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8044771 | ALL-1 tandem duplication in acute myeloid leukemia with a normal karyotype involves homologous recombination between Alu elements. | Rearrangements of the ALL-1 gene by reciprocal translocations involving chromosome band 11q23 are frequently associated with human acute leukemia. We have previously reported the detection of ALL-1 gene rearrangements in adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia lacking cytogenetic evidence of 11q23 translocations. These included 2 of 19 patients with normal karyotypes as well as 3 of 4 patients with trisomy 11 as a sole cytogenetic abnormality. Rearrangement of the ALL-1 genes in two of the patients with trisomy 11 was shown to result from a direct tandem duplication of a portion of the gene spanning exons 2-6. Here we report the characterization of the ALL-1 gene rearrangement in one of the previously reported acute myeloid leukemia patients with a normal karyotype. ALL-1 rearrangement in this patient results from a direct tandem duplication of a portion of the gene spanning exons 2-8. RNA polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequence analysis show that the partially duplicated ALL-1 gene is transcribed into mRNA capable of encoding a partially duplicated protein. Sequence analysis of the genomic fusion region provides evidence for Alu-mediated homologous recombination as a mechanism for partial duplication of the ALL-1 gene. |
8044770 | Antiproliferative effects of enediynes on AIDS-derived Kaposi's sarcoma cells. | We have investigated the antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects of selected enediynes against three Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) cell lines. The enediynes tested were found to be very potent in inhibiting the growth of KS cells. Treatment with concentrations of 10(-10) M or less were capable of producing 50% inhibition of growth. Furthermore, treatment of KS cells with enediynes induced apoptosis in up to 80% of the cells. This unique class of antitumor agents has therapeutic potential for the treatment of KS. |
8044769 | Gene therapy targeted by radiation preferentially radiosensitizes tumor cells. | Transcriptional regulation of the promoter/enhancer region of the Egr-1 gene is activated by ionizing radiation. We linked DNA sequences from the promotor region of Egr-1 to a complementary DNA sequence which encodes human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, a radiosensitizing cytokine. The Egr-TNF construct was transfected into a human cell line of hematopoietic origin, HL525, which was used in an experimental animal system. HL525 (clone 2) cells containing the Egr-TNF construct which exhibits radiation induction of TNF-alpha were injected into human xenografts of the radioresistant human squamous cell carcinoma cell line SQ-20B. Animals treated with radiation and clone 2 demonstrated an increase in tumor cures compared with animals treated with radiation alone or unirradiated animals given injections of clone 2 alone. No increase in local or systemic toxicity was observed in the combined treatment group. The combination of gene therapy and radiation therapy enhances tumor cures without increasing normal tissue toxicity and is a new paradigm for cancer treatment. |
8044768 | Suppression of fibrosarcoma metastasis by elevated expression of manganese superoxide dismutase. | A mouse fibrosarcoma cell line (FSa-II), which exhibits low endogenous levels of manganese superoxide dismutase, was transfected with a human manganese superoxide dismutase complementary DNA. Fifty clones were screened for manganese superoxide dismutase activity by the superoxide dismutase activity gel assay. Activity of the positive clones was measured by the nitro blue tetrazolium-reduction assay in the presence of cyanide. Three cell lines exhibiting a range of activity were chosen to be transplanted into syngeneic mice. The results indicated that the metastasis rate for all transfected cells was significantly less than that of control cells. |
8044766 | Seminal ribonuclease inhibits tumor growth and reduces the metastatic potential of Lewis lung carcinoma. | The role of some RNases as antitumoral agents has been recently emphasized. We have previously demonstrated a striking inhibitory effect of bovine seminal RNase on the in vitro growth of tumor cells of metastatic origin. This has prompted us to test the effects of this protein in vivo on the induction of metastatic foci in mice lungs after i.m. injection of a highly metastatic Lewis lung carcinoma cell line. The results presented here, while confirming and expanding upon those previously reported on the antitumor effects of bovine seminal RNase in vivo on primary thyroid epithelial tumors, indicate for the first time that bovine seminal RNase can also be regarded as a potent antimetastatic agent on in vivo spontaneous metastases. |
8044767 | Increased copy number at 20q13 in breast cancer: defining the critical region and exclusion of candidate genes. | Studies by comparative genomic hybridization have indicated that a major new locus for DNA amplification in breast cancer is 20q13 and suggested that this genetic event is associated with aggressive clinical behavior. We used interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization with anonymous cosmid probes and gene-specific P1 clones to determine the minimal common region of increased copy number and to study involvement of known genes at 20q13. Based on high-level copy number increases (3 to 10-fold) found with one or more probes in 5 of 14 (35%) breast cancer cell lines and in 3 of 36 (8%) primary tumors, the critical region was narrowed to approximately 1.5 megabases at 20q13.2 defined by fractional length pter values 0.81-0.84. Previously known genes were excluded as candidates, implying that this chromosomal region harbors a novel oncogene that contributes to the malignant progression of breast cancer. |
8044757 | The seroprevalence of maedi-visna in Ontario sheep flocks and its relationship to flock demographics and management practices. | The objectives of this study were to describe the serological prevalence of maedi-visna in a sample of Ontario sheep flocks, and to identify management and demographic variables that were associated with seroprevalence for maedi-visna. A sample of 103 sheep flocks in Ontario was randomly selected from those flocks participating in the Red Meat Plan. The owners of these flocks were surveyed regarding management procedures on their farms, and blood samples were taken from a random sample of ewes in each flock. At least one ewe tested serologically positive, based on the agar gel immuno-diffusion test, in 69.9% of the farms. Positive serological reactions occurred in 20.9% of the 3880 sheep tested. Flock demographics and farm management variables were considered in a multiple regression model, and several factors were positively associated with higher maedi-visna seroprevalence rates. These included the average age of the flock, the number of years the owner had been sheep farming, the practice of using foster ewes, the practice of allowing lambs to have contact with other ewes that are lambing, and the average pasture acreage per ewe. |
8044756 | Hyperplasia of the thyroid gland and concurrent musculoskeletal deformities in western Canadian foals: reexamination of a previously described syndrome. | A syndrome of neonatal foals characterized by hyperplasia of the thyroid gland and concurrent musculoskeletal deformities (TH-MSD) has been described in western Canada and may be increasing in incidence. In an attempt to improve recognition and understanding of this syndrome, 2946 records of equine abortuses, stillborns, and dead neonatal foals were examined to determine the laboratory involved, the year and month of submission, the breed and sex of the fetus or foal, the type of perinatal loss, the length of gestation, and whether or not the submission had evidence of a lesion of the thyroid gland, the musculoskeletal system, or other abnormal clinical or postmortem findings. One hundred and fifty-four (5.2%) records indicated the presence of an abnormal thyroid gland. Of these, 79 (2.7%) had additional lesions consistent with the TH-MSD syndrome described in the 1980s, while 75 (2.5%) were without these additional lesions. Comparisons among these two groups and a third group of fetuses and foals without lesions of the thyroids glands are described. The results confirm that the TH-MSD syndrome is a specific and unique disease with no breed or sex predilection. It is argued that there may be an "exposure-related" cause, and based on a review of similar disease syndromes of the horse, it is suggested that an examination of the feed is indicated in outbreaks of the TH-MSD syndrome. |
8044754 | Postoperative evaluation of the surgical treatment of accessory teat and gland cistern complexes in dairy cows. | The purpose of this study was the long-term evaluation of a method of surgically repairing the abnormal condition of accessory teat and gland cistern complexes in dairy cattle. A prospective evaluation of three cows that had undergone the procedure was done. These cows were evaluated from four months to one year, postoperatively. A thorough history, physical examination, contrast radiography, and ultrasonic examination were done on each cow. A retrospective evaluation of an additional 13 cows that had also undergone the procedure was obtained four months to three years following the surgery, via owner communication. The prospective portion of this study demonstrated patency of the communication between main and accessory teat cisterns. Postoperative complications included initial slow milking and mild swelling of the involved teat. These problems resolved in all cows one to two months postoperatively. None of the 16 cows that had undergone the surgery either developed or was treated for mastitis. Likewise, none of these cows was sold or slaughtered as a result of postoperative teat problems or unsatisfactory milk production. Our study demonstrated that this particular method of surgical correction of accessory teat and gland cistern complexes is effective, is esthetically acceptable, produces minimal associated complications, and preserves the milk production capacity of the gland. |
8044748 | Shoplifting and mental illness. | A survey of 1,649 shoplifting convictions at a Montreal area municipal court found that a relatively low percentage (3.2%) of the cases involved mentally ill patients and that there is a comparatively closer link between shoplifting and affective disorders, alcoholism and drug addiction. The survey also showed that shoplifting is related more to mental illness than to the use of psychotropic drugs. The authors therefore reject the hypothesis of pharmacogenic shoplifting which has been reported in some studies on small numbers of shoplifters. |
8044747 | Clinical and demographic characteristics of voluntary and involuntary psychiatric inpatients. | Voluntary and involuntary psychiatric inpatients were compared on demographic, social and clinical characteristics. Chi-squared tests of independence revealed significant differences in age and financial support based on status at admission. No significant differences were found with respect to diagnostic category. It was concluded that demographic, social and clinical characteristics do not clearly discriminate between voluntary and involuntary inpatients. |
8044746 | Severe hypotension associated with combined lithium and chlorpromazine therapy: a case report and a review. | The case of a patient who developed a severe hypotensive reaction with a persistent hemianaesthesia following the addition of lithium carbonate to her treatment regimen is described. The patient had been receiving chlorpromazine therapy for the management of hypomania and the addition of lithium carbonate to the chlorpromazine produced a severe hypotensive episode which compromised her neurological functioning. Only three doses of lithium carbonate had actually been taken by the patient. This type of hypotensive response associated with the simultaneous use of chlorpromazine and lithium has not previously been noted in the literature. |
8044745 | Prevalence of pathological gambling and related problems among college students in the Quebec metropolitan area. | The prevalence of pathological gambling and problems associated with it were measured among 1,471 students of three colleges in the Quebec city metropolitan area. Almost 90% of the students had gambled and 21.7% of the students engage in this behaviour once a week or more. The prevalence of pathological gamblers was found to be 2.8% for the entire sample. The percentage of pathological gamblers was much higher among males (5.7%) than females (0.6%). The results indicate that pathological gambling is associated with economic, professional and interpersonal problems. The discussion addresses the implications of the present findings and suggests avenues for future research. |
8044744 | Depression, mastery and number of group sessions attended predict outcome of patients with panic and agoraphobia in a behavioural/medication program. | From a list of 214 patients suffering from panic and agoraphobia and who had been treated with cognitive behaviour therapy, 30 patients who had very good outcomes and 32 who had poor outcomes were selected. The groups were selected by the nurse therapist and psychiatrist on the basis of personal knowledge of the patients. The distinction into good and poor outcome groups was confirmed by the results of a follow-up questionnaire completed by the patient. Of several clinical and demographic variables which had been hypothesized to be predictors of outcome, only depression, as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory, mastery, as measured by the Pearlin Mastery Scale and the number of group therapy sessions attended predicted outcome. Levels of depression and mastery might be clinically modifiable variables which affect the outcome of treatment for patients with panic and agoraphobia. |
8044743 | Depression and hopelessness in children with disruptive behaviour disorders. | The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of depression in a day treatment compared to a control population of children and to determine whether or not day treatment is effective in normalizing depression and hopelessness. Twenty-five control children, matched by age and sex, were compared on self-report measures of depression and hopelessness to 25 children admitted to day treatment. Pre-post treatment comparisons were also made for day treatment children. Day treatment children at admission scored significantly higher on both depression and hopelessness than control children. Only boys in day treatment improved significantly at the time of their discharge. Children with disruptive behaviour disorders also experienced significant feelings of depression and hopelessness. Day treatment was effective in reducing these feelings to "normal" levels in boys only; girls continued to experience severe negative life events beyond their control. |
