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Seizure disorders in people with intellectual disability: an analysis of differences in social functioning, adaptive functioning and maladaptive behaviours.

The present study is an investigation into the effects of seizure disorders/epilepsy on psychopathology, social functioning, adaptive functioning and maladaptive behaviours using a sample of 353 people diagnosed with a seizure disorder, and either severe or profound intellectual disability. People with a diagnosis of seizure disorder were found to have significantly less social and adaptive skills when compared to developmentally disabled controls with no seizure disorder diagnosis. Additionally, patterns of maladaptive behaviours were identified for individuals with seizure disorders and found to be similar to those found in people without seizure activity. The implications of the present findings are discussed.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Laser desorption in transmission geometry inside a Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer.

We report here the first application of laser desorption (LD) in transmission geometry (backside irradiation of the sample through a transparent support) inside a Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer (FT-ICR). A probe-mounted fiber optic assembly was used to simplify the implementation of this LD technique. This setup requires little or no instrument modifications, has minimum maintenance requirements, and is relatively inexpensive to build. The performance of the probe was tested by determining the molecular weight of a commercial polystyrene standard from its matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) spectrum. The measured average molecular weight is comparable to that obtained for the same sample by MALDI in the conventional top-illumination arrangement (reflection geometry) and by the manufacturer of the sample by gel permeation chromatography. The average velocities measured for ions evaporated by transmission mode LD of several neat samples are about half the velocity of those obtained by using the reflection geometry. Therefore, transmission mode irradiation of the sample holds promise to desorb ions that are easier to trap in an ICR cell. An oscillating capillary nebulizer was adapted for the deposition of analytes to improve sampling reproducibility.

Chromatography, Gel↗

Enhancement of declarative memory associated with emotional content in a Brazilian sample.

Several studies have documented that emotional arousal may enhance long-term memory. This is an adaptation of a paradigm previously used in North American and European samples in investigations of the influence of emotion on long-term retention. A sample of 46 healthy adults of high and low educational levels watched a slide presentation of stories. A randomly assigned group watched a story with an arousing content and another group watched a neutral story. The stories were matched for structure and comprehensibility and the set and order of the 11 slides were the same in both conditions. Immediately after viewing the slide presentation, the participants were asked to rate the emotionality of the narrative. The arousing narrative was rated as being more emotional than the neutral narrative (t(44) = -3.6, P<0.001). Ten days later subjects were asked to remember the story and answer a multiple-choice questionnaire about it. The subjects who watched the arousing story had higher scores in the free recall measure (t(44) = -2.59, P<0. 01). There were no differences between groups in the multiple-choice test of recognition memory (t(44) = 0.26). These findings confirm that an emotional arousing content enhances long-term declarative memory and indicate the possibility of applying this instrument to clinical samples of various cultural backgrounds.

Adolescent↗

Early auditory experience induces frequency-specific, adaptive plasticity in the forebrain gaze fields of the barn owl.

Binaural acoustic cues such as interaural time and level differences (ITDs and ILDs) are used by many species to determine the locations of sound sources. The relationship between cue values and locations in space is frequency dependent and varies from individual to individual. In the current study, we tested the capacity of neurons in the forebrain localization pathway of the barn owl to adjust their tuning for binaural cues in a frequency-dependent manner in response to auditory experience. Auditory experience was altered by raising young owls with a passive acoustic filtering device that caused frequency-dependent changes in ITD and ILD. Extracellular recordings were made in normal and device-reared owls to characterize frequency-specific ITD and ILD tuning in the auditory archistriatum (AAr), an output structure of the forebrain localization pathway. In device-reared owls, individual sites in the AAr exhibited highly abnormal, frequency-dependent variations in ITD tuning, and across the population of sampled sites, there were frequency-dependent shifts in the representation of ITD. These changes were in a direction that compensated for the acoustic effects of the device on ITD and therefore tended to restore a normal representation of auditory space. Although ILD tuning was degraded relative to normal at many sites in the AAr of device-reared owls, the representation of frequency-specific ILDs across the population of sampled sites was shifted in the adaptive direction. These results demonstrate that early auditory experience shapes the representation of binaural cues in the forebrain localization pathway in an adaptive, frequency-dependent manner.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Evaluation of an enzyme immunoassay for the detection of the insect growth regulator fenoxycarb in environmental and biological samples.

