X-linked codominant genes control all types of non-major histocompatibility complex-restricted cytotoxicity

In most individuals, natural killer (NK) activity is abolished after lymphocyte irradiation with 3,000 cGy, while lymphocytes from a minority of males retain 100% NK activity and lymphocytes from some females retain 50% NK activity after this dose. Radiation sensitivity of NK activity is controlled by X-linked codominant genes. The frequency of the allele that imparts resistance is 7%. We studied a unique family in which both parents have the resistant allele such that the father is completely resistant and the mother is partially resistant. The three offspring of this couple were one sensitive male, one partially resistant female, and one completely resistant female. The radiation sensitivity of nonspecific cytotoxic functions mediated by various types of effector cells from all five family members were evaluated in order to determine whether other cytotoxic functions were controlled by the same set of genes. The cytotoxic functions investigated were: NK and lymphokine-activated killing, anomalous killing and lectin-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Our data indicate that the radiation sensitivity of all types of nonspecific cytotoxic cells is under the same genetic control.     

Antiphospholipid antibodies and the outcome of pregnancy after the first in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer cycle

Increased antiphospholipid antibody prevalence has been demonstrated by a number of recent studies in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) patients but the potential effects of antiphospholipid antibodies on the different components of the reproductive process and the consideration of whether to test IVF patients for antiphospholipid antibodies are controversial. The present study was undertaken to investigate the possible association between the presence of circulating antiphospholipid antibodies (namely the lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies), among a series of 21 consecutive IVF patients having a clinical spontaneous abortion after their first embryo transfer. As a control group (n=42), the nearest IVF cycle resulting in an ongoing pregnancy before and after each miscarried IVF cycle (i.e. the closest cycles in temporal relationship to the index cycle) was used. One patient (4.8%) in the study group and two women (4.8%) among controls were seropositive for antiphospholipid antibodies. These low and similar seropositivity rates found in the two groups studied lead us to conclude that antiphospholipid antibodies testing in IVF patients should be considered only in those women having repeated failures of implantation/clinical abortion after embryo transfer but not in an infertile general population reaching an IVF programme.      

Assessment of bioequivalence after subcutaneous and intramuscular administration of urinary gonadotrophins

The objective was to demonstrate bioequivalence between s.c. and i.m. administration of Humegon (FSH/LH ratio 1:1) and Normegon (FSH/LH ratio 3:1). In two randomized, single-centre, cross-over studies, 18 healthy volunteers on each formulation were assigned to one of the two administration sequences. Subjects were given single doses of one of the above gonadotrophins after endogenous gonadotrophin production had first been suppressed using high-dose oral contraceptive. Subsequently, rate (Cmax, tmax) and extent (AUC) of absorption of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were determined for 14 days. For Cmax and AUC, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed on log-transformed data and for tmax ANOVA was performed on ranks. Intramuscular and s.c. injections of Humegon were bioequivalent with respect to the main pharmacokinetic parameters, being AUC and Cmax of FSH absorption. Intramuscular and s.c. injections of Normegon were bioequivalent with respect to the AUC of FSH and not bioequivalent with respect to the Cmax of FSH. For tmax of FSH as well as for most LH variables of both preparations, bioequivalence could not be proven due to the high intra- and interindividual variability and/or concentrations being close to the detection limit. Thus, the main pharmacokinetic FSH variables after i.m. and s.c. administration of Humegon and Normegon were bioequivalent.      

Initial evaluation of a continuous speech recognition program for radiology

The aims of this work were to measure the accuracy of one continuous speech recognition product and dependence on the speaker's gender and status as a native or nonnative English speaker, and evaluate the product's potential for routine use in transcribing radiology reports. IBM MedSpeak/Radiology software, version 1.1 was evaluated by 6 speakers. Two were nonnative English speakers, and 3 were men. Each speaker dictated a set of 12 reports. The reports included neurologic and body imaging examinations performed with 6 different modalities. The dictated and original report texts were compared, and error rates for overall, significant, and subtle significant errors were computed. Error rate dependence on modality, native English speaker status, and gender were evaluated by performing ttests. The overall error rate was 10.3 +/- 3.3%. No difference in accuracy between men and women was found; however, significant differences were seen for overall and significant errors when comparing native and nonnative English speakers (P = .009 and P = .008, respectively). The speech recognition software is approximately 90% accurate, and while practical implementation issues (rather than accuracy) currently limit routine use of this product throughout a radiology practice, application in niche areas such as the emergency room currently is being pursued. This methodology provides a convenient way to compare the initial accuracy of different speech recognition products, and changes in accuracy over time, in a detailed and sensitive manner.     

Selective drawing disorders after right subcortical stroke: a neuropsychological premorbid and follow-up case study

We report the case of a patient affected by a subcortical lesion of the right non-dominant hemisphere, and demonstrate that he had selective constructional disorders by comparing his post-stroke performances with those assessed 18 months before the stroke. A detailed analysis was made of the visuospatial, perceptual, representational and executive competences involved in drawing tasks at one, two and six months post-stroke. Neuropsychological follow-up revealed the progressive recovery of all visuospatial abilities. This study provides some interpretative elements for constructional disorders and, in particular, for the closing-in phenomenon observed only during the subacute phase.

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Sommario Descriviamo un paziente affetto da una lesione sottocorticale dell'emisfero destro. Le prestazioni del paziente dopo l'ictus cerebrale, confrontate con quelle osservate prima dell'evento patologico, hanno dimostrato la presenza di selettivi disturbi costruttivi. Abbiamo effettuato un approfondito esame delle prestazioni costruttive, con prove visuospaziali che esplorano i livelli percettivo, rappresentazionale ed esecutivo, esaminando il paziente fino a sei mesi dopo l'ictus. Il follow-up neuropsicologico ha dimostrato un progressivo recupero di tutte le competenze visuospaziali. Questo studio fornisce dunque alcuni elementi interpretativi per i disordini costruttivi ed, in particolare, per il fenomeno del closing-in osservato nelle prime fasi dello studio longitudinale.

     

Differences in muscle activity before, during, and after responding in a simple reaction time task: schizophrenics vs. normals.

Schizophrenics and normals were presented with a series of simple reaction time (RT) trials. Electromyographic techniques were used to partition RT into peripheral and central components. It was observed that contrary to the previously held assumption of "neuromuscular sameness," schizophrenics displayed a qualitatively different pattern of muscle activity in their motor responding. Differences of the observed sort could account, in part, for differences previously thought to be due solely to central dysfunction.