Neonatal hypoglycaemia in infants of diabetic mothers given sulphonylurea drugs in pregnancy

Three infants whose diabetic mothers were given chlorpropamide and one infant whose diabetic mother was given acetohexamide up to the time of delivery were studied in the neonatal period because each became severely hypoglycaemic. The sulphonylurea drugs given to the mother crossed the placenta, and fetal plasma concentrations were in the therapeutic range for adults with diabetes mellitus. Each baby had severe hyperinsulinaemia resulting in profound hypoglycaemia. These acutely ill infants needed vigorous and prolonged treatment to correct the hypoglycaemia. In two infants exchange transfusion was performed to remove the drug. These sulphonylurea drugs should not be used to control diabetes mellitus in pregnancy.

Longitudinal analysis of intellectual and educational achievement change in culturally deprived, emotionally disturbed boys

The research was conceived as a longitudinal study to determine the influence of residential treatment on changes in intellectual and school functioning in a group of 85 disturbed and deprived boys. While IQ and achievement progress was significant for the group, analyses by diagnostic category and initial achievement level indicated differential trends. Additional analyses suggested that the experience of deprivation produces a greater negative effect on school achievement than intelligence. In terms of predicting progress in school, initial Full Scale IQ was found to be the best aid to prognosis. No relationship was observed between initial achievement scores and eventual scholastic gain.

Enhanced distress vocalization through selective reinforcement

Eighteen Peking ducklings were imprinted and tested for their tendency to emit distress calls during the presentation and withdrawal of the imprinted stimulus. A subsequent arrangement in which each distress vocalization led to a 5-second presentation of the imprinted stimulus resulted in an enhanced tendency to emit distress calls.