Computer-assisted linguistic analysis of two mentally retarded psychotic female's texts

ABSTRACT. Prompted monologues from a schizophrenic and manic mentally handicappedfemale were analysed using a computer program designed to generate 118 syntactic variables. The procedure was repeated after several years. The linguistic profiles and their change over time were characteristic of chronic schizophrenia and mania, respectively: the schizophrenic-illness-based profileshowed further linguistic disintegration; the manic-illness-based profile showed linguistic recovery, mirroring clinical improvement.     

Lead Extraction in Young Patients With and Without Congenital Heart Disease Using the Subclavian Approach

Pacemaker lead removal using interlocking stylets and dilator sheaths has greatly reduced the need for major surgical intervention when lead extraction is required. Previous reports have shown the utility of this method in older patients, most of whom have anatomically normal hearts. The purpose of this study is to report the results of this technique in young patients with and with-out congenital heart disease. There were 13 patients (M:F = 7:6) aged 9–26 years (median 13). Congenital heart disease was present in 8 of 13 patients. A total of 17 leads required removal; they had been implanted for 54 ± 24 months (range 19–94). Leads were removed from the left subclavian vein (13) or right subclavian vein (4) only. Seventeen of 18 leads were completely removed and one partially retained in the left subclavian vein. New leads were implanted from the same vein in 11 of 13 patients. Interlocking stylets and metal or flexible dilator sheaths were used in all cases except two. There was one surgical complication: a late wound dehiscence, which was easily managed. No patient required a transfusion, and there was no structural damage noted in any patient on the postoperative echocardiogram. We conclude that lead removal using interlocking stylets and dilator sheaths from the subclavian approach is an effective technique that can be used in young patients, including those with congenital heart disease.     

Outcomes for subsequent pregnancy in women who have undergone misoprostol mid-trimester termination of pregnancy

In Australia, the most common method of mid-trimester termination of pregnancy (TOP) is by medical induction with the prostaglandin E 1 analog misoprostol. This study was undertaken to compare the pregnancy outcomes of women who had undergone a misoprostol mid-trimester TOP in their last pregnancy with those of a similar cohort of women without a history of misoprostol TOP. This study suggests a possibility that medical mid-trimester TOP with misoprostol increases the risk of preterm or very preterm delivery in a subsequent pregnancy but larger studies are needed to confirm or dismiss this.     

The Action of 1,2,3,5,6,11b-Hexahydro-[1]benzothieno [3,2-g]indolizine Hydrochloride (ADT 16) on Peripheral and Central Responses Mediated by 5-Hydroxytryptaminergic and Adrenergic Systems of the Rat

Abstract— Some acute pharmacological effects have been examined of racemic ADT 16 (1,2,3,5,6,11b-hexahydro[1]benzothieno[3,2-g]indolizine hydrochloride), on peripheral and central responses mediated by 5-HT and adrenergic systems in the rat. In-vitro, ADT 16(10–1000 Nm ), similarly to mianserin, antagonized the inhibitory responses to B-HT 920 of the electrically-stimulated rat isolated prostatic vas deferens. High concentrations of ADT 16 (10 μm ), also resembled those of mianserin by potentiating twitch responses to electrical stimulation of the tissue. Contractile responses to phenylephrine of rat isolated epididymal vas deferens were antagonized by ADT 16 (0·3–1 μm ). In the rat stomach fundus strip, ADT 16 (1–3 μm ) antagonized contractions due to 5-HT. ADT 16 (0·1–1 μm ) had no effect on responses to acetylcholine of the guinea-pig isolated ileum. In-vivo, in spinalized, decerebrated rats, fenfluramine- or clonidine-induced facilitation of flexor reflex activity of the anterior tibialis muscle was attenuated by ADT 16 (3 and 10 mg kg^?1, i.v., and 3 mg kg^?1, i.v. respectively). In the anaesthetized rat, l -3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l -dopa)- or l -5-hydroxytryptophan (l -5-HTP)-induced increases in the frequency of spontaneous twitches of the anterior digastricus muscle were attenuated by ADT 16 (1 and 3 mg kg^?1, i.v.; n = 4). It is concluded that ADT 16, similarly to mianserin, is a novel peripherally and centrally active antagonist of 5-HT and adrenergic responses in the rat.     

Outbreak of Rash in Children Associated with Recreational Mud Exposure

Abstract: We conducted an investigation of a rash outbreak in children who attended the “Mud Mania Festival.” The mean incubation period of illness was 26 hours, and mean duration was 4.3 days. Time spent in mud was associated with the extent of rash in a dose–response fashion. The cultures from lesions of two unrelated cases yielded Enterobacter cloacae.     

Intracoronary Radiation Post PTCA Prevents Late Arterial Constriction

Vascular constriction post PTCA is a major component in the mechanism of restenosis following intervention. Ionizing radiation demonstrated reduction of neointima formation after injury in animal models and lowered the restenosis rates in pilot clinical studies. To determine the effect of intracoronary radiation therapy on vascular remodeling, angiograms from two radiation trials were analyzed by QCA methods. Patients in these trials had de novo lesions and were treated with balloon angioplasty followed by either beta or gamma radiation. All patients were studied angiographically at 6 months; patients with total occlusion at the treated artery were excluded from the analysis. In the gamma trial, 192-Iridium was utilized in 14 patients (15 lesions) with doses between 20-25 Gy. In the beta trial, 90-Sr/Y was utilized in 17 patients (17 lesions) with doses between 12-16 Gy. The QCA analysis from these studies demonstrated negative late loss and late loss index at six months for patients from the beta (-0.02 ± 0.3) and the gamma (-0.19 ± 0. 3) study. The effect of positive remodeling was maintained at 24 months, -0.16 ± 0.4 in the gamma group. Larger MLD at follow-up compared to the immediate post MLD were demonstrated in 50% of the patients from both studies. Thus, intracoronary radiation resulted in lower late loss and late loss index rates than previously reported following balloon angioplasty alone suggesting a positive vascular remodeling effect of intracoronary radiation.     

Intrastriatal grafts of rat colonic smooth muscle lacking myenteric ganglia stimulate axonal sprouting and regeneration

Grafts of living or freeze-killed freshly dissected colonic smooth muscle from young inbred Fischer rats were implanted into the corpus striatum of adult Fischer rats. Sections of brain were examined electron microscopically 3 and 6 wk after implantation. At both times, living grafts were vascularised and contained healthy differentiated smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, interstitial cells of Cajal and some macrophages. Large bundles of small nonmyelinated axons, identified as CNS axonal sprouts, could be observed in the brain at and near the interface between the living smooth muscle and the CNS tissue. Bundles of regenerating CNS axons, often associated with astrocyte processes, had grown into the grafts. Some axons within the grafts had matured, enlarged and become myelinated by oligodendrocyte processes or Schwann cells. In some cases, smooth muscle cells were observed in close and intricate association with axons. In contrast to the living grafts, grafts of freeze-killed smooth muscle, examined 3 and 6 wk after implantation, contained macrophages, fibroblasts, collagen and large amounts of cellular debris, but no living muscle cells, astrocytes or Schwann cells. The striatal neuropil around freeze-killed grafts did not contain large bundles of CNS axonal sprouts and bundles of axons were not observed within the freeze-killed graft. This study demonstrates that cells from the smooth muscle layers of the colon, in the absence of myenteric ganglia, can stimulate a vigorous regenerative response from CNS axons when implanted into the corpus striatum of adult rats.