Echocardiographic evidence for impaired myocardial performance in children with type I diabetes mellitus

Thirty-three children with type I diabetes mellitus and 51 normal children underwent M-mode echocardiography. Abnormalities of myocardial performance were present in many of the diabetic children. The mean end-systolic volume of the left ventricle was greater in diabetics compared to control subjects. Mean ejection fraction, minor axis shortening, and velocity of circumferential fiber shortening were decreased in the diabetics. There was no evidence of increased myocardial mass in these diabetic children. There was no correlation between myocardial dysfunction, clinical assessment of control, or glycohemoglobin in the diabetic children.     

The addict's perceptions of their own drug-taking: Implications for the treatment of drug dependence

The attitudes, beliefs and expectations of the addict have received suprisingly little research attention. The present study looks at the relationship between the addict's perception of their own drug taking and their behaviour in treatment. The subjects who took part in the study were receiving treatment at a London drug dependence unit: 60 were inpatients, 40 were outpatients. All completed an attitude questionnaire and a personality inventory, (the EPQ). Several attitudinal differences were found between inpatient and outpatient groups, the outpatients being more generally resistant to the prospect of giving up drugs. Among the inpatients, those subjects who saw their addiction as a sort of sickness were least likely to remain in treatment. The attitude items related more clearly to the addict's behaviour in treatment than did the personality measures. The implications of these findings for the treatment of drug addicts are discussed.     

Dermatologic signs in toxic shock syndrome--clues to diagnosis

A diffuse scarlatiniform erythroderma, bulbar conjunctival hyperemia, and striking palmar edema were impressive findings in two patients who developed toxic shock syndrome (TSS). In addition to the rash which is always seen, the latter two features have been observed in high frequency in this condition and when present are useful aids in the diagnosis of this disease.     

Potential biobehavioral mechanisms of recurrent abdominal pain in children

To explain why otherwise healthy children experience recurrent episodes of abdominal pain (the recurrent abdominal pain syndrome, or RAP), it has been hypothesized that the child with RAP demonstrates: (1) a deficit in autonomic nervous system recovery to stress, and/or (2) an enhanced behavioral and subjective response to pain. To evaluate the validity of these assumptions, children with RAP (9–14 years) and hospital and healthy controls matched for age, sex, ethnicity and SES were exposed to a cold pressor stimulus (0 ± 1°C). Autonomic (peripheral vasomotor and heart rate), somatic (forearm EMG), subjective (pain intensity and distress), and behavioral (facial expression) responses were recorded during baseline, stressor and recovery periods. At all 4 levels of observation, the cold pressor stimulus resulted in significant autonomic, somatic, subjective and behavioral arousal. However, no significant differential response across the 3 groups was noted for any measure and, in particular, no recovery deficit in autonomic arousal was demonstrated. These findings do not support the assumption of a differential response to an acute laboratory induced stress in children with RAP compared to control children.     

Quantitative effects of nasal surgery on olfaction

A prospective study of 100 patients undergoing nasal surgery was done to quantitate the effects of nasal surgery on olfaction. Patients were evaluated pre- and postoperatively with regard to their subjective olfaction, and pre- and postoperative olfactograms were obtained using a simple office olfactometer. Thirty-two patients had normal olfaction during the course of study. Forty-nine improved following surgery. Eight patients had a decrease in olfaction after surgery. Two of these were related to allergic rhinitis. One patient had a total loss of olfaction following a septorhinoplasty. The authors conclude that most patients undergoing nasal surgery will have either an improvement or no change in olfaction after surgery.     

Symptom differences in reactive psychoses and schizophrenia with poor prognosis.

Genetic and clinical studies dealing with reactive psychoses are reviewed briefly. Diagnostic criteria are defined, and patients diagnosed as reactive psychoses and schizophrenia with poor prognosis are compared for differences in cross-sectional symptomatology. Symptoms were systematically recorded in the Present State Examination. Emotional blunting, auditory hallucinations in clear consciousness, tactile hallucinations, thought broadcasting, voices commenting, and “any first-rank symptom of schizophrenia” were noted to occur more often in schizophrenia with poor prognosis. Dysphoric mood, sleep disturbance, and irritability occurred more often in reactive psychoses. These findings are considered to offer additional support for the clinical differentiation of reactive psychoses from schizophrenia.     

The TNF-derived TIP peptide activates the epithelial sodium channel and ameliorates experimental nephrotoxic serum nephritis

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