The prevalence of allergic rhinitis and nasal symptoms in Nottingham

An overview of the most important older and newer results regarding the relationship between violent and criminal behavior on the one hand and schizophrenic illness on the other hand is presented. Four different methods are available to study this relationship: (i) study of the prevalence of mental illness in criminal/violent populations; (ii) study of criminality/violence rate in samples of psychiatric patients; (iii) study of criminality/violence in community samples comparing mental patients with non-patient community residents; and (iv) study of criminality/violence in birth cohorts prospectively. All these methods have been used; but samples composed of schizophrenic patients exclusively were only exceptionally studied. The results indicate that there is a modest but significant relationship between schizophrenia and violence and crime which persists even after controlling for demographic and socio-economic variables. The probability of schizophrenic patients to be criminal or violent depends on the acuity of their illness and is increased by their use of psychoactive substances. Generally, however, violent and criminal acts directly attributable to mental illness account only for a very small proportion of such acts in the society.     

Correlates of osteopenia in patients with cystic fibrosis

The responses to heat shock in Tritrichomonas mobilensis, a squirrel monkey parasite and Tritrichomonas augusta, an amphibian trichomonad, were evaluated by means of metabolic labeling with [35S]methionine. Electrophoretically separated trichomonad proteins synthesized at different temperatures were visualized by autoradiography and the label incorporation quantitated by a trichloroacetic acid precipitation procedure. A considerable difference in thermotolerance between the two species was found as the protein synthesis reached a maximum at 41 C in T. mobilensis and 37 C in T. augusta. The latter tolerated temperature increases 13 C above normal cultivation temperatures as compared to only 4 C thermotolerance range above normal in T. mobilensis. Major heat shock proteins (Hsps) were expressed in both T. mobilensis (with apparent Mr 94, 72, and 58 kDa) and T. augusta (Mr 94, 70, and 56 kDa) as revealed by autoradiography. Western blot analysis with polyclonal antibody against DnaK of Escherichia coli showed the presence of antigenic Hsp70 homologs in both trichomonads. Similarly, a polyclonal antibody against Hsp60 with broad interspecies cross-reactivity detected Hsp60 homologs in both T. mobilensis and T. augusta. The anti-DnaK antibody cross-reacted with a T. mobilensis protein localized in Golgi apparatus as demonstrated by immunoelectron microscopy. Immunocytochemistry on trichomonad frozen sections revealed the presence of the Hsp60 homolog in light-microscopic granules corresponding to hydrogenosomes.     

Central adiposity and hemodynamic functioning at rest and during stress in adolescents

OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of central adiposity upon hemodynamic functioning at rest and during stress in adolescents. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, correlational study. SUBJECTS: 46 White and 49 Black normotensive adolescents with family histories of essential hypertension. MEASUREMENTS: Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), cardiac output and total peripheral resistance responses were assessed at rest, during postural change, video game challenge and forehead cold stimulation. Specific lower and higher waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) tertiles were created for each gender and then integrated for analyses. This resulted in a lower WHR tertile of 11 Whites and 21 Blacks and an upper WHR tertile of 15 Whites and 17 Blacks. RESULTS: No differences in age, gender or ethnicity proportions were found between tertile groups (all P > 0.21). The upper WHR group showed greater body weight, waist and hip circumferences, body mass index (BMI), triceps skinfold and body surface area (all P < 0.001). Controlling for peripheral (that is, triceps skinfold) and overall (that is, BMI) adiposity, the upper WHR group exhibited greater SBP (that is, peak response minus mean pre-stressor level) to all three stressors and greater DBP reactivity to postural change and cold pressor (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Central adiposity appears to adversely influence hemodynamic functioning during adolescence. Underlying mechanisms responsible for these associations require exploration.     

Distributed interactive simulation in the evolution of DoD warfaremodeling and simulation

Distributed interactive simulation (DIS) is a revolutionary development that is changing permanently many features of Defense Department work. The field of warfare modeling and simulation (M&S) is quite large, however, and this paper reviews its evolution and how DIS fits within it. A few things are clear. First, DIS is exceedingly valuable for training. Second, DIS could be a powerful means for improving the quality of planning and analysis if used wisely for occasional well designed experiments. These could 1) provide insights about real-world processes involving human performance and behavior (including decision making), 2) help inform and calibrate models, and 3) help test plans in a quasioperational environment. Third, distributed war gaming, which depends on DIS technology, is already lowering boundaries among developers, planners, and warfighters. This can shorten development processes and improve the results through virtual prototyping; it can also improve operational readiness. To achieve these potential benefits, however, will require a holistic approach, conceptual breakthroughs, and profoundly difficult model development efforts. The challenges include developing integrated hierarchies of models, developing adaptive decision models and other models of human behavior, developing and using new forms of uncertainty-sensitive analysis, and learning how to use DIS experiments effectively     

Impaired interleukin-12 production is associated with a defective anti-tumor response in colorectal cancer

OBJECTIVE: Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is an idiopathic accumulation of blood in the vertebral epidural space without identifiable predisposing factors. First reported in 1869, the clinical outcome in children younger than 18 years old has not been clearly delineated. DESIGN: A comprehensive review of the English language literature revealed 26 patients younger than 18 years old with reported clinical outcomes. The 27th case is presented. RESULTS: Complete neurologic recovery occurred in 14 of 27 (52%) patients, partial recovery in 12 of 27 (44%) patients, and death in 1 of 27 (4%) patients. CONCLUSION: There is an overall good prognosis for neurologic recovery in children who experience SSEH.     

CTLA4 mediates antigen-specific apoptosis of human T cells

The regulation of T cell-mediated immune responses requires a balance between amplification and generation of effector function and subsequent selective termination by clonal deletion. Although apoptosis of previously activated T cells can be induced by signaling of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family, these molecules do not appear to regulate T-cell clonal deletion in an antigen-specific fashion. We demonstrate that cross-linking of the inducible T-cell surface molecule CTLA4 can mediate apoptosis of previously activated human T lymphocytes. This function appears to be antigen-restricted, since a concomitant signal T-cell receptor signal is required. Regulation of this pathway may provide a novel therapeutic strategy to delete antigen-specific activated T cells.