Comorbid diagnoses in patients meeting criteria for the schizophrenia prodrome

While schizophrenia is often associated with a variety of concurrent psychiatric symptoms, little attention has been paid to the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity in prodromal patients. The current study examines the presence of comorbid current and lifetime psychiatric conditions in prospectively identified prodromal patients. The results suggest that like their schizophrenic counterparts, prodromal patients experience a wide array of comorbid psychiatric syndromes, with the most common being Major Depressive Disorder and Cannabis Dependence. Results also suggest that Cannabis Dependence may be more common among prodromal versus help-seeking control patients. These findings lay the groundwork for further examination of the role that comorbid conditions play in the development, course, and severity of schizophrenia.     

Conformational study of a series of somatostatin analogues with antitumor and/or GH inhibitory activity

A series of somatostatin analogues with varying activities have been studied by ¹H NMR in CD₃OH at low temperature in order to find a possible structural explanation for the differentiation of biological activities. In somatostatin analogues with GH release inhibitory activity a β-turn/β-sheet backbone conformation is present, which is shown to be characteristic of somatostatin-derived peptides exhibiting this biological activity. On the other hand, among the analogues with antitumor activity, a deviation from these typical structural features is clearly observed, but no general conformational model can be proposed.     

Endometrial echo and its significance in female infertility

The sonographic appearance of the endometrium was evaluated in 97 infertile women, 51 from a fertility unit (FU) and 46 from an in vitro fertilization (IVF) program. Three groups of patients were identified: those with normal findings, those with an incomplete endometrial echo, and those without any endometrial echo. Findings were correlated with the type of ovulation induction protocol, the peak estradiol level, and the number of successful pregnancies. In the IVF group, 72% of the patients did not exhibit normal endometrial echoes but had adequate estradiol levels, compared with 62% of the FU patients with normal endometrial echoes but significantly lower estradiol. The data suggest that IVF patients have a nonresponsive endometrium rather than inadequate estrogen stimulation and therefore that an endometrial abnormality may be an important cause of their infertility. Ultrasound may be used as a screening method to identify such patients.     

A light-guidance system to be used for CT-guided biopsy

We describe a light-guidance system that uses intersecting helium-neon laser beams to provide precise guidance for biopsy approaches from any direction (including compound angles) during CT-guided biopsy of the chest and abdomen. Interactive software provides visualization of the proposed path, indicates the segment of that path that will pass through each section, and displays the settings for the apparatus.     

Influence of diphosphonates on the pyrophosphatase activity in Streptococcus mutans

The existence and properties of an alkaline pyrophosphatase in Streptococcus mutans were determined.
The PP_i-ase activity was Mg⁺⁺ dependent and strongly inhibited by EHDP, Cl₂MDP and MDP concentrations higher than 10^-2 M. Complex formation with different divalent ca tions can modify the inhibiting effect of diphosphonates. The consequences of this inhibi tion for dental calculus formation are discussed.     

Drug-induced anogenital cicatricial pemphigoid

A case of cicatricial pemphigoid (CP) with a rare primary localization on the mucosal surfaces of the anus and the vulva and on perianal skin, associated with long-term therapy with clonidine, is described. Direct immunofluorescence investigation of lesional skin suggests possible complement mediated tissue injury in between basement membrane and epidermal basal cells. The possibility is discussed that drug induced metabolic disturbance (cyclic AMP-system) at a local level at the site of the basal cells might lead to the formation of immunogens and be one of the initiating factors in subepidermal bullous immune dermatoses. It is concluded that in cases of cicatricial pemphigoid the use of drugs must be considered as one of the aetiological possibilities.