A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for fenoxycarb was adapted for quantitative detection of this insect growth regulator in various environmental, agricultural, food and biological matrices. Environmental samples were taken from soil and surface waters in Hungary. The ELISA enabled fenoxycarb detection in surface waters in the 1.1-125 ng ml(-1) concentration range without sample cleanup. In contrast, soil produced a strong matrix effect due to humic acids and other soil components. Several fruit homogenates and commercial fruit juices (eg apple, pear, grape) were analyzed by the ELISA. The assay was found to be suitable for analysis of fenoxycarb in fruit juices diluted 1:40. Biological samples included insect, fish and bovine tissues. The ELISA was applied to detect fenoxycarb in various biological matrices from larvae of the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. The assay proved useful for the analysis of haemolymph diluted 1:10 or at higher dilutions. Fat body and whole body homogenates, however, caused severe matrix effects. Fenoxycarb was detected in liver homogenates (diluted 1:40) from fish treated with various doses of fenoxycarb, and the concentrations determined correlated with the applied doses. The method was used to analyze spiked bovine urine samples diluted 1:10 or at greater dilutions. Fenoxycarb content determined by the ELISA in water and fruit juice samples was validated using GC-MS with solid-phase microextraction (SPME) sample preparation. The results of these studies demonstrated both the value and limitations of the assay when used for monitoring fenoxycarb in environmental, food and biological samples.

Animals↗

Patterns of violence in homeless women.

Fifty percent of all women in America have reported being battered at some point in time, and one in five report regular assaults. This exploratory qualitative study's purpose was to describe reported patterns of violence in sheltered battered women. Homelessness was the adaptive response to battering. A purposive sample of 7 women described violence patterns from childhood and their most recent relationships prior to seeking shelter. In-depth audiotaped interviews indicated extreme violence and terror. Thematic analysis revealed an understanding of abusive patterns with a male partner. A theory of freedom-seeking behavior emerged, with related themes including terror, murderous thoughts, awakening, and escape. The emerging theory has implications for outreach, case finding, and identification of intervention timing for abused women.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Vocabulary development in Italian children: a longitudinal evaluation of quantitative and qualitative aspects.

In this study vocabulary development of a sample of 42 Italian children was evaluated through monthly administration of the Italian version of the CDI. Data collection started at 1;0-1;1 for 32 children and at 1;3-1;4 for the remaining subjects and continued until children's vocabulary reached 200 words. At fixed stages of vocabulary size (50, 100 and 200 words), individual differences in percentile scores and vocabulary composition were examined. Individual growth curves were analysed in order to verify the presence of a vocabulary spurt and the type of lexical items which contributed most to rapid acceleration in vocabulary growth. Stylistic differences in vocabulary composition were examined regarding the 'referential-expressive' distinction, controlling vocabulary size. Data have shown that general trends in vocabulary development are quite similar to those obtained for other languages using CDI adaptations. Moreover, all children in this sample eventually exhibited a vocabulary spurt, even if some can be defined as 'late spurters'. The type of lexical items which are learned during the spurt depend on both infant vocabulary size and referential score. About 28% of infants in this sample were defined 'referential' when their vocabulary size was about 50 words, but the stylistic differences disappeared at the 100- and 200-word stages. Composition of vocabulary did not differ in relation to precocity in reaching different stages of vocabulary development. The only exception was that infants who reached the 50-word stage first also had a vocabulary with a lower proportion of function words.

Child Language↗

Normative and clinical data with a new type of dark adaptometer.

Dark adaptation has been measured with a new type of dark adaptometer in a group of 25 normal subjects, and in a group of 10 patients suffering from a variety of retinal pathologies. The results indicate that this instrument is capable of distinguishing between normal and pathological dark adaptation on the basis of data obtained in two clinical samples.

Adult↗

Rapid direct detection of multiple rifampin and isoniazid resistance mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis in respiratory samples by real-time PCR.