8044742 | Personality diagnosis and childhood care associated with adult marital quality. | This paper reports on a continuation of previous research into the connection between childhood experience of relationships and adult relationships such as marriage. A group of 41 married, mixed psychiatric patients showed the strongest correlations between adult marital quality as measured by the Marital Adjustment Test and mother care, same sex parent care or lowest caring parent care, as measured by the Parental Bonding Instrument. There was little correlation between childhood care and adult marital quality in both subgroups; one group was composed of 24 patients with Axis I diagnosis alone and the other group was composed of 17 patients with personality disorder. Married patients with personality disorder, almost all of whom had an Axis I diagnosis as well, did report lower levels of both childhood care and adult marital quality compared with patients with Axis I diagnoses and no personality disorder. The possible significance of these findings is discussed. |
8044741 | Psychological risk factors and self-mutilation in male patients with BPD. | The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not self-mutilation in patients with personality disorders is related to other psychological risk factors, dissociation or diagnosis. The sample included 61 subjects with borderline personality disorder and 60 subjects with nonborderline personality disorder; 32 subjects with borderline personality disorder reported self-mutilation. Psychological risk factors were measured through histories of childhood sexual abuse, physical abuse and separation or loss as well as through scores on the Parental Bonding Index. Dissociation was measured by the Dissociative Experiences Scale. There were no relationships between any of the psychological risk factors and self-mutilation. Subjects who mutilated themselves had higher scores on the Dissociative Experiences Scale in univariate analysis but the scores in multivariate analyses dissociation did not discriminate between subjects who mutilated themselves and those who did not. The results do not support the theory that abuse and dissociation account for self-mutilation in the personality disorders. |
8044740 | Psychological risk factors for dissociation and self-mutilation in female patients with borderline personality disorder. | The purposes of this study were to determine whether or not dissociation in female patients suffering from personality disorder is related to sexual and physical abuse or to abuse parameters and whether or not self-mutilation in the personality disorders is related to psychological risk factors or to dissociation. The sample was divided into 78 borderline and 72 nonborderline personality disorders. Psychological risk factors were measured through histories of childhood sexual abuse, physical abuse and separation or loss as well as scores on the Parental Bonding Index. Dissociation was measured by the Dissociative Experiences Scale. On the diagnostic interview, 48 subjects scored positive for self-mutilation. Dissociative Experiences Scale scores were associated with a borderline diagnosis but not with childhood sexual abuse or physical abuse. The parameters of abuse were not related to dissociation. Subjects who mutilated themselves had higher rates of both childhood sexual abuse and dissociation in univariate analyses. However, in multivariate analyses only diagnosis was significant. None of the other psychological risk factors were significantly linked to self-mutilation. The findings do not support theories that dissociation and self-mutilation in borderline personality disorder are associated with childhood trauma. |
8044739 | The prevalence of dementia in the elderly: a review. | We reviewed the findings of the Canadian Study of Health and Aging in the context of studies published between January 1986 and June 1993 that documented dementia and Alzheimer's disease prevalence. Studies were identified using a MEDLINE literature search. Additional references were selected from the bibliography of identified articles. Most reports of all types of dementia prevalence are within a narrow range for each of the age groups 65+, 75+ and 85+ years. By contrast, two recent reports on the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease have reported much higher estimates (10.3% and 15.3%) in the elderly (65+ years). A variety of threats to both validity and generalizability of the estimates are present in all studies. In community studies which employed clinical interviews most subjects were only mildly affected; the natural history of impairment of this group requires further study if the consequences of these findings are to be understood. There is important variability in the definition of the functional consequences of cognitive impairment in the elderly which affects both the diagnosis and staging of dementia. |
8044732 | Clozapine and seizures: a review. | Clozapine, a novel antipsychotic agent, is an alternative to standard neuroleptic therapy for psychotic disorders. Some advantages of clozapine over neuroleptics are that it may be a more effective antipsychotic in treatment resistant patients and has a lower incidence of extrapyramidal side effects. However, seizures associated with clozapine treatment occur at a rate of about three percent. Factors which seem to increase the likelihood of seizures include high doses of clozapine, rapid dose titration, the concurrent use of other epileptogenic agents and a previous history of neurological abnormalities. A strategy that has been proposed to reduce the occurrence of seizures is the addition of an anticonvulsant agent. At present, little rigorous scientific evidence exists to establish the effectiveness of this strategy or the choice of an anticonvulsant. However, based on what evidence there is and the side effect profiles of the various anticonvulsants, the authors propose the use of valproic acid for the prophylaxis and management of clozapine related seizures. |
8044731 | [Violent and intimidating behavior of psychiatric patients at admission]. | The dangerousness of the mentally ill patient is still unknown. This study assesses the actual prevalence of violent and intimidating behaviours in psychiatric patients at the time of their admission, or in the days leading up to their admission to a Quebec hospital. These behaviours have been measured on a six-point scale whose reliability for this population is appropriate. The consecutive sample consists of 383 adult admissions, and the results show that 83.0 percent of the involuntary admissions and 40.7 percent of the voluntary admissions manifested violent or intimidating behaviours at the time of hospitalization. The results support the clinical experience that psychiatric patients often exhibit this type of behaviour on admission. |
8044730 | Delinquent firesetters: a comparative study of delinquency and firesetting histories. | Twenty-five male delinquents (aged nine to 16) who had legal charges for setting fires filed against them were compared to a group of age and sex matched delinquents who had legal charges filed against them that were not related to firesetting. Groups were compared on demographic variables and on their delinquency and fire related histories. The only significant difference to emerge was a higher proportion of past firesetting in the group with fire-related charges. The present results indicate that a subgroup of antisocial recidivist firesetters exists among young offenders and underscore the importance of obtaining a thorough fire related history from youth who are before the court on fire related charges. |
8044729 | Fluphenazine treatment of DSM-III-R male schizophrenic patients among the Xhosa. | A comparison of fluphenazine decanoate depot injection used alone and fluphenazine decanoate with fluphenazine HCl i.m. was undertaken in South African Xhosa patients with schizophrenia diagnosed according to DSM-III-R. The combined treatment significantly shortened the length of hospital stay to a mean of 30.5 days from a mean of 40.7 days for the single therapy group. The combined treatment group also obtained significantly higher improvement ratings one week after the start of treatment than the single treatment patients. |
8044728 | Do child and/or parent bereavement programs work? | Bereavement programs for children and parents are becoming popular since there are more and more neonatal intensive care programs, pediatric oncology programs and pediatric intensive care programs offering these services. This paper addresses the following question: Do bereavement programs work? An overview of the literature dating back to 1964 was undertaken. Only papers dealing with treatment were reviewed. Randomized controlled trials were selected as presenting the best evidence for or against program effectiveness. Methodologic features such as description of the sample, comparability of treatment and control groups, description of the intervention, use of objective, valid, reproducible and blinded outcome measures, sample size calculations, thoroughness of follow-up and attention to clinical as well as statistical significance were assessed. Four randomized controlled trials were found in the literature search. Two of the studies showed benefit, two did not. All four suffered significant methodologic flaws. At this time it is unclear as to whether or not bereavement programs help families. Given the high costs of health care, it is important that studies be done to determine which families are likely to benefit from bereavement programs and what type of program is effective. |
8044727 | [Presentation of a case: encephalopathy of boxers]. | A 68-year-old man presents slight memory problems and behavioural change over a period of a year. A history of boxing is identified. Neuropsychological examination confirms slight frontal cognitive damage and damage at the level of the motor signs of the upper left hemicorpus. This symptomatology should, in differential diagnosis, raise the possibility of chronic punch-drunk syndrome. Further studies should be done to better document this little-characterized clinical entity and arrive at a clearer definition of this syndrome. |
8044726 | Fitness and competency issues in Canadian criminal courts: elucidating the standards for mental health professionals. | The issue of competency arises at various stages of criminal proceedings in an effort to protect those individuals who are unable to participate in the legal process. The competency question is a legal issue ultimately decided by a judge. However, mental health professionals are often called upon to provide insight into an individual's level of competence. To date, the standards by which an individual is found competent have remained far from clear. This creates a problem for clinicians who are requested to make competency evaluations. This article addresses the competency issues as they arise at various stages of legal proceedings in order to determine the standards that are applied by the courts. Furthermore, given the importance placed on mental health evaluations of competency, the role of mental health practitioners will be addressed as it pertains to the competency question at each juncture in the criminal justice system. |
8044725 | Regression in the service of the superego: the do's and don'ts of stepwise multiple regression. | Stepwise multiple regression is a very powerful but often misused technique. It can be used to find a set of independent variables which can predict some outcome. However, there are problems when the results of a stepwise solution are used to try to explain or understand the dependent variable. This paper discusses the different types of stepwise regressions, some of the legitimate and illegitimate uses of this technique, some of the difficulties encountered when trying to interpret the results and other solutions to the problems posed by using them. |
8044724 | Cardiac screening of children with Down's syndrome. | To establish the role of clinical and laboratory investigation of the cardiovascular system in children with Down's syndrome. Prospective evaluation; examiners blinded to results of laboratory studies. Tertiary pediatric referral centre. Fifty consecutive children with Down's syndrome presenting to a regional genetic centre. Children less than six weeks of age or with known heart disease were excluded. Following independent examinations by a geneticist and a pediatric cardiologist, an electrocardiogram (ECG) and two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiograms were carried out. Assessment by the geneticist yielded two false positives and five false negatives (sensitivity 67%, specificity 88%). Addition of an ECG to clinical evaluation increased the sensitivity to 80% and specificity to 90%, a rate comparable with clinical assessment by a cardiologist. No lesion requiring surgical correction was missed by this combination. Where expertise in pediatric echocardiography is not readily available, careful clinical assessment coupled with the interpretation of an ECG is adequate and appropriate screening of the child with Down's syndrome. |
8044722 | Diagnosis and management of heart failure. Canadian Cardiovascular Society. | Many of the recommendations presented in this consensus report are summarized in Figure 2. All patients with known or suspected heart failure should undergo a detailed history and physical examination. Other causes for the symptoms and/or clinical signs indicative of heart failure should be excluded. Routine biochemical tests, as well as a standard chest x-ray and ECG, should be performed on all patients with heart failure. Precipitating or aggravating causes of heart failure should be eliminated. Patients with potentially surgically correctable lesions, such as constrictive pericarditis, valvular disease or left ventricular aneurysm, should be referred for cardiological evaluation and the appropriate surgery. Patients with ischemic induced heart failure should be assessed for possible revascularization by either angioplasty or bypass surgery. Pending clinical findings and the degree of systolic or diastolic dysfunction present, determined by noninvasive tests, the panel made recommendations concerning the choice of various therapeutic agents. These clinical guidelines have been developed for practising physicians who manage patients with heart failure. The process by which consensus recommendations were developed by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society was based on the principle that guidelines have the best chance of succeeding if they are developed by those who will be using them. Strategies that ensure physicians are aware of the current guidelines, and that their implementation leads to measurable improvement in the diagnosis and management of patients with heart failure must be developed. Consensus reports represent an ongoing process which is subject to revision when further conclusive evidence is obtained by ongoing and future clinical trials. |
