Area V1 in macaque monkeys projects to multiple histochemically defined subdivisions of the inferior pulvinar complex

To investigate how visuotopic connections relate to chemoarchitecture of the inferior pulvinar (PI) complex in macaques, neuroanatomical tracers were placed into known portions of the visual representation in V1. Separate foci of label associated with both the upper and lower visual quadrants occupied neurochemically defined medial, central, lateral, and lateral-shell subdivisions, PI_M, PI_C, PI_L, and PI_L-S. Visuotopic connection patterns thus supported the concept of a larger PI that includes portions of three classically defined ‘nuclei' [C. Gutierrez, A. Yaun and C.G. Cusick, Neurochemical subdivisions of the inferior pulvinar in macaque monkeys, J. Comp. Neurol., 363 (1995) 545–562.], and corresponds to the topographically organized V1 projection zone.     

Clinical Evaluation and Research in Occupational Therapy: Single System Designs

In this paper the authors present single system designs as a framework for the collecting, organising and analysing of information to evaluate programme impact. The steps involved in evaluation and research using single system designs are discussed and advantages and disadvantages of the design for occupational therapists are briefly presented. The authors conclude that single system designs are suitable for occupational therapists to use in research and clinical evaluation because of their flexibility and their emphasis on clinical significance.     

Electromyographic Investigation of Extensor Activity in Cerebral-palsied Children in Different Seating Positions

This study was designed to determine whether tonic myoelectric activity of low-back extensors of spastic cerebral-palsied children changed in response to changes in seating position, and if so, which position was coincident with the least extensor activity. Using two pairs of surface electrodes, the electrical activity of the lumbar erector spinae muscles was monitored in seven combinations of backrest inclinations (75 degrees, 90 degrees, 105 degrees and 120 degrees) and seat surface elevations (0 degrees and 15 degrees). Off-line analysis of action potential counts per second of recorded electromyographic signals showed that electrical activity was least when the seat surface elevation was 0 degrees and the backrest inclination 75 degrees. The results showed that differences existed in the activity of the low-back extensors in the seating positions that were assessed.     

Pseudoaneurysms complicating organ transplantation: roles of CT, duplex sonography, and angiography

In a retrospective study of proved pseudoaneurysms (PAs) in 15 patients with transplanted organs (11 liver, three kidney, one pancreas), the results of computed tomography (CT), duplex sonography, and angiography were reviewed. Of the 15 cases of PA, eight occurred at the arterial anastomosis and seven were nonanastomotic. Three of the eight anastomotic PAs were caused by infection. Of the seven nonanastomotic PAs, four were caused by percutaneous biopsy, two were caused by infection, and one was of undetermined cause. In nine (60%) of the 15 patients the PAs were incidentally detected at imaging studies performed for other reasons. Diagnosis requires a high degree of suspicion. CT was performed in nine cases and duplex sonography in ten. The diagnosis of PA was made with CT in six (67%) patients and with duplex sonography in five (50%). CT and duplex sonography could not enable diagnosis when the PA was small, when the arterial anastomosis was not included in the field of study, or when enhancement with intravenously administered contract material was suboptimal. Angiography depicted the PAs in all 15 patients. In three liver transplant recipients with gastrointestinal tract bleeding, the causative PAs were detected only with angiography.     

The Lathyrus sativus neurotoxin: evidence of selective retention in monkey tissue

Epidemiological studies implicate the food toxin, l-3-oxalylamino-2-aminopropionic acid (OAP), in outbreaks of neurolathyrism. The disease occurs only in humans who have eaten excessive amounts of OAP-containing legumes for many months, thus suggesting that chronic exposure to OAP is needed to cause nerve damage and paralysis. These experiments were carried out to determine whether OAP might be selectively retained by certain tissues. With repeated exposure to OAP, tissues which selectively retain the toxin might build up sufficient concentrations to produce nerve damage. To investigate the rate of loss of OAP from animal tissue, we injected young squirrel monkeys with l-3-[¹⁴C]oxalylamino-2-aminopropionic acid and analyzed tissue for radioactivity 1, 24, and 72 hr later. Cerebellum was conspicuously different from other parts of brain in that the concentration of radioactivity (dpm/g) relative to brain as a whole increased with time. At 1 hr, the concentration in cerebellum was about the same as in brain as a whole; at 72 hr, it was more than twice as great. The half-life for disappearance of radioactivity from cerebellum (32.7 hr) matched that for bone and was the longest observed in these experiments. Unchanged [¹⁴C]OAP was the major component of radioactivity recovered from brain and other tissues. Entrapped blood in brain was negligible. These experiments suggest that cerebellum may selectively retain OAP and thus tend to accumulate neurotoxic concentrations. Cerebellum contains glutamate receptors, and OAP is a known glutamate antagonist.     

A study of samples of well water collected from selected areas in California to determine the presence of DBCP and certain other pesticide residues

Conclusions The precise mechanism whereby DBCP residues contaminate water supplies is not known. It is, therefore, unlikely that DBCP can be kept out of ground water supplies if current application technology is followed. For this reason, and considering the widespread nature of contamination of well water, it is not likely that further agricultural use of DBCP should be authorized.