Effects of testosterone on Heterakis spumosa infections in mice.

This study describes the effects of testosterone (Te) on the intestinal nematode Heterakis spumosa in mice. The course of Heterakis infections is apparently under Te-control. At high circulating Te-levels as occurring in intact males, Te-treated females, and Te-treated castrated males, the period of release of Heterakis eggs in mouse faeces is greatly extended and the number of eggs released per unit time is markedly elevated in comparison to low Te-levels, as found in untreated females and castrated male mice. Also, the onset of the patent period occurs earlier in Te-treated mice. Testosterone also accelerates development and growth of both female and male worms of Heterakis in mice. Thus, young adult male worms can be observed in the upper colon of Te-treated castrated male mice on day 21 post-infection (p.i.), whereas, at that time, only L4 larvae are present in Te-untreated male castrates. Testosterone also favours the survival of nematodes in hosts. In untreated male castrates, the number of worms present on day 7 p.i. (L2 larvae) is approximately two thirds higher than that found on day 21 p.i. However, such a reduction in the number of worms does not occur in Te-treated castrated mice during the same period of time. The early phases of the life-cycle of Heterakis, i.e. hatching in the small intestine and final settling of L2 larvae in the upper colon are independent of Te. Also, Te does not affect motility and even slightly reduces the fecundity of adult female worms in vitro.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Infective endocarditis in children.

IE in children is associated primarily with underlying congenital structural heart lesions, predominantly septal defects or complex lesions involving septal defects. During the past 20 years IE associated with rheumatic heart disease has declined to a negligible number. Recently nosocomial catheter-associated bacteremia has been associated with the development of IE, especially in infants. Streptococci are most frequently associated with IE involving natural valves. Although streptococci have also been implicated in cases of IE associated with previous surgery or catheter-related infection, staphylococci, Gram-negative rod species and multiple infecting species are also encountered in this setting. Because infection can often be managed medically, removal of grafts or prosthetic valves is not necessary unless clinical or microbiologic failure occurs. Penicillin with or without an aminoglycoside is the regimen for most community-acquired streptococcal IE. A penicillinase-resistant beta-lactam generally is substituted for penicillin in IE caused by an unknown agent and is used in cases of staphylococcal IE. For IE caused by resistant staphylococci, vancomycin is the alternative agent. Currently there is limited information on the efficacy of alternative agents for treating IE caused by enterococci or staphylococci with multiple antibiotic resistance.


Outbreak of group A streptococcal infection in a day-care center.

During an outbreak of streptococcal infections in a day-care center it is often difficult to determine the source and extent of the outbreak and the optimal means of management. An intervention strategy based on repeated throat cultures and initial antibiotic treatment of culture-positive individuals was used during an outbreak of respiratory tract infections with Group A streptococci at a day-care center. The spread of streptococci carriers was studied. Two weeks after the diagnosis of the index case, 61% of the 30 children were colonized with Group A streptococci. From 20 to 30% of the children remained streptococcal carriers, but they did not give rise to secondary cases. Initially the environment was heavily contaminated with Group A streptococci. Damp material might constitute a potential source of streptococcal spread. All Group A streptococcal strains belonged to the same serotype, T12M12. Prompt recognition and intervention are important to prevent spread of streptococcal infection to many day-care attenders.


Comparative study of the effectiveness of cefixime and penicillin V for the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis in children and adolescents.

An open label randomized trial conducted in rural Kentucky compared the efficacy and safety of cefixime (CFX), 8 mg/kg once daily, with those of penicillin V (PEN), 250 mg 3 times daily, in 110 pediatric patients with Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis. Forty-eight CFX and 47 PEN patients were evaluable for efficacy. At the end of therapy bacteriologic eradication was 45 of 48 (94%) and 36 of 47 (77%) in the CFX and PEN V groups, respectively (P < 0.05). Up to 6 weeks posttherapy 10 (21%) CFX patients and 21 (45%) PEN patients had positive Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus cultures (P < 0.05). Concordant serotypes were identified from 4 of 7 CFX and 15 of 17 PEN patients with positive repeat cultures. All discordant serotypes (5 of 31) were identified at greater than 19 days posttherapy. Symptomatic treatment failures (concordant serotypes) occurred in 1 (2%) CFX and 8 (17%) PEN patients (P < 0.05). Drug-related adverse experiences consisted of 2 cases of mild diarrhea and loose stools in the CFX group and none in the PEN group. No clinically significant laboratory test abnormalities occurred in either group. CFX, once daily, was as safe as and significantly more effective than PEN given 3 times daily for the treatment of Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis.


Oral ciprofloxacin in the management of chronic suppurative otitis media without cholesteatoma in children: preliminary experience in 21 children.

The current medical management of children with chronic suppurative otitis media without cholesteatoma unresponsive to local treatment and oral antibiotics is intravenous antibiotic therapy in the hospital setting. We studied the efficacy and toxicity of oral ciprofloxacin in chronic suppurative otitis media. Twenty-one children received oral ciprofloxacin, 30 mg/kg/day. Ear discharge was positive for bacteria resistant to other oral medications and susceptible to the quinolones. The mean duration of treatment was 16.7 days. In 18 children suppuration ceased and 3 failed their first course. During a mean follow-up of 15.4 months, 6 children remained free of ear, nose and throat problems. Otorrhea recurred in 12 children. Ear cultures were positive for organisms susceptible to amoxicillin in 5 of them. In 7 cases Pseudomonas aeruginosa was again isolated from otorrhea. Repeated antibiotic therapy was advocated only in 3 (2 responded to ciprofloxacin; 1 failed ciprofloxacin and was cured by ceftazidime). Adverse clinical effects were not observed. Transient neutropenia was observed in 1 child. There was no change in the height percentile. The results of this study show that children with chronic suppurative otitis media without cholesteatoma can be effectively treated with oral ciprofloxacin. This novel approach may prevent hospitalization.


Safety and immunogenicity of acellular pertussis vaccine, combined with diphtheria and tetanus as the Japanese commercial Takeda vaccine, compared with the Takeda acellular pertussis component combined with Lederle's diphtheria and tetanus toxoids in two-, four- and six-month-old infants.

A double blind, randomized, controlled trial compared the safety and immunogenicity of an acellular pertussis vaccine formulated at Lederle using the Takeda acellular pertussis component combined with Lederle diphtheria and tetanus toxoids vaccines (APDT), with the commercially available Japanese Takeda vaccine (APDT-T/J) as a three-dose series to 2-, 4-, and 6-month-old children. Sera were analyzed for antibody to pertussis antigens: lymphocytosis-promoting factor; filamentous hemagglutinin; 69-kDa outer membrane protein; pertussis agglutinogens; neutralizing antibodies to LPF; and to diphtheria and tetanus toxoids. Information concerning local reactions and systemic events were collected daily for 10 days postimmunization. The overall reaction rate was low for both groups. There were no reactions that contraindicated subsequent vaccine and no serious adverse events. For local reactions statistically significant differences between the groups were seen only for a greater incidence of induration in the APDT group at 2 months (12% vs. 0%, P < 0.01), and at 4 months (8% vs. 0%, P = 0.4) compared to the APDT-T/J group. Of the few systemic reactions the only statistically significant difference between the vaccine groups was a greater incidence of fretfulness in the APDT group after the initial immunization (12% vs. 2%, P = 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the immune response between the two vaccines at the 7-month visit. We conclude that APDT is equivalent to the commercially available Takeda vaccine (APDT-T/J).


Relatedness of strains of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus colonizing hospital personnel and producing bacteremias in a neonatal intensive care unit.

The emergence of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus as a major bacterial pathogen in neonatal intensive care units has stimulated interest in the epidemiology of spread of the organism. During a 12-month "epidemic" of bacteremias with methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus we compared the characteristics of bacteremic and personnel nasally-carried strains by traditional and biomolecular methods. Sixty-two percent of neonatal intensive care unit nurses were colonized with methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus with similar speciation to bacteremic strains. Inspection of plasmid profiles revealed a moderate degree of similarity between bacteremic and colonizing strains although genomic DNA restriction patterns showed diversity. Ribotype patterns were highly conserved (90%) in personnel strains. A 2.6-kilobase plasmid DNA probe hybridized to similarly sized plasmids and larger plasmids in one-half of the strains. We hypothesize that related methicillin-resistant strains may be transferred among personnel and neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit. Epidemiologic studies of coagulase-negative staphylococci should consider multiple molecular techniques to relate strains.


Perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus infection: extent of clinical recognition in a population-based cohort. Massachusetts Pediatric HIV Surveillance Working Group.

To evaluate factors that may affect the timely diagnosis of children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, we compared data derived from two population-based pediatric HIV studies. Data from anonymous newborn HIV serosurveys were used to estimate the number of children born to HIV-seropositive mothers. A statewide active surveillance project determined the number of HIV-exposed children who had been clinically recognized. Of 88,732 Massachusetts newborn specimens tested anonymously for HIV antibodies during a 12-month period (November, 1987, to October, 1988), 223 were positive. As of October, 1991, 78 of these children (35%) had been identified by a statewide network of infectious disease physicians. HIV-exposed children born in inner city hospitals were more likely to have come to medical attention than those born in suburban hospitals (47% vs. 17%). Among the 29 children with confirmed HIV infection (13% of 223), the initial evaluation for HIV occurred at an earlier age among children born in inner city hospitals than among children born in other areas. HIV testing practices that rely heavily on risk assessment may result in delayed diagnosis of HIV infection in children whose mothers are not perceived to be at risk.


Epidemiology of adult sexually transmitted disease agents in children being evaluated for sexual abuse.

