Effects of emotion on perceptual asymmetry: interactions with personality

Perceptual asymmetry on a series of four specially constructed dichotic word tests was found to change as a function of the emotional quality of the words in the tests (P = 0.05). This was most pronounced in the case of positively valued words which produced an increase in asymmetry consistent with facilitated left-hemisphere function (P less than 0.004). Changes in asymmetry with emotion differed as a function of personality characteristics of the subjects, with repressors and high anxious subjects showing an increase with emotion while true low anxious subjects showed a decrease (P less than 0.02). Personality groups also differed in asymmetry on an emotionally neutral test (P less than 0.04) and in changes in asymmetry over time independent of emotion (P less than 0.001). These data suggest that emotion mediated activation of the left hemisphere may facilitate information processing within that hemisphere. Moreover, they indicate that dichotic listening tests may provide a non-invasive and inexpensive method for assessing emotion mediated changes in brain state that are clinically relevant.     

Variations in length of stay and outcomes for six medical and surgical conditions in Massachusetts and California

OBJECTIVES.--To determine the extent to which interinstitutional variations in length of stay are explained by differences in patient characteristics and to determine whether patients in hospitals with shorter lengths of stay had worse outcomes. DESIGN.--We reviewed patients' medical records and surveyed patients between 3 and 12 months after hospital discharge using a questionnaire. SETTING.--Six teaching hospitals in California and Massachusetts. PATIENTS.--A cohort of 2484 selected patients who had been hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction or to rule out acute myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, total hip replacement, cholecystectomy, or transurethral prostatectomy. Between 73% and 84% of the patients with each condition completed a follow-up questionnaire. OUTCOME MEASURES.--In-hospital complications, deaths, length of stay, functional status after hospital discharge, readmission, and patient satisfaction with hospital care were analyzed. RESULTS.--Significant interinstitutional differences in length of stay were noted for all conditions except rule-out acute myocardial infarction. Statistical adjustment for case-mix differences accounted for most of the interinstitutional differences in length of stay for total hip replacement but explained little of the differences in the other conditions. When we controlled statistically for other predictors, length of stay did not have a significant impact on deaths, functional status after hospital discharge, the probability of readmission, or patient satisfaction with hospital care. CONCLUSION.--More research is needed to determine the medical practices that are related to variations in lengths of stay. Routinely available outcome data may help preserve quality in the face of efforts to decrease costs by effecting more standardized practices of care.     

Elimination kinetics of maternally derived thyrotropin receptor-blocking antibodies in a newborn with significant thyrotropin elevation.

OBJECTIVE--To determine the course of maternally derived elevations in thyrotropin-binding inhibitory immunoglobulins in a neonate. DESIGN--Case report. SETTING--University pediatric endocrinology clinic and endocrine immunology laboratory in Ohio. PARTICIPANTS--An infant with elevated thyrotropin levels but near-normal total thyroxine levels, and her mother. INTERVENTIONS--None. MEASUREMENTS/MAIN RESULTS--Thyroid hormone, thyrotropin, and thyrotropin-blocking immunoglobulin concentrations were serially measured in a woman and her infant, who was found to have elevated thyrotropin levels (234 mU/L) and borderline low thyroxine levels (95 nmol/L). As infant thyroxine concentrations remained normal (125 to 145 nmol/L), no thyroxine supplementation was given. Thyrotropin levels decreased concomitantly with thyrotropin-blocking inhibitory immunoglobulin levels, and normalized by day 56 of life. The apparent elimination half-life of thyrotropin-blocking immunoglobulins was 7.5 days. CONCLUSIONS--The observed parallel elimination kinetics suggest that the thyrotropin receptor antibody acts as a thyrotropin antagonist, resulting in compensatory thyrotropin elevations. The duration of such elevations may be predicted on the basis of such elimination.     

