Patterns of sexual arousal of accused child molesters involved in custody disputes

Penile plethysmography was used to examine sexual preferences of individuals accused of child molestation in the course of custody conflicts. Information regarding the alleged offenders, victims, and sex offense was gathered. In comparison to accused offenders who are not engaged in custody disputes, the subjects were more often accused of sexually abusing a younger child who was a biological relative. The source of accusations was usually the mother. Additionally, the custody-dispute subjects were less likely to have a prior criminal history. Penile tumescence data suggested that the subjects involved in custody disputes were less sexually aroused by children than those subjects who were not involved in custody conflicts. However, the results revealed that in both groups a substantial number of subjects responded equally or more to the child stimuli. In sum, the alleged offenders involved in custody disputes appeared less deviant on several measures.     

Changes in temporal gait characteristics and pressure distribution for bare feet versus various heel heights

The purpose of this study was to identify changes in temporal gait characteristics and pressure generation across the sole of the foot due to various heel heights in women's dress pumps. Thirty female subjects, aged 18-30 years, volunteered to participate. Subjects were required to have normal gait and to wear comfortably either size 7 or size 9 shoes. Subjects were tested initially in bare feet using electrodynography (Langer Biomechanics Group, 21 East Industry Court, Deer Park, NY 11729-9986) (EDG) at a cadence of ~100 steps/min set by metronome. EDG trials with 4 pairs of shoes were then performed in random order. Shoes were women's dress pumps identical except for heel height. Heel heights were 1.75, 3.12, 5.72 and 8.74 cm. Data were collected over ~ 30 steps and averaged over this period. Data were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA, and changes were only considered significant if the ANOVA identified significant variations bilaterally. Considering temporal gait variables, we concluded that: (1) stance phase was shortened in shoes vs. bare feet but was unaffected by heel height, (2) the percentage of stance spent in weight bearing on the lateral and medial calcaneus decreased above a 3.12 cm heel height, (3) the percentage of stance spent in weight bearing on the first and second metatarsal heads increased in shoes vs. bare feet but was unaffected by heel height, (4) the percentage of stance spent in weight bearing on the fifth metatarsal was less in the 8.74 cm heel than in any other shoe or in bare feet. With regard to pressure variables, we found that: (1) peak pressure under the fifth metatarsal head was inversely related to heel height, (2) pressure under the third metatarsal head peaked earliest in heels greater than 5.72 cm high, and (3) pressure under the medial calcaneus peaked latest in heels greater than 5.72 cm high.     

Tri-meridional analysis using arbitrary meridians

The evaluation of the sphero-cylindrical components of curvature or refraction from measurements taken along three distinct meridians has been solved for various sets of three fixed meridians. A constraint of those solutions has been that the meridians of measurement are necessarily predetermined, which introduces an unwelcome restriction in experimental or clinical applications of tri-meridional analysis. A new solution is presented (in three formats: analogue computer, graphical and algebraic), which enables any set of three meridians to be used for tri-meridional analysis. A computer program listing (in BASIC) is included.     

Injection of botulinum A toxin into the gastrocnemius muscle of patients with cerebral palsy: a 3-dimensional motion analysis study

Botulinum A toxin (BOTOX^®) was injected into the gastrocnemius muscle of 26 cerebral palsy subjects with equinus gait. All subjects were equinus walkers without fixed contracture of the triceps-surae muscle. Injections were performed at 3 month intervals, if needed, as determined by the treating clinician. There were 14 subjects with spastic hemiplegia, 11 subjects with spastic diplegia and 1 subject with spastic quadriplegia. In the case of those subjects with bilateral equinus gait the dose was divided and given into both the right and left gastrocnemius muscle. Gait analysis data was collected prior to the first injection and subsequently at 3 month intervals for 1 year. Kinematic and electromyographic data was obtained. This data was analyzed to provide objective information about the outcome of treatment. Four subjects moved away and were lost to follow-up. Seven subjects left the study to have surgery. The data collected revealed statistically significant improvements in dynamic ankle dorsiflexion in both stance and swing phases, stride length, and electromyography of the tibialis anterior. There were no complications. While the results of this study are promising, additional prospective studies are needed to determine the feasibility of preventing muscle contractures over a longer time period. Furthermore, there is a need for inclusion of other muscles in future research. Future research should also compare BOTOX^® treatment with alternative methods of dealing with muscle spasticity such as: casting, orthotic devices, physical therapy, selective dorsal rhizotomy, and surgical lengthening.     

Lewis Histo-Blood Group System and Associated Secretory Phenotypes

This review summarises present knowledge of the chemistry, immunology, genetics and clinical significance of antibodies in the Lewis and secretor histoblood group systems. Although red cell serology has laid the foundations for these systems, more recent advances have been made by studying Lewis and related glycoconjugates with monoclonal antibodies, determining structures by mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy, identifying enzymes and their specificities, and identifying the genes by molecular biology. The expression of Lewis system antigens is dependent on Lewis and secretor loci. Fucosyltransferases coded by genes at these loci compete and interact with each other and with other transferases to determine an individual's Lewis and secretor phenotype. Exocrine epithelial cells, mostly of endodermal origin, synthesise the Lewis antigens which, as plasma glycolipids, are secondarily acquired by cells of the peripheral circulation. Phenotyping red cells is often regarded as a simple way of determining the Lewis and sometimes the secretor status of an individual; however, the red cell phenotype is influenced by many factors and may not necessarily reflect someone's Lewis and secretor genotypes. Two main red cell Lewis groups are usually found, Lewis negative and Lewis positive. In Lewis-negative individuals, the secretor genotype does not affect the Lewis phenotype, but in Lewis-positive individuals, the non-secretor genotype generates the Le(a+b–) phenotype, the secretor genotype causes the Le(a–b+) phenotype, and the partial secretor genotype gives rise to the Le(a+b+) phenotype.     

Dipyridamole technetium 99m sestamibi myocardial tomography as an independent predictor of cardiac event-free survival after acute ischemic events

Background  

A total of 137 consecutive patients with recent uncomplicated myocardial infarction (n=31) or unstable angina (n=106) were studied to determine the relative prognostic value of predischarge clinical risk stratification and intravenous dipyridamole stress sestamibi (MIBI) myocardial tomography in patients unable to exercise maximally after an acute ischemic coronary event.     

Transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the neonatal intensive care unit from a patient with community-acquired disease.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has traditionally been a nosocomial pathogen. However, several recent studies have noted community-acquired MRSA among young, healthy patients with no risk factors or healthcare system exposure. We report the transmission of a strain of community-acquired MRSA in our neonatal intensive care unit.