8044721 | Discrepancies between clinic and ambulatory blood pressure responses to cilazapril therapy. | To evaluate the antihypertensive effects of cilazapril, a new angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, on clinic and ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) after first and last dose administrations. Four weeks randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of three regimens. Six hypertensive research clinics in Canada. After a two-week placebo run-in period, 130 patients aged 22 to 77 years with mild to moderate essential hypertension were randomized and evaluated. Exclusion criteria were secondary hypertension, childbearing potential and other significant diseases. Patients were assigned to cilazapril 2.5 mg (44 patients), cilazapril 5 mg (42) or placebo (44). Fourteen patients in each group were further evaluated in a substudy by 24 h ABP monitoring. Cilazapril in either dosage induced significant and similar antihypertensive effects on clinic blood pressure shortly after dosing (2 to 4 h), persisting during chronic treatment; however, no relevant effect persisted at the end of dosing (24 h). After four weeks, at the end of dosing, 22, 24 and 38% of patients were clinical responders (decrease in sitting diastolic blood pressure 10 mmHg or greater) on placebo, 2.5 or 5 mg (differences not significant). Conversely, both cilazapril regimens induced similar and significant (P < 0.01) falls in mean 24 h ABP compared with placebo. Moreover, 7, 50 and 48% of patients exhibited a reduction in mean 24 h diastolic blood pressure 10 mmHg or greater on placebo, cilazapril 2.5 or 5 mg, respectively. Furthermore, both regimens induced adequate trough:peak ratios on ABP. |
8044719 | Does dental health education affect inequalities in dental health? | The aim of the study was to evaluate the Lothian 1991 dental health campaigns on 5-year-old schoolchildren's oral hygiene and gingival health in relation to deprivation. A stratified random sample of 486 children was selected from 92 primary schools in the city of Edinburgh. Clinical examinations took place immediately before (T1), a month after (T2) and 4 months after the campaign (T3). A total of 342 (70 per cent) children received all 3 examinations. Oral hygiene and gingival health were examined using a modified Silness and Löe and the Ainamo and Bay Index. Toothbrushes and take-home materials were distributed to all children. Dental officers provided 20 minute information sessions for each class and encouraged teachers to continue dental health activities within the classes. For the purpose of the evaluation, schools were categorised as deprived and non-deprived according to established social indicators. The results showed a statistically significant improvement in plaque scores at T2 and T3 (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Also gingival health improved at T2 and T3 (P < 0.01, P = 0.001). However, the improvements took place only in the non-deprived schools. Thirty-one per cent of children in non-deprived schools and 18 per cent in deprived schools had a total plaque score of 0 at T1 and 41 per cent and 19 per cent respectively at T3. The differences in gingival health scores between deprived and non-deprived schools were statistically significant at T2 and T3 but not at T1. The campaign was therefore successful when evaluating the population as a whole.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) |
8044718 | Prevalence of long-term use of liquid oral medicines by children in the northern region, England. | The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of frequent administration of liquid oral medicines, long-term, in children aged 1-16 years in a number of districts within the Northern Region in 1989-91. This was achieved through two surveys, one conducted amongst consultant paediatricians in five districts, and the other in four general medical practices in two districts within the region. The consultant survey identified 243 children aged 1-16 years currently taking long-term liquid oral medicines frequently, under consultant paediatric care. This represented a prevalence of 1:916 children (0.11 per cent) in the five districts studied. The general medical practice survey showed that the prescribing of liquid oral medicines for prolonged periods was not confined to those children who had been referred to and were under the care of consultant paediatricians. It indicated that the prevalence of long-term medication with prescription-based liquid oral medicines in children under the care of consultant paediatricians or general medical practitioners or both, was approximately 1:361 (0.28 per cent). Of the 67 different liquid oral medicine preparations which were used long-term, 39 per cent were sugar-based, 33 per cent sugar-free, and the rest 'variable'; either sugar-based or sugar-free depending on how specifically they were prescribed. |
8044717 | The shortened dental arch: supplementary analyses from the 1988 adult dental health survey. | Information on 2297 dentate adults, aged 15-75+ years, who participated in the 1988 national survey of adult dental health in the United Kingdom, was reviewed in order to determine what proportion in each age group fulfilled the criteria for a 'shortened dental arch'. The proportion of people with four good quadrants was 90 per cent at 16-24 years falling to 2 per cent at 65-74 years. Overall, 54 per cent of the sample had four good quadrants. This is a more stringent measure of dental health than the proportion with 21 or more standing teeth, where the corresponding values were 100 per cent, 24 per cent and 80 per cent. |
8044716 | The prevalence of tooth wear in 14-year-old school children in Liverpool. | The prevalence of tooth wear was assessed in a random sample of 14 year old school children in Liverpool. A total of 1035 children were examined in 10 schools of whom 526 (50.8 per cent) were male and 509 (49.2 per cent) were female. Three hundred and seven children (30 per cent) had exposed dentine, mainly incisally, and this occurred significantly more often in males than females (P < 0.01). Of these children, 80 (8 per cent) also exhibited exposed dentine on occlusal and/or lingual surfaces. This occurred mainly on the occlusal surfaces of the first mandibular molars and the lingual aspects of the upper incisors. A slight positive association was found between tooth wear and the level of social deprivation in the electoral ward in which the school was located. |
8044715 | A critical review of methods for the economic evaluation of fissure sealants. | Economic evaluation provides a method of systematically comparing the costs and outcomes of alternative health care programmes. It is being used increasingly to provide planning information. However, a review of the literature on economic evaluation of fissure sealants revealed a number of problems within studies. These included; the incorrect use of terms in labelling analyses, the choice of comparative procedures influencing the conclusions and equating different outcomes without regard for their disparate utilities. In addition, many studies did not report adjustment for differential timing of costs and consequences, or the use of incremental or sensitivity analyses. Future economic evaluations need to address these problems, in order that veracious information is supplied to decision-makers. |
8044714 | Prevalence of fluorosis and other enamel defects related to caries among adults in communities with optimal and low water fluoride concentrations. | The aim of this Swedish study, performed in 1982, was to determine the prevalence of fluorotic and nonfluorotic enamel defects among adults in areas with optimal and low fluoride concentrations in water. The fluorosis prevalence was also related to caries prevalence in these areas. The study was based on clinical examinations of subjects born between 1939-1951 who had been drinking water with a fluoride content representative of their area of residence all their lives. This water was the only appreciable source of fluoride during tooth formation. Two hundred and sixty individuals living in the optimal fluoride area were included in the study and 236 individuals from the low fluoride area. The results showed first, a low prevalence of mild dental fluorosis in the area with optimal fluoride content in its drinking water; secondly, a low prevalence of non-fluorotic enamel defects, which was, however, higher in the low fluoride area than in the optimal fluoride area; thirdly, that caries prevalence was lower among those with fluorotic enamel defects in the optimal fluoride area; and lastly, caries prevalence was not influenced by non-fluorotic enamel defects. |
8044713 | Ethanol and pH levels of proprietary mouthrinses. | This study measured the pH and alcohol (ethanol) content of a number of proprietary mouthrinses available for purchase by the general public, as well as assessing the influence of the alcohol content on police exhaled air analysis (breathalysing) procedures. The majority of the mouthrinses were acidic, some with a pH as low as 3.40. Only one was found to be alkaline and one near neutral in pH. The ethanol content varied from 0 to 27 per cent. The effect of the alcohol content on the results of the exhaled air analysis were transient and would be unlikely to influence any legal proceedings. |
8044712 | Factors of deprivation associated with dental caries in young children. | Quantitative and qualitative data were collected on the communities in the Tameside and Glossop Health Authority district served by the five primary schools with the highest prevalences of dental caries among their 5-year-old children and contrasted with similar information from communities served by five schools whose 5-year-old pupils had the lowest prevalences of caries. Quantitative data were collected from a variety of sources including the health and education authorities, and qualitative information was gathered by interviewing health and education personnel with special knowledge of the primary and pre-school children involved. It was found that communities with a high caries activity among their primary school children had lower proportions of babies of normal birth weight and uptake of poliomyelitis vaccination, while more children were born to single parent families. They also had lower percentages of private housing, homes with a car and households in social classes 1 and 2. The high caries schools had more children receiving clothing allowances and free school meals. The communities they served had higher Townsend mean deprivation Z scores and lower percentages of crime rates per household. The high caries communities tended to bottle feed their babies, wean them earlier, use infant feeding bottles longer and give babies fruit juices more regularly. The parents in the high caries communities were reported to have higher proportions of social and financial problems, were less likely to form parent-teacher associations, their children had poorer attendance and punctuality records, worse behaviour and greater consumption of confectionery after school.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) |
8044708 | A survey of the training, practice and dental health knowledge of traditional dentists practising in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. | Interviews with 50 traditional dentists practising in Phnom Penh, Cambodia showed that the majority had been trained as an apprentice of either their father or a relative. The most frequently undertaken treatment procedures were tooth coloured fillings, and cast, preformed metal or acrylic crowns and bridges. Knowledge of dental pathology was poor. With the recommencement of dental training in the University of Phnom Penh restriction on the training and practice of traditional dentists needs to be considered, together with the possible retraining of these practitioners as dental technicians. |
8044707 | Lay perspectives on oral hygiene performance: their use in hypothesis development. | This paper examines issues related to oral hygiene performance. Results from interviews with 113 adults who had received oral hygiene instruction in eight general dental practices are presented with an emphasis on three issues--the respondents' tooth cleaning pattern (the location within other routines of tooth cleaning), the respondents' tooth cleaning structure (the range of items used in tooth cleaning) and the reported content of the oral hygiene instruction given. Respondents reported that the oral hygiene instruction concentrated upon issues of tooth cleaning structure and did not consider issues of tooth cleaning pattern. The two variables (structure and pattern) were cross-tabulated to create an hypothesis to explain individual variation in tooth cleaning performance. The implications of this hypothesis for understanding patient compliance and developing further quantitative investigations are described. |
8044706 | Participation, willingness and abilities of school-teachers in oral health education in Tanzania. | In Tanzania, teachers in primary schools conduct oral health education as part of the school syllabus, most of them without any training for the task. The participation, willingness and abilities of teachers involved in this duty were studied by means of questionnaire, interviews, oral hygiene examinations and practical exercises. The teachers' knowledge of oral health matters and their skills in toothbrushing were poor. Health lessons in general were not accorded high priority. The teachers preferred parents to instruct their children on toothbrushing, and were reluctant to teach pupils about dietary matters. They stressed the shortage of time and materials for teaching health lessons and their heavy workload at school. These findings indicate a necessity, and a point of departure, for organising training for oral health education and encouraging teachers to undertake this task. |