This prospective study describes the epidemiology of adult sexually transmitted disease agents in 1538 children ages 1 to 12 years being evaluated for possible sexual abuse. Infections with these agents were related to the presence or absence of a history of sexual contact. Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) was found in 2.8% (41 of 1469); human papillomavirus presenting as condyloma acuminata, 1.8%; Chlamydia trachomatis, 1.2% (17 of 1473); Treponema pallidum (syphilis), 0.1% (1 of 1263); and herpes simplex virus, 0.1%. Overall a history of sexual contact was present in 83% of children with N. gonorrhoeae; condyloma acuminata, 43%; Chlamydia trachomatis, 94%; syphilis, 0%; and herpes simplex virus, 50%. Selected vaginal discharges were examined for Trichomonas vaginalis and bacterial vaginosis. In children comprehending questions regarding sexual contact (i.e. were "verbal"), 89% with N. gonorrhoeae, 100% with Chlamydia trachomatis and 63% with condyloma acuminata had a history of sexual contact, indicating that in "verbal" children any infection with N. gonorrhoeae or C. trachomatis was highly associated with sexual contact.


Mycobacterium tuberculosis in children with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection.

A retrospective study was conducted at the Childrens Hospital Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, FL, to evaluate the natural history of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in nine children with vertically acquired human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection. The patients' ages ranged from 6 months to 7 years (median age, 42 months). Common presenting symptoms included prolonged fever, cough and anorexia. Only one patient had a positive tuberculin test. Five patients evidenced only pulmonary disease, three patients had pulmonary and extrapulmonary disease and one patient developed extrapulmonary tuberculosis (mastoiditis) and pulmonary interstitial disease that could not be attributed to mycobacterial infection because of lack of information. Organisms isolated before January, 1989, were susceptible to isoniazid and rifampin whereas isolates from three patients cultured after that time were resistant to multiple antituberculosis drugs. The median survival time after M. tuberculosis diagnosis for all children was 20 months. Our study suggests that children with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection who have tuberculosis have an increased risk for extrapulmonary disease. A high index of suspicion for the diagnosis of M. tuberculosis should be maintained in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected children with prolonged fever and respiratory symptoms. In areas of high endemicity of multidrug-resistant organisms, therapy with a broader panel of drugs may need to be instituted until susceptibility testing becomes available.


Rubella among the Amish: resurgent disease in a highly susceptible community.

Although the Amish make up less than 0.05% of the United States population, nearly all rubella reported in the United States in 1991 occurred in this population. In early 1991 a large rubella outbreak in a Tennessee Amish community that had experienced no rubella for 17 years afforded an opportunity to describe the epidemiology of rubella in this unique population. Structured interviews were conducted with 54 Amish families. Of 383 persons in the sample 85 (22%) had rubella. Illnesses were mild; 16% of cases lacked fever and 20% of cases reported no symptoms except rash. Children < 17 years of age were 7 times more likely than older individuals to be affected (77 of 214 vs. 8 of 165). All pregnant women in the community were > 20 years of age; none developed rubella. No congenital rubella syndrome was recognized. Although rubella is increasingly a disease of adolescents and young adults, in this outbreak, rubella was again a childhood disease. Illness in this community-based investigation was mild; rubella may be difficult to diagnose and report. Immunity after remote natural infection was durable since the community's last outbreak. Pregnant women probably were protected by the age distribution of immunity; this age distribution may not occur in other Amish populations. If preventable morbidity from rubella and other vaccine preventable diseases is to be avoided in this group, increased attention should be directed to encouraging vaccinations among Amish persons.


Neuropsychological correlates for realism-abstraction, a dimension of aesthetics.

240 undergraduates were shown 50 color slides of paintings representing ten areas of subject matter and five levels of realism. The subjects rated from 1 to 9 their liking of each painting and then took the Cognitive Laterality Battery. Individuals with clear preference for realism formed one group and those showing clear preference for abstraction formed a second. A multivariate analysis of variance for subjects' Cognitive Laterality Battery scores showed a significant interaction, which may be interpreted as supporting the idea that there is a possible neuropsychological basis for the realism-abstraction preference dimension in aesthetics.


Parsing attentional components during a simple reaction time task using sleep deprivation and amphetamine intervention.

To examine the independent contributions of the attentional components of arousal and activation in performance, sleep deprivation was used as the attentional manipulation in a reaction time (RT) task. The subjects were 18 men who underwent 63 hr. of sleep deprivation during which time they periodically performed a simple auditory RT task with manipulations of temporal uncertainty and intensity. After 48 hr. sleep deprivation, subjects ingested either 20 mg d-amphetamine or placebo, then continued testing throughout Day 3. During sleep deprivation, performance was more impaired on trials associated with low temporal uncertainty (arousal) and high preparation (activation) than on trials associated with high temporal uncertainty and low preparation. Analysis indicated that sleep deprivation perturbed activation, leaving arousal relatively unimpaired and that amphetamine had a restorative effect on the sleep deprivation-impaired activation system. The stimulus of high intensity was disruptive on Day 1 but facilitative on Day 3, a result which was interpreted as an initial inhibition, then disinhibition of arousal. Results were interpreted to indicate that, in some instances, alterations in the less specific arousal and activation systems may underlie impairment or changes in the more specific information processing and motor output stages.


Stimulus-dependent ear asymmetry in a dichotic monitoring task.

Auditory lateralization was investigated in 26 right-handed and 26 left-handed, normal subjects using two dichotic monitoring tasks in each proband [dichotic consonant-vowel (CV) syllable monitoring once with the syllable /ta/ and once with the syllable /da/ as target]. Subjects were instructed to monitor for the presence of a target CV which could occur in either ear. They responded by depressing a response button; reaction time (RT) and hit rates were recorded. In right-handers the syllable /ta/ presented to the right ear was detected more frequently, on the average, than presented to the left ear. Also, RT was shorter for detection of /ta/ in the right ear than for detection in the left ear for both right- and left-handers. The detection of /da/ showed no ear advantage in hit rate and RT either for right-handers or for left-handers. These results demonstrate the existence of a right-ear advantage in dichotic monitoring of the target syllable /ta/ but not for the target syllable /da/. This difference in evoking a right-ear advantage is attributed to a difference in the difficulty of detection of both targets. It is argued that the detection of /da/ is too difficult to evoke phonetic processing, leading to a right-ear advantage.


Changes in body consciousness relate to regularity of exercise training.

Previous work has indicated improvement for scores on self-reported measures of body consciousness as aerobic fitness increased. To test whether exercise sufficient to improve aerobic fitness must be sustained on a regular basis to achieve positive changes in body consciousness, two separate periods of exercise training of 2 or 3 weeks duration were completed by nine female volunteers. The two exercise sessions were separated by 10 days of no exercise. Five women, as controls, did not exercise. Despite significant physiological improvement in the exercisers, no changes in self-perceived body self-consciousness were observed. Such changes may depend on the maintenance of a regular exercise regimen or the magnitude of physiological improvement.


Visuomotor organization in the left-handed child: a neuropsychological approach.

In this study we used the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure to examine the visuomotor organization of 514 boys and girls, aged 5.5 to 20.5 yr. All were left-handed as judged by the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory. Statistical evaluation showed significant differences in teh visuomotor organization for boys and girls across the various age groups. Statistically significant differences also appeared between the two sexes at the age groups 7.5 to 8.5 and 8.5 to 9.5, with girls showing better organization than boys.


Factors contributing to perception of health in young black women.

An exploratory descriptive design using interviews and open-ended questions examined factors which were associated with perceptions of health held by 22 young black women, ages 18 to 40 years. Interview findings indicated that, among these women, obesity was considered to contribute positively to perceptions of health as did eating good foods and engaging in stress-reducing activities.


Where does an anorthoscopic image appear?

Two experiments were performed to examine where anorthoscopic images appear. In Exp. 1, in which a narrow slit was used, the images were seen as spatially compressed, but also as spatially displaced along each direction of movement even when two patterns were moved simultaneously and in different directions. These results are incompatible with the retinal painting hypothesis. In Exp. 2, in which a wider slit was used, anorthoscopic images appeared immediately after a pattern entered and left the slit. The two images were considered to depend on temporal changes of parts of a pattern passing across left and right edges of the slit, respectively.


Differentiation of Alzheimer and cerebrovascular patients with the Minnesota Percepto-Diagnostic Test--Revised.

60 adult patients with focal cerebrovascular accidents (30 with left cerebral hemisphere lesions, 30 with right cerebral lesions) and 30 adults with Alzheimer disease were compared to 30 normal adults on the Minnesota Percepto-Diagnostic Test--Revised (MPD--R). The regular scoring variables plus the two-step method of diagnosis for brain damage with the MPD--R were used. One-way analyses of variance with age and mental status as covariates yielded a significant difference between control subjects and brain-damaged patients on most of the MPD--R variables. The controls scored the best, followed by the Alzheimer and cerebrovascular groups. Planned comparisons for cerebrovascular vs Alzheimer subjects were significant across all MPD--R scores except distortion of dots; the Alzheimer subjects scored better than the cerebrovascular subjects. The two cerebrovascular groups were not differentiated by the MPD--R scoring variables. The MPD--R correctly identified 96% of each of the two brain-damaged groups and 70% of the control group. Findings are described in terms of the utility of the MPD--R in differential diagnosis with elderly populations.


Relationship between psychomotor functioning and health status among elderly persons?

45 older adults were tested twice per year for three years in a 9 (psychomotor) by 30 (health status, well-being) matrix of variables. That only 84 significant correlations were found suggests no relationship between psychomotor performance and health status.


Perceived clothing deprivation: further evidence.

The purpose of this study was to extend the conceptualization of perceived clothing deprivation among three groups of adolescents: 161 skateboarders, 61 baseball players, and 336 general high school students. Perceived clothing deprivation, the dependent variable, was measured by two previously developed scales, Inability to Buy and Clothing Deprivation Relative to Peers. Regression analysis of self-reported economic stress indicated that the combination of lower income and increased demand was positively related to both clothing deprivation factors. Group membership was not significantly associated with Inability to Buy but was with Clothing Deprivation Relative to Peers. Both male sports groups reported greater perceived dissatisfaction than the general population of high school students. These results support the idea that perceived clothing deprivation is self-defined and peer-dependent among adolescents and support the proposition that clothing deprivation reflects primarily influence of dynamic rather than stable variables.


