Normal temporal and spatial distribution of oligodendrocyte progenitors in the myelin-deficient (md) rat

A point mutation in exon 3 of the proteolipid protein (PLP) gene of the myelin-deficient (md) rat leads to a failure of oligodendrocyte maturation and early death of oligodendrocytes, resulting in dysmyelination. It has been suggested that an alternative-splice isoform of PLP, known as DM-20, might be expressed in oligodendrocyte progenitors in the embryonic central nervous system (CNS), raising the possibility that early development of the oligodendrocyte lineage might also be affected in the md rat. To test this suggestion, we visualized oligodendrocyte progenitors in the embryonic md rat spinal cord and brain by in situ hybridization with a probe to the platelet-derived growth factor alpha receptor (PDGFR). We could detect no abnormalities in the time of first appearance of oligodendrocyte precursors, nor in their subsequent proliferation and dispersal throughout the CNS. These data strongly suggest that the PLP mutation in the md rat primarily or exclusively affects the later stages of oligodendrocyte lineage. J. Neurosci. Res. 47:264–270, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Problem social behavior in the workplace: an analysis of social behavior problems in a supported employment setting.

The social skills problems that may influence the work-related success of supported employees has been only infrequently documented in the research literature. Though a multitude of research describes the performance-related challenges faced by supported employees, few papers address the interpersonal difficulties encountered by supported employees in the workplace. The present paper uses job trainer or "coaches" logs and two promising rating scales (the Psychopathology Instrument for Mentally Retarded Adults [PIMRA and PIMRA-S]) to describe the social problems encountered by some supported employees. Job coach's logs indicated that approximately 58% of supported employees had experienced one or more incidents of interpersonal difficulty during their employment tenure and that 40% of the problems experienced by these individuals could be described as sexuality-related. Overall, about 25% of all supported employees had reported incidents of conflict with employees or customers that seemed sexuality-related. In addition, social and developmental factors that might contribute to the interpersonal problems found in the present research are discussed.     

Perception and use of complementary and alternative medicine among gynecologic oncology care providers

Objective

To determine general attitudes and approaches to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among physicians who care for gynecologic oncology patients.

Methods

Surveys were mailed to members of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists and the Michigan Oncology Group. Physicians were asked to rate their general attitude toward CAM.

Results

Surveys were obtained from 462 physicians. Gynecologic oncologists and female physicians were more likely to have positive attitudes toward CAM, and to believe that clinical care should integrate conventional and CAM practices, compared with other oncologists and male physicians.

Conclusion

Discrepancies exist among oncologists regarding attitude and use of CAM in their practice. Education of physicians regarding the safety and efficacy of CAM modalities may ultimately improve patient care.     

Multimodality imaging for patient evaluation and guidance of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation — Current status and future perspective

Left atrial catheter ablation is an established non-pharmacological therapy for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. The importance of a noninvasive multimodality imaging approach is emphasized by the current guidelines for the various phases of the ablation work-up e.g. patient identification, therapy guidance and procedural evaluation. Advances in the capabilities of imaging modalities and the increasing cost of healthcare warrant a review of the multimodality approach.     

Rare complications of pediatric diabetic ketoacidosis

The incidence of type 1 diabetes(T1D) among youth is steadily increasing across the world. Up to a third of pediatric patients with T1 D present with diabetic ketoacidosis, a diagnosis that continues to be the leading cause of death in this population. Cerebral edema is the most common rare complication of diabetic ketoacidosis in children. Accordingly, treatment and outcome measures of cerebral edema are vastly researched and the pathophysiology is recently the subject of much debate. Nevertheless, cerebral edema is not the onlysequela of diabetic ketoacidosis that warrants close monitoring. The medical literature details various other complications in children with diabetic ketoacidosis, including hypercoagulability leading to stroke and deep vein thrombosis, rhabdomyolysis, pulmonary and gastrointestinal complications, and long-term memory dysfunction. We review the pathophysiology, reported cases, management, and outcomes of each of these rare complications in children. As the incidence of T1 D continues to rise, practitioners will care for an increasing number of pediatric patients with diabetic ketoacidosis and should be aware of the various systems that may be affected in both the acute and chronic setting.