Brain and spinal cord hemorrhage in long-term survivors of malignant pediatric brain tumors: a possible late effect of therapy

Three children with malignant primary CNS tumors treated with craniospinal radiotherapy developed intraparenchymal hemorrhages a median of 5 years following therapy in sites distant from the primary tumor. Radical surgical procedures disclosed fresh and old hematoma, gliosis, and necrosis in all 3 patients and an aggregation of abnormal microscopic blood vessels in two. No tumor was found. All 3 patients remain in long-term (greater than 10 years) continuous remission.     

Lumbar spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis in college football players. A prospective study

A prospective study was done on Indiana University freshman football players to determine if the incidence of lumbar spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis followed the pattern of previous studies. Using x-ray film evaluation, 145 freshman players were followed through their careers from 1978 to 1983. As in previous studies, a higher percentage (15.2%) of the defect was found than exists in the general population. However, only 2.4% of these players developed the problem in college, a much lower figure than previously found. Affected team members played a variety of positions. In addition to spondylolysis, some other problems, such as spina bifida occulta, were found. Theories on the cause of spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis are reviewed, and preventive suggestions such as more careful training and weight lifting are presented.     

Replacement of adjacent missing anterior teeth with scalloped implants: a case report.

As the biological width is established around neighboring implants, there is a flattening of the interimplant bone and a change in the position of the soft tissue. As a result, a normal progression of papilla from natural teeth through the adjacent implant area is lost. This presentation describes various techniques and strategies to improve the aesthetic outcome of anterior implant restorations, together with the use of a scalloped implant designed to sustain the interdental bony peaks, and in doing so, maintain the interimplant papillae.     

Antigenic evidence for simultaneous expression of two different lipooligosaccharides by some strains of Haemophilus influenzae type b.

Isolates of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) can be divided into three antigenic groups based on their reactivities with a set of two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against epitopes in the oligosaccharide region of Hib lipooligosaccharide (LOS) (P. A. Gulig, C. C. Patrick, L. Hermanstorfer, G. H. McCracken, Jr., and E. J. Hansen, Infect. Immun. 55:513-520, 1987). Approximately 24% of Hib strains react with both of these LOS-specific MAbs. Immunoprecipitation experiments involving several of these strains indicated that the epitopes recognized by these MAbs resided in two different LOS molecules, both of which were synthesized by these particular Hib strains. In addition, Western blot (immunoblot) analysis of proteinase K-treated cell extracts of these strains that had been subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis revealed two different LOS staining patterns when they were probed independently with the two MAbs. Colony blot radioimmunoassay of hundreds of colonies of one of these Hib strains showed that each colony bound both MAbs. Immune electron microscopy confirmed that individual cells of this same Hib strain expressed both types of LOS molecule at the same time. An antibody accessibility radioimmunoassay was used to show that different Hib strains of this type varied in the relative amounts of each of the two MAbs that they could bind to their cell surfaces. These findings indicate that some Hib strains can synthesize two antigenically distinct LOS molecules simultaneously.     

Factors affecting Adolescents' behavior and attitudes toward destructive rock lyrics

In a study of rock music preferences, listening/watching behavior, and views on destructive rock lyrics, 894 adolescents in grades 9 through 12 in rural, urban, suburban public, and metropolitan parochial schools were administered a questionnaire. Demographic information on parents was also collected. It was found that 17.5% of the students were fans of rock music with lyrics that promote homicide, suicide, or satanic practices (HSSR). Loglinear and multiple regression analyses were used to analyze the data. Parents' marital status, student sex, race, and school environment (urban, rural, suburban, etc.) were found to be significant predictors of HSSR status. As compared with non-HSSR fans, the HSSR fans were more likely to have parents who were “Never married” or “Remarried” and less likely to have parents in the “married” category. The HSSR fans were more likely to be male, white, and enrolled in urban schools but not parochial schools than expected; HSSR status also significantly predicted other music-related attitudes and behaviors. The HSSR fans reported liking both the sound and the lyrics of rock music more often than did non-HSSR fans, as did females and urban students. The HSSR fans more often felt that children under 10 years of age should be allowed to listen to HSSR lyrics, and they more frequently expressed the conviction that HSSR music does not affect adolescents' homicidal or self-destructive behavior. The HSSR fans and females reported more nearly complete knowledge of lyrics than did non-HSSR fans and males. The HSSR fans reported that they watch more MTV than did any other group except rural students.     

A randomized multicenter study to determine the efficacy of activity restriction for preterm labor management in patients testing negative for fetal fibronectin.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of activity restriction (AR) on the incidence of preterm birth in women treated for preterm labor testing negative for fetal fibronectin (fFN). STUDY DESIGN: Women who were diagnosed with preterm labor and tocolyzed with magnesium sulfate were concurrently screened with fFN for the purpose of subsequent management. Included were consenting patients with negative fFN, gestational age 23 0/7-33 6/7 weeks, cervical dilation < or =3 cm, and minimal vaginal bleeding. Patients were randomized to AR or no AR. Primary study outcome was incidence of preterm delivery and interval from randomization to delivery. RESULTS: A total of 73 women with negative fFN were randomized (36 with AR, 37 without AR). The overall preterm birth rate was 40%, with 44.4% of patients with AR and 35.1% of patients without AR delivering preterm, p=0.478. CONCLUSION: Maternal AR did not impact pregnancy outcome. The incidence of preterm birth in symptomatic women testing fFN negative was higher than previously reported.     

Psychological distress among female spouses of male at-risk drinkers.

The consequences of alcoholism on the mental health of spouses of lifetime at-risk drinkers are only known from studies on alcoholics already in treatment. A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from a Quebec community health survey. The purpose of this study was twofold. First, our goal was to ascertain the mental health of female spouses living with a male lifetime at-risk drinker. Secondly, we wanted to examine the relationship between male lifetime at-risk drinkers (aged 30-54 years) and the psychological distress of their nondrinking female spouses. Lifetime at-risk drinking, for the purposes of this study, was defined as having at least two positive answers to the CAGE questionnaire. Couples wherein both spouses were deemed not at-risk for problem drinking by the CAGE instrument (0 or 1 positive answer) formed the control group. Psychological distress was measured using the Indice de Détresse Psychologique de l'Enquête Santé Québec (Préville, M., Boyer, R., Potvin, L., Perreault, C., & Légaré, G. (1992). La détresse psychologique: détermination de la fiabilité et de la validité de la mesure utilisée dans l'enquête Santé Québec. Cahier de recherches #7, Montréal, Santé Québec.). It measures symptoms of anxiety, depression, aggressivity, and cognitive impairments. Scores of >or=22 (out of 100) were indicative of a high level of psychological distress. This study confirmed higher levels of psychological distress in female spouses of male lifetime at-risk drinkers in the general population. An exploratory study examined the association between the psychological distress of female spouses and each of the following nine independent variables: male partner lifetime at-risk drinker, stressful life events, job situation, socioeconomic status, perceived health status, presence of children less than 15 years, length of the marital relationship, presence of a confidant, and availability of social support. Lifetime at-risk drinking is a risk factor for the spouse's psychological distress. An examination of the demographic characteristics related to alcohol intake in male lifetime at-risk drinkers is also described in this study.