An investigation of the viral pathogenesis of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease. Lack of evidence for Epstein-Barr virus or human herpesvirus type 6 as the causative agents

Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis of Kikuchi and Fujimoto is a well-defined clinicopathologic entity of unknown cause. Both the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpesvirus type 6 (HHV-6) have been suggested as potential etiologic agents. Twenty cases of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease were studied for the presence of EBV DNA and HHV-6 DNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and in situ hybridization in the case of EBV. Cellular DNA from sections of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded lymph node tissue was amplified using the PCR technique and oligonucleotide primers to the EBV BamH1 W, lymphocyte-determined membrane antigen, or the EBNA-1 region. These studies were performed in three separate laboratories. In addition, 12 cases were examined by in situ hybridization, eight of which had shown at least one positive PCR signal for EBV. The presence of HHV-6 was assessed by PCR using primers to part of the pZVH14 sequence. Biopsy specimens from eight patients (40%) showed a strong positive signal for EBV in at least one laboratory, while an additional three specimens (15%) showed a weaker positive signal. Five cases studied showed rare positive cells by in situ hybridization, and one case had scattered positive cells. All samples lacked HHV-6 genomic templates. These findings indicate that HHV-6 does not play a role in the pathogenesis of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease and do not implicate EBV as a causal agent for Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, since EBV was detected in only a fraction of cases with a low number of positive cells detected by in situ hybridization. Further, some discrepancies were identified in the positive results for EBV in samples studied by multiple laboratories. These results indicate that inconsistent results by PCR may occur with very low levels of viral genomes and that different laboratories perform DNA amplification at different efficiencies. Alternatively, laboratory contamination may give rise to false-positive results. Therefore, a positive result for EBV should be interpreted with caution and should be confirmed by repeated study (PCR) or by independent methodology (in situ hybridization).     

Long-term placement of dependent children from the client's point of view

This article presents data regarding the backgrounds and attitudes of 396 dependent children in Israel who had been living in boarding institutions for almost three years, and were at least 10 years old at the time of the research interview. Parents of the children were also interviewed, and background [corrected] information regarding the family and its experience with placement was abstracted from welfare department records. This detailed information, collected nearly a decade ago, was then compared with several very recent Israeli studies of institutionalized dependent children and it was found that many problematic features of placement still persist. Among these are lack of long or short-term planning by welfare agencies, poor agency follow-up after placement, and little personal contact with either the child or his family. More older children were accepting placement than were younger children, and the majority of the parents did not contemplate the child's return home, being quite satisfied with placement in the institution. The findings from this study should have direct implications for child welfare policy and practices.     

Relative efficacy of modeling and instructions in eliciting social behavior from chronic psychiatric patients.

Investigated the potential of modeling or observational learning in resocializing asocial psychiatric patients. Three groups of 21 males (mean age range, 45-48 yrs) with an average length of hospitalization of over 2 decades received 1 of 3 treatments--modeling, instructions, or attention. Ss in the modeling group were exposed to a mode interacting in a "game of ring toss" and a "coffee" situation and instructed to imitate what they saw with the therapist. The instruction group was instructed on how to interact without a model. An attention group was included to assess the effect of simple interacting with the S without the benefit of observational or instructional cues. Effects of the treatment, as assessed by a variety of observational data (e.g., responsiveness) as well as indexes of the S's level of functioning in the hospital (e.g., Psychotic Inpatient Profile and Minimal Social Behavior Scale), indicate that the modeling and instruction groups were of equal impact and superior to the attention group. Implications for greater efficiency in modeling treatments and the inadequacy of unprogrammed attention for patients are discussed. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Upper nose temper embrittlement of a Ni-Cr steel

Temper embrittlement of a Ni-Cr steel was investigated both isothermally and with temperature changes. Embrittlement was most rapid in two temperature ranges: 490° to 550°C and just below the Ae₁, near 675°C. Embrittlement in the lower range was accompanied by rapid grain boundary attack by ethereal picric acid and fracture along austenite grain boundaries. Embrittlement in the upper range was accompanied by slow attack by ethereal picric acid and fracture mostly along ferrite grain boundaries. No increase in ferrite grain size was observed, but carbide particles grew during treatments in the upper temperature range. Embrittlement during slow cooling from 675°C appeared to be associated with the lower range.     

