1144
jections of 1-0 ml. of the stock solution. Local irritation, however, prevented us from continuing. 1 ml. of the stock solution (1 mg. copper) was therefore diluted with 9 ml. of physiological saline and injected once weekly intravenously over 3-5 minutes. These injections had no side-effects. Serum-copper levels could be maintained between 85 and 123 (Lg. per 100 ml. (mean 97) and caeruloplasmin levels were between 21 and 39 mg. per 100 ml. (mean 30). After 9 months, 24-hour urinary excretion of copper was 29-95 (Lg. on three days preceding the weekly copper injection, and 120 and 270 jg. in 24 hours thereafter. Liver-function tests were normal, and no Kayser-Fleischer rings were seen on slit-lamp examination.
(father’s occupation on birth certificate) of 26 of their 32 adult patients with the 47,XYY karyotype who were ascertained from maximum-security hospital populations, and statistical analysis shows that the distribution of social classes does not differ significantly from the expected distribution in the general population in 1931. However, further analysis of the social-class distribution of their hospital control population (46,XY males) does reveal a significant difference from the distribution in the general population (x3=23-3, p < 0-005) and shows the usual preponderance of social-classes iv and v found in prison popu-
Thus, we were able to maintain normal serum-copper levels and subnormal caeruloplasmin levels by weekly intravenous injections of copper sulphate. The child’s clinical state, however, unfortunately did not improve.
lations.
Universitäts-Kinderklinik, 78 Freiburg im Breisgau, German Federal Republic. Städtische Kinderklinik, Baden-Baden, Germany.
H. WEHINGER I. WITT I. LÖSEL G. DENZ-SEIBERT.
C. SANDER.
SEX-CHROMOSOME ABNORMALITIES AND SOCIAL CLASS SiR,—There has recently been considerable interest in the possible association of sex-chromosome abnormalities, particularly the 47,XYY karyotype, with social class. Beckwith and King,1 in the course of their controversy at Harvard with the Walzer study, said " there are data suggesting that the rate of chromosomal non-disjunction, leading to the XYY karyotype, is increased among lower socioeconomic groups. This may be due to nutritional deprivation. Since the lower economic classes are represented in the prison population out of proportion to their numbers in the total population, the observed higher frequency of XYYs in prison may be the expected result." They did not, however, quote the source of these data. The emphasis on lower social class is strengthened in Dr Larry Miller’s pleato direct our resources where they are most needed in view of the fact that " the behavioural problems that have been associated with the XYY karyotype are conclusively correlated with socioeconomic status." The published data on social-class distribution in sexchromosomally abnormal individuals are, in fact, rather scanty. Casey et al.have given the social-class distribution 1. 2. 3.
Beckwith, J., King, J. New Scient. 1974, 64, 474. Miller, L. Lancet, 1975, i, 221. Casey, M. D., Blank, C. E., McLean, T. M., Kohn, P., Street, D. R. K., McDougall, J. M., Gooder, J., Platts, J. J. ment. Defic. Res. 1973, 16, 215.
Studies in our unit have yielded relevant information on series of unselected newborns, the first from the sexchromatin survey of 1959-61 on 20,725 infants4 and the second from a more recent chromosome survey of 11,680 infants. In these two surveys 69 children were found to have sex-chromosome abnormalities, and their social-class distribution is shown below, together with the expected numbers in each social-class group, based on the socialclass distribution of liveborn Scottish infants (Registrar General’s report) in the middle year of each survey.
two
A comparison of the combined totals for social classes iv and v with the combined totals for classes I, 11, and III reveals no significant difference within the different chromosomally abnormal groups: p==0’59 for 1959-61 (table i), p==0-42 for 1967-74 (table 11). However, the difference between social-class distribution in the controls and the
chromosomally abnormal was significant (1959-61 study x2=5-4, p0’02; 1967-74 study ==5-7, p0’02), the difference in each study being in the direction of fewer abnormalities in classes iv and v. Thus, neither in the newborn nor in the small proportion of XYYs found in maximum-security hospitals is there any evidence for a preponderance of lower socioeconomic classes. There is, nevertheless, a twenty-fold increase (0’1 % to 2-0%) in the frequency of XYYs from the newborn population to patients in maximum-security hospitals (unpublished data from our unit), but socioeconomic background does not appear to be the major factor accounting for this increase. We should like to thank Mr Andrew Carothers for advice the statistical analyses.
on
M.R.C. Clinical and Population
Cytogenetics Unit, Hospital, Edinburgh.
Western General
S. G. RATCLIFFE H. J. EVANS.
McLean, N., Harnden, D. G., Court Brown, W. M., Bond, J., Mantle, D. J. Lancet, 1964, i, 286. 5. Jacobs, P. A., Melville, M., Ratcliffe, S. G., Keay, A. J., Syme, J. Ann. hum. Genet. 1974, 37, 359.
4.
