Clinical, haematological and molecular studies in patients with chromosome translocation t(7;11): a study of four Chinese patients in Taiwan

We examined the association between the polymorphism of the apolipoprotein E (apoE) and the ACE genes and the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid and femoral arteries measured using ultrasonography. The values of IMT of each artery were significantly higher in NIDDM patients (n = 356) than in control subjects (n = 235). The E4 allele or the D allele did not affect clinical characteristics, including age, fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, or blood pressure, in NIDDM or control subjects. No difference in the carotid IMT value was noted among the apoE genotypes in control or diabetic subjects. The carotid IMT was significantly higher in diabetic patients with the DD genotype (1.200 +/- 0.586 mm) than in those with the II genotypes (0.990 +/- 0.364 mm). Neither the E4 allele nor the D allele affected the femoral IMT in control or diabetic subjects. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the carotid IMT of NIDDM patients was associated with age, the D allele, and LDL cholesterol but not with the E4 allele, whereas that of control subjects was associated with age, sex, systolic blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol, inversely. These results suggested that the E4 allele was not associated with the carotid or femoral IMTs, but that the D allele was statistically associated with carotid IMT in NIDDM patients but not control subjects. However, since the association was weak (2.3% explanatory power), its biological significance remains to be determined.     

Parasites of South African wildlife. XIV. Helminths of nyalas (Tragelaphus angasii) in the Mkuzi Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal

Reliability of event-related P3 parameters. Various parameters of the P3 wave were tested for reliability and test-retest stability. To this end, event-related P3 waves were evoked in 21 subjects during visual and auditory oddball tasks. The protocol was repeated one to two weeks later. Amplitude, latency and area between P3 and baseline were estimated by different procedures. The stability within and between sessions was assessed with the split-half method and a measure of test-retest reliability, respectively. A literature review revealed that latency estimation is most commonly done by computer-aided peak measurement, but determining peak parameters visually after interpellating superimposed artifacts turned out to be significantly more reliable. Interrater reliability for this visual inspection was very high if preestablished rules were employed. Amplitude and area were measured reliably by both computer-aided procedures and visual inspection. The area was quite stable both within and between sessions. Area can serve as a measure of cerebral activation and should therefore be determined. Based on the results recommendations are made about analyzing components of event-related potentials. The need to control for error variance is emphasized. This is the only way to improve methods enough that they will be suitable for use in single case diagnosis.     

Pharmacological studies of 4-ethoxy-2-methyl-5-morpholino-3(2H)-pyridazinone (M73101). (1). Analgesic activity (author's transl)

The analgesic activity and the mode of action of M73101, a new analgesic anti-inflammatory agent, were investigated in mice and rats and compared to those of reference drugs. M73101 showed a marked analgesic activity against noxious stimuli induced by pressure (Haffner method and Randall-Selitto method), thermal (hot plate method), electric and chemical (acetic acid-stretching method and bradykinin-induced responses) stimulation, in a manner similar to those of basic anti-inflammatory drugs (BAD) such as aminopyrine, mepirizole, tiaramide HCl, and benzydamine HCl. The activities of M73101 were equal to and/or more potent than those of BAD, and more potent than those of acidic anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition, the analgesic activity of M73101 was not decreased by the pretreatment with levallorphan and showed no cross-tolerance to morphine in mice, indicating that the analgesic properties of M73101 differ from those of morphine. On the other hand, the analgesic activity of M73101 as well as BAD was decreased by repeated oral administration in mice, and the potency was weaker than mepirizole. Furthermore, the muscle relaxant effect of M73101 obtained by inclined screen test in mice was the weakest among the BAD, suggesting that analgesic activity of M73101 is not related to the muscle relaxant property. These results indicate that M73101 may be useful for clinical application as an anti-inflammatory drug possessing remarkable analgesic activity.     

Large, rapidly evolving intergenic spacers in the mitochondrial DNA of the salamander family Ambystomatidae (Amphibia: Caudata)

We report the presence, in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of all of the sexual species of the salamander family Ambystomatidae, of a shared 240-bp intergenic spacer between tRNAThr and tRNAPro. We place the intergenic spacer in context by presenting the sequence of 1,746 bp of mtDNA from Ambystoma tigrinum tigrinum, describe the nucleotide composition of the intergenic spacer in all of the species of Ambystomatidae, and compare it to other coding and noncoding regions of Ambystoma and several other vertebrate mtDNAs. The nucleotide substitution rate of the intergenic spacer is approximately three times faster than the substitution rate of the control region, as shown by comparisons among six Ambystoma macrodactylum sequences and eight members of the Ambystoma tigrinum complex. We also found additional inserts within the intergenic spacers of five species that varied from 87-444 bp in length. The presence of the intergenic spacer in all sexual species of Ambystomatidae suggests that it arose at least 20 MYA and has been a stable component of the ambystomatid mtDNA ever since. As such, it represents one of the few examples of a large and persistent intergenic spacer in the mtDNA of any vertebrate clade.     

Productivity and scholarly impact (citations) of British, Canadian, and U.S. departments of psychology (1975).

