The discrepancy between verbal and visuoperceptual IQ in children with a specific learning disorder: An analysis of 1624 cases

Children with a specific learning disorder (SLD) are often characterized by marked intellectual strengths and weaknesses. In the last few years, research has focused on a common discrepancy between low working memory and processing speed on the one hand, and high verbal and visuoperceptual intelligence on the other. SLD profiles featuring a specific discrepancy between verbal and visuoperceptual abilities have been only marginally considered, however, and their systematic comparison vis-à-vis typically-developing (TD) populations has yet to be conducted. The present study examined a dataset of 1624 WISC-IV profiles of children with a diagnosis of SLD. It emerged that the proportion of children with a Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI) at least 1.5 SD (22 standardized points) lower than their scores on the Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI) was larger than the proportion of SLD children with the opposite discrepant profile; it was also larger than the same proportion found among TD children. Comparing the two discrepant profiles revealed that the children also differed by type of learning difficulty, gender, and performance in the WISC-IV Symbol search task. Further examination suggested that children who were discrepant and also distinctly poor in visuoperceptual intelligence were particularly slow in general processing.     

An experimentally supported, mathematical explanation of the gas chromatographic elution behaviour of the long-chain carbon members of the homologous series

By substituting the saturated vapour phase tension of the pure normal hydrocarbons described by the Clausius-Clapeyron law into the accepted expression of the specific retention volume (V_g,T), a theoretically coherent and relatively simple mathematical evidence of the elution behaviour of the homologous members has been deduced. It gives exponential retention time dependence on carbon number for isothermal, and nearly equidistant (i.e., approximately linear retention-time dependence on carbon number) elution for linear temperature programmed gas chromatographic runs. The final equations are in close correlation with the experimental results. Special emphasis is placed on the fact that a good approximation—not strict physical laws—have been found.     

Serial order short-term memory capacities and specific language impairment: No evidence for a causal association

This study re-explored the nature of verbal short-term memory (STM) deficits in children with specific language impairment (SLI), by distinguishing item and serial order STM processes. Recent studies have shown serial order STM capacity to be a critical determinant of language development, relative to item STM. In Experiment 1, 12 children with SLI, 12 age-matched children and 12 language-matched children were administered serial order recognition and reconstruction tasks. Experiment 2 assessed implicit serial learning abilities via a Hebb learning task. The SLI group showed impaired performance for the serial order reconstruction and recognition tasks, relative to language-matched and/or age-matched control groups. However, normal serial position effects were observed in all SLI children in the serial order reconstruction task, suggesting normal coding of serial position information. Similarly, performance on the Hebb serial learning task was at chronological age appropriate levels. Experiment 3 showed that the group differences observed for the serial order STM tasks in Experiment 1 disappeared when the SLI group was compared to a mental age-matched control group. Experiment 4 showed similar performance levels in the SLI group and the mental age-matched control group for a nonword recognition task assessing item STM capacities. This study shows that children with SLI have no specific impairments for serial order and item STM components but that poorer general cognitive efficiency is related to functional limitations in verbal STM tasks. The data are in line with limited information processing accounts of SLI.     

Investigation of melt agglomeration process with a hydrophobic binder in combination with sucrose stearate

The melt agglomeration process of lactose powder with hydrogenated cottonseed oil (HCO) as the hydrophobic meltable binder was investigated by studying the physicochemical properties of molten HCO modified by sucrose stearates S170, S770 and S1570. The size, size distribution, micromeritic and adhesion properties of agglomerates as well as surface tension, contact angle, viscosity and specific volume of molten HCO, with and without sucrose stearates, were examined. The viscosity, specific volume and surface tension of molten HCO were found to be modified to varying extents by sucrose stearates which are available in different HLB values and melt properties. The growth of melt agglomerates was promoted predominantly by an increase in viscosity, an increase in specific volume or a decrease in surface tension of the molten binding liquid. The agglomerate growth propensity was higher with an increase in inter-particulate binding strength, agglomerate surface wetness and extent of agglomerate consolidation which enhanced the liquid migration from agglomerate core to periphery leading to an increased surface plasticity for coalescence. The inclusion of high concentrations of completely meltable sucrose stearate S170 greatly induced the growth of agglomerates through increased specific volume and viscosity of the molten binding liquid. On the other hand, the inclusion of incompletely meltable sucrose stearates S770 and S1570 promoted the agglomeration mainly via the reduction in surface tension of the molten binding liquid with declining agglomerate growth propensity at high sucrose stearate concentrations. In addition to being an agglomeration modifier, sucrose stearate demonstrated anti-adherent property in melt agglomeration process. The properties of molten HCO and melt agglomerates were dependent on the type and concentration of sucrose stearate added.     