8044705 | Deficiency of the 50 kDa dystrophin associated glycoprotein (adhalin) in severe autosomal recessive muscular dystrophies in children native from European countries. | A large oligomeric complex of sarcolemmal glycoproteins is associated with dystrophin, the protein absent in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The dystrophin-glycoprotein complex spans the sarcolemma, providing a link between the subsarcolemmal cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix. It was recently shown that one component of this complex, the 50 kDa dystrophin-associated glycoprotein (50 DAG or adhalin), is deficient in severe childhood autosomal recessive muscular dystrophy with DMD-like phenotype (SCARMD). This disease, initially described in Tunisia, was also reported in patients from other North-African and Middle-Eastern countries. It has not been known whether this disease exists in other populations or regions of the world. The present study provides immunocytochemical evidence of 50 DAG specific deficiency in muscle biopsies of European sporadic patients (three French, one Italian and one Greek) who clinically presented with a Duchenne or Becker-like muscular dystrophy. This study demonstrates that SCARMD exists in distinct European populations. Without knowing the status of the 50 kDa, such patients could be either undiagnosed or misdiagnosed as Duchenne, Becker or limb girdle muscular dystrophy. Their accurate diagnosis, which is essential for genetic counseling and eventual future therapies, is now possible by immunocytochemical analysis of the 50 DAG in the biopsied skeletal muscle. |
8044704 | Identification of barley oxalate oxidase as a germin-like protein. | A barley oxalate oxidase was purified to homogeneity and the N-terminal sequences of the protein and of two peptides generated by CNBr cleavage of this protein were determined. Searches for similarities in data bank revealed that the sequences are highly homologous to the amino-acid sequence of a wheat protein, germin, which is synthesized de novo during germination. The similarity of the two proteins was confirmed by showing that anti-oxalate oxidase antibodies strongly recognize germin produced in Escherichia coli. We show that like germin, oxalate oxidase is glycosylated, resistant to SDS denaturation, heat stable, and protease resistant. Moreover, oxalate oxidase activity is strongly induced during germination of barley embryos resulting from an accumulation of the protein. Thus, we conclude that barley oxalate oxidase is a germin-like protein. |
8044703 | Antifungal properties of lectin and new chitinases from potato tubers. | We have purified from potato tubers, the lectin STA devoid of chitinase activity and two chitinases devoid of lectin activity. Both enzymes are 16 kDa glycoproteins, and probably belong to a new family of plant chitinases. The respective antifungal properties of lectin and chitinases were studied by following their effects against early developmental stages of Fusarium oxysporum, a fungal potato pathogen. Here we demonstrate that: (1) lectin does not inhibit mycelial growth but irreversibly inhibits conidia germination and alters the germ tubes; and (2) chitinases block mycelial growth as well as conidia germination and lyse germ tubes. |
8044702 | Adaptive phosphate uptake behaviour of the cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans: analysis by a proportional flow-force relation. | The phosphate uptake system of the cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans has the capacity to store information about former fluctuations in the environmental phosphate concentration. Using nonequilibrium thermodynamics to characterize this phenomenon we show that information storage leads to the development of an extended range of validity over which there is a proportional relationship between uptake rate and the driving force of this process. The limits of this range reflect the extent of earlier fluctuations in the environmental phosphate concentration. |
8044700 | Transforming growth factor beta 1-mediated growth inhibition in chick embryo fibroblasts: reversion by virally-expressed nuclear oncogenes. | Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) inhibits growth of primary cultures of chick embryo fibroblasts by affecting G1 and strongly increasing the generation time. This inhibition is reversed by the nuclear oncogenes v-jun, v-fos, v-myc, but not v-erbA and v-ets. It is also reversed by v-myb from either avian myeloblastosis virus or avian E26 retrovirus. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that independent, functional interferences may take place between the TGF-beta 1-induced growth inhibitory pathway and the oncogen-driven stimulatory pathway(s) at the level of the AP-1, Myc, and Myb transcription factors. |
8044701 | Resistance of NOD mice to salmonellosis. | The NOD mouse strain has become one of the most popular animal models for exploring insulin dependent type 1 diabetes. Genetic studies have underlined the polygenic nature of the murine disease. Two such genes were mapped on chromosome 1. One, associated with diabetes onset, is strongly linked with the Lsh, Ity, bcg genes encoding for resistance against L. donovani, S. typhimurium and Mycobacterium. We have undertaken to phenotype NOD mice with regard to one of these resistance genes. After infection with Salmonella abortusovis, we found that NOD mice bore the resistant phenotype/Ityr, which is responsible for early resistance against Salmonella infection. |
8044699 | Characterization of a molecular clone of a highly infectious avian leukosis virus. | A highly infectious avian leukosis virus (ALV) has been molecularly cloned in a Lambda phage and sequenced. In order to manipulate the genome of this ALV and characterize the genetic determinants responsible for the high infectivity phenotype, a recombinant plasmid DNA with the two LTR provirus was constructed. Upon transfection of avian cells with this ALV DNA construct infectious viruses were produced as soon as 4 h after transfection and virus titer was 10(5) iu/ml after 24 h while that of the extensively characterized Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) was only 10(1) iu/ml. Nucleotide sequence comparison of the ALV genome with that of RSV indicates that the major differences are in the Gag gene while the Env gene is identical to that of RSV subgroup A. To map the major genetic determinants responsible for the high infectivity phenotype of this ALV, ALV/RSV chimeric viruses were constructed and their phenotype investigated. Data indicate that the high infectivity of this ALV is mainly associated with Gag and this could be due to a rapid processing of the Gag polyprotein precursor during virion assembly. Sequence analyses further suggest that this ALV isolate was generated by recombination between endogenous and exogenous viruses, and a possible mechanism of this recombination is discussed. This ALV molecular clone is presently used to develop improved helper cells and retroviral vectors for gene transfer in avian cells. |
8044698 | [Cloning and sequence of thyrotropin beta subunit of a teleost fish: the eel (Anguilla anguilla L.)]. | We obtained the sequence of eel thyrotropin beta-subunit cDNA. About 1,100 bp long, it encodes a 147-amino acid protein including a 20-residue signal peptide. We analyse homologies between angTSH beta and the other known beta-subunits taking in account the ability of mammal gonadotropins (GTH) to stimulate teleost thyroid. A peptide corresponding to mammalian CAGYC (implicated in subunit association) is original and different from its eel beta GTH2 counterpart. |
8044697 | Spatial distribution of viable cells immobilized in agar membranes. | The biocatalytic structures obtained by immobilizing microorganisms in planar gel slabs have been studied and modeled to better understand the dynamics of systems controlled by diffusion-reaction-growth couplings. The theoretical results give two kinds of information: the time evolution of the extra-membrane system due to the intra-membrane reactions which can easily be compared to experiments, and the intra-membrane behaviour which is mainly characterized by the concentration profiles. The steady state cell concentration profile is one of the most important elements of a system's behaviour. In addition to photographs taken at different depths in the membrane, we have developed an original, simple and reproducible technique for the experimental determination of the intra-membrane cell concentration profiles. The technique uses a home-made microtome to obtain gel slices, in which the cell concentration is determined using visible spectroscopy. By using this technique, we have shown a good agreement between the theoretical predictions and the experimental profiles, which validates the modeling. |
8044696 | [Fertilization and development of axolotl oocytes with already grey crescent experimentally formed during their maturation]. | Pigmented axolotl coelomic oocytes were induced to form a gray crescent by simultaneous action of a gravity vector and of a heat-shock (36 +/- 0.5 degree C during 10-15 min), according to a previously described method. Those oocytes were subsequently reintroduced into the coelomic cavity of an albino recipient female, which had been previously inseminated. Among fertilized treated oocytes, more than 75% developed into embryos whose dorsal side corresponded to the gray crescent-forming area of the oocyte. It is known that in normally fertilized control eggs, a gray crescent forms just prior to the first cleavage and corresponds in most cases to the dorsal side of the future embryo. Therefore, our results strongly suggest that fertilization is not a primary compulsory step towards effective determination of the future dorsal area in an Amphibian egg, since the required cytoplasmic rearrangements can be elicited much earlier in a maturing oocyte and remain effective during subsequent development. |
8044695 | [Proposition of a new classification of the phylum of the protozoa Ciliophora Doflein, 1901]. | It is proposed to use all the presently available molecular, ultrastructural, biological and ecological data on ciliates for the new classification of this group of protists. On the basis of the cortical organization and the mode of cilia anchoring as well as the degree of conservation of the cortical pattern during the process of morphogenesis, eleven classes (Karyorelictea, Heterotrichea, Hypotrichea, Oligotrichea, Plagiopylea, Colpodea, Litostomatea, Vestibuliferea, Phyllopharyngea, Nassophorea and Oligohymenophorea) have been distinguished. These classes, in turn, were, according to the "shell theory" of Fleury and coworkers (1992), grouped into three subphyla: Tubulicorticata (presence of the cortical microtubular lattices), Filicorticata (characteristic ecto-endoplasmic microfibrillar boundary) and Epiplasmata (presence of a sub-membraneous epiplasmic layer). |
8044694 | The muscle specific promoter of chick beta tropomyosin gene requires helix-loop-helix myogenic regulatory factors and ubiquitous transcription factors. | The chick beta tropomyosin (TM) gene has two alternative transcription initiation start sites which are used in muscle or non muscle tissue. A recombinant plasmid containing 805 nucleotides (nt) of the sequence upstream to the muscle CAP site driving the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene is sufficient for muscle specific expression. Of the two E boxes present in this construct, only the E box proximal to the CAP site is functional since deletion or mutation of this E box causes a decrease of CAT activity (about 40%). Separate mutation of Sp1 motifs also reduces the transcription driven by the 805nt fragment. Double mutation of E box and Sp1 motifs show that helix-loop-helix muscle regulatory factors and ubiquitous Sp1 transcription factor are required in the initiation of the transcription of the chick beta TM gene in muscle tissue. Our results also suggest that other factors may participate to this process. |
8044693 | Dream report length is more dependent on arousal level than prior REM duration. | Twenty two young adult subjects (Ss) were monitored for 2 consecutive nights in the sleep laboratory. Each S was awakened three times per night: at sleep onset and during the second (REMP2) and fourth (REMP4) REM periods. Length of time in each REMP prior to awakening was either 5 or 10 min, counterbalanced on successive nights. Sleep mentation reports were obtained by standardized interview and scored for total word count (TWC). TWC after 5 min of prior REM sleep did not differ significantly from TWC after 10 min of prior REM sleep. However, mean TWC from REMP4 awakenings was almost twice that from REMP2 awakenings. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the amount of recall from experimental REM awakenings depends on central arousal level and its effects on mnemonic processes. |
8044692 | Cocaine-induced deficits in ACTH and corticosterone responses in female rat progeny. | The objective of this study was to determine whether prenatal exposure to cocaine could produce functional changes in central serotonergic systems mediating neuroendocrine responses in female progeny. Pregnant rats were administered either saline or (-) cocaine (15 mg/kg, SC, b.i.d.) from gestational day 13-20. Progeny were fostered to nontreated lactating dams at birth. Central serotonergic function was determined by the ability of a serotonin releaser, p-chloroamphetamine (PCA), to stimulate plasma adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), corticosterone, and renin secretion in female progeny at postnatal day (PD) 30. Prenatal cocaine did not alter basal levels of ACTH, corticosterone, or renin. In contrast, ACTH and corticosterone responses to the 5-HT releaser PCA were significantly attenuated (-28% to 43%) in cocaine progeny, while the renin response to PCA was unaffected. These data suggest that cocaine administration during pregnancy can produce long-term selective alterations in neuroendocrine responses mediated by central serotonergic systems in prepubescent female progeny. |
