The processing of compounds in bilingual aphasia: A multiple‐case study

Background: While converging evidence has led to the view that people with aphasia exploit compositional procedures when producing compound words, the issue of what compound‐internal characteristics are at play during these procedures is still under debate. It has been argued that constituent position and/or morphosyntactic prominence, i.e., being the head constituent of a compound, may influence the manner in which compounds are accessed. However, findings obtained from patient performances are thus far inconclusive, because positional and headedness effects are frequently confounded in a language.

Aims: In order to disentangle position‐in‐the‐string and headedness effects in compound production in aphasia, the main objective of this study is to investigate the performance of bilingual patients speaking languages in which these effects can be teased apart. Our secondary goal is to probe the roles of grammatical category (adjectives vs nouns) and of between‐language phonological similarity, as both these factors have been demonstrated to influence compound processing.

Methods & Procedures: Three English–French bilingual persons with aphasia participated in the study. Three experimental tasks, reading, repetition, and translation of isolated compound words, were administrated in each language. We contrasted French and English compounds that differ in the position of the head constituent: left for French and right for English.

Outcomes & Results: Two participants showed a similar pattern—a significantly reduced number of errors for the head (or first) constituent as compared to the non‐head (or second) constituent in French and an equivalent number of errors for both constituents in English—pointing to the cumulative effects of headedness and first‐position‐in‐the‐string in French, and to the mutual cancelling out of these effects in English. The third participant exhibited a non‐head constituent advantage in both languages, indicating that semantic modification of the head constituent by the non‐head constituent plays a prominent role in her accessing procedures. For all three participants phonological similarity influenced production, while grammatical category did not.

Conclusions: Our results reveal that headedness and position interact in the processing of compounds. They also demonstrate that compound constituents are processed asymmetrically across and within languages, thus confirming that people with aphasia are sensitive to compound‐internal structure. Moreover, they show that patients rely on varying structural information when accessing compounds.     

Distinct role of MAPKAPK-2 in the regulation of TNF gene expression by Toll-like receptor 7 and 9 ligands

Toll-like receptor ligands (TLRLs) produced by various pathogens activate mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). While the dependence on p38 MAPK activation for the induction of inflammatory genes by the TLR4L, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), has been well documented, the importance of the p38 pathway in gene regulation by other TLRLs is less well understood. We have focused our analysis on two TLRLs with therapeutic potential, imidazoquinoline S28463 (TLR7L) and CpG DNA (TLR9L), to explore in detail their effects on the regulation of gene expression in macrophages. Here we report that activation of the p38 MAPK/MK2 pathway is crucial for both S28463- and CpG-induced cytokine and chemokine production. We show that the stability of TNF mRNA induced by CpG DNA and S28463 is not dependent on the p38 MAPK/MK2 pathway, in contrast to LPS-induced TNF mRNA. Using a GFP reporter construct under the control of the 3' untranslated region of the TNF gene, we demonstrate that S28463 and CpG DNA-induced MK2 signalling regulates TNF mRNA primarily at the translational level, whereas LPS-induced MK2 signalling regulates both the stability and translational efficiency of TNF mRNA. Overall, these data provide insight into distinct molecular mechanisms of gene expression regulation by different Toll-like receptor ligands.     

Dynamic Response of Angle Ply Laminates with Uncertainties Using MARS,ANN-PSO,GPR and ANFIS

