Oxytocin receptors in dioestrous and anoestrous canine uteri.

The aim of the study was to localize oxytocin receptors (OTR) and measure mRNA expression of OTR in the canine uterus with and without the influence of progesterone. Uterine samples were taken from nine anoestrous and eight dioestrous bitches during ovariohysterectomy. Histological changes were evaluated in haematoxylin and eosin (HE)-stained samples. Purified polyclonal antibody for OTR was used in immunohistochemistry to localize receptors in uterine layers. Relative mRNA concentration of OTR was evaluated with real-time PCR from full-thickness uterine samples taken from the middle horn and the body. Myometrial smooth muscle cells, endometrial luminal epithelium (LE) and deep and superficial glandular epithelium were positively stained for oxytocin receptors in non-pregnant animals. No significant difference in staining intensity was detected between uterine middle horn and body. However, the staining intensity of LE was significantly higher in dioestrous than in anoestrous uteri (p < .05). Leucocytes and endothelium of blood vessels were also positively stained for OTR. Real-time PCR showed no significant differences in OTR mRNA expression between the middle horn and the body of the uterus, or between anoestrous and dioestrous uterus. No correlation was noted between OTR mRNA expression and blood progesterone concentration. In conclusion, despite the apparent inactivity, the uterus of the non-pregnant bitch expresses OTR. The distribution or relative expression of OTR does not differ between uterine horn and body in dioestrus or anoestrus except in LE. LE may have more oxytocin-dependent activity during dioestrus than anoestrus.

A polyorchid dog.

The case of a polyorchid Irish Setter is presented here. Castration and intra-abdominal testis removal were performed one year of age when one scrotal and one cryptorchid testis near the right inguinal canal were removed. Later it became apparent that there was still testosterone production. A third testis, abdominal cryptorchid, was found on the right side cranially and right to the bladder. The third testis had a strong cranial suspensory ligament and the tail of the epididymis was elongated. The ductus deferens did not enter the prostate but followed the gubernaculum to the inguinal canal near the stump of the previous operation on the caudal right testis. This suggests that two right cryptorchid testes had common ductus deferens.

Temporal changes in concentrations of serum amyloid-A and haptoglobin and their associations with weight gain in neonatal reindeer calves.

Age-related changes in serum concentrations of two acute phase proteins (APPs), haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid-A (SAA) were investigated in newborn reindeer calves. Repeated blood samples were obtained from 51 reindeer calves at ages 0-32 days (2-4 samples from each calf). An increase of SAA concentrations was observed during the first 2 weeks of life. However, by the end of the observation period, SAA concentrations had decreased to levels below those of the first week. Serum Hp concentrations increased throughout the observation period. SAA concentrations in the second week had a negative association with weight gain during the entire study period (4 months). These time-related changes in APP concentrations suggest that these proteins have a role in the defence and adaptation mechanisms of newborn reindeer calves. Possible reasons for these changes include the presence of APP mediators in the colostrum, exposure to environmental pathogens after birth and age-related changes in hepatic synthesis of APP.

Chronic administration of zopiclone and nitrazepam in the treatment of insomnia.

The hypnotic effects of 7.5 mg zopiclone, as well as its unwanted and residual effects, were compared with those of 5 mg nitrazepam in a double-blind, randomized, multicenter, parallel group study. After an initial, 7-day, placebo wash-out period, insomniac out-patients under the care of general practitioners received either 7.5 mg zopiclone or 5 mg nitrazepam for 6 weeks. Everyday, the patients filled in a diary (analogue scales for sleep parameters and condition during daytime); a sleep questionnaire was filled in at baseline and at the end of active treatment period; every 2 weeks, a somatic complaint check-list inventory and a mood rating scale were filled in and psychomotor tests performed; and at the end of the study, a global evaluation of efficacy and acceptability was given by the investigator. Clinical laboratory tests were performed before and after the active treatment period. From the diary, sleep onset latency, as well as sleep quality, were similarly improved by both drugs throughout the whole study. From the sleep questionnaire, all sleep parameters measured were improved at the end of the 6-week treatment period in both groups. No statistical differences in the various psychomotor tests were observed between the two treatment groups, and a significant improvement in the working ability of patients was noted with both drugs. Some significant differences were observed in the mood rating scale and the somatic complaint check list, probably related to differences in pharmacokinetics of the two drugs.

Family ward: a new therapeutic approach.

