Is electrogastrography a substitute for manometric studies in children with functional gastrointestinal disorders?

We performed simultaneous fasting and fed antroduodenal manometry and EGG in 25 children with functional bowel disorders. Three patients (12%) had an uninterpretable EGG. The manometric studies showed severe neuropathy in six patients; milder neuropathic changes in five patients; postprandial hypomotility in one patient; myopathy in four patients, and normal motility in the remaining six patients. The percentage of tachygastria time (frequency > 3.5 cycles/min) was higher in the patiens with mild (44.1 +/- 15.8%) and severe (48 +/- 19.1%) neuropathy than in the patients with myopathy (20 +/- 16.2%, P < 0.05) or with normal motility (23 +/- 13.3%, P < 0.05). There was a considerable overlap in the percentage of tachygastria and total arrhythmia time among the different study groups. The ratio of post- to preprandial power was significantly higher (2.5 +/- 0.07) in children with normal motility than in the other patients groups. Every child with total arrhythmia time < 35% and a ratio of post- to preprandial power > 2.4 had normal manometry. In summary, EGG differentiated groups of children with normal manometry from others with neuropathic or myopathic changes, but in a minority of patients the study was not interpretable and there was overlap in EGG results between children with normal and abnormal manometry.     

Effect of maturation on alpha-adrenoceptor activity in newborn piglet mesentery

To characterize the mesenteric alpha1- and alpha2-adrenoceptor populations in newborn piglets, an extracorporeal circuit was established to control intestinal blood flow in 0- to 2-day old and 10- to 14-day old animals. In both groups, alpha-adrenoceptor activation was first documented by observing dose-dependent increases in mesenteric perfusion pressure after intramesenteric arterial injection of alpha-adrenoceptor agonists. In the 10- to 14-day old piglets, mesenteric vasoconstrictor responses to alpha1-adrenoceptor agonists (methoxamine and norepinephrine) and an alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist (BHT-933) were each blunted (P < 0.05, analysis of variance) by peripheral intravenous injections of prazosin (an alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist) and yohimbine (an alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist), respectively. The mesenteric vasoconstrictor responses to those agonists were not significantly attenuated by prazosin or yohimbine in 0- to 2-day old animals, nor were they blunted by YM-12617 (alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist) or idazoxan (alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist)--compounds that are structurally unrelated to prazosin and yohimbine, respectively. In addition, mesenteric vasoconstrictor responses to other known vasoconstrictor agents--angiotensin II, neuropeptide Y, and a thromboxane A2 mimic (U-46619)--were not effected in either age group by prazosin or yohimbine, implying these agents act independently of alpha-adrenoceptor mechanisms. These data suggest that (1) there exists functional mesenteric alpha1- and alpha2-adrenoceptor-like activity in 10- to 14-day old piglets that, in 0- to 2-day old animals, is not specifically expressed; and (2) mesenteric alpha-adrenoceptor function becomes more selective as newborn piglets mature.     

"Adolescent psychopathology: I. Prevalence and incidence of depression and other DSM-III—R disorders in high school students": Correction.

Reports an error in the original article by P. M. Lewinsohn et al ( Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1993[Feb], Vol 102[1], 133–244). On page 140, in the Total Incidence columns in Table 4, the data for the Attention Deficit row should be switched with that for the Conduct row. (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in record 1993-25780-001.) Data were collected on the point and lifetime prevalences, 1-yr incidence, and comorbidity of depression with other Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-III-Revised (DSM-III-R) disorders in a randomly selected sample (n?=?1,710) of high school students at point of entry and at 1-yr follow-up (n?=?1,508). The Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children was used to collect diagnostic information; 9.6% met criteria for a current disorder, more than 33% had experienced a disorder over their lifetimes, and 31.7% of the latter had experienced a 2nd disorder. High relapse rates were found for all disorders, especially for unipolar depression (18.4%) and substance use (15.0%). Female Ss had significantly higher rates at all age levels for unipolar depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and adjustment disorders; male Ss had higher rates of disruptive behavior disorders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Postviral gastroparesis: presentation, treatment, and outcome

We describe the clinical features and long-term outcome of 11 children who had persistent gastroparesis after an acute viral illness, eight of whom tested positive for rotavirus. Gastric emptying was delayed in the 10 children evaluated with scintigraphy. Antroduodenal manometry confirmed postprandial antral hypomotility in 10 subjects. All children recovered within 6 to 24 months.     

Adolescent psychopathology: II. Psychosocial risk factors for depression.