Comparison of empirically derived and predicted standard scores for Form II of the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery.

Until Wong, Schefft, and Moses published norms for Form II of the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery in 1990, Golden, Purisch, and Hammeke's 1985 regression equations were the only procedure available to interpret scores on Form II of the battery. In the present study comparison of the empirically based norms with standard scores obtained via the regression equations showed that (1) the scale means and standard deviations used in the development of the regression equations indicated substantially more impairment than those obtained by Wong, et al. and (2) the standard (T) scores predicted by the regression equations consistently underestimated impairment relative to the T scores obtained directly from Wong, et al.'s empirically derived norms. Reasons for, and implications of, these findings were discussed.


Responses of conduct-disordered versus psychotic adolescents to PPVT-R items of human versus nonhuman content.

24 conduct-disordered youth were compared with 22 psychotic youth on differential responsivity to human versus nonhuman content plates on the PPVT-R. Conduct-disordered youth performed worse on items featuring human stimuli, implying antisocial patterns which might correlate with more active avoidance of social relating.


Strategies for object identification and confidence: influence of appearance, amount of context, and familiarity.

In an experimental study of the everyday, what-is-this? perceptual encounter, the strategies subjects used to identify a focal object were influenced by the object's physical appearance, the amount of context in which it was displayed, and subjects' familiarity with the object. These factors also affected subjects' confidence in the accuracy of their identifications. The results appear to support the contention that visual processing is a middle-out rather than either a top-down or bottom-up sequence.


The incidence of sleep problems among type A and type B college students: changes over a ten-year period (1982-1992).

Ten years ago we reported that Type A scoring students were twice as likely as their Type B peers to report sleep problems. In an exact 1992 replication of that study, no Type A-B differences in the frequency of self-reported sleep problems were observed; however, the over-all incidence of sleep problems among the 753 college students had increased substantially.


Abnormalities of psychomotor development in schizophrenia: a rehabilitation perspective.

This study was an evaluation of the psychomotor profiles of 22 schizophrenic patients, investigated by means of a test battery developed for the assessment of psychomotor profiles of 10- to 12-year-old children. Analysis indicates that abnormal psychomotor development is an inherent feature of the disease and probably is antecedent to a full psychopathological picture.


Conditioning reaction time: evidence for a process of conditioned automatization.

The classical conditioning of the standard, simple reaction time (RT) in 140 college men and women is described. Consequent to an anticipatory instructed conditioning procedure, two experimental and two control groups acquired voluntary, controlled US(light)-URTR (unconditioned reaction-time response) associations which then served as the foundation for subsequent classical conditioning when a novel CS (auditory click) was simultaneously paired with the US. Conditioned reaction-time responses (CRTRs) occurred significantly more often during test trials in the two experimental groups than in the two control groups. Statistical and introspective findings support the notion that observed CRTRs may be products of cognitively unconscious conditioned automatization whereby the conditioning of relatively slow, voluntary, and controlled US-URTR associations leads to the acquisition of relatively fast, involuntary, and automatic CS-CRTR associations.


Computer measurement of the autokinetic effect.

Previous methods for measurement of the autokinetic effect have several drawbacks, including limited accuracy and limited information. A new computer technique for measurement of the autokinetic effect is presented. A computer and computer mouse record tracing movements every tenth of a second, yielding a permanent record that can be analyzed further. The method is flexible, sensitive, and stable, as shown by test-retest correlations using 26 subjects. Correlations and medians for latency, total distance traveled, number of stops, straight line distance from origin to end-point, maximum speed, maximum acceleration, percent of time in motion, and speed and percent of motion in each of eight compass directions were computed. The results are similar to previously reported values.


Personal determinants of leisure-time exercise activities.

This study investigated the importance of personal determinants such as self-efficacy, beliefs about the contribution of exercise, health locus of control, and dispositional optimism for leisure-time exercise in a working population. The main predictors of such exercise were beliefs and self-efficacy with the generalization of the latter to eat correctly. Beliefs and efficacy expectations were highly correlated. Neither health locus of control nor dispositional optimism was related to leisure-time exercise; however, optimism was related to the positive belief that exercise contributes to health. Ramifications of the findings were carefully described.


Self-monitoring and identification of olfactory dimensions.

The basic categories of odors are not agreed on. Many classifications of odors have been proposed, but none has met widespread acceptance. The variability among qualitative judgments of odors which makes it difficult to construct reliable classifications may depend on cultural or personal idiosyncrasies. To check personality factors in odor evaluation, we asked 40 subjects, who had previously completed a personality questionnaire, to make qualitative judgments about 10 odors on 10 semantic differential scales. From comparison of two different self-monitoring groups, on the semantic differential, reliable differences did not emerge. While high self-monitoring subjects tended to maintain intermediate positions, for some odors, low self-monitors hazarded more polarized evaluations.


Arousability and bruxism in male and female college students.

The relationship between arousability, as measured by the Arousal Predisposition Scale, and bruxism was computed for groups of 41 male and 75 female university undergraduates as a further test of the hypothesis that bruxism is a stress-linked disorder. Contrary to our prediction, arousability was not related to bruxism in men and the relationship between these variables for women was significant but relatively weak. When considered with other studies, these data provide a clearer focus for further study of the stress-bruxism hypothesis.


Reporting what you have seen: effects associated with age and mode of questioning on eyewitness reports.

This study examined age-related differences in the reporting of a filmed domestic scene, in which a mother was either ambiguously caring or ambiguously abusive toward her daughter. Three age groups were used (3- to 4-yr.-old, 6- to 7-yr.-old, and adult), and three modes of questioning were used (free recall, short-answer cued-recall, and leading questions either consistent or inconsistent with what was observed). There were 119 subjects in all: 39 3- to 4-yr.-olds, 39 6- to 7-yr.-olds, and 41 adults. Developmental trends were found in the subjects' ability to answer free-recall questions and cued-recall questions. Although 6- to 7-yr.-olds were significantly lower than adults in their accuracy scores on the cued-recall questions, they were still highly accurate. There were also significant age-related differences in the subjects' suggestibility, with the 3- to 4-yr.-olds being relatively suggestible, the 6- to 7-yr.-olds less so, and the adults virtually unsuggestible. When the leading questions that concerned the central theme of the film (i.e., Was the mother abusive or not?) were isolated, however, no significant age-related differences in suggestibility were found.


Health-related physical fitness levels of elementary school children ages 5-9.

National health goals include an increase in the physical activity and physical fitness of school-age children by the year 2000. To assess current fitness levels in the state of Maine, more than 8,000 public school students, ages five through nine, were assessed using a nationally known (American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance) health-related physical fitness test. Maine students were then compared with a national norm group on (1) the one-mile walk/run (minutes:seconds), (2) skinfold thickness (centimeters), (3) one-minute timed sit-ups (number performed correctly), and (4) the sit and reach test for flexibility (centimeters). Generally, Maine boys and girls scored higher than the norms on the sit-up, sit and reach, and one-mile walk/run; however, they had significantly larger skinfold thicknesses. Implications for assessment of health-related fitness in this age group were discussed.


The moon illusion: a different view through the legs.

The fact that the overestimation of the horizon moon is reduced when individuals bend over and view it through their legs has been used as support for theories of the moon illusion based upon angle of regard and vestibular inputs. Inversion of the visual scene, however, can also reduce the salience of depth cue, so illusion reduction might be consistent with size constancy explanations. A sample of 70 subjects viewed normal and inverted pictorial arrays. The moon illusion was reduced in the inverted arrays, suggesting that the "through the legs" reduction of the moon illusion may reflect the alteration in perceived depth associated with scene inversion rather than angle of regard or vestibular effects.


An appraisal of body image among Nigerian university students.

This study was designed to provide baseline data on the attitudes of Nigerian university students toward their own bodies. 286 students completed the 25-item version of the Body Cathexis Scale of Berscheid, et al. These students were more satisfied than they were dissatisfied with their body parts. The body weight and general muscle development were aspects with which they were most dissatisfied. Compared to men, women were significantly more satisfied with their ears, body weight, general muscle development, chest/breast, size of sex organs, and appearance of sex organs. These baseline data may help screen Nigerian university students with negative body ideation.


Cognitive and somatic state anxiety and self-confidence in cheerleading competition.

77 cheerleaders participating in a national collegiate championship competition were administered the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 immediately prior to performance. Significant correlations were found between cognitive and somatic state anxiety, a finding consistent with previous research. Negative correlations were found between both cognitive and somatic anxiety and self-confidence, also as previously reported. Canonical discriminant analysis indicated that significant discrimination between the teams could be accomplished by a combination of the state-anxiety variables. Both groups, 36 men and 41 women, differed significantly from normative scores on the somatic subscale.


Responses of first-grade children to concepts about printed material before and after shared reading experiences.

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of shared reading experiences using books with predictable content to assess 24 inner-city African-American first-graders' concepts about printed material. The 8-week treatment using a two-group pre- and posttest experimental design with random assignment showed no significant differences between groups. A larger sample and longer treatment time are recommended for replicating this study.


Maximized split-half reliabilities and distributional characteristics for Harris-Lingoes subscales with few items: a reevaluation for the MMPI-2.

100 MMPI-2 protocols were obtained from the files of an outpatient clinic. Distributions of all possible split-half combinations were computed for selected Harris-Lingoes subscales with few items. As expected, max r reliability estimates were significantly greater than alpha estimates and distributions of correlations were negatively skewed. Inspection of the distributions suggested that the Amorality scale contains an ambiguous item which does not appear to belong in this grouping. Serious problems were noted with the Hy5 subscale. Alpha reliabilities were comparable to previously reported estimates, and max r reliability estimates closely resembled reported test-retest estimates.


Which handedness: preference or performance?

