Jean-Claude Vuille

Studies on Erythro‐Kinetics in Infancy V. Estimations of the Life Span of Red Cells in the Newborn

The life span of normal red cells in adults is well known, but the life span of the red cells formed during foetal life and during the new-born period is still a matter of considerable dispute, since published estimates are both approximate and conflicting [l, 2 , 6, 7 , 9 , 10, 12, 13, 151. The present communication deals with an analysis of data obtained in previous studies [4, 51 concerning the kinetic behaviour of radioiron injected during the neonatal period. The estimates obtained on the basis of these data, although approximate, indicate that the life span of red cells formed during foetal life and during the neonatal period is significantly shorter than that of adult normal red cells.

III. Disappearance from Plasma and Red-Cell Uptake of Radio-Active Iron Injected Intravenously1

The behaviour of intravenously injected radioiron in the plasma and its subsequent appearance in newly formed red cells was investigated in 25 infants aged between 0 and 273 days and in two children aged 591 and 931 days.

Studies on Erythro‐Kinetics in Infancy:The Long‐Term Behaviour of Radioiron in Circulating Foetal and Adult Haemoglobin, and its Faecal Excretion1

Previous studies on the relative rate of synthesis of haemoglobin F and A in infants by Garby, Sjolin & Vuille [7] have shown that intravenously injected radioiron is incorporated into both haenioglobin A and haemoglobin F during the first months of life. Five of the infants studied were followed up for periods ranging from 58 to 123 days after injection of the isotope. The age a t injection was between 5 and 25 days. I n all five cases the total amount of radioactivity present in the circulating total haemoglobin (haemoglobin A and F) was recorded a t time intervals of about one week. I n three of the infants the excretion of radioiron in the faeces was also measured. The present paper comprises a description of the behaviour of radioactive iron in such longterm studies. The results have bearing on several aspects of ferro-erythro-kinetics in infancy, and extend and corroborate earlier findings by us [S] concerning the short-term behaviour of radioiron in this

Chronic Granulocytic Leukemia in Childhood

In ndults the chronic forms of leukemia the liver was palpable about 2 ern and the constitute a large and significant group, the frequency of which predominates over that of the acute forms from the age of 25 years (cf. Wintrobe, 1956). From birth to 15 years the position is quite different. Acute leukemia is then relatively common, while the chronic type is unusual: the lymphatic form is extremely rare, and according to different statistics the granulocytic form constitutes only 5 : ; or less of all cases (Cooke, 1953; Opitz, 1954; Lightwood et al. 1960). During the last 10 years the senior author has observed five cases of chronic granulocytic leukemia in children. Several of these were kept under careful observation over long periods. Among the special studies which were made, B,, analyses in the serum and the effect of Myleran therapy are worthy of mention.

Predictive Value of a Combined Health Score at Four Years with Respect to Behavioral and Learning Problems at Age Ten

A program of comprehensive health screening of 4-year-olds was introduced in Sweden in 1968, and rapidly expanded until 95% of all 4-year-olds in the country are screened today (Socialstyrelsen, 1968, 1979). The steps in the screening program are presented in Table 1 (Sundelin & Vuille, 1975b).

Growing up in Uppsala. Part II. Could adolescents with severe psychosocial problems have been identified by symptoms observed in school at age 10 years

The study comprised all 1715 children born in 1965 and resident in Uppsala at age 10 and 18 years. Data were collected through teacher interviews and analysis of school health records in grade 3 at the age of 10 years. The psychosocial burden up to the age of 18 years was assessed on the basis of all registered contacts with official institutions outside school (authorities for care of the handicapped, Department of Child Psychiatry, social agencies, legal authorities). Approximately 12% of the adolescents were clearly in a situation of manifest psychosocial risk on the threshold of adult life. These adolescents were assigned to five mutually exclusive problem groups comprising different sex distribution, symptoms and utilization of institutional care. The analysis of the relationship between data from grade 3 and the psychosocial burden up to 18 years of age showed that the information available to the school did not permit reasonably secure predictions of the childs psychosocial situation at the end of adolescence. Observations in school of pre‐adolescent children cannot be used as a basis for risk‐group strategies aiming at concentrating early treatment measures and resources to a restricted number of children at risk. However, the prognosis is apparently serious for a limited number of 10‐year‐olds with serious problems in school.

Growing up in Uppsala. The role of public services in identification and treatment of health and adjustment problems. Part I. Definition and classification of dependent variables.

A comprehensive prospective longitudinal study of health, development and social adjustment from the age of four to 18 years has been carried out in Uppsala, Sweden. This report presents the accumulated psychosocial burden up to 18 years of age for all 1715 children born in 1965 and resident in Uppsala from age 10 to 18 years. The psychosocial burden up to 18 years of age was assessed through analysis of records and register information from school health services, authorities for care of the handicapped, the Department of Child Psychiatry, social agencies and legal authorities. The analysis showed that 11.8% of the adolescents had a severe psychosocial burden up to the age of 18 years which could hamper their future life as adults. It was possible to categorize the whole birth cohort into one subgroup without manifest psychosocial problems and five different subgroups with serious problems: the six groups (severe mental or physical handicap, antisocial behaviour, psychiatric problems, social support, multiple problems, “normal”) had specific profiles concerning sex distribution, symptoms, social background, utilization of care services and delinquency.

Problems and Progress of Neonatal Paediatrics Symposium, July 21, 1959 at the IX International Congress of Paediatrics at Montreal

of the alcoholic fathers were not registered ache, abdominal pain, general tiredness, with the Temperance Board. In such attacks of different kinds, disorders in cases, the mental symptom-picture in the walking, etc., should always arouse suschildren can be of great help in revealing picions of severe disturbances in the home, very bad home conditions, including alif the physical examination has given no coholism. Intensive, prolonged and treatexplanation of their cause. ment-resistant symptoms, such as head-