Evaluated the psychology departments at 180 universities in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the US in terms of their productivity and the impact of their scholarly research. The 1975 Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) was used as the basis for counting both citations of and publications by each of the 5,597 faculty members. Psychologists at the 180 evaluated departments received a total of 76,189 citations in 1975 (mean 13.6) and produced a total of 4,977 publications (mean .89). Data are presented for the top 100 departments: total, mean, and median number of citations of each department as well as the total and mean number of publications. The citation measures correlated more highly with reputational ranks taken on 76 American schools in an earlier study than did the publication measures. The departments of psychology at 4 universities were consistently in the top 8 on the total, mean, and median citation measures of scholarly impact: Stanford, Harvard, Yale, and the University of Pennsylvania. 18 of the top 100 departments in terms of total citations were from either Canada or the United Kingdom. Methodological difficulties in using the SSCI and possible uses and limitations of citation counts are discussed. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Multiple solution conformations of the integrin-binding cyclic pentapeptide cyclo(-Ser-D-Leu-Asp-Val-Pro-). Analysis of the (phi, psi) space available to cyclic pentapeptides

The aqueous solution structure of the cyclic pentapeptide cyclo(-Ser-D-Leu-Asp-Val-Pro-) has been determined by two-dimensional 1H-NMR spectroscopy, combined with a conformational search and distance-geometry calculations. As many as five conformers in slow exchange were observed, and the rate of interconversion between components was measured from the build-up rates of exchange peaks. NMR data allowed the structures of the two predominant conformers to be determined. The major component (66%) contained a cis-proline as part of a type-VIa2 beta-turn encompassing residues Asp-Val-cis-Pro-Ser. The second component (16%) contained only trans-amide bonds, and a type-VIII beta-turn formed by residues Val-Pro-Ser-D-Leu. These structures are discussed in relation to the (phi, psi), space available to the cyclic pentapeptide, determined by a conformational search, and in relation to previously published cyclic-pentapeptide structures. The molecule exhibits activity in a scintillation-proximity assay for the inhibition of the interaction between the integrin very-late antigen-4 (VLA-4; alpha 4 beta 1) and vascular-cell-adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). The structure/activity relationship of the LDV sequence is discussed and related to the recently published X-ray structure of VCAM-1. The relevance of the work to the design of anti-inflammatory drugs is discussed.     

Isolation of a new peptide antibiotic complex, B-43 (studies on antibiotics from the genus Bacillus. XV)

A new peptide antibiotic complex B-43, active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, was isolated from a strain of Bacillus circulans. This antibiotic contains aspartic acid, valine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine and 2,4-diaminobutyric acid. It seems to be related to polypeptin and antibiotic complex 4205, but differs in that it contains aspartic acid residue.     

Harmful supervision, a cause for alarm: Comment on Gray et al. (2001) and Nelson and Friedlander (2001).

The research presented by L. A. Gray, N. Ladany, J. A. Walker, and J. R. Ancis (2001) and by M. L. Nelson and M. L. Friedlander (2001) offers an important leap forward in understanding what contributes to problematic clinical supervision. First, to organize and extend this line of inquiry, the author proposes that a distinction be made between bad supervision (ineffective supervision that does not harm or traumatize the supervisee) and harmful supervision (supervision that harms or traumatizes; the supervisee). Second, the author highlights the data from the 2 studies that were found most striking and disquieting (e.g., a sizable portion of the respondents experienced harmful supervision) and discusses the implications of these data. Third, the author offers 5 recommendations for research, practice, and the psychology profession. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

(Part of) the case for a pragmatic approach to validity: Comment on De Houwer, Teige-Mocigemba, Spruyt, and Moors (2009).

In their review of validity of the Implicit Association Test and affective priming, J. De Houwer, S. Teige-Mocigemba, A. Spruyt, and A. Moors (see record 2009-05290-001) identified validity with establishment of “basic theoretical understanding” of the measures. It is agreed that theoretical understanding has an important role in making measures more valid and useful. Nevertheless, the authors conclude that scientific advancement will more often be well served by prioritizing pragmatic goals of establishing the predictive validity of the measures and their adequate sensitivity to individual differences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Terminal (1)(q43) long-arm deletion of chromosome no. 1 in a three-year-old female

A 3-year-old Latin female is reported with a terminal deletion of the No. 1 chromosome, karyotype formula 46, XX, del(1) (q43). Principle clinical features include: Anatomic - microcephaly; bilateral, convergent strabismus; epicanthus; brachycephaly; bulbar nose; sparse hair; partial soft tissue syndactylism between 2nd and 3rd fingers which are slightly tapered; whorls on all 10 fingers; mild prognathism; solitary kidney; vaginal stenosis; vesicoureteral reflux; asymmetric feet; and subluxation of peroneal tendons around the fibula with severe pronation and heal valgus deformity. Neurologic - moderate motor and mental retardation; high-pitched, shrill cry; absent pincer grasp at 3 years; and grand mal seizures documented from 9 months of age.     

Comparison of the WAIS with its Mainland Chinese version: Comment on Ryan, Dai, and Paolo (1992).

A comparison between the original Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised for China (WAIS-RC) manual (Y. X. Gong, 1982, 1983) and statements made by J. J. Ryan, X. Dai, and A. N. Paolo (1992) in their article "Intersubset Scatter on the Mainland Chinese Version of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale" generated several concerns. These concerns pertain to inaccurate comparisons between "mean ranges" in the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised and the WAIS-RC, inconsistencies between the original WAIS-RC sample size and the WAIS-RC sample size reported by J. J. Ryan et al, questionable conclusions regarding the relation between the WAIS-RC "scatter decrease" as a function of years of education that ignore important cultural circumstances, and inappropriate generalizations of WAIS-RC results based on an urban sample that does not truly represent the entire Chinese population. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)