Absolute pitch and pupillary response: effects of timbre and key color

The pitch identification performance of absolute pitch possessors has previously been shown to depend on pitch range, key color, and timbre of presented tones. In the present study, the dependence of pitch identification performance on key color and timbre of musical tones was examined by analyzing hit rates, reaction times, and pupillary responses of absolute pitch possessors (n = 9) and nonpossessors (n = 12) during a pitch identification task. Results revealed a significant dependence of pitch identification hit rate but not reaction time on timbre and key color in both groups. Among absolute pitch possessors, peak dilation of the pupil was significantly dependent on key color whereas the effect of timbre was marginally significant. Peak dilation of the pupil differed significantly between absolute pitch possessors and nonpossessors. The observed effects point to the importance of learning factors in the acquisition of absolute pitch.     

Sperm quality in Hodgkin's disease versus non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

The study was conducted to determine the deleterious effect of lymphoma disease on spermatogenesis and to evaluate the possibility that the disease is mediated primarily by inherent mechanisms in Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients. A total of 89 patients with lymphoma disease (Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's) were referred for sperm preservation prior to adjuvant treatments. A comparison was made of pre- and post-thaw sperm quality between lymphoma patients and healthy volunteers who applied for sperm donation. This was followed by further assessment of the differences between patients with Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in terms of sperm variables, clinical parameters and blood hormone concentrations. It was found that patients with lymphoma disease had significantly impaired pre-freeze and post-thaw sperm quality compared with that of healthy volunteers. Patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma had spermatozoa of higher quality than patients with Hodgkin's disease. No differences were found in the clinical or hormonal parameters between these two groups. As expected, reduced testicular size and abnormal testicular consistency were correlated with decreased sperm quality. The mere presence of cancer disease has a direct negative effect on spermatogenesis, which is probably not related to incidental side-effects. A variable degree of impairment should be expected with different categories of cancer.      

A European multicenter study of immunoblotting in serodiagnosis of lyme borreliosis

A European multicenter study of immunoblotting for the serodiagnosis of Lyme borreliosis showed considerable variation in results obtained from tests with a panel of 227 serum samples. Six laboratories used different immunoblot methods, and a wide range of bands was detected in all the assays. Multivariable logistic regression analysis of data from individual laboratories was used to determine the most discriminatory bands for reliable detection of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. These bands were used to construct individual interpretation rules for the immunoblots used in the six laboratories. Further analysis identified a subset of eight bands, which were important in all the laboratories, although with variations in significance. Possible European rules, all closely related, were formulated from these bands, although there was no single rule that gave high levels of sensitivity and specificity for all the laboratories. This is a reflection of the wide range of methodologies used, especially the use of different species and strains of B. burgdorferi sensu lato. The panel of European rules provides a framework for immunoblot interpretation which may be adapted in relation to the characteristics of Lyme borreliosis in local areas.     

Loss of suppressor T cells in active multiple sclerosis. Analysis with monoclonal antibodies

To determine whether abnormalities of immunoregulatory T cells are associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), we characterized peripheral lymphocytes in 33 patients with untreated MS and compared them with 42 normal persons and 29 age-matched control subjects who had other neurologic diseases. For this analysis, we used monoclonal antibodies to the surface antigens of helper (T4) and suppressor (T5) T-cell subsets and to a common T-cell antigen (T3). In contract to normal persons and the controls with other neurologic diseases, the patients with MS had a reduced percentage of T3-positive (T3+) cells (P less than 0.05). More importantly, there was a selective decrease in T5-positive (T5+) cells in 11 of 15 patients with active MS, but in only one of 18 patients with inactive MS and in none of the normal persons or controls with neurologic disease (P less than 0.00001). Serial analysis of five patients with MS showed a correlation between the absence of the T5+ subset and disease activity. Thus, there is loss of peripheral suppressor cells in many patients with active MS, suggesting that immunoregulatory abnormalities contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease.     

