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Biomedical subjects

S Fine

Publications and source records attributed to S Fine.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Agreement between parent and child report of quality of life in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

BACKGROUND: There is little information in the research literature of agreement between parent and child in reports of child quality of life (QOL) for a sample of children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The aim of our study was to determine whether parent and child concordance is greater for physical domains of QOL than for psychosocial domains; whether parents rate their child's QOL better or poorer than their child's ratings; and whether concordance is related to demographic, socioeconomic or clinical factors. METHODS: The study was a questionnaire survey of children aged 10-17 referred to the ADHD clinic and diagnosed with ADHD in the province of British Columbia (Canada) between November 2001 and October 2002 and their parent. RESULTS: Fifty-eight children diagnosed with ADHD and their parents completed our study questionnaire. The main outcome measure was the Child Health Questionnaire, which permitted comparisons on eight QOL domains and one single item. Intraclass correlation coefficients were moderate for five domains (range from 0.40 to 0.51), and good for three domains (range from 0.60 to 0.75). Children rated their QOL significantly better than their parents in four areas and poorer in one. Standardized Response Means indicated clinically important differences in mean scores for Behaviour and Self-esteem. Compared with population norms, across most domains, children with ADHD reported comparable health. Discrepancies between parent-child ratings were related to the presence of a comorbid oppositional/defiant disorder, a psychosocial stressor and increased ADHD symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Although self-report is an important means of eliciting QOL data, in children with ADHD, given the discrepancies in this study between parent and child report, measuring both perspectives seems appropriate.

Adolescent↗

Treatment choices and experiences in attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder: relations to parents' beliefs and attributions.

BACKGROUND: Despite their potential to influence treatment decisions, parents' beliefs and attitudes regarding attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have not been widely studied. This research examined relations between parents' beliefs and attitudes and their experiences with different treatments for their children's ADHD. METHODS: Canadian parents of 73, 5- to 13-year-old, boys with ADHD completed questionnaires measuring beliefs about ADHD, attributions for ADHD behaviours, and treatment experiences. RESULTS: Parents reported using primarily behaviour management and stimulant medications in treating ADHD. Approximately half of the families also used diet/vitamin therapies. Parents were knowledgeable about ADHD and held generally accurate beliefs. They saw ADHD symptoms as predominantly internal to the child and as relatively enduring and pervasive. Parents' beliefs were related to their use of different treatments and parents who used less empirically supported treatments were more likely to see ADHD behaviours as internal to the child, enduring and pervasive. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the importance of assessing parents' use of alternate treatments for ADHD and the potential role of parents' beliefs and attributions in shaping treatment choices.

Adolescent↗

Electrochemical behavior of nitinol alloy in Ringer's solution.

Corrosion behavior of Nitinol (nickel titanium) alloy has been examined in physiological Ringer's solution by means of electrochemical techniques (open-circuit potential measurement, potentiodynamic and potentiostatic polarizations) and capacitance measurements. The results show that the passive film is stable at open-circuit condition, but many of anodic current transients are observed at potentiodynamic and potentiostatic polarizations. The thickness of passive film decreased because of the occurrence of dissolution.

Journal Article↗

Emotion knowledge as a predictor of social behavior and academic competence in children at risk.

Following leads from differential emotions theory and empirical research, we evaluated an index of emotion knowledge as a long-term predictor of positive and negative social behavior and academic competence in a sample of children from economically disadvantaged families (N = 72). The index of emotion knowledge represents the child's ability to recognize and label emotion expressions. We administered control and predictor measures when the children were 5 years old and obtained criterion data at age 9. After controlling for verbal ability and temperament, our index of emotion knowledge predicted aggregate indices of positive and negative social behavior and academic competence. Path analysis showed that emotion knowledge mediated the effect of verbal ability on academic competence. We argue that the ability to detect and label emotion cues facilitates positive social interactions and that a deficit in this ability contributes to behavioral and learning problems. Our findings have implications for primary prevention.

Achievement↗

Intracoronary delivery of adenovirus encoding adenylyl cyclase VI increases left ventricular function and cAMP-generating capacity.

