Second Month Of Life Research Articles

Social development of stumptail macaques (Macaca arctoides): Synchrony of changes in mother-infant interactions and individual behaviors during the first 60 days of life

Several categories of social and individual behaviors were recorded during the first 60 days of life for seven stumptail macaques. Mother-infant interactions tended to decelerate in synchrony with increases in infant nonsocial behaviors, such as object manipulation. Several aspects of stumptail social growth during the first two months were similar to those of rhesus and other macaques. Approaching-leaving, which has been used previously as an index of waning of the mother-infant bond, was due more to infants than to mothers during the second month of life

Decreased sialyltransferase activity in the hearts of cardiomyopathic hamsters

Sialyltransferase activity was compared in homogenates and microsomal fractions from hearts of cardiomyopathic Syrian hamsters and age-matched normal controls. Decreased enzymatic activity was found in cardiomyopathic hamsters, with most of the decline occurring between the first and second month of life; it was associated with a parallel fall in mcirosomal sialic acid content. Since membrane-bound sialic acid may control Ca 2+ exchangeability in cardiac muscle (and, indirectly, tension development), these results provide a biochemical basis for the development of cardiac failure in the Syrian hamster.

Early and Late Results of Closure of Ventricular Septal Defect in Infancy

Fifty infants ranging in age from 13 days to 18 months (mean age 6 months) and weighing from 1.7 to 8.2 kg (mean weight 4.5 kg) underwent patch closure of a ventricular septal defect (VSD) with use of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Seventeen infants were under 3 months of age. The principal indication for operation was intractable chronic congestive heart failure. All infants were below the third percentile for weight preoperatively. Three patients (6%) died postoperatively within the second month of life. There was no late mortality. Seven infants (14%) had seizures; these were associated with a low output state in 2 infants, with hypoxic episodes in 4 infants, and occurred postoperatively in 1 infant. Postoperatively, 8 (17%) of the surviving infants developed right bundle-branch block and left anterior hemiblock, and 16 (32%) developed right bundle-branch block alone. One year postoperatively, catheterization studies in 24 children revealed normal pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance in all; there were no significant residual ventricular septal defects. Because of these results we continue to be enthusiastic about primary closure of VSD irrespective of age or weight.

Midbrain raphe lesion in the newborn rat. I. Neurophysiological aspects of sleep

Electrolytic lesions of the anterior raphe nuclei in the 4-6 day puppy rat were performed stereotaxically. The subsequent development of the sleep parameters in these animals was followed up to the second month of life. No difference could be found between the lesioned and control rats, neither in the qualitative nor in the quantitative characteristics of slow wave sleep (SWS) and paradoxical sleep (PS). However, when performing identical lesions on 3-5 week-old animals, a relative insomnia was obtained, more severe for PS than for SWS. The correlation of the neurophysiological data with the biochemical analysis of monoamines in the forebrain revealed that the serotoninergic (5-HT) system of the anterior raphe in the early lesioned animals was almost totally destroyed, with no recovery up to 9 months of age. Our results indicate that the anterior raphe nuclei are not functional during the first week of age, in regard to sleep control, whereas they do play an important role in sleep regulation after 3 weeks of age. Furthermore, some compensatory mechanisms which develop in the early lesioned animal as a consequence of the lesion, could explain the exhibition of normal sleep ontogenesis. The possible nature of these mechanisms is discussed in light of the monoaminergic theory of sleep control.

Clinical,angiocardiographic, and pathologic findings in 100 patients

Salient clinical, hemodynamic, angiocardiographic, and pathologic findings are presented in 100 patients with truncus arteriosus communis, 79 of whom were studied at autopsy. In this study of typical truncus, all had a ventricular septal defect (type A). Truncus with a partially formed aorticopulmonary septum (type A1) was much the commonest form (50%). Cases with no remnant of aorticopulmonary septum (type A2) were second in frequency (21%). The distinction between types A1 and A2 could not be made with certainty in 9%, because these types merge into one another. Cases with absence of either pulmonary artery branch (type A3) were the least frequent form (8%). Truncus with interruption, atresia, preductal coarctation, or severe hypoplasia of the aortic arch (type A4) constituted 12%. The diagnosis of truncus is primarily angiocardiographic. The plane of the truncal valve in the lateral projection is distinctive. It tilts anteriorly, facing the patient's toes, which can be of assistance in differential diagnosis. The angiocardiographic features of type A4, although unfamiliar, are pathognomonic. Since the median age at death was only 5 weeks, and in view of the difficulties associated with pulmonary artery banding, our goal should be the surgical correction of truncus during the first and second months of life.