Two ways of measuring handedness, questionnaires and hand-efficiency tests, are compared. A method for combining performance scores of 128 children from different hand-efficiency tests to obtain a single handedness score based on efficiency is presented. Handedness classifications according to different thresholds of preference as well as of performance are shown. To select pure right- or left-handers, it is argued that handedness should be established simultaneously through preference questionnaires and performance tests and that only subjects falling simultaneously into the same category on both measures be kept. Advantages and disadvantages of each classification are discussed as well as the relations between efficiency and motor control of upper limb and hand.


Relationship between dietary components and aspects of sleep.

To test the hypothesis that major dietary constituents are related to quantity or quality of sleep, 27 adult volunteers participated in a five-day study. Subjects completed detailed dietary logs each day, and each morning completed the St. Mary's Hospital Sleep Questionnaire. Dietary data were converted to seven major nutritional constituents and these were averaged over the 5-day period. None of the 98 correlations between diet and sleep were significant. These findings provide no support for a link between sleep and diet in adults.


An exploratory examination of the Parent-initiated Motivational Climate Questionnaire.

The purpose of this study was to examine the factor structure and internal reliability of the Parent-initiated Motivational Climate Questionnaire among 112 boys and 98 girls, young adolescents, and older adolescents. The questionnaire had a meaningful 3-factor structure and showed acceptable internal reliability. There was a significant difference between how boys and girls perceived their parents' reactions to their learning new physical skills. In contrast to boys, girls thought that both their mothers and fathers focused on improvement and self-satisfaction during the learning process and deemphasized learning without effort and worrying about making mistakes. Age did not significantly affect the perceptions the individuals had of their parents' convictions about their learning in the physical domain.


Comparison of frame size and body mass index methods of assessment in the study of blood lipids.

This study compared frame size and body mass index methods of assessment in relation to blood lipid levels. The data were obtained from the records of 84 men and 193 women who voluntarily participated in health fairs held at two suburban hospitals. Significant relationships and differences were found between the anthropometric and lipid variables studied. The two methods of classification denoted moderate association and reflected some divergence in classification between them.


Distance perception in the spiny mouse Acomys cahirinus: vertical jumping.

Acomys cahirinus, a precocial muroid, that has shown precise jumping in the natural habitat, did not jump from 25 cm in a laboratory situation. To investigate this further, A. cahirinus were observed jumping from platforms at two different heights, onto different sized checkered substrates and from a visual cliff. Adult animals discriminated between platforms that were 6.4 cm and 25.4 cm above the substrate and between small and large checkered patterns on the floor. Most adult animals and neonates jumped down on the shallow side of the visual cliff. Animals developed individual patterns of jumping over a series of trials, with some jumping often, some rarely, and others jumping only from the low platform. Good distance perception was indicated when they did not jump from heights, and by their making appropriate postural adjustment when they did jump from heights and landed without mishap. Different spacing of trials indicated that height was a more effective stimulus for animals which had all four conditions on the same day, while floor pattern was more effective for animals with each of the four conditions on a separate day.


Is the Benussi effect a kinetic depth effect?

Rapid, successive presentations of an eccentric circle pattern and its mirror-image elicited apparent depth and, as has been previously demonstrated for the Benussi effect, there was an increase in apparent depth with an increase in circle eccentricity. Taken together, these data were interpreted as contravening Wallach, Adams, and Weisz's account of the Benussi effect as an instance of the kinetic depth effect.


Relative right temporal-lobe theta activity correlates with Vingiano's hemispheric quotient and the "sensed presence".

Measures of monopolar alpha and theta rhythm activity over the left and right temporal lobes were correlated with the subjects' hemisphericity (Vingiano) scores, temporal lobe signs, and concurrent subjective experiences during partial sensory deprivation. There was a positive association (rho = .49) between the scores for right hemisphericity and the relative amount of right/left theta rhythm but not right/left alpha rhythm activity. Significant intercorrelations between right hemisphericity, an history of ego-alien intrusions and experiences of a sensed presence, "detachment from the body," and fear during the recordings were noted. These results support the hypothesis that this class of mystical experiences is encouraged by hemispheric mismatch in temporal-lobe theta activity.


Mathematical performance before, during, and following cycling at workloads of low and moderate intensity.

Mental arithmetic performance before, during, and following low (40% maximal heart-rate reserve; approximately 90 watts exercise for 15 min.) and moderate (60% maximal heart-rate reserve; approximately 150 watts exercise for 10 min.) intensity cycling by 20 male students (M age = 28.1 yr.) was studied. Subjects were grouped, by using a median-split on their total mathematical performance scores, into a group of 10 low in arithmetic skill and a group of 10 high in arithmetic skill. The numbers and percentages of right answers to 1-min. mathematical problem-sets of either group were not different in the various conditions, suggesting that 25 min. of progressive cycling exercise did not influence mathematical problem-solving efficacy.


Spatial localization and auditory lateralization: binaural cues and their absence.

In 1990 Cheatham suggested there might be a right-ear advantage for the perception of speech and music for right-handed individuals, which confirms Kinsbourne's observation of a general right-ear advantage. These findings, however, contrast with Segalowitz and Plantery's work that supports attentional bias in lateralized processing of these stimuli. The attentional bias model has also been criticized by Bryden on the basis of its circularity. At present there has not been sufficient evidence to settle this debate empirically. The author suggests that the controversy may best be resolved by disentangling the folklore surrounding spatial localization and auditory lateralization to reexamine this field in light of recent empirical findings by Bryden and by Porac, Coren, and Duncan, who inferred an inherent rightward bias to many kinds of stimulation, including auditory, in right-handed individuals. The present focus is that Cheatham's 1990 data lend themselves more readily to the rightward bias that occurs in right-handed subjects and not to previous structural or attentional models.


Mirror training in three dimensions for dental students.

Dental students have significantly improved skills of indirect vision following mirror exercises in two dimensions. The objective of this study was to assess whether freshmen improved these skills after mirror training in three dimensions. A pretest was given to 60 subjects, maneuvering a handpiece-shaped probe through a brass block maze. Total time, error time, and total errors were recorded for each of three perceptually different mirror positions. Subjects were then randomly divided into two groups. Group A participated in 2 training sessions; Group B (a control) received no training. Both groups then performed a posttest. Transformed time scores examined by analysis of variance indicated a significant difference for total time between Groups A and B at posttest at each mirror position. For error time, Groups A and B were significantly different at posttest at Positions 2 and 3. For total errors, groups were significantly different at posttest at Mirror Position 3 only. Indirect vision skills improved significantly with training in three dimensions.


The relationship between turning behavior and motoric dominance in humans.

This study attempted to correlate turning direction on the stepping test with three measures of motoric dominance--handedness, footedness, and eyedness. 111 high school students performed the stepping test while deprived of visual and auditory cues during a 1-min. interval. Although only slightly more than half of the subjects rotated rightward, the direction and magnitude of turning correlated significantly with footedness and eyedness but not with handedness. Thus, axial turning biases and motoric dominance may partially share a common mechanism, possibly involving vestibular asymmetry.


Self-esteem and narcissism among the most and least empathetic Finnish baseball players.

560 girls and 819 boys, ages 8 to 16 years and actively interested in Finnish baseball, were tested in small groups in three training-camp championship games with the modified Mehrabian and Epstein's Empathy Scale, and the Battle Self-esteem Inventory, Form B. Narcissism was estimated on the 1984 Emmons scale. The hypothesis that the most empathetic players compared with the least empathetic players have better self-esteem and less narcissism was confirmed.


Some concluding thoughts on the debate about the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire.

The case for the validity of the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire is examined. It is argued that the validity of the questionnaire is not established in the literature and that paradigmatic and conceptual ambiguity militate against a clear understanding of that literature. Phenomenological problems with questionnaire reports such as the use of untrained introspectors and the preponderance of exaggerated self-reports of prowess at imagery are discussed. The conditions needed for inter-and intrapsychic validity are delineated, and a scheme for evaluating validity of the inventory is presented.


Effect of adding cognitively demanding tasks on soccer skill performance.

The effect of adding cognitively demanding elements to the performance of a real-world motor task in which functional interference among the elements in performance existed was investigated across level of expertise. The primary task involved running as quickly as possible through a 15.25-m slalom course. Two secondary tasks were used, dribbling of a soccer ball and identification of geometric shapes projected on a screen located at the end of the slalom course. 4 novice, 5 intermediate, and 5 expert female soccer players served as subjects and performed three trials each of three experimental conditions: running through the slalom course, running through the slalom course while dribbling a soccer ball, and running through the slalom course while dribbling a soccer ball and identifying geometric shapes. Analysis of variance using a 3 (experimental condition) x 3 (level of expertise) design gave significant main effects and a significant interaction. The latter indicated that, although the addition of cognitively demanding elements caused a decrement in performance, the amount of decrement decreased as level of expertise increased. It was concluded that structural interference between elements of performance decreased the positive effect of automation of one element on dual task performance.


Is perception of exertion a unique characteristic?

This study assessed the extent to which perception of exertion (RPE), as measured by Borg's 1971 scale using bicycle ergometry, is a unique perceptual trait. Correlations run for 35 subjects between RPE and a battery of seven perceptually oriented tasks were not significant, implying that RPE may be a unique perceptual ability.


An unusual variant of Capgras syndrome.

In a 40-yr.-old man a variant of Capgras syndrome called reverse subjective doubles is described. The unusual feature of the case was the presence of a delusion that the patient had been transformed into someone else.


Use of reinforcement to increase independence in physical fitness performance of profoundly mentally retarded youth.

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of verbal praise and verbal praise plus music or vibratory reinforcement on the level of independent performance on abdominal strength and endurance, lower back and hip flexibility, and upper body strength/endurance exercises of 12 profoundly mentally retarded, ambulatory youth, ages 10 to 18 years. A single-subject AB design with a control group was used to assess the difference in performance of physical fitness under the baseline condition of no reinforcement and under the two experimental conditions of verbal praise and verbal praise plus music or vibratory reinforcement. In contrast to previous results reported in the literature, verbal praise and verbal praise plus music or vibratory reinforcement were not effective in increasing the level of independence in performing selected physical fitness tasks.


