Mucoviscidosis with respiratory symptomatology in the neonatal period]

A case of cystic fibrosis presented in the neonatal period with respiratory symptomatology associated with early pancreatic insufficiency is reported. The CFTR gene molecular analysis was found to be a compound heterozygotes for delta F508 and G542X. The rarity of this mode of presentation and the inclusion of this entity in the differential diagnosis for neonatal respiratory distress syndrome is emphasised. The pathogenesis and some therapeutic aspects carried out in our patient, which might have improved the life expectancy of patients with this disease, are discussed.     

The influence of fixational eye movements on the response of neurons in area MT of the macaque

After milk ejection, piglets spend several minutes massaging their own teats on the sow. We examined whether this behaviour could be a mammalian counterpart to begging in young birds, and hence be explained by theories of honest begging. In one experiment, the behaviour of piglets was examined in relation to their previous milk intake. In each of 16 litters, one focal piglet was exposed to three treatments for three consecutive sucklings: 'no milk', where the piglet was withheld from the teat during milk ejection; 'extra milk', where it was fed 10 ml of extra milk directly after milk ejection; and 'control', when it received its normal intake. Average massage duration in the next three sucklings was significantly longer in the 'no milk' than in the control piglets. 'No milk' pigs massaged more intensely (number of massage movements/min), were more persistent in attempting to maintain udder contact and spent less time away from the udder. However, there were no significant differences between 'control' and 'extra milk' treatments. In a second experiment, in which we manually massaged teats for 0, 3 or 10 min, we found no significant effect of massage duration on milk output (measured by weighing piglets before and after milk ejection), although massage tended to increase output. We conclude that post-sucking massage in piglets has a number of aspects similar to honest begging in birds. Copyright 1998 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Copyright 1998 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.     

Prosodic influences on the resolution of temporary ambiguity during on-line sentence processing

We present three experiments designed to investigate the role of prosody during sentence processing. The first investigated the question of whether an utterance's prosodic contour influences its comprehension on-line. We spliced the beginning and end portions of direct object and embedded clause sentences and observed the consequent effects on comprehension using a dual-task procedure to measure processing load. Our second experiment sought to determine whether the constituent structure of these sentences could be reliably predicted using prosodic information. We found that the duration and F0 contour associated with the main-clause verb and the following NP reliably distinguished between the direct object and embedded clause constructions. In the final experiment, we manipulated the duration of the main-clause verb and found that subjects used this information to guide their initial parse during on-line sentence comprehension. The need for a model of sentence processing that addresses the use of prosodic information is discussed.     

Pneumomediastinum following a surgical renal biopsy

A case of pneumomediastinum, which appeared after a biopsy of the right kidney by minimal lumbotomy, is reported. The anatomicopathological condition of the renal fragment obtained was judged to be focal and segmental hyalinosis. We wish to emphasize the rarity of such a complication, the type of electrocardiographic changes observed, and the rapid and spontaneous recuperation of the patient without further repercussions.     

Racial differences in muscle strength in disabled older women

This study examines racial differences in muscle strength, and associations of muscle strength to level of physical activity and severity of disability, among a community sample of 254 black and 665 white, moderately to severely disabled women aged 65 and older. Potential confounders that were adjusted for in the models included age, body weight and height, joint pain, number of chronic conditions, and socioeconomic status. Hand grip, hip flexion, and knee extension forces were measured using portable hand-held dynamometers in the participants' homes. Hand grip strength was measured as the maximal isometric force. Hip flexion and knee extension forces were measured as the greatest force the tester had to apply to break the isometric contraction. A declining strength gradient was observed with increasing severity of disability and for decreasing level of physical activity in both races. At equal levels of disability or physical activity, blacks had better hand grip and hip flexion strength, but knee extension strength did not differ by race. The greater hand grip and hip flexion strength found in black women may be related to their greater muscle mass and known racial differences in body dimensions. No consistent racial differences were observed in the relationship between physical activity and muscle strength, or muscle strength and disability, suggesting that the role of muscle strength in the disablement process does not differ between races. Physical activity and exercise programs may be feasible ways to prevent worsening of disability in blacks and whites.