Lancet
-
Schizophrenia has been linked with childhood psychological abnormalities since it was first described, but studies of associations have not used population samples and so may be subject to bias. We have studied associations between adult-onset schizophrenia and childhood sociodemographic, neurodevelopmental, cognitive, and behavioural factors within a cohort of 5362 people born in the week March 3-9, 1946. Childhood data were gathered prospectively and case ascertainment was independent of routine follow-up of this cohort. 30 cases of schizophrenia arose between ages 16 and 43 years (cumulative risk 0.63% [95% CI 0.41-0.86%]). ⋯ A health visitor's rating of the mother as having below average mothering skills and understanding of her child at age 4 years was a predictor of schizophrenia in that child (odds ratio 5.8 [0.8-31.8], p = 0.02). Differences between children destined to develop schizophrenia as adults and the general population were found across a range of developmental domains. As with some other adult illnesses, the origins of schizophrenia may be found in early life.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Protective efficacy of oral whole-cell/recombinant-B-subunit cholera vaccine in Peruvian military recruits.
The cholera epidemic in South America has reinforced the need for safe and effective oral vaccines. In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled efficacy trial among 1563 Peruvian military recruits we have investigated the protective efficacy of an oral inactivated whole-cell/recombinant-B-subunit (WC/rBS) cholera vaccine. Participants were given two oral doses of cholera vaccine or Escherichia coli K12 placebo, with an interval of 7-14 days. 1426 (91%) subjects received the two prescribed doses and were followed up for a mean of 18 weeks (median 21 weeks). ⋯ All cholera cases were in people of blood group O, who made up 76% of the study population (p < 0.01). Two doses of WC/rBS vaccine, given 1 to 2 weeks apart, provide rapid, short-term protection against symptomatic cholera in adult South Americans, who are predominantly of blood group O. Long-term efficacy studies in Peruvian adults and children are under way.