BACKGROUND: We tested the hypothesis that intracoronary injection of a recombinant adenovirus encoding adenylyl cyclase type VI (AC(VI)) would increase cardiac function in pigs. METHODS AND RESULTS: Left ventricular (LV) dP/dt and cardiac output in response to isoproterenol and NKH477 stimulation were assessed in normal pigs before and 12 days after intracoronary delivery of histamine followed by intracoronary delivery of an adenovirus encoding lacZ (control) or AC(VI) (1.4x10(12) vp). Animals that had received AC(VI) gene transfer showed increases in peak LV dP/dt (average increase of 1267+/-807 mm Hg/s; P=0.0002) and cardiac output (average increase of 39+/-20 mL. kg(-1). min(-1); P<0.0001); control animals showed no changes. Increased LV dP/dt was evident 6 days after gene transfer and persisted for at least 57 days. Basal heart rate, blood pressure, and LV dP/dt were unchanged, despite changes in cardiac responsiveness to catecholamine stimulation. Twenty-three hour ECG recordings showed no change in mean heart rate or ectopic beats and no arrhythmias. LV homogenates from animals receiving AC(VI) gene transfer showed increased AC(VI) protein content (P=0.0007) and stimulated cAMP production (P=0.0006), confirming transgene expression and function; basal LV AC activity was unchanged. Increased cAMP-generating capacity persisted for at least 18 weeks (P<0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: Intracoronary injection of a recombinant adenovirus encoding AC provides enduring increases in cardiac function.

Adenoviridae↗

Neuronal fractalkine expression in HIV-1 encephalitis: roles for macrophage recruitment and neuroprotection in the central nervous system.

HIV-1 infection of the brain results in chronic inflammation, contributing to the neuropathogenesis of HIV-1 associated neurologic disease. HIV-1-infected mononuclear phagocytes (MP) present in inflammatory infiltrates produce neurotoxins that mediate inflammation, dysfunction, and neuronal apoptosis. Neurologic disease is correlated with the relative number of MP in and around inflammatory infiltrates and not viral burden. It is unclear whether these cells also play a neuroprotective role. We show that the chemokine, fractalkine (FKN), is markedly up-regulated in neurons and neuropil in brain tissue from pediatric patients with HIV-1 encephalitis (HIVE) compared with those without HIVE, or that were HIV-1 seronegative. FKN receptors are expressed on both neurons and microglia in patients with HIVE. These receptors are localized to cytoplasmic structures which are characterized by a vesicular appearance in neurons which may be in cell-to-cell contact with MPs. FKN colocalizes with glutamate in these neurons. Similar findings are observed in brain tissue from an adult patient with HIVE. FKN is able to potently induce the migration of primary human monocytes across an endothelial cell/primary human fetal astrocyte trans-well bilayer, and is neuroprotective to cultured neurons when coadministered with either the HIV-1 neurotoxin platelet activating factor (PAF) or the regulatory HIV-1 gene product Tat. Thus focal inflammation in brain tissue with HIVE may up-regulate neuronal FKN levels, which in turn may be a neuroimmune modulator recruiting peripheral macrophages into the brain, and in a paracrine fashion protecting glutamatergic neurons.

Adult↗

Effects of stimulant medication treatment on mothers' and children's attributions for the behavior of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Participants were 55 children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who were receiving ongoing treatment with stimulant medications and their mothers, and 31 children with ADHD who were beginning stimulant medication and their mothers. Mothers and children offered attributions for child behaviors that occurred when the child was medicated and not medicated. Mothers rated child compliance and prosocial behavior as more global and stable when the child was medicated and rated noncompliance, ADHD symptoms, and oppositional behavior as more externally caused, less global and stable, but more controllable by the child when the child was medicated. Children rated both their compliance and noncompliance as more controllable in the medicated condition. On a forced-choice measure, both mothers and children selected ability, effort, and task attributions for compliance more in the not-medicated condition, and pill-taking attributions more in the medicated condition. This was reversed for noncompliance, which was attributed more to effort, task, or ability in the medicated condition and more to not taking a pill in the not-medicated condition. The potential risks and benefits for parent-child interactions and children's self-perceptions of these medication-related differences in attributions are discussed.

Adolescent↗

Phase I-II study of 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, doxorubicin, methotrexate, and long-term oral etoposide (FLAME) in unresectable or metastatic gastric cancer.

