Effects of sulthiame upon intellectual, neuropsychological, and social functioning abilities among adult epileptics: comparison with diphenylhydantoin

This report presented results of psychological studies done during a double-blind study which compared sulthiame with diphenylhydantoin as primary agents in the treatment of uncontrolled epileptics. Assessments of intellectual, neuropsychological, and social functioning abilities were made with 22 adult epileptic patients. The results showed significantly less impairment with treatment by diphenylhydantoin than by sulthiame, and substantial differences were revealed on intellectual tasks, on tasks calling for sustained concentration and attention, and on psychomotor problem-solving tasks. The results could not be explained on the basis of increased tonic-clonic seizures while on sulthiame. However, an increase in other types of seizures was noted, as was an increase in EEG epileptiform discharges. Possible mechanisms for the decrement in performance were discussed, and the value of an objective assessment of the psychological effects of anticonvulsant agents was noted.     

Cost-effectiveness of detecting breast cancer in lower socioeconomic status African American and Hispanic women through mobile mammography services

A new method based on jackknifing is presented for measuring the difference between two conditions in the onset latencies of the lateralized readiness potential (LRP). The method can be used with both stimulus- and response-locked LRPs, and simulations indicate that it provides accurate estimates of onset latency differences in many common experimental conditions.     

Oral and booklet presentation of MMPI-2

The MMPI-2 was administered twice to college students under two formats: standard booklet administration and oral presentation, with the examiner reading the items to the students and recording their answers. The two types of administration were compared in a series of mixed-factor analyses of variance. No significant differences were found when comparing oral and booklet presentation for either men or women.     

A single protein catalyzes both N-deacetylation and N-sulfation during the biosynthesis of heparan sulfate

Heparan sulfate is a highly sulfated carbohydrate polymer that binds to and modulates the activities of numerous proteins. The formation of these protein-binding domains in heparan sulfate is dependent on a series of biosynthetic reactions that modify the polysaccharide backbone; the initiating and rate-limiting steps of this process are the N-deacetylation and N-sulfation of N-acetylglucosamine residues in the polymer. We now report that in the rat liver, biosynthesis of heparan sulfate utilizes a single protein that possesses both N-deacetylase and N-sulfotransferase activities. This was accomplished by demonstrating that both activities resided in a purified soluble fusion protein containing the Golgi-lumenal portion of the enzyme. We propose that this protein be renamed the rat liver Golgi heparan sulfate N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase.     

Prognosis for resolution of moderate, primary reflux in girls

Detailed cystoscopic grading of ureteral orifices has proved unnecessary in our experience for determining the prognosis of moderate, primary reflux in girls. Medially placed orifices strongly predict spontaneous resolution with preventive medication, while radiographic pyelonephritic scarring and/or grade III reflux strongly predict failure to resolve. While laterally placed ureteral orifices and low volume reflux suggest a need for operation, they are prognostically less useful, particularly when those with grade III reflux are excluded. Cystitis cystica and unrelated anomalies seem to be associated with the ultimate need for operation but are of uncertain significance.