Immunomodulation of Delayed Hypersensitivity to Methylated Bovine Serum Albumin (MBSA) in Mice Using Subliminal and Normal Sensitization Procedures

Delayed hypersensitivity (DH) was induced in the footpads of mice sensitized to methylated bovine serum albumin (MBSA). The magnitude of this DH response increased with increasing sensitizing concentration of MBSA. Levamisole administered 1 hr prior to MBSA challenge stimulated the DH response and this was optimal using subliminal sensitizing concentrations of antigen. A number of antirheumatic agents, immunomodulators mediator antagonists and antiallergies were subsequently examined using the subliminal sensitizing concentration of MBSA. The same drugs were also evaluated using a normal sensitizing procedure. These studies indicate that the sensitizing concentration of antigen is critical in establishing whether a drug will stimulate or suppress a DH response.     

Who shall be served? Issues in screening for emotional and behavioral problems in school

Journal of Prevention - The major issues involved in the design and implementation of effective school screening programs are addressed, using data from a longitudinal study following over 500...     

Negative symptoms,defect state and Huber's basic symptoms: A comparison of the concepts

Comparing Crow's schizophrenia model with the defect state and Huber's basic symptoms shows that this model is an oversimplification of the complex reality of schizophrenic outcomes. The concept of negative symptoms is undermined by several factors, such as differing definitions, other confounding cross-sectional variables (e.g., akinesia and depression), short follow-ups and lack of confirmation by factorial analysis. The longitudinal concept of a defect state, which has been used in long-term follow-up studies, includes enduring symptoms currently classified as positive and negative. Huber's conceptualization of basic symptoms describes prodromal and enduring residual symptoms of schizophrenia associated with structural brain abnormalities. The overlap and lack of equivalence of these concepts and the limited empirical evidence does not allow firm conclusions. New longitudinal studies using clinical, psychosocial, and neuropsychological measures are needed to understand the natural history and etiology of the defect state.The authors are affiliated with the Medical College of Pennsylvania/EPPI, Philadelphia, PA. William H. Wilson, M.D., is currently at Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR.     

Effects of static fingertip loading on carpal tunnel pressure

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between carpal tunnel pressure and fingertip force during a simple pressing task. Carpal tunnel pressure was measured in 15 healthy volunteers by means of a saline-filled catheter inserted percutaneously into the carpal tunnel of the nondominant hand. The subjects pressed on a load cell with the tip of the index finger and with 0, 6, 9, and 12 N of force. The task was repeated in 10 wrist postures: neutral; 10 and 20° of ulnar deviation; 10° of radial deviation; and 15, 30, and 45° of both flexion and extension. Fingertip loading significantly increased carpal tunnel pressure for all wrist angles (p = 0.0001). Post hoc analyses identified significant increases (p <0.05) in carpal tunnel pressure between unloaded (0 N) and all loaded conditions, as well as between the 6 and 12 N load conditions. This study demonstrates that the process whereby fingertip loading elevates carpal tunnel pressure is independent of wrist posture and that relatively small fingertip loads have a large effect on carpal tunnel pressure. It also reveals the response characteristics of carpal tunnel pressure to fingertip loading, which is one step in understanding the relationship between sustained grip and pinch activities and the aggravation or development of median neuropathy at the wrist.