Autistic traits at neurodevelopmental assessment for very preterm infants.

Aim The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of autistic traits at childhood neurodevelopmental assessment in a premature cohort and to assess associated perinatal exposures. Methods An observational retrospective case-control study was conducted in a single tertiary neonatal unit. All infants born weighing =1500 grams and/or =32/40 weeks who attended for neurodevelopmental assessment in 2019 were eligible. Results 96 preterm infants met the inclusion criteria. 22 (23%) in the case group demonstrated clinical features of autism at early childhood assessment. The remaining 74 acted as a control group. In the case group 18 (82%) were male. There was no difference in rate of multiple births between the groups. There was no statistically significant difference in maternal age or indication for delivery. Male phenotype (p=0.003), non-Irish ethnicity (p=0.005), vaginal delivery (p=0.005) and abnormal cranial ultrasound (p=0.009) occurred more frequently in the case group. Use of assistive reproductive technologies occurred less frequently in the case group (p=0.047). In the case group, 10/14 of the composite scores measured on Bayleys-3 at a median (IQR) age of 32 (31-35) months showed statistically significant differences (p<0.003). Discussion Our study strongly supports increasing awareness of the association between prematurity and autism. It highlights the need for targeted neurodevelopmental follow-up to support early detection of autism, allowing for timely intervention. Further investigation in a larger prospective cohort may further delineate the various perinatal risk factors for autism.

Religion and attitudes towards nature in Britain.

Religious institutions have been identified as important conduits in shaping social attitudes toward nature and the environment. Using Lynn White's historical thesis that Judeo-Christianity has cherished the domination of nature ('dominion' belief) by humans as our frame of reference, this article examines the impact of religion, specifically Abrahamic and Judeo-Christian beliefs, on environmental attitudes in Britain. Based on the 1993 British Social Attitudes Survey, a nationally representative sample of the adult population in Britain, the multivariate results of this paper suggest that: (a) there is no significant difference between Christians and non-Christians concerning environmental attitudes; (b) Roman Catholics are the most sceptic toward nature among Christian denominations; and (c) irrespective of religious identification, the two most notable and consistent factors in determining pro-dominion attitudes in Britain are educational attainment and particularly levels of scientific knowledge about the natural environment.

Gender trends in occupancy rates in mental health beds in Northern Ireland.

Based on census material from 1926 to 1991, this study focuses on gender differences in occupancy rates in mental health beds in Northern Ireland. More specifically, using two sets of research literature--the relationships between war and mental health and gender and mental health respectively--it explores changing patterns in bed occupancy in terms of both gender and age differences within this society. The results suggest that, although men and women no longer vary in terms of their overall occupancy rates within mental health facilities in Northern Ireland, within their respective male and female sub-populations, however, some notable age-specific differences have now emerged. Since 1981, whereas increases in mental health bed occupancy among women have been exclusively confined to the old (65 years or older), among males, it is the very young, specifically men aged 15-24 years, who have demonstrated the most dramatic rise in bed usage. It is important to note, however, that these age-specific gender increases cannot be accounted for by demographic changes in the general population. The authors suggest that, at least as far as men are concerned, the increasing pattern of vulnerability among the young may be attributed to the impact of changing definitions of mental disorder rather than to the effect of political violence on mental health. It is to this group of individuals--the cohort of men born since the outbreak of civil unrest in Northern Ireland in 1969--that future research should be directed.

Marital status and bed occupancy in health and social care facilities in the United Kingdom.

The purpose of the study was to test the hypothesis that marriage and physical health are positively related.A secondary analysis was performed of census data on all individuals aged 15 y and over occupying beds in general health and social care facilities (excluding mental health) in England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland in 1971, 1981 and 1991. Using bed occupancy in health and social care facilities as a proxy for ill health, this paper investigates the relationship between marital status and physical health in the United Kingdom. The findings, expressed as the proportion of individuals (excluding staff and visitors) aged 15 y and over within these facilities, suggest that: a) Whether considered separately or together, married men and women are healthier than non-married men and women, as reflected in their much lower use of health and social care beds; b) This positive relationship between marriage and health has increased steadily since the 1970s; c) Within the non-married population, whereas the single are most at risk among men, the widowed are most at risk among women; d) In contrast to the married and widowed, there are some consistent age-specific gender differences among the divorced and single, with men of working age at much higher risk than women of working age. This study confirms research findings elsewhere that marriage and physical health are positively related. Throughout the United Kingdom, not only are married people healthier than non-married people, as reflected in their much lower use of health and social care beds, but this relationship holds irrespective of gender.

Psychology of the scientist: LXXX. Attitudes regarding authorship issues in psychological publications.

