FPL 63012AR: a potent D1-receptor agonist.

1. FPL 63012AR is a D1-receptor agonist in the dog kidney, 10 times as potent as dopamine, reducing renal vascular resistance by 20% with an intra-arterial dose of 0.42 nmol kg-1. 2. No prejunctional inhibitory D2-receptor agonist activity was detected in either the isolated ear artery of the rabbit or in the conscious dog as D2-receptor-mediated emesis. 3. Unlike dopamine, FPL 63012AR had no significant agonist activity at alpha 1-, alpha 2-, beta 1- or beta 2-adrenoceptors. 4. FPL 63012AR is a potent inhibitor of [3H]-noradrenaline uptake (Uptake1) into brain synaptosomes, with an IC50 of 29.5 nM, i.e. 9.2 times more potent than dopamine. 5. The ability to block Uptake1, in the anaesthetised dog was confirmed by inhibition of the tyramine-induced pressor and inotropic responses. 6. Intravenous infusion of FPL 63012AR in anaesthetized and conscious dogs (0.3 to 3 nmol kg-1 min-1) reduced vascular resistance and increased blood flow to the kidney which was accompanied by hypotension and tachycardia. 7. It is concluded that FPL 63012AR is an example of a novel class of potent agonists at the D-receptor. Such compounds may have the potential for use clinically in improving renal perfusion and reducing afterload.

Medical problems in refugee children evacuated from South Vietnam.

One hundred and fourteen refugee children from South Vietnam showed similar disease prevalences to refugee children from Bangladesh. Common diseases were malnutrition, gastroenteritis, pneumonia and bronchitis, scabies and furunculosis. Seven children died, five from pneumonia complicated by malnutrition. Increased awareness of the high incidence of Pneumocystis pneumonia and more careful assessment of nutritional status may reduce mortality in future groups of refugee children evacuated to Australia.

Non-accidental childhood injury presenting at a hospital casualty department.

One hundred children who attended a Sydney Paediatric Casualty Department with injuries, burns or ingestions of harmful substances were divided into two groups. One group (30 children) consisted of cases which were considered to be those of child abuse or neglect (CAN). In the other group (70 children) there was no suspicion of child abuse or neglect. This was regarded as the "simple accident" (SA) group. The 100 families were visited at home and interviewed about their child's health, child rearing practices, parental expectations for the child, and socioeconomic status. Factors which had a significant association with suspected child abuse and neglect were obstetric complications, prolonged stay in hospital in the first two years of life, low maternal regard for the child, unwed mother of Australian nationality, maternal social isolation, and family disruption during the parents' own childhood. These risk factors may enable the earlier identification of abused children.