Influence of diazepam on prospective time estimation.

24 students, after intake of diazepam or placebo, performed a psychomotor test of finger tapping as a prospective time-estimation task. The task was less overestimated by those who were under the influence of the drug than by the 12 subjects to whom the placebo was given.


The dermo-optical perception of color as an information source for blind travelers.

Dermo-optical color perception refers to a person's ability to distinguish color surfaces through "skin perception" without the use of sight. The aims of this study were (1) to assess prior research findings which apparently demonstrated the existence of dermo-optical color perception and (2) to explore the possibilities of using color to indicate reference points for blind travellers. Three experiments were conducted with 20 congenitally blind subjects and a sighted blindfolded control group matched on age, sex, and education. In Exp. 1 on a discrimination task subjects were asked if two boards were of the same color and on a pairing task were asked to match a colored board with one among a set of three boards having the same color. In Exp. 2 the discrimination task was identical to that in Exp. 1, but instead of using boards perceived through haptic exploration, we used colored cubicles in which the whole body would be exposed to the color. In Exp. 3 subjects were asked to walk along the corridor of a labyrinthine set-up and to identify any changes of color they could perceive. The experiments were designed to provide measures of reliability of subjects' responses. Analysis showed little or no support for the ability to perceive color by dermo-optical means. The comparisons of the blind and the sighted control groups were nonsignificant. On the basis of our findings, the use of color to help blind travellers has to be rejected. The paper concludes with a discussion suggesting reasons for the contradictory results emerging from studies on dermo-optical color perception.


Cloning by recognition site screening of two novel GT box binding proteins: a family of Sp1 related genes.

Previous analyses of the uteroglobin gene promoter revealed a GT1 box which is also found in the SV40 enhancer. The GT1 element in the context of the uteroglobin promoter is active in Ishikawa cells, a human endometrial cell line, but not in HeLa cells. Here we report the cloning by recognition site screening of two factors (SPR-1 and SPR-2) which bind to this GT1 motif. SPR-1 and SPR-2 are homologues of the transcription factor Sp1. All three proteins are closely related members of a gene family encoding proteins with very similar structural features. Like Sp1, SPR-1 and SPR-2 contain glutamine and serine/threonine rich amino acid stretches. Most significantly, the DNA binding domains of all three proteins are highly conserved and they recognize GT as well as GC boxes identically. SPR-2 mRNA is expressed ubiquitously, whereas SPR-1 transcripts are abundant in the brain but barely detectable in other organs. The possible function of these factors for the activity of the uteroglobin promoter is discussed.


DNA damage response of cloned DNA beta-polymerase promoter is blocked in mutant cell lines deficient in protein kinase A.

DNA beta-polymerase (beta-pol), one of the recognized DNA polymerizing enzymes in vertebrates, has a role in 'very short patch' gap-filling synthesis during nucleotide excision DNA repair. In human and mouse, the enzyme is encoded by a single-copy gene located on the short arm of chromosome 8 near the centromere. In a series of studies, we have found that the cloned human beta-pol promoter is regulated by signals acting through the single ATF/CRE palindrome in the core promoter. These signals include transactivation by: adenovirus E1a/E1b proteins; activated p21ras; and in CHO cells, treatment with the DNA damaging agent MNNG. Hence, several types of stimulatory signals are mediated through the single ATF/CRE site, including DNA damage induction. To understand the mechanism of beta-pol promoter activation by MNNG in CHO cells, we asked whether induction of the cAMP/protein kinase A pathway can increase transcription of the cloned promoter in this system. Agents that increase cellular cAMP levels (8-BrcAMP; forskolin and IBMx) activated the beta-pol promoter fusion gene in transient expression experiments, and a mutation in the ATF/CRE palindrome blocked this response. Thus, the ATF/CRE site appears to be cAMP responsive in the CHO cell system. We found that the activation of the cloned beta-pol promoter by MNNG does not occur with two mutant CHO cell lines that are deficient in protein kinase A activity. Further, simultaneous treatment of wild-type CHO cells, with MNNG and to elevate cAMP, failed to result in an additive effect for activation of the beta-pol promoter. Thus, these effectors may act through a common pathway. These results suggest that the activation of the cloned beta-pol promoter in CHO cells following MNNG treatment is mediated through the cAMP/protein kinase A signal transduction pathway.


Control of Drosophila Sex-lethal pre-mRNA splicing by its own female-specific product.

Drosophila melanogaster somatic sexual differentiation is accomplished by serial function of the products of sex-determination genes. Sex-lethal (Sxl), is one such gene. It is functionally expressed only in female flies. The sex-specific expression of this gene is regulated by alternative mRNA splicing which results in either the inclusion or exclusion of the translation stop codon containing third exon. Although previous genetic and molecular analyses suggest that functional Sxl expression is maintained by a positive feedback loop, where the female-specific Sxl product promotes the synthesis of its own female-specific mRNA, the mechanistic details of such regulation have remained unclear. We have developed a cotransfection system using Drosophila cultured (Kc) cells in which Sxl primary transcripts are expressed with or without the female specific Sxl product. Here we show that the female-specific Sxl product induces the synthesis of its own female-specific mRNA by negative control of male-specific splicing. Deletion, substitution, and binding experiments have demonstrated that multiple uridine-rich sequences in the introns around the male-specific third exon are involved in the splicing regulation of Sxl pre-mRNA.


Cloning and characterization of the Drosophila homolog of the xeroderma pigmentosum complementation-group B correcting gene, ERCC3.

Previously the human nucleotide excision repair gene ERCC3 was shown to be responsible for a rare combination of the autosomal recessive DNA repair disorders xeroderma pigmentosum (complementation group B) and Cockayne's syndrome (complementation group C). The human and mouse ERCC3 proteins contain several sequence motifs suggesting that it is a nucleic acid or chromatin binding helicase. To study the significance of these domains and the overall evolutionary conservation of the gene, the homolog from Drosophila melanogaster was isolated by low stringency hybridizations using two flanking probes of the human ERCC3 cDNA. The flanking probe strategy selects for long stretches of nucleotide sequence homology, and avoids isolation of small regions with fortuitous homology. In situ hybridization localized the gene onto chromosome III 67E3/4, a region devoid of known D.melanogaster mutagen sensitive mutants. Northern blot analysis showed that the gene is continuously expressed in all stages of fly development. A slight increase (2-3 times) of ERCC3Dm transcript was observed in the later stages. Two almost full length cDNAs were isolated, which have different 5' untranslated regions (UTR). The SD4 cDNA harbours only one long open reading frame (ORF) coding for ERCC3Dm. Another clone (SD2), however, has the potential to encode two proteins: a 170 amino acids polypeptide starting at the optimal first ATG has no detectable homology with any other proteins currently in the data bases, and another ORF beginning at the suboptimal second startcodon which is identical to that of SD4. Comparison of the encoded ERCC3Dm protein with the homologous proteins of mouse and man shows a strong amino acid conservation (71% identity), especially in the postulated DNA binding region and seven 'helicase' domains. The ERCC3Dm sequence is fully consistent with the presumed functions and the high conservation of these regions strengthens their functional significance. Microinjection and DNA transfection of ERCC3Dm into human xeroderma pigmentosum (c.g. B) fibroblasts and group 3 rodent mutants did not yield detectable correction. One of the possibilities to explain these negative findings is that the D.melanogaster protein may be unable to function in a mammalian repair context.


DNA conformational change induced by the bacteriophage phi 29 connector.

Translocation of viral DNA inwards and outwards of the capsid of double-stranded DNA bacteriophages occurs through the connector, a key viral structure that is known to interact with DNA. It is shown here that phage phi 29 connector binds both linear and circular double-stranded DNA. However, DNA-mediated protection of phi 29 connectors against Staphylococcus aureus endoprotease V8 digestion suggests that binding to linear DNA is more stable than to circular DNA. Endoprotease V8-protection assays also suggest that the length of the linear DNA required to produce a stable phi 29 connector-DNA interaction is, at least, twice longer than the phi 29 connector channel. This result is confirmed by experiments of phi 29 connector-protection of DNA against DNase I digestion. Furthermore, DNA circularization assays indicate that phi 29 connectors restrain negative supercoiling when bound to linear DNA. This DNA conformational change is not observed upon binding to circular DNA and it could reflect the existence of some left-handed DNA coiling or DNA untwisting inside of the phi 29 connector channel.


Bacteriophage and spliceosomal proteins function as position-dependent cis/trans repressors of mRNA translation in vitro.

The translational regulation of ferritin expression currently represents the only well characterized example for eukaryotic translational control by high affinity interactions between a specific cytoplasmic protein, iron regulatory factor [IRF], and an mRNA-binding site, the iron-responsive element [IRE], located in the 5' untranslated region [UTR] of ferritin mRNAs. To elucidate whether IRE/IRF may represent the first physiological example of a more general mechanism for mRNA-specific translational control, high affinity RNA-binding sites for the bacteriophage MS2 coat protein or the spliceosomal protein U1A were introduced into the 5' UTR of capped chloramphenicol acetyltransferase [CAT] transcripts. In the absence of these RNA-binding proteins, CAT mRNA was efficiently translated. Addition of purified MS2 coat protein or U1A caused a specific, dose-dependent repression of CAT biosynthesis in rabbit reticulocyte and wheat germ in vitro translation systems. The translational blockage imposed by the RNA/protein complex was reversible and did not alter the stability of the repressed mRNAs. Translational repression caused by binding of U1A or MS2 proteins to their target mRNAs is shown to be position-dependent in vitro. Thus, mRNA/protein complexes without an a priori role in eukaryotic mRNA translation function as translational effectors with characteristics resembling those of IRE/IRF.


