The new dysmorphology: application of insights from basic developmental biology to the understanding of human birth defects.

Information obtained from studies of developmental and cellular processes in lower organisms is beginning to make significant contributions to the understanding of the pathogenesis of human birth defects, and it is now becoming possible to treat birth defects as inborn errors of development. Mutations in genes for transcription factors, receptors, cell adhesion molecules, intercellular junctions, molecules involved in signal transduction, growth factors, structural proteins, enzymes, and transporters have been identified in genetically caused human malformations and dysplasias. The identification of these mutations and the analysis of their developmental effects have been greatly facilitated by the existence of natural or engineered models in the mouse and even of related mutations in Drosophila, and in some instances a remarkable conservation of function in development has been observed, even between widely separated species.

Caesarean Birth vs. Vaginal Delivery: Effects upon Maternal Satisfaction, Maternal Confidence and Maternal Perception of the Newborn Behaviour

In order to test the hypothesis that caesarean birth has negative consequences upon newly mothers’ satisfaction and perceptions, women delivering by caesarean birth (WCB) were compared with women delivering by vaginal birth (WVB). Subjects: 180 newly mothers; 93 WCB and 87 WVB. Instruments: A Socio-Demographic Questionnaire developed for this research, the Childbirth Perceptions Questionnaire and the Mother and Baby Scales. Results: WCB had significantly lower scores in perceptions of baby as alert/responsive and nearly significant lower scores for baby as alert during feeds. WVB showed a significantly higher level of satisfaction with delivery and conduct during labour, as also had significantly lower scores for perceptions of baby as irritable during feeds and for lack of confidence in feeds. After controlling for the kind of anesthesia received in labour, three conclusions must be taken into account: 1) between WCB with regional anaesthesia and WCB with general anaesthesia there is only one significant difference, with the former having higher scores for perception of baby as alert during feeds; 2) between WVB with regional anaesthesia and WVB with no anaesthesia there are only two significant differences, with the former having higher scores for lack of confidence in feeding and having lower scores for global confidence; 3) between WCB with regional anaesthesia and WVB with regional anaesthesia four significant differences emerge, with the former having a lower level of satisfaction with delivery and conduct in labour and having lower scores for perception of baby as alert responsive, and also having higher scores of perception of baby as irritable in feeds and higher scores for lack of confidence in feeding. Data seem compatible with the hypothesis that caesarean birth has some negative consequences upon mothers’ satisfaction and perceptions and, for this reason, psychological surveys should constitute a routine procedure in maternity hospitals, especially when newly mothers pertain to families affected by risks of psychological or social nature.

The Fall of the East German Birth Rate After Unification: Crisis or Means of Adaptation? CES Germany & Europe Working Papers, No. 05.6, 26 June 1995

Since the fall of the Wall, Eastern Germans have drastically changed their demographic behavior. Marriages and births have dropped to an unprecedented low level. Our paper tracks birth rates of the East German population, past, present, and future. We propose a simulation model of future cohort fertility. The hypotheses we develop build on the historical record of reproductive behavior in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) since 1960 and on an analysis of the pattern of change between 1990 and 1994. The particular emphasis lies in the assumption that East German couples will rapidly westernize their family size by trying to reach completed fertility levels of the corresponding West German cohort. This implies that the resulting adaptation process includes the postunification crisis as a logical first step.

Birth and mortality statistics of the Virgin Islands of the United States. 1901-1919.

On t.-p., seal of Department of the navy, Bureau of medicine & surgery.

Delayed birth registration practices : vital registration areas of the United States.

Item 508.

A topographical and historical description of the country of Southampton : containing an account of its towns, seats, antiquities, churches, public edifices, scenery, and residences of the nobility, gentry, &c. : accompanied with biographical notices of eminent and learned men to whom this county has given birth /

Includes bibliographical references.

Augustan art; an exhibition commemorating the bimillennium of the birth of Augustus, New York, January 4, 1939, through February 19.

"This handbook of the exhibition has been written by Gisela M.A. Richter ... except the chapter on Minor arts and painting, of which Christine Alexander ... is the writer."--Pref.

Scientific manpower from abroad; United States scientists and engineers of foreign birth and training

Includes bibliography.

The birth of the Bill of rights, 1776-1791.

Mode of access: Internet.

Robert E. Lee, centennial celebration of his birth held under the auspices of the University of South Carolina on the nineteenth day of January 1907.

"Address, 'Lee, the college president, by Dr. Edward S. Joynes, formerly of General Lee's faculty": p. 19-36.

The birth of Yugoslavia,

"Portions of this book which deal with Yugoslav-Albanian affairs have appeared in the Fortnightly review and, expanded from there, in a volume entitled A difficult frontier.

The facts of life: from birth to death

Mode of access: Internet.

A memorial service for the four hundredth anniversary of the birth of the Swiss reformer, Ulric Zwingli.

Mode of access: Internet.