Prevalence of behaviour disorders in low birthweight infants

OBJECTIVE--To determine the prevalence of behaviour disorders in low birthweight infants. DESIGN--Children of birth weight < or = 2000 g born to mothers resident in Merseyside in 1980-1 assessed using the Rutter parent and teacher behaviour questionnaires and the Conner modification of the Rutter teacher questionnaire. Children attending normal schools were assessed with controls matched for age, sex, and class in school. Children attending special schools were assessed unmatched. SUBJECTS--233 matched case-control pairs attending normal primary schools and 46 unmatched children attending special schools. SETTING--Primary and special schools. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Emotional, conduct, and undifferentiated behaviour disorders and hyperactivity. RESULTS--On the parental questionnaire screen, 36% of the cases and 22% of the controls had a behaviour disorder and on the teacher questionnaire the proportions were 27% and 12% respectively. Hyperactivity was significantly more common among male cases than their controls (21% v 5.0%) but differed little among female cases and controls (9% v 7%). CONCLUSIONS--Improving neonatal survival of low birthweight infants is accompanied by a higher prevalence of behaviour disorders. The long term implications for psychiatric morbidity and other adult disease must be monitored.     

Aphakic macular oedema following prosthetic lens implantation.

Fluorescein angiography of the iris was performed on patients with plastic lens implants with cystoid oedema of the macula, and the nature of the vascular changes was compared with controls provided by patients who did not have macular disease. Densitometry was used to quantitate leakage of fluorescein dye into the anterior chamber in residual angiograms 5 minutes after injection. Cystoid oedema was associated with marked increase in vascular permeability of the iris in the patients with implants, and in aphakics without implants, but to a lesser degree. Although it cannot be concluded that implants themselves cause either the increase in permeability or the onset of macular oedema, the presence of such implants must be considered an additional hazard in an eye which is already at risk. Iris angiography can be used as a diagnostic aid in patients in whom macular oedema is suspected. A persistent increase in permeability associated with a reduction in visual acuity should act as a warning of further visual loss and of eventual cystoid macular degeneration.     

Evaluation of the Sheffield system for identifying children at risk from unexpected death in infancy. Results from Birmingham and Newcastle upon Tyne

The "at birth" system which is used in Sheffield to identify children likely to die unexpectedly in infancy, was tested retrospectively in Birmingham (83 cases) and in Newcastle upon Tyne (56 cases). The discrimination between cases and age-matched controls was poor in both cities. Analysis of the 8 factors used in the system showed that only 2 maintained significant case/control differences in Birmingham and Newcastle. Further investigation showed that other factors from maternity records showed significant case/control differences in these cities. Although the system used in Sheffield would not be of use in a prospective prevention programme in either Newcastle or Birmingham, the possibility of evolving an "at risk" system which might apply more widely is discussed.     

高三尖杉酯碱酰胺的结构测定

三尖杉树皮粗提取物中的一个新生物碱—高三尖杉酯碱酰胺(homoharringtonamide)的结构,经质谱—质谱分析,初步建议为16。类似的酰胺类生物碱,例如三尖杉碱酰胺(cephalotaxamide,6)、11-羟基三尖杉碱酰胺(11-hydroxycephalotaxamide,9)、三尖杉酯碱酰胺(harfingtonamide,14)或异三尖杉酯碱酰胺(isoharringtonamide,15)也可能存在,后三者(9,14,15)尚未见报道。     

Beta2 integrin/ICAM-1 adhesion molecule interactions in cutaneous inflammation and tumor promotion

The beta2 integrin (CD 18/CD 11 a, b, c) family of proteins mediate adherence of leukocytes to vascular endothelium and the associated ligand, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1; CD 54), interacts with beta2 integrin proteins to allow transendothelial migration of leukocytes into sites of inflammation. The present study examines the function of these proteins in a murine model of acute cutaneous inflammation induced following topical application of 12-O- tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) to the dorsal epidermis of SENCAR mice and in a model of skin multistage carcinogenesis. At 24 h following topical application of TPA to the dorsal epidermis of mice, dermal leukocytes expressed higher levels of beta2 integrin protein compared with the lower levels of beta2 integrin protein expression by peripheral blood leukocytes. ICAM-1 protein was localized to epidermal keratinocytes and vascular endothelium in TPA-treated skin and to proliferating papilloma cells. Intravenous (i.v.) injection of either 50 microg anti-beta2 integrin antibody alone or in combination with anti-ICAM-1 antibody significantly inhibited both TPA-stimulated neutrophil infiltration into the dermis (P < 0.001) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity (P < 0.03 anti-beta2 integrin antibody; P < 0.01 anti- beta2 integrin + ICAM-1 adhesion molecule antibodies), but had no effect on TPA-induced epidermal hyperplasia. In addition, injection of either anti-ICAM-1 adhesion molecule antibody alone (P < 0.004) or in combination with anti-beta2 integrin antibody (P < 0.001) significantly inhibited TPA-induced production of 7,8-dihydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8- OHdG) immunoreactive proteins by epidermal keratinocytes. Beta2 integrin/ICAM-1 adhesion molecules work in concert to regulate migration, retention and functional activation of leukocytes within the dermis during TPA-induced skin inflammation and within stromal tissue of papillomas that form during multi-stage carcinogenesis. Agents that inhibit these receptor/ligand interactions may be useful in defining the roles of specific cell populations in cutaneous inflammation and multistage carcinogenesis and may also have potential as anti-promoting and anti-progression agents.