8044691 | Macronutrient type independently of energy intake modulates hypothalamic neuropeptide Y in Long-Evans rats. | Neuropeptide Y (NPY) induces a robust feeding response when it is injected in the hypothalamus. It stimulates both carbohydrate and fat intakes. Diets rich in either macronutrient are known to induce obesity and to modify feeding behavior. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of long-term ingestion of these diets on hypothalamic NPY in relation with food intake and body weight gain and composition. For this purpose, three groups of weanling Long-Evans rats were fed either a well-balanced diet, a high-carbohydrate (HC) diet (high starch plus 25% sucrose solution), or a high-fat (HF) diet during 14 weeks. Body weight and food intake were recorded during this period. At the end of the experiment, NPY was measured in several microdissected brain areas, and some adipose tissues (AT) depots were sampled. HF rats weighed significantly more than the two other groups (p < 0.02). They were also fattier (+ 30-50% in AT weights; p < 0.01). Energy intake (EI) of the HC rats was significantly greater than that of the control (+ 15%; p < 0.02) and HF rats (+ 34%; p < 0.01) during the week preceding killing. EI of HF rats over the whole experiment was lower than that of the two groups (p < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) |
8044690 | Changes in sciatic nerve and spinal cord function induced by a CNS viral infection. | Electrophysiologic response characteristics of mouse sciatic nerve and spinal cord were investigated following CNS infection with the temperature-sensitive (ts) vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) mutant G31 KS5. Measurements were obtained before clinical symptoms of the virus-induced CNS disease appeared. Sciatic nerve peak conduction velocities were not different between virus and control inoculated groups. For all control groups, sciatic nerve response (SNR) recovery, characterized by the amplitude ratio of double pulse-evoked responses, followed a facilitation-depression time course. By 4 days after VSV inoculation, the time course of SNR recovery changed with the SNR amplitude ratios significantly depressed compared to control. Crossed spinal responses (CSRs) were measured from one sciatic nerve in response to stimulation of the contralateral sciatic nerve. For all control groups, CSR recovery, as characterized by area ratios calculated from single and double pulse evoked responses, followed a facilitation-depression time course. By 5 days after VSV inoculation, the time course of CSR recovery changed with the CSR area ratios significantly depressed compared to control. The results show that simple electrophysiologic techniques can be used to detect virus-induced changes in sciatic nerve and spinal cord previously undetectable by clinical measures. |
8044689 | Spatial working memory score of humans in a large radial maze, similar to published score of rats, implies capacity close to the magical number 7 +/- 22. | To compare the working memory (WM) capacity of humans to rats, we tested humans with a 17-arm radial maze and, in a follow up experiment, with a 13-arm radial maze. Both mazes were 15.2 meters in diameter, painted on a grassy field. In one version of the 13-arm experiment, we required a concurrent nonsense vocalization to impede subjects' use of language to remember locations. Subjects were instructed to choose arms of the radial maze unsystematically--as rats generally appear to do--and to visit the end of each arm only once. In additional procedures, we tested working memory capacity in a verbal task that is more analogous to the radial maze than is the typical ordered recall test. Subjects were asked to try to recite a sequence of 17 numbers (i.e., 18 through 34) or letters (A through Q) in unsystematic order, with no repeats. In another experiment subjects recited 13 numbers (14-26) or letters (A-M). In all tests, subjects were allowed only as many responses as there were distinct items (17 or 13, respectively). Average correct-response (nonrepeat) scores were 14.4 for the 17-arm maze and 14.1 for both of the verbal 17-item tests; these scores are close to the reported score for rats in a 17-arm radial maze. Average scores were between 10.8 and 11.4 in all of the 13-item maze and recitation tasks.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) |
8044688 | Leukocyte involvement in cerebral infarct generation after ischemia and reperfusion. | White blood cell involvement in the generation of cerebral infarcts was evaluated following ischemia and reperfusion injury in the rat. Control and leukopenic rats (induced by vinblastine, WBC counts < 1500/mm3) were compared in a global forebrain ischemic model after 1 h of ischemia and 1 h 15 min of reperfusion. Cerebral infarcts were defined on coronal brain sections using Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. Electroencephalographic activity (EEG) and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) were also compared. Results indicate that the area infarcted in leukopenic rats was significantly less than infarcts generated in corresponding controls (21 +/- 16% vs. 70 +/- 16%). In addition, EEG was preserved in all leukopenic animals when compared to controls, both during ischemia and after reperfusion. The cortical peak component of the SSEP was also better preserved in the leukopenic animals both during ischemia and at 60 min of reperfusion. These results indicate white blood cell participation in the generation of cerebral damage in a model of global forebrain ischemia and reperfusion as indicated by TTC staining of cerebral infarcts. |
8044687 | Time course of purine protection against kainate-induced increase in hippocampal [3H]-PK11195 binding. | Binding of a peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligand was used to quantify the reactive gliosis resulting from neuronal damage induced by systemic injections of kainic acid 7 days previously. The enhancement of binding in rat hippocampus could be prevented by injections of the purine analogue (R)-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine at 25 microgram/kg up to 2 h before or after the toxin. These results indicate that the purine is able to prevent neurotoxicity by interrupting events occurring some time after kainate administration. |
8044686 | Microanatomical changes in the frontal cortex of aged rats: effect of L-deprenyl treatment. | The present study was designed to assess whether treatment with L-deprenyl has any effect on the age-related microanatomical changes in the rat frontal cortex. Male Sprague-Dawley rats of 19 months of age were treated until the 24th month with an oral daily dose of 1.25 mg/kg or of 5 mg/kg of L-deprenyl. Eleven-month-old untreated rats were used as an adult reference group. The density of nerve cell profiles and of glial fibrillary acidic protein-(GFAP) immunoreactive astroglial profiles, lipofuscin accumulation within the cytoplasm of pyramidal neurons, and MAO-B reactivity were assessed. A decreased density of nerve cell profiles and an increased density of astroglial profiles as well as augmented lipofuscin deposition and MAO-B reactivity were observed in the frontal cortex of rats of 24 months in comparison with 12-month-old animals. In the frontal cortex of rats treated with 5 mg/kg/day L-deprenyl, which is a dose inhibiting MAO-B activity, the density of nerve cell and GFAP-immunoreactive astrocyte profiles is increased and decreased respectively in comparison with age-matched untreated subjects. Lipofuscin deposition is reduced. The lower dose of L-deprenyl (1.25 mg/kg/day) which did not affect MAO-B activity, decreased lipofuscin deposition but was without effect on the density of nerve cell or GFAP-immunoreactive astrocyte profiles. The above findings suggest that treatment with L-deprenyl is able to counter some microanatomical changes occurring in the frontal cortex of aged rats. Some of these effects are probably not related to the inhibitory MAO-B activity of the compound. |
8044685 | Hormone and somatic changes in rats pair-fed to growth retarded dorsomedial hypothalamic nuclei-lesioned rats. | Rats with dorsomedial hypothalamic nuclei lesions (DMNL) are hypophagic and have reduced linear and ponderal growth, but have normal body composition and anabolic hormone concentrations. Previous studies have shown rats pair-fed to levels consumed (70-80% of ad lib) by DMNL rats, using a meal-feeding paradigm, have abnormal body composition and hormone concentrations. Whether the noted changes were due to restriction per se or method of food presentation was uncertain. In the present study, one group of sham-operated rats was pair fed (SHPF) by a computer-operated system that presented 45 mg food pellets in the exact amount and pattern as their DMNL yoked partner; another sham-operated group was ad lib fed (SHAD). At the end of Experiment 1 (11 days) and Experiment 2 (3 weeks) blood was collected for hormone and metabolite analyses; body compositions were also determined. Unlike an earlier report, the DMNL and SHPF groups had normal percentage body fat. Percentage carcass protein was similar in all groups at 11 days, but slightly elevated in DMNL rats at 3 weeks. Also, in contrast to an earlier study, plasma-free fatty acid levels were comparable in DMNL and SHPF rats. Plasma insulin was normal in the DMNL and SHPF rats at 11 days, but was lowered (p < 0.05) in the SHPF group at 3 weeks. Plasma thyroxine was reduced (p < 0.01) in the SHPF group at 11 days but returned to normal by 3 weeks. Thyroxine and triiodothyronine levels were normal in the DMNL groups. Plasma corticosterone levels were similar in all groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) |
8044684 | Evaluation of neuroprotection and behavioral recovery by the kappa-opioid, PD117302 following transient forebrain ischemia. | The effects of the selective kappa-opioid, PD117302 ((+/-)-trans-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl) cyclohexyl]benzo[b]thiophene-4-acetamide), on transient (15 min) global forebrain ischemia, induced by four-vessel occlusion, was evaluated using a multiple fixed-ratio, fixed-interval schedule of food presentation in rats. The schedule produced distinctive patterns of responding in the fixed-ratio and fixed-interval components. Ischemia produced CA1 hippocampal necrosis and prolonged suppression of responding under both schedule components. When responding resumed, the pattern of responding rapidly returned. Response disruption and CA1 hippocampal necrosis were minimal or nonexistent in sham-occluded rats. Behavioral recovery time under both components of the schedule of reinforcement correlated with CA1 necrosis. On average, CA1 necrosis was less, and behavioral recovery time was shorter, in rats treated with PD117302 postocclusion as compared with vehicle-treated rats. The difference, however, did not reach statistical significance. These results demonstrate the utility of schedule-controlled responding for evaluating potentially therapeutic compounds for the treatment of ischemic injury. These results also further characterize the neuroprotective actions of kappa opioids. |
8044683 | Interleukin-2 does not cross the blood-brain barrier by a saturable transport system. | Blood-borne interleukin-2 (IL-2), like other cytokines, is known to affect the central nervous system (CNS). One mechanism by which circulating substances can alter brain function is to directly cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). We investigated the ability of IL-2 to cross the BBB, the interface between the periphery and the CNS. IL-2 labeled with 125I (I-IL-2) was injected into mice intravenously and its rate of entry into the brain determined by multiple-time regression analysis. I-IL-2 was found to enter the brain about 10 times faster than albumin. Neither morphine nor antibodies to IL-2, IL-1 alpha, or the IL-1 receptor affected the entry of I-IL-2. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) confirmed that the radioactivity entering the brain represented intact cytokine. However, excess unlabeled IL-2 was unable to impede the entry of I-IL-2, indicating that this transport is nonsaturable. This contrasts with saturable transport systems found for the cytokines IL-1 alpha and TNF-alpha, but still may explain how IL-2 can exert central effects. |
8044682 | Processing articles and pronouns in agrammatic aphasia: evidence from French. | The hypothesis that closed-class items which participate in theta-role assignment are less problematic in agrammatism than items which do not (Rizzi, 1985) is put to an empirical test. Five French-speaking agrammatic patients were tested in a sentence-picture matching paradigm to probe their comprehension of sentences containing articles, which are not involved in theta-role assignment, and of sentences containing pronouns, which in the direct object position are homophonous with articles and are theta-role assignees. Gender was used as a variable to differentiate between target and distractor. The data indicate that pronouns are significantly more difficult to process than articles. This result disconfirms the claim that the availability of grammatical information encoded in closed-class items is a function of their involvement in theta-role assignment. The present study demonstrates that the ability to process gender marked articles is generally well preserved in French-speaking agrammatic patients. |
8044680 | Patterns of recovery and change in verbal and nonverbal functions in a case of crossed aphasia: implications for models of functional brain lateralization and localization. | We present a 2-year verbal and nonverbal follow-up of a crossed aphasic patient. The patient had suffered from widespread ischemic damage in the area of right middle cerebral artery, with a parieto-temporal lesion. Three months postonset he showed classical Wernicke's aphasia associated with oral, limb and constructional apraxia and left hemineglect. However, follow-up findings showed a complex, dynamic pattern entirely consistent with cognitive models of language and nonlanguage abilities. Current models of functional brain lateralizations could not satisfactorily account for such longitudinal, fine-grain observations. |
8044681 | Is speech temporally segmented? Comparison with temporal segmentation in behavior. | Phrase durations in spoken German and Korean were examined for temporal segmentation like that in behavior. Lines of poetry, which may be regarded as semantic units equivalent to action units in behavior, were found to be temporally segmented but, unlike behavior, there is a significant effect of language/culture on segment length. The lengths of the pauses made between lines while reading poetry were used to define possible semantic segments in reading prose, retelling a story, free speech, and telephone messages. No temporal segmentation was found, each situation resulting in a different distribution of phrase durations. These results are discussed in terms of a possible evolution of language from the motor system. |