In the present work, for the first time, free vibration response of angle ply laminates with uncertainties is attempted using Multivariate Adaptive Regression Spline (MARS), Artificial Neural Network-Particle Swarm Optimization (ANN-PSO), Gaussian Process Regression (GPR), and Adaptive Network Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS). The present approach employed 2D C⁰ stochastic finite element (FE) model based on the Third Order Shear Deformation Theory (TSDT) in conjunction with MARS, ANN-PSO, GPR, and ANFIS. The TSDT model used eliminates the requirement of shear correction factor owing to the consideration of the actual parabolic distribution of transverse shear stress. Zero transverse shear stress at the top and bottom of the plate is enforced to compute higher-order unknowns. C⁰ FE model makes it commercially viable. Stochastic FE analysis done with Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) FORTRAN inhouse code, selection of design points using a random variable framework, and soft computing with MARS, ANN-PSO, GPR, and ANFIS is implemented using MATLAB in-house code. Following the random variable frame, design points were selected from the input data generated through Monte Carlo Simulation. A total of four-mode shapes are analyzed in the present study. The comparison study was done to compare present work with results in the literature and they were found in good agreement. The stochastic parameters are Young’s elastic modulus, shear modulus, and the Poisson ratio. Lognormal distribution of properties is assumed in the present work. The current soft computation models shrink the number of trials and were found computationally efficient as the MCS-based FE modelling. The paper presents a comparison of MARS, ANN-PSO, GPR, and ANFIS algorithm performance with the stochastic FE model based on TSDT.     

Diffuse lymphoma of the intestines with a monoclonal gammopathy of IgG3 kappa type

Monoclonal gammopathy of IgG₃ kappa type is described in a young man with diffuse lymphoid infiltration of the stomach duodenum and intestines.     

Risk factors associated with anaphylaxis and other allergic-like events following receipt of 2009 monovalent AS03-adjuvanted pandemic influenza vaccine in Quebec,Canada

Introduction

In Quebec, Canada, receipt of the 2009 AS03-adjuvanted pandemic H1N1 vaccine was associated with increased risk of anaphylaxis and other allergic-like events (ALE), especially among women of childbearing age. In response to this safety signal, a case–control study was conducted to identify potential risk factors.

Methods

A total of 435 ALE (50 anaphylaxis) occurring <24 h following pandemic vaccination were compared to 849 age-gender matched controls randomly selected from the provincial Pandemic Influenza Vaccination Registry. More than 60 potential risk factors were evaluated through phone interviews and included demographic information, medical history, medication use or acute respiratory illnesses (ARI) concurrent with vaccination and other risk factors associated with general allergy. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals were estimated with unconditional logistic regression.

Results

Factors associated with increased risk of anaphylaxis included concurrent ARI (18% cases vs. 4% controls, ORadj 7.67, 95%CI: 3.04–13.37), food allergy (26% cases vs. 4% controls, ORadj 3.84, 95%CI: 1.51–9.74) and vaccination during the first four weeks of the campaign (66% cases vs. 50% controls, ORadj 2.16, 95%CI: 1.10–4.25) whereas alcohol exposure (≥1 drink/week) was associated with reduced risk (29% cases vs. 42% controls, ORadj 0.26, 95%CI: 0.13–0.57). These factors were also significantly associated with any ALE but the strength of association was weaker. Allergy to components found in the vaccine (e.g., egg, thimerosal) was infrequent and did not significantly differ between cases and controls.

Conclusion

Increased anaphylaxis and other allergic-like events observed in association with AS03-adjuvanted pandemic H1N1 vaccine remain mostly unexplained despite extensive risk factor review. However, prior to mass vaccination with similar formulations this safety signal warrants further consideration and better understanding. In particular, the predominance among women of childbearing age may be a clue to underlying biological or hormonal influences on adverse immunological responses to vaccine.     

Adhesion of human uroepithelial cells to E-selectin: Possible involvement of sialosyl LewisA-ganglioside

