Narrowing of intersensory speech perception in infancy

The conventional view is that perceptual/cognitive development is an incremental process of acquisition. Several striking findings have revealed, however, that the sensitivity to non-native languages, faces, vocalizations, and music that is present early in life declines as infants acquire experience with native perceptual inputs. In the language domain, the decline in sensitivity is reflected in a process of perceptual narrowing that is thought to play a critical role during the acquisition of a native-language phonological system. Here, we provide evidence that such a decline also occurs in infant response to multisensory speech. We found that infant intersensory response to a non-native phonetic contrast narrows between 6 and 11 months of age, suggesting that the perceptual system becomes increasingly more tuned to key native-language audiovisual correspondences. Our findings lend support to the notion that perceptual narrowing is a domain-general as well as a pan-sensory developmental process.     

Tratamiento del dolor anal por patología anorrectal aguda en urgencias: ¿baños de asiento con agua fría o caliente? resultados de un ensayo clínico aleatorizado

IntroductionThe popular belief advocates the use of sitz (sitting) baths with cold water for the treatment of acute anal pain, but clinical practice guides recommend the use of hot water for its known effect on the at-rest anal pressure.AimThe objective of the study was to examine the analgesic effect on the quality of life, manometer data and clinical progress, of the two temperatures in sitz baths in patients with anal pain.Material and methodsA randomised clinical trial on patients with acute anal pain due to haemorrhoids or anal fissures, divided into Group 1: Sitz baths with water at a temperature of less than 15 °C, and Group 2: Baths with a water temperature above 30 °C. The analgesia was the same in both groups. An analysis was made of the pain at 7 days (visual analogue scale), quality of life (SF-36), anal at-rest pressure and disease progress.ResultsOf the 27 eligible patients, 24 were randomised (Group 1: n=12 y Group 2: n=12). There were no statistical differences in pain, but it remained stable in Group 1, but gradually decreased in the patients of Group 2, the difference being in the pain scores on the first day compared to the seventh in Group 2 (p=0.244). The rest of the variables were similar.ConclusionThere were no statistically significant differences in pain control from day 1 to day 7 in the Group with sitz baths with hot water.(ISRCTN Number: 50105150).     

Emerging therapeutic options for breast cancer chemotherapy during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the commonest solid tumor observed during pregnancy. Anthracycline-based chemotherapy is feasible during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy, but few data are available on recent and highly active drugs taxanes, vinorelbine and anti-HER-2 agents in this setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We carried out a comprehensive review of reports documenting the use of taxanes, vinorelbine, trastuzumab and lapatinib during pregnancy in the English literature, in order to evaluate their safety profile in pregnant patients. RESULTS: Twenty-four pregnancies are described, in which no grade 3-4 maternal toxicity nor malformation in the offspring was reported. Whereas only one report studied the pharmacokinetics of paclitaxel (Taxol) during pregnancy, several preclinical reports indicate that the placental P-glycoprotein could prevent the transplacental transfer of taxanes and vinorelbine. The use of trastuzumab was associated with the occurrence of anhydramnios in three of six cases. CONCLUSION: The administration of recent drugs taxanes and vinorelbine seems feasible during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy, with a favorable toxicity profile. In contrast, anti-HER-2 agents may obscure the normal development of the fetal kidney, and should be avoided during pregnancy.     

Problems stemming from pregnancy in a woman with phenylketonuria

A normal infant was born to a 25 year-old mother with phenylketonuria who had never been treated. The mother had been fed a phenylalanine restricted diet for 3 months before the beginning of the pregnancy. Dietary control was maintained throughout the whole gestation. The problems of dietary control in a mentally retarded woman are analysed.     

A review on facial fractures

It is For Teaching that the authors have done this review of the French and strange Literature about the Facial Fractures. This Study permits to join an important number of cases giving so some weight at this evaluation. However, in reason of the heterogeneity of the origins it has done seem advisable to limit this subject at the basic data.     

Scanning laser polarimetry measurements after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis on retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurements obtained with scanning laser polarimetry. METHODS: Thirteen consecutive eyes (13 patients) undergoing laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis were enrolled in this prospective study. Scanning laser polarimetry (NFA-GDx; Laser Diagnostic Technologies, Inc, San Diego, California) examination was performed 1 week before and 1 to 8 weeks after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis surgery. Intraocular pressure was normal at all preoperative and postoperative examinations. Total mean, and superior, temporal, inferior, and nasal mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness values before and after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis were compared by Student paired t test. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD patient age was 34.6 +/- 10.9 years (range, 20 to 56 years). Mean +/- SD preoperative spherical equivalent refractive error was -6.6 +/- 3.1 diopters (range, -3.25 to -13.25 diopters) and mean +/- SD spherical equivalent refractive surgical correction was -6.2 +/- 3.0 diopters (range, -2.9 to -12.25 diopters). Total mean retinal nerve fiber layer and superior, inferior, temporal, and nasal mean retinal nerve fiber layer thicknesses were thinner after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (P =.01, for all comparisons, paired t test). CONCLUSIONS: Measurements of the retinal nerve fiber layer with scanning laser polarimetry depend on a corneal compensator inherent in the device. Keratorefractive surgery may affect scanning laser polarimetry measurements.     

Effects of aging on the zona pellucida surface of mouse oocytes

In a scanning microscopy study of mouse oocytes from immature, young, and aged females and of oocytes agedin vivo orin vitro, we have observed four types of zona pellucida, which we classify as types A, B, C, and D. Oocyte aging gives rise to a significant increase in predegenerative (type C) oocytes; this type of zona pellucida surface could result from a zona hardening effect and decrease the rate of fertilization of the oocytes affected.