Mechanism of uptake and retention of F-18 BMS-747 158-02 in cardiomyocytes: a novel PET myocardial imaging agent

Background BMS-747158-02 is a novel fluorine 18-labeled pyridazinone derivative designed for cardiac imaging. The uptake and retention mechanisms of F-18 BMS-747158-02 in cardiac myocytes were studied in vitro, and the biodistribution of F-18 BMS-747158-02 was studied in vivo in mice. Methods and Results Fluorine 19 BMS-747158-01 inhibited mitochondrial complex I (MC-I) in bovine heart submitochondrial particles with an IC₅₀ of 16.6±3 nmol/L that was comparable to the reference inhibitors of MC-1, rotenone, pyridaben, and deguelin (IC₅₀ of 18.2±6.7 nmol/L, 19.8±2.6 nmol/L, and 23.1±1.5 nmol/L, respectively). F-18 BMS-747158-02 had high uptake in monolayers of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (10.3%±0.7% of incubated drug at 60 minutes) that was inhibited by 200 nmol/L of rotenone (91%±2%) and deguelin (89%±3%). In contrast, an inactive pyridaben analog, P-0 (IC₅₀ value>4 μmol/L in MC-1 assay), did not inhibit the binding of F-18 BMS-747158-02 in cardiomyocytes. Uptake and washout kinetics for F-18 BMS-747158-02 in rat cardiomyocytes indicated that the time to half-maximal (t_1/2) uptake was very rapid (approximately 35 seconds), and washout t_1/2 for efflux of F-18 BMS-747158-02 was greater than 120 minutes. In vivo biodistribution studies in mice showed that F-18 BMS-747158-02 had substatial myocardial uptake (9.5%±0.5% of injected dose per gram) at 60 minutes and heart-to-lung and heart-to-liver ratios of 14.1±2.5 and 8.3±0.5, respectively. Positron emission tomography imaging in the mouse allowed clear cardiac visualization and demonstrated sustained myocardial uptake through 55 minutes. Conclusions F-18 BMS-747158-02 is a novel positron emission tomography cardiac tracer targeting MC-I in cardiomyocytes with rapid uptake and slow washout. These characteristics allow fast and sustained accumulation in the heart.     

Echocardiographic-like angled views of the heart by MR imaging

Cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has developed rapidly to rival echocardiography as a noninvasive imaging modality. Anatomic detail may exceed that currently available using echocardiography techniques, and the ability to image moving protons may compete with Doppler color flow mapping in detecting valvular diseases and shunts. Because of the considerable clinical experience with echocardiography, as angled MR imaging planes become available as standard software packages, it may be useful for MR cardiac imaging to use standard, accepted echocardiographic nomenclature and imaging planes. This article describes the principles used to obtain long and short axis MR images that are comparable with echocardiographic imaging planes. Diagrams and illustrations are provided to orient the viewer using nomenclature common to echocardiography. These views may eventually be useful for functional analysis of the left ventricle and for detection and evaluation of valvular heart disease and intracardiac shunts.     

Cryopreserved cadaveric allografts for treatment of unexcised partial thickness flame burns: clinical experience with 12 patients

Partial thickness burns (PTB) usually heal within 3 weeks. Prevention of infection and desiccation of the wounds are crucial for optimal healing. Early tangential excision of the burn eschar and allografting prevent deepening of the burns, and are therefore advocated for treatment with the best functional and aesthetic results. For superficial partial thickness burns (SPTB) conservative use of topical antimicrobial agents with frequent dressing changes are implemented. We compared the conservarive treatment for PTBs and SPTBs to grafting cryopreserved cadaveric allografts with no prior excision.

Twelve patients with flame PTB areas were allografted after mechanical debridement without excision of the burn wounds. The allografts were cadaveric skin cryopreserved by programmed freezing and stored at −180°C for 30–48 months. Matching burns for depth and area were treated with silver sulfadiazine (SSD) one to two times daily until healing or debridement and grafting were required.

It was found that 80 per cent of the cryopreserved allografts adhered well and 76 per cent of the treated areas healed within 21 days, whereas only 40 per cent of the SSD-treated burns healed within 21 days.

Partial thickness burns can be treated successfully with viable human allografts (cryopreserved cadaveric skin) with no prior surgical excision. The burn wounds heal well within 3 weeks. For deep partial thickness burns (DPTB) treatment with allografts has no advantage if they have not been previously excised.