To what extent does IQ 'explain' socio-economic variations in function?

Background  

The aims of this study were to examine the extent to which higher intellectual abilities protect higher socio-economic groups from functional decline and to examine whether the contribution of intellectual abilities is independent of childhood deprivation and low birth weight and other socio-economic and developmental factors in early life.     

后部葡萄膜黑色素瘤^125I板放射治疗后的脂质渗出

目的：研究葡萄膜黑色素瘤^125I板放射治疗后与脂质渗出相关的因素。设计：回顾性、干预性、病例系列研究。方法：回顾139例用^125I板放射治疗的葡萄膜黑色素瘤的连续患者的病历记录，脂质渗出作为主要的测量结果。结果：19例患者检出有脂质渗出（13．7％），从放射治疗到脂质渗出的平均时间为10个月（极差3～23个月）。脂质渗出与患者年龄较低（P=0．0002）、低密度脂蛋白增加（P=0．004）、高密度脂蛋白减少（P=0．026）、肿瘤体积增加（P=0．024）及渗出性视网膜脱离（P=0．016）相关。脂质渗出患者伴有视力差（P〈0．0001）及新生血管性青光眼增加（P=0．01）。结论：葡萄膜黑色素瘤^125I板放射治疗后的脂质渗出与眼部预后差相关。脂质渗出相关的因素与辐射性视网膜病变的相关因素完全不同，这些因素为治疗并发症提供依据。     

Discordant repeat size and phenotype in Kennedy syndrome

Previous reports in the literature have described correlation of increasing repeat length with severity of the phenotype, in Kennedy syndrome. We describe male siblings with different repeat lengths, with lack of expression of the phenotype in the sibling with the longer repeat length. The phenotype was identical to motor neurone disease. There is variability of expression in Kennedy syndrome and repeat length even in siblings cannot be taken as a conclusive indicator of severity. CAG repeat length cannot be used to predict the natural history of Kennedy disease. The diagnosis of Kennedy syndrome should be considered in male patients presenting with atypical motor neurone disease.     

INTERFERONS IN ONCOLOGY

SUMMARY The interferons are natural glycoproteins secreted in response to various stimuli, including viral infection. They have antiviral, antiproliferative and immunomodulatory effects on different target cell populations. Since recombinant human interferons have become available, they have been tested in a wide range of malignancies. They are well established in the treatment of hairy cell leukaemia, chronic myelogenous leukaemia and multiple myeloma. Although they have documented activity against lymphoma, melanoma, renal cell cancer and carcinoid tumours, their role in the treatment of these tumours is less clear. In the common solid tumours, such as lung cancer and colorectal cancer, the use of interferons remains experimental. Here we will summarise their practice applications in oncology, using randomised studies where available to establish their place in multi-modality treatment. We will not discuss their use as antiviral or immunomodulating agents in viral and autoimmune diseases, multiple sclerosis or after organ transplantation.