to receive a $5.00 gift certificate (N = 51) or a gift certificate and a chance to win a $100 raffle (N = 53) for each prenatal appointment they kept. Controls (N = 101) and the two experimental groups were interviewed postpartum about their satisfaction with prenatal care. Women in the three groups were compared for the number of prenatal and the postpartum appointments, satisfaction with care, length of gestation, and birth weight. RESULTS: Thirty-nine percent missed one to seven prenatal appointments, and 45% missed the postpartum appointment. There were no significant differences among the three groups in any of the outcome variables. Women missed appointments because of the lack of transportation, poor weather, and illness. CONCLUSION: Providing incentives does not overcome barriers to receiving prenatal care.
Adult↗
Neonatal diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome: not necessarily a hopeless prognosis.
A neonatal examination for fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) should promote the guidance of parents, the planning of remediation for affected children, and the collection of prevalence data. A blinded examination of FAS characteristics conducted as part of a large prospective study of disadvantaged alcohol-exposed infants identified eight neonates who met the published criteria for FAS. These children were followed through the preschool years with a blinded assessment protocol. Seven of these children were found to have no impairment in cognitive and language development, when compared with their peers, and to be of average size. The one child who was mentally and growth retarded at follow-up who had been diagnosed as FAS might not have been diagnosed FAS using clinical criteria (as opposed to blinded research criteria), because his mother provided in-pregnancy reports of only low alcohol intake; she later acknowledged drinking an average of over 21 drinks/week during the pregnancy. The findings are positive in that they provide hope for children who present FAS at birth, although concern with adverse outcomes is certainly not dispelled. In particular, the possibility of later-emerging impairment in more complex tasks is not ruled out.
Adult↗