8044679 | Right hemisphere involvement in processing later-learned languages in multilinguals. | In two experiments, multilingual Papua New Guinean subjects were tested using a divided visual field technique designed to determine hemispheric laterality for English and for Tok Pisin. Various factors including age of acquisition, proficiency, mode of instruction, and number of years that the language had been used were considered in relation to language laterality. Only age of acquisition proved to be a significant contributor to the laterality effects obtained; older acquirers of both English and Tok Pisin showed greater right hemisphere involvement than early acquirers. Although proficiency did not seem to be related to language laterality, it too was systematically affected by acquisition age. Older acquirers of English performed significantly poorer than younger acquirers on all four of the language-usage tests given. The strong influence of acquisition age on cerebral laterality for language and proficiency is interpreted as supporting a critical period for language learning. |
8044678 | Influence of language structure on brain-behavior development. | Lack of exposure to specific sensory patterns during critical periods of development can result in a lack of responsiveness to those stimuli in adulthood. The present study extends these observations to native speakers of Japanese, a language which does not contain the contrastive /r/ and /l/ sounds present in English. Both electrophysiological (P3 event-related evoked potential) and behavioral results indicate deficient or absent discrimination of /r/ versus /l/ sounds in Japanese adults compared to native speakers of English. Thus, language structure appears to provide a subtle yet measurable effect on specific aspects of brain development and function. |
8044677 | Language function in delirium: a comparison of single word processing in acute confusional states and probable Alzheimer's disease. | Thirteen patients suffering from transient acute confusional states (ACS) and 11 patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) who were comparable for age and Mini-Mental State score were investigated with a naming and a comprehension task. The latter included both words that were previously included in the naming task and unfamiliar items. With five patients of each group, the assessment was repeated 1 to 3 days later. The number of misnamings was comparable for both groups. An effect of word frequency upon naming success was found only with the AD group. Unrelated misnamings were significantly more frequent in the ACS group. Closer analysis suggested that part of the unrelated misnamings in the ACS patients were caused by visual misperceptions. Behavioral strategies aiming at the target were more frequently exhibited by Ad patients. Perseverations, especially of the intrusion type, were characteristic for ACS patients and only occasionally found with AD. There was an item consistency over time with naming failure in the AD, but not in the ACS group. Cross-modal performance consistency seemed greater in the ACS than in the AD group. |
8044676 | Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of patterns of cerebral language dominance. An amobarbital study. | As a part of presurgical evaluation, 173 patients received bilateral intracarotid amobarbital tests for determination of cerebral language dominance. Language testing during intracarotid amobarbital procedures (IAP) consisted of the following tasks: automatic speech, sentence comprehension, body commands, naming, repetition, reading, and spontaneous speech. Patterns of cerebral language dominance were evaluated and discussed on five levels of analysis: (1) quantification of language dominance on the basis of a lateralization index derived from the total language scores in each IAP; (2) determination of five dominance subpatterns (left or right dominant, strongly bilateral, and incomplete left or right dominant) according to quantification performed on level (1) and clinical judgement; (3) qualitative differentiation of three kinds of bilaterality (positive, negative, and general) according to total language performance in left and right IAP; (4) analysis of grouped linguistic subfunctions extracted from performance in specific IAP subtests; (5) extraordinary individual case histories. The distribution of lateralization indices revealed only partially continuous degrees of lateralization, especially between the left-dominant and bilateral subgroups. As for the clinically oriented classification, incomplete left dominance is frequent (16.2%), while incomplete right dominance does not occur at all. Atypical dominance patterns are mostly correlated to bilateral and/or extratemporal foci. Concerning grouped subfunctions, a rotated factor matrix statistic yields an analysis of clusters of IAP subtests, where functions involving expressive language capacities are separated from those that are purely receptive. Further analyses of bilaterality subpatterns suggest that there are mainly four bilaterality phenomena, namely interhemispheric dissociation, double representation, unilateral representation of subfunctions, and partial representation of subfunctions in either hemisphere. Application of these differentiations to individual cases yields additional evidence that can be used in patient selection for operation in order to avoid postoperative neuropsychological deficits, especially in candidates for extratemporal surgery. In conclusion, a multilevel analysis of IAP language data is recommended since it permits a detailed account of varieties of language dominance patterns and contributes to more adequate presurgical decision-making in planned operations in cognitively relevant brain areas. |
8044675 | Hemispheric asymmetry for processing unpronounceable and pronounceable letter trigrams. | In each of two experiments, observers attempted to identify three-letter strings presented briefly to the left visual field/right hemisphere (LVF/RH), to the right visual field/left hemisphere (RVF/LH), or to both visual fields (and hemispheres) simultaneously (redundant BILATERAL trials). Similar visual half-field effects were obtained for both all-consonant (CCC) strings and consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) nonwords. For both types of strings, there were fewer errors on RVF/LH trials than on LVF/RH trials and the pattern of error types was qualitatively different for the two visual fields. The similarity of visual half-field results for CCC and CVC strings indicates that results that have been reported in earlier studies with CVC strings are not restricted to letter strings that can be coded as a single pronounceable syllable, as some have suggested. Instead, the results are consistent with hypotheses about hemispheric differences in the ability to encode and remember individual letters in a multielement display. In addition, for both CCC and CVC letter strings there were fewer errors on redundant BILATERAL trials than on either type of unilateral trial, suggesting interhemispheric collaboration in both cases. However, the qualitative error patterns obtained on redundant BILATERAL trials suggest that the precise way in which the hemispheres collaborate differs with the type of letter string. |
8044674 | On-line sensitivity to subject-verb agreement violations in Broca's aphasics: the role of syntactic complexity and time. | This study examined on-line sensitivity to subject-verb agreement violations in patients with Broca's aphasia and age-matched controls using a word monitoring paradigm. The agreement violations were couched in either simple or complex syntactic frames. In a first experiment, these syntactic frames were immediately followed by the noun phrase containing the target, whereas in the second experiment a 750-msec separation was introduced. The main finding of the first experiment was that patients with Broca's aphasia showed an agreement effect only for simple (i.e., conjoined) sentences but not for complex (i.e., embedded) ones, while controls showed the expected agreement effect for both. The results of the second experiment demonstrated further that the 750-msec delay in target presentation abolished the agreement effect in Broca's aphasics but not in normal controls. The findings are interpreted to suggest that Broca's suffer from a pathological limitation in parsing capacity, giving rise to a faster than normal decay of syntactic information. |
8044673 | Phylogeny through brain traits: more characters for the analysis of mammalian evolution. | We have assembled data on nine brain traits, in addition to the fifteen we have previously described, which provide new evidence for assessing mammalian relationships. States of these characters are tabulated as they occur in each of 152 mammalian species, providing data in numerically ordered form, useful for multiple analyses of phylogenetic relationships in programs which take into account variations in several different characters simultaneously. Derived states of each of the nine traits are characteristic of certain restricted groups of mammals; (1) mirroring of the complete SI body representation in isocortex (anthropoid primates); (2) loss of the accessory olfactory bulbs (sirenians, cetaceans, most bats, catarrhine primates); (3) Rindenkerne, clumps of cell bodies in layer 6 of cerebral cortex (sirenians); (4) posteriorly-pointing digits in the SI body representation (bats, both mega- and micro-); (5) equivalent tectopetal connections to the anterior colliculus of one side from both retinas, rather than predominantly from the contralateral retina (primates and megabats); (6) loss of lamination in dorsal cochlear nuclei (anthropoid primates, bats, seals, sirenians, cetaceans); (7) separation of claustrum from cerebral cortex (diprotodont marsupials, carnivores, artiodactyls, perissodactyls, hyracoids, cetaceans and primates), (8) presence of a complete secondary (SII) somatic sensory region of cerebral cortex (therians-all extant mammals other than monotremes), and (9) presence of a distinct external cuneate nucleus among the nuclei of the dorsal columns (all mammalian groups except monotremes and sirenians). Two examples of phylogenetic trees derived from these data are presented. These sample trees maintain the segregation of the monotremes and the marsupials, and the basic dichotomy of placentals seen in our earlier trees based entirely on brain data. They also show: an orderly sequence of bifurcations (rather than the commonly seen multifurcation near the base of the radiation) in the reconstruction of placental relationships; extremes of derivation for the Cetacea, the Chiroptera, and the Sirenia (in concordance with trees based on other data); a ferungulate association of Carnivora, Perissodactyla, Artiodactyla, Hyracoidea and Sirenia; and an assemblage of related Dermoptera, Primates, Scandentia, and Chiroptera which in this model also includes Insectivora and Macroscelidea. Analyses based on brain characters can reinforce conclusions based on other data, while at the same time introducing new ideas about relationships. Neural traits provide a source of data independent of those commonly used in phylogenetic analysis, and are extremely valuable for testing old hypotheses and for introducing new ones.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) |
8044672 | Projection of brain stem neurons to the giant electromotoneurons in the cervical spinal cord of the electric catfish Malapterurus electricus. | Two giant electromotoneurons located within the cervical spinal cord form the centerpiece of the electromotor system in the electric catfish Malapterurus electricus. The cytoarchitectural organization suggests a high degree of input convergence onto the electromotoneurons. In order to obtain insights into the connectivities of the electromotor system, pre-neurons of the electromotoneurons within the brain stem and the spinal cord were labelled by application of FITC-dextran and horseradish peroxidase onto the surface of a single electromotoneuron. Our results show that the electromotoneurons receive their main inputs from the nucleus profundus mesencephali within the tegmentum and from large neurons of the medial reticular formation. Both nuclei possess an intimate connection to the optic tectum which mediates orientation responses. This pathway to the electromotoneurons could be instrumental in eliciting electric organ discharge during prey catching. The electric avoidance response in turn could be mediated by the Mauthner neurons which are also labelled. In addition to these neurons, cells of the nucleus fasciculi longitudinalis medialis, the descending octaval nucleus and the nucleus funicularis medialis were labelled. As compared to the corresponding neurons in ictalurid catfish, none of these neurons displays any alteration in its general morphology. It is concluded that the evolution of the electric organ from muscle tissue and the development of a central control system of the electromotor response in Malapterurus involved a minimum of alterations in central nervous system circuitry. In contrast to many other electric fishes the electromotor control is mainly accomplished at the level of the electromotoneurons. |
8044671 | Are neuromotor systems conserved in evolution? | Hypotheses that neuromotor systems are conserved during evolution are examined. Focus is on the fundamental assumption underlying such hypotheses, that neuromotor patterns are homologous. The criteria for testing hypotheses of homology are briefly reviewed and applied to several cases in which neuromotor conservatism has been proposed. It is concluded that few studies of neuromotor conservatism are complete enough to convincingly corroborate a hypothesis of homology. Particular problems include an absence of specific definitions of the parameters designating the conserved neuromotor pattern and the lack of sufficiently broad and detailed phylogenetic tests. The hypothesis that terrestrially feeding vertebrates exhibit a conservative feeding program, which has acted as a constraint in evolution, receives particular attention and it is concluded that existing data do not support this hypothesis. |