TABLE I-SOCIAL-CLASS DISTRIBUTION IN SEX-CHROMATIN
° SURVEY, 1959-6 1
TABLE II-SOCIAL-CLASS DISTRIBUTION IN CHROMOSOME SURVEY,
1967-1974
jections of 1-0 ml. of the stock solution. Local irritation, however, prevented us from continuing. 1 ml. of the stock solution (1 mg. copper) was therefore diluted with 9 ml. of physiological saline and injected once weekly intravenously over 3-5 minutes. These injections had no side-effects. Serum-copper levels could be maintained between 85 and 123 (Lg. per 100 ml. (mean 97) and caeruloplasmin levels were between 21 and 39 mg. per 100 ml. (mean 30). After 9 months, 24-hour urinary excretion of copper was 29-95 (Lg. on three days preceding the weekly copper injection, and 120 and 270 jg. in 24 hours thereafter. Liver-function tests were normal, and no Kayser-Fleischer rings were seen on slit-lamp examination.
(father’s occupation on birth certificate) of 26 of their 32 adult patients with the 47,XYY karyotype who were ascertained from maximum-security hospital populations, and statistical analysis shows that the distribution of social classes does not differ significantly from the expected distribution in the general population in 1931. However, further analysis of the social-class distribution of their hospital control population (46,XY males) does reveal a significant difference from the distribution in the general population (x3=23-3, p < 0-005) and shows the usual preponderance of social-classes iv and v found in prison popu-
Thus, we were able to maintain normal serum-copper levels and subnormal caeruloplasmin levels by weekly intravenous injections of copper sulphate. The child’s clinical state, however, unfortunately did not improve.
lations.
Universitäts-Kinderklinik, 78 Freiburg im Breisgau, German Federal Republic. Städtische Kinderklinik, Baden-Baden, Germany.
H. WEHINGER I. WITT I. LÖSEL G. DENZ-SEIBERT.
C. SANDER.
SEX-CHROMOSOME ABNORMALITIES AND SOCIAL CLASS SiR,—There has recently been considerable interest in the possible association of sex-chromosome abnormalities, particularly the 47,XYY karyotype, with social class. Beckwith and King,1 in the course of their controversy at Harvard with the Walzer study, said " there are data suggesting that the rate of chromosomal non-disjunction, leading to the XYY karyotype, is increased among lower socioeconomic groups. This may be due to nutritional deprivation. Since the lower economic classes are represented in the prison population out of proportion to their numbers in the total population, the observed higher frequency of XYYs in prison may be the expected result." They did not, however, quote the source of these data. The emphasis on lower social class is strengthened in Dr Larry Miller’s pleato direct our resources where they are most needed in view of the fact that " the behavioural problems that have been associated with the XYY karyotype are conclusively correlated with socioeconomic status." The published data on social-class distribution in sexchromosomally abnormal individuals are, in fact, rather scanty. Casey et al.have given the social-class distribution 1. 2. 3.
Beckwith, J., King, J. New Scient. 1974, 64, 474. Miller, L. Lancet, 1975, i, 221. Casey, M. D., Blank, C. E., McLean, T. M., Kohn, P., Street, D. R. K., McDougall, J. M., Gooder, J., Platts, J. J. ment. Defic. Res. 1973, 16, 215.
Studies in our unit have yielded relevant information on series of unselected newborns, the first from the sexchromatin survey of 1959-61 on 20,725 infants4 and the second from a more recent chromosome survey of 11,680 infants. In these two surveys 69 children were found to have sex-chromosome abnormalities, and their social-class distribution is shown below, together with the expected numbers in each social-class group, based on the socialclass distribution of liveborn Scottish infants (Registrar General’s report) in the middle year of each survey.
two
A comparison of the combined totals for social classes iv and v with the combined totals for classes I, 11, and III reveals no significant difference within the different chromosomally abnormal groups: p==0’59 for 1959-61 (table i), p==0-42 for 1967-74 (table 11). However, the difference between social-class distribution in the controls and the
chromosomally abnormal was significant (1959-61 study x2=5-4, p0’02; 1967-74 study ==5-7, p0’02), the difference in each study being in the direction of fewer abnormalities in classes iv and v. Thus, neither in the newborn nor in the small proportion of XYYs found in maximum-security hospitals is there any evidence for a preponderance of lower socioeconomic classes. There is, nevertheless, a twenty-fold increase (0’1 % to 2-0%) in the frequency of XYYs from the newborn population to patients in maximum-security hospitals (unpublished data from our unit), but socioeconomic background does not appear to be the major factor accounting for this increase. We should like to thank Mr Andrew Carothers for advice the statistical analyses.
on
M.R.C. Clinical and Population
Cytogenetics Unit, Hospital, Edinburgh.
Western General
S. G. RATCLIFFE H. J. EVANS.
McLean, N., Harnden, D. G., Court Brown, W. M., Bond, J., Mantle, D. J. Lancet, 1964, i, 286. 5. Jacobs, P. A., Melville, M., Ratcliffe, S. G., Keay, A. J., Syme, J. Ann. hum. Genet. 1974, 37, 359.
4.
TABLE I-SOCIAL-CLASS DISTRIBUTION IN SEX-CHROMATIN
° SURVEY, 1959-6 1
TABLE II-SOCIAL-CLASS DISTRIBUTION IN CHROMOSOME SURVEY,
1967-1974
