[Mitigated presentation of the neuroleptic malignant syndrome]. / Gemitigeerd beeld van het maligne antipsychoticasyndroom.

In clinical practice it can be difficult to distinguish between catatonia and the neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). A female patient with an intellectual disability was treated in hospital with the help of risperidon because of conduct disorders. A few months later readmission followed with an NMS, which was initially interpreted as catatonia because of its mitigated nature, and its appearance several days after the cessation of the antipsychotic medication. On the basis of this case description, we discuss the clinical picture of the nms and its overlap with catatonia.

Limonoids from Swietenia macrophylla and S. aubrevilleana.

An investigation of the seeds of Swietenia macrophylla and S. aubrevilleana (Meliaceae) is reported. Three new compounds, augustineolide (1) and 3beta,6-dihydroxydihydrocarapin (2) from S. macrophylla and 6-acetoxyhumilinolide C (3) from S. aubrevilleana were isolated and characterized along with fifteen known compounds. Four of the compounds were subjected to an antifeedant bioassay on the final instar larvae of Spodoptera frugiperda. The antifeedant activity was comparable to that of bicyclononanolides previously tested.

Mother-to-child transmission of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) in Jamaica: association with antibodies to envelope glycoprotein (gp46) epitopes.

To study mother-to-child transmission of HTLV-I in Jamaica, we screened antenatal patients in Kingston, Jamaica, from 1983 to 1985. Of 2,329 women, 81 (3.5%) were HTLV-I seropositive. Two to three years later, 36 seropositive mothers were recontacted, and blood was drawn from them and their children. All sera were tested for HTLV-I antibodies, and mother's sera were additionally tested for HTLV-I whole-virus antibody titer, syncytium-inhibition neutralizing antibody titer, and titers to six synthetic peptides from the HTLV-I envelope glycoprotein gp46. Seventeen of 74 (23%) [95% confidence interval (CI) 15-34%] children were seropositive. HTLV-I transmission was associated with breast-feeding duration > 6 months [relative risk (RR) 3.2; CI 0.4-22.1], maternal age > 30 years (RR 2.8; CI 1.0-7.8), and higher maternal whole-virus antibody titer (RR 3.3; CI 1.3-8.5). After controlling for higher whole-virus antibody titer, transmission remained associated with higher titer of neutralizing antibody and higher titer of antibody to the peptide sp4a1, corresponding to amino acids 196-209 of the gp46 envelope glycoprotein. We conclude that mother-to-child transmission of HTLV-I in Jamaica is associated with longer duration of breast-feeding, older age, and higher HTLV-I antibody titer, in particular to a certain immunogenic portion of the gp46 envelope glycoprotein.

Durability of passive measles antibody in Jamaican children.

Measles antibody titres were determined by haemagglutination inhibition and by neutralization in 221 sets of serum collected from delivering mothers, umbilical cords, and infants when about six months of age. Radio-immunoassay was also used to measure antibody in 120 sera. Total IgG concentration was determined in the infant sera. All mothers had measles antibody and the mean titre was high. At the time of birth, measles antibody had been further concentrated in the infant. Nevertheless, many children lost protective titres before six months of age. The rate of loss was correlated with the infant's total serum IgG so that high IgG levels at six months correlated with rapid loss of measles-specific antibody. It is suggested that in homes where sanitation is poor, antibody is made to many agents at an early age. To maintain physiological balance, homeostatic mechanisms then increase the rate of catabolism of all IgG, including that passively acquired. In keeping with its stage of sanitary development, vaccination in Jamaica can profitably be given earlier than in the United States, but it must be later than in many African countries.

Familial aggregation of blood pressure, weight and height among sibling pairs at school entry.

