Subtle symptoms associated with self-reported mild head injury

We conducted a survey on the relationship between mild head injury incidence and a variety of psychological and educational symptoms in a sample of 1,345 high school and 2,321 university students. Once figures were adjusted to represent a 50:50 gender ratio, 30% to 37% of subjects reported having experienced a head injury incident, with 12% to 15% of the total group of subjects reporting such an incident with loss of consciousness. We found significant relationships between the incidence of such mild head injury and gender, sleep difficulties, social difficulties, handedness pattern, and diagnoses of attention deficit, depression, and speech, language, and reading disorders.     

Integrative visuomotor behavior is associated with interregionally coherent oscillations in the human brain

Coherent electrical brain activity has been demonstrated to be associated with perceptual events in mammals. It is unclear whether or not it is also a mechanism instrumental in the performance of sensorimotor tasks requiring the continuous processing of information between primarily executive and receptive brain areas. In particular it is unknown whether or not interregional coherent activity detectable in electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings on the scalp reflects interareal functional cooperativity in humans. We studied patterns of changes in EEG-coherence associated with a visuomotor force-tracking task in seven subjects. Interregional coherence of EEG signals recorded from scalp regions overlying the visual and the motor cortex increased in comparison to a resting condition when subjects tracked a visual target by producing an isometric force with their right index finger. Coherence between visual and motor cortex decreased when the subjects produced a similar motor output in the presence of a visual distractor and was unchanged in a purely visual and purely motor task. Increases and decreases of coherence were best differentiated in the low beta frequency range (13-21 Hz). This observation suggests a special functional significance of low frequency oscillations in information processing in large-scale networks. These findings substantiate the view that coherent brain activity underlies integrative sensorimotor behavior.     

Sensory gating impairments in heavy cannabis users are associated with altered neural oscillations.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 123(5) of Behavioral Neuroscience (see record 2009-18253-007). An incorrect version of the abstract was published. The correct version follows: Central cannabinoid receptors mediate neural oscillations and are localized to networks implicated in auditory P50 sensory gating, including the hippocampus and neocortex. The current study examined whether neural oscillations evoked by the paired clicks (S1, S2) are associated with abnormal P50 gating reported in cannabis users. Seventeen heavy cannabis users and 16 cannabis na?ve controls participated. Analyses included P50 amplitudes, and time-frequency analyses (event-related spectral perturbations, ERSPs; intertrial coherence, ITC). Consistent with prior studies, cannabis users exhibited reduced P50 gating. The ERSP analysis yielded attenuated high frequency activity in the beta range (13–29 Hz) post-S1 and in the gamma range (30–50 Hz) post-S2 in the cannabis group, compared with the control group. Greater levels of cannabis use were positively associated with high P50 ratios and negatively with post-S2 ERSP gamma power. Findings suggest that heavy cannabis use is associated with aberrant beta and gamma activity in the dual-click procedure, which corroborates recent work demonstrating disruption of beta/gamma by cannabinoid receptor (CB1) agonists in a rat analogue of this task and highlights the translational potential of the dual-click procedure.] Cannabis use was positively associated with high P50 ratios and negatively with post-S2 event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP) gamma power. Findings suggest that heavy cannabis use is associated with aberrant beta and gamma activity in the dual-click procedure, which corroborates recent work demonstrating central cannabinoid receptors mediate neural oscillations and are localized to networks implicated in auditory P50 sensory gating, including the hippocampus and neocortex. The current study examined whether neural oscillations evoked by the paired clicks (S1, S2) are associated with abnormal P50 gating reported in cannabis users. Seventeen heavy cannabis users and 16 cannabis naive controls participated. Analyses included P50 amplitudes, and time-frequency analyses (ERSPs; intertrial coherence, ITC). Consistent with prior studies, cannabis users exhibited reduced P50 gating. The ERSP analysis yielded attenuated high frequency activity in the beta range (13–29 Hz) post-S1 and in the gamma range (30–50 Hz) post-S2 in the cannabis group, compared with the control group. Greater levels of disruption of beta/gamma by cannabinoid receptor (CB1) agonists in a rat analogue of this task and highlights the translational potential of the dual-click procedure. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Primary and secondary pulmonary tumors associated with head and neck carcinoma

The authors analyze personal and literature results in surgery of primary and secondary lung cancer associated with head and neck malignancies. Eighteen patients with primary lung cancer associated with head and neck cancer were compared with six patients affected by pulmonary metastases from head and neck cancer. In the first group the 3-year postoperative survival rate was 60.5%, in the second group 33%. Differential diagnosis between primary and metastatic lung tumours may be easy when multiple pulmonary nodes are present. When only one pulmonary node is present, diagnosis is more difficult. Thoracotomy is necessary to perform the correct diagnosis and the best postoperative medical treatment.     