In a previous study we showed that tumorigenic and invasive human uroepithelial cell lines are characterized by the presence of sialosyl Le^a (sLe^a) ganglioside. Our data suggested that expression of this glycolipid correlated with acquisition of the malignant phenotype by human urothelial cells. To evaluate the postulated adhesion function of sLe^a antigen, we studied the adherence of 6 human urothelial cell lines with different expressions of this carbohydrate structure to E-selectin-expressing CHO cells. The only cell line that bound specifically to E-selectin was Hu 1703He, which expressed the highest level of sLe^a antigen. The involvement of carbohydrate-E-selectin interaction in the adhesion of Hu 1703He cells was indicated by the following facts: (i) anti-E-selectin monoclonal antibody (MAb) completely abolished binding to E-selectin-expressing CHO cells; (ii) removal of sialic acid from Hu 1703He cells highly decreased the adhesion. Adhesion correlated with the presence of several sLe^a-carrying glycoproteins, which was shown by immunoblotting of Hu 1703He cell lysate with anti-sLe^a MAb 19-9. The binding of antibody was abolished when cell lysate was treated with O-sialoglycoprotein endopeptidase, suggesting that sLe^a is present on O-linked oligosaccharides. However, incubation of Hu 1703He cells with O-sialoglycoprotease had no effect on adhesion to E-selectin or on binding of 19-9 MAb to the cell surface. Our data suggest that (i) protein-bound sLe^a oligosaccharides represent only a minor portion of whole sLe^a antigen produced by uroepithelial cells; (ii) effective binding to E-selectin occurs when sLe^a oligosaccharide present on cell-surface glycosphingolipids is expressed in high density since the cell lines with moderate expression of sLe^a ganglioside did not bind to E-selectin-transfected CHO cells. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Suicide in Thailand, 1977 to 2002.

The epidemiology of suicide in Thailand from 1977-2002 was presented. In the years 1977 and 2002, the suicide rates were 5.9 and 7.8 per 100,000 population. This is low compared to nearby Asian countries. The highest suicide rate was 8.6 per 100,000 in the year 1999, a time of economic crisis. The ratio of male to female suicide rate was 1.14:1 in the year 1977 and increased to 3.16:1 in the year 2002. The highest suicide rate was in young males, ages 25-29 and the trend shows an increase. Despite the increasing incidence, there has been little study to date; however, HIV/AIDS has been identified as a major risk factor.     

Expression of Fas ligand and CTLA4 in adenoids has a predictive value for allergic rhinitis development in children

BACKGROUND: The balance of CD28/CTLA4-derived signals and Fas-dependent apoptosis activity is determined by the peripheral defense mechanisms and might play a role in the pathogenesis of allergy. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate the expression of costimulatory and pro- and antiapoptotic molecules in adenoid T cells of children suffering from allergic rhinitis and to find out which of these molecules have a predictive value in the development of allergic rhinitis. METHODS: The adenoids of 60 children, removed because of nasal obstruction, chronic rhinitis and recurrent respiratory infection, were evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups: group 1, suffering from chronic allergic rhinitis, and group 2, suffering from chronic rhinitis, where no specific IgE was detected, including children with a positive family history of allergy (group 2a) and children with neither a personal nor a family history of allergy (group 2b). For immunohistochemical stainings anti-CD3, anti-CD19, anti-CD4, anti-CD8, anti-CD25, anti-CD28, anti-CTLA4 (CD152), anti-bcl-2, anti-Fas, and anti-FasL antibodies were used. The number of cells expressing these molecules was identified in adenoid interfollicular spaces. The results were then analyzed in allergic and nonallergic children. During a 24-month follow-up children were re-examined for allergy and results were compared to previous immunohistochemical evaluations. RESULTS: The expression of CD4, CD25, CD28, FasL, and CTLA4 was significantly increased in group 1 compared to group 2 (p < 0.05). However, the discriminant analysis confirmed that only CTLA4 and FasL expression fully discriminated allergic subjects from the others. During a 24-month period of observation 8 children from group 2a were also diagnosed with allergic rhinitis. All of them, especially those sensitized to mites, had an increased number of FasL+ and CTLA4+ in previously removed adenoids. CONCLUSION: An increased number of cells with intracellular expression of FasL and CTLA4, in interfollicular spaces of adenoids, seems to be a predictive factor of the development of allergic rhinitis.