Development of anticipatory postural adjustments during locomotion in children.

1. Anticipatory postural adjustments were studied in children (6-14 yr of age) walking on a treadmill while pulling a handle. Electromyographs (EMGs) and movements were recorded from the left arm and leg. 2. Postural activity in the leg muscles preceded voluntary arm muscle activity in all age groups, including the youngest children (6 yr of age). The latency to both leg and arm muscle activity, from a triggering audio signal, decreased with age. 3. In older children the latency to both voluntary and postural activity was influenced by the phase of the step cycle. The shortest latency to the first activated postural muscle occurred during single support phase in combination with a long latency to arm muscle activity. 4. In the youngest children, there was no phase-dependent modulation of the latency to the activation of the postural muscles. The voluntary activity was delayed during the beginning of the support phase resulting in a long delay between leg and arm muscle activity. 5. The postural muscle activation pattern was modified in a phase-dependent manner in all children. Lateral gastrocnemius (LG) and hamstring muscles (HAM) were activated during the early support phase, whereas tibialis anterior (TA) and quadriceps (Q) muscles were activated during the late support phase and during the swing phase. However, in the 6-yr-old children, LG was also activated in the swing phase. LG was activated before the HAM activity in the youngest children but after HAM in 14-yr-old children and adults. 6. The occurrence of LG activity in postural responses before heel strike suggests an immature (nonplantigrade) gating of postural activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Cytomembranous inclusions in the brain of a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Summary Ultrastructural studies of cells and tissues in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have revealed two distinct cytomembranous inclusions referred to as tubuloreticular inclusions (TRI) and confronting cylindrical cisterns (CCC). TRI are found most often in leukocytes and endothelial cells in conditions with elevated levels of alpha-interferon, such as viral infections, autoimmune diseases and certain neoplasms. On the other hand, CCC are detected almost exclusively in mononuclear inflammatory cells and are limited to a few conditions, of which AIDS is the most common. CCC have been proposed as an ultrastructural marker for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We describe CCC in mononuclear inflammatory cells in the brain of a patient with AIDS. Finding CCC in brain tissue with no other specific feature such as multinucleated giant cells, nevertheless, should alert the neuropathologist to the possibility that the patient might have AIDS.     

Effect of osteopontin alleles on beta-glucan-induced granuloma formation in the mouse liver

The granuloma formation is a host defense response against persistent irritants. Osteopontin is centrally involved in the formation of granulomas. Three osteopontin alleles, designated a, b, and c, have been found in mice. Here we used a murine model of zymosan (beta-glucan)-induced granuloma formation in the liver to determine possible functional differences between the osteopontin alleles in cell-mediated immunity. In contrast to mice with alleles a or c, mice with the allele b was defective in granuloma formation. As detected by mRNA expression, cytokines and chemokines known to be critically involved in granuloma formation were elicited in liver tissue, regardless of the osteopontin allele expressed. Alignment of the deduced amino acid sequences showed that unlike osteopontin c, b differs from a in 11 amino acids. All three osteopontin alleles had normal cell-binding properties. However, only the b allelic form was defective in the induction of cell migration as tested with dendritic cells. In conclusion, generation of a granulomatous response in mice depends critically on the presence of a functional osteopontin allele. Defective granuloma formation in mice with allele b is likely to be because of an impaired chemotactic function of the osteopontin b protein on immunocompetent cells.     

Personality disorders and depression: comorbidity

Depression and comorbid personality disorders relate to one another in three distinct ways: 1) personality disorders may precede the development of depression and render an individual vulnerable to depression; 2) depression may precede the personality disorder and foster the development of the personality disorder; 3) there may be an interface between personality disorders and depression, which has been deemed depressive personality disorder. This article reviews data on the comorbidity of depression, particularly chronic depression, and personality disorders. This article also reviews data on the effect of comorbid personality disorders on treatment for depression, and the effect that treatment for depression has on personality disorders. Comorbid personality disorders generally do not impede treatment for depression. Successful treatment for depression is associated with improvement in personality disorders.     

Iodoaminopotentidine and related compounds: a new class of ligands with high affinity and selectivity for the histamine H2 receptor.

