Comprehension of pretense in children with autism

In an attempt to tap underlying competencies, the ability of children with autism to comprehend pretend acts carried out by an experimenter was compared with that shown by controls. These acts consisted of the pouring of a pretend substance from an appropriate container onto a target figure. There was no significant difference in the groups' ability to identify the pretend substance involved, to predict the pretend outcome of the actions, or to reflect on the pretend nature of the episodes. However, the performance of controls on these latter two tasks was surprisingly poor, limiting the implications that might be drawn from the observed absence of group differences in comprehension abilities.We are very grateful to the teachers and headteachers of the following schools for their cooperation and assistance throughout the period of this research: John Worrall School, Sheffield; Doucecroft School, Kelvedon; East Hill First and Middle School, Sheffield; East Hill Second School, Sheffield; Mossbrook School, Sheffield; Priory School, Doncaster; The Rowan School, Dore; St. Mary's School, Sheffield. We also thank James Russell for his helpful comments of earlier drafts of this paper.     

Rotational ablation of coronary artery lesions using single,large burrs

Previous clinical use of the Rotablator^(TM) In coronary artery disease has involved a sequential increase in burr sizes up to 2 mm in diameter and has often utilized balloon adjunct to achieve an optimal result. We report our experience and describe our technique using a single, large burr (2.25, 2.5, or 2.75 mm diameter) without balloon assistance. The burr size was selected to approximate 70–90 percent of the apparent normal lumen diameter. Thirty-one patients with 36 lesions of complex morphology (eccentric, irregular, calcified, ulcerated, at bends, at bifurcations, completely occluded, as well as balloon failures) were successfully treated with the Rotablator^(TM). Results were assessed by computerized quantitative angiography. The percent diameter stenosis (mean ± SD) for the group was reduced from 69.8 ± 11.3% to 30.9 ± 10% (p < 0.001). The mean absolute diameter stenosis increased from 0.9 ± 0.3 mm to 2.2 ± 0.3 mm (p < 0.001). Angiographically visible dissections were seen in 4 patients and were uncomplicated in 2. One patient had a non-Q-wave myocardial infarction. A fourth patient had a presumed acute occlusion 36 hr after the procedure, necessitating emergency bypass surgery, but without Q waves on the electrocardiogram or wall-motion abnormalities on the echocar-diogram. Nitroglycerin was infused through the Rotablator^(TM) catheter and has considerably lowered the degree and frequency of spasm. No other acute complications occurred. The mean procedure time using a single burr was shorter than when multiple burrs were used: 56.5 vs. 97.3 min, respectively (p < 0.05). The use of a single, large-size Rotablator^(TM) burr is an effective method of treating complex coronary stenoses without balloon assistance and has an encouragingly low complication rate and short procedure time. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Synthesis, chemical, and biological properties of vinylogous hydroxamic acids: dual inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase and IL-1 biosynthesis.

Vinylogous hydroxamic acids (3-(N-hydroxy-N-alkylamino)-2-propen-1-ones, VHA) were prepared as antiinflammatory agents. The synthesis, chemical properties, and in vitro biological activities of these relatively unexplored compounds are described. The VHAs were prepared by condensation of the appropriate N-substituted hydroxylamine with any of the three reagents: a 1,3-dicarbonyl compound (method A); a vinylogous amide (method B); or an alkynone (method C). The VHAs exist as one or more tautomers in solution with the relative proportions of each being dependent upon the structure of the VHA, solvent, and pH. VHAs undergo some of the typical reactions of hydroxamic acids as well as those of vinylogous amides. VHAs are active as inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase and of IL-1 biosynthesis in vitro, which do not inhibit other enzymes of the arachidonic acid cascade. They have been shown by ESR studies to bring about inhibition of soybean type 1 15-lipoxygenase by reduction of the active site iron.     

Diagnostic sonography of the fetal genitourinary tract

Fetal diagnosis has vastly improved over the last decade. Ultrasound has become the imaging modality of choice. As real-time equipment has improved technologically, the ability to deduce subtle abnormalities has greatly increased. The fetal genitourinary tract may be evaluated for renal dysplasias, anomalies, or obstruction. Points of obstruction and, at times, the exact cause of obstruction may be deduced. Abnormalities of the ureter, bladder, urethra, scrotum, or reproductive system can be detected.     

Quality of life and Kaposi sarcoma: using preference techniques to value the health gains from treatment

The goal of this work was to investigate preference techniques to value potential health gains from treatments of Kaposi sarcoma (KS). The study was designed to take the form of face-to-face interviews with a sample of men with a history of HIV/AIDS ( n=15) or HIV/AIDS and KS ( n=17). The main outcome measure was quality of life (QoL) associated with various KS disease states expressed on a scale from 0 (death) to 1 (perfect health), obtained though time trade-off (TTO) and rating scale techniques. For cutaneous lesions only, the mean TTO preference score value was 0.27. In other words, the men were willing to trade a life expectancy of 5 years for a shorter period (1.4 years) in perfect health. More severe KS health states were rated lower (0.07-0.09). The mean rating scale value for cutaneous lesions only was 0.11 and ranged from -0.10 to -0.04 for the more severe conditions; these values were systematically lower than the TTO ( P=0.014). A large overall potential gain in QoL from treatment (partial response minus stable disease) was found for each condition to be reflected in both the TTO (from 0.31 to 0.55) and the rating scale (from 0.38 to 0.44). Respondents associate KS health states with extremely poor QoL and indicate that large gains are possible through modest treatment effects. While TTO returns higher values than the rating scale, potential gains from treatments were similar. The techniques appear to be suitable for application to QoL and economic evaluation of treatments of KS.     

Blastomycosis of the eyelid and conjunctiva.

A 37-year-old man with a recurrent papillomatous lesion of the upper eyelid and four separate bulbar conjunctival ulcers was found to have North American blastomycosis. This represents the first reported case with conjunctival lesions that were not simply contiguous with eyelid involvement. This case underscores the importance of considering blastomycosis in the differential diagnosis of granulomatous conjunctivitis and when examining a lesion of the eyelid resembling a squamous cell carcinoma or atypical papilloma.