Growth hormone-releasing activity of growth hormone-releasing peptide-1 (a synthetic heptapeptide) in children and adolescents.

The heptapeptide growth hormone-releasing peptide-1 (GHRP-1), one of a series of recently synthesized small growth hormone (GH)-releasing peptides, was administered as an iv bolus (1 microgram/kg) to 15 (six prepubertal, nine pubertal) short but healthy children and adolescents and to eight juvenile patients with pituitary insufficiency (four with isolated growth hormone deficiency, two with multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies, one with partial GH deficiency and one with GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) deficiency). Eleven out of 23 subjects also underwent an in GHRH (1-29) test (1 microgram/kg). All the healthy children responded with a progressive rise in plasma human GH (hGH) peaking at 15-30 min, with a significantly higher rise (p < 0.05) in the pubertal than prepubertal group. The hGH response to GHRH (1-29) in these children was similar or slightly higher. Six hypopituitary patients had no response to either GHRP-1 or GHRH; the patient with partial GH deficiency had a hGH peak of 6.5 micrograms/l (at 5 min) to GHRP-1 and 9.2 micrograms/l (at 15 min) to GHRH. One patient had no response of hGH to hypoglycemia, clonidine and GHRP-1, but the plasma hGH rose to 10 micrograms/l after GHRH. Following the GHRP-1 bolus there was a significant (p < 0.01) rise in plasma free thyroxine and a decrease of thyrotropin (p < 0.01), both in the limits of normal values. There was also a transitory rise of plasma cortisol (p < 0.05). Plasma prolactin, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone did not change.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Female employment, pregnancy leave, and reintegration into the work force]. / Frauenarbeit, Karenzurlaub und berufliche Wiedereingliederung.

This article summarizes a project conducted between 1981 and 1985, in which "the research was aimed at a comprehensive description of maternity protection legislation in Austria and its effects on women's status within the family and on the labour market." It includes a historical analysis of maternity protection laws since the 1880s, an investigation into the theoretical approaches to women's work and maternity leave and the connection to women's participation in the labor market, a survey of women's employment since the 1960s, an analysis of statistical data on recipients of maternity leave payments in the 1980s, a study of the relationship between women's working careers and confinement patterns, and models and social policy reform proposals that would facilitate the employment of mothers (SUMMARY IN ENG)

Clinical data from a psychiatric service to a group of native people.

Clinical data are reported from a psychiatric service to Native Canadian patients, mainly Cree Indians. Eighteen out of 41 had a clinical diagnosis of depression, three of mania and only one of schizophrenia. Thirty-seven percent used alcohol to excess but alcoholism was rarely the primary diagnosis. Reasons are given for the belief that schizophrenia has been over-diagnosed in Native populations in the past. Seventy-eight percent spoke Cree/Inuit as their primary language. The patients usually held their parents in high regard despite often reporting that they were alcoholic. In reply to tentative enquiries into feelings about their Native identity, only 5% of the patients indicated a preference for another identity, but this figure is only considered to give a minimum estimate of the possible dissatisfaction with being Native in Canada today.