Psychopathy and Physiological Activity In a Mixed-Motive Game Situation

Heart rate (HR) and skin conductance (SC) were recorded while 17 psychopathic (P) and 17 nonpsychopathic (NP) inmates (referred to as A) were engaged in a mixed-motive game situation with another S (referred to as B). On each trial A had to choose the intensity of shock to be delivered to himself and to B. B then was given a chance to retaliate, although his choices were actually overridden by the experimenter. A 10 sec tone (CS) preceded delivery of shock to each S. There were no differences between Groups P and NP in the intensity of shock chosen for themselves and for the other (B) Ss. Compared with Group NP, Group P gave small unconditioned skin conductance (SC) responses to shock directly received and to shocks delivered to the other S. There were no differences between groups in the unconditioned HR response to either direct shock (acceleration) or to shocks delivered to the other S (slight deceleration). Group P gave small electrodermal orienting responses (ORs) and anticipatory responses (ARs) to the CS preceding shock to self and shock to other; Group NP gave relatively large ORs and ARs to the CS preceding shock to self, and small ones prior to shock to other. Both Groups gave a biphasic conditioned HR response–acceleration followed by deceleration; each component was larger in Group P than in Group NP, and the acceleratory component in Group P appeared on the first trial. The electrodermal data were consistent with the view that psychopaths experience little fear arousal prior to reception of aversive stimuli by themselves or by others. It was suggested that the anticipatory HR responses of the psychopathic Ss were part of an adaptive response that helped them to cope with stress.     

Murine interleukin 5 receptor isolated by immunoaffinity chromatography: comparison of determined N-terminal sequence and deduced primary sequence from cDNA and implication of a role of the intracytoplasmic domain

The murine interleukin 5 receptor (IL-5R) was identified by utilizing an immobilized IL-5 and an immobilized monoclonal antibody against the murein IL-5R (designated H7 mAb). The H7 mAb immunoaffinity-purified materials from the extract of cell-surface radioiodinated T88-M cells (an IL-5-dependent early B cell line) using 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS) were reacted with an immobilized IL-5 matrix. SDS-PAGE of the adsorbed fraction revealed a single band at approximately 60 kDa. The binding of the 60 kDa protein to the immobilized IL-5 matrix was inhibited by the excess IL-5. The CHAPS-extract depleted of the 60 kDa protein by the absorption with H7 mAb did not contain any IL-5 binding proteins. Immunoaffinity procedure provided a final 7400-fold purification, based on an estimation of the content of the 60 kDa protein (approximate purity: 20%) from the silver-stained pattern of SDS-PAGE. Actin was copurified with the 60 kDa protein at an approximate ratio of 1:1, suggesting that the intracytoplasmic domain of the IL-5R may interact with actin. Furthermore, soluble IL-5R (molecular mass: 50 kDa) was purified by the H7 mAb-immunoaffinity chromatography. The purified soluble IL-5R was capable of inhibiting the binding of IL-5 to T88-M cells. Preparative SDS-PAGE followed by electroblotting onto a membrane permitted the determination of the N-terminal sequence of the IL-5R. The determined N-terminal sequence of the IL-5R and the deduced primary sequence from recently isolated cDNA were compared.     

Effect of recent alcohol intake on acceptor properties of high-density lipoproteins and their interaction with liver cells

Institute of Therapy, Siberian Branch, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Novosibirsk. All-Union Preventive Medicine Research Center, Ministry of Health of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR Yu. P. Nikitin.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 110, No. 12, pp. 611–613, December, 1990.     

Lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells in the adenoid of children with otitis media with effusion: a comparative study

We characterized on immuno- and enzymecytochemical level the lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells in the adenoid of children with upper respiratory tract infections (URI) and otitis media with effusion (OME) and compared these with the adenoid of children with URI without OME and with the adenoid of 'healthy' children and adults. Besides macrophages and dendritic cells we also showed the presence of MHC class II positive, ciliated, epithelial cells. These non-lymphoid cells were present in all adenoids. However, their number was less than 1% of all cells. We found no difference in lymphocyte subsets from children with URI + OME compared with those from children with URI alone. These two groups showed a significant decrease of CD8-positive (suppressor/cytotoxic) cells and a slight increase in CD22-positive B cells in comparison to 'healthy' children. No difference was found in percentages of CD4-positive (helper/inducer) cells. The localization of the lymphoid subsets in adenoids of children with URI and/or OME did not differ from those of 'healthy' children and adults.     

Induction of erythroid differentiation in K562 cells and natural killer cell-mediated lysis: distinct effects at the level of recognition and lysis in relation to target cell proliferation

The erythroleukemic K562 cell line was induced to erythroid differentiation by a variety of agents, including hemin, bleomycin, and cytosine arabinoside. The sensitivity of induced cells to binding and lysis by non-sensitized peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) in agarose was studied in relation to the target cell division rate. Differentiated K562 cells formed a lower proportion of conjugates with MNC, when compared with non-induced controls. The reduction correlated significantly with the level of differentiation, irrespective of the inducer and the proliferative status. The differentiation-induced alterations of lysis, however, were strongly influenced by the modification of target cell growth rate which was caused by the differentiating agent. These data suggest that target cell differentiation has distinct effects upon the steps of recognition and lysis by natural killer cells.     

Visuomotor control within a distributed parieto-frontal network

The aim of this functional magnetic resonance imaging study was to investigate differences in visuomotor control with increasing task complexity. Twelve right-handed volunteers were asked to perform their signature under different degrees of visual control: internally generated movement with closed eyes, signing with open eyes, tracking the line of the projected signature forwards, and tracking the line of the projected signature backwards. There was a gradual onset and disappearance of activation within a distributed network. Parietal, lateral and medial frontal brain areas were activated during all conditions, confirming the involvement of a parieto-frontal system. The weight of activation shifted with increasing task complexity. Internally generated movements activated predominantly the inferior parietal lobule and the ventral premotor cortex, as well as the rostral cingulate area, pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA) and SMA proper. Opening the eyes reduced SMA and cingulate activation and activated increasingly the occipito-parietal areas with higher task complexity. Visually guided movements produced an activation predominantly in the superior parietal lobule and dorsal premotor cortex. This study bridges human activation studies with the results of neurophysiological studies with monkeys. It confirms a gradual transition of visuomotor control with increasing task complexity within a distributed parieto-frontal network.     

Osteopathia striata with cranial sclerosis: Highly variable expression within a family including cleft palate in two neonatal cases

Cranial sclerosis with osteopathia striata was diagnosed in four members of a family in three generations. The expression of the gene varied from mild cranial enlargement to cranial abnormality associated with severe Pierre-Robin triad. The disorder was diagnosed prenatally in the most severely affected member of the family from the finding of an increased biparietal diameter of the fetal head on ultrasound examination.     

Duchenne muscular dystrophy and idiopathic hyperCKemia segregating in a family

A 7-month-old boy with gross motor delay and failure to thrive presented with rhabdomyolysis following an acute asthmatic episode. During hospitalization an electrocardiographic conversion to a Wolff-Parkinson-White type 1 (WPW) pattern took place. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) was suspected based on elevated creatine kinase (CK) serum levels, muscle biopsy, and family history. The diagnosis was confirmed by molecular analysis, which documented a deletion corresponding to cDNA probe 1-2a in the dystrophin gene, in the propositus and in an affected male cousin of his mother. “Idiopathic” hyperCKemia was found in the propositus, his father, and 5 of his relatives. We suggest that the unusually early and severe manifestations of DMD in this patient may be related to the coincidental inheritance of the maternal DMD gene and of a paternal gene, causing hyperCKemia. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.