The objective of this phase I-II study was to determine the efficacy and toxicity of combination chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, doxorubicin, methotrexate, and oral etoposide (FLAME) in patients with measurable unresectable or metastatic gastric cancer. Starting doses on the phase I study were as follows: methotrexate 50 mg/m2 intravenous bolus day 1; leucovorin 20 mg/m2 intravenous bolus days 2 through 4, starting 24 hours after the methotrexate dose; 5-fluorouracil 325 mg/m2 intravenous bolus 15 minutes after leucovorin days 2 through 4; doxorubicin 25 mg/m2 intravenous bolus day 8; and oral etoposide 50 mg/day for 14 days, starting on day 8. A new cycle started on day 28. A total of 42 patients were treated--10 patients in the phase I study and 32 patients in the phase II study. Dose-limiting toxicity was encountered in the phase I study on the second escalation step, when doxorubicin was escalated to 30 mg/m2 and 5-fluorouracil was escalated to 350 mg/m2. In the phase II study 28 patients (109 courses) were evaluable for toxicity. Neutropenia grade 3 or more was dose limiting and was documented in 12 patients (43%) during 22 treatment courses (20%). Neutropenia was associated with febrile neutropenia requiring hospitalization in four patients during five courses of therapy. Grade 3 stomatitis and grade 3 diarrhea was infrequent, documented in two patients (two courses) and three patients (four courses), respectively. All other toxicity was grade 1 and grade 2. The combined objective response rate in 38 evaluable patients entered in both studies was 23.3% (six partial responses and one complete response). Stable disease was documented in 15 patients (39.5%). The median survival for the 42 patients entered in both trials was 6.9 months (95% confidence interval, 5.9-8.5 months). The objective response rate and median survival for the combined group is comparable with that reported for the etoposide, leucovorin, and 5-fluorouracil (ELF), and 5-fluorouracil and methotrexate (FMTX) regimens in a recently reported, multicenter, phase III study.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Phase I studies of fluorouracil, doxorubicin and vinorelbine without (FAN) and with (SUPERFAN) folinic acid in patients with advanced breast cancer.

PURPOSE: The Breast Cancer Site Group of the National Cancer Institute of Canada - Clinical Trials Group (NCIC-CTG) undertook two parallel phase I studies to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended phase II dose of vinorelbine in combination with doxorubicin and fluorouracil (with or without folinic acid) in metastatic breast cancer. METHODS: Cohorts of five patients were to receive: (a) fluorouracil 500 mg/m2 and doxorubicin 50 mg/m2 on day 1 only and escalating doses of vinorelbine (15, 20, 25, 30 mg/m2) on days 1, 8 and 15 every 3 weeks (FAN regimen), or (b) fluorouracil 340 mg/m2 and folinic acid 200 mg/m2 on days 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, doxorubicin 40 mg/m2 on day 1 only and escalating doses of vinorelbine (15, 20, 25, 30 mg/m2) on day 1 and again on day 5 every 4 weeks (SUPERFAN regimen). Eligibility included measurable or evaluable metastatic breast cancer and having received neither previous chemotherapy for metastatic disease nor anthracycline-containing adjuvant therapy. RESULTS: Of 26 and 12 patients enrolled in the FAN and SUPERFAN regimens, 26 and 12 were evaluable for toxicity and 21 and 9 for response, respectively. Median ages were 60.3 years (41-71 years) and 64.2 years (51-73 years). Both regimens required amendment after the first cohort with an original day- 15 vinorelbine dose omitted from the FAN regimen and more prolonged nadir granulocyte counts allowed. Myelosuppression was dose limiting. MTDs in the FAN and SUPERFAN regimens were vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 and 20 mg/m2. Other toxicities included mucositis, septicemia and febrile neutropenia. Peripheral neuropathy and constipation were mild. Of the 21 FAN patients evaluable for response, 3 (14%) had complete responses and 7 (33%) had partial responses, for an overall response rate of 48%; 9 (43%) had stable disease and 2 (9%) had progressive disease as their best response. Of the nine SUPERFAN patients evaluable for response, none had a complete response. There were two (22%) with partial responses, and six (67%) had stable disease and one (11%) had progressive disease as their best response. CONCLUSIONS: The SUPERFAN regimen was too toxic to pursue even at the lowest dose. The recommended phase II starting dose for the FAN regimen was vinorelbine 20 mg/m2. Although these were phase I studies response rates in evaluable patients were less than expected and toxicity did not allow the use of as much vinorelbine in the combinations as had been anticipated. The limited response data from our study would imply that combining vinorelbine with more toxic agents may not enhance response rates and may defeat the advantage of tolerability, especially in elderly patients.