Mutation of the casein kinase II phosphorylation site abolishes the anti-proliferative activity of p53.

The p53 tumour suppressor protein is phosphorylated by several protein kinases, including casein kinase II. In order to understand the functional significance of phosphorylation by casein kinase II, we have introduced mutations at serine 386 in mouse p53, the residue phosphorylated by this kinase, and investigated their effects on the ability of p53 to arrest cell growth. Replacement of serine 386 by alanine led to loss of growth suppressor activity, while aspartic acid at this position partially retained suppressor function. These data suggest that the anti-proliferative activity of p53 is activated by phosphorylation at serine 386, and establish a direct link between the covalent modification of a growth suppressor protein and regulation of its activity in mammalian cells.


Fission yeast cdc21+ belongs to a family of proteins involved in an early step of chromosome replication.

The cdc21+ gene of Schizosaccharomyces pombe was originally identified in a screen for cdc mutants affecting S phase and nuclear division. Here we show that the cdc21+ gene product belongs to a family of proteins implicated in DNA replication. These include the Saccharomyces cerevisiae MCM2 and MCM3 proteins, which are needed for the efficient function of certain replication origins, and S.cerevisiae CDC46, which is required for the initiation of chromosome replication. The cdc21 mutant is defective in the mitotic maintenance of some plasmids, like mcm2 and mcm3. The mutant arrests with a single nucleus containing two genome equivalents of DNA, and maintains a cytoplasmic microtubular configuration. Activation of most, but not all, replication origins in the mutant may result in failure to replicate a small proportion of the genome, and this could explain the arrest phenotypes. Using the polymerase chain reaction technique, we have identified new cdc21(+)-related genes in S.cerevisiae, S.pombe and Xenopus laevis. Our results suggest that individual members of the cdc21(+)-related family are highly conserved in evolution.


Binding of Xenopus oocyte masking proteins to mRNA sequences.

It has been shown previously that maternal mRNA, synthesized and stored in growing oocytes, is stabilized and blocked from translation through various mechanisms including restricted polyadenylation and the binding of proteins to 3' regulatory elements. In addition to binding sequence-specific proteins, the bulk of stored mRNA is packaged with a set of 'masking' proteins, the most abundant of which are the phosphoproteins pp56 and pp60. In this report these proteins are shown to be bound to heterogeneous mRNA sequences and not to the 3' poly(A) tract. Crosslinking studies demonstrate that all of the pp56/60 present makes direct contact with the RNA. In vitro binding studies confirm that pp56/60 interact with single-stranded RNA of heterogeneous sequence, such as occurring in the maternal mRNA encoding cyclin B1. However, binding is equally effective to capped and polyadenylated cyclin mRNA, to truncated mRNA lacking 5' and 3' non-coding regions and even to the antisense sequence. Lengths of 70-80 nucleotides are protected from ribonuclease digestion after protein binding. Although no extended binding motif could be detected, binding does appear to have some specificity in that it is not competed out by 100-fold excess of double-stranded RNA, transfer RNA, poly(A) and various other homopolymers and heteropolymers. The sequence which competes most efficiently is the mixed polypyrimidine, poly(C,U). Crosslinking of RNA-protein complexes, followed by ribonuclease digestion, suggests that the arrangement of proteins on RNA is as dimers. Dimerization appears to be stabilized by phosphorylation of pp56/60. These results are discussed in terms of the known structures of pp56/60.


Differential splicing creates a diversity of transcripts from a neurospecific developmentally regulated gene encoding a protein with new zinc-finger motifs.

We have cloned a novel neurospecific gene, named neuro-d4, by differential screening a rat cerebral cortex cDNA library. Northern blot hybridization showed that neuro-d4 expression is restricted to neuronal tissues both in newborn and adult animals. The level of neuro-d4 mRNA in the rat central nervous system is high during the later stages of embryonic development and gradually decreases during the postnatal period. In situ hybridization suggests that the gene transcripts are localized in neuronal cell bodies. Nucleotide sequences of overlapped cDNA clones and all 12 exons in genomic clone were determined. The deduced protein has consensus sequences for a nuclear localization signal, a Krüppel-type zinc-finger and a new type of cysteine/histidine-rich motif resembling zinc-fingers. Several differential splicing variants were found, each of which influences the structure of the encoded protein.


The 2-amino group of guanine is absolutely required for specific binding of the anti-cancer antibiotic echinomycin to DNA.

The 2-amino group of guanine is believed to be a critical determinant of potential DNA binding sites for echinomycin and related quinoxaline antibiotics. In order to probe its importance directly we have studied the interaction between echinomycin and DNA species in which guanine N(2) is deleted by virtue of substitution of inosine for guanosine residues. The polymerase chain reaction was used to prepare inosine-substituted DNA. Binding of echinomycin, assessed by DNAse I footprinting, was practically abolished by incorporation of inosine into one or both strands of DNA. We conclude that both the purines in the preferred CpG binding site need to bear a 2-amino group to interact with echinomycin.


The mitochondrial gene encoding ribosomal protein S12 has been translocated to the nuclear genome in Oenothera.

The Oenothera mitochondrial genome contains only a gene fragment for ribosomal protein S12 (rps12), while other plants encode a functional gene in the mitochondrion. The complete Oenothera rps12 gene is located in the nucleus. The transit sequence necessary to target this protein to the mitochondrion is encoded by a 5'-extension of the open reading frame. Comparison of the amino acid sequence encoded by the nuclear gene with the polypeptides encoded by edited mitochondrial cDNA and genomic sequences of other plants suggests that gene transfer between mitochondrion and nucleus started from edited mitochondrial RNA molecules. Mechanisms and requirements of gene transfer and activation are discussed.


Alteration by site-directed mutagenesis of the conserved lysine residue in the consensus ATP-binding sequence of the RecB protein of Escherichia coli.

The RecB and RecD subunits of the RecBCD enzyme of Escherichia coli contain amino acid sequences similar to a consensus mononucleotide binding motif found in a large number of other enzymes. We have constructed by site-directed mutagenesis a lysine-to-glutamine mutation in this sequence in the RecB protein. The mutant enzyme (RecB-K29Q-CD) has essentially no nuclease or ATP hydrolysis activity on double-stranded DNA, showing the importance of RecB for unwinding double-stranded DNA. However, ATP hydrolysis stimulated by single-stranded DNA is reduced by only about 5-8-fold compared to the wild-type, nuclease activity on single-stranded DNA is reduced by less than 2-fold, and the nuclease activity of the RecB-K29Q-CD enzyme requires ATP. The effects of the RecB mutation suggest that the RecD protein hydrolyzes ATP and can stimulate the RecBCD enzyme nuclease activity on single-stranded DNA.


The developmental regulation of the human zeta-globin gene in transgenic mice employing beta-galactosidase as a reporter gene.

We have investigated the developmental and tissue specific expression of the human embryonic zeta-globin gene in transgenic mice. A construct containing 550 bp of zeta-globin 5' flanking region, fused to a beta-galactosidase (lacZ) reporter gene and linked to the locus control region (LCR)-like alpha positive regulatory element (alpha PRE) was employed for the production of transgenic mice. Firstly, we compared the number of live born transgenic mice containing this construct to the number of live born transgenic mice containing the entire zeta-globin gene linked to the alpha PRE or the beta LCR. Data showed that 12% of mice generated from eggs injected with zeta-promoter/lacZ/alpha PRE DNA were transgenic compared to only 2% of mice generated from eggs injected with the entire zeta-globin gene linked to the alpha PRE or the beta LCR. The reduced number of live born transgenic mice containing the latter constructs suggests that death of transgenic embryos, possibly due to thalassaemia, may be occurring. X-gal staining of whole embryos containing the lacZ gene revealed that zeta-globin promoter activity was most pronounced at 8.5-9.5 days of development and was restricted to erythroid cells. By 15 days of development, no zeta-globin promoter activity was detected. These results suggest that the alpha PRE can direct high level expression from the zeta-globin promoter and that sequences required for the correct tissue and developmental specific expression of the human zeta-globin gene are present within 550 bp's of 5' flanking region. Sequences within the body of the zeta-globin gene or 3' of the cap site do not appear to be necessary for correct zeta-globin developmental regulation.


In vitro and in vivo protein--DNA interactions on the rat erythroid-specific L' pyruvate kinase gene promoter.

The rat L-type pyruvate kinase gene possesses two alternative tissue-specific promoters, located 472 bp apart; the upstream L' promoter is erythroid-specific and the downstream L promoter is hepatocyte-specific. The erythroid-specific L' promoter is strongly active in fetal liver at day 17 of gestation, while its activity rapidly decreases thereafter. A L' promoter fragment spanning from nucleotide -320 to +10 with respect to the cap site is able to direct a weak but erythroid-specific transcription in a cell-free system. We have used DNAse I footprinting and gel mobility shift assays to characterize and identify the binding of nuclear factors from both 17-day-old fetal liver and adult liver nuclear extracts to a 320 bp fragment of the 5' flanking region of the gene in vitro. Two clusters of erythroid-specific interactions were found. The proximal cluster consists of two GATA-1 binding sites at -50 bp and -65 bp from the transcription initiation site, immediately downstream of a CACC motif and two G/C-rich elements. The distal cluster of cis-elements, located 130 bp upstream, corresponds to two GATA-1 sequences. These two sequences overlap NF1 motifs interacting with ubiquitous NF1 transcriptional factors in presence of adult hepatic extracts. Furthermore, we have examined in vivo protein-DNA interactions by DMS footprinting in livers of 17-day-old rat fetuses and adult rats. We found that the sites characterized in vitro are occupied in vivo. Therefore, in adult liver the L' promoter, although inactive, nevertheless interacts with ubiquitous factors.


Differentially regulated malate synthase genes participate in carbon and nitrogen metabolism of S. cerevisiae.

