Study objective-The aim of the study was to examine the possible influence of social class on the prevalence of cerebral palsy.Design-The study was a retrospective population based survey of all cases of cerebral palsy.

No abstract

There were 46 974 births at the three largest Dublin maternity hospitals in the years 1980-1982. Data on numbers of spontaneous and elective births, birthweight and perinatal mortality were analysed by day of the week. Perinatal mortality rates were highest on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The rate on Sunday was close to average. The largest number of perinatal deaths per day occurred on Wednesdays and the smallest on Sundays. Significant variations in mortality rates and percentage low birthweight were found among the 19% of infants who were born electively, but not among those born after a spontaneous onset of labour. High-risk pregnancies, including many with intrauterine fetal death, were induced in large numbers from Tuesdays through Saturdays with a peak on Wednesdays. Low risk cases were induced mainly from Monday through Fridays with a peak on Fridays. The pattern of perinatal mortality through the week followed closely that of the risk status of pregnancies delivered electively. The results indicate that the pattern of perinatal mortality by day of the week of birth was determined by a highly organized weekly routine of selective elective delivery. MacFarlane (1978) reported that perinatal mortality rates were highest in England and Wales among infants born on Saturdays and Sundays in all 7 years between 1970 and 1976 inclusive. In 5 years Sunday had the highest rate, and in 1 9 7 s 1973 the highest weekday rate occurred on Monday. Fewest births occurred on Sunday, followed by Saturday and Monday, thus the highest

Anticardiolipin antibody (ACA) was present in the sera of 49% of 90 consecutive patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The ACA was absent in 30 control patients with osteoarthritis. C-reactive protein levels equal to or exceeding 7 mg/dl were found in 10 patients all of whom were ACA positive. ACA was present in a larger proportion of rheumatoid factor (RF) positive than of RF negative patients. Male sex and extra-articular manifestations of RA were both more common in ACA positive than ACA negative patients. In the ACA positive group the lupus anticoagulant and VDRL tests were negative. However, a small number of patients had evidence of vascular events.

Differences in birthweight distribution among babies born to Dublin residents during one year in seven maternity units were analysed. Large differences were found between the hospitals. The evidence indicated that most of the difference was attributable to the differing socioeconomic profile of the mothers in the hospitals. The socioeconomic gradients shown by the hospitals in the proportions of babies weighing < 2500 g, < 3000 g, and 3001-4499 g diverged with increasing socioeconomic disadvantage. Steepest gradients were found in hospitals where the socioeconomic disadvantage was greatest, and vice versa. The differences between the hospitals in the socioeconomic gradient of birthweight performance were tentatively ascribed to some sort of catchment area effect, which added to the disadvantage of the already most disadvantaged mothers. Differences in antenatal care and induction of labour between hospitals were not assessed but were thought unlikely to have made a major contribution to the differences in socioeconomic gradient.