Rapid detection of resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis can optimize the efficacy of antituberculous therapy and control the transmission of resistant M. tuberculosis strains. Real-time PCR has minimized the time required to obtain the susceptibility pattern of M. tuberculosis strains, but little effort has been made to adapt this rapid technique to the direct detection of resistance from clinical samples. In this study, we adapted and evaluated a real-time PCR design for direct detection of resistance mutations in clinical respiratory samples. The real-time PCR was evaluated with (i) 11 clinical respiratory samples harboring bacilli resistant to isoniazid (INH) and/or rifampin (RIF), (ii) 10 culture-negative sputa spiked with a set of strains encoding 14 different resistance mutations in 10 independent codons, and (iii) 16 sputa harboring susceptible strains. The results obtained with this real-time PCR design completely agreed with DNA sequencing data. In all sputa harboring resistant M. tuberculosis strains, the mutation encoding resistance was successfully detected. No mutation was detected in any of the susceptible sputa. The test was applied only to smear-positive specimens and succeeded in detecting a bacterial load equivalent to 10(3) CFU/ml in sputum samples (10 acid-fast bacilli/line). The analytical specificity of this method was proved with a set of 14 different non-M. tuberculosis bacteria. This real-time PCR design is an adequate method for the specific and rapid detection of RIF and INH resistance in smear-positive clinical respiratory samples.

Antibiotics, Antitubercular↗

The eye of the soldier beetle Chauliognathus pulchellus (Cantharidae).

The soldier beetle eye is unusual in having large optically isotropic corneal cones which project inwards from a thick isotropic cornea. Refraction is mainly at the corneal surface. Calculation shows that the first focal plane is near the tip of the cone, from which the optical pathway continues as a crystalline tract. At the distal end of the crystalline tract, 3 micrometer in diameter, the four cone cells enclose the proximal tip of the corneal cone; at the proximal end they enclose the distal tip of a long fused rhabdom rod. The eye is remarkable in that there are two classes of retinula cells; four cells contribute to the long thin axial rhabdom, 2 micrometer in diameter and 120 micrometer long, and the other four cells form two rounded rhabdoms, 10 x 4 micrometer in cross-section and 20 micrometer deep, which lie to one side of the optical axis. The physiological properties of individual retinula cells were measured by intracellular recording. The retinula cells are of three spectral types with peaks near 360, 450 and 520--530 nm. Except by the criterion of spectral sensitivity, the retinula cells sampled could not be sorted into more than one class. The measured value of the acceptance angle, near 3 degrees in the dark-adapted state, is consistent with the hypothesis that all sampled cells were of the anatomical type that participate in the central rhabdom rod. A calculation of the theoretical field size of individual retinula cells from measurments of refractive index and lens dimensions predicts that cells which participate in the central rhabdom will have acceptance angles near 3 degrees. The conclusion, therefore, is that only one anatomical type of cell has so far been sampled.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

High sensitivity detection of activated factor IX: application to the analysis of different therapeutical factor IX concentrates and prothrombin complexes.

A very sensitive and highly reliable test system for the detection of activated coagulation factor IX (FIXa) has been established. This assay system is based on the cleavage of a fluorogenic substrate by activated factor X (FXa) which is generated by FIXa. This assay can be used to process a large number of samples at a time and, being based on the convenient microtiter plate format, can easily be adapted to automated processing for routine screening of large sample numbers. With this assay at hand we determined the FIXa content of different commercially available therapeutic FIX sources, such as high purity FIX (HPFIX) and prothrombin complex concentrates (PCC). Here we demonstrate that PCC from several suppliers do not contain significantly higher levels of FIXa as compared to HPFIX from the same supplier. In fact, there is a tendency for HPFIX to contain more FIXa than PCC. Moreover, HPFIX from certain manufacturers who do not produce PCC are characterized by an exceptionally high content of FIXa. Therefore, the higher thrombogenic potential of PCC which is well documented clinically cannot be explained solely -- if at all -- by an increased content of FIXa. Rather, it will be necessary to identify other components responsible for this phenomenon.

Biological Products↗

Detecting structural and functional differences in activated sludge bacterial communities originating from laboratory treatment of elementally and totally chlorine-free bleaching effluents.

