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A group of 46 bipolar probands and their first degree relatives were studied. A high rate of affective disorder (19.6 per cent) was found, including both unipolar (13.2 percent) and bipolar (6.4 per cent) types, with females predominating (3 : 1). The presence of four fatherson pairs suffering from affective disorder made the hypothesis of X-linked dominance untenable. Results compatible with polygenic inheritance were found, using both Slater's and Falconer's methods. There was no evidence for assortative mating or for increased total number of females (both well and ill) among first degree relatives. The probands and affectively ill first degree relatives who have died show an alarmingly high rate of suicide (46 per cent). Other forms of mental disorder, including alcoholism, were no more common than in the rest of the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

194 cord blood samples were studied in both a fluorimetric assay and an electrophoresis method for Gal-1-PUT. From this the expected live birth incidence was 1:37000. The New Zealand neonatal screening programme has detected 5 cases in 223326 live births--an apparent incidence of 1:44600. The Beutler testing of dried blood spots collected on filter paper cards is a satisfactory method of detecting galactosaemia in the neonate.

The inheritance of A-V conduction time in Polynesians has been examined, using ECGs taken from the population of the Tokelau Islands. As has been demonstrated in other racial groups, A-V conduction time was influenced by sex, age, and heart rate. Complex segregation analysis provides evidence for a significant polygenic influence on A-V conduction, but no evidence for a major gene. Familial correlations and commingling analysis are in agreement with this conclusion. The heritability of A-V conduction time was 0.46. The hypothesis of Møller & Heiberg (1980a) that a major gene could be influencing A-V conduction, is not supported by these data.

Results from a dynamic computer model of rubella vaccination programmes indicate that consideration should be given to vaccinating all one-year-old girls and boys and revaccinating all girls at about 11 years of age, as well as continuing with the programme for susceptible women in the childbearing age group. With vaccine-induced immunity decaying at about 1% annually, the vaccination of 80 to 95% of all one-year-olds, 95% of 11 year old girls, and 5% of women aged 15 to 33 annually is expected to reduce congenital rubella syndrome deformities to less than 5% of the 1980 incidence by 1994, and to negligible levels thereafter. In comparison, continuation of the present scheme may reduce deformities to only 69% of 1980 levels by 1994 with a slow decline to 25% in 2010. (The 1980 levels used were computer generated to eliminate short-term fluctuations, and do not apply to actual figures from that year.) For convenience and better compliance, measles vaccine and the initial rubella vaccine may be given in combined form at 15 months without altering the effect of either. The rate of decay of immunity after vaccination is critically important in congenital rubella syndrome prediction, so that further accurate monitoring of immune status and congenital rubella incidence is essential.

A survey was conducted of professional New Zealand 2, 4, 5-T sprayers and a comparison group of agricultural contractors with a total of 989 respondents. The numbers of births, congenital defects, and miscarriages were identified from 1969 to 1980 by a postal questionnaire. Each pregnancy outcome was classified according to whether or not the father sprayed 2,4,5-T during the year of the pregnancy outcome, or the previous year. The relative risk estimates of 1.19 for congenital defects, and 0.89 for miscarriages, were not statistically significant. These results are reassuring as far as male professional 2,4,5-T sprayers are concerned. In addition, the extent of exposure of their wives from helping with spray activities, and from washing contaminated clothes, has not had a detectable reproductive effect.

Although the aetiology of anencephalus is unknown, changes in prevalence over time are thought to provide strong evidence of the effect of environmental factors in causation. In a number of countries the rate of this neural tube defect is declining. The rate in New Zealand has also fallen significantly (p less than 0.001) from 1.17/1000 total births in 1968 to 0.39/1000 in 1983, with the greatest decrease occurring in the female rate (approximately 4.16% per year). The aetiological implications of these findings and their consequences for programmes of prenatal diagnostic testing and maternal screening are discussed.

The incidence of facial clefts among live births in the Auckland urban area has been studied for the years 1960-1976. After correction for ascertainment, the live-born incidence of non-syndromal cleft palate among Maoris was 1.867/1000, and among Europeans it was 0.643/1000. The incidences for non-syndromal cleft lip, with or without cleft palate, were 0.397/1000 for Maoris, and 1.195/1000 for Europeans. The sex ratio for cleft palate showed the usual female preponderance, although there was evidence of heterogeneity between the races. Cleft lip occurred more commonly among males. Birth rank, maternal age, and paternal age had no apparent effect on the incidences, and there were no significant secular or seasonal changes in incidence.