We have isolated a second gene (MLS1), which in addition to DAL7, encodes malate synthase from S. cerevisiae. Expression of the two genes is specific for their physiological roles in carbon and nitrogen metabolism. Expression of MLS1, which participates in the utilization of non-fermentable carbon sources, is sensitive to carbon catabolite repression, but nearly insensitive to nitrogen catabolite repression. DAL7, which participates in catabolism of the nitrogenous compound allantoin, is insensitive to carbon catabolite repression, but highly sensitive to nitrogen catabolite repression. Results obtained with null mutations in these genes suggest that S. cerevisiae contains at least one and perhaps two additional malate synthase genes.


Oligonucleotide probes detect splicing variants in situ in Drosophila embryos.

We describe a method for the in situ detection of specific splicing variants. The method is based on the use of antisense oligonucleotides designed to span splice junctions labelled with digoxigenin by terminal transferase tailing. We find that the spatial patterns of Ubx splicing variants Ia and IIa are similar in early embryos, but differ in late embryos. Variant IVa is only detected in the CNS (ps6) at stages 16 and 17. We also present evidence indicating that the first splicing event is cotranscriptional.


Intracellular availability of unmodified, phosphorothioated and liposomally encapsulated oligodeoxynucleotides for antisense activity.

We have studied factors which may effect the intracellular availability of oligonucleotides to achieve antisense activity. 15-20 mer unmodified, phosphorothioate modified and liposomally encapsulated oligodeoxynucleotides have been tested in leukemia MOLT-3 cells. Phosphorothioate analogs penetrated and accumulated intact in cells in contrast to unmodified oligomers, which showed a high instability in cell culture medium. A slow decrease of intracellular concentration of undegraded phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides was observed after cell treatment and could be predominantly explained by a significant efflux transport. Using laser-assisted confocal microscopy we have observed that fluorescein 5-end-labeled phosphorothioate derivatives predominantly distributed in intracytoplasmic endocytic vesicles following cell treatment. The end-capped version of phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides exhibited greater cellular uptake than fully modified analogues while exhibiting similar biological stability. Liposome encapsulation made possible oligomer protection in serum-containing medium and substantially improved cellular accumulation. Furthermore, the efflux rate of oligomer initially introduced within liposomes is 2-fold lower than that observed in cells which have been incubated with free oligonucleotides. Liposomal preparations of oligodeoxynucleotides facilitate release from endocytic vesicles, and thus, cytoplasmic and nuclear localization are observed following cell treatment. Furthermore, intracellular distribution studies demonstrate that intracellular transport of unmodified oligomers is effectively achieved using the liposomal carrier.


A single nuclear gene specifies the abundance and extent of RNA editing of a plant mitochondrial transcript.

A number of cytosines are altered to be recognized as uridines in transcripts of the NADH-dehydrogenase subunit 3 (nad3) gene in the mitochondria of the higher plant Petunia hybrida. Here we show that the extent of editing for three of the edit sites, all of which change the encoded amino acid, varies between different Petunia lines. Genetic analysis indicates that a single nuclear gene is responsible for this variation. Interestingly, according to RNA blot hybridization analysis, RNA editing extent and transcript abundance are correlated. This observation is consistent with the hypothesis that RNA editing is a post-transcriptional event.


Specific transcription from the adenovirus E2E promoter by RNA polymerase III requires a subpopulation of TFIID.

The early E2 (E2E) promoter of adenovirus type 2 possesses a TATA-like element and binding sites for the factors E2F and ATF. This promoter is transcribed by RNA polymerase II in high salt nuclear extracts, but by RNA polymerase III in standard nuclear extracts, as judged by sensitivity to low and high, respectively, concentrations of alpha-amanitin. Transcription by the two RNA polymerases initiated at the same site and depended, in both cases, on the TATA-like sequence and upstream elements. However, RNA polymerase III transcripts, unlike those synthesized by RNA polymerase II, terminated at two runs of Ts downstream of the initiation site. Although they are not essential, sequences downstream of the initiation site increased the efficiency of E2E transcription by RNA polymerase III. Such RNA polymerase III dependent transcription required a subpopulation of the general transcription factor, TFIID: TFIID that binds weakly to phosphocellulose (0.3 M eluate) complemented a TFIID-depleted extract to restore RNAp III transcription, whereas TFIID tightly associated with phosphocellulose (1 M eluate) was unable to do so.


Intramolecular triplex potential sequence within a gene down regulates its expression in vivo.

Polypurine/polypyrimidine sequences have been shown to adopt intramolecular triple helix structures under torsional stress and/or at low pH. Such sequences have been observed within the the regulatory as well as the coding regions of several genes and the involvement of triple helical structure adopted by these sequences in transcriptional control has been speculated. Taking advantage of codon degeneracy we have engineered a 38 bp long intramolecular triple helix potential polypurine/polypyrimidine sequence motif between the 37th and 50th codons of beta-galactosidase gene in the plasmid pBluescriptIISK+ to investigate whether in vivo E.coli RNA polymerase would transcribe sequence motifs adopting triple helix structure, when present within the coding region of the gene. E.coli JM109 cells transformed with this construct pSBT1, exhibited 80% inhibition of beta-galactosidase expression compared to another construct pSBmT12 made using less preferred codons for identical amino acid sequence, but lacking the polypurine/polypyrimidine sequence motif. Truncated beta-galactosidase transcripts were observed for pSBT1 but not for pSBmT12. Here we report that a putative triple helix potential sequence within a gene can down regulate its expression by partially blocking the transcription elongation in vivo.


Cloning and characterization of genes for the PvuI restriction and modification system.

The genes encoding the endonuclease and the methylase of the PvuI restriction and modification system were cloned in E.coli and characterized. The genes were adjacent in tandem orientation spanning a distance of 2200 bases. The PvuI endonuclease was a single polypeptide with a calculated molecular weight of 27,950 daltons. The endonuclease was easily detectable when the gene was expressed from its endogenous promotor and present on a low copy plasmid, but expression was considerably enhanced when the endonuclease gene was placed under the control of a strong promoter on a high copy plasmid. The methylase did not completely protect plasmid DNA from R.PvuI digestion until the methylase gene was placed under lac promotor control in a multicopy plasmid. In the absence of the M.PvuI methylase, expression of the R.PvuI endonuclease from the lac promotor on a multicopy plasmid was not lethal to wild type E.coli, but was lethal in a temperature-sensitive ligase mutant at the non-permissive temperature. Moreover, induction of the R.PvuI endonuclease under lambda pL promotor control resulted in complete digestion of the E.coli chromosome by R.PvuI.


5' untranslated sequences modulate rapid mRNA degradation mediated by 3' AU-rich element in v-/c-fos recombinants.

One major determinant of rapid mRNA decay is the presence of AU-rich sequences located in 3' untranslated regions (UTR). To assess for the contribution of upstream sequences on the activity of the 3' AU-rich destabilizing element, we have determined the decay-rates of v-/c-fos hybrid transcripts by quantitative RNA protection analysis. In a transient expression assay, v-/c-fos recombinants generated two mRNA populations via alternative splicing and removal of an optional intron entirely located in the 5' UTR. Both mRNA species were found to be relatively stable in constructs lacking the c-fos AU-rich destabilizing element. Unexpectedly, in recombinants where intrinsic AU sequences were kept intact, only the full-length mRNA population showed high instability whereas the spliced mRNA species remained relatively stable. A v-/c-fos 5' UTR fragment encoding the optional intron was inserted into alpha-globin genes harboring either the c-fos or GM-CSF destabilizing element. The splicing and degradation patterns of these heterologous transcripts paralleled that of v-/c-fos recombinants. These observations unmasked a 5' cis-acting element in v-/c-fos mRNA whose presence is required for the activity of the AU-rich destabilizing element. They demonstrate the important role of interactions between distinct sequences on the regulation of mRNA stability.


Structure and function of the murine beta-globin locus control region 5' HS-3.

We previously identified the murine homologue of the human beta-globin Locus Control Region (LCR) 5' HS-2. The lambda clone containing murine 5' HS-2 extends approximately 12 kb upstream from this site; here, we report the sequence of this entire upstream region. The murine homologue of 5' HS-3 is located approximately 16.0 kb upstream from the mouse epsilon y-globin gene, but no region homologous to human 5' HS-4 was present in our clone. Using a reporter system consisting of a human gamma-globin promoter driving the neomycin phosphotransferase gene (gamma-neo), we tested murine LCR fragments extending from -21 to -9 kb (with respect to the epsilon y-globin gene cap site) for activity in classical enhancer and integration site assays in K562 and MEL cells. 5' HS-2 behaved as a powerful enhancer and increased the number of productive integration events (as measured by a colony assay) in both K562 and MEL cells. 5' HS-3 had no activity in K562 cells or in transiently transfected MEL cells, but was nearly as active as 5' HS-2 in the MEL cell colony assay. Two additional tests confirmed the identification of murine 5' HS-3: first, a DNA fragment containing 5' HS-3 confers copy number-dependent, integration-site independent inducibility on a linked beta-globin gene in the MEL cell environment. Secondly, a strong DNAseI hypersensitive site maps to the location of the 5' HS-3 functional core in chromatin derived from MEL cells. Collectively, these data suggest that we have identified the murine homologue of human 5' HS-3, and that this site is functional when integrated into the chromatin of MEL cells but not K562 cells. 5' HS-3 may therefore contain information that contributes to the development-specific expression of the beta-like globin genes.


Identifying constraints on the higher-order structure of RNA: continued development and application of comparative sequence analysis methods.

