Outcome of a unique youth drug abuse program: A follow-up study of clients of Straight, Inc.

A unique feature of the 12-hour per day Straight, Inc., program is temporary placement of the client with the family of a client who has progressed further in the program. Eighty-five (85) percent of the clients reported that their drug use was less at follow-up than when they started in the program. Follow-up reports by parents indicated their impression of a statistically significant decrease in the proportion of clients who were still involved in substance use. Statistically significant improvement at follow-up was also reported by the clients on seven of eight other selected outcome criteria (e.g., suicidal thoughts, physical violence, number of arrests, etc.). The majority of the clients reported that they were “satisfied” with the program (70%), that the program “helped” them (74%), and, specifically, that the program helped them with their relationship with their parents (69%).     

Measurement errors for a portable device measuring short-term growth

A field trial was conducted for a portable Knee Height Measuring Device (KHMD). Measurement errors for the machine, within and between observers (intraobserver and interobserver) and within subjects (intrasubject), were calculated from repeated observations of two anthropometrists on 40 children, 8 and 9 years of age. Interobserver technical error (0.452 mm) was larger than that published by the KHMD developers, but intraclass reliabilities are still very high (0.9975–0.9983). Attained size and fatness of subjects were not significantly correlated with interobserver measurement errors. Observed errors suggest they are sufficient to allow detection of knee height growth over periods of time much shorter than could be accomplished using more conventional anthropometry.     

Phase Ib Trial of Mutant Herpes Simplex Virus G207 Inoculated Pre-and Post-tumor Resection for Recurrent GBM

We have previously demonstrated safety of G207, a doubly mutated (deletion of both γ₁34.5 loci, insertional inactivation of U_L39) herpes simplex virus (HSV) for patients stereotactically inoculated in enhancing portions of recurrent malignant gliomas. We have now determined safety of two inoculations of G207, before and after tumor resection. Inclusion criteria were histologically proven recurrent malignant glioma, Karnofsky score ≥70, and ability to resect the tumor without ventricular system breach. Patients received two doses of G207 totaling 1.15 × 10⁹ plaque-forming units with 13% of this total injected via a catheter placed stereotactically in the tumor. Two or five days later, tumor was resected en bloc with catheter in place. The balance of G207 dose was injected into brain surrounding the resection cavity. Six patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme were enrolled. Two days after the second G207 inoculation, one patient experienced transient fever, delirium, and hemiparesis, which entirely resolved on high-dose dexamethasone. No patient developed HSV encephalitis or required treatment with acyclovir. Radiographic and neuropathologic evidence suggestive of antitumor activity is reported. Evidence of viral replication was demonstrated. G207 appears safe for multiple dose delivery, including direct inoculation into the brain surrounding tumor resection cavity.     

Weitere Beiträge zur Überempfindlichkeit der Haut Gegen Metol

Zusammenfassung Die Metoldermatitis wird als sekundäre Eiweiallergie aufgefaßt. Sie ist keine sterische Allergie, sondern ähnlich, wie dies R. L. Mayer bei der Paraphenylendiamin- und Azofarbstoffüberempfindlichkeit gezeigt hat, durch die Chinonfähigkeit des Metols bedingt. In Analogie zu den Atmungsmodellversuchen von Warburg, Wieland u. a. wird angenommen, daß die Bildung eines Chinonkörpers aus Hydrochinon durch das Ferment Dehydrase bedingt wird. Wird diese Fermentwirkung durch lokale Narkose ausgeschaltet, wirkt Metol auch beim Metolüberempfindlichen nicht mehr entzündungserregend. Ebenso bleibt der entzündungserregende Effekt aus, wenn die Oxydation des Metols durch Formaldehyd hintangehalten wird.     

