Season of Birth in the Population of Norway, with Particular Reference to the September Birth Maximum

1977 ◽  
Vol 131 (4) ◽  
pp. 339-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ørnulv ØDegård
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Brain Damage ◽  
Social Factors ◽  
Fundamental Difference ◽  
Season Of Birth ◽  
Biological Origin ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Birth Peak ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Number Of Births

The monthly number of births in Norway fluctuates between a maximum in January–May and a minimum in October–December. This cyclic seasonality is assumed to be of biological origin, but indirectly it is influenced by social factors and consequently tends to vary a great deal. There is a secondary birth maximum in September, corresponding to a peak of conceptions during the traditional festivities around Christmas and New Year. It is shown that this maximum is much less variable within the country studied, though it probably varies from one country to another in relation to the impact of the mid-winter traditions.The January–May birth maximum is known to be higher in schizophrenia than in the general population, while no such difference is observed in Norway for the September birth peak. It is felt that there is a fundamental difference between the two birth maxima and a corresponding difference between schizophrenic patients and the general population. Minimal paranatal brain damage of seasonal origin is suggested as an explanation.

Mental Disorder and Season of Birth: Comparison of Psychoses with Neurosis

1969 ◽  
Vol 115 (522) ◽  
pp. 533-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. H. Hare ◽  
J. S. Price
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Birth Rate ◽  
Season Of Birth ◽  
Significant Excess ◽  
Seasonal Influence ◽  
Manic Depressive ◽  
Single Exception ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
One Year ◽  
Depressive Patients

Barry and Barry (1961, 1964) have reviewed the evidence for an association between season of birth and the major psychoses. Their figures show that, with a single exception, every study has found an excess (though not always a significant excess) of schizophrenic and manic-depressive patients born between January and April, and a deficit born between May and August, compared with the control populations. The single exception was their own study (1964) on schizophrenic patients in private mental hospitals, a finding which led them to conclude either that the private class of patient is protected from some adverse seasonal influence or that schizophrenic patients come chiefly from a subgroup of the population which has a comparatively high birth rate during the first four months of the year. Norris and Chowning (1962) drew attention to the fact that the seasonal distribution of births in a general population may vary appreciably from year to year in a particular country and from place to place within that country in any one year, and suggested that such variations make difficult any comparison between births of patients and of a large general population taken over a number of years, the procedure which had hitherto been adopted.

Season of Birth Among the Sibs of Schizophrenics

1978 ◽  
Vol 133 (4) ◽  
pp. 358-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol Buck ◽  
Helen Simpson
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Season Of Birth ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients

SummaryThe season of birth distribution of 1,039 sibs of Canadian schizophrenic patients was compared with that of births in the Canadian general population over the same time period. The excess of winter births observed among the schizophrenics was not found among their sibs.

Association between posttraumatic stress and acceptance of social changes: Findings from a general population study and proposal of a new concept

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evaldas Kazlauskas ◽  
Paulina Zelviene
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
General Population ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Social Factors ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Social Changes ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
General Population Study ◽  
The Impact

Background: There is a growing understanding of the importance of the social factors of posttraumatic stress disorder. Aims: This study expands research on association between posttraumatic stress and social factors by introducing the measure of the acceptance of social changes and evaluating possible links between posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and acceptance of social changes. Methods: A general population sample ( n = 778) aged from 18 to 89 years ( M = 40.2) from Lithuania participated in our study, of whom 68% reported exposure to traumatic events. Posttraumatic stress reactions were measured with the Impact of Event Scale – Revised (IES-R), and acceptance of social changes was measured with the Acceptance of Social Changes Instrument (SOCHI) developed by the authors of this study. Results: About 8% of the participants had a potential posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis. Acceptance of social changes was negatively associated with posttraumatic stress. PTSD was related to lower acceptance of social changes ( d = .61). Structural equation model (SEM) revealed the mediating role of PTSD for acceptance of social changes following trauma exposure. Conclusion: Findings of our study indicate that the acceptance of social changes might be an important psychosocial factor of PTSD.

