Developmental psychobiology: a look back on 30 years.

Developmental Psychobiology publishes papers from the disciplines of psychology, biology, neuroscience, and medicine that contribute to an understanding of behavioral development. Research focuses on development in the embryo/fetus, neonate, juvenile, and adult as well as multidisciplinary research that relates behavioral development to anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, genetics, and evolution. The journal represents a broad phylogenetic perspective on behavioral development by including studies on invertebrates, fish, birds, non-human primates, and humans. This paper presents an analysis of empirical articles published since its first issue in 1968. This analysis covers number of authors, sex of first author; evidence of grant support, and participation of investigators from outside the US. Additionally, the analysis includes the topic of research, level of analysis, and subject of experimental study. Over its 32-year history, Developmental Psychobiology has published papers on a wide range of topics representing a broad phylogenetic perspective with a continued focus on behavioral investigation. This analysis revealed trends such as an increase in the number of studies at a physiology/anatomy level, an increase in studies with human subjects, and increases in contributions from investigators outside of the United States as well as women.

Congenital complete heart block. Radiographic findings in 13 patients without associated defects.

The radiographic findings in 13 patients with congenital complete heart block without associated anomalies are presented to illustrate characteristic features. Findings related to the increased stroke volume in these patients include: (a) simulated shunt vasculature; (b) pulmonary venous pypertension with redistribution of blood flow to the upper lungs, and, in one patient, peribronchial edema; (c) cardiomegaly with right ventricular, pulmonary artery, left atrial, left ventricular, and aortic enlargement; and (d) variation in cardiac size on serial examinations. Less commonly seen were findings related to atrioventricular dissociation with transitory marked pulmonary venous hypertension present in one patient when left atrial contraction occurred during ventricular systole when the mitral valve was closed.

Correlates of outcomes in patients with congestive heart failure.

This study relates components of care, including patient characteristics, degree of initial morbidity, and process of care, to patient outcomes. One hundred twenty-two adults who were being treated for congestive heart failure by a sample of physicians in Fort Wayne, Indiana were studied. Data were obtained on the patients' personal characteristics; degree of illness at the beginning of the six-month study period; process measures (physician awareness, communication, medication use, therapeutic management, patient satisfaction, and utilization of services); and level of activity and symptoms at the end of the study period. These components were quantified and subjected to correlation and regression analysis. The largest and most significant predictors of outcome status were measures of initial disease status. Process variables were strongly and significantly associated with outcome only in a group of patients who were minimally symptomatic initially. The lack of an overall association between process of medical care and patient outcome cannot be generalized beyond these patients with congestive heart failure. A similar approach of dissection, quantification, and analysis of components of care, however, can be used to explore a possible relationship in other conditions and care delivery settings.