This article describes a new integrated child psychiatric family ward treatment model at the Tampere University Hospital. Theoretically, the treatment is based on an integration of systems and psychoanalytical theories as well as behavioral approach. A centerpiece of the model is a 3-week treatment period for the whole family at the family day ward. The work of the multidisciplinary team on the ward focuses on family relationships, on representational level, and on the interactional behavior of the family. Interaction and relationships are also used as tools, including a reflective working model and sharing concrete interaction with the family. So far, the family ward has offered 165 family treatment periods for 113 different families. Altogether in 63% of the total treatment periods one or both parents have had mental illness and in 15% of the total treatment periods there have been serious custody disputes with accusations of sexual abuse of the child. Helping these multi-problem families is a special challenge for our treatment model and at the moment we are developing new methods for assessment and support of parenthood.

Longitudinal study of maternal depressive symptoms and child well-being.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether prenatal, postnatal, and/or current maternal depressive symptoms are associated with low level of psychosocial functioning or high level of emotional/behavioral problems in school-age children. METHOD: As part of a prospective longitudinal study, maternal depressive symptoms were screened with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale prenatally, postnatally, and when the children were 8 to 9 years old. The original sample of 349 mothers was collected in 1989-1990 in Tampere, Finland. Of the 270 mother-child pairs at the latest stage of the study in 1997-1998, 188 mother-child pairs participated and 147 were included. The associations between maternal depressive symptoms at different points in time and the level of children's psychosocial functioning and problems reported on the Child Behavior Checklist and Teacher's Report Form were examined. RESULTS: Children's low social competence and low adaptive functioning were associated with concurrent maternal depressive symptoms. Maternal postnatal depressive symptoms predicted low social competence. The presence of prenatal depressive symptoms in the mother was a strong predictor of child's high externalizing and total problem levels (odds ratio 3.1, 95% confidence interval 1.1-8.9 and odds ratio 8.5, 95% confidence interval 2.7-26.5). Prenatal as well as recurrent maternal depressive symptoms were associated with the least favorable child outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal depressive symptomatology at any time, especially prenatally, is a risk factor for the child's well-being. This should be noted already in prenatal care. The timing and the recurrence of maternal depressive symptoms affect the outcome for the child.

Alexithymia in psychiatric consultation-liaison patients.

Alexithymic characteristics were assessed by the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), a self-report measure of alexithymia, in 230 consecutive outpatients referred to a psychiatric consultation-liaison service. The prevalence of alexithymia was 37.8% (50.5% in men and 28.2% in women). Alexithymia was significantly associated with the following variables: male gender, low socioeconomic status, the presence of psychiatric disorder, especially depression, with old age and with a high level of psychological distress. No significant association between alexithymia and the presence of somatic illness was found.

Association of thermal perception thresholds with cardiovascular autonomic function in diabetes.

In order to study the association between warm thermal-perception thresholds (WPT), cold thermal-perception thresholds (CPT) and cardiovascular autonomic function, we examined 91 otherwise healthy patients with diabetes mellitus (69 with type I and 22 with type II). The covariance analysis revealed that WPT was associated with the deep-breathing E/I ratio and the Valsalva ratio (p = 0.004 and p = 0.008, respectively) whereas CPT was associated with the Valsalva ratio and the postural blood pressure decrement (p = 0.008 and p = 0.004, respectively). These associations possibly reflect histological similarities between the parasympathetic nerves and those mediating warm sensation, and between the sympathetic nerves and those mediating cold sensation.

Alexithymia--state or trait? One-year follow-up study of general hospital psychiatric consultation out-patients.

We carried out a 1-year follow-up study on 54 out of 80 general hospital psychiatric consultation out-patients. Alexithymic features were measured by the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), and self-reported psychological distress with the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). Men were more alexithymic and distressed than women both at the baseline and at the follow-up evaluations. The degree of alexithymia in both genders remained consistent, whereas psychological distress decreased significantly in both genders during the follow-up period. Therefore we conclude that alexithymia presents a constant trait in psychiatric consultation out-patients.

Bullying and psychiatric symptoms among elementary school-age children.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess bullying and psychological disturbance among 5,813 elementary school-aged children. METHOD: The data consisted of information given by the parents, teachers, and children themselves (Rutter A2 Scale, Rutter B2 Scale and Children's Depression Inventory). Children involved in bullying (as bullies, bully-victims, and victims) were compared to other children. RESULTS: More boys than girls were found to be involved in bullying. Bully-victims scored highest in externalizing behaviour and hyperactivity, and they themselves reported feelings of ineffectiveness and interpersonal problems. Victims scored highest in internalizing behavior and also psychosomatic symptoms, and they themselves reported anhedonia. Some gender differences in psychiatric symptomatology were also found. Children involved in bullying, especially children who both bullied and were bullied themselves, were psychologically disturbed. More children involved in bullying than others were referred for psychiatric consultation. The probability of being referred was highest among bully-victims (6.5 fold for males and 9.9 for females when compared to children not involved in bullying). CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that bullying is a common phenomenon among children who are psychologically disturbed. Bullying also elevates the probability of being referred for psychiatric consultation.