Minimal brain damage and seasonality of birth in schizophrenic disorders

1992 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
V di Michele ◽  
S de Cataldo ◽  
A Rossi ◽  
M Casacchia
Keyword(s):  
Brain Damage ◽  
Season Of Birth ◽  
Neurological Soft Signs ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Seasonality Of Birth

SummaryA minimal brain damage examination was carried out in 73 schizophrenic patients divided into three groups according to their season of birth. Results showed no statistically significant difference among groups in the prevalence of neurological soft signs.

Comparing the Impact of Religious Discourse on HIV/AIDS in Islam and Christianity in Africa

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sloane Speakman
Keyword(s):  
Social Factors ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Hiv Prevalence ◽  
Religious Discourse ◽  
Prevalence Rates ◽  
The Social ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Islam And Christianity ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact

In examining the strikingly high prevalence rates of HIV in many parts of Africa, reaching as high as 5% in some areas, how does the discourse promoted by the predominant religions across the continent, Islam and Christianity, affect the outlook of their followers on the epidemic? This question becomes even more intriguing after discovering the dramatic difference in rate of HIV prevalence between Muslims and Christians in Africa, confirmed by studies that have found a negative relationship to exist between HIV prevalence and being Muslim in Africa, even in Sub-Saharan African nations. Why does this gap in prevalence rates exist? Does Islam advocate participating in less risky behavior more so than Christianity? By comparing the social construction, epidemiological understanding and public responses among Muslim populations in Africa with Christian ones, it becomes apparent that many similarities exist between the two regarding discourse and that, rather than religious discourse itself, other social factors, such as circumcision practices, contribute more to the disparity in HIV prevalence than originally thought.

Exogenous Neonatal Erythropoietin Mitigates Brain Damage After a Combination of Prenatal Hypoxic-Ischemia and Lipopolysaccharide Inflammation in Rats

2008 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. A353
Author(s):  
Shenandoah Robinson ◽  
Qing Li
Keyword(s):  
Brain Damage ◽  
Intracellular Signaling ◽  
System Development ◽  
Intrauterine Infection ◽  
Artery Occlusion ◽  
Nervous System Development ◽  
Human Infants ◽  
Hypoxic Ischemia ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
The Impact

Introduction Many infants born very preterm who suffer brain damage most likely experienced a combined insult from intrauterine infection and placental insufficiency. Damage is thought to be synergistic rather than additive but the mechanisms of combined injury remain elusive. A combination of lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation and hypoxia-ischemia has been used in rats to model the dual insult that occurs in human infants prenatally. Erythropoietin, a pleiotrophic cytokine that is essential for central nervous system development, ameliorates brain injury after isolated hypoxic-ischemic or inflammatory insults through different intracellular signaling pathways. We hypothesized that exogenous neonatal EPO administration would lessen the damage of a combined prenatal insult in rats. Methods On embryonic Day 18 fetal rats experienced 60 minutes of transient uterine artery occlusion with or without intracervical LPS administration with sham controls receiving surgery but no occlusion and saline for LPS. Survival was recorded and histological biochemical and functional assays were performed. Means were compared with ANOVA with Tukey HSD post hoc analysis. Results After a combined insult of HI and 0.15-mg/kg LPS on E18 the survival of pups by postnatal Day 1 (P1) decreased from 77% with HI alone to 22% for LPS plus HI. When exogenous systemic EPO was administered P1–P3 survival to P9 improved markedly from 40% (2 of 5) for saline-treated insult pups to 100% (6 of 6) for EPO-treated. Initial histological analyses show EPO decreases the number of brain activated caspase 3 and activated microglia by P9. Additional analyses will be presented. Conclusion As at least 60% of placentas from infants born pre-term show evidence of chorioamnionitis, assessment of the impact of exogenous EPO on a model of a combination injury is essential prior to proceeding with a clinical trial. Initial results indicate neonatal exogenous EPO mitigates damage from the combined insult.

