Stimulus-centered neglect in reading and object recognition

Abstract

We examine whether words and objects share a common stage of processing in which an item's shape is represented in a reference frame centered on the item, that is, a ‘stimulus-centered’ representation. The neurological patient MR neglected the left parts of words, letter-strings, and objects in a variety of reading and naming tests, regardless of where they were presented in the visual field. She identified only the right sides of chimeras, and failed to notice that they were not real objects. Her pattern of performance provides evidence consistent with a common pathway for word and object processing beyond the early, retinocentric levels of the visual system.     

Molecular structures of three hydroxyl derivatives of the hepatic carcinogen acetylaminofluorene. Evidence for a preferred orientation of the acetylamino side-chain

The molecular and crystal structures of three hydroxyl derivativesof 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF), have been determined by X-raycrystallographic analysis. The structures of l-hydroxyl-AAF,N-hydroxyl-AAF and 3-hydroxyl-AAF have shown that in generaltheir geometries are similar, both in respect of bond distancesand angles, and in respect of side-chain disposition. Possiblereasons for the differences in biological activity between thethree derivatives are discussed.     

Studies on aorta during development. I. Fetal rabbit aorta under ex vivo and in vitro conditions: rapid changes in smooth muscle cell phenotype, cell proliferation and cholesterol content with organ culture

The structural development of the already well defined fetal rabbit aortic wall from 22 to 31 days of gestation in vivo consists of increasing aortic wall thickness, elastic lamina continuities, extracellular matrix deposition, and maturing of the fine structure of the medial smooth muscle cells. In vivo at term (31 days), the mature aortic smooth muscle cells demonstrated the characteristic thin, thick and intermediate filaments, dense plaques, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi, plasmalemma vesicles and an incomplete basal lamina. The fetal aorta rapidly responded to organ culture with various changes. Fetal smooth muscle cells modified their phenotype to the synthetic state when cultured in both serum-supplemented and serum-free media. This smooth muscle cell modification occurred after 3 days of culture in fetal explants. The synthetic type smooth muscle cells (fetal) began to proliferate after 6 days of culture. This proliferation resulted in a peripheral outgrowth after 9 days of 10-20 layers in fetal cultures from serum-supplemented media and of 2-4 layers in serum-free media. The orderly arrangement of the internal elastic lamina and alternating medial layers of smooth muscle cells and elastic lamina seen in vivo was disrupted along with increased matrix after 9 days of fetal explant culture. Significant numbers of 'modified' synthetic phenotype smooth muscle cells were not observed in adult aortic explants until after 15 days in culture in serum supplemented media. The mature contractile phenotype smooth muscle cell predominated in adult explants cultured in serum-free media. Significant synthetic phenotype smooth muscle cell proliferation only occurred in adult explants after 15 days culture in serum-supplemented media. When compared to aorta in vivo evidence for increases in cholesterol esterification were observed in both fetal (9 days) and adult (15 days) explants cultured in both serum-supplemented and serum-free media. The fetal aorta in organ culture appeared to be more susceptible than the adult aorta to (a) phenotypic modulation of smooth muscle cells to the synthetic state, (b) smooth muscle cell proliferation, and (c) early cholesteryl ester accumulation.     

Association of transforming growth factor-β1 gene C509T,G800A and T869C polymorphisms with intracerebral hemorrhage in North Indian Population: a case–control study

Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is a multifunctional pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in inflammation and pathogenesis of cerebrovascular disease. As per our knowledge, there is no published study investigating the association between variations within the TGF-β1 gene polymorphisms and risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the TGF-β1 gene (C509T, G800A and T869C) polymorphisms, and their haplotypes with the risk of ICH in North Indian population. 100 ICH patients and 100 age- and sex-matched controls were studied. Genotyping was performed using SNaPshot method. Conditional logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the strength of association between TGF-β1 gene polymorphisms and risk of ICH. Hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, low socioeconomic status, smoking, physical activity were found to be associated with the risk of ICH. The distribution of C509T, G800A and T869C genotypes was consistent with Hardy–Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) in the ICH and control group. Adjusted conditional logistic regression analysis showed an independent association of TGF-β1 G800A (OR 9.07; 95 % CI 2.3–35.6; P = 0.002) and T869C (OR 5.1; 95 % CI 1.9–13.2; P = 0.001) with the risk of ICH under dominant model. Haplotype analysis showed that C509-G800-C869 and C509-A800-C869 haplotypes were significantly associated with the increased risk of ICH. C509T and T869C were in strong linkage disequilibrium (D’ = 0.53, r ² = 0.23). Our results suggest that TGF-β1 (G800A, T869C) gene polymorphisms and their haplotypes are significantly associated with the risk of ICH in North Indian population. Further prospective studies with large sample size are required for independent validation. Our findings could be helpful in identifying individuals at increased risk for developing ICH.     

Decreased prevalence of lymphatic filariasis among subjects with type-1 diabetes

Several animal studies have shown a protective effect of helminth infections against type-1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). However, epidemiologic studies demonstrating this protective relationship with T1DM are largely lacking, although an inverse correlation between the prevalence of lymphatic filariasis (LF) and prevalence of allergies and autoimmunity has been shown. A cross-sectional study was undertaken in southern India to assess the baseline prevalence of seropositivity of LF among persons with T1DM (n = 200) and normal glucose tolerant (NGT) persons (n = 562). The prevalence of LF was 0% among persons with T1DM and 2.6% among NGT persons (P = 0.026). The percentage of persons who were positive for filarial antigen-specific IgG4 (but not antigen-specific IgG) was also significantly lower in persons with T1DM (2%) compared with NGT persons (28%) (P < 0.001). Thus, there appears to be a striking inverse relationship between the prevalence of LF and T1DM in southern India.     

Laparoscopic retrieval of "stubborn" foreign bodies in the foregut: a case report and literature survey

INTRODUCTION: Foreign bodies (FBs) are commonly seen in pediatric and gastroenterologist practice. Most of them will pass without intervention; those that do not will need surgery. Laparoscopy has been used to achieve this to good effect. We present a child with ingestion of multiple magnets. CASE REPORT: The patient was a 2-year-old child with history of ingestion of magnets. Laparoscopy was planned as endoscopic removal had failed. There were 3 magnets in the stomach and 1 in the jejunum and they were attached together, as if in a "gastrojejunostomy." Laparoscopic removal was performed successfully for the child. RESULTS: He had an uneventful postoperative recovery and was discharged on the third postoperative day. DISCUSSION: Coins are the most commonly ingested FBs. Multiple magnet ingestion poses a unique problem, as they are likely to stick together and cause pressure necrosis with fistula formation. Surgical intervention is necessary to prevent this potentially deadly complication. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy has been found to be very useful in the removal of intraluminal FBs, especially when conservative measures fail. Prevention should be the main objective and parental involvement is crucial.