Effects ofl-DOPA on extracellular dopamine in striatum of normal and 6-hydroxydopamine-treated rats

In vivo microdialysis was used to examine the effect ofl-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) administration upon dopamine (DA) in extracellular fluid both in intact striatum and in striatum of rats treated with the catecholaminergic neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-HDA). Basal extracellular levels of DA were not significantly altered by 6-HDA unless the DA content of striatal tissue was reduced to less than 20% of control. Peripheral aromatic amino acid decar☐ylase (AADC) inhibition (RO4−4602, 50 mg/kg i.p.) followed byl-DOPA treatment (100 mg/kg i.p.) elevated extracellular DA in striatum of control rats from37 ± 5to68 ± 11pg/sample(n = 7); values corrected for recovery of the dialysis probe). In animals with severe bilateral depletions of DA in striatal tissue(mean depletion 87%; n = 6),l-DOPA increased extracellular DA in striatum from8 ± 3to266 ± 60pg/sample. In animals with large unilateral depletions of DA in striatal tissue(mean depletion 96%; n= 6), the increase in extracellular DA in striatum afterl-DOPA was greater on the lesion side(from7 ± 4to245 ± 67pg/sample) than on the intact side(from28 ± 11to61 ± 8pg/sample). Animals with unilateral DA depletions showed contralateral circling behavior afterl-DOPA. Increases in extracellular DA approaching the magnitude of those occuring in DA-depleted striata were observed when intact animals were treated with nomifensine(5mg/kg i.p.; n = 5), an inhibitor of high-affinity DA uptake, in addition tol-DOPA.     

causing amyloid angiopathy and brain hemorrhage - clinical genetics in Iceland

Firstly, we review investigations of hereditary cystatin C amyloid angiopathy, which is caused by a mutation in the cystatin C gene. Symptoms of brain haemorrhages, which lead to death in young adults, are the hallmark of this disorder. The mutation can now be detected by the RFLP method using Alu I restriction enzyme and cystatin C cDNA probe. Secondly, we give an overview of other clinical genetic studies in Iceland with emphasis on activities initiated or sponsored by the Genetical Committee of the University of Iceland. The list of references covers most publications on genetic studies of Icelanders.     

Vocational development following severe spinal cord injury: a longitudinal study

Vocational development of individual with spinal cord injury was studied from shortly after injury to two years after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Objectives included examining differences in the course of vocational development by level of functional independence, and predicting vocational outcomes two years after injury. Thirty-three spinal cord injury patients (17 quadriplegics, 16 paraplegics) were followed during the study. The Goldberg Scale of Vocational Development was used to measure changes in vocational development over time. The Barthel Index was used to measure level of functional independence. Results revealed that vocational development was markedly depressed during initial inpatient rehabilitation and for six months after injury. Gradual improvement occurred after six months, but two years after discharge the level of vocational development remained lower than that before injury. Changes in vocational development over time did not differ significantly by level of functional independence. Best predictors of successful vocational outcomes were educational attainment, educational plans made before injury, and origin of interests in work.     

Ultrastructure of hepatocytes in golden ide (Leuciscus idus melanotus L.; Cyprinidae: Teleostei) during thermal adaptation

Summary The morphological alterations of hepatocytes of golden ide, Leuciscus idus melanotus, following adaptation to low and high temperatures (14 and 28°C) were investigated by means of light and electron microscopy. The temperature-dependent behaviour of peroxisomes was visualized cytochemically with the alkaline diaminobenzidine medium; the morphological studies were supplemented by the biochemical determination of catalase activity.Cold adaptation of ide hepatocytes is manifested by proliferation and stacking of endoplasmic reticulum, an enhanced secretory activity of Golgi fields and a higher number of peroxisomes as compared with the warmadapted animals. The latter organelles are characterized by a marked heterogeneity in size, shape and catalase activity, and by a more intimate association with mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. The occurrence of small peroxisomal profiles is restricted to lower temperature. Catalase activity can be shown both cytochemically and biochemically to increase during cold adaptation.Whereas the number of mitochondria seems to be unaffected by thermal adaptation, stacking of mitochondria as well as the formation of intramitochondrial membrane piles indicate cold-adaptive processes.A feature typical of warm-adaptation is the formation of membrane-glycogen complexes, which may represent the morphological expression of enhanced carbohydrate metabolism documented in a decreased storage of glycogen at 28°C. At 28°C lipid is the predominant storage product.These findings indicate that fish liver is well-suited to serve as a model for the analysis of the interaction of environmental temperature conditions and hepatic morphology.