The Impact of Plant Protection Systems on the Productivity of Soybean Varieties under Irrigated Conditions

2019 ◽  
pp. 109-117
Keyword(s):  
Plant Protection ◽  
Crop Protection ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Protection System ◽  
Average Weight ◽  
The South ◽  
Biological Origin ◽  
Chemical Protection ◽  
Protection Systems ◽  
The Impact

The application of preparations of biological origin in the protection system of soybean grown under conditions of intensive irrigated crop rotations conforms to the modern tendencies of science and production development. The use of them contributes to solving ecological, production and social-economic problems. The study presents the three-year research on the efficiency of systems protecting soybean from pests and diseases based on biological and chemical preparations. The research was conducted in typical soil and climate conditions of the South of Ukraine. Zonal agricultural methods and generally accepted research methodology were used. The purpose of the research was to create a soybean protection system based on preparations of biological origin, ensuring high productivity of high-quality products reducing a negative impact of the crop production on the environment. The study emphasizes that, under irrigated conditions of the South of Ukraine, the application of biological preparations has a positive impact on the indexes of growth, development and formation of the elements of soybean yield structure. There was an increase in the crop biological weight by 13.8 % and 22.1 % and the number of seeds per plant rose by 11.6 and 14.6 % as a consequence of eliminating harmful organisms with the plant protection systems. The larger ground mass was formed by medium-ripe varieties Danai and Svyatogor, on which the increase from protection measures was higher. Weight 1000 pcs. the seeds did not undergo significant changes. It is established that the larger seeds were formed by Danaya and Svyatogor varieties, in which the average weight is 1000 pcs. seeds were 142 and 136 g, respectively, while in the variety Diona this figure was 133 g. There was an increase in the height of the lowest pod when the total plant height rose. For medium-ripe varieties was characterized by a higher attachment of beans, where the highest values of this indicator acquired in the variety Svyatogor. The medium maturing soybean variety Danaia formed the maximum yield of 3.23 and 3.35 t/ha respectively, when biological and chemical protection systems were applied. The research establishes that the application of the bio-fungicide Psevdobakterin 2 (2.0 l/ha) in the crop protection system at the beginning of soybean flowering and the bio-fungicide Baktofit (2.5 l/ha) with the bio-insecticide Lepidotsid-BTU (10.0 l/ha) at the beginning of pod formation does not reduce the productivity of the soybean varieties under study considerably, when compared to the application of chemical preparations. The research determines that the soybean protection system under study ensures a decrease in the coefficient of soybean water uptake by 7.2-13.0 %, increasing the total water intake to an inconsiderable degree. Biologization of the soybean crop protection system leads to a reduction in production costs compared to the chemical protection system. Taking into account the needs for the collection of additional products, costs increase by an average of 1 thousand UAH/ha, while for chemical protection systems by 1.8 thousand UAH/ha. At the same time, the cost is reduced by 220-360 UAH/t and the profitability of growing crops is increased by 3.8-7.8 %. There has been a reduction in the burden of pesticides on the environment and the production of cleaner products. This indicates the prospect of using the biofungicides Pseudobacterin 2 and Bactophyte and the bioinsecticide Lepidocid-BTU on soybeans to protect plants from pests.

Psychological Impacts of COVID-19 During the First Nationwide Lockdown in Vietnam: Web-Based, Cross-Sectional Survey Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khanh Ngoc Cong Duong ◽  
Tien Nguyen Le Bao ◽  
Phuong Thi Lan Nguyen ◽  
Thanh Vo Van ◽  
Toi Phung Lam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
General Population ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND The first nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic was implemented in Vietnam from April 1 to 15, 2020. Nevertheless, there has been limited information on the impact of COVID-19 on the psychological health of the public. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of psychological issues and identify the factors associated with the psychological impact of COVID-19 during the first nationwide lockdown among the general population in Vietnam. METHODS We employed a cross-sectional study design with convenience sampling. A self-administered, online survey was used to collect data and assess psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and stress of participants from April 10 to 15, 2020. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) were utilized to assess psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and stress of participants during social distancing due to COVID-19. Associations across factors were explored using regression analysis. RESULTS A total of 1385 respondents completed the survey. Of this, 35.9% (n=497) experienced psychological distress, as well as depression (n=325, 23.5%), anxiety (n=195, 14.1%), and stress (n=309, 22.3%). Respondents who evaluated their physical health as average had a higher IES-R score (beta coefficient [B]=9.16, 95% CI 6.43 to 11.89), as well as higher depression (B=5.85, 95% CI 4.49 to 7.21), anxiety (B=3.64, 95% CI 2.64 to 4.63), and stress (B=5.19, 95% CI 3.83 to 6.56) scores for DASS-21 than those who rated their health as good or very good. Those who self-reported their health as bad or very bad experienced more severe depression (B=9.57, 95% CI 4.54 to 14.59), anxiety (B=7.24, 95% CI 3.55 to 10.9), and stress (B=10.60, 95% CI 5.56 to 15.65). Unemployment was more likely to be associated with depression (B=3.34, 95% CI 1.68 to 5.01) and stress (B=2.34, 95% CI 0.84 to 3.85). Regarding worries about COVID-19, more than half (n=755, 54.5%) expressed concern for their children aged <18 years, which increased their IES-R score (B=7.81, 95% CI 4.98 to 10.64) and DASS-21 stress score (B=1.75, 95% CI 0.27 to 3.24). The majority of respondents (n=1335, 96.4%) were confident about their doctor’s expertise in terms of COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment, which was positively associated with less distress caused by the outbreak (B=–7.84, 95% CI –14.58 to –1.11). CONCLUSIONS The findings highlight the effect of COVID-19 on mental health during the nationwide lockdown among the general population in Vietnam. The study provides useful evidence for policy decision makers to develop and implement interventions to mitigate these impacts. CLINICALTRIAL

