Forensic implications of the difficulties of defining delusions

Delusions are evasive to define: (1) Within the process of defining, one uses part of the final conclusion, which should derive from the basic definition (in other words, Circular reasoning); (2) Many, if not most, of so-called normal persons, hold delusion-like ideas; (3) Delusion becomes, usually, more understandable and less bizarre when investigated; (4) Delusions are not unique by remaining resistible to reason; (5) For every delusional content, as bizarre and remote as it may be, there is at least one cultural niche, in which the same content is considered legitimate and reasonable, (if no important and dignified). The forensic implications of these difficulties (to define delusions), will be discussed and elaborated.     

Reactions and early-age properties inin-situ polymerized gypsum-acryl amide composites

The development of the reactions and early-age properties of a system consisting of calcium sulfate hemihydrate and acrylamide monomer was studied. The hydration of the hemi-hydrate and the polymerization of the acrylamide were determined at various time intervals, and the expansion and rise in temperature were continuously recorded. Setting times and flow were determined using standard test methods. It was shown that acrylamide and hemi-hydrate could react simultaneously to form gypsum and polyacrylamide composite in which the reactions to form both components advanced almost until completion, for mixes containing up to 10% acrylamide. Increase in the content of acrylamide improved the flow properties of the mix, but delayed the setting. At contents of 2% acrylamide, the hemi-hydrate reaction occurred prior to the polymerization process. Above 6% acrylamide, the polymerization reaction preceded the hemi-hydrate reaction. This sequence of reactions can account for the observations that above 6% acrylamide two peaks in the heat liberation curves could be detected as well as that expansion was smaller at the higher acrylamide content, due probably to separation between gypsum crystals forming when the polymer is already present.     

Evidence for distinct signaling mechanisms in two mammalian olfactory sense organs

In mammals, olfactory stimuli are detected by sensory neurons at two distinct sites: the olfactory epithelium (OE) of the nasal cavity and the neuroepithelium of the vomeronasal organ (VNO). While the OE can detect volatile chemicals released from numerous sources, the VNO appears to be specialized to detect pheromones that are emitted by other animals and that convey information of behavioral or physiological importance. The mechanisms underlying sensory transduction in the OE have been well studied and a number of components of the transduction cascade have been cloned. Here, we investigated sensory transduction in the VNO by asking whether VNO neurons express molecules that have been implicated in sensory transduction in the OE. Using in situ hybridization and Northern blot analyses, we found that most of the olfactory transduction components examined, including the guanine nucleotide binding protein alpha subunit (G-alpha-olf), adenylyl cyclase type III, and an olfactory cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channel subunit (oCNC1), are not expressed by VNO sensory neurons. In contrast, VNO neurons do express a second olfactory CNG channel subunit (oCNC2). These results indicate that VNO sensory transduction is distinct from that in the OE but raise the possibility that, like OE sensory transduction, sensory transduction in the VNO might involve cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels.     

Inhibition of G1 cyclin expression in normal rat kidney cells by inostamycin, a phosphatidylinositol synthesis inhibitor

We previously reported that inostamycin, an inhibitor of CDP-DG: inositol transferase, inhibited cell proliferation in normal rat kidney (NRK) cells by blocking cell cycle progression at the G1 phase. In the present paper, we report the effect of inostamycin on the serum-induced activation of Ser/Thr protein kinases that are involved in G1 progression. In quiescent NRK cells mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) and casein kinase II were activated within 15 min after serum addition. Neither activation was affected by the treatment with inostamycin. However, in the inostamycin-treated cell, cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) failed to be activated after serum stimulation. Since serum-induced expression of cyclin E was also suppressed by inostamycin, this inhibitor would appear to block CDK2 activation by inhibiting cyclin E expression. Furthermore, inostamycin also inhibited cyclin D1 expression induced by serum; and consequently, hyperphosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (pRB) by RB-kinases such as CDK4 and CDK2 was abolished, which would result in elimination of functional inactivation of pRB. Thus, early G1 arrest in NRK cells by inostamycin is due to the inhibition of cyclin D1 and E expressions.     

