The social behavior of autistic children with younger and same-age nonhandicapped peers

Results of a study observing autistic children's interactions with nonhandicapped and autistic peers are reported. Six 8- to 12-year-old autistic children played in dyads with younger, normally developing kindergarten children and with nonhandicapped peers matched on chronological age for 10 15-minute sessions spaced over 3 weeks and then with a playmate of the alternate age for another 10 sessions. After intervention, all subjects showed gains in proximity, orientation, and responsiveness when playing with nonhandicapped peers and with autistic classmates. Same-age nonhandicapped playmates initiated more frequently than did younger nonhandicapped playmates and were better able to modify their initiations in ways that increased the likelihood of response from the autistic children.     

Predictors of oral health quality of life in older adults

There is limited information regarding oral health status and other predictors of oral health‐related quality of life. An association between oral health status and perceived oral health‐related quality of life (OHQOL) might help clinicians motivate patients to prevent oral diseases and improve the outcome of some dental public health programs. This study evaluated the relationship between older persons' OHQOL and their functional dentition, caries, periodontal status, chronic diseases, and some demographic characteristics. A group of 733 low‐income elders (mean age 72.7 ISD=4.71, 55.6% women, 55.1% members of ethnic minority groups in the U.S. and Canada) enrolled in the TEETH clinical trial were interviewed and examined as part of their fifth annual visit for the trial. OHQOL was measured by the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI); oral health and occlusal status by clinical exams and the Eichner Index; and demographics via interviews. Elders who completed the four‐year assessment had an average of 21.5 teeth (SD=6.9). with 8.5 occluding pairs (SD=4.6), and 32% with occlusal contacts in all four occluding zones. Stepwise multiple regressions were conducted to predict total GOHAI and its subscores (Physical, Social, and Worry). Functional dentition was a less significant predictor than ethnicity and being foreign‐bom. These variables, together with gender, years since immigrating, number of carious roots, and periodontal status, could predict 32% of the variance in total GOHAI, 24% in Physical, 27% in Social, and 21 % in the Worry subscales. These findings suggest that functional dentition and caries influence older adults' OHQOL, but that ethnicity and immigrant status play a larger role.     

Computer-assisted analysis of wall motion of the right ventricle in a normal patient sample and diagnosis of right heart infarction using transesophageal echocardiography

Using 2D and M-Mode transesophageal short axis cross sections, right ventricular systolic wall motion was quantified in 15 normal patients. A further group of 39 patients with right ventricular infarction was investigated. In the normal group fractional shortening of the septum was -19.6% (-45 to 8%), that of the lateral wall 51.6% (37 to 73%), of the posterior wall 33.9% (5 to 50%) and of the anterior wall 42.7% (18 to 57%). Right ventricular infarction (RVI) was associated in 33 patients with posterior left ventricular infarction (85%) and in three patients with anterior infarction. In two cases only an isolated RVI was found. Right ventricular dilation occurred in 24 patients (61%). Hemodynamic criteria were fulfilled in eleven out of 21 patients (53%). RVI was confirmed in one patient by surgery and in ten patients by autopsy. Recognition of regional wall motion abnormalities by transesophageal echocardiography permits an accurate bedside identification of RVI. 2D and M-Mode registration of the short axis improves RVI assessment. Wall motion analyses offer the possibility to determine the extent of right ventricular infarction.     

Orthotopic placement of the dunning R3327 AT-3 prostate tumor in the copenhagen X fischer rat

Orthotopic placement of in vitro propagated Dunning R3327 AT-3 tumor cells resulted in a greater percentage of tumor takes and a two-fold shift in the exponential growth curve compared to flank implantation. The orthotopic tumor appeared to disseminate preferentially to regional lymph nodes, rather than to the lungs which is characteristic of flank tumors. The results suggest an important role of stromal-epithelial interactions in the growth of this tumor. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.