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.     

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.     

Pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy: EEG investigations and long-term follow-up.

The EEG features and clinical correlates were investigated before, directly after, and on long-term follow-up after initiation of pyridoxine therapy in 6 patients with B6-dependent epilepsy. At each phase, the EEG provided important diagnostic and prognostic information. Pre-B6 3 neonates manifested a unique EEG pattern of generalized bursts of 1-4 Hz sharp and slow activity. This pattern has not been previously described in neonates with B6 dependency and in this age group appears to be highly suggestive of the diagnosis. Five patients experienced an apparent initial response to traditional antiepileptics. The parenteral pyridoxine test, performed in all 5, and repeated in 3, proved to be a highly reliable and reproducible diagnostic test. After 50-100 mg of B6 there was cessation of clinical seizures within minutes and of paroxysmal discharges within hours. On long-term follow-up (3-28 years) all 6 patients were seizure free on B6 (10-100 mg/day) monotherapy. Recurrences of seizures and of specific sequential EEG changes (background slowing, photoparoxysmal response, spontaneous discharges, stimulus-induced myoclonus, generalized seizures) occurred upon B6 withdrawal. Long-term prognosis correlated with the EEG. Two patients had persistently abnormal EEG backgrounds and were moderately to severely retarded, while 4 had normal EEGs with normal or near normal development.