The synthesis and biological evaluation of a new class of histamine H2 antagonists with N-cyano-N'-[omega-[3-(1-piperidinylmethyl)phenoxy] alkyl]guanidine partial structure are described as part of an extensive research program to find model compounds for the development of new radioligands with high H2 affinity and specific activity. High receptor affinity is achieved by an additional (substituted) aromatic ring, which is connected with the third guanidine N by a carbon chain spacer and an amine, carboxamide, ester, or sulfonamide link ("polar group"). In functional studies for H2 antagonistic activity and other pharmacological actions [e.g. H1 antihistaminic, antimuscarinic, antiadrenergic (alpha 1, beta 1), 5-HT2 blocking activity] in the isolated guinea pig atrium and ileum and rat aorta and tail artery, the compounds proved to be highly potent and selective histamine H2 receptor antagonists. The H2 antagonistic activity is mainly depending on the length of both the N'-alkyl chain (chain A) and the N"-spacer (chain B). Compounds with a C3 chain A and a C2 chain B are most potent in the preferred group of substances, i.e., the carboxamide series. A wide variety of substituents at the aromatic ring is tolerated, among them iodine, amino, and azido groups. These compounds are up to 32 times more potent than cimetidine in the isolated guinea pig right atrium. The replacement of the carboxamide by an ester group (44c) is well tolerated, while replacement of the cyanoguanidine by an urea group results in nearly 100-fold decrease in activity (46c,e). The iodinated benzamides are among the most potent H2 antagonists known so far. The [125I]-labeled form of 31f ([125I]iodoaminopotentidine, [125I]-N-[2-(4-amino-3-iodobenzamido) ethyl]-N'-cyano-N"-[3-[3-(1-piperidinylmethyl) phenoxy]propyl]guanidine) and its photolabile analogue 31h ([125I]iodoazidopotentidine, [125I]-N-[2-(4-azido-3- iodobenzamido)ethyl]-N'-cyano-N"-[3-[3-(1-piperidinyl-methyl)pheno xy] propyl]guanidine) proved to be useful probes for reversible and irreversible labeling of the histamine H2 receptor. Radioligand binding studies in guinea pig cerebral membranes revealed considerably higher H2 receptor affinity for 31f (pKi = 9.15), 31h (pKi = 8.58), and some analogues than functional experiments (guinea pig atrium), presumably reflecting an easier access to the H2 receptors in membranes.     

Esthetic repair of porcelain in a complete-mouth reconstruction: a case report.

This paper presents a relatively simple method of repairing a large porcelain fracture in a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown that is part of a multi-unit fixed partial denture. The technique involves fitting a "modified" porcelain-fused-to-metal crown over the original damaged crown following some preparation of the original crown. This technique is of special value when a permanently cemented multi-unit restoration is involved, eliminating the need to replace the entire restoration and providing a durable esthetic result.     

Development and validation of a screening instrument for bipolar spectrum disorder: the Mood Disorder Questionnaire

OBJECTIVE: Bipolar spectrum disorders, which include bipolar I, bipolar II, and bipolar disorder not otherwise specified, frequently go unrecognized, undiagnosed, and untreated. This report describes the validation of a new brief self-report screening instrument for bipolar spectrum disorders called the Mood Disorder Questionnaire. METHOD: A total of 198 patients attending five outpatient clinics that primarily treat patients with mood disorders completed the Mood Disorder Questionnaire. A research professional, blind to the Mood Disorder Questionnaire results, conducted a telephone research diagnostic interview by means of the bipolar module of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. RESULTS: A Mood Disorder Questionnaire screening score of 7 or more items yielded good sensitivity (0.73) and very good specificity (0.90). CONCLUSIONS: The Mood Disorder Questionnaire is a useful screening instrument for bipolar spectrum disorder in a psychiatric outpatient population.     

Assessment of the involvement of the macrophage migration inhibitory factor–glucocorticoid regulatory dyad in the expression of matrix metalloproteinase‐2 during periodontitis

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a proinflammatory cytokine and counter‐regulator of endogenous glucocorticoids (GCs). It is implicated in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. This study investigated the role of the MIF–GC regulatory dyad in the expression and release of matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2) during periodontitis, in vivo and in vitro. In a Mif‐knockout (KO) mouse model of ligature‐induced periodontitis, gingival tissues and blood were collected and analysed for levels of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), MIF, MMP‐2, and corticosterone. In addition, human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) were tested for production of IL‐6 and MMP‐2 after stimulation with hydrocortisone (HC), MIF, tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), or Fusobacterium nucleatum, a pathogen known to elicit immune responses during periodontitis. Wild‐type (WT) mice showed a local and systemic increase of MIF levels during inflammation, which was confirmed by increased local IL‐6 concentrations. Systemic GC levels were reduced in WT and Mif‐KO mice during inflammation, with overall lower concentrations in Mif‐KO mice. In vivo and in vitro, MMP‐2 production was not dependent on MIF or inflammatory stimuli, but was inhibited by HC. Therefore, MIF does not appear to stimulate expression of MMP‐2 in the gingival tissues, whereas GC upregulates MIF and downregulates MMP‐2. Our findings further suggest that MIF may regulate systemic GC levels.