T cells from atopic individuals produce IgE-inducing activity incompletely blocked by anti-interleukin-4 antibody.

We investigated peripheral blood B and T lymphocyte functions in atopic individuals. B cells were co-cultured with mutant EL4 thymoma cells in the presence of a standard T cell supernatant (T-SN) with or without exogenous interleukin (IL)-4. IgE secretion in this assay was found to be IL-4 dependent, but not significantly different for atopic patients (n = 25) vs. normal controls (n = 25). Phytohemagglutinin plus phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PHA+PMA)- induced T-SN from patients or controls was tested on normal B cells in the same assay system (in the absence of exogenous IL-4). Compared to the controls, the IgE-inducing activity was significantly increased for patients with asthma or allergic rhinitis (n = 12; p less than 0.005) but not for patients with atopic dermatitis (n = 13). The difference between the asthma or allergic rhinitis vs. the atopic dermatitis groups was significant (p greater than 0.05). Since the assay was not inhibited by interferon (IFN)-gamma, this difference can not be attributed to IFN-gamma concentrations. Other T cell activities may be different between the patient groups or atopic T cells from the respiratory mucosa may recirculate more than those from the skin. In any case, the T cells rather than the B cells were found to be abnormal in atopic individuals. If atopic T cells were stimulated with PHA+PMA not as immediately but after a resting period of 48 h in culture medium alone, the IgE-inducing activity, but not the total Ig-inducing activity or the IL-2 secretion, disappeared. In addition, a mean of 37% of the IgE-inducing activity (range of 13% to 79% for five very active T-SN) was not inhibited by an anti-IL-4 antibody which neutralized exogenous IL-4, indicating a participation of factors capable of bypassing the requirement for IL-4 for the IgE response.     

The Impact of Culturally-Centered Care on Peripartum Experiences of Autonomy and Respect in Community Birth Centers: A Comparative Study

Maternal and Child Health Journal - National studies report that birth center care is associated with reduced racial and ethnic disparities and reduced experiences of mistreatment. In the US, there...     

Tula Virus as Causative Agent of Hantavirus Disease in Immunocompetent Person,Germany

We report molecular evidence of Tula virus infection in an immunocompetent patient from Germany who had typical signs of hantavirus disease. Accumulating evidence indicates that Tula virus infection, although often considered nonpathogenic, represents a threat to human health.     

Association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the tau gene with late-onset Parkinson disease.

CONTEXT: The human tau gene, which promotes assembly of neuronal microtubules, has been associated with several rare neurologic diseases that clinically include parkinsonian features. We recently observed linkage in idiopathic Parkinson disease (PD) to a region on chromosome 17q21 that contains the tau gene. These factors make tau a good candidate for investigation as a susceptibility gene for idiopathic PD, the most common form of the disease. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the tau gene is involved in idiopathic PD. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Among a sample of 1056 individuals from 235 families selected from 13 clinical centers in the United States and Australia and from a family ascertainment core center, we tested 5 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the tau gene for association with PD, using family-based tests of association. Both affected (n = 426) and unaffected (n = 579) family members were included; 51 individuals had unclear PD status. Analyses were conducted to test individual SNPs and SNP haplotypes within the tau gene. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Family-based tests of association, calculated using asymptotic distributions. RESULTS: Analysis of association between the SNPs and PD yielded significant evidence of association for 3 of the 5 SNPs tested: SNP 3, P =.03; SNP 9i, P =.04; and SNP 11, P =.04. The 2 other SNPs did not show evidence of significant association (SNP 9ii, P =.11, and SNP 9iii, P =.87). Strong evidence of association was found with haplotype analysis, with a positive association with one haplotype (P =.009) and a negative association with another haplotype (P =.007). Substantial linkage disequilibrium (P<.001) was detected between 4 of the 5 SNPs (SNPs 3, 9i, 9ii, and 11). CONCLUSIONS: This integrated approach of genetic linkage and positional association analyses implicates tau as a susceptibility gene for idiopathic PD.