Transcutaneous bilirubin measurements obtained with the BiliChek instrument were accurate for measuring bilirubin levels in term jaundiced infants not receiving phototherapy and in those receiving phototherapy if an area of skin was patched. The instrument was not as sensitive in the small sample of preterm infants, and a larger study is required before recommending the use of this instrument in this population.

Bloom K., Goldbloom, R. B., Robinson, S. C. and Stevens, F. E. (Departments of Psychology, Pediatrics and Obstetrics, Grace Maternity Hospital, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada). Breast vs. formula feeding. II. Acta Paed Scand, Suppl. 300:9, 1982.—Study 1. A prospective, longitudinal study of 249 breast feeding mothers revealed that continuance of breast feeding was positively associated with breast feeding preparation (prenatal breast feeding class p=0.04, preparation of breast p=0.02) paternal preference (p=0.02), early contact (immediate post‐delivery contact, early initiation of breast feeding and daily rooming‐in while in hospital, p=0.002), maternal education (p=0.001). and paternal occupational status (p=0.005). Duration of breast feeding was longer for multiparas (p=0.009). Mothers who stopped breast feeding in the first 6 weeks breast fed for only 18.2 days. Early termination was related (p=0.01) to reported infant behaviours (crying, waking) which were assumed to indicate hunger. Study 2. An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effect of social support on increasing the duration of breast feeding. Three groups (N=50 each, primiparas) were randomly selected: Formula, Breast Control, Breast Experimental. During weeks 1‐4, Breast Experimental mothers were telephoned weekly by a nurse to provide informed support for breast feeding and related infant care. Social support for these primiparous mothers increased their duration of breast feeding (p=0.05).

Bloom, K., Goldbloom, R. B., & Stevens, F. E. (Departments of Psychology, Pediatrics & Obstetrics, Dalhousie University, Grace Maternity Hospital, Halifax, Nova Scotia). Breast vs. formula feeding: I. mother's choice. Acta Paed Scand, Suppl. 300:3, 1982.—539 mothers of healthy newborn infants were surveyed to determine demographic and behavioral characteristics associated with the decision to feed by breast or formula. Compared with formula‐feeding mothers, breast feeders were older and of higher socioeconomic status. The two groups did not differ significantly with respect to parity, prior abortions, prepregnancy employment, obstetrical condition or behavior at first contact with infants. Infants in the two groups showed no significant differences in gestational age, birth weight or Apgar scores. Compared with formula‐feeding mothers, breast feeders showed significantly greater tendencies to use advice or literature in choosing breast feeding; they make their feeding choice before pregnancy, and do not consider an alternative feeding method. They more frequently attend pre‐natal classes, have a higher degree of coincidence between their choice (to breast feed) and preferences of their husbands and physicians. These differences were independent of age and of socioeconomic status. Breast feeders’mothers and female relatives were more likely to have breast fed their own infants, but these characteristics were not independent of socioeconomic status and age. These data help in understanding social and cultural aspects of the choice of method for infant feeding, and may be useful in designing programs to increase the prevalence of breast‐feeding.

We report a patient with neonatal severe primary hyperparathyroidism whose parathyroid cells were markedly refractory to regulation by calcium in vitro. He showed life-threatening hypercalcemia (4.8-5.2 mM vs. normal of 2.1-2.7 mM). A sibling had been treated previously for an identical disorder. At age 6.5 months, four hyperplastic parathyroid glands were removed, and portions of one were immediately grafted into the forearm. Serum calcium again became elevated post-operatively and then fall to the normal range after excision of grafted parathyroid tissue. Dispersed parathyroid cells from the first operation showed no suppression of PTH secretion by 2 mM calcium; however, there was normal maximal suppressibility at 4 mM calcium with half-maximal suppression at 2.53 mM (the calcium set point). This contrasts with much lower set points previously established for suppressible cells from normal (1.02 +/- 0.10 mM, mean +/- 1 SD), from primary hyperplastic (1.10 +/- 0.14 mM), or from adenomatous (1.26 +/- 0.14 mM) parathyroid glands. The strikingly high set point may not be unique because a small number of glands previously classified as nonsuppressible (by the criterion of failing to suppress below 50% maximum at calcium concentration up to 2-3 mM) might have shown similarly high set points if tested at higher calcium concentrations. We conclude that an unusual abnormality of PTH secretory control accounts, in large part, for both the marked hypercalcemia and for its refractoriness to surgical treatment in this patient.