Object Orientedness: The Person or the Thing

Infant observation indicated that there is an individual variation in development characterized by orientedness either toward the animate or toward the inanimate world. These variants, which are manifest as early as the second month of life, influence the surrounds, the continuing developmental processes, and certain aspects of character formation. Each variation in orientedness evokes a preferred way of processing percepts and situations.

Reversal of deprivation effects in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat

Monocular eyelid suture in kittens arrests cell growth in the laminae of the lateral geniculate nucleus innervated by the deprived retina. If the closed lids are reopened and the other eye closed during a specific period in the second month of life, the effect can be reversed. The laminae connected to the newly deprived eye then contain smaller cells. Reopening together with enucleation of the opposite eye can also be used to reverse the effects of initial monocular lid suture, even outside the critical period when a second suture is ineffective.

Onset of palmar sweating in newborn infants.

In a study of ninety-one normal newborn infants it has been shown that, contrary to long-standing belief, it is usual to detect eccrine sweating over the palm towards the end of the first day of life. Sweat testing was performed without any form of stimulation, using a 5% solution of o-phthaldialdehyde in xylene. Solomon & Esterley (1970) mentioned that during the first 24–48 h of life, full-term infants usually do not sweat, although sweating begins on the face at about the third day. Referring to Beare & Rook (1968), they commented that palmar sweating begins later. In fact, Beare & Rook (1968), quoting Uchino (1939), stated that palmoplantar sweating may first be provoked by vigorous crying 2–3 months after birth. Although it may be true that loud crying does not commonly increase palmar sweat production until the second month of life or later, we were interested to see whether, in the normal infant, eccrine sweat is produced over the palms on the day of birth or a few days later.

Transient Wolff-Parkingon-White syndrome and neonatal reciprocating tachycardia.

A premature infant is reported with a transient Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) Syndrome, atrial reciprocating rhythm and atrial reciprocating tachycardia during the second month of life. The spontaneous onset and termination of numerous attacks of tachycardia were recorded and analyzed. Many electrocardiographic tracings suggested the presence of Wenckebach periodicity of the anomalous A-V pathway resulting in atrial reciprocal rhythm which from time to time initiated a reciprocating tachycardia. In some tracings atrial reciprocal rhythm was preceded by a wandering atrial pacemaker. The presented electrocardiographic tracings emphasize the significance of reciprocal rhythm in the genesis of paroxysmal tachycardia in infants with a transient WPW Syndrome. At the end of the second month of life the attacks of tachycardia stopped, and the electrocardiogram became normal and remained so during a total follow-up period of ten months.

Failure of chlorpromazine to protect rats against the effects of shock administration during the second month of life.

The administration of shock during 45–55 days after birth had a long lasting influence on the behavior of adult rats, as measured by three different tests. Shocked rats behaved more fearfully even 4 months after the infantile treatment. Chlorpromazine had no protective effect; on the contrary, it had by itself a deleterious influence on later behavior. These data suggest that the second month of life is a susceptible period, for inducing behavioral changes in adult life not only through aversive stimuli but also by the administration of pharmacological agents.

Adrenocortical function in foetal, neonatal and young pigs.

SUMMARY Absolute and relative adrenal weight, blood plasma concentrations of 17-hydroxycorticosteroids and their production in vitro on incubation of adrenal slices with corticotrophin (ACTH), were measured in foetal pigs, piglets and older pigs. These criteria all indicated that adrenocortical activity was highest on the day of birth. It developed intensely in about the last 10 days of intra-uterine life. After birth it decreased progressively with age, approaching the adult level after weaning in the second month of life. The adrenal cortex of pigs of all developmental stages investigated in this study was capable of responding markedly to stimulation with ACTH. No significant differences in adrenocortical activity were found between sexes up to 90 days of age.