Adult↗

Randomized trial of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil chemotherapy added to tamoxifen as adjuvant therapy in postmenopausal women with node-positive estrogen and/or progesterone receptor-positive breast cancer: a report of the National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group. Breast Cancer Site Group.

PURPOSE AND METHODS: By the mid 1980s, tamoxifen alone was considered standard adjuvant therapy for postmenopausal women with node-positive, estrogen receptor (ER)- or progesterone receptor (PgR)-positive breast cancer. From 1984 through 1990, 705 eligible postmenopausal women with node-positive, ER- or PgR-positive breast cancer were randomized to a National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group (NCIC CTG) study that compared tamoxifen 30 mg by mouth daily for 2 years (TAM) versus TAM plus chemotherapy with all-intravenous cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2, methotrexate 40 mg/m2, and fluorouracil 600 mg/m2 given every 21 days for eight cycles (CMF). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in overall survival, recurrence-free survival, locoregional recurrence-free survival, or distant recurrence-free survival between the two treatment arms. However, there was significantly greater severe toxicity, which included leukopenia (P < .0001), nausea and vomiting (P < .0001), and thromboembolic events (P < .0001), as well as significantly more mild or greater toxicity, which included thrombocytopenia (P = .04), anemia (P = .02), infection (P = .0004), mucositis (P = .0001), diarrhea (P = .0001), and neurologic toxicity (P = .006), in women who received TAM plus CMF. CONCLUSION: The addition of CMF to TAM adds no benefit and considerable toxicity in this group of women.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Adjuvant therapy for stage III colon cancer after complete resection. Provincial Gastrointestinal Disease Site Group.

GUIDELINE QUESTIONS: Should patients with resected stage III colon cancer receive adjuvant therapy? If so, which therapy should be recommended? OBJECTIVE: To make recommendations regarding the use of adjuvant therapy in the treatment of resected stage III colon cancer. OUTCOMES: Overall survival is the primary outcome of interest. Secondary outcomes are disease-free survival and adverse effects of the treatment regimens. PERSPECTIVE (VALUES): Evidence was selected and reviewed by 4 members of the Gastrointestinal Disease Site Group (GI DSG) of the Ontario Cancer Treatment Practice Guidelines Initiative. Earlier drafts of the guideline were reviewed, discussed and approved by the GI DSG, which comprises medical and radiation oncologists, surgeons and epidemiologists. Community representatives did not participate in the development of this guideline but will participate in future guidelines development. QUALITY OF EVIDENCE: There are 3 meta-analyses, 33 published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 1 consensus statement. The GI DSG pooled data from 10 of the 33 RCTs that allowed for such an analysis. BENEFITS: Two of 3 RCTs reported improved survival rates with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) plus semustine or mitomycin C (MMC) compared with no treatment (observation) after surgical resection. Three trials reported a benefit in both overall and disease-free survival with 5-FU plus levamisole compared with observation after surgery. In 2 trials, levamisole alone did not produce a survival benefit compared with observation. One trial reported improved disease-free, but not overall, survival rates with oral HCFU (1-hexylcarbamoyl-5-fluorouracil) compared with observation. In 3 trials of 5-FU plus leucovorin, disease-free and overall survival rates were improved compared with observation. Nine trials compared portal vein infusion (PVI) of 5-FU with observation after surgery. In 2 of the trials, for which data were available for stage III patients only, improved overall survival was reported. There was a trend in all studies favouring PVI. One trial reported a survival benefit for stage III and IV patients who received oral HCFU maintenance therapy for 1 year compared with no maintenance therapy. In a trial comparing MMC plus oral HCFU with MMC alone, a survival benefit was reported in the combined treatment group; however, the stages of cancer were unevenly distributed among the treatment groups. Only 1 study tested monoclonal antibody; a benefit was reported for both overall and disease-free survival. A meta-analysis of 10 trials comparing adjuvant therapy with observation in patients with stage III disease detected a significant reduction in the odds ratio (OR) for death (OR 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.57 to 0.85), with an absolute improvement in survival of 4% to 13%. When trials were separated according to the type of treatment given, the significant ORs were for 5-FU plus either levamisole (OR 0.61; 95% CI 0.46 to 0.80) or leucovorin (OR 0.51; 95% CI 0.36 to 0.73). Three recently reported trials comparing various combinations of 5-FU plus leucovorin, with or without levamisole, showed similar improvements in disease-free and overall survival.

