Early parenting program as intervention strategy for emotional distress in first-time mothers: a propensity score analysis.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a single session intervention designed to reduce emotional distress in first-time mothers. We held a parenting class for first-time mothers who had given birth at a university hospital in Tokyo, Japan. The program of the class consists of lectures on infant care and group discussion, which is a common form of intervention in Japan.

Causal model structure analysis of emotional unrest in first time mothers faced with persistent infant crying 6-7 weeks postpartum.

Unlabelled: First time mothers faced with a continuously crying infant, who do not know how to stop their child from crying, are at risk of developing anxiety and other types of Emotional Unrest. Because continuous Emotional Unrest may lead to an emotional crisis, it is important for healthcare providers to understand causal factors associated with Emotional Unrest among first time mothers faced with a persistently crying infant 6-7 weeks postpartum.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out on a study population of 217 first time mothers with infants aged 6-7 weeks.

[Comparison of current activities of daily living (ADL) scores of fetal-type minamata disease patients with their ADL scores 15 years ago and communication disorders of these patients].

Objectives: The main purposes of this study are to compare the current statuses and activities of daily living (ADL) scores with the same parameters 15 years ago in fetal-type Minamata disease patients and to identify the communication disorders in these patients.

Methods: An interview survey was conducted on 31 fetal-type Minamata disease patients mainly in 2002 concerning family structure, present status of care, their demand for care, communication status, and ADLs. Changes in ADLs during the past 15 years were also studied in 22 of the patients.

A simple fluorometric method for the determination of sulfur dioxide in ambient air with a passive sampler.

A simple and rapid fluorescence detection method was used for the determination of sulfur dioxide (SO(2)) in ambient air collected by a passive sampler. Gaseous SO(2) was absorbed as sulfite ions into an absorbing solution of triethanolamine (TEA) contained in an adsorbent sheet and reacted with N-(9-acridinyl)maleimide (NAM), which was used as a fluorescent reagent. TEA was also used as a buffer solution in this study.

Autonomic nervous functions in fetal type Minamata disease patients: assessment of heart rate variability.

In order to assess the cardiovascular autonomic nervous functions in patients with fetal type Minamata disease (FMD), we investigated blood pressure (BP), and conducted time and frequency domain analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). Subjects were 9 patients in Meisuien recognized as FMD, and 13 healthy age matched control subjects. HRV and BP were assessed after subjects rested in a supine position for 10 minutes.