Phonological and orthographic facilitation of word-retrieval in aphasia: Immediate and delayed effects

In the literature on repetition priming of word-production in normal participants, long-lasting effects can be found from a single prime. This contrasts with the findings with adults with anomia (as part of their aphasia) where phonological cues, such as first sound or rhyme, have been shown to have very short-lasting effects on word retrieval (Patterson, Purell, & Morton, 1983). In addition, the research into treatment of anomia suggests that semantic techniques produce longer-lasting effects than phonological techniques (Howard et al., 1985b). One difference between phonological and semantic techniques is in the element of choice available. Typically phonological cues are simply provided. This contrasts with semantic techniques where a choice is available, for example selecting from a set of pictures to match a word. This study, using a case series design, set out to replicate the finding, that phonological techniques have only short-lasting effects on word retrieval in aphasia and to investigate the influence of providing a choice of cues. Items that participants with aphasia were unable to name after 5 seconds were allocated to one of three conditions: extra time (control condition), single cue, and choice of two cues. Naming was assessed immediately and at a delay (over 10 minutes later). Four different cue types were used: whole word, spoken CV, written CV, and rime. The results were surprising. The cues influenced immediate naming, as predicted. However, this effect was still significant a delayed naming. Additionally, the benefits from a choice of cues were generally similar to those from a single cue. Different patterns of cue effectiveness were found for different participants. Further investigations shed some light on the mechanisms of cueing, orthographic cueing in particular.     

Pharmacogenetic methods in schizophrenia

Human variability in response to medication is an impediment to successful drug treatment, as it makes good clinical response and avoidance of side effects difficult to predict. Much of this variability is genetic in origin, as inheritance results in differences in the way drugs are metabolized and act on their receptors in the body. There are two possible ways of avoiding this, either by designing future drugs which are not subject to the vagaries of human metabolism, or by pharmacogenetics, i.e. determining those genetic factors which affect response. Pharmacogenetics looks for inherited differences between responders and non-responders (or those with and without a particular side effect) to a given medication so that the mechanisms of variability can be understood. Current research is aimed at developing prescribing strategies of the future which will use simple genetic tests to determine which drug is most suitable for a given patient.     

Arguments Used in Public Comments to Support or Oppose the US Department of Agriculture’s Minimum Stocking Requirements: A Content Analysis

Background

In 2016, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Retailer Rule proposed several changes for SNAP-authorized retailers, including: requiring retailers to have at least 85% of their food sales come from items that are not cooked or heated on site before or after purchase; requiring stores to stock seven varieties of qualifying foods from four staple food groups; requiring stores to carry perishable foods in three of the four staple groups; requiring stores to carry six units of qualifying foods at all times (depth of stock); disqualifying multiple ingredient foods and accessory foods from counting toward depth of stock requirements.

Impaired CD8 T cell memory and CD4 T cell primary responses in IL-7R alpha mutant mice

Loss of interleukin (IL)-7 or the IL-7 receptor alpha (IL-7Ralpha, CD127) results in severe immunodeficiencies in mice and humans. To more precisely identify signals governing IL-7 function in vivo, we have disrupted the IL-7Ralpha Y449XXM motif in mice by knock-in mutagenesis (IL-7Ralpha(449F)). Thymic precursors were reduced in number in IL-7Ralpha(449F) mice, but in marked contrast to IL-7Ralpha(-/-) knockout mice, thymocytes and peripheral T cells developed normally. Strikingly, Listeria infection revealed that CD4 and CD8 T cells had different requirements for IL-7Ralpha signals. CD4 T cells failed to mount a primary response, but despite normal CD8 primary responses, maintenance of CD8 memory was impaired in IL-7Ralpha(449F) mice. Furthermore, we show that Bcl-2 is IL-7Ralpha Y449 independent and insufficient for IL-7-mediated maintenance of CD8 memory.