Thrombophilic risk factors and unusual clinical features in three Italian CADASIL patients

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a genetically transmitted cerebrovascular disease. Typically, the first clinical manifestation is migraine and the full clinical spectrum of the disease with recurrent strokes of the subcortical type, cognitive, and mood disorders is seen during the fourth and fifth decades of life. Vascular risk factors are usually absent in CADASIL patients and the diagnosis of the disease is particularly suspected in young adults with cerebrovascular events of unknown cause, diffuse leukoencephalopathy on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, and a history of cerebrovascular diseases or dementia in many family members. We describe three Italian CADASIL patients who presented to medical attention for cerebrovascular events occurred after the age of 55 and had, in addition to hypertension and hyperlipidemia, thrombophilic risk factors such as hyperhomocysteinemia, elevated levels of lipoprotein(a), and antiphospholipid antibodies. Symptoms possibly related to cortical involvement, such as dysphasia and visual field deficits, were reported by two of these patients. We conclude that a diagnosis of CADASIL should not be disregarded in patients with vascular risk factors and presenting with symptoms not immediately referable to subcortical damage at ages more advanced than commonly reported.     

Executive functions processed in the frontal and lateral temporal cortices: Intracerebral study

OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to investigate the neurocognitive network in the frontal and lateral temporal cortices that is activated by the complex cognitive visuomotor tasks of letter writing. METHODS: Eight epilepsy surgery candidates with implanted intracerebral depth electrodes performed two tasks involving the writing of single letters. The first task consisted of copying letters. In the second task, the patients were requested to write any other letter. The cognitive load of the second task was increased mainly by larger involvement of the executive functions. The task-related ERD/ERS of the alpha, beta and gamma rhythms was studied. RESULTS: The alpha and beta ERD as the activational correlate of writing of single letters was found in the sensorimotor cortex, anterior cingulate, premotor, parietal cortices, SMA and the temporal pole. The alpha and beta ERD linked to the increased cognitive load was present moreover in the dorsolateral and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex and surprisingly also the temporal neocortex. Gamma ERS was detected mostly in the left motor cortex. CONCLUSIONS: Particularly the temporal neocortex was activated by the increased cognitive load. SIGNIFICANCE: The lateral temporal cortex together with frontal areas forms a cognitive network processing executive functions.     

中学生社会比较特点及其与学业成绩的关系

目的了解中学生的社会比较特点及其与学业成绩的关系,为开展学生心理健康教育提供参考。方法采用问卷法,调查重庆市某中学392名中学生的社会比较和学业成绩。结果不同学业成绩水平中学生的社会比较倾向差异无统计学意义;学业成绩优异中学生更倾向于上行认同、平行认同的比较方式,而学业成绩较差中学生更倾向于上行对比、下行认同的比较方式。中学生更倾向于作出认同反应,且偏好反映在上行、平行和下行方向上。性别因素在社会比较倾向和具体比较方式上的选择主效应不显著;年级因素在社会比较倾向和某些具体比较方式上主效应显著,表现为中学生的社会比较倾向和对上行认同、平行认同、下行认同的选择随年级上升而趋于降低。结论中学生的社会比较与学业成绩之间存在特定对应关系,应有针对性地开展教育。     

十二指肠溃疡生活事件及社会支持的对照研究

目的 探讨十二指肠溃疡与生活事件及社会支持的关系。方法 采用生活事件量表（LES），社会支持评定量表（SSRS）对十二指肠溃疡患者（58例）与健康对照（67例）进行问卷测试与评价分析。结果 十二指肠溃疡患者在生活事件里正性刺激量，负性刺激量和总刺激量都明显高于健康对照组，十二指肠溃疡患者受到的主观支持比一般人群多；而客观支持比一般人群少，但十二指肠溃疡患者受到的总支持量并不比一般人多，而且，十二指肠溃疡患者对支持的利用度也不比一般人高。结论 十二指肠溃疡患者有明显的生活事件和不足的社会支持，对生活事件的刺激尤为敏感。     

Social class and obesity in 12-year-old children in Brussels: Influence of gender and ethnic origin

From their school health files, the body mass index of 2607 children, 1268 boys and 1339 girls, from the Brussels region of Belgium was analysed. The aim was to study the relationship between obesity and social class, gender and nationality. In Belgian girls, the lower their social class, the higher was the prevalence and severity of obesity. There was no such significant relationship in Belgian boys, nor in immigrant children of either sex, although the overall prevalence of obesity was similar in all groups. These results question certain hypotheses proposed to explain the relationship between social class and obesity. Conclusion From early adolescence on, social inequality influences the prevalence of obesity in Belgian girls, but not in Belgian boys nor in immigrant children. Prevention of obesity should take into account the influence of gender, social class and ethnic origin. Received: 21 January 1997 and in revised form: 30 September 1997 / Accepted: 21 October 1997     

