Focusing on the N400: an exploration of selective attention during reading

In a series of two experiments, subjects read sentences wherein words were flanked in the lower visual field by irrelevant words (i.e., flankers). The visual angle between the words in the sentence and the flanker words was manipulated (i.e., 0.57 degrees, 0.97 degrees, 1.37 degrees). Sentence endings were either congruent or incongruent; incongruent endings elicited a large N400 component. Flanker effects were observed for sentence final words on electrophysiological measures during the reading task and on subsequent recognition memory performance for sentence final and new words. For both measures, the flanker effect interacted with the congruency of the sentence ending as well as the visual angle between the sentence final word and its flanker. The largest and earliest flanker effects were observed for congruent endings at the smallest visual angle (0.57 degrees); congruent endings and flankers in intermediate visual angle (0.97 degrees) conditions displayed a similar flanker-related negativity but with a longer onset latency (490 vs. 280 ms). Congruent endings and their flankers in the largest visual angle (1.57 degrees) conditions revealed no flanker effect.     

Effects of i.v. anaesthetic agents on the chemotaxis of eosinophils in vitro

Polymorphonuclear eosinophilic leucocytes (PME) participate in wound healing processes, the inflammatory response, bronchial asthma, allergies and defence against invading parasites. We have examined the effects of thiopental, methohexital, propofol, etomidate and ketamine on PME chemotaxis in vitro. PME were isolated from venous blood samples of 10 healthy volunteers using multi-stage Percoll gradient centrifugation. Eosinophilic chemotaxis was determined using a 48-well microchemotaxis chamber. Thiopental 150 micrograms ml-1 and etomidate 0.32 microgram ml-1 caused significant (P < or = 0.05) inhibition of PME chemotaxis. We conclude that thiopental and etomidate may have an adverse influence on wound healing processes and parasitic diseases. Further studies are recommended.      

Acrylamide and glycidamide hemoglobin adduct levels and endometrial cancer risk: A nested case‐control study in nonsmoking postmenopausal women from the EPIC cohort

Acrylamide, classified in 1994 by IARC as “probably carcinogenic to humans,” was discovered in 2002 in some heat‐treated, carbohydrate‐rich foods. Four prospective studies have evaluated the association between dietary acrylamide intake and endometrial cancer (EC) risk with inconsistent results. The purpose of this nested case‐control study, based on the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort, was to evaluate, for the first time, the association between hemoglobin adducts of acrylamide (HbAA) and glycidamide (HbGA) and the risk of developing EC in non‐smoking postmenopausal women. Hemoglobin adducts were measured in red blood cells by HPLC/MS/MS. Four exposure variables were evaluated: HbAA, HbGA, their sum (HbAA+HbGA), and their ratio (HbGA/HbAA). The association between hemoglobin adducts and EC was evaluated using unconditional multivariable logistic regression models, and included 383 EC cases (171 were type‐I EC), and 385 controls. Exposure variables were analyzed in quintiles based on control distributions. None of the biomarker variables had an effect on overall EC (HR_HbAA;Q5vsQ1: 0.84, 95%CI: 0.49–1.48; HR_HbGA;Q5vsQ1: 0.94, 95%CI: 0.54–1.63) or type‐I EC risk. Additionally, none of the subgroups investigated (BMI < 25 vs. ≥25 kg m^?2, alcohol drinkers vs. never drinkers, oral contraceptive users vs. non‐users) demonstrated effect measure modification. Hemoglobin adducts of acrylamide or glycidamide were not associated with EC or type‐I EC risk in 768 nonsmoking postmenopausal women from the EPIC cohort.     

Repositioning “old” drugs for new causes: identifying new inhibitors of prostate cancer cell migration and invasion

The majority of prostate cancer (PCa) deaths occur due to the metastatic spread of tumor cells to distant organs. Currently, there is a lack of effective therapies once tumor cells have spread outside the prostate. It is therefore imperative to rapidly develop therapeutics to inhibit the metastatic spread of tumor cells. Gain of cell motility and invasive properties is the first step of metastasis and by inhibiting motility one can potentially inhibit metastasis. Using the drug repositioning strategy, we developed a cell-based multi-parameter primary screening assay to identify drugs that inhibit the migratory and invasive properties of metastatic PC-3 PCa cells. Following the completion of the primary screening assay, 33 drugs were identified from an FDA approved drug library that either inhibited migration or were cytotoxic to the PC-3 cells. Based on the data obtained from the subsequent validation studies, mitoxantrone hydrochloride, simvastatin, fluvastatin and vandetanib were identified as strong candidates that can inhibit both the migration and invasion of PC-3 cells without significantly affecting cell viability. By employing the drug repositioning strategy instead of a de novo drug discovery and development strategy, the identified drug candidates have the potential to be rapidly translated into the clinic for the management of men with aggressive forms of PCa.     

Asymptomatic thrombus trapping in vena cava filters: a case series

The prophylactic use of vena cava filters (VCFs) remains controversial. Class I data supporting the placement of prophylactic VCFs are lacking. In addition, there are concerns regarding the long-term effects of permanent VCF placement in patients with a relatively brief period of thromboembolic risk. Venous thromboembolism can be a lethal event, occurring without a prodrome. Yet, this condition is potentially preventable. The efficacy of VCFs is difficult to determine, as it is likely that when a VCF actually traps a thrombus, the event is clinically asymptomatic. We present three cases of asymptomatic thrombus trapping in VCFs, recognized through incidental radiographic studies.     

Molecular weight distributions, 3. Gamma-ray induced polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the solid state

The kinetics and molecular weight distributions of the gamma-ray induced polymerization of methyl methacrylate were investigated in the solid state in the temperature range of ?50°C to ?65°C. The polymerization reaction rate was found to be proportional to the amount of polymer formed. The polymerization at the freezing point did not show any special features. With increasing dose rate the radiation efficiency was found to drop faster in the solid than in the liquid state. The molecular weights showed the same features as in the liquid state polymerization previously reported and increased with percent conversion. A kinetic model for the solid state polymerization is proposed. The molecular weight distribution function could be expressed by a log-normal distribution.     

Polymere phthalocyanine und ihre vorstufen, 1. Reaktive oktafunktionelle phthalocyanine aus 1,2,4,5-tetracyanbenzol

1,2,4,5-Tetracyanobenzene reacts under mild conditions with anionic reagents not to polymer but to low molecular weight, high substituted phthalocyanines: 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octacyanophthalocyanine ( 3a ) and tetrakis(1-imino-3-propoxyisoindolo)porphyrazine ( 3b ). 3a is saponified to the octacarboxyphthalocyanine 3c and converted with hydrazine to tetrakis(1,4-diaminophthalazino)porphyrazine ( 3d ). Low molecular metal chelates are synthesized starting from 3a and 3c . IR- and UV/VIS-spectra are discussed.