Influence of gestational age and clinical status on bilirubin-binding capacity in newborn infants. Sephadex G-25 gel filtration technique

Total bilirubin-binding capacity was measured by Sephadex G-25 gel filtration in 43 clinically well and 45 clinically ill newborn infants between 26 and 41 weeks' gestation. In the well patients, bilirubin-binding capacity, serum albumin concentration, and the molar-binding ratio of bilirubin to albumin were directly related to gestational age. In the sick patients, serum bilirubin-binding capacity and albumin concentration also correlated with gestational age; however, from 32 to 41 weeks' gestation, the mean values for the sick infants were significantly lower than for the well infants. In the sick infants, the molar binding ratio of bilirubin to albumin was also lower than in the well patients and did not correlate with gestational age. The data are in agreement with previous clinical findings indicating an increased risk for low-bilirubin kernicterus among immature infants and suggest that some critically ill term infants may be at risk for kernicterus at serum bilirubin levels below 20 mg/100 ml.     

Comparison of prefrontal architecture and connections

The advent of new technology has led to a proliferation of studies examining the functional roles of discrete prefrontal cortical areas. This has created a need for more precise information regarding the morphological characteristics of this region. Existing architectonic maps of human and monkey brains are not compatible with regard to areal delineations and topography, creating significant difficulty in interpreting comparative data. Therefore, we have re-examined the comparative morphological organization of the prefrontal cortex in humans and rhesus monkeys. Our analysis indicates that the architectonic areas in both species correspond in terms of morphological features as well as topographical locations. We have developed a common organizational schema for these areas, thereby allowing for a resolution of previous discrepancies. Moreover, in monkeys a connectional analysis has revealed that each of the newly designated areas is characterized by a unique pattern of cortical relationships. The present organizational schema provides a framework for interrelating findings such as those obtained from human brain imaging studies with those from behavioural investigations of non-human primates.     

Experimental comparison of the tuberculostatic activities of INH, INHG and INHG-Na (author''s transl)

A sample of 42 case notes of alcoholic patients were abstracted for 17 items by three different raters. Interrater agreement was generally rather low. Research based on case-note abstraction which does not report on abstraction reliabilities must therefore be viewed with some suspicion. It would be helpful if clinical material could more often be collected in a standardized manner.