Chemotherapy, Adjuvant↗

A phase II trial of 5-fluorouracil and 1-leucovorin in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

We undertook a multicenter phase II trial of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) + 1-leucovorin (1-LV) in previously untreated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer to determine the response rate, response duration, time to progression, survival, and toxicity. Patients were treated with i.v. 5FU 370 mg/m2/day and 1-LV 100 mg/m2/day x 5 every 28 days. Toxicity and response were determined by WHO criteria. One hundred and twenty-six patients were entered, and 119 patients were eligible and evaluable. Eighty-eight patients had colon cancer and 37 had rectal cancer. The male:female ratio was 58:68. The mean age was 62.2 years. ECOG performance status distribution was 0 (39.7%), 1 (46%), and 2 (11.9%). The median number of courses of therapy administered was 4.5. Severe- or life-threatening stomatitis or diarrhea, nausea, and granulocytopenia occurred in 17.6, 23.2, 17.6, and 15.9% of patients, respectively. The response rate was 22/119 [18.5%; 95% confidence interval (CI) of 12.0-26.6]. Median response duration was 188 days (95% CI of 111-248 days). Median survival was 379 days (95% confidence interval of 289-452 days). These results indicate that when 1-LV is combined with 5FU, toxicity is similar in pattern and severity to that of the d,1 racemic mixture. The overall efficacy of 1-LV + 5FU is comparable to a recent metaanalysis.

Adult↗

Increased thromboembolic complications with concurrent tamoxifen and chemotherapy in a randomized trial of adjuvant therapy for women with breast cancer. National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group Breast Cancer Site Group.

PURPOSE AND METHODS: Associations between thromboembolism and malignancy, usually widespread, and between thromboembolism and hormonal and/or chemotherapy have been previously reported. We performed a randomized trial of tamoxifen 30 mg/d for 2 years (T) versus T plus 6 months of intravenous chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil (CMF) for postmenopausal women with involved axillary nodes and positive estrogen receptor (ER) or progesterone receptor (PgR) status following primary therapy for breast cancer. RESULTS: We observed one or more thromboembolic events in 48 of 353 women (13.6%) allocated to receive T plus CMF in comparison to five of 352 women (2.6%) randomized to receive T alone (P < .0001). Six women in the T plus CMF arm, but none randomized to receive T alone, suffered two thromboembolic events while an study therapy. There were also significantly more women who developed severe (grade 3 to 5) thromboembolic events in the T plus CMF arm than in the T arm (34 v five; P < .0001). Most thromboembolic events (39 of 54) occurred while women were actually receiving chemotherapy (P < .0001). Thromboembolic complications resulted in more days in hospital and more deaths than any other complication of therapy, including infection, in this trial. CONCLUSION: Thromboembolism related to the addition of CMF chemotherapy to tamoxifen as adjuvant therapy in this group of women represents a relatively common and serious complication that may outweigh any benefits offered by this additional therapy.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

A clinical and pharmacological study of 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin and interferon alfa in advanced colorectal cancer.

Modulation of 5-fluorouracil (FUra) using leucovorin (LV) is a standard treatment approach in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Modulation of FUra with interferon alfa has also shown some promise. Laboratory data have demonstrated increased cytotoxicity when FUra is combined with both LV and interferon. The current study examined the effects of double modulation of FUra using LV and interferon. Patients with measurable advanced colorectal cancer received bolus FUra 375 mg/m2 plus LV 20 mg/m2 daily for 5 days, repeated every 28 days. Recombinant human interferon alfa-2a, 3 million IU/m2 subcutaneously, was given daily on the days of chemotherapy then three times weekly. There was one complete response and nine partial responses (10/41) seen for an overall response rate of 24% (95% CI 12.0-40.0%). Overall, 70% of patients experienced one or more episodes of nonhematologic toxicity of grade 3 or more. Weight loss was common, with a mean decrease of 2.9 kg over the first two months (P < 0.0001). Improvements in tumor-related symptoms were balanced by increased fatigue and a deterioration in body weight and performance status. There was no evidence of progressive changes in FUra metabolism from interferon usage.