In a prospective study of adolescent depression, adolescents (N?=?1,508) were assessed at Time 1 and after 1 yr (Time 2) on psychosocial variables hypothesized to be associated with depression. Most psychosocial variables were associated with current (n?=?45) depression. Formerly depressed adolescents (n?=?217) continued to differ from never depressed controls on many of the psychosocial variables. Many of the depression-related measures also acted as risk factors for future depression (n?=?112), especially past depression, current other mental disorders, past suicide attempt, internalizing behavior problems, and physical symptoms. Young women were more likely to be, to become, and to have been depressed. Controlling for the psychosocial variables eliminated the gender difference for current and future but not for past depression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A novel model to study the effects of burn lymph on pulmonary vascular hemodynamic variables

The possible hypocholesterolaemic properties of milk and fermented milk products have been investigated in groups of albino rats given a basal diet, basal diet plus cholesterol, and basal diet plus cholesterol together with whole milk or standard or bifidus yogurt. The yogurts were fortified with skim milk powder, condensed whey or lactose-hydrolysed condensed whey. After 30 d, triacylglycerols, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were measured in serum. Whole milk and ordinary yogurt had no hypocholesterolaemic effect, but standard yogurt containing lactose-hydrolysed condensed whey and all bifidus yogurts lowered serum cholesterol. In general, yogurts changed HDL-cholesterol little, but tended to raise triacylglycerols. There was marked lowering of LDL-cholesterol in rats given either type of yogurt fortified with whey proteins. This study has demonstrated in a rat model that bifidus yogurts and yogurts fortified with whey proteins can reduce total and LDL-cholesterol, and suggests that if they have the same effect in human subjects they have potential value in cholesterol-lowering diets.     

A stress-coping profile of opioid dependent individuals entering naltrexone treatment: A comparison with healthy controls.

Background: Stress is known to increase addiction vulnerability and risk of relapse to substance use. Purpose & Method: We compared opioid dependent individuals entering naltrexone treatment (n = 57) with healthy controls (n = 75) on measures of stress, coping, and social support and examined the relative contribution of group membership, coping, and social support to stress within the sample. Analyses of variance (ANOVA) and covariance (ANCOVA), and stepwise multiple regression were conducted. Results: Compared with controls, opioid dependent subjects reported greater stress, less use of adaptive coping, but comparable use of maladaptive/avoidant coping. No group differences were found with respect to social support. Perceived stress was predicted by group membership, low social support, and greater use of maladaptive/avoidant coping, and the prediction by social support and maladaptive/avoidant coping did not differ by group. Conclusion: Opioid dependent individuals entering naltrexone treatment experience higher levels of stress and report less use of adaptive coping strategies when compared with controls. Group membership, maladaptive/avoidant coping, and social support independently contribute to perceived stress. Findings suggest that novel treatment approaches that decrease maladaptive/avoidant coping and improve social support are important aspects of decreasing stress during early recovery from opioid addiction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

One dimensional elasto-plastic wave interaction and boundary reflections

Elasto-plastic wave propagation in a one dimensional rod is treated by utilizing finite element analysis. The time dependence is handled by means of a variable time step numerical integration method. Elasto-plastic reflections from a fixed boundary and interaction of plastic waves are discussed.

Theoretical expressions are presented for determining the stress response for a material exhibiting bilinear hardening behavior during elasto-plastic wave interaction and boundary reflection. These expressions are employed to evaluate predictions made by the numerical procedure.

In the computations, steep wave fronts are approximated by ramps. The steepness of these ramps may be increased by refining the finite element grid. Excellent agreement is obtained between numerical and theoretical elastic and inelastic stress response levels.     

Assessment of depression in adolescents using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.

Operating characteristics of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) were examined by using data from 4 samples of students in Grades 9–12. The CES-D was found to have good internal consistency and test–retest reliability. Dimensionality was comparable to that found for adults. Structure varied little by order of assessment (Trial 1 of Trial 2), age, or gender. Salience of items, in terms of rank order of mean item scores, was remarkably similar to that reported for college and general adult samples. With the standard cutoff score of 16 or more, half of the high school students were classified as depressed. There was a pronounced gender effect, with proportionately more women reporting depressive symptoms across the 4 samples. Although it appears that the CES-D scale may be appropriate for use with adolescents, the issues of stability of scores over time, appropriate cutoff scores, and usefulness in detecting cases of clinical depression remain unresolved. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A Heme Oxygenase-1 Transducer Model of Degenerative and Developmental Brain Disorders

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a 32 kDa protein which catalyzes the breakdown of heme to free iron, carbon monoxide and biliverdin. The Hmox1 promoter contains numerous consensus sequences that render the gene exquisitely sensitive to induction by diverse pro-oxidant and inflammatory stimuli. In “stressed” astroglia, HO-1 hyperactivity promotes mitochondrial iron sequestration and macroautophagy and may thereby contribute to the pathological iron deposition and bioenergetic failure documented in Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease and certain neurodevelopmental conditions. Glial HO-1 expression may also impact neuroplasticity and cell survival by modulating brain sterol metabolism and the proteasomal degradation of neurotoxic proteins. The glial HO-1 response may represent a pivotal transducer of noxious environmental and endogenous stressors into patterns of neural damage and repair characteristic of many human degenerative and developmental CNS disorders.