Comparative sequence analysis addresses the problem of RNA folding and RNA structural diversity, and is responsible for determining the folding of many RNA molecules, including 5S, 16S, and 23S rRNAs, tRNA, RNAse P RNA, and Group I and II introns. Initially this method was utilized to fold these sequences into their secondary structures. More recently, this method has revealed numerous tertiary correlations, elucidating novel RNA structural motifs, several of which have been experimentally tested and verified, substantiating the general application of this approach. As successful as the comparative methods have been in elucidating higher-order structure, it is clear that additional structure constraints remain to be found. Deciphering such constraints requires more sensitive and rigorous protocols, in addition to RNA sequence datasets that contain additional phylogenetic diversity and an overall increase in the number of sequences. Various RNA databases, including the tRNA and rRNA sequence datasets, continue to grow in number as well as diversity. Described herein is the development of more rigorous comparative analysis protocols. Our initial development and applications on different RNA datasets have been very encouraging. Such analyses on tRNA, 16S and 23S rRNA are substantiating previously proposed associations and are now beginning to reveal additional constraints on these molecules. A subset of these involve several positions that correlate simultaneously with one another, implying units larger than a basepair can be under a phylogenetic constraint.


The mouse beta-globin locus control region: hypersensitive sites 3 and 4.

The human beta-globin LCR plays a key role in the transcriptional regulation of the beta-globin locus and comprises four erythroid specific DNase I hypersensitive sites, designated 5'HS1-4. We have now isolated genomic clones containing 5'HS3 and 5'HS4 of the mouse beta-globin LCR. 5'HS3 and 5'HS4 are located 15 kb and 22 kb upstream of the mouse epsilon y-globin gene, respectively. Sequence analysis of murine 5'HS3 and 5'HS4 reveals a significant degree of sequence conservation with their human homologues, including the presence of recognition sites for functionally relevant transcription factors. 5'HS3 and 5'HS4 regions were found to form hypersensitive sites in nuclei from murine erythroid cells, but not in nuclei from a variety of nonerythroid haematopoietic cell lines. Analysis of different mouse strains revealed the existence of a polymorphism that alters the spacing between 5'HS3 and 5'HS4. Taken together, our results emphasize the extent of evolutionary conservation and complexity of mammalian beta-globin LCRs. Finally, the cloning of mouse 5'HS3 and 5'HS4 will facilitate the molecular analysis of LCR function in the mouse model.


An ultraviolet light-damaged DNA recognition protein absent in xeroderma pigmentosum group E cells binds selectively to pyrimidine (6-4) pyrimidone photoproducts.

The binding specificity was defined of a human ultraviolet light-damaged DNA recognition protein (UV-DRP), the activity of which is absent in some xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group E cells. Our results suggest that cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) are not high affinity UV-DRP binding sites--a finding consistent with other reports on this protein (Hirschfeld et al., (1990) Mol. Cell Biol., 10, 2041-2048). A major role for 6-4 photoproducts in UV-DRP binding was suggested in studies showing that irradiated oligonucleotides containing a T4C UV box sequence, which efficiently forms a TC 6-4 photoproduct, was a superior substrate for the UV-DRP when compared to a similar irradiated oligonucleotide having a T5 sequence. The latter sequence forms CPDs at a much higher frequency than 6-4 photoproducts. In a more direct approach, T4C-containing oligonucleotides complexed with the UV-DRP were separated from the unbound oligonucleotide fraction and the frequencies of 6-4 photoproducts in the two DNA populations were compared. The UV-DRP-bound fraction was highly enriched for the 6-4 lesion over the unbound fraction supporting the conclusion that 6-4 photoproducts are the principal binding cues for the UV-DRP.


RecA-AC: single-site cleavage of plasmids and chromosomes at any predetermined restriction site.

We have developed a novel version of the Achilles' Cleavage (AC) reaction in which virtually any restriction site on DNA of any size can be converted to a unique cleavage site. We first polymerized RecA protein on a synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotide (oligo) in the presence of a nonhydrolyzable ATP analogue to generate oligo:RecA nucleoprotein filaments. These filament were then incubated with plasmid or intact chromosomal DNA from Saccharomyces cerevisiae to form stable complexes in the yeast LEU2 gene at the target sequence identical (or complementary) to that of the oligo. When HhaII (HinfI) methyltransferase (M.HhaII) was added, all of the recognition sites for HhaII with the exception of the one protected by the RecA filament were methylated and thus no longer cleaved by the cognate restriction endonuclease (HinfI). After inactivation of the RecA and the M.HhaII, HinfI was used to efficiently cleave the plasmid or chromosome specifically at the targeted restriction site. Since oligos specific for any sequence can be easily synthesized and the other reagents necessary to perform RecA-mediated AC (RecA-AC) reactions on both plasmids and intact chromosomes are readily available, this procedure can be applied immediately to the precise dissection and analysis of genomic DNA from any source and to any other research problem requiring efficient, highly specific cleavage of DNA at predetermined sites.


Pre-operative fasting.

This descriptive research study replicates that of Hamilton-Smith and investigates the current practice of pre-operative fasting. It was found that, 20 years on, the management of pre-operative fasting was still largely unchanged. Despite the recognition of vast potential complications of prolonged fasting, most patients were deprived of food and fluid for considerable lengths of time before general anaesthesia--far beyond the acceptable maximum fasting time of 12 hours. However, a small number of experienced nurses challenged the tradition and successfully reduced pre-operative fasting near to the accepted minimum and thereby provided adequate nutrition for patients.


Emergency care of children in shelters.

Children living in homeless shelters often lack the health care resources usually available to other children. They are often more acutely and chronically ill than domiciled children and frequently use the emergency department (ED) as their point of entry into the health care system. To identify differences in health status, we surveyed sheltered children and domiciled controls during a nine-month period in our ED. One hundred sixty-two families completed a self-administered questionnaire during the study period: 54 homeless and 108 age-matched controls. Mean patient age was 3.4 years, mean maternal age was 27 years in both groups, and average time spent in shelters was 7.8 months. Shelter families had more children, more single mothers, and higher rates of unemployment and uninsurance than did control families. Shelter children showed greater frequencies of immunization delay, lack of TB testing, and lack of a regular health care site and higher rates of medical admissions from the ED. These data show that children in shelters have limited personal, financial, and medical resources and suggest that there are significant disparities in health status. These patients need to be identified when they present to the ED in order to meet subtle, as well as obvious, health needs.


Aeromedical transport services accepting pediatric patients and their abidance by published guidelines.

The number of aeromedical transport services accepting pediatric patients (ATSP) in the United States has increased greatly over the past decade. Most aeromedical transport services are primarily designed for adults but will also transport children. Suggested guidelines for ATSP were published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in 1986. This survey of 65 ATSP and their abidance by the major AAP guidelines showed that two thirds of the ATSP were based at facilities with pediatric tertiary care capabilities; most ATSP were not directed by pediatric critical care (PCC) or pediatric emergency care (PEC) specialists; most transport team personnel were not trained in PCC or PEC; most ATSP had specific protocols for different clinical situations; most ATSP had separate equipment appropriate for pediatric patients; and there was little variation in transport team composition based on different clinical situations. In summary, all ATS surveyed transported children, but few were aware of the AAP guidelines, and only one in 65 was in complete abidance with the recommendations.


Iron absorption from chewable vitamins with iron versus iron tablets: implications for toxicity.

The medical literature contains few, if any, reports of severe iron (Fe) poisonings from ingestion of chewable multivitamins with iron. One possible explanation for this observation is that iron from multivitamins is more poorly absorbed than iron from iron tablets. To compare iron absorption from multivitamins with iron absorption from ferrous fumarate tablets, male adult volunteers were given 6 mg of elemental Fe/kg body weight as chewable multivitamins with iron or as crushed ferrous fumarate tablets in a crossover study. Serum Fe and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) were determined prior to administration of the tablets and one, two, four, and six hours after ingestion. Statistical analyses demonstrated increased and more rapid absorption of Fe from the multivitamin preparation. These results suggest that iron is well absorbed from chewable multivitamins with iron and should theoretically have the potential for producing serious toxicity when taken in overdose. The reasons that such toxicity is not commonly seen clinically are discussed, and a plan for further investigation of this issue is proposed.


The role of abdominal x-rays in the diagnosis and management of intussusception.

The management of intussusception requires early diagnosis and reduction with either barium enema or surgical intervention. Supine and erect abdominal radiographs are often obtained prior to ordering a barium enema. In many pediatric centers, the critical, initial interpretation of these radiographs is made by nonradiologists and, in most instances, by pediatric emergency physicians. We determined the sensitivity and specificity of abdominal radiographs in diagnosing intussusception when interpreted by these physicians. Six full-time pediatric emergency physicians evaluated 126 radiographs from 42 patients with intussusception, 42 in whom the disease was clinically suspected but ruled out, and 42 in whom the final radiology report was "normal." These were presented to pediatric emergency physicians in a blinded, randomized sequence without any additional clinical information. These physicians then identified patients for whom they would proceed to barium enema. The mean sensitivity was 80.5% (range, 71-93%), and the mean specificity was 58% (range, 48-69%). This compares favorably to the sensitivity of signs and symptoms, and we conclude that plain and upright abdominal films are a useful adjunct for the clinician evaluating patients for suspected intussusception.


Are skull radiographs useful in the evaluation of asymptomatic infants following minor head injury?

Head injuries constitute a common problem in the pediatric population. Recent studies indicate that infants are at increased risk for skull fractures following head trauma. The purpose of our study is to examine the utility of skull radiographs in asymptomatic infants presenting after a minor head injury. We retrospectively reviewed the records of all head-injured infants who presented to our emergency department between March 1990 and July 1991. All symptomatic patients and all infants who did not undergo radiologic evaluation were excluded from the analysis. During the study period, 35 asymptomatic infants were evaluated in our emergency department following head trauma. The mean age of the study patients was 5.5 +/- 3.8 months; 54% were male; and falls accounted for the injury in 88% of cases. The skull radiograms were normal in 30 patients, equivocal in two, and positive for a parietal skull fracture in three. The three infants who sustained skull fractures were male, were younger than three months, and had fallen from heights not exceeding three feet. Computed head tomograms revealed no intracranial pathology in these patients. We conclude that all infants who present following minor skull trauma should undergo radiologic evaluation.