The negative therapeutic reaction.

The negative therapeutic reaction (NTR) is a unique case of negativism in which the patient demonstrates an inability to tolerate success in treatment. This results in the deterioration of the patient's condition shortly after progress is achieved. The NTR is distinguished from either a regression that accompanies a transference neurosis or a form of negative transference in psychotherapy. It is suggested that the patient perceives her/his progress and approval by the therapist as a severe threat to the patient's autonomy. The fear of fusion with the therapist propels the patient into an extreme negativistic position that is expressed by her/his deterioration. The case is presented of a 48-yr-old female who reacted to improvement in treatment with a negative refusal to consolidate these gains and translate them into a more effective adjustment. (42 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Teaching through demonstration: The effects of structuring, imitation, and age.

Studied the effects of 3 degrees of structuring in a teacher's demonstration upon rule learning by 36 6- and 8-yr-olds. Ss were evenly divided between males and females. After pretesting on a conceptual sorting task, Ss were exposed to a modeling sequence under high, medium, or low degrees of structure. Half of the Ss were permitted to imitate the model's actions. All were given a transfer test consisting of new items. Results reveal that 6-yr-olds were disproportionately handicapped when the demonstration was only partially structured. Imitation failed to influence cluster rule learning. Results are discussed in terms of a social learning conception of teaching. (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The relation between limb dominance, acceptance of disability, and the phantom limb phenomenon.

Examined 2 hypotheses regarding the phantom limb sensation (PLS). One predicted that the frequency of PLS would be greater for the dominant than the nondominant limb. The 2nd hypothesized that there is an inverse relation between acceptance of the disability and frequency of PLS. 18 double-amputees who had lost 2 homologous limbs while in military service were administered questionnaires examining limb dominance, frequency of the PLS, and acceptance of disability. Results confirm only the 1st hypothesis. The PLS is discussed in light of the present findings, and it is concluded that the role of physiological factors seems to be clearer than that of psychological ones. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Δ15, 18-tetracosadienoic acid content of sphingolipids from platel and erythrocytes of animals fed diets high in saturated or polyunsaturated fats

The effect of diets high (15%) in saturated (beef tallow) or polyunsaturated (corn or cottonseed oil) fatty acids on the fatty acid composition of sphingomyelin from canine erythrocytes and platelets and sphingomyelin and neutral glycosphingolipids of swine erythrocytes was determined. Sphingolipids of platelets and erythrocytes from animals fed high levels of corn or cottonseed oil exhibited a dramatic alteration in their fatty acid composition, most notable of which was a 50% reduction in nervonic acid (24∶1ω9) as compared to levels observed in control or tallow fed animals. This decrease was compensated for by a quantitatively similar increase in a C₂₄ dienoic acid. The long chain dienoic acid was isolated by silver nitrate thin layer chromatography and determined by analysis of its oxidation products to be Δ15, 18-tetracosadienoic acid (24∶2ω6). When the animals were fed the diets high in polyunsaturates, the 24∶2ω6 represented 13, 20, and 9% of the sphingomyelin fatty acids from canine erythrocytes, platelets, and swine erythrocytes, respectively, and 5% of the neutral glycosphingolipid fatty acids of swine erythrocytes. In contrast, the 24∶2ω6 represented less than 4% of the total cellular sphingolipid fatty acids in animals fed the control or high beef tallow diets. The 24∶1ω9 in the sphingolipids of the animals fed the polyunsaturated diet was roughly equal to that of 24∶2ω6, whereas in the sphingolipids of animals fed the control or saturated fat (beef tallow) diet, the 24∶1ω9 was twice these values. Since sphingomyelin is a membrane component, the increase in unsaturation (24∶2ω6) in its fatty acid moiety induced by dietary polyunsaturates may affect membrane fluidity and may alter membrane properties. Dr. Nelson’s current affiliation is with the Lipid Metabolism Branch, Division of Heart and Vascular Diseases, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.