The purpose of this article is to explore empirically issues and attitudes surrounding the assignment of credit for authorship in psychological research. A survey consisting of research tasks, vignettes, and questions relating to collaborations between faculty and students was completed by 203 individuals (23.3% response rate) from a national, random sample of faculty and graduate students. Analysis indicated that tasks related to manuscript writing, developing research ideas, and research design were important criteria for assigning credit of authorship. Status, seniority, and data collection were rated as unimportant to the assignment of credit. The issues surrounding collaborations between faculty and students were also examined.

Government spending on health care: a cross-national study of public attitudes.

The economic constraints of the last decade have led western industrialized nations to consider, if not actually adopt, more stringent controls over costly social policies such as health care. Using recent, nationally representative data from the United States, Great Britain, West Germany, Italy and Australia, this paper provides an international comparison of attitudes towards government spending on health care. Attitudes are found to differ by country, with Great Britain being most supportive of increased spending and West Germany and the United States most opposed. Multiple regression techniques are used to determine significant socio-demographic and political ideological factors in relation to predicting attitudes towards government spending. In many countries, those who often bear the heavier tax burden, for example, the middle classes and those with higher status jobs, were consistently more likely to oppose an increase in government spending on health; compared with them, women were found to be more supportive of such action. Measures of political ideology were found to be quite consistent and strong predictors of attitudes--political conservatism and more negative attitudes towards government generally were inversely related to support for government increases in health spending. The policy implications of these findings are discussed in the conclusion.

Light treatment for NASA shiftworkers.

Intense artificial light can phase-shift circadian rhythms and improve performance, sleep, and well-being during shiftwork simulations. In real shiftworkers, however, exposure to sunlight and other time cues may decrease the efficacy of light treatment, and occupational and family responsibilities may make it impractical. With these considerations in mind, we designed and tested light-treatment protocols for NASA personnel who worked on shifted schedules during two Space Shuttle missions. During the prelaunch week, treatment subjects self-administered light of approximately 10,000 lux at times of day that phase-delay circadian rhythms. Treatment continued during the missions and for several days afterward. No treatment was administered to subjects in the control group. Treatment subjects reported better sleep, performance, and physical and emotional well-being than control subjects and rated the treatment as highly effective for promoting adjustment to their work schedules. Light treatment is both feasible and beneficial for NASA personnel who must work on shifted schedules during Space Shuttle missions.

Attitudes toward mandatory retirement: an international comparison.

Over recent decades, whether legislation supporting mandatory retirement should exist has been debated frequently. The issue has been exacerbated by the growing number of elderly people within western societies. Using nationally representative data from the United States of America, West Germany, Great Britain, and Australia, this article provides an international comparison of individual's attitudes toward mandatory retirement. These attitudes are found to differ sharply according to country, with the Americans most strongly opposed and the Britons most accepting. Multiple regression techniques are used to address the relative importance of socio-demographic and political ideological factors in predicting attitudes toward compulsory retirement. The strongest socio-demographic predictor is education. Measures of political ideology are also significant predictors; that is, acceptance of government intervention in various areas of the labor market is positively related to the acceptance of government regulation of retirement age.

Roles for mitotic history in the generation and degeneration of hippocampal neuroarchitecture.

The mechanisms regulating the highly ordered neuroarchitecture of the mammalian brain are largely unknown. The present study took advantage of hippocampal pyramidal-like neurons that arose from a common progenitor cell in cell culture (sister neurons) to ascertain the contribution of intrinsic factors to both the generation and degeneration of neuroarchitecture. Sister neurons were similar in overall cell form and dendritic numbers and lengths. Control non-sister neurons that grew in contact did not generate similar morphologies, indicating that the similarity of sister cells did not result from influences of the local microenvironment or cell interactions. These results suggest that intrinsic factors related to mitotic history play a role in the generation of neuroarchitecture. Since particular groups of hippocampal neurons are sensitive to glutamate neurotoxicity in situ and are vulnerable in neurodegenerative disorders, it was of interest to test glutamate sensitivity in the neuronal population and in mitotic sister neurons. A subpopulation of pyramidal neurons was sensitive to glutamate neurotoxicity. A striking finding was that sister neurons were invariably either both sensitive or both resistant to glutamate, while non-sister neurons often showed different responses to glutamate. Pharmacological studies indicated that glutamate neurotoxicity was mediated by kainate/quisqualate type receptors by a mechanism involving calcium influx through membrane channels. Fura-2 measurements of intracellular calcium revealed that sister neurons had similar rest levels of calcium and, strikingly, glutamate caused a dramatic increase in intracellular calcium levels only in neurons which subsequently degenerated. Apparently, intrinsic differences in sensitivity to glutamate lie at a point prior to calcium entry, probably at the level of glutamate receptors. Taken together, these results indicate that the mitotic history of a neuron can determine its presence and potential for connectivity as well as its susceptibility to neurodegeneration.