Vitamin E-dependent anemia in the premature infant. I. Effects of large doses of medicinal iron

Description of a hemolytic anemia associated with vitamin E deficiency in premature infants prompted study of the relationships of medicinal iron, vitamin E, and hematologic parameters during the early life of such infants. A total of 186 patients categorized according to birth weight and gestational age were placed in study groups: (1) no iron or vitamin E supplement, (2) oral vitamin E supplement, (3) oral iron supplement, and (4) iron and vitamin E supplements. Significantly lower mean hemoglobin and serum vitamin E concentrations, with higher reticulocyte count and hydrogen peroxide fragility, were found during the second month of life in infants with a gestational age less than 36 weeks who were not receiving vitamin E. Hemoglobin values were lowest and reticulocyte counts highest in vitamin E-deficient infants of low gestational age who received supplemental iron. These observations suggest that therapeutic doses of iron increase red cell hemolysis during a period of vitamin E deficiency. Description of a hemolytic anemia associated with vitamin E deficiency in premature infants prompted study of the relationships of medicinal iron, vitamin E, and hematologic parameters during the early life of such infants. A total of 186 patients categorized according to birth weight and gestational age were placed in study groups: (1) no iron or vitamin E supplement, (2) oral vitamin E supplement, (3) oral iron supplement, and (4) iron and vitamin E supplements. Significantly lower mean hemoglobin and serum vitamin E concentrations, with higher reticulocyte count and hydrogen peroxide fragility, were found during the second month of life in infants with a gestational age less than 36 weeks who were not receiving vitamin E. Hemoglobin values were lowest and reticulocyte counts highest in vitamin E-deficient infants of low gestational age who received supplemental iron. These observations suggest that therapeutic doses of iron increase red cell hemolysis during a period of vitamin E deficiency.

Normal values of the vertebral body and intervertebral disk index during growth.

Vertical and sagittal diameters from the twelfth thoracic to the third lumbar vertebral body of newborns, children and adolescents were measured on 187 lateral roentgenograms which had been interpreted as normal. An index between the vertical and sagittal diameter (Ivb = v/s) was formed and values with double standard deviations were calculated. The index is significantly higher in the second month of life in D 12 and L 2 than in newborns. After the eighteenth month the index decreases, is stable, and from 4-12 years afterwards rises once more. There exists a sex difference which becomes significant in D 12 and L 1 for 4-12 year old children and in pubertal children. Girls have a higher index than boys, which was explained by higher vertical diameters in girls older than 12 years or taller than 140 cm. and by higher sagittal diameters in boys.At the same time, disk spaces in the embryologically corresponding segment of the investigated vertebral bodies were measured. An index between the disk and the next...

IRON DEFICIENCY — A WIDESPREAD CAUSE OF ANAEMIA IN COASTAL AREAS OF NEW GUINEA

This investigation is concerned with a study of hæmoglobin values for New Guinea subjects residing in the coastal areas of the New Guinea Island region. A longitudinal hæmoglobin survey of ten years in the Kieta area of Bougainville Island revealed that 21·47% of the unselected village population examined were anæmic. The percentage of anæmic subjects and the mean hæmoglobin value during the ten-year period from 1955 to 1965 in this area have remained static, showing only a slight increase in the number of the affected subjects in the 1965 survey. The last survey included also a larger number of children aged under two years who had not been included in the 1955 and 1960 hæmoglobin surveys. Hæmoglobin estimations of cord blood samples at Rabaul showed that the mean value is significantly lower than that observed in the Australian population. Daily hæmoglobin estimations on newborn babies revealed that this also was significantly lower than in the Australian population for which the data were available from the literature. Further observations showed that, by the end of the second month of life, the New Guinean baby became anæmic and remained in this state up to the end of the second year. Results are also reported of investigations of mean hæmoglobin values of pregnant females, serum iron estimations on samples obtained from pregnant and lactating females, and estimations of serum iron and folic acid levels and total iron binding capacity of a small number of anæmic pregnant females. Liver storage iron estimations revealed that the New Guinean has one of the lowest liver storage iron concentrations amongst the world populations thus far investigated. The pathogenesis of iron deficiency in coastal New Guineans is discussed and a plea made for liberal and widespread oral iron therapy for the general village population.

Termination of night feeding in infancy

Summary The age when the first night feeding was eliminated in a series of 95 infants was unrelated to the type of milk, age at acceptance of solid foods, caloric intake, birth weight, weight increment, or position in the family. The achievement of an 8 hour interval between night feedings seems to be a developmental stage which is most likely to be reached early in the second month of life, but may vary from the newborn period to the age of 15 months. Infants who were early in terminating the first night feeding tended to be early in terminating the second night feeding.