The ability to differentiate functional and structural diversity of bacterial communities present in activated sludges adapted to elementally (ECF) and totally (TCF) chlorine-free bleaching effluents was evaluated. Community function was evaluated through substrate utilization patterns in BiologGN microplates, and taxonomic structure was evaluated by fluorescent in situ hybridization using probes targeting the Eubacteria; the alpha, beta, and gamma subclasses of the Proteobacteria; and gram-positive bacteria with high GC content. Over 6-week sampling periods, ECF-and TCF-adapted sludge bacterial communities presented reproducible substrate utilization patterns that through principal components (PCs) analysis, separated the ECF samples from the TCF samples. Application of the fluorescent in situ hybridization technique was complicated by the intense autofluorescence of the bleaching effluent sludge samples that interfered with detection of specific hybridization signals. The most notable difference in community structure detected using the chosen set of probes was the relatively greater proportion of cells of the alpha subclass in TCF sludge (27%) than in ECF sludge (6%). Nonspecific hybridization with beta and gamma probes was relatively high, but both sludges appeared to have similar proportions of cells of the beta (20-22%) and gamma (11-12%) subclasses. The two sludges presented relatively few gram-positive cells with high GC content (<0.2% of eubacterial counts). Differences in both metabolic potential and taxonomic structure of the microbial communities in the ECF- and TCF-activated sludges were detected. The kinetics of the development of these differences in treatment plants and their relationships with treatment efficiency and production process conditions should now be evaluated.

Chlorine↗

A sensitive and simple high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of doxorubicin and its metabolites in plasma.

A sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the measurement of doxorubicin and its metabolites in plasma is described. After precipitation with zinc sulphate and methanol, samples are resolved by isocratic elution from a C18 reverse phase support within 20 min and quantified by endogenous fluorescence. Recoveries over a concentration range from 5 to 1,000 nM of doxorubicin, doxorubicinol, doxorubicinone, doxorubicinolone, and 7-deoxydoxorubicinolone were 80-110%, while recovery for 7-deoxydoxorubicinone was approximately 60%. At concentrations of 5 nM, within-run and between-day coefficients of variation for each compound were < 8 and < 16%, respectively. Limits of detection for the compounds were 1-2 nM and standard curves were linear up to at least 1,000 nM. The drug and its metabolites are stable in deproteinized plasma samples at room temperature and in the dark for at least 24 h. The method requires few manipulations and is readily adaptable to automated analysis of large series of samples.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Data model for the elimination of matrix effects in enzyme-based flow-injection systems.

This contribution presents a new conceptional enzyme-based flow injection analysis (FIA) system for the process and quality control of food processing and biotechnological systems. It provides the determination of different analytes in distinct process media on the base of a common experimental set-up. In contrast to known comparable systems, analysis is performed without the commonly used sample preparation and dilution steps. Instead, the adaptation to the necessary measurement range is realized by optimization of intrinsic system parameters. The central principle of the work presented is the elimination of occurring interferences by the heterogeneous matrix of the process sample. Based on a particular injection mode, the application of dehydrogenases as indicator enzymes and a specially developed data model using cognitive methods, cross sensitivities of the detector as well as disturbed reaction rates of the enzymes could be almost completely compensated. Two applications are presented, the analysis of ethanol in non-alcoholic beer and the online determination of D-/L-lactate during a lactic acid fermentation, which reveal the advantage of the developed system.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Marginal and internal adaptation of stratified compomer-composite Class II restorations.

Different approaches have been proposed to improve the adaptation of Class II restorations, including applying low-elasticity modulus base liners. This in vitro fatigue test (or study) evaluated the influence of the compomer base-lining configuration on restoration adaptation. Direct Class II MOD box-shaped composite restorations with or without base and lining (n=3x8) were placed on intact human third molars with proximal margins 1 mm above or under the CEJ. The compomer (Dyract) was applied as a 1 mm-thick lining or as a base, closing proximo-gingival margins. Marginal adaptation was assessed before and after each phase of mechanical loading (250,000 cycles at 50N, 250,000 cycles at 75N and 500,000 cycles at 100N); internal adaptation was evaluated after test completion. Gold-sputtered resin replicas were observed in the SEM and restoration quality evaluated in percentages of continuity (C) at the margins and within the internal interface after sample section. Mechanical loading did not influence adaptation to enamel, while it adversely affected restoration adaptation to dentin for the full composite and compomer-base restorations (C varied, respectively, from 95.2 to 75.3% and from 98.0 to 10.6%). The internal adaptation quality showed the same general trend, however, with reduced scores of continuity. In this experimental condition, application of a low elasticity modulus layer under the restorative material proved advantageous but the compomer should not contact the gingival margins.

Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate↗

Use of carboxylesterase activity to remove pyrethroid-associated toxicity to Ceriodaphnia dubia and Hyalella azteca in toxicity identification evaluations.

Increases in the use and application of pyrethroid insecticides have resulted in concern regarding potential effects on aquatic ecosystems. Methods for the detection of pyrethroids in receiving waters are required to monitor environmental levels of these insecticides. One method employed for the identification of causes of toxicity in aquatic samples is the toxicity identification evaluation (TIE); however, current TIE protocols do not include specific methods for pyrethroid detection. Recent work identified carboxylesterase treatment as a useful method for removing/detecting pyrethroid-associated toxicity. The present study has extended this earlier work and examined the ability of carboxylesterase activity to remove permethrin- and bifenthrin-associated toxicity to Ceriodaphnia dubia and Hyalella azteca in a variety of matrices, including laboratory water, Sacramento River (CA, USA) water, and Salinas River (CA, USA) interstitial water. Esterase activity successfully removed 1,000 ng/L of permethrin-associated toxicity and 600 ng/L of bifenthrin-associated toxicity to C. dubia in Sacramento River water. In interstitial water, 200 ng/L of permethrin-associated toxicity and 60 ng/L of bifenthrin-associated toxicity to H. azteca were removed. The selectivity of the method was validated using heat-inactivated enzyme and bovine serum albumin, demonstrating that catalytically active esterase is required. Further studies showed that the enzyme is not significantly inhibited by metals. Matrix effects on esterase activity were examined with municipal effluent and seawater in addition to the matrices discussed above. Results confirmed that the esterase retains catalytic function in a diverse array of matrices, suggesting that this technique can be adapted to a variety of aquatic samples. These data demonstrate the utility of carboxylesterase treatment as a viable step to detect the presence of pyrethroids in receiving waters.

Ammonia↗

Effect of increased pressure loading on heart growth in neonatal rats.

During embryonic and fetal development, the ventricular myocardium increases its mass principally by adding new cells (hyperplasia), while postnatally, it does so mainly through increase of cell size (hypertrophy). Switching between these two mechanisms of adaptation to increasing functional demand occurs in the early neonatal period. We investigated the response of the neonatal rat left ventricle to pressure overload induced by constriction of the abdominal aorta at postnatal day 2. Sampling for morphological examination with measurements of ventricular wall thickness and myocyte width was performed at days 2, 3, 5, 10, and 21. 3H-thymidine pre-labeling with label dilution was used to assess proliferative history at day 21, and bromodeoxyuridine labeling was used to measure the rates of DNA synthesis at each time point. The left ventricular wall was significantly thicker than in controls in the AC group from day 3, while thickness of individual myocytes was not increased until day 10. Label dilution showed evidence of higher number of cellular divisions correlating with severity of the phenotype in the AC group at day 21. Terminal DNA synthesis index was increased significantly at day 3, but there was no significant difference from controls at days 5, 10, or 21. Apoptotic rates were not different from controls at any sampling interval. Together, these results suggest that adaptation of the neonatal myocardium to increased pressure load is rapid, and is based on transitory hyperplasia followed by hypertrophy of myocytes.

Animals↗

In vivo early plaque formation on pure titanium and ceramic abutments: a comparative microbiological and SEM analysis.

A lack of information exists about the influence of different implant abutment materials on bacterial colonization and its role in the development of perimplantar infections. In order to study these aspects, removable acrylic devices, harboring samples of titanium and novel ceramic abutments (Nobel Biocare) were adapted to the molar-premolar region in 2 mandibular quadrants of 4 volunteers. Samples of each material were collected at 6 and 24 h, 7 and 14 days. Samples were observed by scanning electron microscopy and bacterial counts were made by means of ATP detection and direct plate count. The electron micrographs demonstrated that the bacteria colonization was already present after 6 h of presence in the oral cavity. After 24 h, both the materials were covered by several layers of bacterial cells. No differences in microbial colonization were observed between titanium and ceramic samples. The microbiological analysis confirmed the presence of relevant amounts of microbial cells on the tested samples. The maximum of colonization was achieved after 24 h in the oral cavity and the bacterial counts remained constant over the 14 day period. No significant differences were observed between the two materials analyzed in this study. In addition, ATP-bioluminescence technology was demonstrated to be a suitable system to evaluate bacterial colonization in the oral cavity.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