Nonrandom chromosomal changes in untreated retinoblastomas

The karotypic patterns of 15 retinoblastomas were examined. Five tumors were found to have two distinct stem lines and, therefore, the chromosomal patterns of 20 tumor cell lines are reported. Three nonrandom chromosomal changes, namely, a loss of a chromosome #13, the presence of an i(6p), or a trisomy of 1q were observed. The potential importance of these chromosomal changes in tumor development is discussed, particularly the loss of a chromosome #13 or the gain of an i(6p). At least one of the three chromosomal changes was found in 75% of the tumor lines analyzed.     

Nocturnal penile tumescence as a biologic marker in assessing erectile dysfunction

Recent findings challenge the belief that most cases of impotence are psychogenic. Research indicates that nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) can be viewed as a biologic marker for physiologic erectile capacity. Thus, the test can help to distinguish between physicogenic and psychogenic impotence. To determine proximal causes of erectile failure, other evaluations are easily performed during NPT monitoring.     

Tardive dyskinesia and the primary psychiatric diagnosis

Over 300 patients were assessed for the presence of tardive dyskinesia in relation to the primary psychiatric diagnosis. Patients with organic mental syndrome or bipolar disorder showed a significantly (P < .01) higher prevalence of tardive dyskinesia (41% and 42%, respectively) than did those with schizophrenia (24.5%). This difference was not related to age or duration of neuroleptic treatment. Based on these findings, the physician should remain aware of the greater possibility of tardive dyskinesia in patients with organic mental syndrome or bipolar disorder and periodically review dosage and indications for neuroleptic treatment.     

癫痫大发作儿童生活质量的研究

应用癫痫患者生活质量量表，以问卷方式，对９１例患儿进行生活质量的研究，并与正常儿童比较及探讨影响因素。结果，患儿生活质量明显低于正常儿童，主要因对发作恐慎、担心长期用药、存在认知障碍及社会交往困难；此外，生活质量与学习成绩也有关。即使发作已被控制，患儿生活质量并无明显改善。因而对患儿除药物治疗外，应加强非药物的心理治疗及提高学习能力，才能提高癫痫患儿的生活质量。     

Different specificities of an HLA-DRw6 haplotype detected by alloreactive T lymphocytes

DRw6 has been difficult to define serologically. In the present experiments we have developed T cell lines in order to characterize the components of a DRw6 haplotype. This was accomplished by priming T cells with allogeneic mononuclear cells mismatched for DRw6, Dw6, and MT2. Subsequently, three sublines with distinct reactivity patterns were derived by limiting dilution. The specificities detected by these sublines included: (a) a specificity found on a subset of cells positive for DRw6 which was inhibited by monoclonal antibodies against DS(DC), the human homologue of the murine IA-encoded molecules, (b) another DRw6-associated specificity blocked by an MT2-like antibody, and (c) an MT2-like specificity blocked by monoclonal antibodies reactive with a different MT2-associated determinant. These results show that more than one IE-like, as well as the DS/DC (IA-like) molecules, carry distinctive antigenic epitopes that can be recognized by allogeneic T cells. Primed T cell lines may be useful for a better definition of certain haplotypes which are at present difficult to characterize with serological reagents alone.     

Evaluation of the results of external choledochoduodenostomy for retained, recurrent, or primary common duct stones.

Twenty-five patients were treated for retained, recurrent, or primary common duct stones by permanent drainage of the biliary tract with external choledochoduodenostomy. Twenty-one patients had common duct stones which became evident two to fifty years after the initial biliary tract procedure and which may represent stones formed in the common duct. Three recent patients had a clinical history of primary common duct stones, had stones which were soluble in chloroform-methanol solution, and had hepatic bile which was lithogenic as determined by evaluating the molar percentage of cholesterol, phospholipid, and bile salt in bile samples obtained at the time of choledochoduodenostomy. These data suggest that further stone formation is possible and that permanent bypass of the sphincter of Oddi is indicated to prevent recurrent bile duct obstruction. Long-term evaluation of the results of external choledochoduodenostomy indicates that the procedure is safe and effective in the prevention of recurrent biliary tract calculi.