Transition to secondary school. Psychological side-effects of external differentiation in school tracks

Der Beitrag befasst sich mit den psychischen Kosten der externen Leistungsdifferenzierung in unterschiedliche Schularten der Sekundarstufe. Schüler/innen von Gymnasien bewerteten die Veränderungen gegenüber der Grundschule weniger positiv und fühlten sich stärker durch Leistungsdruck belastet als die Schüler/innen von Real-, Gesamt- und Hauptschulen. Von Klasse 4 bis 6 zeigten die späteren Gymnasiast/inn/en in Bezug auf das Selbstkonzept der Begabung, den Selbstwert, die Misserfolgsattribution und die Leistungsangst eine positive und die späteren Hauptschüler/innen eine negative Entwicklung. Nach dem Schulwechsel glichen sich diese Werte und auch die Schulnoten an, was für den „Fischteich-Effekt“ spricht. (DIPF/Orig.)The study investigated the psychological side-effects on pupils resulting from external selection into different secondary school types in Germany. Pupils in Grammar Schools reported greater pressure to achieve and more stress than pupils in the other secondary school types. Between grades 4 to 6 (end of primary school) the future Grammar School pupils showed a positive development in the assessment of their own ability, self-esteem, attribution and fear of failure while at the same time future pupils of the vocational track (“Hauptschule”) showed an unfavorable development. After the transition to secondary schools marks and test scores of both groups converged as predicted by the “big-pond-little-fish-effect.” (DIPF/Orig.

Maternal serum interleukin-1β, -6 and -8 levels and potential determinants in pregnancy and peripartum

Aims: To measure maternal serum interleukins (IL) in pregnancy, delivery and early puerperium, and to identify their potential determinants. Methods: Prospective longitudinal measures of serum IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 in 38 healthy pregnant women at antenatal visits, through labor and delivery, with clinical correlates (infection, vaginal hemorrhage and anemia) recorded by questionnaire. Results: Pregnancy IL levels remained consistently low. IL-1β increased shortly before delivery, then returned to pregnant levels, except where blood loss exceeded 500 ml. IL-6 and IL-8 rose at labor onset and exceeded pregnancy levels through postpartum day three. Postpartum IL-6 was higher after non-elective cesarean section than after spontaneous delivery (P < 0.0001), and where blood loss exceeded 500 ml. IL-6 and IL-8 were higher with systemic infection during delivery (P < 0.0001) and on postpartum day one (P < 0.05); IL-8 was higher in anemia (delivery: P < 0.005; postpartum day 1: P < 0.05). Differences due to delivery mode and systemic infection remained significant after correction for other conditions. Conclusions: Labor-dependent inflammation increases all IL levels at delivery. Further studies with larger sample sizes are required to establish reference values differentiating physiology from pathology as an aid to peripartum managemen

Gestational Diabetes: Physical Activity Before Pregnancy and Its Influence on the Cardiovascular System

Objectives:Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common complication in pregnancy, affecting around 14% of all pregnancies each year. It will likely further increase, as obesity becomes more prevalent. The impact of GDM on cardiovascular changes in pregnant women and her child is still unclear. The aim of the study was to measure the effects of physical activity before pregnancy on the cardiovascular system in patients with GDM in pregnancy. Methods:Two hundred and six pregnant women were included in this observational study. All participants were recruited at the tertiary level teaching University Hospital "Klinikum rechts der Isar" between 28 and 32 weeks gestation. Questionnaires dealing with pre-pregnancy daily and physical activity (PA) were evaluated. The cardiovascular status of the mothers included measurements of the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries. PA level was performed with a standardized 6-min-walking-test. Results:Ninety-nine women with GDM with a mean age of 33.84 (+/- 4.7) years were examined. One hundred seven healthy pregnant women aged 32.6 (+/- 4.2) years served as controls. The mean weight in the study group was 73.0 (+/- 20.3) kg and 61.7 (+/- 9.5) kg in the control group. Based on the higher weight in the study group, the Body Mass Index (BMI) was also significantly higher than in the control group (26.3 +/- 7.1 vs. 21.6 +/- 3;p< 0.001). The frequency of PA was significantly higher in the control group (p< 0.001). The objective fitness level was worse in pregnant women with GDM compared to healthy controls (472 vs. 523 m,p< 0.001). PA before and during pregnancy was less performed in the study group (86 vs. 64.5%,p= 0.002;69 vs. 45.7%,p= 0.003). Women who were physically inactive before pregnancy had a 3-times higher risk to develop GDM compared to active women (OR = 2.67). The IMT was significantly thicker in the study group (0.48 +/- 0.042 mm vs. 0.45 +/- 0.042) mm;p= 0.006). Conclusion:Physical activity before pregnancy and a lower initial weight reduces the risk of developing GDM and cardiovascular risk factors in pregnancy. The development of prevention programs is certainly necessary

