Are the same phoneme and lexical layers used in speech production and comprehension? A case-series test of model of aphasic speech production

In this paper, we investigate the claim that although the same lexical units are involved in speech production and comprehension, there are separate input and output phoneme layers (Foygel and Dell, 2000). Data from a case series of aphasic patients are used to test this claim by examining the relationship between performance on a test of picture naming and performance on tests of phonological input. Estimates of each patient's semantic-lexical and phonological impairments in speech production were derived from Foygel and Dell's computational model of picture naming. It was found that the strength of the semantic-lexical impairments in speech production was significantly correlated with performance on auditory comprehension tests. This finding is consistent with the claim that the same lexical units are involved in speech comprehension and production. Conversely, the correlations between the strength of the phonological lesions in speech production and performance on tests of phonological input were non-significant, consistent with Foygel and Dell's claim that there are distinct input and output phoneme layers.     

Modulation of synaptosomal protein phosphorylation/dephosphorylation by calcium is antagonised by inhibition of protein phosphatases with okadaic acid.

The protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid was used to investigate the protein phosphatases involved in the endogenous dephosphorylation of proteins in intact synaptosomes. Despite the fact that the calcium-dependent protein phosphatase (calcineurin) is most concentrated in synaptosomes and accounts for approximately 0.3% of synaptoplasmic protein, the majority of the dephosphorylation activity under both basal and depolarisation conditions is due to protein phosphatase type 1 (PP1) and/or protein phosphatase type 2A (PP2A). Nevertheless our results do suggest that calcineurin is active in synaptosomes and has 2 effects: a rapid, direct dephosphorylation of a limited range of substrates and an indirect activation of PP1 presumably by dephosphorylation of protein phosphatase 1 inhibitor-1.     

An open policy for the elderly

European countries are re-examining established attitudes to the care of the elderly. Some countries are moving away from institutional care and letting the community look after old people. In the Netherlands and Norway this approach is proving successful. Author reports on the balance between closed and open care in Europe.     

Association of SULT1A1 phenotype and genotype with prostate cancer risk in African-Americans and Caucasians.

Exposure to heterocyclic amines may increase prostate cancer risk. Human sulfotransferase 1A1 (SULT1A1) is involved in the bioactivation of some dietary procarcinogens, including the N-hydroxy metabolite of the food-borne heterocyclic amine, 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo(4,5-b) pyridine. This study compares a polymorphism in the SULT1A1 gene, SULT1A1 enzyme activity, meat consumption, and the risk of prostate cancer in a population based case-control study. Prostate cancer patients (n = 464) and control individuals (n = 459), frequency matched on age and ethnicity, provided informed consent, answered a survey, and provided a blood sample. Platelets were isolated for phenotype analysis, and DNA was isolated from lymphocytes for genotype determination. Meat consumption was assessed using a dietary questionnaire. Caucasians homozygous for the SULT1A1*1 high activity allele were at increased risk for prostate cancer [odds ratio (OR), 1.68; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05-2.68] compared with individuals homozygous for the low-activity allele. The association between SULT1A1 genotype and prostate cancer risk in African-Americans did not reach significance (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 0.46-5.62). When SULT1A1 activity was considered, there was a strong association between increased SULT1A1 activity and prostate cancer risk in Caucasians (OR, 3.04; 95% CI, 1.8-5.1 and OR, 4.96; 95% CI, 3.0-8.3, for the second and third tertiles of SULT1A1 activity, respectively) compared with individuals in the low enzyme activity tertile. A similar association was also found in African-American patients, with ORs of 6.7 and 9.6 for the second and third tertiles of SULT1A1 activity (95% CI, 2.1-21.3 and 2.9-31.3, respectively). When consumption of well-done meat was considered, there was increased risk of prostate cancer (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.01-1.99 and OR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.20-2.36 for the second and third tertiles, respectively). When SULT1A1 activity was stratified by tertiles of meat consumption, there was greater risk of prostate cancer in the highest tertile of meat consumption. These results indicate that variations in SULT1A1 activity contributes to prostate cancer risk and the magnitude of the association may differ by ethnicity and be modified by meat consumption.     

The relationship between dietary fat intake and risk of colorectal cancer: evidence from the combined analysis of 13 case-control studies

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of the intakeof dietary fat upon colorectal cancer risk in a combined analysis of datafrom 13 case-control studies previously conducted in populations withdiffering colorectal cancer rates and dietary practices. Original datarecords for 5,287 cases of colorectal cancer and 10,470 controls werecombined. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios (OR)for intakes of total energy, total fat and its components, and cholesterol.Positive associations with energy intake were observed for 11 of the 13studies. However, there was little, if any, evidence of anyenergy-independent effect of either total fat with ORs of 1.00, 0.95, 1.01,1.02, and 0.92 for quintiles of residuals of total fat intake (P trend =0.67) or for saturated fat with ORs of 1.00, 1.08, 1.06, 1.21, and 1.06 (Ptrend = 0.39). The analysis suggests that, among these case-control studies,there is no energy-independent association between dietary fat intake andrisk of colorectal cancer. It also suggests that simple substitution of fatby other sources of calories is unlikely to reduce meaningfully the risk ofcolorectal cancer.     