Childhood bullying behaviors at age eight and substance use at age 18 among males. A nationwide prospective study.

Childhood bullying behaviors (bullying and victimization) were studied as risk factors for substance use among Finnish males. The study design was a nationwide prospective general population study, where information was collected in 1989 and 1999. Bullying behaviors and childhood psychopathology at age eight were collected from teachers, parents and boys themselves. At age 18, self-reports of frequent drunkenness (once a week or more often), daily heavy smoking (10 cigarettes or more per day), and illicit drug use during the past six months were obtained from 78% of the boys attending the study at age eight (n=2946). Being frequently victimized at age eight predicted daily heavy smoking, and this was evident even after adjusting for childhood family background, psychopathology at age eight and at age 18, and other forms of substance use. In multivariate analysis, bullying others frequently predicted illicit drug use, while being a victim of bullying associated with a lower occurrence of illicit drug use. Bullying behaviors had no association with frequent drunkenness independent of other factors. Accordingly, being a victim of bullying predisposes in particular to subsequent smoking. Bullying others in childhood can be regarded as an early indicator to illicit drug use later in life. The screening and intervention possibilities in order to recognize the risk group for later health compromising behaviors are emphasized.

Do mental health problems in childhood predict chronic physical conditions among males in early adulthood? Evidence from a community-based prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have documented associations between mental and physical health problems in cross-sectional studies, yet little is known about these relationships over time or the specificity of these associations. The aim of the current study was to examine the relationship between mental health problems in childhood at age 8 years and physical disorders in adulthood at ages 18-23 years. METHOD: Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between childhood mental health problems, reported by child, parent and teacher, and physical disorders diagnosed by a physician in early adulthood. RESULTS: Significant linkages emerged between childhood mental health problems and obesity, atopic eczema, epilepsy and asthma in early adulthood. Specifically, conduct problems in childhood were associated with a significantly increased likelihood of obesity and atopic eczema; emotional problems were associated with an increased likelihood of epilepsy and asthma; and depression symptoms at age 8 were associated with an increased risk of asthma in early adulthood. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide the first evidence of an association between mental health problems during childhood and increased risk of specific physical health problems, mainly asthma and obesity, during early adulthood, in a representative sample of males over time. These data suggest that behavioral and emotional problems in childhood may signal vulnerability to chronic physical health problems during early adulthood.

Visits by the family to the neonatal intensive care unit.

AIM: To investigate visiting frequency of family members, including mother, father, siblings and grandparents and associated factors during hospitalisation of preterm infants. METHODS: The study included all premature (< 37 weeks) infants born in Tampere University Hospital in 1997-1998 admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with a birth weight less than 2500 g (n = 210). Maternal and infant data and visits made by family members were compiled from the infants' hospital records. RESULTS: The length of the infants' hospitalisation varied from 2 to 133 days (median 26, quartiles 19, 45). Mothers visited the NICU on average 6.7 days/week; fathers 4.8 days/week. Mothers visited less frequently the lower the gestational age and the longer the distance between home and hospital. Fathers visited less frequently if distance from home to hospital was longer and if the infant had siblings. A total of 92% of siblings and 80% of grandparents visited the hospital. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed active visiting by the parents in the NICU. A lower gestational age was associated with lower visiting frequency for mothers. In contrast, more practical limitations such as geographical distance and other children to be taken care of had greater effect on the visiting frequency for fathers.

The impact of mother's depression on her nursing experiences and attitudes during breastfeeding.

Mother's depression during postpartum is rather common and it has an impact on the mother-child relationship. As breast-feeding is an important situation for the early mother-child interaction, the impact of mother's depression on her breast-feeding and nursing attitudes and experiences was decided to be studied. In this pilot study 119 healthy primipara mothers filled in Beck's Depression Inventory, breast-feeding and childrearing attitude scales and other questionnaires. The prevalence of depression was 8%. The depressed mothers had more difficulties during breast-feeding than other mothers. The attitudes of the depressed mothers were more positive during pregnancy, but more negative during breast-feeding than those of the non-depressed mothers. The results might be clinically meaningful, although we need more detailed information about the correlations between depression and breast-feeding experiences.