Attentional modulation of startle in psychosis-prone college students

Attentional modulation of startle eyeblink was studied in college students putatively at risk for psychosis and in normal controls. At-risk subjects had extreme scores on scales for either anhedonia or perceptual aberration-magical thinking (per-mags). Subjects were presented with to-be-attended and to-be-ignored tones; white noise startle probes were presented at lead intervals of 60, 120, 240, or 2,000 ms following the onset of attended and ignored tones and during intertone intervals. Controls showed greater inhibition of startle blink at 120 ms and greater facilitation at 2,000 ms during to-be-attended than to-be-ignored tone, demonstrating attentional modulation of prepulse inhibition and facilitation. Both at-risk groups showed normal overall levels of early inhibition and late facilitation. However, per-mags failed to show attentional modulation of either inhibition at 120 ms or facilitation at 2,000 ms; anhedonics showed no modulation of inhibition and modulation of facilitation was delayed in development. The results for the per-mags are strikingly similar to those observed in schizophrenic patients and suggest that these deficits index a trait-linked vulnerability to disorders in the schizophrenic spectrum.     

Symptomatic dermographism: wealing, mast cells and histamine are decreased in the skin following long-term application of a potent topical corticosteroid

Clobetasol propionate 0.05% ointment and an otherwise identical steroid-free base were applied topically to a 10 cm2 area on the anterior thighs of six patients with symptomatic dermographism for 6 weeks. Four patients showed a significantly decreased wealing response to stroking of steroid pretreated skin compared to that of control sites. There was a parallel decrease in mast cell numbers and histamine levels in skin biopsies taken from the steroid treated areas. At 6 weeks two patients demonstrated a decrease in flare areas following the intradermal injection of compound 48/80 in steroid pretreated skin compared to base treated sites. Flare areas following intradermal injection of histamine in these two patients were equivalent in base and steroid treated skin.     

The families of problem drug users: a study of 50 close relatives

The research described in this paper resulted from a-collaborative multi-centre study of the relatives of problem drug users involving six practitioners and researchers, in four centres within the south-west of England. The objective of this research was simply to interview 50 close relatives of identified problem drug users, with the identification occurring through clinics and self-help groups. Quantitative and qualitative results show that large numbers of these relatives reported many negative experiences. The partners of illicit drug users reported both more and differently patterned problematic behaviours than those of prescribed tranquilliser users. The partners of illicit users also reported different problems to those of the parents. Relatives reported many negative effects in terms of how they viewed the drug user, and how the experiences had affected their health. They also described various coping mechanisms, and the extent of the support which they had received. The results are discussed in terms of coping, and similarity with research into the families of problem drinkers.     

Color stability of three composite resins used in the inlay/onlay technique

Abstract – The color stability of three composite resins used in the inlay/onlay technique was determined by means of irradiation with UV-light and by water storage. Generally, water storage resulted in greater changes in color than did UV-light, but no correlation was found between the results of the two chromogenic procedures. The microfilled composite resin was the least color stable material, but none of the resins had alarmingly low color stability.     

DEEP CORNEAL STROMAL OPACITIES WITH CONTACT LENSES

Two patients with deep corneal stromal opacities occurring after prolonged contact lens wear are described. The opacities were associated with folds or striae in Descemet's membrane which they overlay. Development of the opacities was associated with ocular discomfort, photophobia, reduced vision and a history of prolonged daily wearing times. Although the corneal endothelial cell counts were within the normal range, the count was reduced in the affected eye in the patient with the unilateral deep stromal opacity and there was mild polymegathism of the endothelial cells. It is possible that the long-term effects of subtle endothelial cell changes may cause a keratopathy with later scarring and opacification. Poor oxygen trans-missibility, carbon dioxide build-up, or suction effects by the lens may all be aetiological factors. Early recognition and treatment, particularly with a better fitting lens of high oxygen transmissibility is important, as once developed the opacities regress only slowly and may result in permanent visual impairment.     

Unemployment and change of tobacco habits: a study of young people from 16 to 21 years of age

In a cohort study of 1080 pupils who were followed for 5 years from when they left compulsory school (from age 16 to age 21 years), smoking habits were found to correlate with unemployment among both boys and girls. Pupils who zuere smokers in school had a higher risk of becoming unemployed than non-smokers. Irrespective of early smoking, smoking habits developed more unfavourably among unemployed young people than among those with no unemployment during the period studied. The odds ratio of being a smoker at the age of 21 years when unemployed more than 20 weeks during the observation period, compared with those without or with short unemployment, was 2.44 for men and 3.45 for women. When adjusted for the influence of socio-economic background, education, economy and smoking habits at the start of the period, the odds ratio was 1.7 (95% CI 1.01 2.86) for men and 2.0 (1.13–3.53) for women. The adjusted odds ratio for increasing or starting smoking during the period was 1.5 (95% CI 0.89-2.56) for men and 2.0 (1.18–3.35) for women. No significant correlation was found between snuffing and unemployment. Thus, it seems that unemployment is a risk factor for development of tobacco smoking in young people, especially among women.