scholarly journals Determinants of participation and quality of life of young adults with cerebral palsy: longitudinal approach and comparison with the general population – SPARCLE 3 study protocol

BMC Neurology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Arnaud ◽  
Carine Duffaut ◽  
Jérôme Fauconnier ◽  
Silke Schmidt ◽  
Kate Himmelmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Cerebral Palsy ◽  
Young People ◽  
General Population ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Effective inclusion in society for young people with disabilities is increasingly seen as generating opportunities for self-development, and improving well-being. However, significant barriers remain in the vast majority of activities meaningful for young adults. Research argues that various personal (disabilities, health) and environmental (access to the resources needed, accessible environment, discrimination, lack of personal economic independence) factors contribute to limited participation. However, previous studies conducted in young people with cerebral palsy (CP) mainly investigated the transition period to adulthood, and did not fully consider the whole range of impairment severity profiles or environmental barriers. In this study, we will use the follow-up of the SPARCLE cohort and a comparison group from the general population (1) to investigate the impact of the environment on participation and quality of life of young adults with CP, (2) to determine predictors of a successful young adulthood in educational, professional, health and social fields, (3) to compare quality of life and frequency of participation in social, work and recreational activities with the general population, (4) to document on participation and quality of life in those with severe disabilities. Methods The SPARCLE3 study has a combined longitudinal and cross-sectional design. Young adults with CP aged 22 to 27 years in 6 European regions previously enrolled in the SPARCLE cohort or newly recruited will be invited to self-complete a comprehensive set of questionnaires exploring participation (daily life and discretionary activities), health-related quality of life, body function, personal factors (health, personal resources), and contextual factors (availability of needed environmental items, family environment, services provision) during home visits supervised by trained researchers. Proxy-reports or adapted questionnaires will be used for those with the most severe impairments. The recruitment of a large group from the general population (online survey) will enable to identify life areas where the discrepancies between young people with CP and their able-bodied peers are the most significant. Discussion This study will help identify to what extent disabilities and barriers in environment negatively affect participation and quality of life, and how previous valued experiences during childhood or adolescence might modulate these effects.

A syndemics approach to exercise is medicine

2021 ◽  
pp. 136345932110214
Author(s):  
Caitlin Vitosky Clarke ◽  
Brynn C Adamson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Social Factors ◽  
Social Conditions ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Exercise Interventions ◽  
Narrow Scope ◽  
The Social ◽  
Exercise Promotion ◽  
The Impact

This paper offers new insights into the promotion of the Exercise is Medicine (EIM) framework for mental illness and chronic disease. Utilising the Syndemics Framework, which posits mental health conditions as corollaries of social conditions, we argue that medicalized exercise promotion paradigms both ignore the social conditions that can contribute to mental illness and can contribute to mental illness via discrimination and worsening self-concept based on disability. We first address the ways in which the current EIM framework may be too narrow in scope in considering the impact of social factors as determinants of health. We then consider how this narrow scope in combination with the emphasis on independence and individual prescriptions may serve to reinforce stigma and shame associated with both chronic disease and mental illness. We draw on examples from two distinct research projects, one on exercise interventions for depression and one on exercise interventions for multiple sclerosis (MS), in order to consider ways to improve the approach to exercise promotion for these and other, related populations.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document