8044669 | Rotavirus infection in calves, piglets, lambs and goat kids in Trinidad. | Faecal samples from diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic calves, piglets, lambs and goat kids were collected and screened by a latex agglutination test to detect the presence of group A rotavirus antigen. Of a total of 470 animals screened, 138 (29.4%) had faecal samples positive for rotavirus antigen. The prevalences of infection were 27.7% (73/264) in calves, 27.8% (45/162) in piglets, 48.6% (18/37) in lambs and 28.6% (2/7) in goat kids. Rotavirus antigen was not detected in calves and lambs < 1 week old and in piglets < 2 weeks old. The highest prevalence was found in calves between the ages 1-6 weeks (72.6%); piglets, 2-8 weeks (91.1%) and in lambs 1-8 weeks (88.9%). The overall prevalence of infection was 39.9% for diarrhoeic and 13.4% for non-diarrhoeic animals and the difference was statistically significant (P < or = 0.001; X2). Differences among husbandry systems in relation to the prevalence of rotavirus infection were not statistically significant (P > or = 0.05; X2). The relatively high prevalence of rotavirus infection in the young animals tested, coupled with the detected significantly higher infection rates in diarrhoeic animals, indicate that rotavirus may be important in livestock diarrhoea in Trinidad. |
8044667 | Plasma enzymes and metabolites as potential prognostic indices of ovine pregnancy toxaemia--a preliminary study. | Three ewes with naturally occurring pregnancy toxaemia and increased plasma glucose concentrations within 24 h of the onset of clinical signs, made a complete recovery following treatment with a concentrated oral rehydration solution. Four ewes in which plasma glucose concentrations fell did not recover. Ewes with elevated plasma alkaline phosphatase concentrations were slower to recover than ewes with normal plasma alkaline phosphatase concentrations. These findings suggest that plasma alkaline phosphatase concentration and change in plasma glucose concentration might offer useful prognostic indices in cases of ovine pregnancy toxaemia, and influence a decision to perform an elective caesarean operation. Further studies using a larger number of ketotic ewes are necessary before firm conclusions can be made. |
8044668 | Proximal suspensory desmitis in the hindlimb: 42 cases. | Proximal suspensory desmitis of the hindlimb was diagnosed using local analgesic techniques and ultrasonography in 42 horses. Subtarsal analgesia resulted in substantial improvement in lameness in 36 of 41 horses in which local analgesic techniques were used. In the remaining five horses lameness was improved by perineural analgesia of the tibial nerve (three) or the tibial and fibular nerves. Intra-articular analgesia of the tarso-metatarsal joint produced a similar degree of improvement in two of 24 horses in which lameness had been improved by subtarsal analgesia. Ultrasonographic abnormalities of the proximal one third of the suspensory ligament of the lame limb only were detected in 36 of the 37 unilaterally lame horses. Abnormalities were detected in both suspensory ligaments in the five bilaterally lame horses and in one horse with unilateral lameness. Radiographic abnormalities of the proximal aspect of the third metatarsal bone of the lame or lamer limb were detected in 23 horses. Four horses have been in full work for more than 1 year without recurrent lameness. Two other horses resumed full work but had lameness due to another cause. Six horses are in light work despite mild lameness. Sixteen horses have been retired or humanely destroyed due to persistent or recurrent lameness. |
8044665 | Flunixin in the cat: a pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic and toxicological study. | There are relatively few non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for which basic pharmacokinetic and toxicological data are available in the cat. This paper describes some pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of flunixin in this species. Six healthy adult female cats were given 1.0 mg kg-1 flunixin meglumine orally daily for 7 consecutive days. Indwelling catheters were placed on the day preceding the first and last flunixin doses and 2 ml blood samples were taken for flunixin and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) assay before dosing and at 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 24 h after the first and the last doses of flunixin. Blood samples for haematology were taken before any treatment had been given and on treatment days 4 and 7 as well as 7 days after the end of treatment. On the first day of dosing, Cmax ranged from 0.45-6.94 micrograms ml-1 flunixin and the mean plasma concentration was greatest at 1 h (2.46 micrograms ml-1). No flunixin was detected by 24 h. After 7 days dosing, Cmax ranged from 0.47-2.46 micrograms ml-1. The mean plasma concentration was again greatest at 1 h but was lower (1.68 micrograms ml-1) than on the first day of treatment. No flunixin was detected beyond 5 h after dosing. The area under the plasma concentration time curve 0-24 h on the first day was 6.82 +/- 1.85 micrograms ml-1h-1 and 3.32 +/- 0.73 micrograms ml-1h-1 on the seventh day. On the first treatment day, serum TXB2 was inhibited by at least 75% in all post-treatment samples up to 7 h but on the seventh day it was reduced only at 1 and 2 h after dosing. Serum TXB2 was significantly higher on the seventh treatment day compared with the first at 3, 5 and 7 h after dosing. No abnormal clinical signs were seen and appetite was unaffected throughout the study. Most biochemical and haematological values remained within normal limits although alanine aminotransferase increased from 11.4-21.3 iu l-1 on day 7 without any other evidence of abnormality. The data suggest that the cats developed tolerance to flunixin although it is not known whether this was due to liver enzyme induction or reduced drug absorption. It is interesting that the cat, despite its reputation for inability to eliminate NSAIDs, has a relatively short flunixin half life and appears to develop tolerance to the drug. |
8044666 | Antimicrobial susceptibility of Streptococcus suis isolates. | The antimicrobial activities of penicillin (PEN), ampicillin (AMP), cephalothin (CT), trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), streptomycin (STM), and gentamicin (GM) against 122 representative strains of Streptococcus suis, were compared by the agar dilution procedure. The current US National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) breakpoints for non-enterococcal streptococci were used for PEN, AMP, CT, and TMP-SMX. Overall, 50% of strains were not fully susceptible to PEN, whereas these percentages for AMP and CT were 9% and 6% respectively. One strain was resistant to TMP-SMX. High-level GM resistance could not be detected, but more than 46% of strains were highly resistant to STM (MIC > 2000 mg l-1). This high percentage of resistance to STM precludes the use of this aminoglycoside-penicillin combination as empiric therapy in severe S. suis infections. These results should prompt microbiology laboratories to carry out antimicrobial susceptibility tests on a routine basis on S. suis isolates. |
8044664 | Thermoregulation in the horse in response to exercise. | Conversion of stored energy into mechanical energy during exercise is relatively inefficient with approximately 80% of the energy being given off as heat. Relative to many species the horse suffers an apparent disadvantage by possessing a high metabolic capacity yet a small surface area for dissipation of heat, particularly as evaporation of sweat is the major method of heat dissipation. Under most conditions of exercise at least two-thirds of the metabolic heat load is dissipated via this means with sweat losses of more than 10 l h-1 reported. The remaining exercise-induced heat load must be stored (reflected by an increase in core temperature), dissipated across the respiratory tract or lost via other mechanisms. Respiratory heat loss can account for dissipation of more than 25% of the metabolic heat load during exercise. Under conditions where ambient temperature and humidity are high, evaporative heat loss will be limited thereby posing an increased risk of thermal stress if exercise is continued. Additionally, concurrent dehydration reduces conductance of heat from core to periphery, further increasing the risk of heat induced illness. A basic understanding of the thermoregulatory responses in the exercising horse is imperative if heat induced illnesses are to be avoided. If they do occur rapid recognition and effective management are essential. |
8044661 | Counselling following diagnosis of fetal abnormality: a comparison between German, Portuguese and UK geneticists. | The principle of non-directiveness in genetic counselling is embraced by all relevant professional bodies. Little is known about the extent to which it is endorsed by geneticists, or incorporated into their clinical practice. The aim of the current study is to document how geneticists in three European countries, Germany, Portugal and the UK, report counselling women at risk for having children with a range of conditions. While geneticists in all three countries reported counselling in a largely non-directive style, this varied both across genetic conditions and between countries. German and Portuguese geneticists were significantly more directive than UK geneticists, although they differed in the way in which they were directive. German geneticists were more likely to encourage continuation of pregnancies, while Portuguese geneticists were more likely to encourage termination of affected pregnancies. There was no strong consensus on approaches to counselling for any of the genetic conditions, defined as agreement between 70% of all three groups of geneticists. Despite strong professional codes of non-directiveness, geneticists report being somewhat directive in some counselling situations. Future research needs to focus on what geneticists are trying to achieve in genetic counselling, how they actually counsel, and with what effects. |
8044660 | A systematic search for uniparental disomy in carriers of chromosome translocations. | A systematic search was made for uniparental disomy in carriers of apparently balanced chromosome translocations who also had unexplained abnormalities of mental or physical development. Of 65 families studied, biparental origin of both translocated chromosomes was demonstrated in 64, and only 1 case of maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 14 was detected in the carrier of a Robertsonian t(13q14q). We conclude that uniparental disomy is a rare occurrence in this population. |
8044659 | Difference in frequencies of the cystic fibrosis alleles, delta F508 and W1282X, between carriers and patients. | One major mutation, delta F508, causing cystic fibrosis (CF) is found in most populations around the world. Among CF patients of Jewish Ashkenazi origin two major mutations, W1282X and delta F508 were found. We compared the relative frequencies of the two major mutations found in this patient population to their relative frequencies in the healthy population. The studied patient population included the entire CF Jewish Ashkenazi patient population in Israel (238 chromosomes), and a small group of Jewish Ashkenazi patients in the USA (57 chromosomes). Among these, 79 (27%) chromosomes carried the delta F508 mutation, and 151 (51%) the W1282X mutation. In addition, we have analyzed the results of screening 1,946 unrelated healthy Jewish Ashkenazi individuals for the delta F508 and the W1282X mutations. Surprisingly, an almost equal number of carriers of the delta F508 (35) and W1282X (36) was found. The difference between the relative proportions of the mutations in the two groups is statistically significant (p = 0.025). A striking manifestation of this difference is revealed in the analysis of patients' genotypes. There were 36 patients homozygous for W1282X, while only 7 patients were homozygous for delta F508, although the number of delta F508 carriers in the general Jewish Ashkenazi population is almost equal to the number of W1282X carriers. This difference in allele frequencies found between healthy carriers and CF patients in the Jewish Ashkenazi population might not be unique to this ethnic group nor to the CF disease. The results indicate that the common practice of inferring general population epidemiologic parameters directly from patients information is liable to introduce biases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) |
8044658 | Assignment of granular corneal dystrophy Groenouw type I (CDGG1) to chromosome 5q. | Granular corneal dystrophy Groenouw type I (CDGG1) is an autosomal dominant disease with complete penetrance. 124 blood samples were collected from a single Danish pedigree of seven generations. Linkage was discovered with markers on chromosome 5q, with IL9 (Z = 15.96; theta M = 0.027, theta F = 0.00) and D5S436 (Z = 11.75; theta M = 0.00, theta F = 0.081) flanking the disease locus most closely. The marker IL9 is located in the region 5q22-q32. By multilocus linkage analysis the most likely position of CDGG1 among 9 markers was: D5S396-IL9-CDGG1-D5S436-D5S210/D5S207++ +-D5S434-D5S119-D5S211 and CDGG1-D5S402-D5S434. In each of two independent small pedigrees, in which a milder form of CDGG1 occurs, the disease gene was also linked to IL9 (Z = 3.02 at theta = 0.0 in males and females); i.e. the severe and the milder forms may be allelic. |
8044657 | Transition from normal to premutated alleles in fragile X syndrome results from a multistep process. | In fragile X syndrome, the most common cause of inherited mental retardation, phenotypic expression has been linked to a region containing a repetitive sequence, (CGG)n, that appears to lengthen dramatically in fragile X patients and to show length variation in normal individuals. In order to investigate possible mechanisms responsible for further expansion of CGG in the normal population, we selected 31 normal unrelated X chromosomes carrying either the high-risk DX204-AC155 or DX196-AC151 haplotypes, as defined by the flanking microsatellites, DXS548 and FRAXAC2. Nearly 100% of CGGs with more than 35 repeats were found on DX204-AC155 haplotypes, with a mean length significantly higher and much more variable than in normal individuals carrying other haplotypes including the high-risk haplotype DX196-AC151. These findings suggest that the transition from the normal to the abnormal range occurs by a multistep process, a primary event, such as unequal crossing-over, leading to increased size and moderate instability of the repeat, and from which DNA polymerase slippage could lead to recurrent premutations. Our results also suggest that the upper limit of the normal range is roughly 35 repeats in the fragile X gene. The 36-54 repeats range would define an intermediate allele only observed, up to now, in DX204-AC155 fragile X chromosomes. |
