Intellectual levels of school children severely malnourished during the first two years of life

Intellectual functioning at school age was studied in boys who had been severely malnourished during the first 2 years of life (index cases). IQ in these index cases was compared with that of male siblings closest in age and unrelated class mates or neighbors matched for sex and age (comparisons). Full scale, verbal and performance IQs were lowest for the index cases. All IQ measures were significantly lower in the index cases than in the comparisons. full scale and verbal IQ were significantly lower in the index cases than in the siblings. Siblings differed from comparison children only in performance IQ. No association was found between the intellectual level of index cases and the ages at which they had been hospitalized for the treatment of severe malnutrition during the first 2 years of life. (AU)

School evaluation of children who were severely malnourished in infancy - abstract

Seventy-four Jamaican boys who were hospitalized with severe malnutrition during the first two years of life were studied between 6-10 years of age. For each of the index cases two comparison boys were selected, a classmate nearest in age to the index case and the sib was obtained from his teacher dealing with school performance and conduct. Teachers were told it was a study of child health and development. The index children were statistically significantly more backward than their classmate comparisons on overall rating of child's school work, grading on classroom subjects, frequency that child was considered generally backward in school work or mentally retarded, frequency of special problems in class work and memory. No significant differences were found between the sibs of the index cases and their classmate comparisons. The following difference were found in conduct. Index children compared with their classmates were less co-operative with the teacher, less able in getting along with other children, more frequently noted as having behaviour problems and "talks and makes suggestions less often" These differences were all statistically significant but no significant differences were found between sibs and their classmate comparisons. an analysis of the problems of the index child showed the most prevalent difficulty to be shyness and withdrawal rather than hyperactivity (AU)

Report on the Conference on the assessment of tests of behavior from studies of nutrition in the Western hemisphere

Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Medical Research, 10. Pan American Health Organization; 14-18 Jun. 1971

In vitro Fertilization: the Jamacian experience

In June 2000, twenty-eight infertile couples were treated by vitro fertilization and embryo transfer at our initial assisted reproduction programme carried out in conjunction with Midland Fertility Services, Aldridge, Birmingham, England. A pre-requisite for treatment was that on day 3 of the menstrual cycle the levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and oestradiol (E2) should be <10iu/l and <100pg/ml respectively in the female partner. The ages of the women ranged from 26 to 42 years with a mean age of 35.5 years. Down regulation was carried out by using buserelin acetate 0.5 ug subcutaneously from day 21 of the cycle for 21 days. This process was completed when the ovaries and pituitary gland were quiescent and the endometrial thickness <4 mm in diameter. On completion of down regulation the gonadotrophin hormone, pergonal (dosage of 150-450 units) was used for ovarian hyperstimulation. A total of 294 oocytes (mean of 10.5, range 2-45) were retrieved of which 138 were fertilized (mean of 4.9, range of 0-28). Twenty-four patients each received a mean of two embryos. Five patients (20.8 percent) had positive pregnancy tests. Three patients (0.1 percent) developed ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), one had the severe, and two, the mild form of the syndrome. All three cases were treated successfully. The success at the initial IFV controlled ovarian hyperstimulation augers well for the future of infertile couples seeking treatment at the Fertility Management Unit, The University of the West Indies, Jamaica (AU)