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome after Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 Infection in 2 Immunized Adolescents,United States

Eight weeks after having laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections, 2 otherwise healthy, fully immunized adolescent patients in the United States who were experiencing related signs and symptoms were diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Our findings indicate that COVID-19 vaccination does not completely protect adolescents against multisystem inflammatory syndrome.     

Treatment of lexical processing in mixed dyslexia: A case study

In the field of dyslexia, cognitive neuropsychological models provide a useful framework for detailed analyses of an individual's reading performance. However, the application of this work to remediation, especially in children, remains relatively unexplored. This study evaluates a lexical treatment programme that has been used successfully in cases of adult acquired surface dyslexia (e.g., Coltheart & Byng, 1989; Weekes & Coltheart, 1986) in the context of severe mixed developmental dyslexia. The results indicate a significant treatment effect that is stable over time and that generalises to untreated words, to spelling, and to some aspects of sublexical processing. Questions related to the use of adult models and methods for developmental conditions and the usefulness of such models in cases of severe mixed dyslexia are discussed. Issues related to treatment generalisation are also explored, with consideration of generalisation of lexical training to sublexical processes, improvement in reading of untreated words, and the effect of reading interventions on spelling performance.     

Diagnosis and Treatment of Mitochondrial Myopathies

Mitochondrial myopathies are progressive muscle conditions caused primarily by the impairment of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) in the mitochondria. This causes a deficit in energy production in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), particularly in skeletal muscle. The diagnosis of mitochondrial myopathy is reliant on the combination of numerous techniques including traditional histochemical, immunohistochemical, and biochemical testing combined with the fast-emerging molecular genetic techniques, namely next-generation sequencing (NGS). This has allowed for the diagnosis to become more effective in terms of determining causative or novel genes. However, there are currently no effective or disease-modifying treatments available for the vast majority of patients with mitochondrial myopathies. Existing therapeutic options focus on the symptomatic management of disease manifestations. An increasing number of clinical trials have investigated the therapeutic effects of various vitamins, cofactors, and small molecules, though these trials have failed to show definitive outcome measures for clinical practice thus far. In addition, new molecular strategies, specifically mtZFNs and mtTALENs, that cause beneficial heteroplasmic shifts in cell lines harboring varying pathogenic mtDNA mutations offer hope for the future. Moreover, recent developments in the reproductive options for patients with mitochondrial myopathies mean that for some families, the possibility of preventing transmission of the mutation to the next generation is now possible.     

Spoken word to picture matching from PALPA: A critique and some new matched sets

Background: PALPA (Psycholinguistic Assessments of Language Processing in Aphasia; Kay, Lesser, & Coltheart, 1992) is a widely used clinical and research tool. Subtest 47, Spoken word–picture matching, requires the individual with aphasia to listen to a spoken word and correctly choose from five distractor pictures (target, close semantic, distant semantic, visually related, and semantically unrelated). It contributes diagnostically to the clinical evaluation of semantic processing. The authors claim that, first, errors on this test indicate that a semantic comprehension problem is present, and second, that distractor choice reflects the semantic specificity of the problem. For accurate clinical assessment the validity of these claims must be evaluated. Aims: This paper aims to evaluate the internal validity of PALPA spoken word–picture matching. It addresses two questions; first, is the relationship between the target and distractors what the authors claim it to be? Second, what is the relationship between the target and distractor stimuli in relation to a number of psycholinguistic variables? In addition it allows the clinician to examine the effects of individual variables on performance by including matched subsets of stimuli from this test (matched across five psycholinguistic variables: frequency, imageability, number of phonemes, semantic and visual similarity, word association). Methods and Procedures: Target and distractor relationships were investigated (in terms of semantic and visual similarity and word category) and psycholinguistic variables (including word frequency, word association, imageability, number of phonemes, semantic and visual similarity). Outcomes and Results: Analysis revealed a number of confounds within this test: close semantic distractors were not only more semantically similar but also more visually similar to their targets than distant semantic distractors; the semantic and visual (SV) close semantic distractors were more semantically similar to their targets than the non‐SV close semantic distractors; targets and distractors did not bear a consistent categorical relationship to their targets, and there were significant intercorrelations between variables for these stimuli (e.g., frequency and length; semantic/visual similarity and length). Conclusions: The authors' claim that this test assesses semantic comprehension is certainly still tenable. Individuals making errors on this test have a high probability of some semantic processing deficit. However, this study shows that the test fails to assess the nature of the semantic processing deficit, as error patterns are subject to the effect of confounding factors. In its current form clinicians should exercise caution when interpreting test findings and be aware of its limitations. The development, here, of matched subsets of stimuli allows performance to be re‐evaluated in terms of the influence of semantic and visual similarity, imageability, frequency, word length, and word association.