Psychology test scores associated with late outcome in head injury.

Utilized neuropsychological test scores obtained at an average of 2.4 yrs postonset from 148 head-injured persons (mean age 30.3 yrs) as predictors in a retrospective comparison of test results and outcome. The Social Status Outcome (D. N. Cope, 1982) total score was correlated at p?p?p?     

Microsatellite instability associated with primary head and neck cancers and secondary esophageal cancers

BACKGROUND: It is common that patients with head and neck cancers have secondary malignant neoplasm of esophageal cancer. METHODS: To know the genetic background of the development of these secondary cancers, we performed microsatellite assay at six loci and immunohistochemical analysis on head and neck cancers of eight patients with esophageal cancer and on those of 19 patients without esophageal cancer. RESULTS: Replication error (RER) at more than two loci was observed in two (25%) of eight double cancer patients, whereas it was not observed in the patients without the secondary cancer. Immunohistochemically, overexpression of cyclin D1 was detected in two (25%) of eight double cancer cases and in two (11%) of 19 non-double cancer cases, respectively, the incidence showing a higher tendency in the former. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that microsatellite instability may be implicated in the development of head and neck double cancers and that RER (+) phenotype may serve as a biomarker to predict the development of secondary esophageal cancer in patients with head and neck cancer.     

"Sensory gating impairments in heavy cannabis users are associated with altered neural oscillations": Correction.

Reports an error in Sensory gating impairments in heavy cannabis users are associated with altered neural oscillations by Chad R. Edwards, Patrick D. Skosnik, Adam B. Steinmetz, Brian F. O’Donnell and William P. Hetrick (Behavioral Neuroscience, 2009[Aug], Vol 123[4], 894-904). An incorrect version of the abstract was published. The correct version follows: Central cannabinoid receptors mediate neural oscillations and are localized to networks implicated in auditory P50 sensory gating, including the hippocampus and neocortex. The current study examined whether neural oscillations evoked by the paired clicks (S1, S2) are associated with abnormal P50 gating reported in cannabis users. Seventeen heavy cannabis users and 16 cannabis na?ve controls participated. Analyses included P50 amplitudes, and time-frequency analyses (event-related spectral perturbations, ERSPs; intertrial coherence, ITC). Consistent with prior studies, cannabis users exhibited reduced P50 gating. The ERSP analysis yielded attenuated high frequency activity in the beta range (13–29 Hz) post-S1 and in the gamma range (30–50 Hz) post-S2 in the cannabis group, compared with the control group. Greater levels of cannabis use were positively associated with high P50 ratios and negatively with post-S2 ERSP gamma power. Findings suggest that heavy cannabis use is associated with aberrant beta and gamma activity in the dual-click procedure, which corroborates recent work demonstrating disruption of beta/gamma by cannabinoid receptor (CB1) agonists in a rat analogue of this task and highlights the translational potential of the dual-click procedure. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2009-10928-023.) Cannabis use was positively associated with high P50 ratios and negatively with post-S2 event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP) gamma power. Findings suggest that heavy cannabis use is associated with aberrant beta and gamma activity in the dual-click procedure, which corroborates recent work demonstrating central cannabinoid receptors mediate neural oscillations and are localized to networks implicated in auditory P50 sensory gating, including the hippocampus and neocortex. The current study examined whether neural oscillations evoked by the paired clicks (S1, S2) are associated with abnormal P50 gating reported in cannabis users. Seventeen heavy cannabis users and 16 cannabis naive controls participated. Analyses included P50 amplitudes, and time-frequency analyses (ERSPs; intertrial coherence, ITC). Consistent with prior studies, cannabis users exhibited reduced P50 gating. The ERSP analysis yielded attenuated high frequency activity in the beta range (13–29 Hz) post-S1 and in the gamma range (30–50 Hz) post-S2 in the cannabis group, compared with the control group. Greater levels of disruption of beta/gamma by cannabinoid receptor (CB1) agonists in a rat analogue of this task and highlights the translational potential of the dual-click procedure. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Congenital nystagmus cosegregating with a balanced 7;15 translocation

