Dynamic combinatorial synthesis of a catenane based on donor–acceptor interactions in water

A new type of neutral donor–acceptor [2]-catenane, containing both complementary units in the same ring was synthesized from a dynamic combinatorial library in water. The yield of the water soluble [2]-catenane is enhanced by increasing either building-block concentrations or ionic strength, or by the addition of an electron-rich template. NMR spectroscopy demonstrates that the template is intercalated between the 2 electron-deficient naphthalenediimide units of the catenane.     

Cyclosporine A protects against apoptosis in ischaemic/reperfused rat kidneys

1. Renal ischaemia followed by reperfusion leads to acute renal failure in both native kidneys and renal allografts. Cyclosporine A (CsA) has been used as an immunosuppressive agent in organ transplantation. In the present study, the effect of CsA on ischaemia/reperfusion-induced apoptosis in the kidney was investigated. 2. Ischaemia/reperfusion injury caused widespread apoptosis primarily in the medulla of the kidney. At 1.5 mg/kg per day, CsA significantly reduced the number of apoptotic cells in rat kidney after ischaemia/reperfusion injury. 3. Low-dose CsA treatment did not affect the levels of creatinine in the serum of rats after ischaemia/reperfusion injury.     

Non-word reading,lexical retrieval and stuttering: comments on Packman,Onslow, Coombes and Goodwin (2001)

A recent study by Packman, Onslow, Coombes and Goodwin (2001) employed a non-word-reading paradigm to test the contribution of the lexical retrieval process to stuttering. They consider that, with this material, the lexical retrieval process could not contribute to stuttering and that either anxiety and/or the motor demand of reading are the governing factors. This paper will discuss possible processes underlying non-word reading and it argues that the conclusion arrived at by Packman et al. does not stand up to close scrutiny. In their introduction, the authors acknowledge that the lexicalization process involves retrieval and encoding of words. In a non-word-reading task, the word retrieval component is eliminated. The possibility that the encoding component of the lexicalization process leads to stuttering is, however, completely ignored by the authors when they attribute stuttering to motor demands. As theories put forward by Postma and Kolk (the Covert Repair Hypothesis, 1993) and Howell and Au-Yeung (the EXPLAN theory, 2002) argue heavily for the role of the phonological encoding processes in stuttering, Packman et al.'s work does not evaluate such theories. Theoretical issues aside, Packman et al.'s arguments about reading rate and stuttering rate based on reading time is also questionable.     

Correlation of Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM) with developmental language tests in children with developmental delay

The Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM) is a simple tool for assessing the functional independence of three domains: mobility, self-care, and cognition. Children are usually apprehensive about performing standardized structured language or developmental tests, and only licensed professionals can administer standardized tests. We attempted to apply the Functional Independence Measure for Children for assessing children with developmental delay and to assess for any correlation of these scores with standardized language tests. We recruited 49 children with developmental delay, and the Functional Independence Measure for Children was administered. Two standardized language tests (Symbolic Play Test and Reynell Language Developmental Scale) were administered to assess language age. There was a significant correlation between Functional Independence Measure for Children scores with both verbal comprehension age and verbal expression age. There was no correlation of Functional Independence Measure for Children scores with gender, age, or having domestic helpers. Having trained staff administer the Functional Independence Measure for Children can reliably correlate the current language ability of a child with developmental delay; thus, the test can be used as a quick screening tool for targeted training.