Genetic analysis of the affective disorders: summary of GAW5

Participants in the Affective Disorders component of Genetic Analysis Workshop 5 had access to five distributed data sets: 1) 187 families from the Collaborative Depression Study, 2) 202 families ascertained as part of the NIMH Family Studies on Affective Disorders, 3) a compilation of 46 pedigrees informative for X-linked markers, 4) HLA typing on 116 kindreds from the Toronto-Rochester Depression Study, and 5) 81 members of an Old Order Amish pedigree demonstrating linkage to markers on chromosome 11p. These databases are each summarized after a brief account is given of the genetics of the affective disorders and commonly used diagnoses. The emphasis of the Workshop was methodologic, with contributions divided evenly between linkage and nonlinkage applications. Contributions are summarized under four substantive areas: regressive logistic models, segregation and other familial analyses, methodologic considerations in linkage analysis, and the relationship between HLA and affective disorders.     

Penetrating chest injuries

The purpose of this paper is to review our experience in the management of penetrating chest injuries and their outcome in spite of the shortage of equipment for thoracic surgery at the Gonder Hospital. The study was based on prospective analysis of 32 cases treated at this hospital between February 1987 and February 1988. About 30% of our cases has associated injuries to other organs. Simple pleural space drainage was done in 19 cases. Only 4 of the patients required immediate or delayed thoracotomy while 3 other cases required laparotomy. Complications occurred in 8 patients, of whom 6 died. In 6 cases only conservative treatment was indicated. About 80% of our patients with penetrating chest chest injuries were treated successfully with no, or only minimal, residual defects. Availability of of simple and effective materials in rural hospitals is recommended.     

Hyperthyroidism associated with papilloedema and pyramidal tract involvement

Summary In a patient with mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes [MELAS] who had normal mitochondrial enzyme activity, high doses of coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ) were administered. Clinical improvement with decreased serum lactate and pyruvate levels was observed. Though the mechanism of action of CoQ is not known, a trial is worthwhile in patients with MELAS.     

A novel hepatic nucleotide is correlated with the carbohydrate induction of messenger ribonucleic acid-S14

To determine whether the rapid response of hepatic mRNA-S14 to carbohydrate feeding was associated with an alteration in a specific hepatic nucleotide, acid extracts of liver tissue were analyzed by ion-paired reverse phase HPLC. A nucleotide present in nanomoles per g quantity correlated with the induction of this mRNA by sucrose. Four hours after sucrose feeding the content of this compound was 7 times greater than that in fasted rats. Furthermore, the response was rapid, attaining maximal levels 30 min after feeding, and remaining elevated for at least 4 h. The content of this nucleotide also correlated with the content of mRNA-S14 in the steady state, with the lowest levels of both mRNA-S14 and this nucleotide in fasted rats, intermediate levels in rats maintained on a regular chow diet, and the highest levels in rats fed a 60% sucrose diet for 4 days. Lastly, while the response of mRNA-S14 to thyroid hormone and sucrose is synergistic, the thyroidal state does not influence the response of this compound to sucrose. Thus, the interaction of thyroid hormone and sucrose on mRNA-S14 is distal to the generation of this compound. Based on the UV spectrum, HPLC retention, and [3H]adenosine labeling, this compound contains adenine. However, it is not any of the common adenine-containing mono- or oligonucleotides. These data indicate that a novel hepatic nucleotide is induced by sucrose and raise the possibility that this nucleotide is responsible for the induction of carbohydrate-responsive mRNAs.     

Sleep apnea--an overview

Though distressing and potentially dangerous, sleep apnea may be an under-recognized disease in many countries. The obstructive type, which usually presents with loud snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness, is by far the commonest form. It causes a great deal of medical, social and psychological morbidity as well as an increased mortality. Doctors of different specialties have an important role in detecting and referring suspected patients for early assessment and treatment. Multidisciplinary management in a general hospital and accurate assessment with polysomnography are essential as modern and sometimes effective methods of treatment are becoming available.     

The dental caries status and dental treatment patterns of 12-year-old children in Hong Kong

A randomly selected sample of 662 12-year-old Hong Kong children, 529 of whom were Southern Chinese and 133 non-Chinese, was clinically examined for dental caries. The DMFT values were 2.76 and 1.66 for the Chinese and non-Chinese children, respectively. The D component for the Chinese children was 2.12, while for the non-Chinese children it was only 0.45. Approximately 24.0% of the Chinese children had attended the dentist because they were in pain. Only 3.8% of the Chinese children had sought orthodontic or preventive treatment, compared with 24.0% of the non-Chinese children. Although these findings indicate the caries experience to be well below the FDI/WHO global goal for the year 2000, there is a great need to increase the level of dental awareness among Chinese children.     

Concentration of fluoride and selected other elements in teas

Infusions made from 15 Chinese, 11 Ceylon/Indian and 6 herb teas (1 g/100 ml deionized water at 85 degrees C) were analyzed for F, P, Ca, Al, Mg, Mn and Zn. Chinese teas continued to release F throughout the first hour of infusion, whereas release of F from Ceylon/Indian teas was essentially completed after 5 minutes. After a 15-minute infusion, the mean F concentration in Chinese teas was 1.73 ppm, and in Ceylon/Indian teas it was 1.24 ppm. Herb teas contained a negligible amount of F (0.02-0.05 ppm). Phosphorus and Mg were the most abundant of the other elements with an average of 12.5 and 9.1 ppm, respectively. A high correlation (r = 0.81) was found between the released F and Al. The total F content in tea leaves ranged from 82 to 371 ppm. The addition of milk to tea infusions did not appreciably reduce the F concentration. The estimated daily F intake from tea infusion made with fluoridated water at 0.7 ppm is 1.05 mg.