The effects of bretylium tosylate (BT) on the electrophysiologic properties of normal and digitalized papillary muscles isolated from guinea pigs were studied with regular glass microelectrode. BT prolonged effective refractory period (ERP) and action potential duration (APD) of normal papillary muscles. The ERP and APD of papillary muscles were shortened by perfusion with ouabain (Oua) 0.2 mumol.L-1. No recovery was seen in perfusion without drug for 30 min. In digitalized papillary muscles with Oua, ERP, APD90, and APD50 were prolonged by BT 120 mumol.L-1 form 175 +/- 20, 187 +/- 20, and 146 +/- 21 ms to 222 +/- 21, 220 +/- 19, and 190 +/- 19 ms, respectively. The results demonstrated that BT can prolong ERP and APD of papillary muscles digitalized with Oua.     

Incomplete development of human spermatozoa is associated with increased creatine phosphokinase concentration and abnormal head morphology

Our previous creatine phosphokinase (CK) activity studies in human sperm revealed differences among men and among sperm populations within the same specimen. Samples with low sperm concentrations, high incidence of abnormal sperm morphology, and diminished fertility had higher per sperm CK activity. In the present work, we demonstrated, with 14C-FDNB covalent CK active site modification and with direct CK immunocytochemistry, that the higher CK activity is related to an increased content of CK and of other proteins in sperm. Also, sperm heads with higher CK content were significantly larger and rounder and showed a higher incidence of amorph configuration. We suggest that these biochemical and morphological irregularities are related and are due to a failure of spermatogenesis, more specifically, to a higher retention of cytoplasm, which in normal sperm development is lost to the Sertoli cells as residual bodies. Thus higher CK activity and larger or irregular head size in human sperm signify cellular immaturity and a failure to complete spermatogenesis.     

Test of a model of coping with involuntary job loss following a company closing.

This study presented and tested a model of response to involuntary job loss based on R. S. Lazarus and S. Folkman's (1984) theory of stress, appraisal, and coping. The sample included 202 individuals who provided self-report survey data at approximately 6 and 12 months following a company closing. Structural equation modeling provided support for the fit of the overall model and partial support for the hypotheses. Specifically, results indicated that coping resources are related both to the cognitive appraisal of job loss and the coping strategies developed in response to job loss, cognitive appraisal is related to the use of coping strategies, and coping strategies are related both to the level of distress felt by the individual and to the level of reemployment attained. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Polymorphism within the cyclin D1 gene is associated with prognosis in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

We have examined the correlation of a frequent A/G polymorphism within exon 4 of the cyclin D1 gene (CCND1) with genetic susceptibility and clinical outcome in 384 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck. CCND1 genotype frequencies were similar in the cases and 191 controls. Furthermore, the CCND1 genotype was not associated with susceptibility to SCC of the larynx, pharynx, or oral cavity. The influence of the CCND1 genotype on clinical outcome was also assessed. We found no correlation between genotype and tumor size (T1-T4), the involvement of nodes at presentation, or patient age and gender. However, the distribution of CCND1 genotypes in cases with poorly differentiated tumors was significantly different to that in patients with well-/moderately differentiated tumors (P = 0.016; chi2(2) = 8.71). Homozygosity for CCND1*G (GG genotype) was associated with poorly differentiated tumors (G3). We used Cox's proportional hazards model to investigate the influence of the CCND1 genotype on disease-free interval. CCND1 GG was associated with reduced disease-free interval [P = 0.001; hazard ratio (HR) = 2.95; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.54-5.63]. This remained significant after correction for tumor differentiation (P = 0.013; HR = 2.34; 95% CI = 1.2-4.6) and tumor stage (P = 0.005; HR = 2.64; 95% CI = 1.34-5.19). Analysis of the data from patients with tumors at different sites showed that the CCND1 GG genotype was associated with reduced disease-free interval in laryngeal (P = 0.004; HR = 3.63; 95% CI = 1.44-8.83) and pharyngeal (P = 0.006; HR = 3.48; 95% CI = 1.43-8.46) tumors. This is the first report of an association between CCND1 polymorphism and prognosis in SCC of the head and neck. These data show that the CCND1 GG genotype is an independent prognostic indicator of disease-free interval and supports initial observations in non-small cell lung cancer, that polymorphism within CCND1 influences tumor behavior.