Homeless families and their children's health problems. A Utah urban experience.

Descriptive information was obtained about homeless families in the Intermountain West and their children's health care needs were defined to help professionals develop programs tailored to meet the unique needs of this population. We collected data during the well-child visits of 306 children in 161 families living at the Travelers Aid Society family shelter. The results reveal 2 types of homeless families, episodic and long term. Each requires different levels of assistance. This study's profile of mobile, predominantly white, 2-parent families with few children (mean of 1.2) differs considerably from that of studies conducted on the East and West coasts. The families' nomadic life-style (73.1% came from 32 states other than Utah) present important public health issues, especially because of the recent resurgence of tuberculosis and declining levels of childhood immunizations. The children's health problems were similar to those reported nationally: delayed immunizations, dental decay, anemia, and impaired vision.

Intergenerational conflict: middle-aged women caring for demented older relatives.

This study examined the experiences of 181 middle-aged women who, while raising a family, were also primary care providers for an older demented relative. Results indicated that the caregiver burden depended on the context of the caregiving experience, particularly the relative's place of residence. Employment did not alter responsibilities but did affect coping strategies and perceived health of the caregiver.

Inhibited sexual desire in women.

A multifaceted study was conducted to identify differences in biopsychosocial characteristics between a clinical group of 59 married women who complained of inhibited sexual desire (ISD) and 31 married women who expressed normal sexual desire (non-ISD). Areas of examination included personality, endocrine, relationship, and sexual dimensions. Instruments of data collection included the MMPI, Dyadic Adjustment Scale, radioimmunoassay of testosterone and prolactin levels, and a questionnaire which focused on demographic, relationship, and sexual information. Statistical analyses indicated nonsignificant between-group differences on demographic characteristics, personality variables, and hormonal evaluation. Statistically significant differences were found between the two groups with regard to sexual history and several marital and sexual dimensions. The ISD group reported significantly greater dissatisfaction with these areas than the non-ISD group. Implications for clinical practice and research are discussed.

Psychological characteristics of women with inhibited sexual desire.

A multifaceted study was conducted to identify differences in biopsychosocial characteristics between a clinical group of 59 married women who complained of inhibited sexual desire (ISD) and 31 married women who expressed normal sexual desire. This report focuses on the findings obtained from the groups' personality profiles generated by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Statistical analyses indicated no significant differences between the ISD and non-ISD groups with regard to two of the three validity and 10 primary clinical scales of the MMPI. Both group profiles were classified as subclinical with no evidence of serious psychological disturbance. The implications for this nonsignificant association between intrapsychic symptomatology and ISD are discussed.

[Effect of arginine administration on disturbances of hepatic glutamine metabolism during acute ammonia intoxication in the rat]. / Effets de l'administration d'arginine sur les perturbations du métabolisme hépatique de la glutamine au cours de l'intoxication ammoniacale aiguë chez le rat.

The present study is concerned with the effects of L-arginine hydrochloride administration on the disturbances of liver glutamine metabolism following acute ammonia intoxication in the rat. Our results show that arginine administration does not suppress the decrease in the hepatic glutamine level and the marked activation of liver glutaminase I induced by ammonia. These alterations do not therefore appear to be related to the limitation of ammonia detoxication through the urea cycle.