Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Human Brain Development: Ages 4-18

Brain magnetic resonance images (MRI) of 104 healthy childrenand adolescents, aged 4–18, showed significant effectsof age and gender on brain morphometry. Males had larger cerebral(9%) and cerebellar (8%) volumes (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.008.respectively), which remained significant even after correctionfor height and weight After adjusting for cerebral size, theputamen and globus pallidus remained larger in males, whilerelative caudate size was larger in females. Neither cerebralnor cerebellar volume changed significantly across this agerange. Lateral ventricular volume increased significantly inmales (trend for females), with males showing an increase inslope after age 11. In males only, caudate and putamen decreasedwith age (P = 0.007 and 0.05, respectively). The left lateralventricles and putamen were significantly greater than the rightP = 0.01 and 0.0001, respectively). In contrast, the cerebralhemispheres and caudate showed a highly consistent right greater-than-leftasymmetry (P < 0.0001 for both). All volumes demonstrateda high degree of variability. These findings highlight gender-specificmaturational changes of the developing brain and the need forlarge gender-matched samples in pediatric neuropsychiatric studies.     

Juvenile xanthogranuloma: A clinical, histopathologic and immunohistochemical study

Juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXC) is a benign histiocylic proliferation of uncertain histogenesis which usually resolves spontaneously. Histopathologically, classic lesions are characterized by diffuse proliferations of foamy histiocytes, many of which may be multinucleated (Toulon cells), admixed with lymphocytes and eosinophils. Histologic variants of JXG, perhaps representing evolving lesions, may lack these typical histopathological features, showing diffuse infiltrates of non-foamy mononuclear histiocytes without Toulon cells, posing problems in differentiation from other histiocylic or melanocylic proliferations. Immunohistochemically, JXG is characterized by variable expressions of several histiocytic markers as well as the absence of staining for SI00 protein. To assess better the spectrum of histopathological and immunohistochemical features of JXG, we studied nine cases of classic or histologic variant of JXG. The cases were evaluated by light microscopy and with an extensive battery of antibodies. All 9 cases, regardless of their light microscopic appearance, showed markedly positive staining with histiocytic markers including CD68, HAM56, cathepsin B and vimentin, but did not stain for S100 protein. Antibodies to factor XIIIa stained positively in 8 cases while staining for other markers was variable. Our results suggest that the histiocytes in JXG lesions have macrophagic differentiation, probably representing a reactive process to an unknown stimulus.     

Oral contraceptive administration,interfemale relationships,and sexual behavior inMacaca fascicularis

The effects of oral contraceptive administration on the social relationships of adult female cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) were examined. Ten females were administered ethinyl estradiol/ethynodiol diacetate (Demulen), 10 were administered ethinyl estradiol/norgestrel (Ovral), and 10 served as a control group. The monkeys lived in social groups of 5 females each, and patterns of social interaction and social status were recorded. Interfemale relationships were also observed when a vasectomized male was placed in each social group for 50 min, once/week. During the latter observations, preliminary data on the effects of oral contraceptive treatment on sexual interaction were also collected. In the absence of the male, interfemale agonistic interactions and time spent alone were influenced by social status but not by oral contraceptive treatment. Time spent in passive body contact, an affiliative state, was reduced by Ovral treatment. In the presence of the male, dominant females aggressively interfered with the sexual interactions of subordinates. This aggression resulted in the termination of a greater proportion of the sexual interactions of subordinates than dominants in the control group only, indicating suppression of this type of interaction by oral contraceptive treatment. Other effects included a decreased frequency of ejaculation with Ovral-treated females. These results suggest that oral contraceptives may suppress certain types of female agonistic behavior (e.g., in the context of mate competition) and some oral contraceptives may interfere with sexual activity. More broadly, these findings indicate that intrasexual competition for access to mates may occur in females as well as males. This study was supported in part by NICHD Contract #N01-HD-32800 and by Grant #HL14164 from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.     

Autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa mapping to chromosome 7p exhibits variable expression.

The genetic locus causing autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP) has recently been mapped in a large English family to chromosome 7p. Eight affected members of this family were studied electrophysiologically and psychophysically with dark adapted static threshold perimetry and dark adaptometry. The phenotypes observed fell into three categories: minimally affected with no symptoms, and normal (or near normal) electrophysiology and psychophysics; moderately affected with mild symptoms, abnormal electroretinograms, and equal loss of rod and cone function in affected areas of the retina; and severely affected with extinguished electroretinograms and barely detectable dark adapted static threshold sensitivities. The mutation in the gene on 7p causing adRP in this family causes regional retinal dysfunction with greatly variable expressivity ranging from normal to profoundly abnormal in a manner not explained by age.     

An approach to fractures of the midface: An interactive tutorial

Purpose: To describe an educational computer aided instruction program dealing with diagnosis and classification of facial fractures. Methods: A program was created for use on Macintosh computers using a graphic presentation package. This program allows for the display of high resolution digitized radiographic images and illustrations, along with integrated voice and text information. Users can interact with the program to review complex concepts or study additional cases. Case material was obtained from selected high quality plain radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans obtained in the trauma center of one institution, and was scanned on a high resolution digital scanner with image parameters optimized for viewing on the Macintosh high resolution color monitor. Results: The program has been installed in the computer aided instructional laboratories or trauma centers at The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston; The University of Alabama, Birmingham; Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; and The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. The program is available to radiology residents and medical students rotating on the trauma radiology services at these institutions. Completion of the program requires 30–45 minutes. Conclusion: Based on our initial experience, the program has been used by residents in the training programs of all institutions with favorable results.     

Perceived risk as a factor influencing attitudes toward physically disabled children

The effects of perceptions of risk on attitudes toward handicapped children were studied. Five hundred twenty two nonhandicapped children between the ages of 8 and 19 were assigned to one of four experimental conditions in a basic 2×2 (Risk×Interview) paradigm. Some subjects were assigned to a high risk condition whereby if they indicated they would like to be friends with a handicapped peer, they were told that they might actually have to befriend a handicapped youngster who was about to enter their class; other subjects were not told about any personal involvement with the handicapped child. In the Interview factor, about half the subjects were informed that their attitudes would be known to other group members, the other half of subjects were told their attitudes would remain private. The 2×2 paradigm was studied with children at three ages levels: 8–11; 12–15; 16–19. Results revealed three significant main effects, generally supporting the hypothesis regarding the effects of risk factors.