Treatment of depression: Are psychotropic drugs appropriately dosed in women and in the elderly? Dosages of psychotropic drugs by sex and age in routine clinical practice

BACKGROUND Several researchers have shown higher concentration-dose ratios of psychotropic drugs in women and the elderly. Therefore, lower dosages of psychotropic drugs may be recommended in women and the elderly. This study describes sex- and age-related dosage of psychotropic drugs prescribed to patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) in routine clinical practice. METHOD Influence of sex and age on dosages are analysed for the 10 most commonly prescribed drugs in our dataset consisting of 32,082 inpatients with MDD. Data stems from the European drug safety program "Arzneimittelsicherheit in der Psychiatrie". The observed sex and age differences in prescriptions are compared to differences described in literature on age- and gender-related pharmacokinetics. RESULTS Among patients over 65 years, a statistically significant decrease in dosages with increasing age (between 0.65% and 2.83% for each increasing year of age) was observed, except for zopiclone. However, only slight or no influence of sex-related adjustment of dosage in prescriptions was found. CONCLUSION Age appears to influence adjustment of dosage in most psychotropic drugs, but to a lower extent than data on age-related pharmacokinetics suggests. Although literature also suggests that lower dosages of psychotropic drugs may be appropriate for females, this study found women are usually prescribed the same dosage as men

Efficacy against nematode and cestode infections and safety of a novel topical fipronil, (S)-methoprene, eprinomectin and praziquantel combination product in domestic cats under field conditions in Europe

AbstractA novel topical combination product (BROADLINE®, Merial) composed of fipronil, (S)-methoprene, eprinomectin and praziquantel was evaluated for safety and efficacy against nematode and cestode infections in domestic cats. The study comprised a multi-centre, positive control, blinded, field study, using a randomized block design based on order of presentation for allocation. In total 196 client-owned cats, confirmed as positive for naturally acquired infections of nematodes and/or cestodes by pre-treatment faecal examination, were studied in seven countries in Europe. Pre-treatment faecal examination revealed the presence of Toxocara, hookworm, Capillaria and/or spirurid nematode infections in 129, 73, 33 or 1 cat(s), respectively; infections with taeniid and Dipylidium cestodes were demonstrated in 39 and 17 cats, respectively. Cats were allocated randomly to one of two treatments in a ratio of 2, topical fipronil (8.3%, w/v), (S)-methoprene (10%, w/v), eprinomectin (0.4%, w/v) and praziquantel (8.3%, w/v) (BROADLINE®, Merial; 130 cats); and 1, topical PROFENDER® Spot-On (Bayer; 66 cats) and treated once on Day 0. For evaluation of efficacy, two faecal samples were collected, one prior to treatment (Day −4±4 days) and one at the end of the study (Day 14±5 days). These were examined for fecal forms of nematode and cestode parasites. For evaluation of safety, cats were examined by a veterinarian before treatment and at the end of the study, and cat owners recorded the health status of their cats daily until the end of the study.For cats treated with Broadline®, the efficacy was >99.9%, 100%, and 99.6% for Toxocara, hookworms, and Capillaria, respectively; and the efficacy was >99.9%, >99.9%, and 98.5%, respectively, for the cats treated with Profender® (p<0.001 for all nematodes and both treatments). Efficacy was 100% for both cestodes for both treatments (p<0.001).No treatment related adverse experiences were observed throughout the study. For both treatments, every cat that completed the study was given a safety score of ‘excellent’ for both local and systemic evaluations. The topical combination product of fipronil, (S)-methoprene, eprinomectin and praziquantel was shown to have an excellent safety profile and demonstrated high levels of efficacy when administered once as topical solution to cats infected with nematodes and cestodes under field conditions

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Gadobutrol in Renally Impaired Patients: Results of the GRIP Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the potential risk of gadobutrol-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with moderate to severe renal impairment for the development of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective, international, multicenter, open-label study in 55 centers. Patients with moderate to severe renal impairment scheduled for any gadobutrol-enhanced MRI were included. All patients received a single intravenous bolus injection of gadobutrol at a dose of 0.1 mmol/kg body weight. The primary target variable was the number of patients who develop NSF within a 2-year follow-up period. RESULTS: A total of 908 patients were enrolled, including 586 with moderate and 284 with severe renal impairment who are at highest risk for developing NSF. The mean time since renal disease diagnosis was 1.83 and 5.49 years in the moderate and severe renal impairment cohort, respectively. Overall, 184 patients (20.3%) underwent further contrast-enhanced MRI with other gadolinium-based contrast agents within the 2-year follow-up. No patient developed symptoms conclusive of NSF. CONCLUSIONS: No safety concerns with gadobutrol in patients with moderate to severe renal impairment were identified. There were no NSF cases