8044656 | Mutations in the muscle sodium channel gene (SCN4A) in 13 French families with hyperkalemic periodic paralysis and paramyotonia congenita: phenotype to genotype correlations and demonstration of the predominance of two mutations. | Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (hyperPP), paramyotonia congenita (PC) and PC with myotonia permanens are closely related muscle disorders of genetic origin due to allelic mutations in the muscle sodium channel gene, SCN4A. Seven families of French origin with hyperPP were studied. Five of these had the Thr704Met mutation, but 2 families, genetically linked to SCN4A, failed to show any of the known mutations of SCN4A. Correlations between the phenotype and the genotype were made for patients with the Thr704Met mutation. All 12 patients over 30 years old with the Thr704Met mutation presented muscle weakness due to degeneration of muscle fibers in addition to periodic paralysis. Only approximately 12.5% of patients with the Thr704Met mutation presented with clinical myotonia and about 50% with hyperkalemia. One family with PC displayed the Gly1306Val mutation with a phenotype similar to the one already reported for this mutation. Five families with either PC or PC with myotonia permanens had the Thr1313Met mutation indicating that the severity of myotonia and its permanence were variable. Two mutations of SCN4A were found to be predominant in these 13 families: the Thr704Met and the Thr1313Met mutations. Only 2 families with the Thr704Met mutation and 3 families with the Thr1313Met shared the same SCN4A haplotype determined with intragenic dinucleotide repeats. Recurrent mutations of SCN4A may contribute to the predominance of these two mutations in the French population. |
8044655 | Strong founder effect for the fragile X syndrome in Sweden. | We analyzed the FRAXAC2 and DXS548 microsatellites in normal and fragile X chromosomes from Sweden and the Czech Republic in order to investigate a possible founder effect for chromosomes carrying a fragile X mutation. We report a much stronger linkage disequilibrium between the marker haplotypes and the disease in Swedish fragile X chromosomes than in Czech and most other previously studied Caucasian populations. Two haplotypes accounted for 64% of Swedish fragile X chromosomes and for only 14% of normal chromosomes. Neither of these two haplotypes was found in Czech chromosomes, but the most common Swedish fragile X haplotype is the same as that reported to be predominant in Finnish fragile X patients. Linkage disequilibrium was observed in the Czech fragile X chromosomes but the haplotypes were more diverse and similar to those observed in other Caucasian populations. The most prevalent Swedish fragile X haplotype was traced back from affected males to common ancestors in the early 18th century. This indicates an apparently silent segregation of fragile X alleles through up to nine generations. The geographical distribution of the two major at-risk haplotypes in Sweden suggests that they were present among early settlers in different parts of the country. |
8044654 | DNA diagnostics of the Marfan syndrome: application of amplifiable polymorphic markers. | The diagnosis of Marfan syndrome (MFS) is still based on careful clinical examination. There are, however, many factors creating problems in the firm establishment of the correct diagnosis. After the identification of the defective gene in MFS, fibrillin 1 (FBN1), several mutations in this gene have been reported. Since so far all but one of the mutations in FBN1 have been family specific, a common diagnostic DNA test for all MFS patients is not to be expected in the near future. Here, we have utilized four polymorphic markers in the diagnostics in MFS families from different populations. Two of the markers, FBN1a and a novel FBN1b, are intragenic markers of FBN1 and two others, D15S103 (G113) and CYP19, are very close to and most probably flank FBN1. The combined use of the multiallelic markers proved highly useful in MFS diagnostics providing informativeness in all analysed families. |
8044653 | Limited expansion of the (CAG)n repeat of the Huntington gene: a premutation (?). | Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant disorder with choreic movements, psychiatric manifestations and cognitive dysfunction. Recently the IT15 gene on chromosome 4p has been identified containing an unstable and expanded trinucleotide repeat in patients with HD. We report on the characteristics of this repeat in 248 individuals from 41 Belgian HD families. The length of the expanded repeat was defined precisely and reproducibly on an ALF sequencer and correlated well with the age of onset (r = -0.72). Paternal transmission of the expanded repeat resulted on average in a significantly longer repeat length (+2.79 repeats) than maternal transmission (-0.29 repeats). (CAG)n repeat of a premutation (?) size was observed in this population with subsequent expansion in the disease range. Presymptomatic or prenatal testing using only linked markers may be problematic in these cases. |
8044652 | The 8993 mtDNA mutation: heteroplasmy and clinical presentation in three families. | The point mutation at bp 8993 of human mtDNA in the ATPase 6 gene is associated with neurogenic weakness, ataxia and retinitis pigmentosa, and with subacute necrotizing encephalomyelopathy (Leigh disease) when present at high copy number. In this study we describe three new multiplex families with the ATPase 8993 mtDNA mutation and demonstrate a correlation between the percentage heteroplasmy of this mutation and the clinical phenotype. By combining this study with previous data we produce a graph of age of onset of symptoms versus percentage heteroplasmy of the mutation. Finally, we determine that ATP synthesis with NAD-linked substrates in cultured lymphoblast mitochondria from three patients with Leigh disease who had a high percentage heteroplasmy was on average 66% of the rate seen in control lymphoblast mitochondria. Similar rates are observed in lymphoblast mitochondria isolated from patients with Leigh disease due to complex I deficiency. This percentage appears to be independent of the rate of electron transport in mitochondria from patient cell lines with the mtDNA 8993 mutation. |
8044650 | A simple method for prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 21 on uncultured amniocytes. | Prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 21 would be easier if fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) could be applied to interphase nuclei. Therefore, we prepared a chromosome-21-specific probe by in vitro enzymatic amplification of inter-Alu sequences from YAC clones previously localized to this chromosome. This probe was used for FISH on 22 uncultured amniocyte samples. An easy, rapid, and safe technique is proposed for the prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 21. |
8044649 | Screening for carriers of cystic fibrosis among pregnant women: a pilot study. | Cystic fibrosis (CF) is one of the most common hereditary disorders among Caucasians. In such populations a highly prevalent mutation causing CF, delta F508, has been identified. It comprises 88% of Danish CF mutations. This mutation and five others account for 90% of all CF mutations, making carrier screening on a population basis worthy of consideration. We have therefore performed a pilot screening programme for CF carriers among pregnant women. From June 1, 1990, for the following 2 years, 6,599 women were tested: 172 were heterozygous for delta F508. Three of 162 partners tested were also heterozygous for delta F508. After genetic counselling all three couples at risk for having a child with CF requested prenatal diagnosis. One fetus was homozygous for delta F508, and the pregnancy was terminated. With currently available techniques, the screening programme presented here causes no practical problems, and screening for CF carriers can easily be run on a larger scale. |
8044648 | Collaborative study of the molecular epidemiology of Tay-Sachs disease in Europe. | Tay-Sachs disease is a lipidosis due to the deficiency of the lysosomal hexosaminidase A. In order to understand the molecular mechanisms of this enzyme deficiency we studied 42 patients of different ethnic origins diagnosed in Europe. The strategy used consists in HEXA cDNA amplification followed by allele-specific oligonucleotide analysis for the frequent mutations, and by chemical cleavage mismatch and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis for the detection of new mutations. 90% of alleles were clarified in this way, showing a high heterogeneity of HEXA lesions in Tay-Sachs disease. 28 different mutations were found, 20 being identified for the first time in this group of patients. |
8044647 | A five-year prospective study of the health of children in different ethnic groups, with particular reference to the effect of inbreeding. | A 5-year prospective study of 4,934 children of different ethnic groups has demonstrated a 3-fold increase of postneonatal mortality and childhood morbidity in the offspring of consanguineous Pakistani parents. Most of these families contained more than one consanguineous union, resulting in a mean inbreeding coefficient for their children of 0.0686. It is estimated that 60% of the mortality and severe morbidity of this group of children could be eliminated if inbreeding ceased. However consanguinity is much favoured in this minority group, and health education will have to be carefully and sensitively handled. |
8044646 | Testing genomic imprinting in Wilm's tumor. | Data from 511 cases of Wilms' tumor in France (including 12 familial cases) and 8 pedigrees from the literature were analyzed to test three modifications of Knudson's classical bimutational theory, based on genomic imprinting in Wilms' tumor carcinogenesis. Analysis of data of age at diagnosis and segregation analysis were performed to determine the number of independent events for Wilms' tumor development and to search for a differential role of paternal and maternal alleles. Unexpectedly, we show that only one rare event is required for tumor development in isolated unilateral cases which are considered to be mainly nonhereditary. In familial cases, we observe no effect of the sex of the transmitting parent on either hge at diagnosis or segregation ratio. We show that this could be explained by models of genomic imprinting which assume two nonindependent events, or only one rare genetic event. In bilateral cases we show a bimodality for age at diagnosis which could be due to a mixture of hereditary and nonhereditary cases. This result completely questions the classical assumption according to which all bilateral cases would be hereditary. These findings support the hypothesis that this childhood cancer arises from a variety of etiological pathways and might be useful to find strategies for further molecular investigations. |
8044645 | Striking founder effect for the fragile X syndrome in Finland. | The fragile X mental retardation syndrome is caused by the expansion of an unstable CGG repeat in a 5' exon of the FMR1 gene. Significant linkage disequilibrium between this mutation and flanking microsatellite markers has been observed previously in Caucasian populations, a very unusual finding for an X-linked disease which severely impairs reproduction fitness in affected males. This reflects the multistep process at the origin of the full mutation. We have analyzed the FRAXAC2 and DXS548 microsatellites in 26 fragile X families originating from various parts of Finland, and report a striking founder effect much stronger than the linkage disequilibrium observed previously in other more heterogeneous populations. One DXS548 allele was present on 92% of fragile X chromosomes and on 17% of normal chromosomes. A single haplotype accounted for 73% of fragile X chromosomes, and was found only once in 34 normal chromosomes, corresponding to a relative risk of about 90 compared to its absence. The broad geographic origin of the high-risk haplotype and its expected frequency suggest that it was present in initial settlers of Finland, and could thus have been carried silently through 100 generations. |
8044642 | Post-emergency epidemiological surveillance in Iraqi-Kurdish refugee camps in Iran. | In 1991 a computerized, comprehensive epidemiological surveillance system was developed to monitor health trends in approximately 25,000 acutely displaced Kurds in Nowsood and Saryas refugee camps, Bakhtaran region, Northwestern Iran. In addition, community-based surveys offered information unobtainable from health facilities. Weekly population movements, attack rates, point-prevalence estimates, and case fatality ratios were calculated, and the data were analysed and compared. The overall crude mortality rate (CMR) in the camps under study was still 9 times higher than the reported CMR for Iraq. Health problems with very low rates (less than 1.0/1,000 population/week) included the triad of measles, meningitis and tetanus. However, morbidity for the most common conditions (acute respiratory infections, diarrhoea, skin infections, eye diseases and, finally, typhoid fever) was shown to increase at the end of the intervention, highlighting that the pressure of repatriation on refugees made them progressively worse. This article concludes that epidemiological surveillance systems should be implemented during mass-migrations in developing countries also in post-emergency settings. Furthermore, surveillance appears to be indispensable in order for the international agencies to keep abreast of events and to safeguard human rights when international attention subsides. |
8044641 | Military participation in emergency humanitarian assistance. | Military forces of the United States and other countries possess training, equipment and capabilities that are suited for work in disaster preparedness and assistance. Information on the use of military units in domestic and foreign disaster-related efforts, particularly by United States forces in the medical area, was obtained by review of the literature and unpublished military reports, and from interviews with people who have been involved with disaster-related activities. The historical reasons for viewing United States forces as resources in disaster situations are identified. Additionally, issues and problems related to disaster preparedness and assistance in general, and more specifically, to the past and future use of military personnel for this mission are examined. The need for a defined military mission for emergency humanitarian assistance and the need for a military organizational structure to support this mission are identified. Once these two critical issues have been properly addressed, the United States military should participate in the establishment of a disaster institute for joint civilian-military disaster planning and training, in both domestic and foreign areas. |
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