Solitary Mast Cell Tumor

Cutaneous mastocytosis occurs in children in two forms: a solitary tumor and a disseminated eruption known as urticaria pigmentosa. The observation of a single lesion preceding a widespread eruption is an unusual occurrence. The development of the disease in a Negro is rare. A case of a Negro infant born with a single tumor, who developed disseminated urticaria pigmentosa in the second month of life is presented.

Edema and Hemolytic Anemia in Premature Infants

Abstract Widespread edema, anemia, reticulocytosis, thrombocytosis and vitamin E deficiency were noted in seven premature infants during the second month of life. Appropriate studies excluded the usual causes of these findings. The erythrocyte survival times, measured by means of DF32P and 51Cr, were strikingly short, confirming the hemolytic nature of the anemia. All infants had been fed commercial formulas with iron and a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acid, resulting in a low ratio of vitamin E to fatty acids. When vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol acetate), 75 to 100 IU daily, was given separately by mouth to five infants available for treatment and study, serum tocopherol level rose, reticulocyte count fell to normal and erythrocyte survival time lengthened; this was followed by correction of the anemia, clearing of the edema and subsidence of the thrombocytosis. Formulas having low ratios of vitamin E to polyunsaturated fatty acids and added iron supply, an inadequate amount of vitamin E to low-bir...

Stimuli Evoking Positive Emotions in Infants in the First Months of Life

The development of positive emotions in children is a significant objective of communist upbringing. This goal is particularly important in raising very young children, at the time when positive emotions are just being formed. Under favorable conditions of upbringing, such emotions first appear at the end of the first and the beginning of the second month of life. In the course of the second and third months, the corresponding expressive movements come to establish what is termed the animation [kompleks ozhivleniia]. (16) This reaction complex includes smiling, quick and animated generalized movements with repeated straightening and bending of hands and feet, rapid breathing, vocal reactions, eyeblink, etc. All of practical experience in child rearing shows that a timely appearance of these responses is of much significance to the neuro-mental and physical development of children. Therefore it is important to know what conditions are essential for early formation of this positive emotional compl...

GROWTH OF "WELL-BORN" AMERICAN INFANTS FED HUMAN AND COW'S MILK

Weight and length of 599 well-born, healthy infants were recorded from birth through six months of age. Two hundred ninety-three (293) of the infants were breast fed and 306 were artificially fed; 57 of the breast-fed boys and 32 of the breastfed girls were observed for one year. Variations in feeding patterns were recorded to evaluate the effects of such variations on growth. The consistency and predictability of growth in length of normal infants is emphasized. The aggregate growth curves of the total 599 infants are similar to the Iowa Growth norms of 1945. They differ in that, compared to the Iowa norms, the girls are slightly taller, and after the second month of life, the boys' weight gain is somewhat less. More worldwide effort to collect accurate weight and length values for healthy, well-born infants given optimum care is needed to establish normal growth standards for various ethnic groups living in different areas of the world.

INFANT FEEDING PRACTICES IN ISRAEL

Almost 100% of mothers in Israel, irrespective of their cultural background, start breast feeding their infants. This is in accordance with the accepted policy of the medical and nursing professions in Israel. Complete breast feeding is continued only for a relatively short period. At the end of the second month of life, half the infants already receive complementary food, and only 5% are exclusively breast-fed during their fifth month. Partial breast feeding is continued in 50% of the infants until the ninth month, and for a small fraction of the sample (mainly Sepharadim and Arabs) this continues until the middle of the second year of life. The complementary food contains all the essential nutrients for the healthy development of infants, although no quantitative measurements were made in this study. The intakes of protein supplement and vitamins A and D lag behind the recommended schedules, especially among the groups of oriental origin. There are no striking differences in the pattern of feeding and weaning in the various groups. Apparently the different patterns of feeding "imported" by immigrants from the various countries rapidly become integrated in Israel; there is an impression that a national pattern is evolving. The guidance given by the preventive services for mothers is particularly instrumental in this direction. This guidance is especially evident in the way complementary feeding is introduced and in the way the decision on weaning is made.