Pronoun resolution without pronouns: some consequences of memory-based text processing

A memory-based processing approach to discourse comprehension emphasizes the rapid deployment of information in memory to facilitate understanding of the text that is currently being read. S. B. Greene, R. J. Gerrig, G. McKoon, and R. Ratcliff (1994) demonstrated that when a text described the reunion of 2 characters who had previously discussed a 3rd character, the accessibility of the 3rd character increased, and the use of an unheralded pronoun (R. J. Gerrig, 1986) to refer to that character was felicitous. In experiments in this article, the authors demonstrate that concepts related to the unheralded pronoun also increase in accessibility and that those concepts form associations in memory with concepts present in the discourse at the time the pronoun is used. The authors also show that the increase in accessibility for the referent of the pronoun, as well as the appropriate long-term memory associations, occurs even in the absence of the pronoun.     

Treatment of cutaneous Bowen's disease with particular emphasis on the problem of lower leg lesions

Bowen's disease has a particular predilection for the lower leg, especially in women. A review of the literature for treating Bowen's disease is presented and the problems associated with treating the lower leg emphasized. Evidence for the various treatment modalities used to treat Bowen's disease largely comes from studies that lack good methodology in terms of standardized techniques, patient controls and adequate follow-up. In particular the widely accepted recommendation for excision is not supported by evidence that this treatment is superior to other modalities. The choice of treatment for Bowen's disease should take into account the patient's general condition, the site and size of the lesion.     

The effect of insulin on the function of the lysosomal apparatus of the neutrophilic leukocytes during the formation of a stress syndrome

In experiments on male rabbits with the lack of insulin it is been revealed violations after the past immobilization the intensivity and duration of neutrophilic leukocytosis decrease, contents of lysosomes in neutrophils, activity of acid phosphatase. By lysosomal ferments don't determine the can observer discordance of processes of coagulation, fibrinolysis, kininogenesis.     

Pitfalls in quantitative contrast echocardiography: the steps to quantitation of perfusion

Current methods used clinically to assess myocardial perfusion are invasive and expensive. As the technology of ultrasound imaging improves, CE may provide a relatively inexpensive, noninvasive means of quantitating myocardial perfusion. Issues regarding stability of microbubble contrast agents must be studied more closely under physiologic conditions. As such, encapsulated microbubbles may provide more stability under physiologic pressures than free gas microbubbles. Introducing high concentrations of contrast, either by hyperconcentrating the contrast agent or by increasing the injection rate, may provide greater stability under physiologic conditions. Further, before quantitative statement of tissue perfusion can be made, the relationship between tracer concentration and system response must be established. Further, a "linear" postprocessing ultrasound setting does not eliminate this requirement as data must still undergo nonlinear transformation during log compression and time-gain compensation. Additionally, issues regarding "electronic thresholding" must be explored more extensively in vivo. Commercial ultrasound scanners, in their present form, may not offer adequate sensitivity for absolute quantitative studies. Further development of modified ultrasound systems may provide sufficient sensitivity for quantitative perfusion imaging. CE offers a potentially powerful tool in the clinical management of patients with ischemic heart disease. Conventional coronary angiography provides information on the size of a lesion, but accompanying tissue perfusion distal to the lesion cannot be determined. Doppler ultrasonography determines velocity of blood flow in large vessels but does not offer the potential to quantitate tissue perfusion. Clearly, CE has a place in the future of diagnostic imaging. The recent work of Ito et al. demonstrated the qualitative potential of CE in the identification of "areas at risk" in patients who had undergone thrombolysis or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty after an acute myocardial infarction. With further improvement in the ultrasound imaging techniques and microbubble stability, CE may offer an inexpensive, noninvasive means of assessing myocardial perfusion.     

Effects of hypoxia on the hemodynamic actions of prostaglandin E1

The effect of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on central and peripheral hemodynamics was studied in seven conscious dogs under conditions of normoxia and hypobaric hypoxia to ascertain if hypoxia attenuated the cardiovascular actions of PGE1. Silastic catheters were chronically implanted in the pulmonary artery, left atrium, and aorta. Acute hypoxia was produced in a hypobaric chamber maintained at 446 mmHg pressure (14,000 feet). PGE1 at sea level (normoxia) resulted in significant increases in heart rate, cardiac output, left ventricular stroke work and pulmonary blood volume as well as significant decreases in aortic, pulmonary arterial, and left atrial pressures. During hypobaric hypoxia, PGE1 produced essentially identical effects on all hemodynamic parameters except pulmonary blood volume and pulmonary arterial pressure where marked attenuation of PGE1 action occurred.     

Recurrent hypernatremia; a proposed mechanism in a patient with absence of thirst and abnormal excretion of water

A 7-year-old girl twice developed severe hypernatremia (serum sodium values up to 194 mEq/l) without obvious cause. The ability of her kidneys to conserve water was normal, and increasing her plasma osmolality stimulated an appropriate ADH response. Unable to excrete a water load, her kidneys continued to conserve water even with a serum sodium concentration of 133 mEq/l. She was never thirsty and did not ingest sufficient fluid by choice. Although there was no demonstrable anatomic lesion, we postulate a localized defect of her thirst center. This may have modified release of ADH and resulted in an inability to dilute the urine by interrupting a pathway that could exist from the thirst center to the supraoptic nuclei. A therapeutic regimen based on these studies has prevented further hypernatremia.     

The exotoxin of Bacillus thuringiensis: a new C-mitotic agent

Thuringiensin A, an exotoxin from Bacillus thuringiensis, a constituent of the microbial insectide thuricide has been found to inhibit mitotic spindle, condense and scatter chromosomes. It may therefore be a promizing tool in future cell biological studies.