Aggregation of blood pressure among sibling pairs of the same age and sex was studied. The children were of a restricted age group, 6-7 year olds, who entered school between 1976 and 1980 in a Western Neighborhood of Jerusalem. The mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 98.8 mmHg (SD 10.2), for the first sib of the pair and 97.3 mmHg (SD 9.7), for the second sib of the pair and the mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was 63.0 mmHg (SD 9.6) and 60.1 mmHg (SD 9.2), respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficient for SBP was 0.18 (p less than 0.05) and for DBP 0.12 (p less than 0.05), for weight 0.46 (p = 0.001) and for height 0.46 (p = 0.001). Pearson's and intraclass correlations and regression coefficients were calculated. Comparison with other studies was made. The degree of the correlation was found to differ among the various studies. The lowest correlations were those of the present study. The factors affecting the strength of the correlations are discussed.

Prevention of pneumococcal infection in children with homozygous sickle cell disease.

The efficacy of prophylactic penicillin and of 14 valent pneumococcal vaccine in preventing pneumococcal infection in homozygous sickle cell (SS) disease was investigated in 242 children aged 6 months to 3 years at entry. In the first five years of the trial there were 11 pneumococcal infections in the pneumococcal vaccine treated group, 10 by serotypes present in the vaccine. Type 23 accounted for five of these, and there was evidence of higher infection rates in those given the vaccine before age 1. No pneumococcal isolations occurred in the penicillin group while receiving penicillin, although four isolations occurred within one year of stopping penicillin. Probably the most effective prophylaxis against pneumococcal infection requires penicillin beyond the age of 3. The age at which pneumococcal vaccine should be given must await further data on antibody response and clinical efficacy in these patients.

Safety and immunogenicity of a new Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine in infants under one year of age.

64 healthy infants 2-3 months old, were randomly assigned to one of three vaccination groups which received either diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) vaccine, Haemophilus influenzae type b capsular polysaccharide polyribosyl-ribitol phosphate (PRP) vaccine, or PRP + P (with pertussis adjuvant) vaccine in three doses at intervals of 2 months. Local and systemic reactions occurred most frequently after DPT vaccination and least frequently for PRP alone. Data for 60 infants from whom complete sera sets were available indicated that 70% of the infants who received three doses of PRP + P showed 2-fold or greater increases in titres of antibody to PRP with final values above the level assumed to give protection against invasive H. influenzae type b disease (greater than or equal to 0.15 microgram/ml). In contrast, less than 10% of the infants who received PRP vaccine alone showed 2-fold or greater increases.

Comparison of low and high sodium and potassium content in oral rehydration solutions.

PIP: Oral rehydration solutions (ORS) with low and high sodium or potassium contents were compared in 84 infants aged 3-15 months with dehydration caused by acute watery diarrhea. In randomized, double-blind trials, the ORS contained (in mmol/liter): glucose, 110; HCO3, 30; K, 10; Na, 60 (low) or 90 (high), or, in a second trial, the high Na formula plus 20 vs. 35 mEq/liter of K and extra oral water, given in the ratio of 2 bottles (240 ml) of ORS followed by 1 bottle of plain water (the 2:1 regimen). The balance technique was used to measure net absorption. Of the 84 infants, only 1 required intravenous therapy. During the first 6 hours of therapy, mean sodium absorption was significantly lower in the low Na group, and hyponatremia was more common. A few high Na group infants receiving no extra oral water had transient mild asymptomatic hypernatremia. Mean K absorption from 0-6 hours was significantly higher in the high K group, and they had no hypokalemia after oral rehydration; in contrast, 33% of the low K infants had hypokalemia. High Na ORS in the 2:1 regimen caused no electrolyte abnormalites, yielded better sodium absorption, and was usable in all age groups and for all diarrheas. High K ORS corrected K deficits better than the low K ORS. An increase in potassium concentration above that in the currently recommended ORS formula should be considered.^ieng

Early deaths in Jamaican children with sickle cell disease.

In Jamaican children with homozygous sickle cell (SS) disease diagnosed at birth two-year survival was 87%, compared with 95% in children with sickle cell-haemoglobin C (CS) disease, and 99% in normal controls. Death among those with SS disease occurred most often between the ages of 6 and 12 months. Principal causes were acute splenic sequestration and pneumococcal infection. Neonatal diagnosis of haemoglobinopathies must be followed by close observation if mortality is to be reduced by early diagnosis and treatment of these complications.