De novo epileptic confusional status in a patient with cobalamin deficiency

A 80-year-old man with cobalamin deficiency and no history of epilepsy developed a partial complex epileptic confusional status (ECS) unresponsive to acute i.v. diazepam. Brain CT scan and MRI investigation ruled out a focal cerebral lesion. Therapy with high doses (10,000 micrograms i.m. daily) of cobalamin alone was started, and the patient fully recovered in the following 72-hour. Control EEGs repeatedly performed days and weeks later showed progressive disappearance of the frontal interictal spiking, while the patient was on monotherapy with cobalamin (5,000 micrograms i.m. weekly). A month later the patient unfortunately discontinued replacement therapy and 13 weeks later he developed a fatal convulsive epileptic status. To our knowledge the association of ECS and cobalamin deficiency has not been previously reported.     

Multiterminal light-emitting logic device electricallyreprogrammable between OR and NAND functions

A monolithic multiterminal logic device that functions both optically and electrically as an ORNAND gate, is demonstrated for the first time. The device, based on the real-space transfer of hot electrons into a complementary collector layer, has been implemented in an InGaAs/InAlAs/InGaAs heterostructure grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Excellent performance is obtained at room temperature. The collector current and the optical output power both exhibit the OR and the NAND functions of any two of the three input terminals, these functions being interchangeable by the voltage on the third terminal     

Nutrition in prevention of coronary heart disease

Medical conditions often have an important causal role in urinary incontinence in the elderly. Aside from causing functional impairments, such diseases directly may involve the genitourinary system--particularly its neurologic control--resulting in specific lower urinary tract pathophysiology. Knowledge of the specific effects that medical conditions may have on the genitourinary system and continence can assist the urologic specialist in determining the often complex cause(s) of UI in older persons.     

A behavioral medicine intervention in persons with HIV

This study used a pretest-posttest preexperimental design to examine the effect of a 10-week behavioral medicine support group intervention in a sample of persons with HIV. Using Solomon's psychoneuroimmunologic framework, the 10-week behavioral medicine program focused on the mind/body interaction, the relaxation response, coping with illness, hardiness, and nutrition. Pearson correlation coefficients and t tests were performed on the pre- and postintervention measures of hardiness, social support, immune function, and perceived health status. Results of the study indicated that hardiness (preintervention) and CD4 counts (pre- and postintervention) were significantly correlated with health status; however, CD4 counts decreased over the course of the behavioral medicine program. Implications for nursing and recommendations for further research are discussed.     

The natural killer cell receptor specific for HLA-A allotypes: a novel member of the p58/p70 family of inhibitory receptors that is characterized by three immunoglobulin-like domains and is expressed as a 140-kD disulphide-linked dimer

Human natural killer (NK) cells express inhibitory receptors that are specific for different groups of HLA-C or HLA-B alleles. The majority of these receptors belong to the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily and are characterized by two or three extracellular Ig-like domains. Here we describe a novel inhibitory NK receptor that is specific for a group of HLA-A alleles. The HLA-A3-specific NK cell clone DP7 has been used for mice immunization. Two mAbs, termed Q66 and Q241, bound to the immunizing clone and stained only a subset of NK cell populations or clones. Among Q66 mAb-reactive clones, we further selected those that did not express any of the previously identified HLA-class I-specific NK receptors. These clones did not lyse HLA-A3+ (or -A11+) target cells, but lysis of these targets could be detected in the presence of Q66 or Q241 mAbs. On the other hand, target cells expressing other HLA-A alleles, including -A1, -A2, and -A24, were efficiently lysed. Moreover, none of the HLA-C or HLA-B alleles that were tested exerted a protective effect. Q66+, but not Q66- NK cell clones, expressed messenger RNA coding for a novel 3 Ig domain protein homologous to the HLA-C (p58) and HLA-B (p70) receptors. The corresponding cDNA (cl.1.1) was used to generate transient and stable transfectants in COS7 and NIH3T3 cell lines, respectively. Both types of transfectants were specifically stained by Q66 and Q241 mAbs. Since the cytoplasmic tail of Q66-reactive molecules was at least 11 amino acid longer than the other known p58/p70 molecules, we could generate an antiserum specific for the COOH-terminus of Q66-reactive molecules, termed PGP-3. PGP-3 immunoprecipitated, only from Q66+ NK cells, molecules displaying a molecular mass of 140 kD, under nonreducing conditions, which resolved, under reducing conditions, in a 70-kD band. Thus, differently from the other p58/p70 receptors, Q66-reactive molecules appear to be expressed as disulphide-linked dimers and were thus termed p140. The comparative analysis of the amino acid sequences of p58, p70, and p140 molecules revealed the existence of two cysteins proximal to the transmembrane region, only in the amino acid sequence of p140 molecules.