Differential effects of IL-1ra on sickness behavior and weight loss induced by IL-1 in rats

Peripheral and central injections of recombinant human interleukin-1β (IL-1β) have been shown to decrease social exploration and to induce body weight loss in rats. To characterize the receptor mechanisms of these effects, we used as a tool a specific antagonist of the receptors of IL-1, IL-1ra. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of IL-1ra (8 mg/kg) blocked the effect of i.p. injection of IL-1β (4 μg/rat) on social behaviour but not on body weight. Central administration of IL-1ra (60 μg/rat, i.c.v.) abrogated the effects of centrally administered IL-1β (30 ngn/rat, i.c.v.) on both social behaviour and body weight. Central injection of IL-1ra (4 μg/rat, i.c.v.) also attenuated the effects of i.p. administered IL-1β (4 μg/rat) on social behaviour but not on body weight. These results suggest that the effects of IL-1β on social behavior are mediated centrally and that its effect on the loss of body weight involves different receptor mechanisms.     

企业职工社会心理调查的方法学研究

作者自行设计一种问卷对某企业职工进行社会心理调查。问卷由 A、B两表构成。A 表列出42个问题,包含可能影响该企业职工社会心理的三大类11项因素,要求从该企业中随机抽取的被调查者针对问题回答“是”或“否”。其后附开放式问题一个,被调查者可自由作答,以补封闭式提问的不足。B 表按心理投射机制设计,以解除被调查者的疑虑。测试结果表明,此问卷的信度和效度令人满意。     

306名大学生错失恐惧与社交媒体倦怠的关系:睡眠质量和负性情绪的链式中介作用

目的 探讨大学生睡眠质量、负性情绪在错失恐惧与社交媒体倦怠间的中介作用。 方法 采用错失恐惧量表、社交媒体倦怠量表、匹兹堡睡眠质量指数量表、抑郁-焦虑-压力量表简体中文版对306名大学生进行调查。 结果 错失恐惧、社交媒体倦怠、睡眠质量和负性情绪之间呈两两正相关;错失恐惧能正向预测社交媒体倦怠;睡眠质量和负性情绪在错失恐惧和社交媒体倦怠之间起单独中介作用,且睡眠质量和负性情绪在错失恐惧与社交媒体倦怠之间起链式中介作用,负性情绪各维度效应皆成立。 结论 睡眠质量和负性情绪能够为错失恐惧对社交媒体倦怠的影响提供一个解释机制,大学生的错失恐惧既可以直接影响其社交媒体倦怠水平,也可以通过睡眠质量、负性情绪的独立中介效应以及睡眠质量-负性情绪的链式中介效应间接影响。     

Specific modulation of social memory in rats by cholinomimetic and nootropic drugs,by benzodiazepine inverse agonists,but not by psychostimulants

The recognition of an unfamiliar juvenile rat by an adult rat has been shown to imply short-term memory processes. In this study the effect of various psychotropic drugs on this investigatory behaviour was examined. The procedure was as follows: an unfamiliar juvenile rat was placed in the home cage of an adult rat for 5 min. The time spent by the adult rat in investigating the juvenile was recorded. The adult rat was then immediately treated with vehicle or test compounds, and was again exposed for 5 min to the same juvenile 2 h later. At this time point vehicle-treated rats no longer recognized the juvenile rat, i.e. the time of investigation was similar to that observed during the first presentation. Arecoline (1 and 3 mg/kg IP), physostigmine (0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg SC), RS86 (0.5 mg/IP) and nicotine (0.125 and 0.5 mg/kg IP) reduced in a dose-dependent fashion the time spent in investigating the juvenile during the second exposure. This result cannot be attributed to nonspecific effects, since it was not observed when a different juvenile was used for the second exposure. The effect of arecoline was reversed by scopolamine, but not by methylscopolamine. Aniracetam reduced investigatory behaviour at the dose of 50 mg/kg IP. FG 7142 (5 mg/kg IP) and -CCM (0.4 mg/kg IP) were also active and their effect was reversed by Ro 15-1788. dl-Amphetamine (0.5 and 1 mg/kg IP), nomifensine (1.25–10 mg/kg IP) and strychnine (0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg IP) were ineffective or reduced this behaviour unspecifically. Social recognition may therefore represent a useful and simple test to detect compounds which enhance short-term, olfactory, memory and to assess in the same animals the specificity of this activity.