Mother's health card: A simple technology for use in primary health care.

The incidence of low birth weight in Indonesia as well as other developing countries is high. This can be reduced, if at risk pregnant women can be identified and their risks lowered. A 2-year cohort prospective study of 1,281 pregnant women found that maternal nutrition, including height and weight during pregnancy affected the birth weight of infants.

The effects of high energy and micronutrient supplementation on iron status in nutritionally at risk infants.

The study assessed the effects of supplementary feeding over 180 consecutive days on iron status of infants and toddlers at six tea plantation in West Java, Indonesia. The design used was a clinical trial: two eohorts (i.e.

Impact of aluminium, fluoride and fluoroaluminate complex on ATPase activity of Nostoc linckia and Chlorella vulgaris.

This study demonstrates a pH-dependent inhibition of Mg(2+)- and Ca(2+)-ATPase activities of Nostoc linckia and Chlorella vulgaris exposed to AlCl3, AlF3, NaF and AlCl3+NaF together. AlF3 and the combination of AlCl3+NaF were more inhibitory to both the enzymes as compared with AlCl3 and NaF. Toxicity of the test compounds increased with increasing acidity.

Epidural clonidine-fentanyl combination for labour analgesia: a comparison with bupivacaine-fentanyl.

This open study of 20 women compared epidural clonidine (300 microg)/fentanyl (100 microg) with bupivacaine (25 mg)/fentanyl (100 microg) in the provision of pain relief in labour. Sensory tests in the clonidine group revealed slight alterations in the appreciation of pin prick and temperature but motor power was unchanged. Analgesia after the first dose was similar in the two groups, but thereafter the analgesia provided by clonidine/fentanyl was less than that from bupivacaine/fentanyl.

Stunting and delayed motor development in rural West Java.

The association between physical growth and gross motor development, particularly self-produced locomotion, was considered in 557 children 3-18 months of age. Gross motor development was assessed with nine preselected milestones representing the major landmarks in self-produced bipedal locomotion. Motor development is presented by age and by milestone, and is compared to developmental ranges of the Denver Developmental Screening Test.

Nutrition situation in metropolitan Jakarta.

Jakarta is the capital and biggest city of Indonesia with a total population of 10 million. The National Census Office revealed a rapid increase in population through 1985 to 1990. This rapid increase has brought many devastating effects on various aspects of life such as housing, food stock and food production, health and environmental conditions, education, socio-economic and cultural life and political stability.

Developmental effects of short-term supplementary feeding in nutritionally-at-risk Indonesian infants.

This study assessed the developmental effects of supplementary feeding over 90 consecutive days on infants aged 6-20 mo at six tea plantations in West Java, Indonesia. Every day except Sunday, the infants attended day-care centers distributed throughout the plantations. Twenty centers and 113 infants were selected; the infants in 9 centers received a dietary supplement, while the infants in 11 centers served as control subjects.

Social density, stressors, and depression: gender differences among the black elderly.

This research examined gender differences with regard to the effects of social density and stressors upon depressive symptomatology among 600 Black elderly community residents (aged 55-85 years) of Nashville, Tennessee. The sample had more females than males and fewer married individuals. Approximately half of the males and females lived alone.

Comparison of lisinopril versus atenolol for mild to moderate essential hypertension.

The antihypertensive effects and safety profiles of lisinopril (10 to 40 mg) and atenolol (50 to 100 mg) were compared in a randomized, double-blind, parallel group trial in 144 patients with essential hypertension. After 8 weeks of therapy, seated blood pressure (BP) decreased by 26/15 mm Hg with lisinopril and by 19/14 mm Hg with atenolol. Lisinopril produced a greater reduction (p less than 0.

Arthritis disability, depression, and life satisfaction among black elderly people.

This study examined the correlates of arthritis disorder in a sample of black elderly people in Nashville, Tennessee. More specifically, both the presence of arthritis and its severity were examined with regard to level of depression and life satisfaction, particularly in the areas of family life, social support, and leisure activities. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 600 black elderly people residing in the community.

Effect of four heavy metals on the biology of Nostoc muscorum.

This study presents the effects of Cr, Pb, Ni and Ag on growth, pigments, protein, DNA, RNA, heterocyst frequency, uptake of NH4+ and NO3-, loss of electrolytes (Na+ and K+), nitrate reductase and glutamine synthetase activities of Nostoc muscorum. The statistical tests revealed a direct positive correlation between the metal concentration and inhibition of different processes. Ni was found to be more toxic against growth, pigments and heterocyst differentiation compared to the other metals.

An evaluation of a therapeutic health program for the black elderly.

This paper evaluates the effectiveness of a therapeutic health program which was offered in 1988 to the black elderly living in subsidized high-rise apartments in Nashville. The pre-program data (of 1987) indicated distinct differences in that the elderly living in the high-rises had significantly more medical problems, higher levels of depression, and smaller social support networks than those living in their own single dwelling homes. The therapeutic program included various modules such as cognitive and grief therapy, reminiscence therapy, social skills and remotivation therapy.

Effects of iron deficiency on attention and learning processes in preschool children: Bandung, Indonesia.

A double-blind clinical trial was conducted in Indonesia to assess effects of iron supplementation on performance of iron-depleted and iron-deficient anemic children in discrimination and oddity learning tasks. Half these children received elemental Fe for 8 wk; the others received a placebo. There were significant changes from pre- to postintervention evaluations in ferritin, transferrin saturation, free erythrocyte protoporphyrin, and hemoglobin among the anemic and iron-depleted children; no changes were observed among the placebos or any of the iron-replete children.

Therapeutic and injurious characteristics of thermal and sulphurous springs.

The dissolution of underground rocks by water, flowing underneath, makes the water rich with chemical compounds and ions. These chemical constituents with the heat of water, absorbed from the exothermic reactions of volcanic activities, gain the therapeutic properties to human sufferings or vice versa. The general history of sulphurous and thermal springs, their effects and causes are discussed below.

Health care behavior among urban black and white women.

A cohort of 308 black and white women was followed 6 years to determine health status and preventive health behavior. The women of both races had nearly identical age and education levels. Health care utilization and health state perception was nearly identical, too.

Steroid therapy in Bell's palsy.

The effect of steroid therapy was studied on twenty-eight cases of Bell's palsy. Complete and partial recovery was obtained in twenty-five cases. Delay in starting the therapy with steroids seems to be a major factor responsible for the failures.

Chronic medical problems, coping resources, and depression: a longitudinal study of rural Tennesseans.

This analysis examined chronic medical problems as a risk factor for depressive symptomatology using longitudinal survey data from a sample of rural Tennesseans. Two waves of data (1977 and 1983) were collected on 532 rural Middle-Tennessee residents. An initial investigation found chronic medical problems a powerful predictor of depression.

Myelopathy as the main presenting feature of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Myelopathy is a rare complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Only 34 cases have been fully described in the literature. 5 other cases have been listed among large surveys of SLE patients.

Bell's palsy and infection with rubella virus.

Viral antibody-titres were measured in 28 patients with Bell's palsy seen in Baghdad. These cases were selected to include only those seen within 24 hours from onset. No association with recent viral infection other than rubella virus was demonstrated.

Anomalous right coronary artery arising from left mainstem.

Various coronary artery anomalies occur in both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. We have described a unique case of an aberrant right coronary artery arising from the left mainstem, resulting in clinical myocardial infarction in the absence of coronary atherosclerosis. Though different anomalies of the right coronary artery have been described, we feel this case is unique in that the right coronary artery arises from the left mainstem, truly forming a single coronary artery.