Adult↗

Phase II trial of 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid in the treatment of advanced breast cancer.

Standard combination chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer produces response rates between 30-60% with limited impact on survival. We undertook a phase II trial to determine the activity of 5 fluorouracil (5FU) and folinic acid (FA) in patients with measurable metastatic or recurrent breast cancer who had received no prior chemotherapy. Patients meeting the eligibility criteria received 5FU 370 mg/m2/day and FA 200 mg/m2/day for 5 days repeated every 28 days, toxicity allowing. Response defined by standard criteria was assessed every 8 weeks and toxicity according to WHO criteria was determined on every course. Thirty-three patients were entered on trial. Thirty-two patients were evaluable for response and 33 for toxicity. The dose limiting toxicity was stomatitis with 7/32, 19/32, and 5/32 patients experiencing grade 1, 2, and 3 toxicity. Grades 1 and 2 diarrhea occurred in 17/32 and 11/32 patients respectively. Myelosuppression was not significant. Two complete and 11 partial responses were observed. The overall response rate was 41% (95% CI, 24-58%). Responses were seen in soft tissue and visceral sites. Patients who had received adjuvant chemotherapy more than 6 months prior to receiving 5FU and FA responded also. Six of 29 patients receiving standard combination chemotherapy as second line treatment responded subsequently. We concluded: 1) 5FU and FA is an active combination in the treatment of breast cancer warranting further evaluation in combination with other drugs; 2) the dose-limiting toxicity of stomatitis is tolerable; 3) patients receiving 5FU and FA as first line therapy can respond to conventional combination chemotherapy as second line treatment.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Clinicopathologic correlation of the multiple recurrent serosanguineous retinal pigment epithelial detachments syndrome.

PURPOSE: Ocular clinicopathologic correlation in a patient with bilateral multiple recurrent hemorrhagic detachments of the sensory retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which eventually led to rubeosis and loss of useful vision in one eye, is described. The clinical appearance was most consistent with multiple recurrent serosanguineous RPE detachments syndrome (which may be similar to posterior uveal bleeding, or PUB, syndrome). METHODS: Light microscopic examination of 450 serial sections through a 3.7-mm area including the macula, optic nerve head, and superior and inferior peripapillary region of the eye that underwent diagnostic enucleation was performed. One fresh cap was used for immunohistochemical staining. Tissue from the posterior aspect of the other cap was prepared for electron microscopy. RESULTS: Microscopic examination disclosed extensive fibrovascular proliferation in the subretinal space and within Bruch's membrane, and the presence of at least 23 choroidal blood vessels that traversed defects in Bruch's membrane. Immunohistochemical studies of inflammatory infiltrates within the choroid and fibrovascular tissue demonstrated both a B- and T-cell response. CONCLUSION: In this case, recurrent serosanguineous detachments of the sensory retina and RPE were secondary to choroidal neovascularization with extensive fibrovascular proliferation in the subretinal space and within Bruch's membrane. Marked lymphocytic infiltration was present throughout the choroid and the fibrovascular tissue. Clinical improvement in the fellow eye after immunosuppressive therapy suggested that an immunologic component might be a causative factor, although the waxing and waning course in this condition precludes any definitive evaluation for its use in multiple recurrent serosanguineous RPE detachments syndrome.

Bruch Membrane↗

Factors associated with dropout from group psychotherapy with depressed adolescents.

Attempts to determine the characteristics of those individuals who drop out from psychotherapy have yielded few consistent findings. Clinically depressed adolescents who completed a course of brief group therapy were compared with those who failed to complete treatment. Although no differences were found on a number of clinical and demographic variables, those who dropped out were more likely to be one grade behind in school and to have a history of alcohol and/or drug abuse. The implications of these findings for research and practice are discussed.

Adolescent↗