Anorectal function in the solitary rectal ulcer syndrome

The anorectal function of nine patients with solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (SRUS) (5 F: 4 M, median age, 27 (range, 19–41 years) and nine control subjects (5 F: 4 M, median age, 47 (35–66)P<0.01) has been investigated by a new technique that radiologically visualizes the anorectum during voiding of a semisolid contrast medium, while simultaneously measuring intrarectal pressure and anal sphincter EMG activity. A degree of rectal prolapse was demonstrated in eight of the SRUS patients; six of these lesions were clinically occult. Abnormal failure of the anal sphincter to relax on voiding was present in seven of the SRUS patients. These abnormalities resulted in the SRUS patients requiring a greater increase in intrarectal pressure (median, 100 cm water) to void than the control subjects (median, 65 cm water,P<0.01). This combination of high intrarectal pressure and rectal prolapse during straining seems to be the cause of SRUS This work was supported by a grant from the Medical Research Council.     

Chimeric cytotoxin IL2-PE40 inhibits relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

IL2-PE40 is a chimeric protein composed of human interleukin-2 (IL2) genetically fused to a modified form of Pseudomonas exotoxin lacking the cell recognition domain. IL2-PE40 is cytotoxic for IL2 receptor-bearing lymphocytes in culture and can inhibit activation of T cells in vivo. IL2-PE40 can significantly diminish antigen-stimulated proliferation of lymphocytes sensitized to myelin basic protein. Intraperitoneal administration of IL2-PE40 not only markedly inhibits the clinical manifestations of adoptively transferred relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis but also dramatically reduces both inflammation and demyelination characteristic of the disease.     

Mutations in SOX2 cause anophthalmia-esophageal-genital (AEG) syndrome

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Increased risk of cancer at multiple sites after gastric surgery for peptic ulcer.

Of 5018 patients who had undergone gastric surgery at St James Hospital, Balham, at least 25 years ago, death certificates have been received for 2768, whilst 1746 patients are still alive and are flagged (Office of Populations, Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) will notify us of their death and its cause) and only 504 could not be traced. Mortality from cancers of various organs has been determined using a 'years at risk' calculation in five year bands. There was no increase in mortality risk from any cancers during the first 15 postoperative years, but from 20 years after operation there was a significant excess risk not only of cancer of the stomach (4.5-fold), but also of the large bowel (1.6-fold), bronchus (3.9-fold), pancreas (4.0-fold), biliary tract (9.1-fold), oesophagus (2.3-fold), bladder (2.4-fold), breast (4.0-fold), and cancer of all sites (3.3-fold). These findings are consistent with the production in the operated-upon stomach of circulating carcinogens with a 20 year latency period.     

Sister-sister incest as a manifestation of multigenerational sexual abuse

Incestuous child sexual abuse has received increasing attention recently, but relatively little attention has focused on the multigenerational dimensions of this problem. The case presented places incest into a multigenerational context and demonstrates how quickly family relationships may become eroticized in an uncommon form: between sisters.     

Children's categorisation of play and learning based on social context

While much time has been spent deliberating about the definition of play, little emphasis has been placed on what children themselves perceive as play. The aim of the present study was to examine social context as a cue for children's perceptions of play and learning. Ninety-two children aged between four and six years (mean four years nine months) participated in the study and completed the Activity Apperception Story Procedure. Children were asked to sort photographic stimuli into those they believed depicted play/not play and learning/not learning. Each of the stimuli were identified by independent raters as containing one of the following social cues; teacher absence (solitary activity, parallel activity or cooperative activity) or teacher presence (teacher involved activity or teacher directed activity). Findings revealed that children associated teacher absence with play. More specifically, children made links between play and the presence of peers (parallel and cooperative activity). Findings are discussed in relation to play in the early years curriculum, differences in children's early educational experiences and the importance of understanding children's perceptions of play.     

Factor structure of maladaptive behavior across the lifespan of persons with mental retardation

Data obtained on a sample of persons with mild to profound degrees of mental retardation (N = 8255) and ranging from birth to 98 years of age were factor analyzed to provide information on the structure of maladaptive behavior relative to age and degree of mental retardation. Using the Problem Behavior scales of the Inventory for Client and Agency Planning, two principal factors emerged for children with mild to profound degrees of retardation: Internalized Maladaptive and Externalized Maladaptive. For adolescents and young adults, a three-factor solution which varied by degree of retardation was most appropriate. For middle and older adults, three- and four-factor solutions were identified across all ages and degrees of retardation. Across all samples as many as six different types of dimensions were identified, indicating that the structure of maladaptive behavior may well be influenced by age and level of mental retardation.