特异性神经元抗体对神经系统副肿瘤综合征筛检价值的研究

目的　探讨特异性神经元抗体 (尤其是抗 Hu抗体 )对国内人群神经系统副肿瘤综合征 (paraneoplasticsyndromesofnervoussystem ,PNSNS)筛检诊断的特异性和灵敏性。方法　采用免疫组织化学ABC法和Westernblot对 2 0例PNSNS和 12 0例非PNSNS患者的血清进行检测 ,并采用流行病学筛检公式计算出特异度和灵敏度。结果　PNSNS组和非PNSNS组ABC法阳性结果差异有统计学意义 (χ2 =33 4 5 ,P <0 0 1) ,特异性神经元抗体筛检诊断PNSNS的灵敏度为 95 % ,特异度为 72 5 % ;PNSNS组和非PNSNS组Westernblot法阳性率差异有统计学意义 (χ2 =117 12 ,P <0 0 1) ,抗 Hu抗体筛检诊断的PNSNS的灵敏度为 95 % ,特异度为 98 3%。结论　血清特异性神经元抗体 (尤其是抗 Hu抗体 )是国内人群中PNSNS患者较敏感和特异性的血清标志物 ,在神经元的免疫损伤中具有重要作用     

Epidural block for obstetrics: Comparison of bolus injection of local anesthetic with gravity flow technique

Study Objective: To test the hypothesis that slow administration of local anesthetic into the epidural space by gravity flow reduces the incidence of signs and symptoms of unintended injection.

Design: Prospective, randomized study.

Setting: Teaching hospital.

Patients: 600 ASA physical status I and II parturients scheduled for labor and delivery or elective cesarean section.

Interventions: After identification of the epidural space with pulsations of an air-fluid column, parturients for vaginal delivery (n = 380) were randomized to receive a test dose of 3 ml 3% 2-chloroprocaine with epinephrine 20 μg, two doses of 7 ml bupivacaine 0.03 % with sufentanil 1 μg/ml and epinephrine 2 μg/ml by either gravity flow (Group 1) given over 30 seconds or by bolus injection (Group 2) given over 5 seconds through the epidural needle; parturients for Cesarean delivery (n = 220) were randomized to receive a test dose and two doses of 6 ml lidocaine 2 % with sufentanil 1 μg/ml and epinephrine 2 μg/ml by either gravity flow or by bolus injection through the epidural needle. Changes in maternal heart rate (HR) and blood pressure, signs of intravascular injection, and adverse effects of epidural bupivacaine-sufentanil were recorded after each dose.

Measurements and Main Results: Gravity flow administration (Group 1) was associated with a smaller increase in mean maternal HR (p < 0.001), less hypotension (p < 0.01), sedation (p < 0.01), nausea (p = 0.01), and segmental spread (p < 0.0001) than were corresponding doses given by traditional bolus injection (Group 1) for vaginal or Cesarean deliveries. The incidence of systemic toxicity was zero of 300 (0%) with gravity flow and 4 of 300 (1.3%) by bolus injection, p = 0.12, Fisher's exact test. No patient in either group had an accidental intrathecal injection.

Conclusion: Gravity flow administration of local anesthetic-opioid solution during epidural block for obstetrics was associated with fewer signs of systemic drug absorption and cardiovascular perturbations than was the traditional bolus injection. This study supports the current opinion that slow administration of local anesthetic during epidural black contributes to fewer adverse events.     

肺癌患者血清肿瘤特异生长因子检测及临床意义

目的 :研究TSGF在肺癌诊断、疗效判定中的临床应用价值。方法 :利用生化比色法测定了 18例肺良性病变患者 ,2 4例肺癌患者及 9例肺癌患者治疗后血清中TSGF水平。结果 :肺癌患者未经治疗前其血清TS GF水平及阳性率明显高于肺良性病变患者 ,其敏感性为 75 .0 % ,特异性为 77.8%。经有效化学治疗后肺癌患者血清TSGF明显下降。结论 :血清TSGF检测对肺癌的诊断、疗效观察有较重要的意义。     

反映肾脏浓缩稀释功能的最佳指标——血、尿渗透量

介绍渗透量的临床应用及其与尿比重的对比     

抗乙肝胎盘转移因子的特异免疫活性观察

本研究由ＨＢＶＭ－Ａｂ阳性胎盘提取的抗乙肝胎盘转移因子（ＰＳＴＦ）的特异免疫活性证明，经注射，小鼠外周血淋巴细胞明显增多，胸腺重量和指数亦显著增加，酯酶染色证明７５％属Ｔ－样淋巴细胞，２５％属Ｔｈｙ－样淋巴细胞，人白细胞或小鼠白细胞体外转移ＰＳＴＦ特异免疫活性、或豚鼠和小鼠体内转移ＰＳＴＦ特异免疫活性，再取其白细胞作白细胞粘附抑制、白细胞移动抑制、特异淋巴细胞转化、小鼠足掌注射和诱生γ－干扰素试验     

Self-inflicted specific pattern burns in psychiatric patients

Self-inflicted burns represent a major social and medical problem for society. Differences have been demonstrated between patients who attempt suicide and those who deliberately harm themselves without any intention of killing themselves. These self-inflicted injuries may resemble injuries that are intentionally inflicted by others and may require investigation by protective services. Little is known about these specific pattern burn injuries in psychiatric patients.